In February, the animal we turn to as a nation to tell us about the heralding of spring is the groundhog. But birders know that the real messenger of the changing seasons lives in the sky. Birds that leave our region for the winter will soon return. There's plenty to prepare for now. And more than a few birds to check out while we wait. GUEST: April Campbell, a long-time birder, retired MD and the founder of BIPOC Birders of Michigan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday on the podcast we talked to two organizers from the “Vote Uncommitted” campaign among Arab American and other voters in Michigan. Today we’ll get analysis on that movement from Detroit Free Press editorial page editor Nancy Kaffer. GUEST: Nancy Kaffer, editorial page editor, Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to Michigan is leveraging political power by casting "uncommitted" votes rather than voting for President Joe Biden in the 2024 Michigan primary. GUESTS: Layla Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan  Abbas Alawieh, political strategist and spokesman for Listen to Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang and a group of collaborators came up with a plan to fund delinquent water bills and offer more affordable costs to low income households. Today, we’re looking at what this water-affordability plan would do, and we’ll dig into the years of water advocacy in places like Detroit that preceded it.  GUESTS: Stephanie Chang,  Michigan Senator representing the 3rd district Gary Brown, director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department Jim Nash, Oakland County's Water Resources commissioner ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isle Royale – Lake Superior’s island National Park – is a naturalist's playground. It’s home to an estimated 30 odd wolves and nearly 1000 moose – all protected from hunting. For decades now, a team of researchers have been surveying the wolf and moose populations, but this winter with record breaking warm weather, the census did not go as planned.  GUEST: Rolf Peterson,  research professor in Forest Resources and Environmental Science at Michigan Technological University ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kristina Karamo was ousted by state committee members last month, but said that she’s not leaving her position as Michigan Republican Party chair. Then, last week the Republican National Committee announced that they are now recognizing former Congressman Pete Hoekstra as MI GOP chair. So what is going on in Michigan’s Republican Party? And how will this all effect the upcoming Republican Convention? GUESTS: Craig Mauger, reporter for the Detroit News Stephen Henderson, host of WDET's Created Equal ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have some updates for you from Lansing. Gun reform laws that passed last session came into effect this week, Michigan State Representative Brenda Carter's been feeling the heat from auto no-fault reform activists, and Representative Josh Schriver was recently disciplined for a racist social media post. GUESTS: Tracy Samilton, reporter for Michigan Public Rick Pluta, senior Capitol correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, the Kresge Foundation re-introduced us to a prolific metro Detroit artist who connected imaginative abstract motion and ideas with stories and images of Latino and Indigenous people. Nora Chapa Mendoza is a self-taught painter who established her career in Detroit. She is the 2024 Kresge Eminent Artist, for her life of achievements on the canvas and in advocacy. GUEST: Nora Chapa Mendoza - painter, educator and activist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit chef Ameneh Marhaba has carved out a place for her own Afro-fusion style with a pop-up kitchen and catering business called Little Liberia. Now Marhaba is working on a big lift: she’s preparing to open a brick-and-mortar storefront for Little Liberia in Midtown, Detroit. GUEST: Ameneh Marhaba, owner of Little Liberia ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How has campus security changed one year after the Michigan State University shooting?Today we get into what we know so far about security upgrades and how the MSU community is responding to it. GUEST: Isabel Lohman,  education reporter at Bridge Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confections with Convictions is a chocolate shop. But it does a whole lot more than sell sweet treats. This confectionary employs young people fresh out of entanglements with the legal system, and gives them a chance to build a career path. GUEST: Dale Anderson, founder of Confections with Convictions Jennifer Faketty, owner of Confections with Convictions ________ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the mother of the shooter in the Oxford High School mass shooting was convicted on four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Stateside spoke with Aubrey Greenfield, a survivor of the Oxford shooting and a gun violence prevention activist, about what this verdict means to her and members of her community. We also spoke with Nick Suplina, senior vice president for law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, about how this verdict could impact American perspectives on gun violence prevention.  GUESTS:  Aubrey Greenfield, University of Michigan student; gun violence prevention activist Nick Suplina, senior vice president for Law and Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, an Oakland County jury convicted Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford school shooter, on four charges of involuntary manslaughter. This case is extremely unique in the national landscape. Over the next couple days we’ll explain why. GUEST: Eve Brensike Primus,  Yale Kamisar Collegiate professor of law at the University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This winter we're seeing rate hikes for DTE Energy customers. So why are rates up and why might your energy bill get even higher? Plus, we also get into what people are doing in response to these rate changes. GUEST: Sarah Alvarez, director of Outlier Media ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pace and patience of fiber arts is learned through mentorship. Williamsburg-based fiber artist Nancy McRay talks about how Northern Michigan provides the perfect backdrop for her practice - as an artist and teacher - at the loom. GUEST: Nancy McRay, fiber artist   ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Parks Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program produced a new video series called “Questioning Conversations.” Through candid dialogue between academics and artists, the series examines the Underground Railroad’s history and its reverberating impact.  GUEST: Anna Lisa Cox, nonresident fellow with the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, Anthony Feimster Jr, musician Joshua Harris, video artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time ever, Michigan is going to have a primary vote on candidates for president about a month earlier than we usually do. Voters can also vote early and in person before election day. Today, we’re talking with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson about the primaries, and what voters in Michigan need to know this February. GUEST: Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's Secretary of State  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we learned that six staffers have been fired from the Wayne County juvenile jail for failing to ensure the safety of a 12-year-old child, who was sexually allegedly assaulted in March of 2023. But there are now new investigations into other incidents of alleged assault, unsanitary conditions, and other medical care violations. GUEST: Christine MacDonald, investigative editor for the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann Arbor's dioxane problem from the Gelman Science contamination is in line to get federal help. The EPA announced that the Gelman contaminated site is a candidate for the National Priorities List, which means it’s eligible to become a Superfund site.  GUESTS: Brian Steglitz, public services area administrator for the City of Ann Arbor Bill Shuster, professor and chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Wayne State University ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Come and Get It” is New York Times bestselling author Kiley Reid’s latest book set to the backdrop of dormitory life. But it’s not all dingy shower stalls and stained walls. “Come and Get It” tackles big questions around race and class on a college campus. GUEST: Kiley Reid, author and assistant professor at the University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud and other leaders declined an invitation to meet with Biden’s re-election campaign officials. Today, we’re talking with mayor Hammoud about the Dearborn voting bloc; what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what he hopes for the future. GUEST: Abdullah Hammoud,  mayor of Dearborn, Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with the man behind "Gridiron Heroes," the Detroit Lions' fight song played after every touchdown at home games. GUEST: Theo Spight,  "Gridiron Heroes” singer ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday evening, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her 2024 State of the State address. In her speech, she detailed her plans to provide universal pre-K and two years of free community college to all Michiganders. Among other topics, she also discussed electric vehicle projects, efforts for more affordable housing, business incentive programs, and the state of the roads in Michigan. GUESTS: Zoe Clark, politics director for Michigan Public Arjun Thakkar, politics and civics reporter for WKAR ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Periodicals, a new brick-and-mortar shop on the corner of Grand River and Warren in Detroit, deals in magazines. But this is not your grandmother’s tabloid rack.  We visited owner and founder Aleiya Olu at the shop to talk about her vision for the new space, and about the power of print media.  GUEST: Aleiya Olu, partner Olu & Company; owner and founder of Periodicals ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann Arbor is one of the first public school boards to pass a resolution that calls for a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza. Today, we speak with one school board trustee about the resolution and why they voted "yes." GUEST: Rima Mohammad, trustee and president of the Ann Arbor School Board ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlike for adults facing prosecution in Michigan, there’s no centralized structure, training, or even budget when it comes to juvenile public defense. In some cases, children face charges with no attorney at all. Today, we’re talking about public legal defense in the juvenile justice system in Michigan and about House Bill 4630, which would provide funding for indigent defense for juveniles. GUESTS: Loren Khogali, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan Nathan Triplett, director of public policy and government affairs for the State Bar Association, and board president ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new book co-authored by a professor at Michigan State University suggests ways to bring Asian American history into the elementary school classroom, even if it’s not in the state curriculum. "Teaching Asian America in Elementary Classrooms" defies stereotypes about Asian people in the United States and focuses on the complexity of Asian American identity. GUESTS: Noreen Naseem Rodriguez, co-author of “Teaching Asian America in Elementary Classrooms” Jae Lee, 5th grade teacher at Angell Elementary School in Ann Arbor ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Temperatures dropped across the state this week. For housing insecure folks in Michigan, cold days are particularly dangerous. We look at the ongoing homelessness crisis and at how one Grand Rapids shelter is trying to keep people safe from the cold. GUEST: Adrienne Goodstal, president of Mel Trotter Ministries ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent report found that Hillsdale College officials have ties to the Michigan fake elector scheme – the plot in which 16 false electors attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Donald Trumps favor. GUEST: Danny Hakim, reporter for The New York Times ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit police said that crime in the city dropped nearly 20% in 2023 compared to 2022. But crime stats can be more complicated than they look.  Today, we’re looking at what these numbers really tell us. Plus the two reporters who bring us this story tell us about what other stories they have eyes on this year. GUESTS: Adam Yahya Rayes, data reporter for Michigan Public Briana Rice, criminal justice reporter for Michigan Public ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mornings can be hard. But there are small practices you can make for better ones. Detroit-based podcast producer Zak Rosen has the scoop on some petite and practical changes to make your morning that much smoother.   GUEST: Zak Rosen, producer and host of The Best Advice Show ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been three months since Israel's attack on Gaza. More than 23,000 Palestinian people have been killed. Today, we’re talking about media, representation and how what we see, read, and listen to affects our perception of the world. GUESTS: Dr. Muniba Saleem, associate professor in the Department of Communication at UC Santa Barbara Dr. Nour Kteily, professor of management & organizationsNorthwestern University ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are now Michigan Public! We’ve been known as Michigan Radio, for years, but here's the thing, we are way more than radio. We're on-demand, online, and in real life for our live events. New year, new name, and the same great storytelling. GUEST: Wendy Turner, general manager at Michigan Public ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Michigan Wolverines' National Championship victory yesterday and the Detroit Lions' upcoming playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday, it's a historic week for Michigan football. GUESTS: Al Martin, sports reporter and host at WKAR John Niyo, sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stellantis announced that they’ll be sitting out two major events this year citing cost concerns – the Consumer Electronics Show and the Chicago Auto Show. This also came out: the Detroit Three will not be advertising during the 2024 Super Bowl. Today, a new year of cars and marketing, and what this could signal about the future. GUEST: Jamie LaReau, reporter at the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lindsey Renee Sims is the host of the Rhythm & Soul Patrol show, airing on WPON 1460 AM, Monday through Thursday.  She plays a thoughtful mix of The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Marvin Gaye, and others, delivered with nuggets of historic context.  But everything she spins is before her time – Lindsey’s just 21 years old. The show’s gained a loyal following, not just in Metro Detroit, but all over the world. GUEST: Lindsey Renee Sims, Radio DJ ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the two years since Kristina Karamo was elected chair of the Michigan Republican, critics say she hasn’t delivered financially. The party is in disarray, financially and ideologically. Now some members of the MIGOP want Karamo out. They're calling for a vote this Saturday to remove her as chair of the party. GUEST: Jonathan Oosting, Capitol reporter for Bridge Magazine ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is one of just a few states that outlaw compensated surrogacy contracts, which has made surrogacy a nearly impossible option for many people in the state. But this might be changing. A new bill package aims to legalize surrogacy contracts and create parameters around parentage.  GUEST: Adam Taylor, mentor for MI Medicine's peer mentor program ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan secured a close victory over Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl, sending them to the College Football Playoff National Championship next week in Houston. This win comes after a tumultuous season for Michigan, with head coach Jim Harbaugh being suspended twice and potential administrative penalties yet to come.  GUEST: John U. Bacon, sports commentator ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get a taste of what musician Joe Hertler is listening to on his Michigan music playlist. And we look back at the legacy of Amp Fiddler, a Detroit legendary musician who died this week. GUESTS: Joe Hertler, Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers Sam Beaubien, Will Sessions and WDETSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Detroit food scene is abuzz, and this year did not disappoint. We’ve seen chefs in the area pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the city – from the proliferation of Yemeni coffee houses to the rise of Instagram-ready restaurants. GUEST: Lyndsay Green, food critic and writer for the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking for some book recs to keep you entertained during this winter? Or maybe you're searching for a perfect last minute holiday gift? Either way, we have you covered. GUEST: Keith Taylor, poet ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year's unprecedented UAW strike against all three Detroit automakers certainly dominated this year’s headlines. But there’s some other notable industry news you may have missed in the shuffle.  Two auto industry reporters join us to recap the aftermath of contract negotiations, where manufacturers and consumers stand with electric vehicles, and which automakers are dabbling in tech. GUEST: Kalea Hall, business and autos reporter, The Detroit News Michael Martinez, Ford and the UAW reporter, Automotive News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot happened in Michigan politics this year. We saw Democrats in control of the state legislature and the governor's office for the first time in 40 years, abortion access laws passed, and auto no-fault reforms stuck in the waiting room – just to name a few of several big ticket items. We look at the year in politics, and what might be in store for 2024. GUESTS: Colin Jackson, reporter at Michigan Public Radio Network Alyssa McMurtry, staff reporter at Gongwer News Service Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zooming out, the number of ER visits for respiratory illnesses has risen across the country. Today, a check up on viruses like the flu, RSV, and COVID, plus how you can keep healthier this season. GUEST: Dr. Preeti Malani,  professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Michigan Medicine ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zooming out, the number of ER visits for respiratory illnesses has risen across the country. Today, a check up on viruses like the flu, RSV, and COVID, plus how you can keep healthier this season. GUEST: Dr. Preeti Malani,  professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Michigan Medicine ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Metro Detroit rabbi shared her perspective on Hanukkah this year, in the context of the violence unfolding in Gaza and the fact that many hostages' lives are on line. GUEST: Rabbi Alana Alpert,  rabbi at Congregation T'chiyah ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit singer, songwriter, and bandleader stoop lee, born Ade Olaniran, produces a warm broth of soul and hip hop that invites listeners to dial in and slow down, rather than tune out.  Olaniran markets himself as a sort of wielder of nostalgia. His social media presence channels grainy home videos, and the series of EPs he's currently working is inspired by a favorite childhood videogame: Pokémon. "Take your favorite Saturday morning cartoon, a bowl of your favorite cereal, add some dope beats," the bio page on his website says, "and you've captured the nostalgic experience that is stoop lee." stoop lee joined Stateside to talk about the development of his sound, and to celebrate the release of his latest EP, "BLUE VERSION TAPE." GUEST: Ade Olaniran, a.k.a. stoop lee, Detroit-based singer, songwriter, and bandleader of stoop lee and tha culduhsac [Get Stateside on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify today.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gun buyback programs allow people to unload unwanted firearms to a police or sheriff's department with the promise that these guns will be destroyed. But a new investigation shows that it’s not as simple as that. GUEST: Mike McIntire, reporter for The New York Times ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan’s school choice policy means that kids can attend schools outside of their home district. One-in-four kids now go to school in a different district than where they live. School choice has largely been associated with cities – namely Detroit and Grand Rapids. But in recent years, the policy has been growing more popular in rural areas. GUEST: Isabel Lohman, reporter for Bridge Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Oxford High School student who shot and killed four of his classmates was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On this episode of the Stateside podcast, we’re taking you to the hearing – a courtroom where pain and anger and so many other conflicting emotions are all coming together. GUEST: Beenish Ahmed, criminal justice reporter for Michigan Radio ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan-based journalist Tim Alberta's new book, "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism," sheds light on the evangelical movement sweeping across the U.S. We talked to Alberta about how in the evangelical movement fear and political anxiety is taking the focus away from scripture.  GUEST: Tim Alberta, staff writer for The Atlantic ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michigan’s Public Service Commission approved a permit for part of the Canadian company Enbridge Energy’s plan to rebuild its petroleum pipeline, known as Line 5, under the Straits of Mackinac. It’s not the final step of approval for Enbridge to start their plans, but it’s an important one. GUEST: Kelly House, environmental reporter for Bridge Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Chaplains, a new documentary on PBS follows three Muslim military chaplains balancing their experiences, their devotion to their faith, and their commitment to their country. GUESTS David Washburn, Three Chaplains director Razi Jafri, Three Chaplains producer ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is returning to the national spotlight this coming election season. Representative Rashida Tlaib has drawn national attention for her steadfast commitment to Palestine and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. Also, Michigan’s Republican party may be in for a big election year due to conflicts with party chairperson Kristina Karamo.  GUEST Simon Schuster, Senior Political Reporter at MLive ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can’t talk about Motown sound without giving respect to the girl groups of the 60s. Hits from Martha and the Vandellas, and The Supremes have resonance, even now. But we might not have hits like “Can’t Hurry Love” without some of the earlier acts that ushered in the sound of the girl group — ensembles of very young women, like the Chantels and The Shirelles. "But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the ’60s Girl Groups" chronicles stories of these early, iconic groups. GUESTS: Emily Sieu Liebowitz, co-author of "But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the ’60s Girl Groups" Laura Flam, co-author of "But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the ’60s Girl Groups" ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the illegal street racing scene of 1970s Detroit, there was one car that ruled them all: The Black Ghost. The black ‘70 Dodge HEMI Challenger would appear only occasionally to race, win, and then disappear into the night. It later turned out that was because the driver–the late Godfrey Qualls–was a Detroit police officer.  Today on the pod, we hear about a Detroit street racing legend–and his son’s mission to share his story.  GUEST:  Gregory Qualls, son of Godfrey Qualls, owner of the Black Ghost ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marked ten years since the historic municipal bankruptcy filing in Detroit. While the city’s financials are more stable, the woes of future pension payments loom large. Today, we reflect on what the bankruptcy filing meant to Detroit then, and what it still means today. GUEST: Stephen Henderson, host of WDET's Detroit Today ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a decade in Congress, Representative Dan Kildee announced that he will not be seeking reelection. Today, Dan Kildee talks to us about his tenure, his retirement, and what comes next for him and his district.  GUEST: Dan Kildee, Representative (D-MI 8th District) ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan football is having a good season, so if you're not primed on football history, it's hard to believe that there were years that the team kept falling short. But there's one year in particular that changed course for the team: the 1997 season when Michigan broke a nearly half century long draught and won the championship. The book "Mountaintop: The Inside Story of Michigan’s 1997 Title Climb" tells the story of this legendary moment in Michigan football. GUESTS: Nick Baumgardner, co-author of "Mountaintop: The Inside Story of Michigan’s 1997 Title Climb"  Mark Snyder, co-author of "Mountaintop: The Inside Story of Michigan’s 1997 Title Climb" ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday union workers approved a UAW contract with General Motors. Votes to approve the contracts with Stellantis and Ford will wrap up tomorrow. Today, we’re talking about worker victories, what these contracts include, and we’ll hear about why some folks voted “no.” GUEST: Michael Martinez, reporter at Automotive News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week Ohioans approved Issue 1, a ballot measure adding reproductive rights to the state constitution. A similar measure passed in Michigan last year – Proposal 3.  But access to abortion isn’t just about keeping it legal. Today we’re talking about abortion access, the Reproductive Health Act, and what this all means for people seeking care. GUESTS: Kate Wells, reporter at Michigan Radio  Genevieve Marnon, legislative director at Right to Life of Michigan Ashlea Phenicie, chief advocacy officer at Planned Parenthood of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the Big Ten decided to suspend Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh for three games. Today, we're looking at the sign-stealing scandal that led to this decision, and what it means to this football season.  GUEST: Al Martin, sports reporter and host at WKAR ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michigan legislature adjourned early this year. Today, we’re talking about why the legislature made the decision to recess early, what got done this year, and what we can expect when the session resumes. GUESTS: Elena Durnbaugh, Michigan House reporter at Gongwer News Lauren Gibbons, politics and policy reporter at Bridge Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re a foodie on TikTok, you may very well know Detroit-based chef Jon Kung. Their debut cookbook, Kung Food, features 100 recipes — from broths and condiments to noodles and dumplings. They describe the spread as Chinese American recipes from a third-culture kitchen. GUEST: Jon Kung, chef and author of Kung Food ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday we heard from two Palestinian Americans on how violence in Gaza has shaped their life. Today, we’re hearing from an Israeli peace activist and academic, who supports an immediate ceasefire, and a longer term solution through an international democratic process.  GUEST: Shimri Zameret, lecturer and researcher in International & Comparative Studies at the Donia Human Rights Center at the University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gaza is thousands of miles away from Michigan, but the continued violence there has had direct implications for people right here. Michigan is home to some of the largest Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. On this episode, the Stateside podcast shares some of these experiences. GUESTS: Briana Rice, reporter at Michigan Radio Dr. Emad Shehada Faten (Faten asked us to withhold her last name out of fear for safety.) ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday was election day, and two mayoral victories in Metro Detroit will have consequences in the Michigan House. Reps. Kevin Coleman and Lori Stone won mayoral elections, which means that both of these Democrats will vacate their current seats in the House, leaving a 54-54 Democrats to Republicans tie. Today, what this shuffling means for the Michigan House, and what we can expect in the New Year. GUEST: Beth LeBlanc, reporter at The Detroit News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

University of Michigan football has been accused of sign-stealing. So what does this mean for a team that's been on top? And for their coach, Jim Harbaugh, who has a history of ruffling feathers? GUEST: Michael Rosenberg, senior writer at Sports Illustrated  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michigan legislature passed portions of a bill package designed to widen access to abortion care in the state. What does this new legislation mean for Michigan, and why are some abortion rights advocates saying there's still more ground to cover? GUEST: Kate Wells, health reporter for Michigan Radio Rick Pluta, senior capitol correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-awaited report from an independent investigation into the Oxford High School shooting nearly two years ago found that school district staff failed to enact measures that could have prevented the deadly massacre. On today's episode, we dig into what the report has to say about what went wrong in the lead-up to the shooting. We also hear from a mom and Oxford resident about how her community is processing the revelations laid out in the 572-page report. GUESTS: Beenish Ahmed, criminal justice reporter at Michigan Radio  Emily Busch, Oxford resident  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Brittany March runs Village Pizza at Alkebu-lan Village, a venue that provides recreational programs and more - including culinary education - to young people. She keeps things fresh for her pizza toppings, and favors vegan pies. Today, we talk to chef March about the perfect dough, the Detroit vegan scene, and balancing two jobs. GUEST: Brittany March, owner of Village Pizza ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Halloween, which means that some of you will scare yourself silly tonight with a slasher, paranormal flick, or psychological thriller. But for the faint of heart – or those just tired of being scared – there’s a different kind of Halloween movie to watch.  Swap the axes and demonic curses, for whimsical witches and friendly ghosts.  GUEST: Briana Rice, Detroit reporter for Michigan Radio ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio NetworkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

General Motors and the United Auto Workers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that could end a six-week-old strike against the Detroit Three. Ford got a tentative deal last week. Stellantis reached a settlement on Saturday. GUEST: Jordyn Grzelewski, autos & business reporter for the Detroit News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Amanda Saab has appeared on MasterChef, and was the first Muslim woman to to do so. She’s cooked around the world, and hosted hundreds of pop-ups. Now, she’s organizing a different type of event -- a night of food and solidarity for Palestinian people. GUEST: Amanda Saab, chef ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is after 41 days of selected, targeted striking, the UAW has reached a tentative agreement with Ford. So what’s in the agreement and what does this mean for the other two Detroit automakers: GM and Stellantis? GUEST: Phoebe Wall Howard, automotive reporter for the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAW surprised auto companies with two additional stand-up strikes this week -- including one at a Stellantis plant in Sterling Heights. UAW workers on the picket line say they're ready to get back to work, but also willing to hold out for the right contract. GUEST: Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Radio NewsSteve Carmody, Michigan Radio News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two professors at Wayne State University hold lectures and discussions, drawing in different Muslim and Jewish perspectives on the Middle East. These conversations are always hard, but we’ve seen the national dialogue have reached a boiling point the past two weeks. Rather than avoid it, these educators are approaching the moment head on.  GUESTS: Saeed Khan, associate professor of Teaching in Near Eastern Studies and director of the Center for the study of Citizenship at Wayne State University Howard Lupovitch, professor of history and director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies at Wayne State University. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers face some universal challenges: business barriers, pests, and uncooperative weather. But there are other layers that are true for many Latino farmers: language barriers, ready access to markets, and generational farming business experience. Here’s where La Cosecha comes in. It’s a project run by Michigan State University to assist Latino farmers and provide support in building a successful business. GUESTS: Yailene Morales, blueberry farmer David Mota-Sanchez,  program director of La Cosecha and associate professorat the Michigan State University Department of Entomology ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response better known as ASMR can get a bad rep. Noodle slurping. Lip smacking. Whispery breaths. This is not the kind of ASMR that Metro Detroiter Olivia White makes. Think more along the lines of acrylic nails, glass clinking, the stroke of an eyeshadow brush. Today, we’re diving into the world of ASMR: what is it and why you keep seeing it on your Instagram and TikTok feeds. GUESTS: Olivia White, ASMR artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two men were sentenced for paying bribes to former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson. Johnson himself was sentenced to more than 4 years (55 months) in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to accepting bribes – including commercial sex services, while administrating what was, a very new and lucrative space in Michigan’s business landscape.  GUESTS: Mark Totten, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Adam Hollier, a former state lawmaker and the current head of Michigan's Department of Veterans Affairs, announced that he will be running against Representative Shri Thanedar in next year's democratic primaries for Michigan's 13th District. We spoke with both Hollier and Thanedar about this election and their respective work. GUESTS: Adam Hollier, former Michigan Senate member Shri Thanedar, current representative of Michigan's 13th Congressional District ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curtis Chin's family owned a very well-known on Detroit’s map: Chung’s Restaurant in Midtown. Curtis was an observant kid, with an eye for the array of Detroiters who stopped in for tangy spareribs, and the Almond Boneless Chicken. His new memoir “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant" recalls his childhood tales, and details what it was like growing up in Detroit as a Chinese American after the murder of Vincent Chin.  GUEST: Curtis Chin, documentarian and writer ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hungry Howie's CEO Steve Jackson has been with the company from the early days. He even had a hand in naming the pizza chain. Find out who "Howie" is in this interview on Stateside. And check out our limited series Dough Dynasty for more pizza-related stories! GUEST: Steve Jackson, CEO of Hungry Howie's ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAW kicked open a new front in its ongoing strike action against Ford, as strikes continue against all three Detroit automakers. Today we talk about a new strike at a Ford truck plant in Kentucky with ties to several other company operations.  GUEST: Michael Martinez, Reporter covering Ford and the UAW for Automotive News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s yet another development in the UAW automotive strike story: some 4,000 United Auto Workers at Mack Truck plants went on strike this week, rejecting a tentative agreement. Today, we're looking at the ongoing automotive strikes and we'll hear about some perspectives on-the-ground. GUEST: Phoebe Wall Howard, Automotive Reporter for the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is in a state of shock by the dizzying news of an escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed. This news is acutely felt in the United States, and here in Michigan, where there is sizable populations of both Arab and Jewish Americans. Today we cover the Israel-Hamas war, and responses on the ground here in Michigan. GUESTS: Javed Ali, associate professor of practice at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and former White House counterterrorism official  Niraj Warikoo, reporter for the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story goes that the University of Michigan was founded thanks to a land gift from the people of the three fires: the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. But the truth is much more complicated. Artist Cannupa Hanska Luger has been working on this multiyear collaboration with the University of Michigan Museum of Art to examine the stories of the university’s founding. The culmination is a three part exhibition called You’re Welcome. GUEST: Cannupa Hanska Luger, artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan artist and illustrator Rose Bousamra depicts moments of childhood beautifully in the Eisner-award winning middle-grade graphic novel, Frizzy. The story, which is written by Claribel Ortega, is about a girl named Marlene, who decides to stop straightening her natural curls.  GUEST: Rose Bousamra, cartoonist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southeast Michigan has an abundance of delicious food options, from Mexican and Polish to Middle Eastern and contemporary cuisine. But there was something missing from the mosaic of options: Peruvian food! Introducing Culantro, a Peruvian restaurant in Ferndale, which is now opening a second location soon in Ann Arbor. GUEST: Betty Shuell, Culantro owner Alvaro Herrera, Culantro owner ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elton Monroy Durán’s murals can be found on the side of supermarkets, restaurants, and viaducts all around the Southwest neighborhood in Detroit. His work celebrates the residents and history of Mexicantown. GUEST: Elton Monroy Durán, artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stateside team has been hard on a new podcast. It's called Dough Dynasty, and it's about how Michigan became the chain pizza capital of the world. Here's the first episode. If you want to hear more Dough Dynasty subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts. Want more pizza? Sign up for our newsletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week an Oakland County Circuit Court judge determined the shooter from Oxford High School can face a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, even though he is a minor. This was the determination of Ethan Crumbley's so-called Miller Hearing, that evaluates such matters for juvenile offenders. Today on the pod we'll talk about the hearing, and get reaction from an Oxford High shooting survivor, who is now a student at University of Michigan. GUEST: Beenish Ahmed, criminal justice reporter, Michigan Radio Aubrey Greenfield, Oxford High School graduate ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longtime fan favorite Miguel Cabrera will play his last game this Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. Cabrera will retire after sixteen years with the Motor City team – and two decades in Major League Baseball. We wanted to revisit one of our favorite episodes from this year from someone who will be feeling ALL the feels this Sunday This season, for the first time, the Detroit Tigers are broadcasting 22 games in Spanish online and over the radio. We talk to the person who went to bat to make this happen. GUEST: Carlos Guillén, media relations bilingual coordinator for the Detroit Tigers ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people who take care of Michigan’s youngest children are facing a daunting deadline. On September 30, pandemic relief funds for child care will run out. Many Michigan child care centers are sounding the alarm about what the end of  federal support will mean for their businesses – and for the families they serve.  GUESTS: Jennifer Brookland, reporter at the Detroit Free Press Nina Hodge, owner of Above and Beyond Learning child care center in Detroit Anna Fryer, co-owner of Teddy Bear Daycare and Preschool LLC __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Harden spent 24 years guiding students, coaches, and other University of Michigan personnel through the chaos of life in collegiate sports. He’s worked stars like Tom Brady, Jalen Rose, Desmond Howard, Michael Phelps, and many more. In his new book, "Stay Sane in an Insane World : How to Control the Controllables and Thrive," Harden shares the strategies and frameworks that have helped him guide the university's young athletes. GUESTS: Greg Harden, author of "Stay Sane in an Insane World : How to Control the Controllables and Thrive"; former Executive Associate Athletic Director, Student Athlete Health & Welfare at the University of Michigan __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan’s lakes and rivers are our state’s pride and glory. But these waterways aren’t what they used to be. They’ve undergone some extreme changes in the post industrial world. Climate change is an obvious culprit. But there are other issues at hand that are disrupting wildlife and industry alike. Today, we talk about invasive species and what they mean for Michigan’s water. GUESTS: Tessa Kresch, Stateside production assistant Ashley Elgin, research benthic ecologist with the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) Jo Latimore, aquatic ecologist and Outreach Specialist in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lyndsay Green is the dining and restaurant critic at the Detroit Free Press. While she's done her fair share of writing about white table cloth dining, she's no stranger to the joys of a humble pizza slice. On today's episode, Green shares some of her favorite ways to eat pizza, takes us into the Detroit pizza scene, and explains what makes Detroit-style "Detroit." GUEST: Lyndsay Green, dining and restaurant critic at the Detroit Free Press __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're revisiting some of our favorite conversations this week. Today it's a trip to the Arab American National Museum to visit a Heritage Garden. GUEST: Shatha Najim, community historian at the Arab American National Museum Dean Nasreddine, curatorial specialist at the Arab American National Museum See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're revisiting one of our favorite conversations from the past year -- sitting down over beers and pizza with Joe Short of Short's Brewing Co. GUEST: Joe Short, founder, Short's Brewing Co. Consider toasting to Stateside with a donation to support conversations like these, HERE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simultaneously striking against all three companies of the Detroit 3, the UAW is making history this month. On today's podcast, we discuss common elements that have historically led to strikes, and look at how the Hollywood and Stand Up strikes aren't so different. GUESTS: Roland Zullo, research scientist at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Sonari Glinton, journalist and podcast host of Shattering the System __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Angeline Boulley, author of the bestselling YA thriller Firekeeper's Daughter, is back with a new novel. Warrior Girl Unearthed features a young Ojibwe teen in the U.P. caught up in a complex web of murder and theft, politics, and culture. GUEST: Angeline Boulley, writer __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAW voted to strike against the Detroit Three auto companies. They are using a strategy called a "stand up" strike. We'll explain what that means in this historic moment in Labor. GUEST: Tracy Samilton, Michigan Radio News ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight’s the night. The United Auto Workers are poised to strike at midnight, barring a last-minute deal with the Detroit three. This would be the first time the UAW is striking all three automakers simultaneously. GUESTS: Phoebe Wall Howard, Automotive Reporter ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you live in Southeast Michigan, you know that there’s been a boom of Yemeni-style coffeehouses in the region. Not only do they serve great brews – they also represent a distinctive social space, especially in Arab American culture. Today on the podcast, we’re taking you to one of these coffee shops, Qamaria. GUESTS: Hatem Al-Eidaroos, Qamaria co-founder __ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nelson T. Sanders Jr. is the founder of Dandy, a suit atelier in the Corktown neighborhood in Detroit. But his journey to becoming one of the city’s most sought-after purveyors of custom suiting.  GUESTS: Nelson T. Sanders Jr., founder of Dandy ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some big news broke this weekend in the world of football. USA Today reported that Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker had inappropriate sexual contact with a contract employee. The contract employee in question is Brenda Tracy, a prominent activist who was hired by the team to speak out against sexual violence. MSU has since suspended Mel Tucker without pay. Today, what we know so far about these allegations, and its impact given MSU’s history of handling sexual misconduct. GUESTS: Graham Couch, Lansing State Journal columnist Angela Povilaitis, former assistant attorney general of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lebanese American author Ghassan Zeineddine is an assistant professor of creative writing at Oberlin college. His new fiction anthology, “Dearborn", captures the realties of life in a place he called home for several years. Characters like Youssef, the census-taker and aspiring actor, and Speedoman, the object of every swimmer's eye at the community pool, reflect Zeineddine's observations about place, identity, and the diversity of the Arab and Arab-American experience.  GUEST: Ghassan Abou-Zeineddine, assistant professor of creative writing, Oberlin College; author of "Dearborn" ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre in Detroit is set to debut the U.S. premier of a play, "Come On Home," which was written by Phillip McMahon, one of Ireland's leading playwrights. The play deals directly with the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, but unlike other popular dramatizations, this play focuses on those who were most directly affected: the people who were abused and their families.  GUEST: David Kiley, founder and artistic director of the Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan expanded its civil rights law this spring to protect sexual orientation and gender identity. But now there's this big unanswered question: are religious organizations exempt from those laws? And does that mean religious hospitals and clinics can deny people medical care, specifically people from the transgender community? GUEST: Kate Wells, Michigan Radio reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A potential United Auto Workers strike loomed large at yesterday's Labor Day parade in Detroit. Contracts between the UAW and the Big Three auto companies are set to expire on September 14th. On today's podcast episode, we look into what the UAW is pushing for in contract negotiations, and why a strike might be imminent.  GUESTS: Kalea Hall, Detroit News reporter Jordyn Grzelewski, Detroit News reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night’s storms left over 300,000 Michiganders without power this morning. Meteorologists confirmed a tornado touchdown in Rockford, just north of Grand Rapids, and another in Ingham County that then swept through Livingston County. Southeast Michiganders have been inundated in recent years with heavy rains, flooding, and outages time and time again. We hear from an emergency response manager on the ground in Ingham County, and then from folks working on long-term climate resiliency planning for the region.  GUESTS: Rob Dale, Deputy Emergency Manager for Ingham County’s Department of Emergency Management Nina Ignaczak, reporter and editor for environmental news publication Planet Detroit Kelly Karll, manager of Environment & Infrastructure for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A back-to-school double feature! First, the lengths that some Michigan teachers go too just to gather enough supplies for their classroom, and how basic resource availability impacts student learning. Then, what you need to know about Michigan's new universal free breakfast and lunch program for all public school students in pre-k through high school.  GUESTS: Samantha Keppler, assistant professor of technology and operations, The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business Isabel Lohman, education reporter, Bridge Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village helped usher in a new sound in the 1990s that transformed the genre. Robert O'Bryant, better known as Waajeed, is one of the skilled sound designers who helped craft their sound. Since then, he's made the shift to producing techno, with all the skill and flavor that he brought to hip-hop. GUEST: Robert O'Bryant, a.k.a. Waajeed, Detroit-based music producer ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With no fudge shops, no old battle forts, no horse-draw carriages, and no souvenir traps, Lake Michigan's Beaver Island is arguably the anti-Mackinac Island. That also makes it a perfectly peaceful summer getaway for those looking to enjoy the state's natural beauty.  A team of environment reporters at MLive recently featured Beaver Island as a place to celebrate - not only as a vacation destination, but also as an ecological gem.  GUEST: Sheri McWhirter, climate reporter, MLive Garret Ellison, environment reporter, MLive ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Facebook group called “Shades of the Outdoors: A BIPOC Outdoor Enthusiast Community” has garnered about 100 members in just over one month. The group lends people of color a space to share their love of the outdoors, free of judgment or threat. Brandan Freeman is the Michigander who founded the group, shared the realities of traveling the state as a Black man, and what it means to see people who look like you out on the trails. GUEST: Brandan Freeman, founder of Facebook group “Shades of the Outdoors: A BIPOC Outdoor Enthusiast Community” ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

University of Michigan football legend and NFL coach Tyrone Wheatley is the new head football coach at Wayne State University. He discussed his plans for the 2023 season, as well as how he chose to coach at WSU. GUEST: Tyrone Wheatley, head coach for Wayne State University football ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's pod, dream hampton discusses her microdocumentary about the ramifications of flooding in Detroit. The documentary focuses on what Detroiters are “forced to leave behind when it floods." GUEST: dream hampton, filmmaker ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not only do we eat a lot of pizza in Michigan, we make a lot of it, too. In fact, we’re launching a new podcast all about pizza. It’s called Dough Dynasty and it tells the story of how Michigan became headquarters to a number of the world’s biggest pizza chains. To prelude the new pod, today we're talking about Michigan’s pizza with pizza aficionado and food critic Mark Kurlyandchik. GUEST: Mark Kurlyandchik, editorial director at Frame Get Dough Dynasty on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify today. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a severe Canadian fire season piled on top of everyday ambient hazards in the metro Detroit area, it has been a distinctly bad summer for the area’s air quality. Dr. Ikenna Okereke, director of thoracic surgery at Henry Ford Health, joined us to talk about the air quality concerns in the metro Detroit area. GUEST: Dr. Ikenna Okereke, director of thoracic surgery at Henry Ford Health ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At some point during the early days of the pandemic, it felt impossible to get on social media without coming across Wordle's rows of green, yellow, and gray boxes. When it was released to the public in October 2021, the word game quickly became part of people's daily routines. Eventually, the New York Times acquired the puzzle as part of its suite of word games, including the infamous Sunday crossword. When the paper needed an editor for their new game, they turned to Ann Arbor word nerd Tracy Bennett, who was already working as an associate puzzle editor. On this episode of the pod, we talked to Bennett about Wordle's mass appeal and how she landed her dream job creating puzzles for a living.  GUEST:  Tracy Bennett, Wordle editor for the New York Times  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patty PerShayla's new EP, “Perpetual Motion Machine” explores the sometimes hard realities that a touring band goes through. Today, a conversation on the album, moving to Nashville, and (of course) shredding. GUEST: Patty PerShayla, musician ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dunes in Silver Lake State Park in Mears, MI are unstable. They shift so much throughout the year that the sand has swallowed a farm, a forest and several cottages. We talked with a homeowner who is working to push back the dunes. GUEST: Alan Arbogast, dunes expert and researcher in the Department of Geography at Michigan State University  Dan Behm, home owner, and dune enthusiast ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered in a large park in Oxford, Michigan. They were there for a fundraiser and groundbreaking ceremony for Hana's Garden. When completed, the garden will be a memorial for the four children killed in the Oxford High School shooting: Hana St. Juliana, Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, and Justin Shilling. The family behind the garden memorial hopes it will also be a place for the Oxford community to find healing in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.  GUEST:  April Van Buren, Stateside producer  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Photography and creative direction duo Gerard + Belevender take on the “if you can’t beat em, join em” approach when it comes to AI in the photography/marketing industry. They “collaborations” with AI in their food photography work has produced some interesting and controversial work.  GUEST: Jenna Belevender, artist Michelle Gerard, artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Ohio, voters will be asked this week to decide a ballot measure that would substantially raise the bar for future ballot measures. Instead of just getting a majority of voters to approve, future campaigns might need 60%. It has the potential to throw a roadblock in front of one of our region’s hottest topics: access to abortion care.  GUEST: Karen Kasler, statehouse bureau chief, Ohio Public Radio and TV/ideastream ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for efficient, renewable fuels has led one transit system in West Michigan straight to the toilet. On today's pod, Stateside producer April Van Buren travels to the city of Grand Rapids to learn how they are turning human waste into fuel to help power its bus fleet. GUEST:  April Van Buren, Stateside producer  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week a historic building connected to the Chinese community in Detroit was torn down. City officials determined there was no legal standing to prevent Olympia Development from tearing down a former community hub on Cass Ave. This is a brief history of the Chinese community in Detroit, and the significance of the building. GUEST: Richard Mui, Michigan’s Association of Chinese Americans -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special prosecutor charged two Michigan politicians this week with crimes related to the 2020 election. We dig into the details against the charges against Matt DePerno and former state Representative Daire Rendon, and what it means for the Michigan GOP and the Trump campaign. Find Michigan Radio's coverage of the charges here. GUEST:  Rick Pluta, senior capitol correspondent, Michigan Public Radio Network -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Amick joins us to talk about the inspiration and the writing process behind his latest book,You Shall See the Beautiful Things. Set in a small fishing village in 1889, the book explores the intertwining lives of its eccentric characters, unveiling their secrets, dreams, and desires. GUEST: Steve Amick is the author of the novels Nothing But a Smile and The Lake, the River & the Other Lake.  -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To the relief of many car crash survivors across the state, the Michigan Supreme Court decided benefit caps in the 2019 auto no-fault law do not apply retroactively. So what does this means moving forward for all Michiganders? GUEST: Tracy Samilton, Michigan Radio reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a remote corner of the Thumb region lies the largest collection of petroglyphs in Michigan. The stone carvings were created hundreds of years ago by the Indigenous people of this land. Today, tribal and state partners are working together to preserve the site for generations to come. GUESTS:  Jillian Talaski, DNR seasonal Interpreter Stacy Tchorzynski, DNR archeologist  Punkin Shananaquet, tribal leader and member of the Gun Lake Tribe Bonnie Kirkegard, park visitor -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the podcast, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a vibrant community of cyclists in Detroit, due in part to Jason Hall, founder of Ride Detroit Bike Tours, the Slow Roll weekly group ride, and store manager of Trek Detroit. Hall mapped out some ways to enjoy the city by bike, and to share what makes the Motor City such a hub for non-motorists.  GUEST: Jason Hall, store manager at Trek Bicycle Detroit, bike tour guide ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting tomorrow, a judge will hear arguments at the Oakland County Circuit Court to determine whether or not the Oxford school shooter will be sentenced to life without parole. We heard from individuals who believe life without parole for minors is unjust, as well as a member of the Oxford community who believes life without parole for the shooter is the closest the justice system can get to accountability. After these conversations, criminal justice reporter Beenish Ahmed walked us through each of the factors being considered in the upcoming "Miller hearing." Find Beenish Ahmed's coverage of the upcoming Miller hearing here. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A neighborhood on the east side of Detroit confronts foul odors coming from one of their neighbors - Stellantis.  GUEST: Sarah Cwiek, reporter for Michigan Radio ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against 16 Michiganders – for an alleged offense dating back to December of 2020, right after Joe Biden was elected president. The offense: conspiring to replace Michigan’s electoral college representatives  in an attempt to make themselves electors for Donald Trump.  GUEST: Simon Schuster, senior political reporter at MLive ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ride of Passage is a summer series from Stateside, chronicling one Michigander's solo horseback ride across America. In 2003, Matt Parker was out of college and adrift. He decided to do something big... ride across the country on horseback. The only problem was he had never really ridden a horse before. You can listen to the first three episodes of Ride of Passage, and subscribe for updated episodes throughout the summer. GUEST: Matt Parker, rode horseback on the American Discovery Trail ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This season, for the first time, the Detroit Tigers are broadcasting 22 games in Spanish online and over the radio. We talk to the person who went to bat to make this happen. GUEST: Carlos Guillén, media relations bilingual coordinator for the Detroit Tigers ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marks ten years since the historic municipal bankruptcy filing in Detroit. While the city’s financials are more stable, the woes of future pension payments loom large. Today, we reflect on what the bankruptcy filing meant to Detroit then, and what it still means today. GUEST: Stephen Henderson, host of WDET's Detroit Today ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit-based baker Jonathan Peregrino is making a name for himself in the city and beyond. He appeared on season 7 of the Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship, and was a semifinalist in this year’s Hatch Detroit contest. Peregrino has found a niche in whipping up familiar, American desserts infused with traditional, Filipino flavors. Now, he’s closer than ever to bringing his dream of a brick and mortar to life.  GUEST: Jonathan Pergerino, owner of JP Makes and Bakes ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strawberries are in-season in Michigan and even though this year's climate has stifled the amount of berries produced this season, the berries we did have were “small, yet intensely flavored." Today, all things berries! Plus some suggestions from James Beard award-winning chef and owner of Warda Pâtisserie, Warda Bouguettaya.  GUESTS:  Kim Bayer, Slow Farm owner Warda Bouguettaya, Warda Pâtisserie owner ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juan Garcés, author of Love in Four Dots, joins us to tell the story of Sofía and Federico. They were two lovers in Colombia during the Thousand Days' War who wrote letters in a secret code within the pages of a novel to smuggle messages back-and-forth while Federico was held in military prison. GUESTS: Juan Garcés, author ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Auto Workers union will sit down this week to begin contract negotiations with the Big Three automakers: GM, Ford, and Stellantis. UAW president Shawn Fain isn’t holding back. The union is taking a tough tone. Today, we're talking about these contract negotiations in the age of electric vehicles. GUESTS: Kalea Hall, reporter, The Detroit News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan’s Republican party has had some struggles In the post-Trump era, from disagreements over leadership, to physical altercations, to changes in opinions from voters. Two politics reporters joined Stateside to talk about the future of the party, and the way Republican voters are thinking about their ballot in 2024. GUESTS: Craig Mauger, state politics reporter, The Detroit News Jordyn Hermani, culture and politics reporter, MLive ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Middle school is a notoriously difficult time to be a kid. Growing pains and hormones - need we say more? Detroit-based author Jack Cheng tackles these tumultuous middle school years in his new young adult novel, The Many Masks of Andy Zhou. Today, we’re talking to Jack Cheng about his novel, growing up Chinese American in Detroit, plus the good, the bad and the ugly of middle school. GUEST:  Jack Cheng, author ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer, we're spending time at restaurants that have fed Michiganders over generations. Today we're at the Washtenaw Dairy, just down the street from our studios where team Stateside can sometimes be found having a cooldown on hot summer days. This is a small historic storefront dating back to the 1930s. A place where people park themselves on the benches to enjoy ice cream cones, sundaes and fresh made donuts. GUEST: Mary Jean Raab, owner of the Washtenaw Dairy in Ann Arbor. -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By now most people know that exposure to lead is harmful. However, back in the 1800s not so much. Then on July 9th, 1978 a chemistry professor announced the results of his research and warned that lead must be removed from all consumers products. It took a century before decision makers took full action. The Michigan History Center's Rachel Clark explains how Professor Robert Kedzie sounded the lead alarm and was ignored for decades. GUESTS: Rachel Clark, Michigan History Center's education specialist  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, the US Supreme Court published their decision on Creative 303 LLC v. Elenis. Referencing the First Amendment, they held that there is a constitutional right to discriminate against customers based on their sexuality. In Michigan, legislators signed LGBTQ+ civil rights protections into law last March in the expanded Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. So how does this new Supreme Court decision square with Michigan’s current anti-discrimination laws? GUEST:  Jay Kaplan, Nancy Katz & Margo Dichtelmiller LGBTQ+ rights project staff attorney ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Al Hadiqa, a new installation on the rooftop of the Arab American National Museum, consists entirely of plants, seeds, and cuttings donated by the local Arab American community. We pay a visit to the garden on the day of its grand opening, and hear from some donors about their relationship with gardening as an act of memory, cultural preservation, and self-care. GUESTS:  Shatha Najim, community historian, Arab American National Museum Dean Nasreddine, curatorial specialist, Arab American National Museum Oral history recordings of Charlotte Karem Albrecht, Sarmad Jabra, Nissrine Hussein, and Tariq Luthan were used with permission from the Arab American National Museum. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s another bad air day here in Michigan. If you haven’t already, check out our podcast episode from June 7th for information on how to stay safe during days like today. But today we want to talk about another part of the wildfire story: weather. GUEST: Jeff Andresen,  state climatologist for Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stateside's Studio Visits introduces you to artists across Michigan – and their workspaces. When you spend time where artists work, you can pick up a lot about what makes them tick, and what shapes their creative process. In this episode, we take you to the west side of the state to meet an artist who uses glass to make sense of our changing cities. GUEST: Norwood Viviano, Michigan Radio reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The landmark Dobbs ruling overturned nearly 50 years of protections offered by Roe v. Wade, and created a patchwork of abortion access and barriers across the US. But in Michigan, we’ve seen a surge of out-of-state patients coming here for abortions. We're looking at how the number of out of state patients tripled in Michigan a year after the fall of Roe. GUEST: Kate Wells, Michigan Radio reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enbridge’s Line 5 crude oil and natural gas pipeline is at the center of a long and bitter struggle. This month, a WI federal judge ordered Enbridge to shut down the stretch that crosses over tribal land. Today we hear two perspectives on what this new decision means.  GUEST: Robert Houle, council secretary of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Paul Eberth, Enbridge director of tribal engagement, public affairs, communication, & sustainability ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time since the pandemic, Medicaid beneficiaries are being asked this year to re-verify their eligibility. Millions of people could loose their health insurance across the country. Today, the so-called Medicaid "unwinding", and what it can mean for you and your family. GUESTS: Becky McIntyre, Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program Coordinator in the Upper Peninsula Meredith Buhalis, Washtenaw Health Plan Program Manager ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hospitals are seeing ongoing staffing shortages. But over the course of the pandemic, they've also seen rising profits. We talk about how and how much hospitals profited during the COVID–19 health emergency. GUEST: Matthew Miller, MLive reporter Read Miller’s stories here, here, and here. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The COVID pandemic put a constant strain on doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. There were long hours, large patient loads, and a constantly changing virus. Now, COVID hospitalizations have eased, but many nurses say their working conditions have not improved. Some say they've only gotten worse. On today's episode, we’re digging into how staffing shortages at Michigan hospitals are pushing nurses out of the field–and what that means for patient care.  GUESTS:  Nikia Parker, emergency room nurse and paramedic in the Traverse City region  Christopher Friese, professor of nursing and director at the Center for Improving Patient and Population Health at the University of Michigan  Doug Tribou, Morning Edition host at Michigan Radio  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Water levels among the Great Lakes have fluctuated very, very drastically in the past decade. In 2013, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron saw an all-time low. Within the next seven years, all five lakes set record highs. Lake Ontario even did it twice, setting a record high lake level in 2017, and then breaking that record in 2019.  A hydrologist explains what over a hundred years of data can reveal about Michigan’s greatest environmental asset. Plus, what it means for the future of us fishers, kayakers, lakefront property owners, and water-drinkers here on land. GUESTS: Drew Gronewold, associate professor, University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beaches are the best. But WHICH beaches are the best? We here in the Great Lakes State have strong feelings about our fine-sand pristine beaches. But host April Baer has thoughts about the majesty of the oceanside. She's wrong... but let's hear her out. It's a pod for all my baddest beaches.  GUESTS: Dustin Dwyer, West Michigander and Michigan Radio reporter Jo Latimore, aquatic ecologist and outreach specialist, Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the “hands free driving" bill into law on Wednesday, June 7, the second set of legislation in Michigan aimed at reducing distracted driving. The law bans drivers from using a phone for any reason, save for reporting a crime or in another emergency situation. No more checking your email at a red light, no holding your phone to your ear at a red light, no finding the just-right song in your shuffle. Just driving. Today, what you need to know about the new law going into effect on June 30.  GUEST:  Rick Pluta, capitol news correspondent, Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music: "Magic Delights" by Marc Jackson Burrows, courtesy of Audio Network "Golden Grass" by Sour Mash, courtesy of Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020, the American Library Association documented 156 attempts to ban or restrict library materials in the U.S. Two years later in 2022, that number spiked to 1,269.  A library law expert walks us through the materials review process, and what free speech looks like in the context of a library.  A reporter joins us to recap how the debate over book censorship has unfolded in Michigan. GUEST:  Clare Membiela, Library Law Consultant, Library of Michigan Jordyn Hermani, statewide politics reporter, MLive Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wildfires raging in Canada right now are affecting air quality across the United States. Cities like New York and Detroit had air quality index (or AQI) scores throughout the day that put them on par with some of the highest levels of air pollution across the world. On this episode, we’re looking at the health effects of air pollution from wildfires–and what you can do to keep yourself healthy on bad air days.  GUEST:  Sara Adar, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Update: Since we've published this podcast, the DNR has said that the Wilderness Trail Fire has been 100% contained. Over the weekend two wildfires made for road closures, evacuations, and other displacements for people in Crawford and Iosco Counties. Today, we’re talking about wildfires in Michigan and what you can do to prevent them. GUEST: Kerry Heckman, public information officer, DNR Incident Management Team ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At The Bomber Restaurant in Ypsilanti, you’ll find a classic spread of breakfast staples: biscuits slathered in warm gravy, peppered corned beef hash, and silver dollar pancakes piled with berries. It’s the kind of place where the same group of friends have frequented for the past twenty years. But unlike your average diner, the Bomber brings a formidable collection of mostly World War II era memorabilia, paying homage to the restaurant’s roots which date back to that time.  GUEST: Johanna McCoy, owner of The Bomber Restaurant -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The West Michigan-born band The Accidentals are out with a new album called "Time Out." It's filled with lush harmonies and soulful lyrics, and makes for the perfect windows down, cross-country cruising soundtrack. The band collaborated with some of folk music’s most beloved songwriters to create the album. On this episode of the pod, we take a trip with the West Michigan band through the joys of working with your heroes and the challenges of creating music during the COVID era.  GUESTS:  Sav Buist, Katie Larson, Katelynn Corll and Patty PerShayla Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode from The Accidentals and Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan has a population problem. So much so that Governor Whitmer focused her keynote speech this afternoon at the Mackinac Policy Conference on it. Today, we’re looking at Michigan's population problem, and some of the policy measures that could help reverse this trend. GUESTS: Sam Robinson, reporter at Axios Detroit Don Grimes, economist at the University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, nearly 70,000 people reached out to the National Eating Disorders Association helpline. But late this spring the Association shut the helpline down…and added a chatbot instead. GUEST: Kate Wells, Michigan Radio reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Besides lakes and summer tourism, northwest Michigan's towns have become known for something else: a lack of affordable housing.  GUESTS: Mike Rivard, board member, Sleeping Bear Gateways Council Bill Witler, board member, Sleeping Bear Gateways Council ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit electronic artist and beatmaker Kevin Reynolds has been on the scene for almost two decades. This year he was able to transition to music full-time. The result has been a new album and another performance at Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival. Kevin explained his musical process and reflected upon his zig-zagging musical journey.  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.Today's pod music is courtesy of Kevin Reynolds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SBAM just published a report detailing 120 different statistical measurements of what’s happening among the state’s small businesses. While many sectors of the economy seem to be shakier than they were pre-pandemic, entrepreneurship in Michigan still seems to be going strong. We break down the numbers, and revisit a few conversations we've had with entrepreneurs who have experienced the changes firsthand.  GUEST:  Brian Calley, Small Business Association of Michigan President Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janie Paul and her late husband Buzz Alexander spent decades fostering the artistic endeavors of incarcerated Michiganders through the Prison Creative Arts Project. On this episode, we talk to Janie about the transformative power of art for people living inside prison – which she explores in her new book about the stories of incarcerated artists.  GUEST:  Janie Paul, author of the new book Making Art in Prison: Survival and Resistance, and co-founder of the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, part of the Prison Creative Arts Project.  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whatever image you have of a everyday Northern Michigan artist - maybe a landscape painter or lighthouse photographer - Rufus Snoddy is not that. The mixed media artist from Traverse City is inspired by his surroundings, but the result is vivid painted sculpture with pointed, searing, and thought-provoking social commentary. This visit to his studio is a continuation of our Studio Visits of visual artists from throughout Michigan. GUEST: Rufus Snoddy, artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is one of 12 states (plus D.C.) that permits "home equity theft," a practice which allows for a local government to foreclose on a house, and then sell it to a private company for profit while never compensating the original homeowners. GUESTS: Tawanda Hall, Michigan homeowner and plantiff Christina Martin, senior attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great Lakes Bee Company hosts one of Michigan's biggest bee-centric gatherings. Hundreds gather in Fremont, Michigan every May for Bee Pickup Day, where tens of thousands of bees are distributed among beekeepers from all over to bring home to their colonies. Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Radio's West Michigan reporter, attended the event to ask folks what they learn from observing the world's pollinators.  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marketing professor Marcus Collins' new book, "For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be," offers ways to define the amorphous thing we call "culture."  So often, when we interact with a culture we don't understand, "we rely on instinct [and] ego, we villainize them," Collins said. "For The Culture" not only offers definitions, but outlines the power of culture to shape our perceptions of ourselves, and each other.  [Get Stateside on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify today.] ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Oxford community members are frustrated by what they see as inadequate investigation into the school shooting at Oxford High School in November 2021. They want accountability and part of that is a third-party review of how exactly a school shooting happened. Read Anna Clark's original reporting here. GUEST: Anna Clark, Midwest reporter at ProPublica ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got some exciting news. One of our stories won the Asian American Journalists Association Excellence in Audio Storytelling, News Feature Award. So in celebration of this award and in celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month, we're bringing you the story of Kinuko Yada DeVee. This story was inspired by Matt Schepeler’s article in the Brooklyn Exponent. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Short, founder of Short's Brewing Co., has made loving what he does, and where he lives, one in the same by brewing some of Michigan's finest craft beers. We join him at his tap room in Bellaire, east of Torch Lake, in Northern Michigan. GUEST: Joe Short, Short's Brewing Co. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently ended its long-running frog and toad survey, much to the chagrin of the program's dedicated volunteers. The survey, which had been running for nearly three decades was the brainchild of Lori Sargent, who worked as a non-game wildlife biologist at the department for decades. Today on the pod, we hear about the story behind this popular citizen science project.   GUEST:  Lori Sargent, retired Michigan DNR wildlife biologist  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The infant mortality spiked during the pandemic. This reality is especially true for Black women in Detroit. State data shows that in 2021, the rate jumped to 18.1 deaths per 1000 live births. Today, why this is happening, and what can be done to make a change. GUEST: Nina Ignaczak, editor and founder  of Planet Detroit Jennifer Torres, manager of the Office of Women’s Health and Birth Equity ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take a trip with us up North. Stateside paid a visit to Sleder’s Family Tavern in downtown Traverse City. The owners say the establishment, founded in 1882, is the oldest continuously-running restaurant in Michigan. GUEST: Megan Cox, tavern co-owner ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going to continue this conversation about policing and mental health. We’ll hear about two police encounters during a mental health crisis, and we’ll share some mental health resources – that aren’t calling the  police. For more information on mental health resources, check out our website. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven months ago, Detroit Police responded to a mental health call for a young Black man who had schizophrenia.  His name was Porter Burks.  Police shot him to death just minutes after arriving on the scene. This isn’t the first time that something like this has happened. And so we wanted to know, why was Porter Burks killed during a mental health call? ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the mid-20th century, mining and logging were still the dominant industries in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But there was another burgeoning industry: women’s undergarments manufacturing. GUEST: Phyllis Wong, author ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your suspicions are correct. There are, indeed, more urgent care centers in Michigan. In fact the number of locations have tripled since 2010. Detroit Free Press reporter, JC Reindl has been following the trend towards urgent care and found that the number of centers increased from 170 to 541 in 2022, according to the Urgent Care Association. Today, why urgent cares are popping up everywhere, and what you should know about how they operate and whether or not they’ll be sticking around. GUEST: JC Reindl, Detroit Free Press reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Angeline Boulley, author of the bestselling YA thriller Firekeeper's Daughter, is back with a new novel. Warrior Girl Unearthed features a young Ojibwe teen in the U.P. caught up in a complex web of murder and theft, politics, and culture. GUEST: Angeline Boulley, writer ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Michigan State Representative Rick Johnson has pleaded guilty in one of the biggest state capitol-level public corruption scandals in decades.  Federal court filings allege that Johnson accepted tens of thousands of dollars from lobbyists to help clients earn medical marijuana licenses. Johnson was serving as chairman of Michigan's marijuana licensing board at the time. Among the license recipients is Green Peak Industries, known more commonly by their trade name, Skymint. Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger helps us unpack the details of the case, and what it means for some of the biggest players in Michigan’s marijuana industry. GUEST: Craig Mauger, state politics reporter, Detroit News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Hajime Sato, owner of Sozai in Clawson, Michigan, was recently nominated for a James Beard Award in the Outstanding Chef Category. At Sozai, he offers an omakase experience at the sushi bar, where the entire multi-course meal is chef's choice. Chef Sato is also one of the few chefs in the country serving sustainable sushi. He shares what omakase service looks like from his side of the bar, and what it means to run a sustainable sushi operation.  GUEST: Hajime Sato, chef & owner of Sozai in Clawson, MI ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has taken a toll on many people’s mental health. That might go double for small kids, who saw their routines interrupted and their social interactions shrink to fit a screen. On today's episode, we talk about how mental health challenges are showing up in preschools and daycare settings--and the challenges that's creating for child care providers. GUESTS:Jennifer Brookland, Report for America fellow covering children's welfare for the Detroit Free Press Tracie Bettison, after-school program provider and early childhood education consultant in Metro Detroit Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some might find the characters and textures featured in artist Matthew Osmon’s work to be a little bit unsettling. Some of his pandemic-era work focuses on goopy and stringy textures, parasitic creatures, and expressionless faces floating in liminal space. But the candy-toned color palettes make these works  weirdly inviting. Matthew Osmon is a Flint native, and chose to keep living and working here as an adult. He's a teacher at Mott Middle College, an instructor at the Flint Institute of Arts, a lecturer at the U-M Flint, and a board member at the Buckham Gallery. Between his many roles, he finds time to make art for himself.  Today, we visit two very different spaces where his work comes to life. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of major mass shootings in Michigan, Democrats in control of the state Legislature have done something previous Legislative sessions have not: address gun violence through policy changes. Livingston County Sheriff called a recent red flag bill "unconstitutional." So what does it mean when an elected official says they might ignore state law? GUEST: Jon King, journalist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet cartoonist, Barbara Brandon-Croft, whose work was first featured in The Detroit Free Press in 1989. Her comic strip “Where I’m Coming From” ran until 2005. GUEST: Barbara Brandon-Croft, cartoonist Marty Claus, former, editor at The Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is nothing like the first days of spring to remind you that humans are animals too. The first warm days of 2023 brought turtles and rabbits out of their winter hiding places–along with flocks of humans in shorts and t-shirts. And, of course, one of our favorite spring arrivals: THE BIRDS. Today, we’re talking about how to slow down and notice nature waking up again. GUEST: April Campbell, retired physician and birding enthusiast who lives in Ann Arbor. April is a huge advocate for getting other people of color into birding, and leads regular BIPOC birding walks around SE Michigan.  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nandi Comer was recently appointed Michigan's poet laureate. Originally from Detroit, she's the first person to hold the title in decades. GUEST: Nandi Comer, author and poet laureate ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infighting in the MIGOP led, at least in one case, to an actual fight during an after-hours gathering in Clare. Bridge Michigan wrote about the scuffle between Party officials from Kalamazoo and Macomb.  GUEST: Jonathan Oosting, Bridge Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been in the international section of a supermarket, chances are you've seen La Choy products — maybe even bought some of their sauces or noodles. And while the brand's signature blue label and mimicry font are ubiquitous, it's origin story is not. The company was started in 1922 right here in Michigan. GUEST: Amy Elliott Bragg, assistant city editor at The Detroit News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last October we aired a story two weeks before the election in which voters were asked to decide whether to guarantee access to abortion in the Michigan state constitution. For this story, Michigan Radio reporter Kate Wells spent several days in a Michigan abortion clinic, speaking with women about what led them there. That story was recently nominated for a Peabody award. Voters passed Proposition 3 by a wide margin last November in Michigan, preserving abortion rights in the state. The issue of access to abortion is still relevant and ongoing. With that in mind, we wanted to bring your attention back to the story from the Michigan Radio Newsroom and Stateside. Keep in mind that the story you’re about to hear was recorded and aired before voters went to the ballot to vote on Prop 3 last Fall. The original story was reported by Kate Wells, and edited by Sarah Hulett and Lindsey Smith. Mixed by Mercedes Mejia, with additional help from Rachel Ishikawa. Thank you to the many hands at Michigan Radio who helped make this story happen, and thanks especially to the women who agreed to share their personal stories. Stateside’s executive producer is Laura Weber Davis. Music from Blue Dot Sessions. Additional music by Brad Gowland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids book author Kyunghee Kim of Ypsilanti talks about honoring the complex emotions and experiences of kids in her new book "See Us Bloom". GUEST: Kyunghee Kim, author and teacher -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The small town of Marshall has been rocked by the planned use of a large swath of land for a Ford battery plant. The Detroit News looked at the long shadow cast over land use in the community. You can read their story here. Today, how Ford's proposed battery manufacturing facility has the town of Marshall divided. GUESTS: Kalea Hall, Detroit News Jordyn Grzelewski, Detroit NewsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nearly unbelievable story of an amateur archeologist's massive and illegal collection and how a Michigan tribe stepped forward to reinter unidentified native remains. GUEST: Matthew Miller, Senior Reporter, MLive Matthew Bussler, Historic Preservation Officer for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among the most prestigious awards in poetry is the Whiting Award. And this year, the award went to Detroit native Tommye Blount, a writer known for his poetry collection Fantasia for the Man in Blue (2020). He stopped in to discuss his work and future endeavors. GUEST: Tommye Blount, award-winning poet -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan's 2019 auto no-fault reforms aren’t just hurting people who were injured prior to 2019, they've left out Michiganders injured today. Today on the pod: a new generation of crash survivors struggling to get the medical care they need. GUEST: Tracy Samilton, reporter at Michigan Radio  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk blocked the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, a drug used for medication abortion. The FDA had approved the drug back in 2000, but Judge Kacsmaryk ruled the decision to be invalid. Less than an hour later, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice issued an opposing decision, ordering the FDA to maintain access to mifepristone. State-by-state tumult over abortion was all but guaranteed by the Dobbs decision. But what does this latest federal court ruling mean for a state like Michigan, where abortion has been codified in the state Constitution? GUESTS: Leah Litman, professor of law, University of Michigan Law School; co-host of "Strict Scrutiny" ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music: "Perpetuo" Written by Jody Jenkins "Thinking About It" Written by Alexander L'Estrange Courtesy of Audio Network Other music from Blue Dot Sessions    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming in with a little something extra for you this weekend. Today, a story from one of our producers about a city in Michigan with a new plan to revitalize their downtown.  GUESTS: Eric Winstrom, Chief of Police, Grand Rapids Police Department  Kelsey Perdue, Grand Rapids Third Ward Commissioner  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from  Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stateside's Studio Visits introduces you to artists across Michigan–and their workspaces. When you spend time where artists work, you can pick up a lot about what makes them tick, and what shapes their creative process. In this episode, we take you to the west side of the state to meet an artist whose work is transforming the landscape of public art–and making visible the lives of Michigan’s Indigenous people.  GUEST:  Jason Quigno, Saginaw Chippewa tribal member and stone sculptor  You can find photos of Jason at work in his Grand Rapids studio here.  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year ago this month, Patrick Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, was fatally shot in the back of the head by a white Grand Rapids police officer.  It’s yet another instance of a officer using deadly force against a Black individual. Yet another reason to continue the conversation around training, racial bias, and accountability in our police departments.  Today, one year after that tragedy, we ask what Grand Rapids’ policing looks like, what change has happened, and what one advocate turned city leader wants next. GUESTS: Eric Winstrom, Chief of Police, Grand Rapids Police Department  Kelsey Perdue, Grand Rapids Third Ward Commissioner  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from  Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 700-thousand customers of DTE and Consumers Energy lost power in an ice storm earlier this year. There’s since been a public outcry for state leaders to hold the power companies accountable. That pressure ratchets up as DTE faces scrutiny for its political spending.  We examine the relationship between the investor-owned utilities and state lawmakers. Plus one Democrat in the State House shares what he wants accountability from DTE to look like. GUESTS: Craig Mauger, state politics reporter, The Detroit News Abraham Aiyash, Michigan State Representative, 9th House District  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from  Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walking in Michigan’s prairies, you may have seen a poweshiek skipperling – a small silvery butterfly – and not even known it. But the reality is their population is dropping at an alarming rate. We talk to a biologist who's trying to change that. GUESTS: David Pavlik, research associate at Michigan State University ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from  Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you stage authentic looking intimacy in film and theater? How do you do this while advocating for the people starring in these roles? Today, a conversation with two Michigan State University professors who a book on the intimacy direction. It's called “Supporting Staged Intimacy: A Practical Guide for Theatre Creatives, Managers and Crew.” GUESTS: Tina M. Newhauser, head of the BFA program in Stage Management at Michigan State University Alexis Black, assistant professor of acting and movement at Michigan State University ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from  Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy Lee Hill is the executive chef instructor of Lakeland Correctional Facility's food service and culinary arts program. The training program, Hill, and his students are the subject of a new film called Coldwater Kitchen. The documentary offers a lens on modern corrections, and also the power of food in our culture. Today on the podcast, we revisited our original trip to Lakeland's kitchen back in 2019. We also spoke with chef Jimmy Lee Hill and filmmaker Mark Kurlyandchik. Coldwater Kitchen debuts at the Freep Film Festival on April 26th. Hear more about the film and its making on this episode of Stateside. GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW: Jimmy Lee Hill, executive chef instructor, Lakeland Correctional Facility Charles Ralston, culinary arts tutor, Lakeland Correctional Facility Christopher Dorch, culinary arts student, Lakeland Correctional Facility Mark Kurlyandchik, co-writer and co-director, Coldwater Kitchen -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the debate over so-called "red flag" laws in the state, the subject of suicide is centered. Rural Michigan - as in the remote regions throughout the nation - suffers from the highest rates of suicide. And many of those deaths are caused by guns. Just as most gun-related deaths are self-inflicted. Advocates for red-flag laws say the change could help prevent many of those deaths. GUEST:  Pat Gallinagh, Range Suicide Prevention Council in Gogebic Co.  If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, please seek someone out to talk to. The Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 9-8-8. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats in control of the state Legislature think they can start to turn the tide of preventable gun death here in Michigan. But the thing about laws, is they have to be enforced to work. And not all county commissions want new laws on the books.   GUEST: Matthew (Matt) Saxton, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association  ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This weekend, UAW members elected the next UAW president: Shawn Fain. And Fain’s taking a strong stance out of the gate – promising a more aggressive approach with automakers. So what does this new era of UAW leadership mean for auto workers, and for the automotive sector at large? GUEST:  Jamie LaReau, reporter at the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network and Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne County has a juvenile detention crisis. Last week Wayne County Executive Warren Evans declared it public health emergency. GUEST: Christine MacDonald, investigative reporter at the Detroit Free Press ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music from Audio Network  and  Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does accountability look like when a mass shooter is a minor?  In the case of the shooting at Oxford High School, the local county prosecutor is taking a unique approach: charging the alleged shooter’s parents. Today, we’ll talk about prosecutors’ strategy in this case, and the legal precedent it could set if it’s successful. GUEST:  Mike Nichols, criminal defense attorney in East Lansing and former adjunct faculty member at WMU Cooley Law School Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, a studio visit with collage artist Judy Bowman. In less than a decade, Bowman’s bright, textured collages have gained a national audience and collector base. She’s shown her art in New York, at Art Basel Miami, and her first solo exhibition, called “Gratiot Griot,” is currently wrapping up at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. But despite her national fame, Bowman is, admittedly, a homebody. Her home is her studio. She lives and works in Romulus, and her artwork prominently features the scenes and people of her childhood in Detroit’s Black Bottom and Eastside. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the aftermath of power outages that affected hundreds of thousands of people in February and March this year, many Michiganders are scrutinizing the state’s largest investor-owned utilities: DTE and Consumers Energy. Michigan’s Public Service Commission is holding town halls this week on the outages, and dozens of Michiganders have come forward to share their frustrations. Meanwhile, an Ann Arbor-based nonprofit has long been advocating for a transition to a public-owned electric utility, rather than an investor-owned one.  DTE is a corporate sponsor of Michigan Radio. GUESTS: Nushrat Rahman, Report for America Corps Member, Bridge Detroit and The Detroit Free Press Greg Woodring, president, Ann Arbor for Public Power ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way .If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen an uptick in alcohol related liver disease hospitalizations across the country. In Michigan that number increased by 50% in 2020. We've also seen an increase in younger people needing care. Today, the rising rates of alcohol consumption, the reasons behind it, and what people are doing to make a change. GUESTS: Austin Johnson, Construction inspector and South Lyon resident Dr. Scott Winder, Clinical Associate Professor for the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan Medicine Dr. Anne Fernandez, Director of Clinical Programming at the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Other music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of a creative project that didn't go as planned, Detroit-based audio storyteller Zak Rosen set out to find the best morsels of advice from folks of all walks of life. Since then, he's compiled the advice of hundreds of family members, acquaintances, and total strangers. Every tidbit is cataloged on his podcast, The Best Advice Show. Today, he shares some of his favorites morsels with Stateside, and solicits some advice from a member of the Stateside team. GUESTS: Zak Rosen, host, The Best Advice Show Laura Weber-Davis, executive producer, Stateside ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. The Best Advice Show theme music courtesy of Zak Rosen: "Pizogi" by Guustav "Come Clean" by Gloria Tells Other music from Blue Dot SessionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Something historic that happened at the Michigan Capitol this week. After more than a decade of starts and stops, lawmakers this week added protections for LGBTQ Michiganders to the state's Elliott Larson Civil Rights Act. We talked with Jay Kaplan, from the ACLU of Michigan, about what this new legislation means for the queer community, and the work that still remains. GUEST:  Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan's LGBTQ+ Project  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the Midwest's wacky Saint Patty’s Day celebrations reflected Ireland as it actually is? Ann Arbor husband-and-wife duo Kate McCabe and Max Sussman spoke to Stateside about their work educating others on the country they love, including all its nuanced food, culture, and history. They co-founded Bog & Thunder, a culinary-focused Ireland travel company. This Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, they’re hosting an Irish cuisine celebration at Frame in Hazel Park. Chef Kevin Burke is visiting from Dublin to whip up a four-course meal for southeast Michiganders – and it’s not the boiled cabbage fare you might be imagining. GUESTS: Max Sussman, co-founder and culinary director, Bog and Thunder Kate McCabe, co-founder and CEO, Bog and Thunder ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode courtesy of Audio Network: "Carrigdance" written by Mike Stobbie "Freestyle" written by Richard Lacey & Nick Haigh “Celtic Flame” written by Mike Stobbie Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've stayed home sick in the past 20 years, you've probably come across Judge Greg Mathis on your television screen. He's been hosting his eponymous daytime TV court show, Judge Mathis, for more than two decades. The only other television court personality to top that record is Judge Judy. But long before he found himself on the small screen, Mathis was a judge here in his home state of Michigan. Born in Detroit, he was elected to the state's 36th District Court in 1995. After more than two decades the show Judge Mathis is coming to an end, but fans of Mathis will be happy to hear that a new iteration of the show will be coming in fall 2023, after former Detroit resident Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group picked up the show. The new show will be called Mathis Court with Judge Mathis. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infertility treatments can be an incredibly lonely and long journey for folks hoping to have a child. Slate podcast producer Cheyna Roth wanted to find a community she could share her own struggles with. And so, she created a podcast about her family's struggle to conceive via IVF. We talked to Cheyna about her story and the community she found by sharing it.  GUEST:  Cheyna Roth, podcast producer at Slate You can listen to Cheyna's podcast episode on her journey with infertility here.  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruth Carter took home the Oscar on Sunday for Best Costume Design in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." It’s the only Oscar the film was awarded, despite being nominated in multiple categories. But it doesn’t take the Academy’s votes to see that the Black Panther films were a global phenomenon.  Hannah Beachler is the production designer who worked with director Ryan Coogler in imagining and crafting the world of Wakand. She came to the University of Michigan’s Institute for the Humanities as a guest speaker earlier this year. She shared what it took to design the landscapes, government, and rituals of Wakanda, and the weight that this imagined universe carries for Black audiences around the world.  GUEST:  Hannah Beachler, production designer for both "Black Panther" films ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chopped is a competition cooking show in which a constellation of totally weird ingredients are set before three hardworking chefs to see what they can make. Chef Mamba Hamissi, co-owner of Baobab Fare with his wife Nadia, recently competed on the show. Given an ingredients basket filled with fried gluten, leeks, scallops, and chai tea, Mamba made a sweet and spicy taco so delectable and complex that it helped him win $10,000. On today's pod, Chef Mamba on why being who you are, and knowing what you know, is sometimes the key to getting you through a completely unfamiliar situation. GUEST:  Chef Mamba Hamissi, co-owner of Baobab Fare in Detroit  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats in Lansing have been busy lately: they’ve passed civil rights protections for the LGBT+ community, quashed the state’s 1931 ban on abortion, and repealed Michigan’s decade-old right-to-work law. Today, lawmakers were urged to make another change: gun safety legislation. Krista Grettenberger, whose son Troy Forbush was shot and wounded in the MSU shooting, spoke about her experience before the House Judiciary Committee. Shortly after, the Michigan House passed a universal background check bill. On today’s podcast, we hear tape from Grettenberger’s moving testimony. Plus, we talk with Dr. Thomas Veverka, a Midland trauma surgeon specializing in gunshot wounds, who also spoke at the capitol earlier today. Dr. Veverka, along with a group of other doctors, traveled to Lansing to urge lawmakers to act on gun safety legislation. [Get Stateside on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify today.] GUESTS: Dr. Thomas Veverka, critical care surgery specialist, MyMichigan General Surgery — Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week we got some really hard news about a UP institution. Finlandia University is shutting down operations, after 126 years in operation. Founded as the Suomi College and Theological Seminary, it’s kept Finnish culture alive Up North, in ways that have affected thousands of peoples’ lives over the years.  GUEST: Timothy Pinnow, President of Finlandia University — Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorri Thomas, aka Lady L, is a tattoo artist in Detroit. After years of sexual harassment and frustration with lack of representation in the industry, Thomas founded Ladies of Ink in 2015, a collective for Black women tattoo artists. They tour the country uniting and connecting with other women artists. GUEST: Lori Thomas, founder of the Ladies of Ink tour — Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grand Rapids native Annie Rauwerda was finding a lot of strange and charming articles on Wikipedia. So she made started posting her findings to social media. Her project has not amassed 1.2 million followers on Instagram. GUEST: Annie Rauwerda, creator of the Depths of Wikipedia — Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is a non-profit project started by this third-generation tree nursery owner as a way to preserve species now in terrifying decline due to climate change and habitat destruction. They take cuttings from the biggest, strongest, oldest tree species on several continents, coax the cuttings to sprout roots, and nurture them until they can be replanted. We talked to the team at Archangel about what they do and what role ancient trees could play in the fight against climate change. GUESTS:  David Milarch, founder of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive  Jared Milarch, owner of Archangel Ancient Tree Archive  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new investigation from the New York Times offered a deeply disturbing picture of children, mostly teens, working hazardous jobs all across the U.S. Reporter Hannah Dreier outlined how young migrants – many as young as 13 who entered the country unaccompanied – are working long, dangerous hours in places like food packing facilities, construction sites, and poultry processing plants. Child labor laws, in theory, protect kids from unsafe and exploitative working conditions. But Ana Raquel Devereaux, managing attorney at Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC), told us many young migrant children slip through the cracks. GUEST: Ana Raquel Devereaux, managing attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center [Get Stateside on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify today.] — Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the illegal street racing scene of 1970s Detroit, there was one car that ruled them all: The Black Ghost. The black ‘70 Dodge HEMI Challenger would appear only occasionally to race, win, and then disappear into the night. It later turned out that was because the driver–the late Godfrey Qualls–was a Detroit police officer.  Today on the pod, we hear about a Detroit street racing legend–and his son’s mission to share his story.  GUEST:  Gregory Qualls, son of Godfrey Qualls, owner of the Black Ghost Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the weeks following the shooting at Michigan State University, a central question around campus security has emerged: What measures can schools and universities take to protect their communities when there is an active shooter? GUEST: Dave Boucher, reporter, Detroit Free Press —— Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of thousands of DTE and Consumers Energy customers remain without power for nearly five days after an ice storm on Wednesday, Feb. 22. This leaves many without the essential heat during Michigan’s frigid winter temperatures. GUESTS: Senator Mallory McMorrow , state Senator (D-MI 13th District) Dan Scripps, chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission —— Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alright stop, collaborate and listenIce is back with my brand new invention (a generator)Something (the cold) grabs a hold of me tightly Flow like a harpoon daily and nightlyWill it ever stop? Yo, I don't knowTurn off the lights, and I'll glow (by candle light, because I still don't have power) GUEST: Seth Guikema, co-director of the Center for Risk Analysis Informed Design Engineering and a professor of industrial and operations engineering, University of Michigan -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the night of the shooting at Michigan State University, students faced four hours of a shelter-in-place order. During that time many of them were in communication with their parents; texting and calling them. On the other end of the phone, parents had to manage their own fears while reassuring their children. Today we talk with two MSU parents about that horrific night, and about their own activism around gun reform.  GUESTS: Kelly Dillaha - MSU parent and program director of Red, Wine & Blue.  Jennifer Norber - MSU parent and deputy program director of Red, Wine & Blue.  -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, Michigan Republicans elected Kristina Karamo as their next party chair. What does her win mean for Michigan's Republican Party? GUESTS: Kaitlyn Buss, assistant editorial page editor at the Detroit New Colin Jackson, reporter at the Michigan Public Radio Network  —— Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cuban Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera is one of the many people striving to re-establish relationships between the U.S. and Cuba. She recently visited Detroit for that very purpose. GUEST: Lianys Torres Rivera, Ambassador to the U.S. from Cuba. —— Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, a deep dive into former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young's life, work, and political legacy.  GUEST: Jamon Jordan, Detroit city historian ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of young people attended a vigil Wednesday night to remember the students shot and killed this week in the heart of Michigan State’s campus. Today, we try to piece together the law that allowed for someone with a prior gun-conviction to legally own another gun. We also hear from a public health researcher about why stronger policies alone aren’t enough.  GUESTS: Craig Mauger, reporter, Detroit News Marc Zimmerman, Co-Director of the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention at the University of Michigan ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arielle Anderson, 19 years old. Brian Fraser, 20 years old. Alexandria Verner, 20 years old. These are the three Michigan State University students killed in a mass shooting on campus Monday night. Communities around the state have gathered to remember them--and to offer their support for the five other students who are still hospitalized.  Today, we want to take some time to talk about what we know of these students' lives and the communities of people who love them.  GUEST:  Andrea Sahouri, criminal justice reporter for the Detroit Free Press  You can read Andrea's reporting on the MSU shooting victims here. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk about what we know so far about the mass shooting at Michigan State University. We also hear from two students on what happened. GUESTS: Emily Lawler, politics editor for the Detroit Free Press Colin Jackson, Michigan Public Radio Network Dan Netter, MSU student and city desk editor, State News and Stateside intern Morgan Womack, MSU student and campus desk editor, State News and Michigan Radio digital intern —— Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This last weekend, while many Michiganders had their eyes glued to their TVs for the Super Bowl, there was something going on in the sky. The Department of Defense observed and fired upon an object while it was in the skies over Lake Huron. GUESTS: Melissa Nann Burke, Washington reporter for The Detroit News Brett Dahlberg, editor for Michigan Radio ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past 20 years, roller derby has seen a major revival across the country. The modern derby era – which got rolling around 2000 in Austin, Texas – is a far cry from the ultra-staged smackdowns of the 80s, or the flame-and-fade derby of the 50s. Now, many major cities now boost their own derby leagues--including Detroit. Stateside intern Ellie Katz headed to one of the Detroit Roller Derby league’s recent bouts to scope out the scene. GUESTS: Amelia Greco, Detroit Roller Derby member Amy Ruby, Detroit Roller Derby member ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opportunity for revival of an established Spanish-language paper in Southwest Detroit came up when the paper recently changed hands. Our guests today talk to us about what mainstream news doesn’t get about Spanish-speaking readers and audiences and what they’re doing to shine lights on community news – in both Spanish and English. GUESTS: Martina Guzman, founder and director of the Race and Justice Reporting Initiative at the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University Angela Gallegos, contributing writer to El Central Hispanic NewsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenn White is the host of the NPR midday news show, 1A. Born and raised in Detroit, White worked in public TV before becoming the local anchor of All Things Considered at Michigan Radio - the very station that brings you this podcast. Today on the podcast, a live conversation with Jenn White about her Michigan roots, covering difficult news, and the importance of treats. GUEST: Jenn White, host of 1A ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Biden delivered the State of the Union Address last night to an audience of Congress members, some of whom were very vocal throughout the speech. You've likely seen the viral moments of the President going to head-to-head with Republican representatives, but there were some moments of bipartisan unity. Freshman Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Democrat representing Michigan's 3rd Congressional District, is optimistic about getting key legislation passed in the coming months. GUEST: Hillary Scholten, Congresswoman representing MIchigan's 3rd Congressional District ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 150 years ago, a young nation fresh off its first Civil War was trying to find itself - amid famine, disease, societal breakdown. Our school books talk about this period as the Reconstruction. Wayne State University scholar Kidada Williams refers to the period in different terms in her new book, I Saw Death Coming: A History of Terror and Survival in the War Against Reconstruction. GUEST: Kidada Williams, author ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids and Marvel super fans alike have a new animated television series to look forward to: "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur," which is set to release this week on Disney. The show revolves around Lunella Lafayette, a 13-year-old genius-turned-superhero protecting the Lower East Side of New York with her crime-fighting dinosaur partner. The character is Marvel’s first Black girl superhero to star in her own series.  Diamond White, a Detroit native, voices Lunella on the show. White shared what her career journey has looked like since leaving Detroit, and what it means to portray a young hero that looks like her.  GUEST: Diamond White, singer, actress, voice of Lunella Lafayette in Disney's "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelin star chef Iliana Regan decided to leave behind the buzzing Chicago culinary scene for a quieter life, she found solace in the woods of the Upper Peninsula. Regan has documented her new, slower-paced life in the book Fieldwork: A Forager’s Memoir. GUEST: Iliana Regan, chef and author ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, a charged debate that's gaining more traction in Michigan: are electric vehicle drivers paying their fair share of road use taxes? Plus, a look at how industry giants like Ford are taking financial losses now in hopes of stealing some EV market share from Tesla down the road. GUESTS: Lester Graham, reporter, The Environment Report Phoebe Wall Howard, automotive reporter, Detroit Free Press ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twelve people have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct by Dr. Zvi Levran, a urologist who provided medical services to a number of high school and youth all-star hockey teams in both Michigan and Minnesota. On this episode, we talked to reporter Katie Strang, with The Athletic, about the allegations against Zvi Levran, and how it ties into other instances of physician misconduct.  GUEST: Katie Strang, reporter with The Athletic. You can read her in-depth piece into the allegations against Levran here. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past three years have been a particularly scary time for people of Asian descent. Two University of Michigan researchers have been trying to find out if the rise in anti-Asian sentiment has had other, more hidden economic effects. Ones that you might not see in national headlines, but still damage Asian-American livelihoods.  GUEST ON TODAY'S SHOW: Justin Huang, assistant professor of marketing, Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to streaming services, you’ve got a lot to choose from these days. From the giants like Netflix, Hulu, HBO to smaller platforms catering to a more niche audience. The platform Tubi has become a go-to for fans and producers of independent Black cinema. And it's not just L.A. or New York creators cashing in on the chance to put their work in front of an online audience. There's a sizable amount of Tubi content that's being written by Black Detroiters and produced right here in the Motor City. GUEST ON TODAY'S SHOW: Phil Lewis, senior frontpage editor of HuffPost and writer on Substack ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next great Americana singer/songwriter could be not from Tennessee, not from the Carolinas, but from Southwest Michigan. Myron Elkins is an Allegan County native. His debut album, “Factories, Farms, and Amphetamines” is an ode to the Midwest, and every track carries the very grit and authenticity that’s characteristic of rural Michigan life.  GUEST ON TODAY'S SHOW: Myron Elkins, musician ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her fifth State of the State address last night. It’s the first of her second term as governor, and her first in-person address in three years, due to COVID. It was also an opportunity to make her priorities known working with a Democratic majority in the Legislature. Today, we’re recapping what we heard from Gov. Whitmer. GUESTS: Colin Jackson, Michigan Public Radio Network Alyssa McMurtry, Gongwer News Service ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula can get buried in snow during the winter. Some simply thank Mother Nature. Others use meteorology to explain it all. But to some members of the Finnish-American community in the Hancock area, the snow is because of Heikki Lunta. Legend has it, the mystical man's dancing has the power to summon snowstorms. Hilary-Joy Virtanen wrote her master's thesis on the the legend of Heikki, his not-so-ancient origins, and his role in preserving Finnish-American culture. GUEST: Hilary-Joy Virtanen, Associate Professor of Finnish & Nordic Studies at Finlandia University, a private Lutheran university in Hancock, Michigan ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lyndsay Green is a dining and restaurant critic for the Detroit Free Press, and the first Black person at the publication to hold that role. She finds that a lot of people in the restaurant world don’t expect to see her. Green recently commemorated her first year at the Free Press by writing about her year in review. The essay, which documents her experience in the food industry as a 4’10” Black woman critic, went viral. She joined us to share the ups and downs of her past year in the Detroit food scene, plus what the fine line between anonymity and invisibility reveals about upscale dining and our culture more broadly. GUEST: Lyndsay Green, dining and restaurant critic, Detroit Free Press Support for arts and culture coverage on Stateside comes in part from Michigan's Arts and Culture Council. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April 2020, Gov. Whitmer assembled a taskforce to target biases and barriers that have long prevented racial minorities from receiving adequate medical care; something that was made abundantly clear during the early weeks of the pandemic. The Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities was called to identify and help reduce the disparities in COVID cases. GUESTS: Dr. Phil Levy, Associate Vice President of Translational Science at Wayne State University; Director of the Center for Population Health Accountability at Wayne Health Dr. Renee Canady, CEO of the Michigan Public Health Institute ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tapestry in Black is a new podcast that gives Black Michiganders a space to share their experiences in their own words. Each episode of the show is a new story, told from the perspective of someone who lived it. Season 1 features tales from the Civil Rights era from the 1960s to the early 70s. GUEST: Khaliph Young, Tapestry in Black director ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a lot to think about when you're at the grocery store: your meal plans, your taste, your budget. But what about your plastic bag consumption? Today on the show, one artist’s cheeky take on the problem of single use plastics through art. And then, the Democratic effort to reverse the state's ban on local plastic bag bans. GUESTS:  Robin Frohardt, Brooklyn-based artist and filmmaker State Senator Jeff Irwin, Democrat representing Michigan's 15th district   More information about The Plastic Bag Store over here. ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This last weekend, nine candidates vying for Michigan Republican Party Chair took part in a forum in Midland. All nine endorsed false claims that the last two elections had fraudulent outcomes. Among the candidates for the top spot are some failed nominees for statewide office, including former attorney general nominee Matt DePerno and former secretary of state nominee Kristina Karamo. Craig Mauger of The Detroit News has been following the candidates as they look to lead one of Michigan’s two major parties. Guest: Craig Mauger, political reporter for The Detroit News ____ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the age of 15, Leslie King was sex trafficked in Grand Rapids. For 20 years, she endured sexual exploitation, violence, and drug addiction, until finally escaping in the summer of 2000. Today, King runs an outreach organization in Grand Rapids called Sacred Beginnings. Its mission is to connect with others who may be victims of sex trafficking, and provide them with supplies and support.  After years spent rebuilding her life, filling out applications, working with lawyers, and receiving denial after denial for expungement petitions, Leslie received a phone call she'd been waiting so long to hear: the governor had pardoned King for crimes committed decades ago when she was a victim of human trafficking. Hear Leslie King's story of survival, and of her legal battle for a new beginning.  GUESTS: Leslie King, author, speaker, sex trafficking survivor, and founder of Sacred Beginings Madelaine Lane, attorney, Warner Norcross + Judd _______ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two months before Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington, tens of thousands gathered to watch him speak in Detroit — a city that’s home to so many Black activists, artists, and entrepreneurs.  Since then, it hasn’t all been easy for Black Detroiters, but the elections of Mayor Coleman A. Young, and Congressman John Conyers brought forward a new era of Black leadership.  In recent years, Detroit has lost Black representation in both local and national leadership. In the latest election, two non-Black candidates came out on top to represent the city in Congress, meaning, for the first time in 70 years, Detroit has no Black lawmaker representing the city. Bridge Detroit and public radio station WDET have partnered to create a podcast called “What Had Happened Was." The limited series interrogates in real-time what loss of Black representation means for the city. ___ GUEST: Orlando Bailey, engagement director at Bridge Detroit, co-host of "What Had Happened Was" Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember video rental stores? We went to one of the last ones in Michigan. _______ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Cheers!" has been a longstanding Stateside feature, and now co-hosts Tammy Coxen and Lester Graham have prepped their last call. After 100 drinks from the mixology team, they'll wrap up their run in February. Today, we toast them! GUESTS: Lester Graham and Tammy Coxen are co-hosts of the radio series "Cheers!" and co-authors of the book Cheers to Michigan: A Celebration of Cocktail Culture and Craft Distillers.  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Ottawa County - in West Michigan, a slate of nine new commissioners just took office. In their first meeting on January 3rd, they made some sweeping changes to county operations. Not everybody was happy about it. Today on the pod, a new kind of Republican takes control in reliably red Ottawa County.  GUEST: Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Radio's West Michigan reporter  Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French documentary filmmaker Dorian Degoutte couldn't bare dumping his 1997 Ford Fiesta. So instead he took took his car from France for one last journey to where it all began: Detroit. Read the original article here. GUEST: Dorian Degoutte, filmmaker Phoebe Wall Howard, reporter at the Detroit Free Press _______ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein publicly admonished a colleague on the court for hiring a clerk whose past Bernstein thought unbecoming of the court. Bernstein's decision to lambast Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, and her clerk, has drawn sharp criticism. Bernstein issued a statement to apologize today, but not before the clerk resigned under duress. Here's Bernstein's statement: “Today, I apologized to my colleague Justice Kyra Harris Bolden in-person at the Hall of Justice and she has accepted my apology. I regret overstepping Justice Bolden’s hiring process and should not have disturbed her ability to lead her Chambers. I would also like to apologize to Mr. Peter Martel. Mr. Martel is not an elected official and my actions invited people into his life in a way that he had not signed up for and he deserved more consideration.   I am committed to working with Justice Bolden in the coming years to advance our many shared values, including immediately working to expand opportunities in the legal field for those who have repaid their debts to society. My day-to-day priority going forward will be to fulfill the confidence placed in me by the people of Michigan. I will not take that for granted and will focus on evaluating each case based on its merits and the laws of Michigan, as the citizens of our State expect.” GUEST: Colin Jackson, Michigan Public Radio Network _______ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Liar, Dreamer, Thief,” which is listed as a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Goodreads and Overdrive, is about a young woman trying to repair her glitched-up life as she surveils a man she works with – a man with whom she believes she shares some kind of connection. The truth that unravels turns out to be more surprising than she can imagine. Author Maria Dong joined us to talk about how her Korean-American identity and experience living with ADHD informed the protagonist's adventure in her debut novel. "Liar, Dreamer, Thief," will be released on Tuesday, Jan. 10. GUEST:  Maria Dong, author of "Liar, Dreamer, Thief" ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan musicians released an impressive list of hits in 2022. Joe Hertler, frontman of Lansing-based band Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers, brought us a mixtape of some of his favorite Michigan-based bands and songs from the year.  You can find the full list of songs here.  GUESTS: Joe Hertler, lead singer of Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four-term US Senator Debbie Stabenow announced that she will retire at the end of this term in 2025. Today we’re talking about what Senator Stabenow has accomplished in her time and what this news means for the senate race in 2024. GUESTS: Rick Pluta, Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin McCarthy has failed, numerous times, to win over his caucus for enough votes to become Speaker of the U.S. House. What's the view from Michigan's Republicans in Congress? All of Michigan's Republicans in Congress support McCarthy for Speaker. Here's our conversation with one of them. GUEST: Jack Bergman, Republican Congressman representing Northern Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After an underwhelming opening to the NFL season, the Detroit Lions are making news as potential playoff contenders. Meanwhile, in Ann Arbor, Jim Harbaugh is rumored to be leaving the University of Michigan Wolverines to return to the NFL.  Nick Baumgardner, a senior writer with The Athletic, caught us up on all the football news that's unfolded over the past week.  GUEST: Nick Baumgardner, senior writer, The Athletic ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Santa Ono was appointed as president of the University of Michigan last fall. He came to Ann Arbor from University of British Columbia, where he served as president and vice chancellor. Before that, he served as provost, and then president of the University of Cincinnati. President Ono stepped into the shoes of Mary Sue Coleman, who served as an interim president following Mark Schlissel’s dismissal in January of last year. At the end of his first semester at the University of Michigan, President Santa Ono joined us to talk about his vision for the year ahead.  GUEST: Santa Ono, president, University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm X was a son of Lansing, where he spent some of his most formative years before becoming the iconic activist we know of today. So why aren't his the quotes and legacy we teach in Michigan schools or during Black History Month? Today on Stateside, we explore Malcolm X's family history and controversial legacy in the struggle for Black empowerment.  GUESTS: John Aerni-Flessner, associate professor for the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University Kidada Williams, associate professor of African American and American history at Wayne State University Herb Boyd, Detroit writer, journalist, and activist This episode originally published on February 7, 2022. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, the leadership of the United Auto Workers has come from the same group within the union. That changed in a big way with this month’s union elections, where no incumbent leadership was able to secure a win in the organization's competitive races. We talked to Detroit News editor Daniel Howes about what this could mean for the union as the auto industry makes the pivot to electrification.  GUEST:  Daniel Howes, senior editor and business columnist for the Detroit News ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Designer Rey Pador has transformed TV touchstones into global fashions for a constellation of brands in Antwerp, Paris, New York and Milan. Rey now calls Detroit home after taking a position with the College for Creative Studies, overseeing apparel design as part of the College’s fashion design department. For Rey, fashion is all about the surprises. GUEST: Rey Pador, fashion designer and associate professor at the College for Creative Studies ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID has posed a grave threat to our elders these last two years. Even if your family has been lucky enough to dodge the worst, you're probably finding moments with the grandparents in your life that much sweeter. Two Michigan photographers travelled across the country to find some of those moments, taking portraits of grandmothers and archiving their wisdom in the new book, Grandmothers of America. GUESTS:  John Hanson, photographer based in Detroit. Joey Schultz, photographer based in Traverse City. This episode originally published on January 14, 2022. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan writer Anne-Marie Oomen chronicles years when her aging mother needed help; a mother who left her flummoxed and angry. The book is called "As Long As I Know You: The Mom Book." Today we talk to Oomen about motherhood, caregiving, and healing. GUEST: Anne-Marie Oomen, writer ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most commonly used plastics.  It's found in everything from construction materials, to medical equipment, to clothing. Researchers at the University of Michigan have found a way to repurpose this previously unrecyclable material. They joined us to share their findings, and what it could mean for plastic consumers and manufacturers. GUESTS: Anne McNeil, professor of chemistry and macromolecular science and engineering, University of Michigan Danielle Fagnani, synthetic polymer chemist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard to imagine a politics and policy debate in Michigan that experienced the kind of whiplash in public sentiment like that of same-sex marriage. In the span of about 15 years, Michiganders went from voting to ban gay marriage, to broadly supporting rights and marriage protections for LGBTQ couples. At the center of the national legal debate was also a couple from Michigan. Today we revisit that brief history on the week that same-sex marriage became federally protected law. GUEST: Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. CORRECTION: A previous version of this podcast said voters approved the same-sex marriage ban in 2004 by 85%. That was a transposed number, and incorrect. Voters banned gay marriage by about 58%. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kulintang music, native to several Indigenous tribes in the Southern Philippines, has been passed down as an oral tradition over hundreds of years. That tradition has traveled 8,000 miles overseas, all the way to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stateside Producer Ronia Cabansag helps tell part of that story.  GUEST: Gean Vincent Almendras, Philippine Ensemble Music lecturer, University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artist Mother Cyborg, AKA Diana Nucera, is a musician, technologist, community organizer, and educator. This past summer she had a quilt exhibition at the University of Michigan’s Penny Stamps Gallery called Crafting Our Digital Legacy. The exhibition has since ended –  but today we want to revisit our conversation with Nucera. We talked to her about the digital world, community organizing, and her artistic practice.  GUEST: Diana Nucera, artist ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado to the Michigan Court of Appeals.  As the first tribal citizen to be appointed to the role, and the first minority to ever serve in the 4th District, Judge  Maldonado is bringing a fresh perspective to the Court. Judge Maldonado tells us about her family history, career, and what she hopes to accomplish in her new role on the Michigan Court of Appeals. GUEST: Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, chief judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the year comes to an end, Michigan hospitals are dealing with a surge of viral illnesses. Today, we speak with a specialist about the factors behind this. GUEST: Dr. Preeti N. Malani, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Michigan Medicine ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

University of Michigan intends to expand its reputation for excellence in medicine to mid-Michigan with a takeover of Sparrow Health Systems in Lansing. Guest on today's episode:Dustin Walsh, Crain's Detroit Business ---------- Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fall of 2020, Grand Rapids resident Isaac Danian, made plans to escape the U.S. at the behest of an online conspiracy theorist. He was joined by Shukree Abdul-Rashed from upstate New York. Their journey ended with the two men lost at sea in the South Pacific, while their families still wait for answers. We talked to the journalist who investigated the men's disappearance for the New York Times. GUEST:  David Wolman, freelance journalist and contributing editor at Outside. Read Wolman's story "Set Adrift" here. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Stateside podcast, we look at a couple of postmortem election stories. We get into election result challenges and we also look at how redistricting has affected election outcomes. GUESTS: Clara Hendrickson, reporter at the Detroit Free Press  Matt Grossman, Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research of Michigan State University Rick Pluta, Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universities across the country, including Michigan State University, are partnering with sports betting companies. Are trusted academic institutions pawning their students for sports gambling profits? Or can we trust undergrads to make responsible decisions about betting? Read the original New York Times article here. GUESTS: Andrew Little, freelance journalistWalt Bogdanich, NYT special projects reporter ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early in the pandemic, filmmaker David Siev moved out of his NYC apartment, and back to his parents’ home in Bad Axe, Michigan. 2020 was a weird time for all of us, but Siev thought to capture the moment.  Siev’s new documentary film Bad Axe offers a picture of the life that his mother, a Mexican-American, and his father, a Cambodian refugee, have built in a majority-white small town. The film leans into the tensions caused by generational differences, racism, and fear. David Siev joined us to talk about the process of documenting his family’s life, and how it’s changed since the film’s release.  GUEST: David Siev, filmmaker, Bad Axe (2022) ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In "Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids,” philosophy and law professor Scott Hershovitz documents discussions with his own little philosophers, and offers ways to draw the thinkers out of yours.  GUEST: Scott Hershovitz, Thomas G. and Mabel Long Professor of Law at the University of Michigan; author of "Nasty, Brutish, and Short: Adventures in Philosophy with My Kids” ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week marks one year after the mass shooting that took place at Oxford High School. Teachers, family members, and student survivors continue to grapple with trauma, searching for a path toward some kind of healing. The shooter’s parents are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, but the trial actually has yet to proceed, with the Michigan Supreme Court issuing stays on both parents’ cases.  Tresa Baldas has been following the story for the Detroit Free Press. She talked us through the reason for the delay, and what may happen to the defendants if the trial proceeds. You can hear teachers, family members, and friends in conversation with each other about what life after the Oxford shooting has looked like. Find it here. GUEST: Tresa Baldas, legal affairs reporter, Detroit Free Press ___Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year ago, the community of Oxford Township was forever changed by a shooting at Oxford High School that left four students dead.  Justin Shilling, 17Madisyn Baldwin, 17Tate Myre, 16Hana St. Juliana, 14Today we listen to teachers, friends, a father and a sibling talk to each other about the impact of the shooting on their lives. Guests on this episode:Melissa Gibbons, Oxford High teacherLauren Rambo, Oxford High teacherAbbey Allion, friend of Justin Shilling Olivia McMillan, friend of Justin ShillingReina St. Juliana, sister of Hana St. JulianaSteve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. JulianaZoe Touray, former Oxford studentAubrey Greenfield, Oxford student ___Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

East Lansing saw a tense football rivalry in the 1970s between two unlikely teams. A pickup game between a group of teenagers and local police quickly exploded into something more. It was an unexpected display of collaboration in a tense moment in history, and established a community tradition for years to come.  GUESTS: Rachel Clark, education specialist, Michigan History Center ___Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Native American tribes in Michigan are teaming up to create a joint venture that aims to bring additional revenue and stability to several indigenous communities. The venture: a join construction company called, Aki Construction LLC. GUESTS:  Julio Martinez, CEO, Mno-Bmadsen   Shanna Shananaquet, Executive Director, Odawa Holdings ___Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Michigan released their annual U.S. Economic Outlook Report this week, and it looks like we’re on our way to a recession. But economic forecasters say it won’t necessarily be as stormy as recessions past.  Stateside invited two economists to talk about grocery prices, what the Fed is doing, and what that might mean for consumers as we approach the holiday season and new year. GUESTS: Charley Ballard, professor emeritus of economics at Michigan State University Daniil Manaenkov, economic forecaster at the University of Michigan ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way .If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, writer and critic Brittany Luse became the new host of the beloved NPR show It's Been A Minute. But before she became a radio and podcasting fixture, Luse was a kid growing up in Farmington Hills. We talk with Luse about her Michigan origins, her new gig, and her career telling and producing stories from Black experience. Guest Brittany Luse, host of It's Been a Minute ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young voters waited in hours-long lines at both University of Michigan and Michigan State University on election day. It was a visual reminder that the next generation of voters appears highly motivated. What are the issues driving them? Plus a conversation with one of the youngest ever elected members of the Michigan House of Representatives. Guests on today's episode: Taylor Bowie, Michigan Radio Samuel Dodge, MLive Jasper Martus, state Rep-elect of MI-69 ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The passage of Proposal 3 in last week’s general election means reproductive freedoms will soon be part of the state constitution. However, it doesn't mean the debate over abortion rights is going away.  Reporter Rick Pluta, who's been following the politics of abortion rights in the state for years, joined us to discuss what will happen to the state's remaining 1931 law banning abortion, and about how pro-life advocates might respond to the passage of Prop. 3. GUEST: Rick Pluta, senior correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are countless historical photos of Native American people, but oftentimes their origins are questionable. A new exhibit at U of M explores their history.  GUESTS: Lindsey Willow Smith, exhibit curator, University of Michigan History and Museum Studies ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Kinuko Yada DeVee. She came to Michigan from Kyoto as a World War II "war bride" during a peak in anti-Asian discrimination in the United States. Seventy years later, she's built a life for herself full of love and family. This Stateside Extra is bit of podcast candy for your weekend. Enjoy! This story was inspired by Matt Schepeler’s article in the Brooklyn Exponent. ___ Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Attorney General Dana Nessel all cruise to reelection and for the first time in nearly forty years both chambers of the Michigan Legislature - the state House and state Senate - will be controlled by Democrats. Plus voters approve with big margins the addition of abortion rights and voting rights into the state Constitution and change term limits in the state.  GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW: Rick Pluta, co-host of It’s Just Politics, and Senior Capitol Correspondent for the MPRN Emily Lawler, politics editor at the Detroit Free Press Tim Alberta, author of "American Carnage" and writer at The Atlantic Jason Roe, former Executive Director of the Michigan Republican Party ___ Find more from It's Just Politics. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.