In his first-ever podcast appearance, MLive journalist Justin Engel talks about his history and work in local journalism. The conversation centers on defining journalism and discusses misinformation, clickbait, and AI-generated content, and argues for news literacy and reading beyond headlines and comment sections. Justin and Phil emphasize the value of strong local media in the Great Lakes Bay Region, explain why journalism isn’t free and needs subscriptions to survive, and describe how reporting broadened Justin’s perspective by exposing him to different communities across the county. They close with advice to young aspiring journalists to follow the calling, adapt to changing formats, and keep learning—even when it means stepping outside comfort zones.

00:00 First Podcast EVER
00:36 Movie Podcasts & First Theater Memory
01:57 Why Star Wars Hit So Hard
03:24 Favorite Films: Aliens, Almost Famous & the Power of a Great Scene
04:51 Zodiac and Why Journalism Matters in the Real World
06:21 Becoming a Journalist: Early Writing, High School Paper & Grandma’s Tip
10:37 College to Career: Delta, SVSU, and Joining The Saginaw News
13:05 What Is Journalism? Verification, Sources, and Getting It Right
16:23 Context vs. Social Media Narratives
19:58 Scanner Traffic, Clickbait, and How Misinformation Spreads
22:56 AI-Generated News & Clickbait: Why It Looks Real
23:36 News Literacy 101: Verifying Sources in the AI Era
24:57 Why Local Journalism Still Matters (and What Reporters Actually Do)
30:03 Support Local News: Paywalls, Sharing vs. Stealing, and Sustainability
34:38 How Reporting Changes You: Seeing Your Community Through Others’ Eyes
38:12 Story Advocate Mindset: Curiosity, Craft, and Saginaw’s Storytelling Legacy
42:33 Advice for Future Journalists: Follow the Calling & Learn the Business Side
45:21 New Formats, On-Scene Video, and Final Thanks

From Saginaw to living to an RV and back again! In this episode of Sidewalk Talks, Jessica Shepherd discusses her background in broadcasting and journalism, selling most of her belongings to travel full-time in an RV for about two and a half years, and work-camping around the country. She talks about life on the road and why she and her partner, Mark, chose to return home to Saginaw.

00:00 Mic Check & Meet Jessica Shepherd
01:05 Writing Love Letters to Saginaw
03:13 How She Got Into Journalism: WSGW, MLive & Mentors
06:02 Why She Left Saginaw: Career Moves to Grand Rapids & Kalamazoo
07:38 Selling Everything to Live in an RV: Downsizing & Marie Kondo Mode
09:11 How Van Life Became Real: Travel, Belonging & Not Feeling at Home
12:04 Workamping Adventures: Campgrounds, Christmas Trees & National Parks
14:36 Favorite Stops & Big Nature: Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon & Photography
18:11 When the Adventure Felt Like Limbo: Disorientation, Work Challenges & Choosing Saginaw
27:48 Choosing Your Good and Bad: The ‘Grass Is Greener’ Reality
28:44 Saginaw’s Energy: The ‘Something in the Dirt and Water’ Feeling
29:59 Genuine Friendliness & Community Grit (No Pretending)
33:21 Why They Moved Back: Home, Real Estate, and the RV Transition
35:16 One Last Hurrah: Beet Harvest Work-Camping After Buying the House
36:38 Coming Home Hits Different: Love Letters, Old Town, and What’s New
39:20 Get Out and Experience Saginaw: Food, Volunteering, and Finding Your People
43:00 Stop Waiting to Be ‘Served’ a Community: Social Media vs Showing Up
44:53 Quick-Fire RV Life Q&A: Tanks, Shells, Snacks, and Road Trip Anthems
51:17 Final Advice: RV Life Won’t Fix You—Run Toward Something + Welcome Back

In this episode of Sidewalk Talks, Eric Shevchenko talks about bringing New York-style pizza to Saginaw with Old World Pizzeria. He talks about the power of food as a way to keep people connected, preserve culture, evoke emotion, and be a vehicle for creativity.

Eric explains how pizza became his focus, including a 48-hour research trip to New York eating slices and revisiting favorites. Shevcenko talks about his obsessive experimentation with dough fermentation and hydration, creative menu, and OWP’s burnt Basque-style cheesecake.

Eric recounts earlier experiences in Northern California, including raising rabbits for high-end restaurants near Napa and spending time around fine-dining creativity. He shares why he returned to Saginaw to care for his mother, his hopes for local food culture and security, and stories of customers traveling hours, crying, and calling the shop after a cheese slice. They also cover Eric’s appearance on the Netflix survival series Outlast in Alaska and hints of future projects for Old World Pizzeria.

00:00 Ergonomic Chair Shenanigans & Mystery Knobs
00:40 The Tinned Fish Obsession
03:10 From Preservation Food Co. to Fermentation Roots
04:44 Old World Pizzeria: Going All-In on New York-Style Pizza
05:39 48 Hours in NYC: Slice-Crawling for the Perfect Dough
07:06 Creative Specials, Flop Ingredients & the ‘Burnt’ Cheesecake
08:51 Pizza Origin Story: Midwest Shops, Skateboarding & San Francisco
11:08 Food Memories, Dementia, and Why Comfort Food Matters
13:58 Rabbit Farming to Fine Dining: Supplying Top Bay Area Kitchens
18:27 Fine Dining Creativity, Old Town Food Scene & Pizza as a Vessel
23:18 When a Cheese Slice Makes People Cry: Nailing the NY Balance
25:49 Handling Haters: Taste Is Subjective
26:06 Why Come Back to Saginaw? Family, Roots & the “Vortex”
26:46 From Rabbit Farm to Pizza Shop (and Rumors of Another Location)
27:24 Old World Pizzeria 101: Price, Ingredients & “Clean” Pizza
28:28 Behind the Counter: 5AM Dough, Desserts & Cookie Experiments
30:01 Slice Culture: Fast Takeout, Choose-Your-Adventure & Hours
31:15 Brother Chad’s Return: Nashville to Home Again
32:29 Most Memorable Meals: Fine Dining vs. The People You’re With
34:14 Netflix Survival Show ‘Outlast’: Getting Cast & Alaska Reality
36:55 Cameras, Panic Attacks & What It Takes to Survive
39:43 Ratings, Reality TV Frustrations & On-Camera Lessons
44:53 Rapid Fire Pizza Takes + What’s Next for Old World (Wrap-Up)

Ja'Maiya Ryan is a Saginaw-based designer and she just released a new collection! In this episode of Sidewalk Talks, she talks about design, her history, and her love of not only designing, but creating accessible and beautiful accessories.

00:00 Celebrating the Win: The Iconic Happy Tears Photo
00:21 Behind the Scenes: Finding the Right Fashion Program
00:32 Hands-On Craft: Tools, Techniques, and Industry Collabs
01:02 From Concept to Collection: The Millie’s Patent-Pending Journey
01:12 Why It Matters: A Design Close to the Heart

Brian Pruitt was heading into the NFL draft as one of the best running backs in the country, when he received a phone call that changed his life forever. On NFL draft night, he received a call from his agent that he would not be drafted due to spinal stenosis discovered at the NFL combine, a condition the league was then weeding out because of neck-injury risk.

After three years of trying to return to the NFL as a free agent, Pruitt says a turning point came when his wife told him, “I need my husband back,” urging him to regain joy and purpose. He credits his mother Joyce Pruitt, mentors, and close friends for modeling persistence and helping him navigate failure by making his world small, protecting his next steps, and listening to only trusted voices. He explains how he recommitted to his second dream of speaking, took risks, began presenting himself as a speaker, learned to focus on serving audiences rather than impressing them to reduce stage fright, and grew his speaking work.

The episode centers on themes of consistency and persistence in communities, relationships, and personal growth. Pruitt emphasizes the power of encouragement—especially from a spouse—and warns about “quiet quitting” in men who remain present but emotionally gone, connecting the topic to male loneliness and isolation. He discusses marriage as an ongoing process of “becoming one,” and identifies forgiveness as essential to sustaining a 30-year marriage, describing vows as choosing someone you are willing to be vulnerable with and potentially hurt by while trusting intent.

As a father—who grew up without a present, safe father figure—Pruitt explains his “Superman vs. Clark Kent” view of parenting: children rarely need a superhero, but often need presence and everyday engagement. He says fatherhood has humbled and matured him, describing family as “five mirrors” that reveal blind spots, and offers the idea that fathers can’t be perfect but can be persistent, noting, “The life you’re living today is the legacy that you’re leaving for tomorrow.”

On leadership, Pruitt argues leaders are human beings with titles, and home life affects work life. He teaches leadership principles meant to apply at work and at home, frames leadership as influence rather than rank, and uses a “leadership train” analogy to stress that every role matters and leaders must value perspectives throughout an organization. He highlights culture, the damage caused by fear-based environments, and the idea that “if you capture my heart, you can always have my hands.” The conversation closes with ways to contact him—pruittmotivational.com and powerofdad.org—and mutual appreciation for the power of in-person conversations.

00:00 American Podcast Debut + Why Long-Form Conversations Matter
01:24 Consistency: The Real Key to Changing Communities
02:37 Meet Brian Pruitt: Father of Four, Speaker, and Power of Dad Founder
05:14 Two Childhood Dreams: Football Stardom & Writing Speeches in His Bedroom
08:14 NFL Draft Night Shock
11:44 Dreaming Again: His Wife’s Wake-Up Call & the ‘Go Be Great’ Motto
15:22 Speaking Life Into Men: Support, ‘Quiet Quitting,’ and Male Loneliness
20:07 Marriage Is ‘Becoming One’: Commitment, Seasons, and Growing Together
23:41 Building the Speaking Career: Taking Risks, Serving the Audience, Be Prepared
28:36 Navigating Public Failure: Shrinking the Circle, Mentors, and Getting Back Up
35:48 Twin Dads & Dad Life: Kids, Twins, and the Clark Kent vs Superman Fatherhood Lesson
41:29 Take the Cape Off: Kids Just Need You Present
42:19 Fatherhood as a Lifelong ‘Becoming’ (The Playbook Keeps Changing)
43:58 From Self-Improvement to Selflessness: The Gift of Kids
47:09 Family as Mirrors: Kids Expose Blind Spots (Phone, Tiredness)
51:15 Legacy & Persistence: Showing Up Every Day (Win the Away Games)
57:29 30 Years of Marriage: Forgiveness, Humility & Trusting Intent
01:04:19 Leadership Is Human: Principles That Work at Home and at Work
01:13:42 Culture & the Heart: Influence, Trust, and Why People Quit Bad Leaders
01:18:30 Closing Thoughts: Where to Find Brian + The Power of Real Conversations

In this indoor episode of Sidewalk Talks, the host sits down with Alexandria Renee over coffee to talk about local coffee shops, the Healthier Me podcast, and her work in public relations. Alexandria explains how Healthier Me began through Be Well Saginaw coalition partners after Saginaw County learned in January 2024 that it ranked number one in Michigan for obesity, with the goal of encouraging residents to talk to providers and pursue healthier lifestyles.

Healthier Me just launched its second season, expanding the conversation to maternal health, mental health, and substance use. Alexandria previews Season 2 guests and stories, including Donna Clark of Emmaus House, Demetrius Braddock, journalist/PR professional Bob Johnson discussing infant death and safe sleep, and mental health advocate Charles Allen.

Alexandria outlines what PR is—communicating an organization’s message, building trust, and telling your story—shares tips for handling negative reviews, budgeting for marketing, setting goals, and seeking specialized help. Viewers are directed to watch/listen to Healthier Me on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, visit Be Well Saginaw’s site for local resources, and connect with Alexandria through her work at CMU Health and her business Rewrite Media.

00:00 Cold Open: Going Live + Coffee Talk (Mocha Love)
01:07 Local Coffee Spots in Saginaw: Live Oak, Red Eye & Why Local Wins
02:01 Meet Alexandria Renee + Sidewalk Talks Inside Edition
02:44 What Is the 'Healthier Me' Podcast? Why It Started
05:28 Season 1 vs Season 2: From Obesity to Maternal Health, Mental Health & Substance Use
07:59 Season 2 Sneak Peek: Donna Clark, Recovery Stories & Powerful Guests
15:37 The Spiritual Power of Face-to-Face Conversation (and Actually Listening)
18:13 Lessons Learned: Weight-Loss Bias, 'Food Noise' & Compassion in Health Journeys
23:00 Saginaw’s Obesity Ranking, Community Awareness & Be Well Saginaw Resources
26:38 Her First Show: 'Stay Dumb' Podcast—The Meaning Behind the Name
27:45 From Behind-the-Scenes PR to Facing the Camera (and the Fear)
28:42 Getting Reps In: Facebook Live, Buying Gear, and Finally Hitting Record
29:24 “Book Your First Five Guests”: The Fastest Way to Start a Podcast
30:06 Recording Realities: Home Setup, Video Headaches, and Why Production Matters
31:08 Meet the Producers: JNC Media, the Midland Studio, and Paying for Help
33:24 Podcaster Lessons: Stop Overcomplicating and Just Start Talking
36:21 PR 101: What Public Relations Actually Is (and Why It Matters)
40:00 Handling Bad Reviews: Negativity Bias, Don’t Feed the Fire, Take It Offline
47:19 PR & Business Strategy: Delegation, Budgeting Marketing, Goals + SWOT Planning
50:12 Health, Shame, and Taking the First Step: Breaking the Loop
55:29 Where to Find Her Work: Healthier Me, Rewrite Media, and Final Wrap-Up

Samantha Engel discusses the READ Association of Saginaw County, founded in 1966 to help children improve reading skills and discover the joy of reading. She shares her background as a historian at Dow Gardens and the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, then explains why she joined READ in January 2024. The episode outlines READ’s core mentor program—trained adult volunteers paired one-on-one with students for weekly sessions during the school year—along with a structured tutoring program based out of the Family Literacy Center at 100 S. Jefferson using the Barton System of Reading and Spelling for students needing foundational support. Engel also describes the Raising Readers Academy, a multi-week family literacy program that works with parents on practical at-home activities to reinforce reading skills.

The conversation also previews National Reading Month events: free book fairs with vouchers for three new books per child on March 7 at Swan Valley Performing Arts Center (12–2) and March 14 at the YMCA in Saginaw (11–1), aiming to distribute about 1,500 books. Viewers are directed to follow READ on Facebook, visit readsaginaw.org, or email office@readsaginaw.org for mentoring, tutoring, and program information.

00:00 Welcome + Why We Love Books
00:11 READ Association 101: Mission & Impact
00:47 Samantha’s Background: From History to Community Work
03:43 Making History Human (Yes, Even Founding Fathers)
05:43 How She Found READ + What Mentoring Looks Like
08:52 Beyond Mentors: Tutoring & Raising Readers Academy
12:48 Giving Away Books + Libraries & the Libby App
15:16 Are Audiobooks ‘Real’ Reading?
16:11 March Events: Free Book Fairs & 1,500 Books
20:26 How to Get Involved + Final Thanks

In the podcast’s first father-son episode, Phil interviews Bishop Hurley Coleman Jr. and Hurley Coleman III about their life paths, careers, and leadership in Saginaw. Hurley Coleman Jr. shares his upbringing and education, how he discovered parks and recreation as a career at Eastern Michigan University, and his work with Washtenaw County Parks, Saginaw County Parks, the City of Saginaw (including opening Andersen Water Park), and as Wayne County Parks and Recreation Director for 14 years. He explains how his father’s death led him back to Saginaw, where he eventually became pastor of the church his father started in 1957, and reflects on marriage to Sandra Coleman and raising three children.

Hurley Coleman III, Executive Director/CEO of Saginaw County Community Action, explains CAC’s work in housing, food insecurity, senior outreach, emergency services, advocacy, and partnerships with faith-based communities. Together they discuss “progressive revelation” as providence, how diverse experiences prepare leaders for new contexts, and lessons from failure, planning, and strategy—especially entering CAC during COVID-era uncertainty.

They explore leadership as cutting a path and building followership, the importance of culture and trust, consistency, and authenticity. Bishop Coleman connects parks-and-rec lessons about seasons and change to ministry, shares insights on hiring for creativity, and recounts how he assumed spiritual leadership after his father’s sudden death. Hurley Coleman III describes how leadership has changed him through the weight and responsibility of being ‘number one,’ and Bishop Coleman encourages him with Romans 8:28. The episode ends with mutual admiration, gratitude, and reflections on fatherhood, mentoring, and their shared commitment to serving the community.

00:00 Father–Son Podcast Kickoff & Introductions
00:37 Hurley Coleman Jr.’s Origin Story: Family, College & Finding Parks & Rec
02:58 Career Turns: From Recreation Director to Pastor in Saginaw
04:47 Hurley Coleman III: Leading Community Action & What CAC Does
06:22 Before CAC: Sales, Church Operations, and the Road Back Home
08:47 Providence & Progression: How Callings Reveal Themselves Over Time
13:19 Lessons from the Field: Building Parks, Serving People, Finding Fulfillment
17:51 Failure, Planning, and the ‘Marathon’ Pep Talk
22:02 Seasons, Purpose, and Hiring for Creativity (Leadership Lessons)
27:24 What Makes a Good Leader? Cutting the Path vs. Leading the People
28:47 Leadership Is a Choice: Boss vs. True Culture-Building
29:40 What Makes a Great Leader? Intangibles, Vision, and Pathways
31:40 Culture, Trust, and Why Vision Fails Without It
35:43 How to Build Trust in a Divided Community (Warmth + Competence)
39:50 Consistency & Authenticity: The Real Enemy of Trust
41:31 Called Into Ministry: Taking Over After His Father’s Passing
44:24 25 Years Later: Destiny, Purpose, and Walking by Faith
46:07 Leading CAC: The Weight of Being #1 and Growing Into Responsibility
49:23 Carrying the Burden: Romans 8, Gethsemane, and the Thorn
51:53 A Father’s Pride, a Son’s Gratitude, and Final Reflections