Big Knockers: Tales from the Porch Sun, 03 May 2026 10:22:05 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2262219 en-us © 2026 Big Knockers: Tales from the Porch yes c945d644-ec42-5898-b447-01eec82558e5 Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom episodic false This podcast is an audio diary of the greatest stories from the campaign trail. Knocking doors in support of a candidate or an issue is a critical part of a campaign’s success.  The process inevitably leads to some wild experiences for the door knockers! 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom https://storage.buzzsprout.com/pmqntddf95qqu0e7z7ml4v9cf8zk?.jpg Big Knockers: Tales from the Porch Greg VanWoerkom Melissa McKinley Hey Babe! Hey Babe! State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley chat with Sen. Joe Bellino about the many uses of the word “Babe”,  when to enter a house, and maybe some felons! Join us as we continue to this crazy journey of what happens while door knocking! 


Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley chat with Sen. Joe Bellino about the many uses of the word “Babe”,  when to enter a house, and maybe some felons! Join us as we continue to this crazy journey of what happens while door knocking! 


Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-14774889 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400 1038 2 4 full false Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader? Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader? State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk to long time legislative staffer, Fred Schaible. From foul to geography, it’s amazing what you will learn by campaigning.  Join us on this crazy adventure with Freddie Boom Boom! 


Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk to long time legislative staffer, Fred Schaible. From foul to geography, it’s amazing what you will learn by campaigning.  Join us on this crazy adventure with Freddie Boom Boom! 


Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-14680193 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400 1613 2 3 full false Laughter is the Best Medicine Laughter is the Best Medicine State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley laugh with the hilarious State Representative Sarah Lightner and her trusty sidekick, Angela Kidder.  Door knocking can definitely be dangerous and well hilarious at the same time.  This episode will keep you laughing!

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley laugh with the hilarious State Representative Sarah Lightner and her trusty sidekick, Angela Kidder.  Door knocking can definitely be dangerous and well hilarious at the same time.  This episode will keep you laughing!

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-14642447 Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:00:00 -0500 1219 2 2 full false Season 2 - Grandma’s House Season 2 - Grandma’s House State Representative Greg VanWoekom and Melissa McKinley open season 2 with the dynamo Harvey Santana.  Former State Representative Santana tells us how working the doors can hope new opportunities for the community.  Season 2 opens up with the wildest door knocking story to date! 

Send your own personal door knocking story to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com! 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoekom and Melissa McKinley open season 2 with the dynamo Harvey Santana.  Former State Representative Santana tells us how working the doors can hope new opportunities for the community.  Season 2 opens up with the wildest door knocking story to date! 

Send your own personal door knocking story to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com! 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-14590970 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0500 1736 2 1 full false Hit the Gas.... Hit the Gas.... State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley meet with long time legislative staffer and campaign guru, Troy Hagon.  Michigan is a large and unique state to campaign in for candidates.   Michigan is lucky to happy the upper peninsula as part of our great state, but when it comes to door knocking it requires some different tactics.  Troy hilariously recounts some crazy candidate antics while campaigning in the UP!

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley meet with long time legislative staffer and campaign guru, Troy Hagon.  Michigan is a large and unique state to campaign in for candidates.   Michigan is lucky to happy the upper peninsula as part of our great state, but when it comes to door knocking it requires some different tactics.  Troy hilariously recounts some crazy candidate antics while campaigning in the UP!

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-14181764 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0500 1560 1 8 full false The Rennaissance Woman The Rennaissance Woman State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley chat with author, activist, door knocker, and all-around amazing lady, Diana Rademacher.  From working with Bono to door knocking on the mean streets of West Michigan, Diana shares her stories of how some days on the doors can be easier than others. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley chat with author, activist, door knocker, and all-around amazing lady, Diana Rademacher.  From working with Bono to door knocking on the mean streets of West Michigan, Diana shares her stories of how some days on the doors can be easier than others. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-14138293 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500 1532 1 7 full false Power Couple Power Couple State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk to door knocking power couple State Representative Curt Vanderwall and his wife Diane about their experiences hitting the doors together! This is a real “powered” episode! 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk to door knocking power couple State Representative Curt Vanderwall and his wife Diane about their experiences hitting the doors together! This is a real “powered” episode! 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Melissa McKinley & Greg VanWoerkom Buzzsprout-13823249 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0500 1076 1 6 full false Sergeant Pooper Scooper Sergeant Pooper Scooper Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk with the hardest working legislator in Michigan, Representative Mike Mueller.  As a former law enforcement officer, current apple farmer, wedding barn owner and State Representative Mike Mueller has a lot of stories to share.  He proves to be the candidate who will do it all to help his neighbor while door knocking. Listen to find out more. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk with the hardest working legislator in Michigan, Representative Mike Mueller.  As a former law enforcement officer, current apple farmer, wedding barn owner and State Representative Mike Mueller has a lot of stories to share.  He proves to be the candidate who will do it all to help his neighbor while door knocking. Listen to find out more. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Mike Mueller Buzzsprout-13780987 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500 1308 Campaign, Political, Political Animals, Canvassing, Legislators, Politics, Door Knocking 1 4 full true Eau de Doors - The Meats Eau de Doors - The Meats Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk with legislative colleague, State Representative Timmy Beson.  A former butcher shop owner, Timmy shares the value of the meats while door knocking!

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk with legislative colleague, State Representative Timmy Beson.  A former butcher shop owner, Timmy shares the value of the meats while door knocking!

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Timmy Beson Buzzsprout-13780945 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0500 1029 Campaign, Political, Political Animals, Canvassing, Legislators, Politics, Door Knocking, Political Humor, 1 4 full false What’s in a name? What’s in a name? Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley chat with one of the most passionate door knockers, State Representative Pauline Wendzel. She is the creative genius behind the name, Big Knockers:Tales from the Porch. Pauline shares with us how she came up with our podcast name. Of course, she also tells her tale of being chased from a porch with a garden hose. Listen to find out more. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley chat with one of the most passionate door knockers, State Representative Pauline Wendzel. She is the creative genius behind the name, Big Knockers:Tales from the Porch. Pauline shares with us how she came up with our podcast name. Of course, she also tells her tale of being chased from a porch with a garden hose. Listen to find out more. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> State Representative Pauline Wendzel Buzzsprout-13781100 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500 1864 Campaign, Political, Political Humor, Political Animals, Canvassing, Legislators, Politics, Door Knocking 1 2 full false I See Dead People…. I See Dead People…. Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley interview a colleague in the Michigan Legislature, State Representative Will Snyder.  As a legislative staffer and now state representative, Rep. Snyder has a lot of tales from the porch.  He has even been confused as the local mortician. Listen to find out more. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley interview a colleague in the Michigan Legislature, State Representative Will Snyder.  As a legislative staffer and now state representative, Rep. Snyder has a lot of tales from the porch.  He has even been confused as the local mortician. Listen to find out more. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Michigan State Representative Will Snyder Buzzsprout-13780856 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0500 1167 Campaign, Political, Political Humor, Canvassing, Legislators, Politics, Door Knocking, Political Animals 1 2 full false The Beginning…Who Let the Dogs Out? The Beginning…Who Let the Dogs Out? Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk about how Big Knockers: Tales from the Porch came to be.  Anyone that has been part of a political campaign has had to knock doors in support of their candidate or issue. Whether it’s dogs, naked people or other craziness, door knocking has produced stories for everyone. Greg and Melissa hope to share these adventures from the campaign trail.  In episode one, Greg shares one of his harrowing stories from the porch. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Co-hosts Michigan State Representative Greg VanWoerkom and Melissa McKinley talk about how Big Knockers: Tales from the Porch came to be.  Anyone that has been part of a political campaign has had to knock doors in support of their candidate or issue. Whether it’s dogs, naked people or other craziness, door knocking has produced stories for everyone. Greg and Melissa hope to share these adventures from the campaign trail.  In episode one, Greg shares one of his harrowing stories from the porch. 

Be sure to send in your door knocking stories to talesfromtheporch@gmail.com!

]]> Greg and Melissa Buzzsprout-13780808 Mon, 06 Nov 2023 19:00:00 -0500 1128 Campaign, Political, Canvassing, Political Humor, Legislators, Political Animals, Politics, Door Knocking 1 1 full false