Everything Is Local

This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
The Ohio season of Love Is Blind, the wild premise behind the pods, and whether love really can be blind when cameras and weddings are involved.
Team USA’s Olympic hockey gold, the men’s and women’s victories, locker room politics, and why the whole country actually felt united for once.
Presidential medals, State of the Union reactions, Dave Smith’s takes, and the ongoing culture war conversation around immigration and identity politics.
The continued Sheetz debate in Beachwood, the Porsche property “carrot,” zoning maneuvering, and whether city leaders are listening to residents and business owners.
TIF negotiations, executive sessions, and the bigger question of who local government decisions are really serving.
Gambling wins, playoff hopes, and why regular-season hockey just won’t hit the same after that gold medal game.
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This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
Team USA pride, Olympic Hockey, hometown star Layla Edwards, and the controversy surrounding Eileen Gu competing for China.
Why patriotism hits differently during the Olympics, and the fine line between criticism and toxic narratives.
A recap of the Beachwood public hearing on Sheetz, including strong opposition from local business owners and concerns about traffic, crime, and long-term development strategy.
The Porsche property “carrot,” what might happen in committee, and predictions about how the rezoning vote could unfold.
The Fairmount Temple TIF debate, school funding implications, and whether elected officials are truly representing residents’ voices.
Middle school dance season, parenting wins and losses, Guardians spring training, and a $10 parlay that turned into $415.
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This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
Valentine’s Day plans (or lack thereof), steaks in the oven, and why love doesn’t need a designated calendar date.
The upcoming zoning hearing for Sheetz and what’s at stake locally.
The hospital property purchase at Richmond and Chagrin, what happens when major properties come off the tax rolls, and how that shifts the burden onto other property owners.
TIFs, the Fairmount Temple development, and the bigger picture of how local tax decisions impact schools and county services.
The Super Bowl halftime show, Bad Bunny, culture war reactions, and what makes a truly great performance.
Olympic hockey, Cavs roster moves, and whether James Harden is the missing piece.
Epstein fallout, Pam Bondi’s congressional hearing moment, and what accountability should look like regardless of party.
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This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
Wild college stories, including an infamous $400 bar tab and the kind of decisions that become legendary years later
Unfiltered memories about friendships, graduation week chaos, and the moments you definitely wouldn’t recommend repeating
The sudden shift to recording from home and what it took to keep the show going
How a five-year Lego City was lovingly cleared out and transformed into a brand-new podcast studio, thanks to some incredible family teamwork
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Ep. 41 of the “Everything is Local Podcast” starts with Mike and Shana discussing the TIF Mayor Berns is proposing for the Fairmount Temple property. When a developmemt would occur without a TIF (like this Fairmount Temple property that had 9 developers respond to the RFQ, competing to be the developer chosen to develop the property), issuing a TIF doesn’t create anything that wouldn’t have happened without it and just diverts millions of property tax dollars that would go to the Beachwood Schools, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, cuyahoga county Health and Human services fund, Cuyahoga Community College, Cuyahoga County Public Library, and the Cleveland Metroparks.
This is a great episode where Mike and Shana talk about:
The idea of “Rational America” and how most people, regardless of political party, still share basic moral lines.
Political extremism, recent acts of violence, and the difference between disagreement and dehumanization.
Immigration, family separation, and how people can support policy while criticizing how it’s carried out.
A very adult and hilarious turn into hockey fandom, podcast recommendations, and a certain TV series that is definitely not safe to watch with kids.
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