Truscott Rossman

06/17/2026

From Taco Bell to City Hall — and a lot of meaningful stops in between.

This week on My 1st Gig, Ryan sits down with former The City of Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss for a conversation that's as honest as it is inspiring. Rosalynn grew up in Sault Ste. Marie in a family of ten, got her work permit at 14, and never really stopped. Her first professional role — medical social worker at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital — taught her something she carried all the way through her years in public office: if you're passionate about something and someone gives you the chance to lead, remarkable things can happen.

She also shares the advice she'd give every young person starting out: say yes to new things, follow through on your word, and invest in relationships. Turns out those aren't just career tips — they're the foundation of how she led an entire city.

Tune in here: https://bit.ly/3QNs1yb

Truscott Rossman · Episode

06/16/2026

Happy 616 Day from My 1st Gig! 💙

Today we're celebrating The City of Grand Rapids the best way we know how — with a conversation about why this city is truly one of a kind.

In our Season 2 premiere, former Mayor Rosalynn Bliss puts into words what makes GR so special: we're not a transactional community. We're a relational one. People step up, give generously, and say yes — because of the people behind the ask. That's the GR way.

Season 2 drops tomorrow — consider this your preview. 🎙️

06/10/2026

The World Cup is here — and Beyond Both Sides is marking the moment.

This week, Chris and guest host Ryan Gajewski talk soccer with Darrius Barnes, President of ACGRSoccer — West Michigan's new professional soccer club launching in 2027. From building fanbases from scratch to FIFA World Cup predictions, this one's a little different. And we're not sorry.

🎧

Truscott Rossman · Episode

06/08/2026

Mayor Mike Duggan got out of the Michigan governor's race last week. The reason why tells you everything about how this fall election is shaping up.

It wasn't the campaign. It was the math — and the environment. Truscott Rossman's Chris Moyer explains what Duggan's exit clarifies about the race that's actually happening, who benefits, and what questions still need answering before November.

Worth a read if you're following Michigan politics this cycle.

Mike Duggan had the record, the money, and the endorsements. He still couldn't break through. Here's what his exit tells us about the race that's actually happening in Michigan this fall.

06/05/2026

Drinks happen everywhere.

Real conversations require proximity. 🤝

Our VP of Business Development and Marketing Ryan Brown reflects on his first time at the Mackinac Policy Conference and why he gets it now. The island works. The question is what we do with it the moment the ferry pulls away?



https://bit.ly/4ujZKgv

First-time Mackinac Policy Conference attendee Ryan Brown reflects on the "Mackinac Magic" — and asks the harder question: what do we do with it once the ferry pulls away?

06/04/2026

🎙️ Episode 30 of Beyond Both Sides is live!

Mayor Mike Duggan is out — and the Michigan governor's race just got a lot more interesting. Chris and Allie break down what his departure really means, whether Jocelyn Benson can close it out, and what the Republican primary battle between John James and Mike Cox will look like heading into November.

Plus, we cross the Detroit River. Ryan Donally of the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce joins to talk about why the Detroit-Windsor relationship matters more than most Michiganders realize — and what the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge means for the entire region.

🎧 Listen to Beyond Both Sides: "The Race Redrawn" | Episode 30 wherever you get your podcasts.

https://bit.ly/4e4OJcG

Truscott Rossman · Episode

06/03/2026

Think your organization's social media strategy could use a boost? Take a page from the Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons — two teams that turned audience insight into serious engagement.

Senior Account Executive Christian Talley explores what the world of sports can teach us all about showing up on social media in a way that's authentic, strategic, and effective. Whether you're a big brand or a small team, the lessons apply.

Give it a read: https://bit.ly/4voyDlf

From NBA Twitter to the Detroit Lions' TikTok dominance, learn how sports teams master social media — and what every communicator can take from their playbook.

05/22/2026

Every year, Michigan's top leaders head to Mackinac Island for one of the most unique gatherings in the country — no cars, no easy exits, and real conversations across the aisle.

This year's conference carries extra weight. Michigan has fallen to its lowest economic ranking ever, and the next governor and legislature will need a clear agenda waiting for them when they take office in January 2027.

Senior Director of Public Affairs Chris Moyer shares his take on what the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference needs to deliver — and why it matters for Michigan's future.

👉 Read more: https://bit.ly/42PdK6K

Michigan has fallen to 40th in per capita income — its lowest ranking ever. Here's what the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference needs to accomplish to set the table for real action in 2027.

05/22/2026

The 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference is almost here. And this year, the conversation is bigger than the conference.

In the latest episode of Beyond Both Sides, Chris and Allie break down what Mackinac is really for, how to use your time there strategically, and whether Michigan's leaders can match urgency with action. Plus, Detroit community builder Diallo Smith of Life Remodeled joins to share what neighborhood revitalization actually looks like on the ground.

Smart. Civil. Real. Give it a listen before you get on the ferry: https://bit.ly/4v1Ggy2

Truscott Rossman · Episode

05/19/2026

The Senator Elissa Slotkin-Senator Bernie Moreno bill banning Chinese connected vehicles is the right policy. The story Michigan is telling around it is the wrong one.

Survival stories attract sympathy. They don't attract investment, talent, or the next generation of engineers. Michigan doesn't need sympathy — it needs a reason for ambitious people and capital to show up.

Chris Moyer, Senior Director of Public Affairs, on why the message matters as much as the policy:
https://bit.ly/43kEk7G

Banning Chinese connected vehicles makes sense. Treating it as survival doesn't. Michigan needs the abundance story behind the Slotkin-Moreno bill.