What's with the Pineapple?

Hosted by Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to What’s with the Pineapple? A podcast about what’s happening in Michigan’s hospitality industry delivered directly through your speakers brought to you by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. We know that pineapples don’t grow in Michigan, but just trust us. Throughout this podcast, the MRLA will share a deeper discussion with you about current events, major headlines and trends, updates on what's happening at the Capitol in Lansing and Washington D.C., as well as welcome a new interview to each episode.

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58 recent

June 8, 202637 min

Ep. 58 - From the Counter to the Courtyard

Some episodes have a theme and this one is showing up. One hundred and fifty operators showed up to Capitol Day. Senate Bill 304 showed up across the finish line. A Detroit brewery makes sure it'll never stop showing up. And then there's Brandon Markle, who is showing up — behind a counter, in a hotel lobby, on a national awards stage, and in-person in the studio for this interview. The GM of the Courtyard by Marriott Lansing Downtown started behind a McDonald's counter and by 28 is running a hotel, winning awards, and building a team that actually reflects the community he serves. His take on authentic leadership, mentorship, and never letting frustration leak is the kind of conversation that makes you want to be better at your job. Whatever your job is. Presented by Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, Rhodes PLDC. Find more information at https://fsbrlaw.com/

May 8, 202656 min

Ep. 57 - We're Going to Netflix

Salad stuffed into a baguette is apparently the hottest thing in food right now, Mackinac Island's ferry system is under attack, and a proposed $4 billion service tax in Lansing has us paying very close attention. But honestly? You should listen in for the interview. Chef Andrew Sargent, winner of Netflix's Next Gen Chef, trained under Daniel Boulud at the eponymous Daniel before running day-to-day kitchen operations at Thomas Keller's three Michelin-starred Per Se — and he joins the pod to deliver one of our best conversations yet. Craft, pressure, mentorship, and why putting your personality on a plate is frankly a little self-indulgent. His words, not ours. We agree completely. Presented by Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, Rhodes PLDC. Find more information at https://fsbrlaw.com/

April 22, 202647 min

Ep. 56 - Living Like Gypsy (Distillery)

Today's episode opens somewhere more somber than usual. Justin and Emily take a moment to honor John McNamara — friend, colleague, and the record-holder for most guest appearances on this podcast — before getting back to the business of Michigan hospitality, which is exactly what Johnny Mac would have wanted. From there, the segments pick back up: Detroit lands in the newly launched Michelin Guide American Great Lakes edition, Open Table is mandating restaurants make it their system of record and the streaming rights chaos around NFL Sunday Ticket is creating real headaches for bars trying to keep the games on. Then Justin and Emily pour a drink and sit down with Adam and Michael Kazanowski, the brothers behind Gypsy Distillery in Northern Michigan. Their origin story involves moving to Colorado in pursuit of finding their life's passion, living out of a van working music festivals, and one letter that landed them with a view that would stop anyone in their tracks. They are, as Justin correctly identifies, storytellers as much as distillers, Cheers! Presented by Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, Rhodes PLDC. Find more information at https://fsbrlaw.com/

March 23, 202651 min

Ep. 55 - Take a Bite Out of Nationals

What's with the Pineapple is making history this episode — first ever remote segment (Justin's phoning it in from Traverse City, literally) and Emily's first solo interview. The segments cover a big tip credit win out of Chicago, where the City Council voted to halt the phase-out, Justin's productive DC fly-in for Restaurants Act, movement on Michigan's open and obvious doctrine, and Grand Rapids swinging big (hopefully) on a 600-room convention hotel. Emily also takes a massive bite out of Burget King's new marketing campaign. In the second half, Emily sits down with Diana Woodward of Plymouth Canton Educational Park and Katie Agacinski of DCTC at Riverview — first place finishers in culinary and management at this year's record-breaking ProStart state competition. They talk nationals, what makes ProStart students hireable, and why making a judge tear up is a legitimate benchmark for success.Presented by the MRL Fund. Find more information at mrla.org/mrl-fund.html Support MHF and send ProStart teams off to the National ProStart Invitational by attending ProStart in Paradies. Tickets available at https://www.mihf.org/prostartinparadise.html.

February 27, 20261 hr 2 min

Ep. 54 - Taking Hospitality to New Heights

Pete Beukema literally flies planes and wants Michigan's hospitality industry to reach similar altitudes. The new MRLA Chairman talks Brady Bunch-style family business dynamics, why property taxes are killing development deals, and how Pure Michigan keeps getting shortchanged while surrounding states actually invest in tourism. Crown and Core discovers protein infiltrating every menu, the GLP-1 fascination continues with new data showing users still dining out, and somehow the great pepperoni diversity debate makes an appearance alongside Justin's third Chipotle reference in as many episodes. Then For Forks Sake lives up to its segment name with topics on a proposed 6% sales tax on tourism services to fund property tax cuts and the governor's $88 billion budget proposals. Pete's vision is straightforward – stop chasing shiny corporate deals, help operators on every street corner and fund tourism like Michigan actually wants visitors. Presented by the MRL Fund. Find more information at mrla.org/mrl-fund.html

December 23, 202542 min

Ep. 53 - Give the Gift of Travel

It's a Christmas miracle – another episode before year's end, thanks to producer Joe getting married and leaving Emily to discover he makes them sound way better than they actually are. After Crown and Core debuts Michigan's first "outdoor hotel" (it's a campground with aspirations) and This Week in Michigan History reveals the 1948 Supreme Court ban on female bartenders lasted until 1976, Pure Michigan's Kelly Wolgamott joins to celebrate the campaign's 20th anniversary. Kelly explains navigating budget cuts from $30 million to $17 million while maintaining Fast Company "Brands That Matter" status, promotes Michigan's ranking as second nationally with 40+ ski areas, and champions winter tourism from the I-500 to frozen Tahquamenon Falls. The conversation covers supporting local businesses through travel gift cards, developing a strategic plan with 600+ industry stakeholders, and why redirecting online purchases to Michigan businesses could create 12,000 jobs. Between Grand Rapids' first mocktail bar (Emily predicted this nine years ago), record holiday travel with 122 million Americans road-tripping, and Kelly casually mentioning she swam the Mackinac Straits in three-foot waves, this episode delivers exactly what the title promises.

December 5, 202545 min

Ep. 52 - The Cheeseburger Index

Detroit's winning and has the receipts to prove it – literally hundreds of millions of them. Before DoorDash economist Erica Blom reveals why the Motor City ranks third nationally with a $12.90 cheeseburger meal (national average: $18.58), Emily declares war on boring modern architecture while Justin explains Michigan's bizarre post-prohibition liquor control system. It’s a battle of the opening segments. The main event delivers DoorDash's groundbreaking State of Local Commerce report built from hundreds of millions of transactions across 100 cities. Detroit dominates: 94% restaurant resilience rate, 21% new restaurant growth on the platform, and proof that restaurant spending is outpacing inflation nationally. Between America's 250 billion pennies creating cash chaos and restoring Brand USA funding ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary, this episode proves data really is king – and Detroit is winning.

October 24, 202532 min

Ep. 51 - Don't Call it a Comeback

You can't spell "reunited" without... well, actually you can, but Emily's back anyway to defend the podcast segments after Justin's three-episode soundboard discovery tour. The duo kicks off with the 1835 Toledo War where Michigan traded a swampy Ohio strip for the entire Upper Peninsula (clear winner: Michigan), before diving into why Pure Michigan's $17 million budget is an embarrassment when Wisconsin is eating our lunch with better marketing dollars. Airbnb thinks slapping a 3% tax on hotels and short-term rentals that funds literally anything except tourism is "parity" – cute, but no. Between celebrating Michigan-based pizza dominance that nobody talks about enough, Joe Vicari claiming prime JW Marriott real estate, and navigating the THC beverage Wild West, this episode proves Emily's return couldn't come soon enough. Some things change, some stay exactly the same – welcome back to chaos. Editor’s note: short-term rental legislation did not end up being introduced on the day of this episode recording as expected.

September 26, 202557 min

Ep. 50 - Music Licensing Made Eas(ier)

Justin welcomes the Vice President of Industry Relations at Broadcast Music Inc (BMI) Vice, Dan Spears, to share what makes BMI different than other Performance Rights Organizations (PRO’s) and how their partnership with the MRLA provides meaningful value and transparency for members. Dan also welcomes BMI artist and fellow Michigander Julianne Ankley to share her experience working with the company before making What’s with the Pineapple podcast history as its first musical performance. Julianne was nothing short of great, but clearly we at the MRLA have work to do in the studio before welcoming any more acoustical guests! Justin also shares the outline of a possible budget deal to avert a shutdown of our state government, analysis of two interesting reports out in the restaurant and hotel industries and his aggressive support the American Franchise Act. And, perhaps most important of all, back by little (to no) demand – This Week in Michigan History returns for a third time! There is no better way to enjoy a beautiful early Fall day in our great state. Enjoy!

September 5, 202550 min

Ep. 49 - Baldly, Brutally Partisan

Justin welcomes back Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest and John Sellek of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs who jointly share their inside the Lansing beltway expertise under the moniker “Baldly Bipartisan”. The trio discuss the status of the 2026 governor’s race in Michigan, with a real focus on the impact that independent candidate Mike Duggan has had on the dynamics before previewing the open US Senate seat and potential constitutional convention. They wrap the interview by predicting outcomes of the hotly partisan standoff on the state budget, which could result in a government shutdown if Republican Speaker of the House Matt Hall and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks cannot resolve differences by October 1. Justin also brings back This Week in Michigan History, a real keeper of a segment (in Justin’s mind) and a few industry plaudits before transitioning to the interview. Enjoy!