Addiction to Hope: One Man's Journey Through the Recovery Pod | #93

Addiction to Hope: One Man's Journey Through the Recovery Pod | #93

This is one of the most powerful conversations we've ever had on Talk Midland. Logan sits down inside the Recovery Pod at the Midland County Jail with Johnny Saunders to hear the raw, heartbreaking, and hopeful story of a man who has spent decades battling addiction. Johnny opens up about growing up with parents addicted to drugs, entering foster care, losing his sister, years of addiction, multiple prison sentences, and the choices that brought him back behind bars. But this conversation isn't just about addiction. It's about responsibility, redemption, second chances, and a groundbreaking program inside the Midland County Sheriff's Office that's helping inmates rebuild their lives before they return to the community. In this episode: *  Growing up in a home filled with addiction  *  Entering foster care as a child  *  How addiction slowly took over his life  *  Multiple prison sentences and life as a career criminal  *  The moment he realized he wanted something different  *  Inside Midland County's Recovery Pod  *  Drug Court and why accountability matters  *  Rebuilding self-worth after addiction  *  The fear of starting over  *  Why hope still exists  Whether you've experienced addiction personally, have a loved one who's struggling, or simply want to better understand recovery, this conversation is one you won't forget.  Stay Connected with Us! Please like, share, and subscribe to the #TalkMidland Podcast to stay updated on future episodes and help spread the word about the amazing people and programs in Midland, Michigan. Follow #TalkMidland on social media for the latest updates and episodes: @TALKMIDLAND Join the conversation and be part of the Midland, Michigan community! #TalkMidland  CHAPTER NOTES 00:00 – Meet Johnny Saunders Inside the Midland County Recovery Pod 04:20 – Growing Up Around Addiction Life with two addicted parents and foster care 11:00 – Losing His Sister How tragedy fueled addiction 18:30 – From Drug Use to Career Crime The choices that led to prison 27:15 – Hitting Rock Bottom The cycle of addiction and relapse 35:00 – Inside the Recovery Pod How Midland County is doing things differently 44:15 – Drug Court & Accountability Learning responsibility for the first time 52:10 – Preparing for Release The fear of starting over 59:45 – Building a New Future Hope, support systems, and second chances  KEYWORDS Recovery Pod, Johnny Saunders, Scott Holzinger, Midland County Sheriff's Office, Addiction recovery, Drug Court, Foster care, Substance abuse, Second chances, Mental health, Criminal justice reform, Recovery program, Midland Michigan, Talk Midland Podcast

More Than a Car Wash: How Tommy's Express Is Building Community in Midland | #92

What makes someone choose one car wash over another? Logan sits down with Tom Terry, Site Leader at Tommy's Express Car Wash, to talk about bringing a new business to Midland, creating memorable customer experiences, and why putting people first has been the key to their success. Tom shares how Tommy's Express has grown by focusing on exceptional customer service, investing in employees, supporting local organizations, and creating an experience that keeps customers coming back. In this episode, you'll learn: *  Why Tommy's Express chose Midland  *  What makes their car wash different from the competition  *  The importance of customer service in today's world  *  How they develop future leaders from within  *  Why they believe in giving people second chances  *  The story behind one of their most loyal customers  *  Why community involvement matters to their business  *  How unlimited memberships work  *  What goes into building a successful local business  Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone who appreciates great customer service, this episode is full of valuable insights.  Stay Connected with Us! Please like, share, and subscribe to the #TalkMidland Podcast to stay updated on future episodes and help spread the word about the amazing people and programs in Midland, Michigan. Follow #TalkMidland on social media for the latest updates and episodes: @TALKMIDLAND Join the conversation and be part of the Midland, Michigan community! #TalkMidland  Chapter Notes 00:00 – Meet Tom Terry How Tommy's Express came to Midland 03:45 – Building a New Business Why Midland was the perfect location 08:30 – What Makes Tommy's Different Hot water, free vacuums, and customer service 14:20 – Creating a Better Customer Experience Memberships, technology, and convenience 20:10 – The Story of Derek A customer who reminds everyone why people matter 26:15 – Why Businesses Open Near Competitors The strategy behind location selection 32:30 – Developing Future Leaders Growing employees from within 39:00 – Giving People Second Chances Building a workplace that cares 46:15 – Community Partnerships Supporting Midland schools and nonprofits 53:00 – Why Customer Service Still Wins Old-school values in a modern business Keywords Tommy's Express Car Wash, Tom Terry, Midland Michigan, Customer service, Small business, Car wash, Leadership, Employee development, Midland Business, Entrepreneurship, Local business, Community involvement, Unlimited car wash, Talk Midland Podcast, Midland MI

The Swim Lesson Every Parent Needs to Hear | #91

Could your child get themselves out of a pool if they accidentally fell in? Logan sits down with Abigayle Bundze of Schieber Swim School 2.0 and the Schieber Swim Foundation to discuss one of the most important life skills a child can learn: water safety. Abbi explains why traditional swim lessons aren't always enough, the difference between learning to swim and learning to survive, and why every child should know how to roll onto their back, float, get to the wall, and climb out safely. They discuss: *  Why drowning is often silent and happens faster than people realize  *  The difference between self-rescue swim lessons and traditional lessons  *  Why flotation devices can create a false sense of security  *  The biggest mistakes parents make around pools  *  Teaching babies as young as four months old  *  Building confidence after a near-drowning experience  *  Why every child should know how to safely exit a pool  *  The mission behind the Schieber Swim Foundation  If you're a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, this conversation could change the way you think about water safety.  Stay Connected with Us! Please like, share, and subscribe to the #TalkMidland Podcast to stay updated on future episodes and help spread the word about the amazing people and programs in Midland, Michigan. Follow #TalkMidland on social media for the latest updates and episodes: @TALKMIDLAND Join the conversation and be part of the Midland, Michigan community! #TalkMidland  Chapter Notes 00:00 – Drowning Happens Faster Than You Think Why water safety is so important 03:10 – Meet Abbi Bundze & Schieber Swim School The mission behind self-rescue swim lessons 07:30 – Learning to Swim vs. Learning to Survive The difference every parent should know 13:00 – The Biggest Pool Safety Mistakes False confidence and flotation devices 18:45 – Can Babies Really Learn Self-Rescue? Starting lessons as young as four months 25:10 – Helping Kids Overcome Water Fear Building confidence after a scary experience 32:20 – Why Floating Comes Before Swimming The foundation of self-rescue 39:30 – How Long Does It Take to Learn? What parents can realistically expect 46:00 – Group Lessons vs. One-on-One Lessons Finding the right approach 53:10 – The Schieber Swim Foundation Making life-saving swim lessons accessible for everyone KEYWORDS Schieber Swim School, Abigayle Bundze, Water safety, Swim lessons, Self-rescue swimming, Drowning prevention, Infant swim lessons, Midland Michigan, Child water safety, Pool safety, Swim school, Schieber Swim Foundation, Parenting, Talk Midland Podcast, Swimming for kids

Midland to Shark Tank: How Trevor Szafranski Landed a Deal and Is Changing Education | #90

Thousands of people cried watching this Shark Tank pitch. Logan sits down with Trevor Szafranski, founder of R1SE: Education & Recreation, to discuss his incredible journey from public school teacher to Shark Tank entrepreneur. Trevor shares the behind-the-scenes story of getting the call from ABC, stepping into the Tank, receiving praise from all five sharks, and ultimately landing a deal with Barbara Corcoran. But this episode is about much more than television. Trevor explains how R1SE is helping students build confidence, supporting overwhelmed parents, and creating environments where kids can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. In this episode: *  The Shark Tank audition and filming process  *  What happened that didn't make it on TV  *  Why Barbara Corcoran was Trevor's first choice  *  How R1SE is transforming before and after-school care  *  The emotional response from families across America  *  The future of franchising R1SE nationwide  *  Supporting students beyond academics  *  Building a mission-driven business  *  Balancing affordability with growth  *  And what's next after Shark Tank  This is an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, education, and creating something that truly changes lives.  Stay Connected with Us! Please like, share, and subscribe to the #TalkMidland Podcast to stay updated on future episodes and help spread the word about the amazing people and programs in Midland, Michigan. Follow #TalkMidland on social media for the latest updates and episodes: @TALKMIDLAND Join the conversation and be part of the Midland, Michigan community! #TalkMidland  Chapter Notes 00:00 – Meet Trevor Szafranski & R1SE How a teacher became an entrepreneur 04:15 – The Problem R1SE Is Solving Helping students and parents 10:20 – The Call From ABC Getting invited to Shark Tank 16:30 – Behind the Scenes of Shark Tank Preparing for the biggest pitch of his life 24:10 – The Sharks' Reactions What surprised Trevor the most 31:45 – Barbara Corcoran's Offer Why she was the perfect partner 39:20 – The Emotional Response From America Thousands of emails and messages 47:15 – The Future of R1SE Franchising and national growth 55:00 – Building a Mission-Driven Business Purpose before profit 1:02:40 – What's Next for Trevor and R1SE The future after Shark Tank KEYWORDS Trevor Szafranski , R1SE Education and Recreation, Shark Tank, Barbara Corcoran, Midland Michigan, Education entrepreneurship, After school programs, Student mentorship, Childcare innovation, Franchising, Small business success, Family support, Talk Midland Podcast, ABC Shark Tank, Educational leadership

What Most People Don't Know About Firefighters | #89

When everyone else is running away from danger, firefighters are running toward it. Logan sits down with Midland Fire Marshal John Jurek to discuss what it really means to serve our community through fire prevention, emergency response, and public safety. John shares his unique journey into the fire service, inspired by his mother—one of the first female firefighters in Washtenaw County—and discusses everything from fire inspections and firefighter training to major emergencies, floods, and the realities of modern firefighting. In this episode, you'll learn: *  What a Fire Marshal actually does  *  How businesses are inspected for fire safety  *  The path to becoming a firefighter  *  Why firefighter training never stops  *  What happens when the alarm goes off at 3 AM  *  Midland's fire stations and emergency response system  *  Mutual aid and how departments work together  *  Stories from floods, fires, and emergency situations  *  The future of fire protection in Midland  *  And John's passion for educating the public through social media and YouTube  This conversation offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of one of Midland's most important public safety organizations. Stay Connected with Us! Please like, share, and subscribe to the #TalkMidland Podcast to stay updated on future episodes and help spread the word about the amazing people and programs in Midland, Michigan. Follow #TalkMidland on social media for the latest updates and episodes: @TALKMIDLAND Join the conversation and be part of the Midland, Michigan community! #TalkMidland  Chapter Notes 00:00 – Meet Fire Marshal John Jurek His role with the Midland Fire Department 03:15 – Fire Inspections & Fire Code Enforcement How businesses stay safe 08:20 – Growing Up Around Firefighters The influence of John's mother 13:10 – One of the First Female Firefighters A trailblazing story 18:45 – The Reality of Firefighter Training Why learning never stops 24:30 – How to Become a Firefighter Career paths and certifications 31:20 – Life Inside a Fire Station 24-hour shifts and emergency response 38:10 – Midland's Fire Stations Explained How resources are deployed 44:45 – Fire Department Staffing Challenges Meeting community needs 50:15 – Major Emergencies & Mutual Aid How departments work together 56:20 – The 2020 Flood & Community Response Lessons learned from disaster 1:02:00 – Fire Prevention & Public Education Keeping Midland safe before emergencies happen KEYWORDS John Jurek, Midland Fire Department, Fire Marshal, Midland Michigan, Firefighter career, Fire safety, Fire inspections, Emergency response, Fire prevention, Midland podcast, Public safety, Firefighter training, Mutual aid, 2020 Midland flood, Talk Midland Podcast