Brenda Sodt Marshall
Brenda is a storyteller and unapologetic Michigan enthusiast. She finds magic in the every day and spins it into stories that hopefully spark laughter and inspire people to discover Michigan in new ways.
Life In Michigan Article Fan Favorites
- Miss Kim: A Taste of Culinary History – Life In Michigan
- A Week in the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper: The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Adventure – Life In Michigan
- Yurt Camping in Tawas: A Michigan Road Trip
- Community and Pie: The Story of Peace Pie – Life In Michigan
- 2021 U.P. Beer Festival – It’s Back! – Life In Michigan
(Each one is a journey, a laugh, or a reason to add something new to your Michigan bucket list.)
Championing Michigan’s Creatives
Brenda is also the co-founder and board member of GIG—The Art of Michigan Foundation, a passion-fueled movement dedicated to showcasing the insanely talented visual artists who capture the soul of Michigan’s vibrant music scene.
The Sunday Sip Newsletter
If that weren’t enough, Brenda and her hubby Chuch are keeping Life in Michigan subscribers entertained with the Sunday Sip—a weekly newsletter brimming with humorous personal essays, can’t-miss events, book recommendations, and the occasional must-try recipe.
One reader perfectly summed it up: “A postcard from home.”
A friend recently told Brenda, “I enjoyed your last newsletter and realized as I was reading that I could hear it like you were reading it to me!” Others have confessed to laughing out loud—the highest compliment a writer can get, in her opinion.
While Life in Michigan magazine articles chronicle Michigan’s rich culture, the Sunday Sip channels the old Moosejaw ads—packed with personality, humor, and a dash of irreverence… just without the coupons.
Podcasting
The Life In Michigan Podcast has been simmering on the back burner for a while. It’s finally time to serve it up.
The Life in Michigan Podcast is where Brenda and Chuck sit down with the people who call Michigan home—everyday folks with extraordinary stories. They promise inspiring, heartwarming, and sometimes unexpected conversations—plus a few laughs along the way.
Life with Chuck, Two Remarkable Kids & One Legendary Dog
Brenda shares life with Chuck, her best friend, beer-tasting partner, co-writer, and the guy who bravely tries to bring structure to her “organized chaos.” Together, they create, explore, and occasionally wonder why they’ve signed up to publish a weekly newsletter and monthly podcast.
She’s also the proud mom of two incredible humans:
- Avery, her fiercely independent firstborn, once declared, “Stop talking, Mom. I know everything. Where are my shoes?”—a moment that still makes her laugh.
- Izzi, affectionately known as the “fiery dragon,” is a force to be reckoned with. Intuitive, kind, and always ready to challenge the status quo, she’s a mini tornado of brilliance.
And then there was Larry, the dog with more personality than most people. He loved couch naps, outrunning Brenda at every turn, and having his picture taken. (Well, that is what his humans believed.) He may be gone, but he’s forever a part of the family.
📬 Want to join the adventure? Subscribe to the Sunday Sip and Life In Michigan Podcast, where Brenda and Chuck serve up Michigan stories, laughter, and surprises every week. Subscribe here.