In this episode, Chris Johnson sits down with Wisconsin’s own Michael Perry—best-selling author of Population 485, celebrated music artist, and humorist known for his wit and wisdom. Mike shares what it was like growing up on a farm and how those rural roots shaped his creative journey.
Discover how Mike hustled his way into a writing career, taking every job he could find, and hear about his early influences—including a unique friendship with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Mike opens up about the inspiration behind his new book, Improbable Mentors, and the surprising story of why he turned down an invitation to appear on the Oprah show.
The conversation also dives into Mike’s relationship with PBS Wisconsin, where he crafts original comedy content, and his personal picks for favorite artists and music venues across the Midwest. From laughter to life lessons, this episode is packed with heartfelt stories and creative inspiration.
Tune in for:
- Growing up on a Wisconsin farm
- Mike’s first steps into writing and storytelling
- Building a career by saying yes to every opportunity
- Friendship and collaboration with Justin Vernon
- Behind the scenes of Improbable Mentors
- Turning down the Oprah show
- Creating comedy for PBS Wisconsin
- Midwest music, venues, and more
Passion Pod
Hosted by Chris Johnson the Passion Pod is an inspirational storytelling experience featuring unique guests that are also pursuing their passions. The goal is to inspire the listener to think about think about their own passions and to help them find more ways to incorporate those passions into their lives.
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Thank you so much for choosing to donate to the show! Balancing single parenting, owning a business, and creating this show is a huge challenge. When people donate to my show it puts me in a better position to afford taking days off, purchase equipment, pay my editing fees, record more episodes, and keep everything afloat. I truly appreciate the support.
