West Michigan Weekend (A Public Affairs Program from iHeartradio)

Attorney Tom Sinas On The Positive Impact of The Annual Lids for Kids Bike Helmet Giveaway (05-24-26)

In this episode of iHeartRadio’s West Michigan Weekend, host Phil Tower welcomes attorney and community advocate Tom Sinas, partner at the Sinas Dramis Law Firm [https://sinasdramis.com/]. Tom shares details about the annual Lids for Kids [https://lidsforkidsmi.org/] bike safety event happening Saturday, May 30, at Garfield Park in Grand Rapids. Families attending the free event can receive professionally fitted bike helmets for children, along with bike safety education, games, giveaways, and the chance to win free bicycles.  Our conversation also highlights the importance of helmet use and the real impact the program has made across Michigan, providing more than 14,000 helmets to children while promoting injury prevention and community wellness.  Special guests at the event include local first responders, including the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, Fox 17, the Grand Rapids Police Department, the Grand Rapids Fire Department, Michigan State Police bicycle troopers, the Cosplay Crusaders, and several others. Learn more about the event at Lids for Kids Michigan. [https://lidsforkidsmi.org/]

Healing Trauma Through Neuroscience: Chip & Lisa St. Clair on the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation (05-24-26)

On this episode of iHeartRadio’s West Michigan Weekend, host Phil Tower welcomes Chip and Lisa St. Clair, founders of the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation, [https://www.scbf.org/] for a powerful conversation about trauma, resilience, and transforming lives through neuroscience-informed care. Our conversation explores the deeply personal story that inspired the foundation’s mission, including Chip St. Clair’s extraordinary childhood experience surviving while on the run with his father, a convicted serial child killer.  From that trauma emerged a national nonprofit dedicated to helping young people, educators, and communities better understand the effects of trauma and how healing-centered environments can change outcomes. Phil talks with Chip and Lisa about how the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation works with schools, juvenile justice systems, behavioral health organizations, and community partners across Michigan and the nation to create more stable, supportive, and effective environments for youth and adults alike.  The conversation also highlights the foundation’s growing national impact, including partnerships that have supported more than 40,000 individuals through trauma-informed training, mentorship, and implementation strategies designed to create lasting behavioral and emotional change.   Learn more about the St. Clair Butterfly Foundation and its mission at SCBF.org [https://www.scbf.org/]

From Van Andel to Acrisure Amphitheater: The Curtain Rises on Grand Rapids’ Next Big Stage (05-17-26)

In this episode of West Michigan Weekend, host Phil Tower sits down with Rich MacKeigan, one of the key figures helping shape the future of entertainment, sports, and live events in downtown Grand Rapids. As General Manager overseeing Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall, the brand-new Acrisure Amphitheater, [https://www.acrisureamphitheater.com/]and the future Amway Stadium, MacKeigan offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most transformational moments in West Michigan’s entertainment landscape.   The conversation happens just days after the official opening of the Acrisure Amphitheater on May 15—a milestone, years in the making.   Rich reflects on what the opening means personally and professionally, why the venue is already drawing national attention for its design and riverfront setting, and how the project fits into the evolving identity of downtown Grand Rapids.   Phil and Rich also explore the changing realities of the live entertainment business, including rising ticket prices, shifting concert tour economics, and what venues must do to keep audiences engaged in an increasingly competitive market. The discussion also looks ahead to the arrival of professional soccer in Grand Rapids with the construction of Amway Stadium and the launch of AC Grand Rapids in 2027.   Plus, Rich shares what artists and promoters from around the world are saying about Grand Rapids, why live events still create powerful emotional connections for audiences, and what continues to excite him after nearly three decades in the industry.   As a bonus, Rich shares one of his all-time favorite concert memories and common misconceptions about managing major entertainment venues.   Learn more about the new Acrisure Amphitheater [https://www.acrisureamphitheater.com/] Topics discussed: Live music venues, the economic impact of music and entertainment, downtown Grand Rapids Development, the impact of art and culture on economic development.

The Power of Creating Connection Through Art with Meijer Gardens CEO Charles Burke (05-10-26)

This week on iHeartRadio’s West Michigan Weekend, host Phil Tower talks with Charles Burke, President & CEO, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park [https://www.meijergardens.org/president-ceo/], about the powerful role art, culture, and nature can play in helping communities reconnect and heal during challenging times. Burke reflects on his first three years leading Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, recently recognized for the third consecutive year as the Best Sculpture Park in the United States by USA Today readers.  Our conversation also explores Burke’s recent column, “What the World Needs Now: How Art, Culture, and Nature Can Help Heal Communities in Difficult Times,” [https://expertfile.com/spotlight/11359/what-the-world-needs-now--how-art--culture--and-nature-can-help-heal-communities-in-difficult-times]and examines why shared experiences in cultural spaces matter more than ever in an increasingly divided and technology-driven world. Phil and Charles also discuss the return of world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly and the spectacular new Chihuly at Meijer Gardens exhibition [https://www.meijergardens.org/chihuly-at-meijer-gardens/], now open, and featuring immersive indoor and outdoor installations throughout the gardens. Plus, we also share a preview of the popular Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts [https://www.meijergardens.org/calendar/concerts/] at Meijer Gardens series, the unique concert experience that has become one of West Michigan’s signature summer traditions. Learn more at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park [https://www.meijergardens.org/]

From Service to Community Connection: The Positive Impact of Armed Forces Thanksgiving (05-03-26)

West Michigan is coming together once again to honor those who’ve served—and to strengthen the bonds that connect our community. In this episode of West Michigan Weekend, host Phil Tower sits down with Joe DiBenedetto, co-chair of Armed Forces Thanksgiving, and Adam Lancto, Principal at Grandville High School and board member, to explore the mission and impact of this powerful annual event. Returning May 15 at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids, Armed Forces Thanksgiving brings together veterans, students, and community leaders for a meaningful shared experience centered on service, sacrifice, and connection. What started in 2014 as a luncheon to honor active members of the military as well as military veterans has grown into something much bigger—an investment in the social fabric of West Michigan. The event co-chair, Joe Dibenedetto, shares how proceeds support the West Michigan Veterans Coalition and why supporting veterans strengthens not just individuals, but the region’s workforce and community as a whole. Adam offers insight into how student participation transforms this event into a “live civics lesson,” creating unforgettable moments of intergenerational connection. Joe also discusses the inspiration for the new Hometown Heroes Banners initiative and gives us a preview of keynote speaker Marcus Luttrell, whose story of resilience continues to inspire audiences nationwide.  This year’s event is sold out. Learn more:  Armed Forces Thanksgiving  [https://armedforcesthx.org]