BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL
There are some people you sit down with, and you just know—you’re about to hear stories.
Not just any stories.
The kind that stay with you.
That’s exactly how I felt after sitting down with Mike Morin on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast.
Because after more than 50 years behind the microphone, what he’s really built isn’t just a career—it’s a connection to an entire community.
“Diners are like life—they’re real. And you can’t beat real.”
A lifetime of showing up
When you talk about Mike Morin, you’re talking about consistency.
Decades of early mornings.
Thousands of conversations.
A voice that has become part of people’s daily lives.
But what stood out to me most, sitting across from him on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, wasn’t the longevity.
It was the fact that he still shows up.
Not because he has to.
Because he wants to.
And that says everything.
More than a career
Mike started in radio in 1971.
And over the years, his career has taken him everywhere.
New Hampshire.
Boston.
Detroit.
New York.
He’s interviewed incredible people—including a sitting President of the United States.
But you would never know any of that from the way he carries himself.
There’s no ego.
Just curiosity.
Just gratitude.
And a genuine interest in people.
The man who told our story
This part of the conversation was personal for me.
Mike wrote If These Walls Could Talk—the story of the Red Arrow Diner.
And I’ll be honest… I thought I knew that story.
I didn’t.
He uncovered pieces of history I had never heard before.
Stories about our founder.
About where it all began.
About the people and moments that shaped not just the diner, but the community around it.
And on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, it really hit me:
A diner isn’t just a place to eat.
It’s a place where history lives.
The heartbeat of a community
We talked about what it means to call a diner the “heartbeat of a community.”
And it’s true.
You see it every day.
The regulars.
The families.
The conversations that happen over coffee.
The traditions that get passed down.
And sometimes, it’s the smallest things that become part of something bigger.
A logo sketched on a napkin.
A story told at the counter.
A moment that turns into a memory.
That’s what Mike understands so well.
Because he’s spent his life paying attention to those moments.
Taking risks and telling stories
Mike’s career wasn’t built by playing it safe.
It was built by leaning into opportunities.
Taking chances.
Bringing creativity into everything he did.
Whether it was pulling off unforgettable radio moments, interviewing people in a way that made them feel human, or even doing things most people wouldn’t dare to try—all in the name of storytelling and connection.
And I think that’s a lesson.
Because the moments that stay with us are rarely the safe ones.
They’re the ones where someone took a chance.
Giving back is part of the job
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was talking about community.
Because for Mike, giving back isn’t optional.
It’s part of who he is.
He’s been able to spend his life doing something he loves.
And because of that, he gives back his time.
His energy.
His presence.
That’s what real connection looks like.
What matters most
At the end of our conversation, I asked Mike what he’s most proud of.
And his answer stayed with me.
Not the career.
Not the recognition.
Being accepted.
Being part of the community.
And that really says everything.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about titles.
It’s about people.
It’s about connection.
It’s about knowing you mattered.
Final thoughts
This episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast reminded me why storytelling matters.
Because when you take the time to listen—to really listen—you start to see people differently.
You start to understand the layers.
The history.
The heart behind what they do.
Mike Morin has spent a lifetime telling other people’s stories.
And in doing that, he’s become part of ours.
🎧 Listen to Episode 37 of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast
Watch and listen to my full conversation with Mike Morin and hear the stories behind a lifetime spent connecting people through voice, storytelling, and community.
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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON
Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.
Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com | @redarrow24diner