What's Up Big Rapids?

About What's Up Big Rapids?

Locals Chris Jane and Pat Brooks share the latest weekly happenings and events important to Big Rapids, Michigan, and the surrounding areas.

Publisher

What's Up Big Rapids

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Jan 2025

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

92 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   Hope, Halloween & High-Flying Geckos

   Halloween is almost here, and Big Rapids has a busy weekend ahead! 🎃 This week we're joined by Dena Durante from Hope House Free Medical Clinic, an organization celebrating 20 years of providing free healthcare to uninsured members of our community. Dena shares how retirement led her right back to helping people, what services Hope House offers, and why more people need to know this valuable resource exists. Then Danette Doyle from the Pioneer Group stops by to talk about the Skeleton Skurry, Halloween festivities, and everything happening downtown this weekend. Chris is preparing to defend his Pumpkin Rolling Championship, and the competition is heating up! Plus, we talk about the Flannel Comedy Tour, a new men's support group, Light Up the Night, flying geckos, power-tool pumpkin carving, and robots that are becoming increasingly difficult to defend. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:00 – TikTok algorithms & what our spare accounts say about us 📱 3:00 – Two months left in 2026. What's your plan? 4:10 – Recapping Brendan Lemon's comedy show 🎤 6:30 – Pumpkin Rolling Championship preview 🎃 8:09 – Thanks to Amy & Bridget from Life Resources 9:00 – Featured Creature: Flying Gecko from E&E Tropical Fish 🦎 12:00 – Welcome Dena Durante from Hope House Free Medical Clinic 13:30 – From retirement back to helping people: Dena's story 16:45 – Where is Hope House located? 19:00 – Celebrating 20 years of free healthcare for uninsured neighbors ❤️ 22:35 – Medical care and spiritual support 23:30 – How to volunteer or donate to Hope House 24:50 – Clinic hours & making an appointment 26:40 – Welcome Danette Doyle! Skeleton Skurry & Halloween costumes 👻 35:00 – Chris defends his Pumpkin Rolling Trophy Saturday at 11 AM 🏆 37:00 – Trunk or Treat starts at 10 AM 🍬 38:30 – Artworks banner contest is open 40:00 – A new men's group focused on depression & connection 41:30 – Light Up the Night at the Castle in Canadian Lakes 43:10 – Knicks championship rings? 💍 47:30 – A sound-wave fire extinguisher? 49:30 – Detroit Lions celebrate a false start in style 🏈 50:40 – Carving pumpkins with power tools. Thanks, Dom. 52:00 – Robot News: Four-armed flying robots with rifles?! 🤖 53:50 – Three-year-old soccer phenom gets ejected ⚽ 56:45 – Outro & goodbye 📣 Hashtags #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #HopeHouseFreeMedicalClinic #SkeletonSkurry #SupportLocal

2. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Babies, Bingo & Brewery Comedy

   We've got two sets of guests, a whole lot happening around town, and Episode 100 is sneaking up on us! First, Amy Grandy and Bridget Roberts from Life Resources Northern Michigan join us to talk about the free services they provide to new and expecting parents. From parenting classes and ultrasounds to diapers, clothing, and other essentials, their organization has been helping local families for decades. This year alone, they've provided more than 1,500 free parenting classes and distributed over 29,000 diapers! Then we welcome comedian Brendan Lemon, fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and headed to Cranker's for the Flannel Comedy Tour. We talk about performing in New York City, the strangest places to do stand-up, and how a guy living in Manhattan ends up doing comedy in West Michigan breweries. Plus, Chris is surviving the real estate market, Pat attempts to explain Rod Wave, Ferris brings home the Anchor-Bone Trophy, and Dom has found robots that look like they're protecting humanity by threatening it. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome! Episode 100 is getting close 🎉 1:21 – Chris vs. the housing market 🏡 1:55 – Hand of Giants at SpeakEZ, Pat's Detroit adventures & Rod Wave 3:56 – Ribbon cuttings at Cottage Inn & Tommy's, plus Chamber After Hours 6:35 – Featured Creature of the Week from E&E Tropical Fish 🐠 8:40 – Thanks to Jon & Kevin from Michigan Works! 10:20 – Welcome Amy Grandy & Bridget Roberts from Life Resources Northern Michigan 13:34 – Why Amy loves Big Rapids & the free services available to parents 15:00 – 1,500+ parenting classes, 29,000+ diapers & memories of early parenthood 👶 17:00 – Free ultrasound services & nearly 50 years in Big Rapids 20:00 – How to help: Diapers, formula, clothing & donations 26:25 – Volunteering and supporting Life Resources 28:00 – Music Bingo at Crusted Creations 🎶 28:55 – GFWC's 4B's fundraiser at Artworks 29:30 – Fall Fest & Skeleton Skurry on Halloween 🎃 33:17 – Welcome comedian Brendan Lemon from the Flannel Comedy Tour! 🎤 40:00 – From New York City to West Michigan brewery comedy 43:20 – The weirdest places to perform stand-up 44:45 – Flannel Comedy Tour at Cranker's: Thursday at 7 PM 50:00 – Going all-in on comedy, acting & life in Manhattan 52:32 – Where to find Brendan Lemon & the Flannel Comedy Tour 53:05 – Good Samaritan returns nearly $1 million in misplaced cash 💰 54:30 – Robot News: Why do our robot protectors look so terrifying? 🤖 57:16 – Ferris beats Grand Valley for the Anchor-Bone Trophy! 🏈 58:05 – Outro & goodbye 📣 Hashtags #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #LifeResourcesNorthernMichigan #FlannelComedyTour #SupportLocal

3. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Jobs, Jobseekers & Jack-o'-Lanterns

   Looking for a job? Trying to hire someone? Or just wondering what resources are available to help local businesses grow? This week we're joined by Jon Eppley and Kevin Welch from Michigan Works! West Central to talk about connecting people with jobs, helping employers find and train workers, and making sure businesses know about grants and programs they might be missing out on. We also get into the changing expectations of today's workforce, the role AI plays in job hunting, and some upcoming opportunities for the community. Plus, Chris celebrates the High Strung Steel album release, Chipotle gets a new opening estimate, we remember a beloved library pet, and Pat somehow discovers a version of fantasy football involving Pokémon. And yes, Chris is preparing to defend his Pumpkin Rolling Championship. Again. ⏱️ Timecodes 0:00 – Intro & welcome 1:30 – Thanks to Melanie & Linda from GFWC 2:10 – High Strung Steel album release, indoor markets & Ferris football 🎻 4:00 – Lucas Armand signs with the UFC! Pat issues a correction (please don't hurt him) 🥊 6:03 – Featured Creature: Blueberry Tetra from E&E Tropical Fish 🐟 8:00 – Want to advertise on WUBR? 8:20 – Welcome Jon Eppley & Kevin Welch from Michigan Works! West Central 10:00 – 10 years of helping people find jobs and businesses find employees 12:00 – Connecting employers with grants, training & state resources 16:20 – Chris' hiring struggles: Is there a better way? 17:45 – Finding qualified workers & teaching workplace expectations 19:45 – How important is AI in today's job search? 🤖 20:50 – Neighborhood Resources Expo – November 13 23:30 – 20 Under 30 nominations are open! 25:50 – How to connect with Michigan Works! 27:45 – Remembering Quilliam Shakespeare, the library's beloved pet ❤️ 29:30 – Chipotle opening update: January 2027? 🌯 31:10 – Cardinal Basketball K–6 camps begin November 7 🏀 31:55 – Mecosta Osceola Victim Services Unit needs volunteers 34:00 – MOISD Career Center 50th Anniversary Open House 34:30 – New businesses, ribbon cuttings & what's coming to town 36:50 – GFWC's 4B's fundraiser at Artworks 37:40 – Is Halloween candy getting too expensive? 🍬 39:00 – Skeleton Skurry 5K & Downtown Fall Fest – October 31 🎃 41:00 – Chris defends his Pumpkin Rolling Championship! 🏆 41:50 – Pokémon fantasy football? Pat has reached a new level of nerdiness 42:55 – Dom's videos: Hero geese, Meijer & disembodied robot hands 46:50 – Ferris vs. Grand Valley & Hand of Giants at SpeakEZ Lounge 🏈🎸 47:45 – Outro & goodbye 📣 Hashtags #WhatsUpBigRapids #BigRapidsMI #MichiganWorks #SupportLocal #BigRapidsEvents

Who has been a guest on What's Up Big Rapids?

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Austin Bancroft
• Jeffrey Auguste
• Harley Rogers
• Jake Schumann
• Randy Hahn

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

81,583

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

4.6 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

71

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

32

Contact What's Up Big Rapids?

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about What's Up Big Rapids?