Michigan is more than a place—it’s a way of life. Through candid conversations with the people who call it home, we uncover the passion, creativity, and resilience that make the Great Lakes State special. Subscribe and join us for inspiring stories from across Michigan!
lifeinmichigan.substack.com (https://lifeinmichigan.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Dining on the Deck at Lake Forest Golf Club in Ann Arbor
This week we’re chatting with Gilda Johnson, owner of Lake Forest Golf Club. She shares her unique journey into the golf industry, discusses the secret to their from-scratch dining scene at Ellsworth Food & Spirits, and explore why local wildlife seems to love the course just as much as the golfers do.
From Banking Suits to Hot Dogs & Beer
Gilda reflects on her journey from growing up in Argentina to earning her BA and MBA at the University of Michigan. She opens up about her sudden late-90s pivot from corporate banking to running a newly built golf course—a shift she describes as going “from wearing suits, high heels, and pantyhose to serving hot dogs and beer.”
From Dairy Farm to 18-Hole Sanctuary
Discover the story behind the land itself: how a historic turn-of-the-century dairy farm at Ann Arbor-Saline and Ellsworth Roads evolved into Lake Forest Golf Club, complete with its original carriage house and landmark silo.
Elevating the Vibe with Chef Blake Reetz
Learn how Lake Forest created Ellsworth Food & Spirits (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://lkforest.com/ellsworth-food-spirits/&authuser=3) and brought in local culinary legend Executive Chef Blake Reetz (formerly of Ann Arbor’s EAT) to craft a from-scratch, approachable menu—featuring everything from elevated power bowls to homemade sweet corn ice cream.
Breaking Barriers & Building Community
With women making up only about 15% of Michigan golf course owners, Gilda shares what it’s like navigating customer assumptions, leaning on industry mentors like Kathy Aznavorian of Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center (https://www.foxhills.com/), and fostering a collaborative culture among local business owners.
Wildlife, Stargazing, & The Perfect Michigan Day
From over 60 bird species spotted via the Merlin Bird ID App (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/) to cozying up by outdoor fire tables under the Ann Arbor night sky, Gilda breaks down why golf courses make great wildlife habitats—and reveals her ultimate way to unwind on a Michigan morning.
Links & Organizations Mentioned in This Episode
* Lake Forest Golf Club (https://lakeforestgc.com/)
* Ellsworth Food & Spirits (https://ellsworthannarbor.com/)
* Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) (https://www.gcsaa.org/)
* Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Cente (https://www.foxhills.com/)
* Barton Hills Country Club (https://www.bartonhillscc.com/): bartonhillscc.com (https://www.bartonhillscc.com/)
* Merlin Bird ID App by Cornell La (https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/)
* Kensington Metropark (https://www.metroparks.com/kensington-metropark/)
Get full access to Life In Michigan at lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe (https://lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
4 Sept 2026
Elevating the Trade: How Two Michigan Cosmetologists Are Reinventing Cosmetology School
In this episode of the Life In Michigan Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-in-michigan-podcast/id1794402475), we sit down with Liz Hannold and Katie Eifler—the powerhouse team behind the Professional Academy of Cosmetology (https://www.professionalacademyofcosmetology.com) in historic downtown Marshall, Michigan. Liz and Katie share how they connected, what drove them to open a cosmetology academy in the 1867 Eagle Block building, and why they’re on a mission to bring high-level professionalism and real-world business skills back to the trade. They also give us a peek behind the scenes of their own show, the (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oh-hair-no/id1875389714)Oh Hair No! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oh-hair-no/id1875389714) podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oh-hair-no/id1875389714), share how a major American Express Main Street Grant (https://www.mainstreet.org) helped fund their recent building expansion, and reveal their ultimate Michigan day trips!
Links & Resources Mentioned
* Business & Education:
* Professional Academy of Cosmetology (PAOC) (https://www.professionalacademyofcosmetology.com)
* Oh Hair No! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oh-hair-no/id1875389714) Podcast on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oh-hair-no/id1875389714)
* Main Street America / Amex Shop Small Grants (https://www.mainstreet.org)
* Local Spots & Attractions:
* Choose Marshall Chamber & Tourism (https://www.choosemarshall.com/)
* Schuler’s Restaurant & Pub (https://www.schulersrestaurant.com)
* The Copper Athletic Club (https://copperac.com/)
Get full access to Life In Michigan at lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe (https://lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
21 Aug 2026
Crafting Community, Midwest IPAs, and "Day with Jay" Adventures with Brewer Jay Green!
Get ready, Michigan craft beer fans! In this episode of the Life In Michigan podcast, we sat down with one of our favorite beer friends, Perrin Brewing’s resident “Beer Ninja,” Jay Green.
From cleaning out mash tuns at Tri-City Brewing (https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.tricitybrew.com/&authuser=3) nearly 18 years ago to scaling up batches in Perrin Brewing Company’s (https://grbreweries.com/perrin-brewing-company) Comstock Park (https://www.experiencegr.com/listing/perrin-brewing-company/7145/) facility, Jay gives us an insider look at Michigan’s craft scene.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
* The Story Behind the “Beer Ninja”: How a joke job title at Tri-City turned into a lifelong moniker for whipping out tap wrenches and jumping in wherever help is needed.
* 100% Pure Michigan Brews: Jay breaks down the creation of Perrin’s new Great Lakes Grown IPA—a “Midwest Cowboy IPA” recipe originally crafted as a tribute brew for Cowboy Doug, made with local grains from Great Lakes Malting Company (https://www.hopcraftsupply.com/collections/great-lakes-malting-company?view=all) in Traverse City and fresh hops from Top Hops Farm (https://tophopsfarm.com/) in Goodrich.
* Local Fruit: Why living right near the Fruit Ridge (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.experiencegr.com/listing/fruit-ridge-hayrides/6557/&authuser=3) north of Grand Rapids gives local brewers unmatched access to fresh apple cider and agricultural abundance.
* Reliving the “Day with Jay” Road Trips:
* Enjoying ciders and cheese plates at Pux Cider Taproom (https://puxcider.com/) in Grand Rapids.
* The surprise “Who Is Jay Green?” welcome sign set up by Mark at The Hidden King in Ann Arbor (https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkinga2/?hl=en).
* 906 Day with Jay, (https://lifeinmichigan.com/the-2024-u-p-fall-beer-festival/) plus beers Blackrocks Brewery (https://www.blackrocksbrewery.com/) and Ore Dock Brewing Company (https://oredockbrewing.com/).
* Supporting Diversity in Brewing: The legacy of Fermenta (https://lifeinmichigan.com/the-fermenta-meet-and-greet-brew-day-extravaganza/) collaboration days and how organizations like the Pink Boots Society (https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/) continue to empower women and non-binary professionals in craft beverages.
Events to Mark on Your Calendar:
* Perrin’s huge annual Backyard Bash in Comstock Park on Sept 12th! (https://store.perrinbrewing.com/products/backyard-bach-2027-vip-experience)
* The Pro-Am competitions hosted by the Beer City Brewers Guild (https://beercityguild.com/about-1).
* Why the Michigan Brewers Guild (https://www.mibeer.com/) UP Beer Festival in Marquette remains Jay’s absolute favorite festival of the year.
Shoutouts to New Spots: Jay gives a quick nod to the newly opened taproom for Our Brewing Company (https://www.ourbrewingcompany.com/) in Grand Rapids!
“As I always say, my favorite beer is the one shared with friends.”
— Jay Green
Catch up on our previous Day with Jay adventures (in Detroit (https://lifeinmichigan.com/dangerous-day-with-jay-in-detroit/), Ann Arbor (https://lifeinmichigan.com/ann-arbor-beer-crawl-with-jay-green/), Grand Rapids (https://lifeinmichigan.com/the-ultimate-beer-adventure-a-day-with-jay-in-grand-rapids/), Marquette (https://lifeinmichigan.com/the-2024-u-p-fall-beer-festival/)), and let us know in the comments: Where should our next “Day with Jay” beer crawl head?
Get full access to Life In Michigan at lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe (https://lifeinmichigan.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
Who has been a guest on Life In Michigan Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ken Konarzewski Jr
Scott Millington
Lorri Smith
Patty Barton
Marissa Jardine
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
5
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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