Welcome!

I’m Mike Marcotte. First of all, thank you so much for visiting my website. I started Give Me The Mike in May 2017.

I’m a native Minnesotan, born in Saint Paul. I have lived in Minnesota my entire life.

I grew up in Blaine, Minnesota, a suburb just north of the Twin Cities, and graduated from Centennial High School. I was a self-proclaimed ‘band geek’ in high school, playing trombone, lettering in student council, and was on the newspaper staff. I definitely wouldn’t have called myself an extrovert.

I attended Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, about 90 minutes southwest of the Twin Cities, and decided college would be the place where I would “reinvent” myself. I quickly developed independence, and with that, I gained a boost of confidence. I joined student senate right away since I participated in student council in high school. Thanks to my organizational skills, I was asked to be Vice President of the Gustavus Student Senate by spring semester of my freshman year, a position I would hold for multiple administrations.

At Gustavus, I majored in elementary education. Ever since second grade, I wanted to be a teacher. During college, I went through all the motions to be a teacher, but I actually never ended up having my own classroom. Life had other plans.

Facing adversity

Like most of you, I have faced challenges along the way.

I lost my mom, Patricia, to cancer when I was 17 and a senior in high school. She passed away three months after she was diagnosed. Pat was the kindest person I have ever known. She didn’t complain and was always willing to help. Sometimes I wonder how my life will be different if she was still here. On Mother’s Day 2020, I dedicated this article to my mom.

When I was 24, my dad had a stroke. As the oldest child in my family, I was forced to make a sudden decision; whether we keep my dad on life support or say goodbye. We weren’t aware of an established health care directive, so I had to go with my gut. He died May 1, 2011. It was an experience that ripped members of my family apart.

These were tough experiences to live through, especially as a young adult.

Learning to adapt

Undergoing a sleep study with my neurologist.

When I was 28, I was diagnosed with epilepsy after two frightening seizures occurred while I was working. I was at a restaurant and people thought I showed up drunk. My coworker knew something was wrong so she removed me from the situation. After my condition didn’t improve, she brought me to the hospital. It was in the car, along the side of the highway, where I had my first seizure. My coworker was driving and pulled over. A nurse saw her frantically get out of the car and they both helped me until an ambulance arrived.

There was no history of epilepsy in my family, so the diagnosis came as a surprise. That quickly forced me become more in-tune with my well-being. You can read more about my journey with epilepsy here.

Every day, I keep my head up high, my attitude in check and keep moving forward. It’s what my parents would have wanted.

What I decided to do instead of teaching

I received my degree in elementary education in 2008, a year that was not great for landing a job. So life took me in another direction.

After working at a nonprofit for two years after college, I spent nearly nine years as a television producer for Twin Cities Live, a lifestyle show on the ABC-TV affiliate in Minneapolis. It was a lot of fun. Every day offered something new. I produced multiple weddings, including one in Mexico. I also executed trips with viewers, including a two week cruise of the Mediterranean, where we met the Barbary macaques of Gibraltar. You can watch that video here.

When I started at KSTP, I had no experience in television producing. But thanks to the well-rounded education I received in college, the activities I was involved with at Gustavus and the people I met, I had a solid base. I live each day with the mentality that you never know where or when your next opportunity will present itself.

Right at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, I left KSTP and took a job as an Events Manager for a nonprofit. But I couldn’t stay away from television for long. In July 2021, I rejoined KSTP-TV in a new role, creating a new lifestyle show from scratch in less than 60 days. I was the executive producer for Minnesota Live for more than four years. I also oversaw Twin Cities Live and its team for three years.

In January 2026, I started a new job working in public relations for an agency based in Saint Paul.

Presenting the Guinness World Records plaque to Diana Armstrong, the record holder for the longest fingernails on a pair of hands (female).

For seven years, I worked as an adjudicator for Guinness World Records. The Minnesota Star Tribune followed me to a record attempt and wrote a feature article on me in 2019. My favorite record I witnessed is the longest fingernails on a pair of hands. I conducted this interview on the GWR YouTube channel with that record holder. You’ll see me appear after the three minute mark.

Thanks to my jobs, I have talked in front of crowds big and small over the years. I often have a microphone in my hand, hence the name of this website, Give Me The Mike.

Halloween on set of one of the television shows I worked on.

Emceeing a charity walk at the home of Minnesota United soccer team.

I’m a go, go, go kind of guy. My Google Calendar is well laid out so I maximize time.

Speaking at a fundraiser for the Minnesota Boychoir (I was a member as a kid).

There are days I look back at what I’ve accomplished since I said goodbye to my parents. So much has changed. The boy who wanted to be a fifth grade teacher is not in a classroom. There are days I wish I could share the triumphs and challenges with Mom and Dad. Fortunately, I have an amazing network of people who cheer me on.

Accepting the First Decade Award at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2018.

In 2018, my college alma mater, Gustavus, awarded me their First Decade Award, an honor given to one or two alumni from each graduating class. It was humbling to even be nominated. I graduated in a class of about 650 people, filled with incredible classmates who have accomplished amazing things. At the reception, I spoke in a hall full of alumni about how my life has really been unpredictable.

Every time I face adversity, a door opened providing an amazing opportunity to grow.

What you will find on Give Me The Mike

This website is a collection of what I have experienced in life and showcases my love for Minnesota.

It also is a hub for a passion of mine, compiling survey results. Ever since I was the editor of my middle school newspaper, I have surveyed classmates, television viewers, friends and others to create lists. For some reason, I really love top five lists. I always like to know what people vote as “the best.” Today, it results in my Best of Minnesota Guides. From the best coffee shops to the five best pizzerias, I put a call out for votes and showcase the best businesses in the North Star State. View a full roundup of my Best of Minnesota Guides here.

I am a Minnesota State Fair fanatic. With the exception of 2020, when the Great Minnesota Get Together was cancelled, I have attended the State Fair every year since 1990. I worked at the State Fair for 20 years, too, so I know a lot about getting around. Every year, I publish a list of my favorite State Fair foods. I’m also really proud of this article about what Minnesota State Fair staff love to eat. Make sure you check back at the end of August for my State Fair coverage.

A picture of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, including the Grandstand.

The most-clicked page on my website each year is my Minnesota Holiday Lights Guide. I started the guide in 2017 after I noticed that there weren’t many lists featuring places displaying lights over the holidays. The guide now features 200+ homeowners and paid displays across the state.