Looking back, 2025 will not be remembered as a year of singular transformation. It will be remembered as a year when Michigan repeatedly relied on last minute negotiations to prevent failure, even as meaningful history was made with the election of Mary Sheffield and early commitments hinted at more transformative change still ahead. 

Each week on Beyond Both Sides, we try to step back from the noise and spend time on ideas that shape public life. The goal is not to chase the daily outrage cycle, but to understand the forces that sit underneath it. History. Institutions. People. Choices. 

During this week’s episode, I was joined by John Truscott, our fearless leader and  frequent contributor to the show, for our Deep Dive conversation. From the start, we set out with a specific question in mind. As the holiday season approaches, what are the gifts that actually deepen our connection to civic life, history, and the places we care about, especially here in Michigan? 

That conversation became the foundation for this guide. 

What follows is a very Michigan approach to holiday giving. Books that sharpen how we think. Journalism that keeps us informed and grounded. Memberships that support the institutions preserving Michigan’s story across the state. These are gifts meant to be opened slowly and enjoyed all year.

If you are dreading the moment when politics enters a holiday gathering, you are not alone. 

Americans have always disagreed about politics. But the last 25 years have been uniquely fraught. The Iraq War, the Great Recession, the election of Donald Trump, and the rise of social media have reshaped how people talk about politics and how personally those disagreements are felt. Reporting from outlets like The New York Times and NPR shows that political identity has become more closely tied to personal identity, raising the emotional stakes of even casual conversations. 

The point of politics is not to win every tactical exchange. It is to build the capacity to govern and to improve people’s lives. That means keeping all three goals in view. 

Political wins matter. Communications clarity matters. Serving the public matters most. 

Now that government is grinding back to life and airports aren’t in full meltdown mode, pundits are rushing to treat the shutdown like a football game. Who won? Who had the better offense? Who blew the coverage?

When Detroit elected Mary Sheffield as its next mayor, the headlines focused on history. She is the first woman to lead the city in 324 years. That is meaningful and worth celebrating, but it is only part of the story. Her election represents something deeper, a shift in tone and a chance to take on Detroit’s most persistent challenge: perception.

Allie Walker and Ryan Gajewski welcome Ryan back to his old stomping grounds (yes, the red couch lives on). At the time, he was serving as Community & Partnerships Manager at The Dispatch, where he managed community engagement and podcast production. Before The Dispatch, Ryan spent nearly two years at NBC’s Meet the Press, researching interviews, crafting panel segments, and producing episodes of the Chuck Todd-cast. His path started with the John Carroll–Russert Fellowship at Meet the Press…and, even earlier, a formative internship right here at Truscott Rossman. 

Everyone’s talking about AI like it’s a UFO that just landed on the front lawn.  At Truscott Rossman and Say More, we’re already riding shotgun. 

Ryan Gajewski and co-host Allie Walker sit down with Michelle, who at the time of recording served as Senior Vice President of Market Growth & Business Attraction at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). Since then, Michelle has been promoted to the role of Chief Communications & Attraction Officer, overseeing business attraction and market growth in her expanded capacity at the organization.

Ryan Gajewski and Allie Walker sit down with leadership advisor and author Ken Bogard to dig into the power—and limits—of honesty at work. From managing a dine‑in Pizza Hut at 17 to turning around underperforming restaurants and guiding leadership teams today, Ken’s through‑line is simple: tell the truth, deliver it with love, and never lose who you are. 

Before she led one of West Michigan’s premier leadership programs, Megan Rydecki was answering phones, managing calendars, and learning the rhythms of local government as the assistant to the city manager in Wyoming, Michigan. That “to” matters, she jokes — a nod to The Office’s Dwight Schrute — but the distinction is fitting. The role wasn’t glamorous, but it became the foundation for everything that followed. 

Allie Walker reflects on her recent trip to Boston to participate in the Croft Society’s annual conference.

If you’ve spent any time around Grand Rapids’ food and beverage scene, you’ve probably felt the gravitational pull of City Built Brewing—part neighborhood hangout, part lab for creativity, and fully committed to community. In this episode of My 1st Gig, hosts Ryan Gajewski and Allie Walker sit down at City Built with owner Ed Collazo to trace the winding path that led him here—and the choices (and hard lessons) that keep him grounded.

Learn how Katleyn grew from a part-time assistant job in Chicago politics to running statewide campaigns. Katelyn talks about how she "kind of liked" checking petition signatures in her early days of political consulting, how she got a former pawnbroker elected Lt. Governor of Illinois, and why work-life balance was important in her decision to leave that role. 

Michigan came close to a shutdown as the deadline for the new fiscal year approached. State parks were ready to close, schools faced delayed payments, and local governments braced for frozen revenue sharing. Instead of letting that happen, leaders found a path forward. They agreed on a budget that not only avoided a shutdown but also set a new course for how the state will invest in its infrastructure and support its workers. 

Andy Johnston went from scrubbing dishes at MSU to shaping policy at the Grand Rapids Chamber. Hear how small jobs, strong relationships, and seizing opportunities shaped his path to leadership.

Michigan is days away from a potential government shutdown. At stake: school funding, local services, and state parks. A $3 billion road funding fight has Lansing at a standstill — and the clock runs out Sept. 30.

If you missed it, Ryan Brown sat down with John Truscott for a candid chat about what’s going on in Lansing: and it turns out, not much. And that’s the problem.