Mike Dell's World

DEC 9, 2025

Legacy Aviation Learning Center in Traverse City – Interview with the founder, Dan Jonkhoff

<img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2141" src="https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/legacylogo-300x151.png" alt="" width="300" height="151" srcset="https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/legacylogo-300x151.png 300w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/legacylogo-1024x517.png 1024w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/legacylogo-768x388.png 768w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/legacylogo-850x429.png 850w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/legacylogo.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />In this episode of “Mike Dell’s World,” host Mike Dell interviews Dan Jonkhoff, the founder and chairman of Legacy Aviation Learning Center in Traverse City. The episode discusses the unique opportunity to earn an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license in just one year, as opposed to the typical two or more years required by other programs. He begins the interview with Dan, who shares his background as a former funeral director and his journey into aviation. Dan discusses how his retirement was dull, prompting him to seek involvement in the airport authority, leading to the creation of Legacy Aviation. The conversation covers the school’s unique one-year program, facilitated by new FAA regulations aimed at addressing a significant shortage of A&P mechanics projected in the coming years. Dan explains how they turned the idea of creating a mechanic school into reality, assisted by Dr. Sean Galligan, who helped them develop the program within a year. The school allows students to learn in a hands-on environment, focusing on practical experience with various projects like safety wiring and riveting. Dan highlights that students can expect a tight-knit learning environment, with a favorable instructor-to-student ratio, and discusses the school’s job placement success rate, boasting that all graduates find jobs shortly after completing their training. He outlines how the school has gradually increased its student enrollment and plans to accept even more in the future. Throughout the interview, they touch on the various learning facilities, the support for veterans, and the exciting community atmosphere that has emerged around the school. The program includes additional support to ensure all students can take their FAA licensing exams without the financial burden typically associated with such tests.

37 MIN

NOV 30, 2025

We did it! (Ok, I did it!) – Introducing Cup Of Traverse City

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-2133 size-medium" src="https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c-300x300.jpg 300w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c-150x150.jpg 150w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c-768x768.jpg 768w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c-850x850.jpg 850w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cotc1400c.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /> Episode 30 of NaPodPoMo2025 is in the books, and it’s got me thinking — I’m not quite ready to stop doing daily episodes. But instead of continuing that here on Mike Dell’s World, I’m spinning up something new. Starting December 1st, 2025, I’m launching a brand-new weekday morning show called “Cup of Traverse City.” You’ll find it on its own feed at: <ul> <li> <a href="https://podcast.show/cotc/">https://podcast.show/cotc/</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://cupoftraversecity.com">https://cupoftraversecity.com</a> </li> </ul> The plan is simple: a 5-minute (or so) episode every weekday around 8 a.m. Traverse City time. I’ll be recording while I’m having my morning coffee, chatting about whatever’s going on — interesting weather, life stuff, and what’s happening in and around Northern Michigan. The format will be a bit of a work in progress at first. I’m sure I’ll settle into a groove over time, and my hope is that it becomes a nice little part of your morning routine. I’d really love your feedback as this gets rolling. You can reach me: <ul> <li> By email: [email protected] </li> <li> On social media: mostly Facebook or X </li> </ul> Let me know what you think, and what you’d like me to talk about on Cup of Traverse City.

7 MIN

NOV 29, 2025

Why Podcasting is Special

In this episode, I spend some time reflecting on what makes podcasting such a unique and enduring medium. After more than twenty years behind the microphone, I’m still struck by how something so simple — an audio file delivered through a humble RSS feed — continues to connect people in a way no other medium really does. I talk about how podcasting grew up as an open technology, free from the control of big platforms or gatekeepers. That openness is part of its magic. Anyone can start a show, anyone can subscribe, and no single company controls whether a podcast lives or dies. It’s the last truly open publishing system on the internet, and that freedom is worth celebrating. But podcasting is special for more than just the technology. There’s a kind of intimacy in audio that you don’t get with video or with text on a screen. When someone listens to a podcast, the host is right there with them — in their car, on a walk, working in the garage, or flying along on a cross-country in the RV-12. It’s a personal connection, one voice to one listener, in a way that feels almost old-fashioned, yet perfectly modern. I also talk about how easy podcasting is to get started with and how accessible it still is for anyone who wants to share a story. You don’t need fancy cameras or editing suites. You just need a microphone, a place to publish, and something to say. That simplicity has helped the medium grow without losing its soul. Toward the end, I share a bit of personal appreciation — how even after all these years, podcasting still feels fun, creative, and liberating. It’s a place where I can talk about anything from Northern Michigan history to flying to everyday life, and people choose to come along for the ride. If you’ve ever wondered why podcasting still matters, or if you’ve been thinking about starting your own show, this episode is my way of reminding you what makes this medium so special.

21 MIN

NOV 28, 2025

Traverse City State Hospital

<img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2118" src="https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Traverse_City_State_Hospital_postcard_circa_1930.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="333" srcset="https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Traverse_City_State_Hospital_postcard_circa_1930.jpg 500w, https://mikedell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Traverse_City_State_Hospital_postcard_circa_1930-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" />In this episode, Mike dives into the deep and fascinating history of one of Traverse City’s most iconic landmarks: the Traverse City State Hospital, also known historically as the Northern Michigan Asylum and the Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital. Recorded on November 28, 2025 (yes, Black Friday—no, he’s not out shopping), Mike shares personal stories, local history, and some memories connected to the vast and beautiful grounds of what is now called the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. <h2>What Mike Covers in This Episode</h2> <h3>🏥 A Brief History of the State Hospital</h3> <ul> <li> Established in 1881 and opened in 1885. </li> <li> Founded by Dr. James Decker Munson, namesake of Munson Healthcare, alongside Traverse City’s “father,” Perry Hanna. </li> <li> Built as a Kirkbride Plan psychiatric hospital—one of four in Michigan and the only one still standing and in active use today (though no longer as a hospital). </li> </ul> <h3>🏛️ Architecture & Design</h3> <ul> <li> Beautiful Victorian-style buildings with spires, long wings, wide porches, and landscaped grounds. </li> <li> Built on the idea of beauty, light, and nature aiding psychiatric healing. </li> <li> Gorgeous gardens supported by on-site greenhouses that provided year-round flowers. </li> </ul> <h3>🌳 A Self-Sustaining Community</h3> <ul> <li> The hospital operated as its own little world: <ul> <li> Farms with cattle, pigs, chickens, crops, and orchards </li> <li> Their own power plant </li> <li> Workshops and barns (now part of Historic Barns Park) </li> </ul> </li> <li> Many patients (or “clients,” as some staff called them) worked on the grounds as part of daily life. </li> </ul> <h3>👨‍⚕️ Mike’s Personal Connections</h3> <ul> <li> Both of Mike’s paternal grandparents worked there—his grandmother as an RN and his grandfather as an orderly. </li> <li> He shares memories of neighbors and relatives who worked on the hospital farm and grounds. </li> <li> He also reminisces about staying as a kid in the Perry Hanna House (now a funeral home)—a mansion connected to the founders of the hospital. </li> </ul> <h3>🏚️ Abandonment and Renewal</h3> <ul> <li> After closing in the late 20th century, some buildings fell into disrepair. </li> <li> Today, Building 50 has been reborn with: <ul> <li> Condos and apartments </li> <li> Offices </li> <li> Shops, galleries, and restaurants in the lower level, known as The Grotto </li> </ul> </li> <li> Other “cottages” are slowly being restored, while tours still visit the untouched and eerie sections. </li> </ul> <h3>🚶 Ghost Stories, Tunnels & Tours</h3> <ul> <li> The site is rich with lore—including tunnels connecting buildings. </li> <li> Mike mentions wanting to have his friend Chris (a local historian and photographer) on the podcast to go deeper into the legends, stories, and details. </li> </ul> <h3>☕ Coffee Deliveries at Sunrise</h3> Mike also shares a personal memory of delivering bagels to Cup of Joe in Building 50’s grotto back when his wife ran a bagel shop—always grabbing a cup of coffee around 5:30 a.m. <h3>🌄 A Landmark on the Hill</h3> <ul> <li> As you drive into Traverse City from the south (US-31 / M-37), the spires of Building 50 rise out of the trees—a recognizable introduction to town. </li> </ul> <h2>🎙️ Coming Up</h2> <ul> <li> November 29: “Why Podcasting Is So Special” </li> <li> November 30: A special final NaPodPoMo episode to close out the month </li> </ul> Thanks for listening, and catch Mike tomorrow for more!

11 MIN

NOV 27, 2025

Traverse City is still a small town, or is it?

In this Thanksgiving Day episode, Mike reflects on the holiday, family, and the evolving character of Traverse City. It’s a bittersweet year—his family’s first Thanksgiving without his dad—but also a moment to appreciate traditions, good food, and time spent together. From recent crime stories to long-standing local quirks, Mike explores whether Traverse City still feels like the small town he grew up in. He shares personal stories, local history, neighborhood breakdowns, and observations about everything from fast food failures to the layout of the airport and high schools. <h2>Topics Covered</h2> <h3>Thanksgiving Reflections</h3> <ul> <li> Sending well-wishes to listeners celebrating the holiday. </li> <li> The first Thanksgiving without Mike’s dad and the tradition of leaving an empty chair at the table. </li> </ul> <h3>Is Traverse City Still a Small Town?</h3> <ul> <li> Recent unusual crime events: <ul> <li> The Walmart stabbing last summer. </li> <li> A fatal parking-deck shooting involving car break-ins. </li> <li> An attempted abduction at the Meijer gas station. </li> </ul> </li> <li> Why these big incidents still feel like “small-town news.” </li> </ul> <h3>Population & Geography</h3> <ul> <li> 2020 Census: About 16,000 people inside Traverse City limits. </li> <li> Metro area: ~153,000 across four counties (Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska). </li> <li> Mike’s spot just outside the city—technically East Bay Township, but “still Traverse City” in daily life. </li> </ul> <h3>Neighborhoods & Areas Mentioned</h3> <ul> <li> Downtown District </li> <li> Traverse Heights </li> <li> Old Town </li> <li> Central Neighborhoods </li> <li> Greilickville </li> <li> Acme / Williamsburg </li> <li> “Miracle Mile” – hotels and tourist strip on the bay </li> </ul> <h3>Tourism & Seasons</h3> <ul> <li> Summer vs. winter crowds </li> <li> Winter visitors: snowmobilers, skiers, ice fishermen </li> <li> Bars downtown still feel local and familiar in the off-season </li> </ul> <h3>Traverse City Schools</h3> <ul> <li> Current schools: Central, West, Traverse City High School (Mavericks), plus Catholic Central. </li> <li> Stories about the old buildings, snow-exposed walkways, and campus redesigns. </li> <li> The near-identical design of TC West and the Columbine High School campus. </li> </ul> <h3>Airports & Travel</h3> <ul> <li> Cherry Capital Airport still feels small—Mike knows most of the airline and TSA staff. </li> <li> No Amtrak service in Traverse City yet; nearest connections are Grand Rapids or Holland. </li> <li> Mike’s go-to workaround: driving to New Buffalo to catch the train to Chicago. </li> </ul> <h3>Parking & Downtown Life</h3> <ul> <li> Legacy of parking meters (now digital), plus multiple parking decks. </li> <li> Cherry Festival setup: rides, games, food stands—including local favorite Gibby Fries. </li> <li> Arnold Amusements (based in Acme) runs many Michigan carnivals. </li> </ul> <h3>Roundabouts, Traffic, and Small-Town Quirks</h3> <ul> <li> Late-night flashing signals </li> <li> The ongoing roundabout debate </li> <li> Getting across town in only ~15 minutes even on a busy day </li> </ul> <h3>Fast Food in Traverse City – A Unique Landscape</h3> <ul> <li> Chains that didn’t survive: several McDonald’s, Burger Kings, Arby’s, Ruby Tuesday, Hooters </li> <li> Three Meijer stores serving the area (original, Acme/Williamsburg, and soon Chum’s Corners) </li> <li> Local burger highlights: Slabtown Burgers, Bubba’s, Eastfield’s Proper Burger (with commentary) </li> </ul> <h3>Local Dining Identity</h3> <ul> <li> Traverse City tends to favor local restaurants over big chains </li> <li> Well-loved local Mexican places like La Señorita </li> </ul> <h2>Closing Thoughts</h2> Mike wraps up with a warm Thanksgiving message—hoping listeners enjoy good food, family, and gratitude—and shares appreciation for being able to create a daily episode for NaPodPoMo.

25 MIN

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