In this episode, Mike takes listeners through his recent holiday to Portugal, covering Lisbon, Porto, the Douro Valley, and just enough airport chaos to keep things interesting. Along the way he talks great hotels, walking tours, cod in its many forms, wine, port, football culture, cocktail bars, trains, fado music, and why Portugal quickly became one of his all-time favorite trips.

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Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Season 6 Episode 2.

2:10: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode.

5:00: Mike kicks things off with the travel day from Detroit to Lisbon. The plan was simple enough: DTW to Boston, Boston to Lisbon. The execution was…less simple. A not-quite-smooth start to the trip, but eventually Portugal appeared on the horizon.

6:30: Mike walks through his first full day in Lisbon, which included getting settled, rooftop drinks, a guided tour of São Jorge Castle, and ending the night properly with cocktails at Red Frog, one of Lisbon’s best-known speakeasy-style bars.

13:00: Day 2 starts strong with an excellent breakfast at the Bairro Alto Hotel, where Mike learns, perhaps a little later in life than expected, how to pronounce açaí. From there, it’s a private walking tour of historic Lisbon with Ugo, followed by afternoon beers at BREW and Delirium Café. The day wraps with a petiscos and wine tour, which proves that small plates and multiple pours are a very good way to understand a city.

21:40: Day 3 brings a trip to a beautiful neoclassical food hall, a visit to the historic Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, and maybe the surprise meal of the whole Lisbon portion of the trip: a Mozambican restaurant that makes a serious case for being one of the best meals in the city. The night ends with live fado, because sometimes you should just let Portugal be Portugal.

28:20: Day 4 means saying goodbye to Lisbon, at least for now, and taking the train north to Porto. Mike gets settled, joins a walking tour that includes a famous bookstore with no need to invoke Harry Potter every three seconds, and then opts for a quiet, restorative night at the Renaissance Porto Lapa.

33:50: Day 5 is all about the Douro River Valley: a boat cruise, wine, more wine, a genuinely memorable lunch, still more wine, and the kind of easy new friendships that sometimes happen when everyone in the van has been drinking excellent Portuguese wine all day.

37:50: Day 6 starts with Mike climbing Clérigos Tower, which turns out to be taller than anticipated, both physically and spiritually. From there, it’s a visit to a distinctive religious art museum, followed by a craft beer and local food tour through Porto’s hidden gems. This includes the famous francesinha, a sandwich that is less “lunch” and more “delicious cardiovascular event.”

44:00: Day 7 is the last full day of the trip. Mike takes the train back to Lisbon, then heads out for a tour of Benfica’s Estádio da Luz, one of the most famous football stadiums in Portugal. A little soccer, a little travel logistics, and the sense that the trip is starting to wind down.

47:00: Day 8 is travel-home day, and Lisbon Airport decides to become Thunderdome. Mike closes out the trip with one last round of airport chaos before heading back to Detroit, slightly tired, very full, and pretty convinced Portugal was worth every minute.

In the Season 7 premiere, Mike welcomes good friends Tom Fishman and Mike “Kuz” Kuzan to the pod for a deeply scholarly, deeply unserious, and deeply Jersey conversation about music from New Jersey artists and the powerful, mysterious, occasionally misunderstood pull of the Garden State. Tom brings the perspective of someone who grew up in Queens and lived in Hoboken, Kuz joins from Asbury Park as both a Jersey resident and actual musician (like Tom), and Mike contributes as a music-loving outsider whose New Jersey knowledge comes largely through short visits, TV, movies, songs, and a healthy respect for places that inspire both pride and defensiveness.

Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast with any questions or requests at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also rate and review the podcast.

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 1 of Season 7

2:00: Mike gives some life updates on what’s been going on with him, including some trip updates (London, St Pete Beach, a hockey trip north and Amsterdam).

4:50: A quick podcast staff wellness check

10:15: Mike welcomes Tom Fishman and Mike “Kuz” Kuzan onto the podcast for a rollicking discussion of who they are and why they’re the perfect guests for this episode on New Jersey music.

17:10: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode.

18:00: The guys discuss the New Jersey myth/vibe and how New Jersey is everywhere.

25:00: What makes an artist “Jersey”

29:00: Kuz describes what it’s like living in Asbury Park

35:00: Mike kicks off the NJ song draft by explaining the ground-breaking format

36:00: A song about the entire country with deep ties to the Garden State AND Saginaw, Michigan.

43:30: A very deep cut song from the Boss about being born to move fast.

52:30: A supergroup track from a bunch of dudes who travel and sing songs about life.

1:02:30: A perfect song to drive into New Jersey if you’re a mob boss.

1:12:05: An homage to the females of Jersey from an icon with a unique singing voice.

1:21:10: This crooner could only approach life one way: his way.

1:30:00: A song about the nostalgia of suburban life in NJ

1:37:00: A rewritten alma mater at Eastside High, take a bow, Mrs. Powers.

1:43:00: A pop punk classic the evokes the 90s in the Garden State perfectly.

1:52:00: Boss-written, Band-performed: AC, baby

2:00:10: A 1970s protest anthem that propels you through a quest for justice

2:14:00: A rollicking bluegrass jam that truly tells a NJ story

Mike kicks off the finale to Season 6, where he discusses one of his favorite end-of-the-year holiday songs. A herculean task to get things down to just 20, Mike and the podcast staff are confident the 20 tracks Mike goes over will set your end-of-the-year holiday mood just right.

• Follow the podcast on Bluesky at @friendsofmiked
• Email the podcast with any questions or requests at talkingfriendship@gmail.com
• Please subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also rate and review the podcast.

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to Episode 6 of Season 6.

2:10: Mike talks a bit more about the format for this holiday music-themed episode

5:20: Mike breaks down his favorite 20 holiday songs of all time (spoiler alert: they are objectively the 20 best to many people)

In Episode 5 of Season 6 Mike welcomes noted college football fans and expert prognosticators Tim Horvath and Chad Massey for the guys’ annual college football preview of the 2025 season.

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E5

1:40: Mike updates the listeners on the plan for the rest of Season 6 of the podcast

2:25: What’s been going on with Mike? Namely trips to Philadelphia and morning horror movies

4:30: Mike breaks down the rest of this episode and features a song that best encapsulates the attitude of the Michigan Wolverines heading into the 2025 season (spoiler alert: it’s not an old attitude)

9:45: Mike welcomes Tim Horvath and Chad Massey onto the podcast. There’s definitely some insurance humor involved as well as some life updates

15:15: Mike sets the table for the rest of the episode, starting with a quick recap of the 2024 season as well as a tailgate tradition that involves the mantra

29:20: The guys give their thoughts on the big offseason recruiting news about incoming freshman QB Bryce Underwood

37:50: The fellas then talk about which true freshmen they’re most excited about outside of Bryce Underwood

43:45: Next up is discussing their favorite pickups in the transfer portal for the Wolverines

46:40: The Big 10 has some annoying head coaches and the guys discuss them in non-annoying detail

54:15: Should the College Football Playoff be expanded from 12 to 16 teams? The guys debate this (in a respectful manner)

57:10: Reasons for optimism for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:01:00: Reasons for concern for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:04:00: Key position groups for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:07:00: Key individual players for the 2025 Michigan football season

1:11:00: The guys break down every game on Michigan’s 2025 schedule, starting with game 1 with the game against New Mexico Lobos

1:12:30: Oklahoma

1:17:00: Central Michigan

1:18:00: Nebraska

1:20:00: Bye Week (First ever Big House concert)

1:21:40: Wisconsin

1:24:50: USC

1:28:00: Washington

1:31:00: Michigan State

1:34:45: Purdue

1:36:15: Bye week

1:36:30: Northwestern (at Wrigley Field)

1:39:00: Maryland

1:41:00: Ohio State

1:46:00: The guys finish up by picking the Big 10 champions, the teams who will make the College Football Playoff and the National Champion.

In Episode 4 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his observational-in-a-comedic-way dear friends Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan to talk about two things: Life + Seinfeld and how much it’s meant to them over the years (this is Part 2 of an epic two part pod).

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E4 featuring four dear friends (Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan) for part 2 of a love letter to their favorite show from the 90s about nothing aka Seinfeld!

2:30: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of Season 6

3:10: Mike corrects an English river-based mistake from S5E2

4:10: What’s been going on with Mike D? Mike breaks things down and they involve Mike getting a new Tottenham-related customized tattoo somewhere on his body, trips to Cleveland and Philadelphia, some great TV (The Bear on Hulu and The Eternaut on Netflix).

11:30: Mike kicks off Part 2 of the conversation about Seinfeld by catching up with the guests and learning how their lives have changed (for the better) since Part 1 dropped.

15:30: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode of talking about the guys’ favorite 10 individual episodes of the show

16:00: The Contest

33:10: The Bizarro Jerry

48:50: The Merv Griffin Show

1:03:30: The Pitch/Ticket

1:18:35: The Opposite

1:32:20: The Strike

1:45:50: The Pony Remark

2:00:00: The Understudy

2:16:50: The Wizard

2:28:20: The Marine Biologist

In Episode 3 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his observational-in-a-comedic-way dear friends Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan to talk about two things: Life + Seinfeld and how much it’s meant to them over the years (this is Part 1 of an epic two part pod).

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E3 featuring four dear friends (Todd Pretty, Tim Rechtien, John Baker and Chris Allan) for a love letter to their favorite show from the 90s about nothing.

2:00: Mike updates the listeners on a recent trip to one of his favorite cities: Toronto, capping things over with an anthem about his new favorite soccer clubs, Toronto FC (7:05).

12:00: Mike welcomes the crew from Monk’s (Todd, Tim, John and Chris) to the podcast and checks in w/ how they each are doing life-wise.

17:45: The guys then check in on when they last saw each other in person, including a new baby in Denver and a disease known as Tigers Fever.

23:30: Mike lays out the premise for the rest of the episode and starts by asking the guys how they first found Seinfeld, which includes several home recordings that weren’t exactly street legal.

33:00: The guys then talk about whether the show grabbed them right away as something they loved.

37:40: Next up the guys quickly talk about their favorite character of the “Big 4” (Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer).

51:50: Has the show stood the test of time? The guys definitively answer this question.

59:40: It’s the meat of this Part 1: the guys talk through their top ancillary (non-core 4) Seinfeld characters.

1:00:30: George Steinbrenner

1:06:10: Bob Sacamano

1:11:00: Tim Whatley

1:18:20: Izzy Mandelbaum

1:25:15: Jackie Chiles

1:32:20: Lt. Joe Bookman

1:44:40: Jacolo “J” Peterman

1:48:20: David Puddy

1:56:00: Newman

2:06:10: Frank Costanza

In Episode 2 of Season 6 Mike welcomes his mate from Sheffield (England), Mark Charlton, for a scholarly discussion of the music of BritPop, redefining the genre in the process.

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E2 featuring Mark Charlton and a deep dive on all things BritPop

2:10: Mike updates the listeners on what’s been going on with him, including a trip to the Balkans (specifically Belgrade) for a mix of history, and going to see a phenomenal new film Sinners

12:20: Mike welcomes Mark Charlton to the podcast and he tells his life story having grown up in Sheffield, England and how it reminds him a bit of Detroit

16:00: The guys then trace the origins of their friendship via the Ann Arbor Mug Club including the last time they saw each other as well as a discussion of some amazing music artwork/infographics (wearedorothy.com) in Mark’s basement

20:40: Mike lays out the premise of the episode and discuss what BritPop means to them, including the music itself and the movement around it (and of course the rivalries!)

27:30: The guys discuss their 14 favorite BritPop songs of all time, starting with a song about a type of gold from one of Manchester's most decorated bands

40:30: A song for all people and one that involves a biting take down of class tourism that is also a propulsive jam

53:00: One of all time best Deborahs gets referenced in this romantic jam from one of Sheffield’s all time greatest bands

1:02:00: A song about going on holiday in Greece and letting you freak flag fly

1:12:00: A song from a massive BritPop band that’s both fun and a bit a surprising

1:21:20: A song about being alone on a motorcycle

1:30:30: An epic, atmospheric heightening song in every note

1:41:20: A B-side from a pioneer BritPop band about a glorious river

1:48:15: An amazing cover that completely reinvents the original song around a BritPop beat for the ages

1:57:25: An underrated song from band with instructions to sit (not stand)

2:05:40: A song from a UK band from the West Midlands who actually know a lot

2:13:00: A (largely) romantic upbeat song from the vision of one man

2:19:20: The swagger-inducing and enhancing song from a band with a flower in its name that’s also about love

2:28:15: The last song of the episode is a fitting end that focuses on looking forward (not backward)

In Episode 1 of Season 6 Mike welcomes two good buddies onto the podcast to kick off the season for a free flowing conversation about the friendship ties that bind and a yearly tradition that has become legendary from coast to coast.

Follow the podcast on BLUESKY: @friendsofmiked

Email the podcast at talkingfriendship@gmail.com

Key moments from the pod:

0:30: Mike welcomes listeners to S6E1 featuring Mark Sgriccia and Zach Drennen!

1:45: Mike sets the table for Season 6 of the podcast

2:28: MIke then talks about what’s been going on with him since Season 5 of the pod ended and it involves A LOT of amazing traveling including trips to:

3:20: Cancun!

4:00: Glasgow! (where Mike tried to play the bagpipes and failed miserably)

6:00: London! (where Mike scaled monuments, watched football (soccer), and learned some rock and roll history).

8:00: Canada (specifically Alberta) to see the Red Wings take down the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames along with soaking in some Canadian culture and fresh brews.

11:00: Italy (specifically Rome, Florence and Milan) for history, food, art, architecture, sport and friendship building!

14:15: Mike plays a smidge of an Italian song that he was listening to while traversing Italia on the trip.

18:00: Mike brings on two true blue Wolverines who have skyrocketed up his personal FQR (friendship quality rankings).

21:00: Mike lays out the plan for the rest of the episode, including introducing a long-standing friendship tradition

22:45: The guys get into the last time they saw each other, including an epic March Madness gathering at Zach’s as well as at the beginning of the Dusty May era.

28:00: Zach and Mark give their respective histories about becoming Michigan fans.

33:15: Zach then talks about how he’s become the wizard of recaps.

34:15: The guys talk about how they first crossed paths at the Michigan/Penn State game in State College in 2023.

42:30: Zach and Mark reflect on what the 2023 Michigan football season means to them.

47:15: The guys then talk about the 2024 season and how it compared to 2023 as well as noting how Ohio State’s 2024 “championship” season will forever be less than.

55:00: Mark and Zach then give the history of their road game weekend tradition.

1:02:00: The guys then go over the most recent iteration of this epic tradition: the Michigan/Washington game in Seattle in 2024.

1:09:00: Mark then talks through how the specific road game for the RGWT (road game weekend tradition) gets chosen which involves a west coast BBQ, a powerpoint/Google slides presentation and data-informed decision making.

1:15:00: The guys then discuss the plans for the 2025 Michigan/USC road game in LA (which is NOT necessarily the official RGWT choice for the 2025 season.

1:19:00: The guys then talk about the vibes for the 2025 Michigan football team as of the spring of 2025.

1:24:45: The episode comes to an end with the guys sharing what makes the RGWT special and where it might go.