Radio Free Flint with Arthur Busch: Recent Episodes
Arthur Busch
We are a podcast featuring storytelling interviews with smart people in the arts, sports, music, law, history, business and true crime. We interview people with amazing stories. We discuss American culture, books, food, music, the Flint Water Crisis, and life in days gone by.
If you like storytelling you will love Radio Free Flint podcasts.
Podcast host, Arthur Busch is the former Prosecuting Attorney in Flint, Michigan. Radio Free Flint podcast is dedicated to the beleaguered town of Flint, Michigan and communities like it across America.
Learn the importance of protecting soil and water resources by conservation. Discover how conservation-minded farmers reduce toxic algae in the Great Lakes.
Our podcast guest is Daniel Moilanen, a Fenton area native now living in Flint.
Dan is currently the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD). His leadership in this organization brings conservation-minded farmers together to reduce toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes by encouraging environmentally sound agricultural techniques.
Dan is a graduate of Albion College. Recently, the Flint-Genesee Chamber of Commerce selected Moilenan as one of 40 Under 40 distinguished young community leaders.
Dan Moilanen has a wealth of experience in small business ownership, community service, and political engagement. He is the founder and former owner of Vehicle City Tacos, a popular downtown Flint food truck. His community and political involvement include serving as leader of the Genesee County Democratic Party and the Genesee County Young Democrats.
Dan is with us to discuss Michigan environmental issues like soil conservation and better and less harmful agricultural practices that help keep our water resources and wetlands free of harmful pollutants. Michigan is the second largest producer of agricultural commodities in the United States. Outmoded farming practices in Michigan threaten to deplete its rich soil over the next 60 years.
Michigan Conservation Districts also helped promote urban hoop farming in Flint and Detroit.
In recent years Dan has continued his interest in music by performing with a SKA Punk Band in the Flint area. We are sure you will find our guest fun and exciting and learn how important it is to protect our food and water resources through conservation.
Visit the Genesee County Conservation District website to learn more about Flint area programs and projects.
The Fred Pinto Podcast
How can we better harness human ingenuity toward living the good life?
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Potholes and crumbling infrastructure are major dilemmas for aging Michigan rustbelt cities like Flint, Michigan. We discuss how the roads got so bad and how to fix the problem with road and infrastructure expert Dr. John Daly.
Providing good roads cost money. In Michigan, the primary source of money for roads is a 7-cent per gallon tax at the gas pump. In Germany, they tax themselves over two bucks a gallon of gas to have a great road. Why is this so difficult for a state that put America on wheels?
Rustbelt cities face more than just aging infrastructure. Many towns and cities like Flint, Michigan, whose water crisis exposed failing pipelines, also have failing roads, bridges, and storm drain systems. This urban crisis is felt in higher expenses for motorists to repair their cars after dodging potholes. Bad roads and public infrastructure result in lost economic development opportunities.
Dr. Daly discusses his assessment of Flint's declining infrastructure and the cost of fixing the roads to an acceptable level. Daly shares his opinion about the viability of the city and its future.
The wildcard to finding a solution to fixing aging roads and bridges is leadership. In places like Flint, Michigan, there is a screaming need for creative solutions to its hollowed-out city with blocks and blocks of vacant homes. While a vacant house can be torn down, the near-bankrupt municipality must maintain the aging paved roads in front of those houses. Is the answer downsizing or shrinking the cit? How difficult is that to d Get some answers to these questions and others?
Please share your thoughts with us by email or voice message.
Destination Morocco Podcast
Listen to our podcast before your trip to Morocco!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Midnight in Vehicle City by author Edward McClelland tells the gripping story of how workers defeated General Motors, the largest industrial corporation in the world. The workers' victory ushered in the golden age of the American middle class and created a new kind of America in which every worker had a right to share the company's wealth.
Listen to a clip of a stirring archival speech by the late Walter P. Ruether, former President of the United Automobile Workers Union. Ruether's words hit a note, given today's struggle to protect democracy.
The conversation examines the impact the strike made on the culture of Flint, Michigan, and its people. Does the intensive local activism of 1937 that spurred the birth of the UAW still exist today in Flint?
Now that the 1937 sit-down strikers are gone, why does the labor movement still celebrate this strike? What did this historical confrontation between the UAW and General Motors accomplish? Did the famous strike help build the American middle class?
Please visit the author's website if you want more information about author Edward McClelland and to purchase his book Midnight in the Vehicle City or any of his other books.
- Watch Video: Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade (1979). Oscar-nominated documentary about the women who battled the police to help and support their striking husbands inside the GM auto factories of Flint, Michigan.
- Watch Video: The Flint Sit-Down Strike and White Shirt Day. A video about the history of the historic strike. The UAW produced it.
The song "1937" in the podcast introduction and outro were written by David O. Norris and Dan Hall and performed by Dan Hall and a local choir of UAW members. Many thanks to them and UAW Region 1-D for their assistance in producing this song.
The historical photographs included on the Radio Free Flint episodes page are courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF34-9058-C]
Destination Morocco Podcast
Listen to our podcast before your trip to Morocco!
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.
Millions of American "Snowbirds" seasonally migrate from the Rust Belt to the Sunbelt. They seek more comfortable, warmer climates during the cold winters "up north." Many of the Snowbirds also come from Canada.
What is a "Snowbird," and why do they want to move around the country chasing the sunshine? Is there something this lifestyle says about us and our culture? Have our patterns of life mimicked the ducks and the geese?
In this essay, Arthur Busch explains why he became a Snowbird and how he feels about leaving his home and family behind in Michigan to head for the Suncoast of Florida. Arthur discusses what has become an attainable lifestyle for many from blue-collar regions of America. Is being a Snowbird part of the working-class culture? For many in Michigan who spent careers working in the automobile industry, the answer is YES!
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Musician George Winters has performed for audiences for over 50 years across America. The Michigan native is well-known in music venues in southeastern Michigan for his fabulous keyboard skills, especially on a Hammond organ. George plays the keyboard, guitar, and harmonica and also sings.
This podcast includes a conversation with George Winters about his long career and several unreleased tracks that include his distinctive mellow jazz and upbeat popular music. Winters shares his story about how his music career started and grew in and around Flint and Detroit, Michigan. In this podcast interview, he talks about how the troubles of the automobile industry affected the life of local musicians in Michigan.
The son of a Hammond B3 organ salesman, George got his musical start very early in life in Flushing, Michigan. He entertained the audience during local theater intermission as a child by playing the organ.
George shares stories about his interactions with former Detroit Tiger star pitcher Dennis McClain, who also was an organist. Winters tells of his amusing experience delivering a Hammond B3 organ to the home of Mark Farner of the Rock Band Grand Funk Railroad.
In recent years he has toured the country in clubs that host dueling pianos.
George has produced five compact disc recordings. The first, entitled "The Seed" was completed in 1994 and was recorded in less than two hours. "The Seed" was picked up by major retailers in Michigan, including Harmony House, prompting some local success. George's second effort, "Rhythm," released in 1998, comprises mostly original music with instrumentation including the Hammond B3, drums, bass, guitar, and piano.
His love of the dueling pianos concept also began in 1998 at JD's Key Club in Pontiac, MI, and continues to this day. You can see George at select Dueling Pianos clubs - click on "show dates" on his web page for a complete schedule.
With the release of his fifth CD, "Back to the B3" George hopes to put his music into more hands than ever, using the internet medium to deliver his creations. "Back to the B3" will be available soon from online retailers such as iTunes, or you can order directly from this website.
This is a conversation with Sarah Carson about her book of poems, How to Baptize a Child, in Flint, MI. Carson's poems are a jarring portrayal of life in a declining, once mighty, and still proud American rustbelt town.
Spanning girlhood to motherhood, How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan, traces the lineage of four generations of a Flint, Michigan family--from the trailer park to the factory floor to, perhaps, a future far away. These poems examine the wreckage of the American Dream and ask who will answer for the promises we were made to believe as children: God? Industry? America? If we are all a part of the problem, are we also all a part of the cure?
**This book won the 2022 Lexi Rudnitsky Editors Choice Award, a poetry collection that portrays quintessentially American struggles and hopes.
Carson peeks inside the windows of Flint's working class with a searing indictment of a society responsible for the ghastly moral failures resulting in massive unemployment and poisoned water.
The featured poem, How to Baptise a Child in Flint, Michigan, raises the disquieting thought of baptizing a baby with poisoned water. This leaves the reader to consider the sacred rites of baptism, with its biblical foundation in the concept of grace and mercy, all while harming an innocent baby with poisoned water.
Carson's brilliant and expressive description of life in a formerly middle-class city, along with her subtle references to the biblical principles of grace and mercy, that this poetry finds its genius.
Sarah Carson was born in Flint, Michigan. She now lives in East Lansing, Michigan, with her daughter and two dogs, who make a guest appearance on the podcast. After college, she spent ten years working with literary organizations in Chicago, including the Poetry Foundation and Switchback Books.
Sarah is the author of two prose poetry collections, Buick City (Mayapple Press, 2015) and Poems in which You Die (BatCat Press), as well as the forthcoming How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan (Persea Books, Nov 1, 2022). Her poetry and other writing have appeared in Diagram, Brevity, Guernica, the Minnesota Review, and others. You can read more of her work at stuffsarahwrote.com
This book of poetry will be available on November 1, 2022, at the following retailers and is now available for pre-print orders:
- Amazon Books
- Persea Books
- Barnes and Noble Books
Soraya -Be Convinced! Sharing Lifechanging Stories of Hope
Host Soraya Diase Coffelt is a lawyer, former judge, entrepreneur, children's author,...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Emily Doerr is a candidate for the Flint Community Schools Board of Education. The election will be on November 8, 2022. She joined a slate of four other individuals running to serve the Flint Community Schools. These candidates agree on core principles governing their service on the Board of Education should they be elected on November 8, 2022. The other candidates on the slate are Dylan Luna, Terae King Jr, Melody L. Relerford, and Michael Clack.
The Flint Community Schools are at a crossroads facing dwindling student enrollment, financial deficits, and decisions about rebuilding school buildings. In recent years the Flint Board of Education has experienced dysfunction of its governing board. Those seeking election in Flint will face enormous challenges in fixing the school district.
For the first time in recent memory, five respected and accomplished residents have joined together to seek to bring energetic leadership to focus on Flint's young scholars and the school district. This podcast discusses the problems facing the Flint Community Schools and possible solutions. Our podcast guest discusses her team's philosophy and plans should the voters elect them.
Radio Free Flint is not endorsing any candidates for the Flint School Board but seeks to bring forward information about the school district's problems. Our podcast guest is only the second political candidate we have ever interviewed. Flint Board of Education candidates appears on the non-partisan portion of the ballot.
Emily Doerr is our podcast guest. She is a Flint native and has an impressive education and resume. Doerr is a leader in the State of Michigan on community development and land use policy issues. She is also a Flintstone with deep roots in the community.
Emily received a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Central Michigan University and a Master's in Business Administration from Detroit Mercy.
View YouTube Interview of Emily Doerr with Spectacle TV with Paul Herring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-OCiLdazC0
Candidate Profile, Emily Doerr by Flint Beat (E-Newsletter)
https://flintbeat.com/meet-flint-board-of-ed-candidate-emily-doerr/
Soraya -Be Convinced! Sharing Lifechanging Stories of Hope
Host Soraya Diase Coffelt is a lawyer, former judge, entrepreneur, children's author,...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Is it possible to make Flint laugh? If anyone can, it's Flint native Bryan McCree, a nationally known comedian, actor, and writer. He regularly tours America with shows marked by their insight into American culture and the oddities of life in our country. He is particularly astute at using humor to make us laugh at ourselves.
In this interview, Byran shares hilarious clips of his shows featuring humor about Flint, making the audience laugh at itself and its stereotypes about race and being poor.
Byran has regularly appeared on Comedy Central, Mad TV, NBC, and Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen. He is the nephew of the late Floyd J. McCree, former Mayor of Flint. Mayor McCree was a Michigan Civil Rights icon. Bryan's father was a jazz virtuoso, and his Great Aunt was a Broadway legend.
The Jherri curled comic has shared the stage with comedians such as Sinbad, George Wallace, and Robert Shimmel and with the group, The Isley Brothers. Bryan is a hilarious man with a demeanor and acting skills that can keep an audience in tears with laughter.
He spent years acting at Flint's McCree Theater, a venue named after his famous uncle. It was there he honed his stagecraft skills and charm. Comedy allows McCree to assume himself as the character in his one-man shows. He does all this with tremendous wit, insight, and a natural stage presence.
In this interview, he shares his life growing up in Flint, his family, attending Flint Southwestern High School, etc. He shares humorous antidotes about his younger days in Flint. Bryan tells of giving comedy shows to his classmates on the school bus each morning on their way to school. He laughs at the neighborhood days of playing the game of twelve. He never gives up on his beleaguered hometown.
McCree describes what it is like to live in a blue-collar town like Flint, Michigan. He reflects a good-natured poke at his audiences and himself.
Visit Bryan McCree's website to discover his scheduled shows, watch videos of his act, or get branded merchandise.
Watch Bryan McCree's comedy shows on his YouTube Channel or visit his Facebook Page.
Soraya -Be Convinced! Sharing Lifechanging Stories of Hope
Host Soraya Coffelt shares lifechanging stories of hope to encourage and motivate you.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Carl Paul came to America through Ellis Island in New York from a country few in Flint, Michigan, know much about. North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country in Southeast Europe. In 1991, the tiny country became recognized as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. Today, the Slavic country is a member of NATO.
Carl and many of his fellow Macedonian immigrants eventually found their way to Flint. They came from a small mountain village in southern Macedonia near the border with Greece. The immigrants of Bouf, Macedonia, have contributed mightily to the Flint economy, culture, and business leadership.
Once in Flint, Michigan, Carl Paul and his partner, Angelo Nikoloff, established one of the most loved and iconic restaurants in mid-Michigan. While the Flint-style Coney Island hot dog was not the invention of the two entrepreneurs, they certainly contributed to making a part of the culinary culture of the Flint region.
Ironically, in Macedonia, the coney island hot dog, Flint style, is nowhere to be found on the menu.
Our podcast episode guest, Karen Paul Holmes, grew up in Flint, her father, Carl Paul, and Angelo Nikoloff were the original partners of Angelo's Coney Island. While a teenager, Karen waitressed at her father's famous restaurant during summer school recess. Karen shares the story of her hardworking Flint family, whose life work defines Flint almost as much as trucks and cars made in the city.
Karen reads three of her most endearing poems. The first poem recalls her father returning home for family dinners after a long work day at Angelo's Coney Island. The second poem is an emotional tribute to her father and his leaving Bouf, Macedonia, for a better life in the United States. The last is a poem of beautiful prose about the Great Lakes and cherry trees and the beauty of her father's newfound home, Michigan.
Karen provides a near-recipe for Flint Style Coney Sauce in her second poetry collection, No Such Thing as Distance (Terrapin, 2018), which contains poems about growing up in Michigan and her parents' emigration to Flint from Macedonia and Australia. Poems from that book have been read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer's Almanac and by former U.S.Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith on The Slowdown podcast.
Her first book, Untying the Knot (Aldrich, 2014), chronicles grief and healing from divorce. She has been published in over 100 journals and anthologies and was named the best
emerging poet by Stay Thirsty Media.
Flint, Michigan, has long been touted as a hotbed for high school basketball. Indeed, Flint has produced some of the top basketball talents in the nation. Many Flint athletes are playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and at major colleges and universities. Flint basketball players have had lucrative careers playing internationally.
Flint area residents are accustomed to watching high school talents honing their skills in high school gyms against their favorite teams. However, watching those most likely to be the next NBA All-Star or college All-American player may be a thing of the past.
A new trend has emerged in which teenagers as early as 10th-grade ship off for Prep Schools that promote basketball and play games against the best competition in America. These Prep Schools position themselves to show off all those talented players to college and professional scouts.
Brandon Green, ABC-12 Sports Director, joins Radio Free Flint to discuss the disappearing high school superstars who transfer to Prep Schools. We discuss the implications for young people placing a bet on basketball and eschewing the traditional path of community education. Is it too early to let teenagers put all their eggs in one basket and bet that this career choice will materialize? We know that only a tiny percentage of high school basketball players will sign on at an NCAA Division 1 College or University. Even a smaller percentage of college players ever make it to the pros.
We discuss whether Flint has seen its better days of glory with the likes of the Flintstones, the Michigan State University national champs led by 5 Flint High School basketball players.
Please join us and meet Brandon Green, the new Sports Director for WJRT ABC-12 in Flint, as we discuss his welcome to Flint, his passion for basketball, and his love of High School athletics.
Read these interesting articles on High School Athletes and Prep Schools.
- Flint Hoopers Lost in the Shadows by Brandon Green, ABC-12, Sports Director. May 26, 2022
- Public prep transfers have taken over high school sports in Connecticut, but is that a good thing? By Shawn McFarland and Alex Putterman, Hartford Courant. May 10, 2019
Former Bishop Airport Public Safety Director Chris Miller discusses a 2017 terrorist attack at the Flint, Michigan, airport. He also talks about the changes the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America had on current operations at Bishop International Airport.
The retired Public Safety Director at Flint Bishop Airport, Chris Miller, was a hero in 2017 when he and an airport maintenance worker subdued a terrorist who stabbed a fellow police officer. Miller's quick actions helped save the life of a fellow officer during a terrorist attack inside the Bishop International Airport Terminal.
The attacker, a Tunisian national, was found guilty in 2018 on single counts of committing an act of violence at an international airport, interference with airport security, and an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries. He is serving a life sentence for the crimes.
Chief Miller led the security detail at the Flint airport on the day of the 911 terrorist attacks in 2000. His law enforcement career has spanned nearly 40 years in the Flint area. He also retired from the Genesee County Sheriff's Department after 20 years. He also worked for a time with the Mt. Morris Township Police Department.
Miller shares his experiences as a young musician in the Flint area, growing up in a General Motors family, and his hobby of collecting Chevrolet Corvettes. He attended Flint Community Schools, C.S. Mott Community College, and Oakland University.
Upon his retirement in 2021, the City of Flint Lifetime Achievement Award and a key to the city were presented to Chief Chis Miller.
Visit the Bishop International Airport website to learn more about the airport.
Check out a profile story about Chief Chris Miller at My City Magazine
In our highly mobile society, figuring out what to do with our old papers, photographs, and keepsakes is challenging. We accumulate boxes of possessions over a lifetime, and when moving, retiring, or upon the death of a parent it sits in your house begging for a home.
Your junk can be true treasures that preserve the history of your community or your family.
What do you do with all those boxes and files that you will "someday" get around to sorting out? What is valuable, what is worth saving, and what is worth donating to a local historical society, library, or museum?
Lastly, what are the best ways to preserve the photos of four generations of family members? Should you frame them or keep them in your basement or garage?
Colleen Marquise is an Archivist at the University of Michigan-Flint Willson-Thompson Library and supervises the Genesee Historical Collection Center. She answers these many questions and more about how to sort out your valuable documents, how to store them, and whether they are worth donating.
Colleen is also a historian and shares her exciting views about the collective trauma the Flint, Michigan, area experienced over many decades. The UM-Flint collection reflects archives of materials explaining the Flint Sitdown Strike, the Beecher Tornado, and the Open Housing Protests in the 1960s. She also discussed the relative lack of public archives about one of Flint's most prominent residents C.S. Mott.
Colleen shares some humorous antidotes about the many donations of historical records she has processed. She also shares how a library archive views your "treasures" and what types of things are most needed to help keep the history of your community. Collen talks about what institutions do with your treasured photos and pictures once you donate them.
Visit the Genesee Historical Collection Center of the University of Michigan-Flint Library website. They have an extensive collection of fascinating materials available online or for you to see in person.
Colleen Marquise, Associate Archivist at the University of Michigan-Flint, Francis Willson-Thompson Library, takes podcast listeners on a virtual tour of the Genesee County (MI) Historical Center archive collection. This historical collection has a fascinating collection of oral histories, documents, papers, etc.
The Center has three primary collections: Flint Labor History, Civil Rights, and Community Organizations such as the UAW Local 599. The local archives also contain the most definitive collection of materials on Flint area community development. The construction of I-475 through the heart of Flint was part of the disastrous urban renewal program that wiped out Flint's Floral Park and St. John Street neighborhoods. Memories of those African-American neighborhoods are found in a collection of recorded oral histories about the people, families, and culture.
The Center also has a remarkable collection of oral history materials ranging from musical histories of the area, including rapper MC Breed, Ira Dorsey, and others going back to Flint bands in the 1960s.
The Genesee Historical Center has recently developed a history collection about the COVID pandemic and protests.
Colleen Marquise shares with the podcast listeners stories about prominent Flint area historical figures such as Genora Johnson and Rev Bradford Pengelly, the colorful rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church during the 1920s. This virtual podcast tour of the University of Michigan-Flint, Francis Willson-Thompson Library is fascinating. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part podcast.
The public can visit and listen to some local history collections online by going to the University of Michigan-Flint Library website.
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John Norman Collins was an all-American boy. He was handsome, lived in Ann Arbor, and belonged to a fraternity. But there was a dark side to this young man. The media and others dubbed John Norman Collins "The Michigan Murderer." In the late 1960s, Collins stalked college-age women like prey. His hunting grounds were near the campuses of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Michigan murderer terrorized the public. The media breathlessly reported the latest rape murders of women near two prestigious Michigan college campuses. John Norman Collins is a suspect connected to seven young women's vicious and heinous murders. John Norman Collins eventually found his way into a Washtenaw County, Michigan courtroom. A state prosecutor charged Collins with the first-degree premeditated murder of 18-year-old Karen Sue Beineman, a student at Eastern Michigan University. A jury convicted Collins. The judge sentenced him to a mandatory life sentence. Author Gregory Fournier was upset because the prosecutor never prosecuted six other rape-murder cases. The Prosecuting Attorney decided not to bring other cases. He was holding off in other murder cases as an "insurance policy" in the event John Norman Collins was successful on appeal. Collins lost all of his appeals as the courts upheld his conviction. Presumably, because Collins faced the rest of his life in prison, the Prosecuting Attorney decided not to spend public resources holding Collins responsible for other alleged murders. Some claim the police investigators had DNA evidence waiting in the other rape-murder cases. Fournier shares his extensive findings of these murders in our interview. The book "Terror in Ypsilanti: John Norman Collins Unmasked" is available at bookstores. Fournier, a Detroit native, is one of America's premier true crime authors. He has written several other books, including about Detroit's Purple Gang.
Obtain a copy of the book "Terror in Ypsilanti: John Norman Collins Unmasked" by visiting your local bookstore or Amazon Books. To learn more about Gregory Fournier and other published true crime books, visit the Author's Website.
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Ben Pauli, a Kettering University Political Science Professor, is a water rights activist. Pauli embedded himself with a group of Flint residents during the Flint Water Crisis. This is the group who brought the tainted Flint drinking water problem to the public's attention. The group also was successful in advocating that government fix the cause of the toxic water problem.
Professor Pauli discusses the historical activism that helped Flint survive economically and environmentally for almost 100 years. He concludes that Flint has been fighting David vs. Goliath-type battles for generations which helps it survive. Pauli argues that generational activism is an asset to the city in its efforts to overcome the economic crisis for the past 40 years. One lasting change that resulted was the recognition of drinking water as a right in the Flint City Charter.
Pauli's ethnographical research is made into an academic book and not your typical data-filled one either. The book reads like a CIA or police intelligence field analysis of the capability of a group in fostering and accomplishing public policy changes. "Flint Fights Back" is an insightful book and takes an extensive view of the Flint Water Crisis remarkably different from other books and articles written on the Flint Water Crisis. Most fascinating, is Pauli's analysis of the ability of local activists to form an identity and narrative story that sells their cause in the marketplace of public opinion.
Pauli concludes that Flint is a parable, the canary in the coal mine forewarning for other cities and towns in the United States. Many of whom may catch a glimpse of what their futures may be in years to come. Professor Pauli claims that Flint's activism has sparked change that eventually has taken hold in many other places in the U.S.
"Flint Fights Back" is a guide for those who wonder how to bring change to their own towns and cities. Rather than see an involved and active public as an asset, many leaders and residents view some in Flint as the "problem." Professor Pauli speculates that, in all likelihood, the Flint Water Crisis would never have been discovered and addressed without the persistent and determined work of the Flint activist. Yes the same activists who didn't take gaslighting by their Mayor, Governor and government as the answer to fixing poison in Flint's drinking water.
RESOURCES AND LINKS
- Pauli's book is FREE to all to download: MIT Press Free Download
- Kettering University is a private non-profit STEM university in Flint, Michigan.
Thanks to Pro Publica author Anna Clark, Colton Ort, Libby Glover and David Tamulevich of the Ann Arbor folk group Mustard's Retreat, the late Scott McKinstry, and many Flintstones too numerous to mention for the inspiration and help keep this podcast project going.
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The Life of Mr. Flint, Charles Stewart Mott. Mott was an early investor in General Motors Corporation, a Vice-President of the company, and a long-time Board of Directors Member. He also became one of the world's most prolific philanthropists by founding and overseeing the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
This is Part Two of an interview with C.S. Mott biographer, Ed Renehan who shares remarkable stories from The life of "Mr. Flint" Charles Stewart Mott. Renehan's book "The Life of Charles Stewart Mott" is a comprehensive look at the life of one of the world's most successful American capitalists. The interview covers Mr. Mott's career, family life, travels, hobbies, and devotion to the Flint community and philanthropy.
Ed Renehan's critically-acclaimed books published under his name include:
- Deliberate Evil: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Daniel Webster,
- The 1830 Murder of a Salem Slave Trader (Chicago Review Press, 2022)
- Dark Genius of Wall Street: The Misunderstood Life of Jay Gould, King of the Robber Barons (Basic Books, 2006)
- The Kennedys at War (Doubleday, 2001)
- The Lion's Pride (Oxford University Press, 1998).
- The Life of Charles Stewart Mott (University of Michigan Press, 2019)
- John Burroughs: An American Naturalist (Black Dome Press, 1992)
- The Secret Six (Crown, 1994).
- Ed Rehehan has appeared on PBS's The American Experience, NPR, and C-Span's BookTV and has written for publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to The San Francisco Chronicle
Books About Charles Stewart Mott:
- The Life of Charles Stewart Mott, published by University of Michigan Press, 2019, is available at local bookstores in Flint, Michigan, and major book retailers.
- Foundation for Living, by Clarence H. Young and William Grim, published by McGraw-Hill, 1963
Learn more about C.S. Mott by visiting the following:
- Charles Stewart Mott, Wikipedia
- History and Founder-Mott Foundation Biography published by the C.S. Mott Foundation
- Michigan Historical Review Article on the Life of Charles Stewart Mott
- Change Agent: The Life and Legacy of Charles Stewart Mott, Class of 1897 Stevens Institute of Technology, Interview with Edward Renehan, author
- Charles Stewart Mott, A Back to the Bricks review of Charles Stewart Mott and his life in Flint
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Flint Poet Laureate, Semaj Brown gives a spellbinding reading of her environmental injustice poems. Poet Semaj Brown shares stories of working with the child victims of the Flint Water Crisis. Brown is on a mission to help heal the victims of trauma in Flint, Michigan. Semaj Brown is an amazingly accomplished woman who is a poet, author, playwright, and educator, she was named the first poet laureate of Flint, Michigan, in 2019. In 2021, she received an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship. During her time as Flint's first poet laureate, she has been teaching children to write poetry at Flint's Freeman School, helping adults who privately write poetry as a form of healing and spread the good word about the value of the literary arts across the Flint area. In this episode, she reads two of her amazing poems. Her poems focus on Flint and social justice issues. They address issues of loss and empowerment.
This podcast episode is dedicated to the memory of one of my best friends, Joseph M. Snow of Lansing, Michigan. Joe passed away on November 10, 2022, after a long illness. Joe was a lawyer, labor activist, and long-time member of the Lansing area Peace and Justice Coalition. He was an advocate for the working class and social justice issues. He was very fond of Semaj Brown's poetry.
Special thanks to Mustards Retreat of Ann Arbor for providing the music for this podcast. Also special thanks to Libby Glover, Dave Tamulevich, David O. Norris, and Dan Hall for their advice and encouragement of Radio Free Flint.
You can learn more about Semaj Brown and her poems by visiting her author's website. Find Semaj Brown at the website of the American Academy of Poets. A feature article about Semaj Brown that details her work and background can be located at My City Magazine The Flint Journal reported that Semaj Brown was honored by the American Academy of Poets by receiving funding for her work with children in the Flint School District: Flint’s first poet laureate awarded $50K to infuse poetry throughout city with focus on literacy
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Marquise Gray has blazed a remarkable trail in basketball. In this interview, Marquise tells stories about his life in basketball as a professional, a Michigan State Spartan star and a Beecher coach. He is currently Acting Athletic Director, head basketball coach and a teacher for the Beecher Community Schools. What sets him apart are his Flintstone values of grit, hard work and excellence. Marquise Gray learned his values from his dad, great coaches and the parents in his childhood neighborhood in Beecher. Marquise Gray represents that part of Flint's athletic legacy that makes the area so special. In returning to Beecher High School, Marquise wanted to pay back his community for all it has given him. Marquise grew up in the Flint area learning the game from college and professional basketball players in pick-up games. He is deeply committed to the Beecher Community, near Flint. During his time at Beecher, he has been part of winning four Michigan high school basketball titles, three of them in a row! Gray played at Michigan State from 2005-09, reaching the NCAA national championship game as a senior against North Carolina. He played for Hall of Fame Basketball coach Tom Izzo. Marquise has a spectacular high school career at Beecher High School again playing for a state championship. In high school he was a named All-State and part of the Detroit Free Press Dream Team. His basketball career continued after graduating with a degree in social work at Michigan State University. Marquise signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons then played for seven years internationally in Isreal, Japan, Turkey, Mexico and Poland. Basketball literally took him around the world. Upon his retirement from professional basketball he decided that he wanted to work in a job that helped young people. He help a position with the Boys and Girls Club in Flint. Then he became involved in coaching and teaching at Beecher High School. He was recently named the head basketball coach at Beecher. To listen to this and other Radio Free Flint podcasts visit our website at www.radiofreeflint.media .
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The history of Flint's food culture has always been largely overshadowed by the stories of its industries. Author Dave Liske discusses his new book "Flint Coney Islands: A Savory History" in this interview.
The origins and rapid expansion of the number of Macedonian Coney shops in Flint paralleled the explosive growth of the city's automotive industry throughout the twentieth century. Born of an immigrant escaping the war-torn Balkans in the early 1900s who combined his idea for one dish with the skills of butchering and meatpacking experts from Wisconsin and Germany, the simple Flint Coney became an institution among the city's autoworkers, tradespeople, and families. Mainstays such as Flint Original Coney Island, Angelo's, and Atlas were frequented by regular patrons for decades, with others such as Capitol and Starlite carrying on those traditions today. To obtain a copy of Dave Liske's book click here The Flint Coney Island: A Savory History
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Former Flint, Michigan morning television news anchor Michael J. Thorp shares memories in an interview about his life in radio and television. Michael also teases his new book in our interview, Michiganians You Should Know! Its a fun book about obscure and some not so obscure people in Michigan history. Michael is a published author of 6 books about Michigan. Did I forget to say, juror in a murder trial of the century in Genesee County! Michael shares his fascinating stories about broadcasting and the characters with whom he worked during the golden age of Flint area radio. you can purchase a copy of Michael's latest book Michiganians You Should Know at www.michaeljthorp.com
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Longtime East Village Magazine writer and former editor Jan Worth-Nelson interview discusses Flint, Michigan and what's lost, what's left, and what is possible. Jan shares stories about the colorful history of the iconic Flint publication. The East Village Magazine started about the same time as Michael Moore's Flint Voice back in the 1970s. Flint's college and cultural neighborhood has long been a vibrant, beautiful, and historic neighborhood with many educators, business leaders, and professionals calling it home. Today, the magazine has become a brilliant piece of journalism each month, covering hyper-local government meetings and thoughtful essays from some of Genesee County's best writers. Suppose you think of the famed Atlantic Journal Magazine. In that case, the East Village Magazine is its local brother The entire neighborhood has somehow managed to keep this gem of a magazine going by personally delivering it door to door. Jan Worth-Nelson is a retired University of Michigan-Flint English Professor whose experience in Flint has made her the most influential person on the local scene most political leaders have never heard of before. She has quietly assembled a talented group of writers and reporters to become a publication of record for the Flint area. With her experiences have come interviewing dozens of people in the Flint area. She shares her joy about living in Flint, frustrations, disappointments, and what is possible for the region's future. She is indeed someone whom Flint is fortunate to have stayed in the area and contributed so much through her journalism and community involvement. If you would like to read the East Village Magazine or contribute, go to their website at EastVilliageMagazine.org. The song "Flint River Blues" used in this episode was written and performed by folk singer Colton Ort. He wrote this song to encourage people not to forget the children poisoned in the Flint Water Crisis.
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Connor Coyne is a writer living and working in Flint, Michigan. He spent his teenage years in Flushing, Michigan. In this interview, Connor discusses the newest novel, the 4th in the series "Urbantasm." His first novel, Hungry Rats, has been hailed by Heartland prize-winner Jeffery Renard Alle" as "an emotional and aesthetic tour de force." His second novel, Shattering Glass, has been praised by Gordon Young, author of Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City" as "a hypnotic tale that is at once universal and otherworldly." Connor represented Flint's 7th Ward as its artist-in-residence for the National Endowment for the Arts, Our Town grant. In this grant, artists engaged ward residents to produce creative work for the 2013 City of Flint Master Plan. Connor's work has appeared in Vox.com, Belt Magazine, and Santa Clara Review. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and an adopted rabbit inFlint's College Cultural Neighborhood (aka the East Village), less than a mile from the house where he grew up. Learn more about Connor's writing at ConnorCoyne.com. The music for the outro, Flint River Blues, about the Flint Water Crisis, was written and performed by Colton Ort and used with his permission.
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Podcast essay and interviews with Flint residents and expatriates who call themselves Flintstones. What does it mean to be a Flintstone? In this podcast we explore the unusual adoption of a community identity taken by people from Flint, Michigan. We explore the origins of this identity and delve into just what it means for the future of Flint. Podcast guests include Judge Duncan M. Beagle, Sandra Branch of the Flint Public Art Project, John Daly of the City of Flint Department of Transportation, Cindy Johns of Carriage Town Ministries and Rico Phillips a retired Flint Firefighter. Please feel free to share your thoughts by sending us an email or voice message at radiofreeflint@google.com The music heard in this episode is performed by singer-songwriter Colton Ort and played with his permission. If you would like to listen to other Radio Free Flint podcasts please visit our website at www.radiofreeflint.media
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Author and biographer Ed Renahan's storytelling interview explains the remarkable life of Charles Stewart Mott. Renahan's book "The Life of Charles Stewart Mott" is a fascinating and comprehensive look at the life of one of the world's most successful capitalists. Mr. Mott helped form the General Motors Corporation. Mott was also the founder of one of the world's largest charitable foundations, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The discussion covers Mr. Mott's career, family life, travels, hobbies, and devotion to the Flint community and philanthropy. Ed Renahan's critically-acclaimed books published under his name include Deliberate Evil: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Daniel Webster, and the 1830 Murder of a Salem Slave Trader (Chicago Review Press, 2022), Dark Genius of Wall Street: The Misunderstood Life of Jay Gould, King of the Robber Barons (Basic Books, 2006), The Kennedys at War (Doubleday, 2001), The Lion's Pride (Oxford University Press, 1998), The Life of Charles Stewart Mott (University of Michigan Press, 2019), John Burroughs: An American Naturalist (Black Dome Press, 1992), and The Secret Six (Crown, 1994). He has appeared on PBS's The American Experience, NPR, and C-Span's BookTV and has written for publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to The San Francisco Chronicle. His book The Life of Charles Stewart Mott, published by University of Michigan Press, 2019, is available at local bookstores in Flint, Michigan, and major book retailers. Colton Ort, singer-songwriter, performs his song "The Flint River Blues in this episode. We use the song with his permission.
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Cindy Johns of Carriage Town Ministries discusses homelessness in the Flint area. Carriage Town Ministries began in 1950 as the Flint Rescue Mission on the banks of the Flint River at Grand Traverse Street. The organization has been helping the poor for 70 years. The community has supported the work of the organization throughout those years. Many faithful Flint area churches and individuals recognize the calling of Matthew 25 to be ministers to the hungry, the thirsty, and the individuals in need of a place to stay. Carriage Town today is located on a campus of learning and restoration in Flint's historic Carriage Town neighborhood. Visitors and residents find a haven of safety and acceptance, learning and responsibility, structure and productivity…A place to find a new birth, a sense of purpose for today, clothing items, and hope for tomorrow. We discuss specifically the remarkable progress people in serving the homeless population. Carriage Town Ministries welcomes volunteers, donations of certain clothing items, and monetary donations. Michigan's Troubadour, Neil Woodward, and songwriter David O. Norris provided the music in this podcast. Neil Woodward performs the song Peach Tree Creek. The song Peach Tree Creek honors Michigan's 10th Infantry Regiment from the Flint area, who fought the civil war battle at Peach Tree Creek.
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Our guest is Rev. Robert McCathern, the pastor of the Joy Tabernacle Church which some call a "hip" church. His church is the former Community Presbyterian Church in Flint's Civic Park neighborhood. Pastor McCathern founder and director of the Urban Renaissance Center. It is a faith-based nonprofit established by Joy Tabernacle Church. They provide social and community development services specifically designed and administered as a direct response to the high level of need within the Civic Park Community. Our primary activities include the development, implementation, and facilitation of proactive methodological initiatives that provide holistic empowerment supports to individuals and families of the Civic Park and surrounding Flint neighborhoods. Pastor McCathern shares the hope and aspirations of those trying to make Flint a better place. His work with young people in the neighborhoods is nothing short of amazing. In this podcast, he describes how he has convinced young people to put down their guns and take up hammers to improve the neighborhood. Rev. McCathern's success has impressed many in the area, including the Ruth Mott Foundation which has funded projects in conjunction with the Urban Renaissance Center. The music for this podcast was provided by Colton Ort (Flint River Blues) and Mustards Retreat (Take the Children and Run)
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The pandemic brought well-known Flint area gospel composer, director, and performer Jeffrey LeValley a gift he could never have imagined. In 2021, a song he wrote, Revelations 19:1, was recorded by hip-hop artist Kanye West. The song won a Grammy Award for West and LeValley, who wrote the song. In previous years, LeValley was Grammy-nominated for his work in gospel music. LeValley also received a lifetime achievement award from BMI for his work in Gospel Music. LeValley has no shortage of Flint area fans. He wrote and performed a song played for Pope John Paul on his visit to the Detroit area. He has performed with Aretha Franklin, Peabo Bryson, and Lou Rauls, to name a few. In all, he estimates he recorded 275 recording projects in his long musical career. For over 40 years, Jeffrey has served as the minister of music at the New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church in Flint. He also served as the International Minister of Music for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Presiding Bishop for nine years. During the interview, Jeffrey discusses his life and career. He shares his love of Flint. Jeff LeValley is a Flint music legend. Kirk Franklin provided the music for this podcast (Lift Every Voice and Sing). The outro is Revelations 19:1, performed by the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Choir, featuring Pastor Odis Floyd and Jeffrey LeValley. He directed the choir and wrote the song. Please visit our website at Radio Free Flint and subscribe to our podcasts. You can share your ideas, suggestions, and comments by emailing us at RadioFreeFlint@gmail.com
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This century, the Sharee Miller murder case is one of Michigan's most notable criminal cases. The love triangle that Ms. Miller fostered resulted in the death of her husband, Bruce Miller. Sharee engaged in a torrid affair with a Kansas City cop. She convinced her then-boyfriend, Jerry Cassady, to come to Michigan and murder her husband, Bruce. Ms. Miller did so using a litany of falsehoods about her husband abusing her and the love child she was carrying. Jerry Cassady killed himself, leaving behind a suicide note and a laptop computer. The laptop held a treasure trove of filthy and incriminating evidence of the murder plot. The emails and chats gave the Genesee County jury a road map to convict Ms. Miller for her role in the murder. In the end, two men were dead, and Sharee Miller was convicted and imprisoned. Our guest on this episode is David Nickola, a criminal defense attorney. Mr. Nickola was Sharee Miller's defense attorney at trial. Back in 2000, former Prosecutor Arthur Busch charged Sharee Miller with murder. The attorneys discuss the case the ins and outs of the trial. They also share their handling of the jury trial. Attorney Nickola shares insights about his client, the jury's selection, and other tidbits that are fascinating. The national media extensively covered this case over the past 20 years. Just last week, ABC 20/20 did a segment on a confession letter Miller sent to the Judge in the case three years ago! At the trial, the Court TV covered the entire trial live. We thought you would enjoy the unfiltered perspectives on this case and this defendant. The music heard on this podcast episode is"Flint River Water" is performed by singer-songwriter Colton Ort. This original song was written by Colton to commemorate the Flint Water Crisis. We appreciate his support for Radio Free Flint and for allowing us to use his music in this episode You can find this episode and others at our website on Radio Free Flint, www.radiofreeflint.media We also appreciate your comments, likes, and suggestions. You can pass along those to radiofreeflint@gmail.com
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This is Part II of a podcast interview with Genesee County Circuit Judge Duncan M. Beagle. Judge Beagle will be retiring at the end of his current term. There is a riveting conversation about the illness that caused him to be unable to use his legs at the age of 43. This is an uplifting story of courage and determination to overcome his physical disability to become one of the most well-liked Judges in Genesee County.
The Beagle family has continuously practiced law in Genesee County for over 120 years! Charles Beagle was the Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney in 1929 during one of the most spectacular Bank crashes in America during the Great Depression. The Industrial Bank was looted in 1929 by its executives, who speculated in the stock market with depositors' funds. Then Prosecutor Beagle charged and convicted 13 of the banks' executives and managers and sent them to Jackson Prison for their crimes. The Flint bank's collapse caused angry depositors to surround the downtown bank, burning and overturning cars and breaking the windows out of the bank.
John Beagle, Judge Beagle's father, practiced law in Flint for over 50 years. He was at one time an Assistant Prosecutor and an Assistant Attorney General. He was an accomplished trial attorney who handled many high-profile cases.
Both Judge Duncan Beagle and his grandfather Charles Beagle served as Presidents of the Genesee County Bar Association.
The music in this podcast was written and produced by Joe Ryan III. The co-star of this performance is Joe's 90-year-old grandmother! The song is about the Flint water crisis. Joe Ryan is a Flint native and is a recording artist as well as a producer for several well-known recording artists. Joe also is involved in producing and recording songs for television and movies. The song is played here with his permission.
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Judge Duncan M. Beagle has lived a remarkable life. Judge Beagle has inspired, mentored, and coached courage and resilience while serving his community. He is a third third-generation member of the Genesee County legal profession. Judge Beagle's grandfather Charles Beagle was the Genesee County Prosecutor in the 1920s and practiced law for 56 years in Flint. John Beagle, Duncan's father, was also a Flint lawyer who practiced law with distinction for more than 50 years. The Beagle family has a rich legacy of community service in the greater Flint area. The Beagles have served on numerous community boards and have given richly of their time, talents, and treasure to the people of Flint. This podcast interview with Judge Beagle covers his life growing up in Flint, community activities, and accomplishments. The State Bar of Michigan and the Michigan Supreme Court honored the judge for his work on behalf of children in Michigan. He is currently the Chief Judge of the Genesee County Circuit Court. He previously served as the President of the Genesee County Bar Association. In our conversation, he discusses his family out the spectacular 1929 bank embezzlement case which his grandfather Charles Beagle handled while the Prosecuting Attorney of Genesee County. He also discusses what it means to be a Flintstone! Judge Beagle is a self-described sports nut. For over 20 years, he served as a basketball referee for area high school games with future college and professional players. He is also in the Albion College Alumni Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a baseball player in college. Judge Beagle attended Flint Schools, including Zimmerman Jr High School, Flint Southwestern High School. He graduated from Albion College with a B.A. and the University of Detroit-Mercy with a Juris Doctorate Degree. He is married and has a son. This interview is Part 1 of our conversation. Part 2 will be released on February 8, 2022. So join us again next week. If you would like to listen to more episodes of Radio Free Flint visit www.radiofreeflint.media If you have a suggestion for a podcast guest or topic or you would like to appear as a guest on this podcast please email me at art@artbusch.com
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Philip R. Hagerman co-founded Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy with his father, Dale Hagerman in 1975. Diplomat grew to be the nation’s largest independent specialty pharmacy with revenue growing from $25 million in 2005 to over $4 Billion in 2015, recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in healthcare. His start-up specialty pharmacy, located at the Great Lakes Technology Center employs over 1,000 in the City of Flint. Phillip started a real estate and venture investment firm, headquartered in Flint, Michigan. They are headquartered in the historic Dryden Building in Downtown Flint. The Dryden building, constructed in 1901 was home to the original offices of General Motors formed by Billy Durant in 1908. The Fenton native has taken a large part in the redevelopment of downtown Flint. Phil has invested an estimated $50 million in Flint reviving downtown businesses and real estate. Phil played a major role in the restoration of the historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Flint. During the podcast, he discusses his motivation and vision for Flint's urban spaces and its economy. #RustBelt #Flint #HistoricRestoration #Hagerman
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Safetyville, Flint, Michigan, has a special place in the hearts of a lot of Flint area baby boomers. STOP-LOOK-LISTEN remember that lesson? Most remember the miniature Corvettes, T-Birds, and kid's first driver's licenses. Many Flint baby boomers received their first driver's license at Safetyville-Flint. Safetyville could be found at Kearsley Park. The powered cars were vintage replicas of the Ford T-Bird, and just for good measure, there were a few Corvettes. I interviewed Len Exline, who is a collector of these miniature cars. Len explains there were just four Safetyville in the USA. Taco Bell used these cars in their commercial and a movie or two. I know you will find this an interesting interview because any kid in Flint waited the hours down to their visit to Safteyville.
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Poet Semaj Brown is Flint's first Poet Laurate. She is an inspirational guest. She reads a poem she wrote for the people of Flint. The Academy of American Poets recently recognized her talents as a Poet Laurate. Her work in Flint uses poetry to address literacy problems with lead-poisoned children. Semaje is also an accomplished playwright, published author, and lecturer. In Flint, her work in the Flint Community Schools has been nothing short of inspirational. She has been invited to speak and share her poetry at many colleges and universities across the midwest, including the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Baruch College (NYC), Kent State, and Indiana University, to name a few. Semaj is one of the most inspirational guests in Radio Free Flint's history! Please visit our website www.radiofreeflint.com for the show notes to this podcast which will include links to find videos and books that include the work of this great poet.
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Rico Phillips is a retired, 27-year veteran Flint Firefighter. He is also an inspiration!. In 2019, the National Hockey League honored Rico with its prestigious Community Hero Award. They did so because, in 2010, Phillips started an inner-city hockey program to introduce Flint kids to the sport. Rico shares fascinating stories about growing up in Flint, being bi-racial, and how he decided to become a firefighter. He discusses his work with children in Flint. He also talks about his work as Director of Cultural Diversity and Inclusion with the Ontario Hockey League and his work with black NHL players to bridge the gap between urban communities and hockey. Don't miss this podcast. It is uplifting and will make you proud of what Flint area people are doing for others. Rico discusses growing up in Flint and the challenges of growing up bi-racial. His mom is from West Germany, and his father is from Flint. Rico is a well-known community activist in Flint, Michigan. He was a familiar face in area schools for his fire prevention and career development talks with students. For many years, he has been involved in helping to start Back to the Bricks, a popular car event in downtown Flint. His service also included being the community liaison between the Flint Firefighters Union and the community. For 17 years, he was a Vice-President of the Flint Firefighters Union. Rico has also been a hockey referee for 34 years. He is married to Sandy, a graduate of Flint Southwestern High School, and attended C.S. Mott Community College.
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Tawas Point State Park is located on Lake Huron in Northern Michigan near East Tawas, Michigan. The state park encompasses 183 acres at the end of a sand spit that forms Tawas Bay. It has been referred to as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest" and is a notable bird-watching site. Ossineke is a rustic State Forest campground on Lake Huron with its crystal clear water and sandy beach. The area, including Presque Isle, has quiet beaches. Cheboygan is near Michigan's Inland Waterway, a 38-mile (61-km) channel comprising many streams and Crooked, Pickerel, Mullett, and Burt lakes, with boating and fishing facilities. Cheboygan is an Indian name meaning "Through Passage," this refers to the Indians "passing through" during their fur trading days using the Inland Route to Mackinaw Island, instead of the straits passageway. The song "Water" is courtesy of Barb Barton. It was written in support of the people of Flint. Some still suffer from the lack of drinking water and lead poisoning.
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Gerald Haan and his daughter Katie join us for a wide ranging conversation about Michigan Lumber old and new. Gerald also shares his views about Flint and its future as well as his interest in building affordable new single family housing in the downtown area. Just beyond the heart of the downtown area, a family-owned business has been working from its original location since its founders came to the Greater Flint are in 1916. Most observers would assume that any business starting about that time would be tied to the booming automobile factories, but this operation contributed not only to the building of Flint's auto manufacturing prominence but to the overall growth of this area as well.
Holding the distinction of being the oldest lumber yard in Genesee County, Michigan Lumber Company is continuing to operate under the philosophies established by their forefathers to give their established customers the finest quality lumber products with an underscore of premier service by an exceptionally experienced staff. Situated at 1919 Clifford Street near the intersection of Saginaw and 12th St., this full-line lumber supply house is currently in the working hands of third and fourth generation family members.
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A deep-sea diver, a dancer, an activist, an aviator, a singer, and a soldier—Great Girls in Michigan History highlights 20 girls from Michigan’s past who did amazing things before they turned 20 years old. Author Patricia Majher presents easy-to-read mini-biographies of these girls who present a variety of cultures, areas of the state, and historical time periods. Published by Wayne State University Press. Bold Boys in Michigan History—a companion to Great Girls in Michigan History—explores the stories of 20 boys who did some amazing things before they turned 20 years old. Author Patricia Majher offers young readers easy-to-read mini-biographies about both highly acclaimed and lesser-known Michiganders, all of whom led remarkable lives that will intrigue and inspire. Published by Wayne State University Press. Patricia discusses with us her books mini-biographies contained in her books including three from Flint, Michigan; Sara Emma Edmonds, Michael Moore and Jim Abbott. Her books Great Girls and Bold Boys are designed for children but are informative and entertaining for people of all ages. Patricia Majher is also the author of two other books including "Ladies of the Lights: Michigan Women in the U.S. Lighthouse Service" and "100 Things to Do in Ann Arbor Before You Die." Her book Great Girls was a 2015 Michigan Notable Book winner. Patricia is a museum professional who has held marketing, curatorial, and collections positions at institutions as wide-ranging as The Henry Ford and Mackinac State Historic Parks to the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. She is currently employed as director for the Hamburg Township Historical Museum. Prior to this position, Majher served for 7 years as editor of Michigan History magazine.
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Author Anna Clark is an accomplished journalist who has written a very credible and worthy book documenting the events of the Flint Water Crisis. Anna's book about the Flint Water Crisis examines the future of American cities, what public policies need reform and what policy decision by local and state government gave rise to this man-made disaster. Anna Clark who lives in Detroit. She is a reporter for ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to investigative journalism with moral force. She is also the author of The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water and the American Urban Tragedy, which won the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism and the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award. It was also named one of the year’s best books by the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Public Library, Audible, and others.
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What is life like in a City of Flint patrol car? What will it take for Flint's crime statistics to improve? What type of training for police will reduce abuse claims and lawsuits? Dr. Jermaine Reese, who spent eighteen and a half years as a Flint Police Officer, shares his career, its highs and lows. He patrolled the Flint neighborhood in which he was raised. One of those challenges was being black and a policeman. Professor Reese discusses Black Lives Matter and its impact on policing today. He explains the effect of Flint's economic and social problems on the job of a police officer. He speaks most eloquently to what qualities growing up in Flint, Michigan imbued in him. Professor Reese shares his thoughts about the need for community policing in Flint and makes some suggestions to improve the quality of policing there. Dr. Jermaine Reese has a Phd and a Masters Degrees in Criminal Justice. He attended C.S. Mott Community College and its Criminal Justice Program. He is now a Professor at Grand Rapids Community College and is the Director of the Police Training Academy in that city. Flint hip hop Joe Ryan III and his 90 year old grandmother perform the song Flint, Michigan. 🎶 in this episode. Thank you Dr Avon Burns for making this episode possible.
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This podcast is about entrepreneurial success and determination. Michael Jablonski shares his interesting business career in the food and entertainment business. Few people in Michigan have made an impact on a community's entertainment and fine dining as Michael Jablonski, a Grand Blanc businessman and lawyer. He has developed several concept businesses in the Flint area. Those establishments such as Celebrations Night Club and Brick Street have became some of the most popular and financially successful businesses in Genesee County. Michael owned or managed other food and entertainment businesses such as RC Coopers, a fine dining establishment in Flushing and the former BeachTree in Flint Township and JT Thornberry's in Mt. Morris, Michigan. Michael Jablonski also has maintained a law practice in Grand Blanc where he specializes in business and corporate matters. He was born into a Polish-American family of entrepreneurs who owned local bakeries and food establishments in Genesee County. He is a native of Flint and Mt. Morris, Michigan. He graduated from E.L Johnson High School and Michigan State University.
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Joel Bye and his band the Blue Hawaiians are legendary amongst local music fans. Joel shares the history of the band as well as his prior band The Nick Garvey Band. In a hilarious and surprisingly reflective interview Joel Bye shares how he got started playing the drums with another local legend, the late jazz master Sherman Mitchell, playing in the Fireside Lounge in Flint. He speaks optimistically about Flint and what the town has ment to him. He played his first gig at Ballenger Park in Flint, for a concert known as the Battle of the Bands. Joel and his bandmates have given richly of their time and talents to many local charitable causes and benefits. After hearing Joel tell stories about his life and his views on the people of Flint it is easy to see why he is one of the most beloved musicians in Michigan.
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William S. Ballenger III of Flint, Michigan is our guest. He is a descendant of one of the founders of Buick, Chevrolet Motor Car Company, General Motors. Bill is a member of the family that philanthropically endowed the Flint area. Bill shares his family's history, accomplishments, and philanthropic activity. Along the way, Bill shares experiences about growing up in Flint and shares his memories of the late Charles Stewart Mott and family. Bill Ballenger is a former State Senator, State Representative, the Michigan Racing Commissioner and the Director of The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation. He is also a former Professor at Central Michigan University and has been an adjunct professor at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan-Flint. For decades Bill published the newsletter Inside Politics, a must-read publication for those interested in Michigan government. Bill has his own podcast as well as his own radio program. He is a paid public speaker, who has appeared before hundreds of groups across Michigan to share the trends, the latest developments as well as his knowledge about Michigan government.
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Pete "Fat Cat" Flanders is perhaps one of the best remembered radio personalities in the Mid-Michigan media market. He is the owner of Musical Memories, a Flint record shop that specializes in vinyl record sales. Pete recounts his 40 year history in Flint area radio sharing stories from his long career as a DJ, Concert Promoter and Businessman. Pete worked at WHMM with its urban format and WTAC with its contemporary Rock format. He has worked as a promoter, announcer, or tour assistant to some of the greatest names in R&B, Soul Music and Rock. He worked for a year on tour with the legendary James Brown. In his early days he promoted Jackie Wilson, Temptations and other R&B artists. Pete was especially close to Peter C. Cavanaugh who was a local DJ, station manager, promoter and author. He recounts many memories of his relationship with Peter C and their antics. They co-promoted the 1960's rock band the MC5 with Wayne Kramer and Rob Tyner. In one case he relives a story of the band appearing at Davison, Michigan's Sherwood Forest when the bands performance was stopped by the police because of an obscenity in the lyrics of their most popular song.
Musical Memories is located on S. Dort Highway in Flint, Michigan.
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A wonderful interview with Norman Bryant, former President of Flint Schools. At 85, he shares some history of Flint Schools, Flint high school athletics and Flint history. Norm is the founder of the Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame. This interview is a wonderful oral history of African American life in a northern US industrial community in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. In the interview Norm Bryant discusses the people and activity around Flint, Michigan becoming the first U.S. major city to adopt an Open Housing Ordinance. Flint also became the first major city in America to have an African American Mayor, Floyd J. McCree.
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Local news anchor Joel Feick stepped down from local television news after 35 years. He left familiar seat as "The People's News Anchor". Joel shares stories about his life as a reporter. In this podcast, Joel shares his memories of the characters whom he covered as a journalist. He also shares memories of colleagues and other reporters in the Mid-Michigan area. He worked 27 years for ABC-12 and then 8 years at NBC25/FOX66 where concluded his career in broadcasting. In November 2020, Joel was elected to the Grand Blanc Township Board of Trustees. He is now working for Disability Network of Greater Flint where he is following his passion to help others. In 2005, he won an Emmy Award for Best Consumer News. He won the Emmy for a series of reports on how to insulate a home. Joel has also won UPI and AP Awards along with the National Golden AMI Award. He's enjoyed hundreds of interviews: from President George H.W. Bush to Ernie Harwell. But the ones that brought him the most joy were ones that involved average people in unique situations. Joel was an instructor of Radio Broadcasting at Mott Community College. He's on the board of the Children's Wish Fund of Flint and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
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At 90 years old Arlene Crane-Curns, who has lived almost a century, authored a book! In Homemade Noodles and Cars, Arlene tells the story of her family-from World War I and how it affected them, how her parents struggled to provide a home for their five children during the Great Depression, about growing up in Flint, Michigan, her family's role in World War II and meeting her soon-to-be husband when he came home from the war. She and her husband, who was disabled in the war, started married life with a monthly income of $89 and had four babies in the four years that followed, a challenge they conquered together through love for each other. Arlene will make you laugh and maybe shed a tear, but if you enjoy true stories from a kinder, gentler time, listen to this podcast as she recounts her tales from her book "Homemade Noodles and Cars". If you are interested in getting the secret stories she speaks of in this interview you may obtain a copy of her book at:
Barns and Noble (e-book & Nook) and Amazon
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The KKK has been very active in Flint, Michigan since at least the 1920's. Michigan has been a hotbed for white nationalist and KKK activity for 100 years. The Klan organizes parades, picnics, social relief efforts and activities for children in Flint in years gone by. The former Prosecutor (1993-2005) of the county where Flint is located shares stories of his battles with white nationalism in Flint. He discusses the KKK activities in Flint in particular. This podcast documents the connection between Flint, Detroit and Michigan and the many hate groups. Ryan Loree, a former member of a neo-Nazi group in Flint, the Rollingwood Skins describes the white nationalist group and its activities in Flint in more recent years. This podcast takes a shocking and revealing view of KKK and other hate groups activity in a typical industrial American town.
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This Black History Month podcast is in honor of and dedicated to Evelyn Thomas Butts and her attorney Robert Segar of Flint, Michigan. Evelyn Thomas Butts, an African American civil rights activist and politician in Virginia. She is best known for challenging the poll tax and took her case before the United States Supreme Court. Butts was part of the civil rights movement and later became an influential member of Norfolk politics. Robert Segar has been honored by the Michigan State Bar Association for being a Champion of Justice for his role in this case. The understated attorney volunteered to take on a 1960's civil rights case to stop the poll tax in Virginia. see Harper v The Virginia Board of Elections, 383 US 663 (1966). Attorney Segar argued the case before the United States Supreme Court, then led by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Arguing the case for the United States Government was the Solicitor General of the United States Thurgood Marshall. The Jim Crow era poll tax was a voter suppression effort that had been in effect for nearly 60 years. In this podcast, Mr. Segar recounts his firms involvement in the civil rights movement in the 1950's and 1960's. He discusses his involvement with the Lawyers Guild of America in helping with civil rights cases.
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Flint has its share of radical white nationalist groups. I interviewed the former leader of one of those groups, the Rollingwood Skins. Listen to the podcast at www.anchor.fm/radiofreeflint
Ryan Lo'Ree is a man with a life story made for a television drama production. He has emerged from the rough and tumble eastside of Flint, Michigan where he eventually became caught up in Michigan's criminal justice system and joined a local neo-nazi hate group.
Ryan finished a residential school for troubled kids, and eventually joined the U.S. Army. Upon his discharge from military service he was coaxed to join the Buick City Boot Boys who later became the Rollingwood Skins. He immediately used his military training to become a leader in the group dedicated to perpetuating the superiority of the white race.
Eventually his life with the group led him to adult criminal court and a jail sentence.
While serving his probationary term, he began to understand the error of his ways. He organized a program in Genesee County to work de-radicalize young men who had been caught up in hate groups.
Ryan Lo'Ree has organized by his count over 100 rallies across the country for the purpose of opposing hate.
His path toward rehabilitation eventually took him to run for public office in 2018. While unsuccessful in politics he has found his place in helping others across America to avoid the painful life of hate he previously led.
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In his book Disruption in Detroit: Autoworkers and the Elusive Postwar Boom, author Daniel Clark draws on oral interviews with retired UAW members and archives of regional newspapers to show that the mythology surrounding autoworkers during the postwar years was far removed from the lives these men and women actually lived. It is a bedrock American belief: the 1950s were a golden age of prosperity for autoworkers. Flush with high wages and enjoying the benefits of generous union contracts, these workers became the backbone of a thriving blue-collar middle class. It is also a myth. Daniel J. Clark began by interviewing dozens of former autoworkers in the Detroit area and found a different story--one of economic insecurity marked by frequent layoffs, unrealized contract provisions, and indispensable second jobs. Disruption in Detroit is a vivid portrait of workers and an industry that experienced anything but stable prosperity. As Clark reveals, the myths--whether of rising incomes or hard-nosed union bargaining success--came later. In the 1950s, ordinary autoworkers, union leaders, and auto company executives recognized that although jobs in their industry paid high wages, they were far from steady and often impossible to find. To obtain a copy of Professor Daniel Clark's book Disruption in Detroit: Autoworkers and the Elusive Postwar Boom, visit Illinois University Press: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/34xdq6sx9780252042010.html This podcast is available on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Radio Free Flint is a society and culture podcast that can be found at www.anchor.fm/radiofreeflint
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Ang Adamzcik is executive director of the non-profit Arts & Scraps, whose mission is to use recycled industrial scraps to help people of all ages and abilities think, create and learn. Arts & Scraps provides hands-on learning and creative experiences through programs at its facility and throughout Southeast Michigan with an emphasis in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education. We provide a community space for creating, and operate a public store that sells recycled materials at low cost to assist all economic levels. Arts and Scraps provides recycled materials for minimal cost to 3,300 organizations/classrooms annually, impacting 275,000 children while helping the environment by finding ways to reuse those materials. It connects the private and educational sectors by recruiting and recycling 28 tons of material. The non-profit also assists in training disabled people to gain employment skills. You can learn more about Arts and Scraps by visiting their website https://www.artsandscraps.org/about . Also visit their social media pages located on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The intro music Flint River Blues is courtesy of singer-songwriter Colton Ort The outro music Flint, Michigan is courtesy of singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot
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Author John Smolens is an award winning novelist whose historical fiction "Day of Days" tells the story of the tragic and shocking bombing of the Bath, Michigan Schoolhouse in 1927. There were 45 people killed in that bombing and countless children and adults injured. In the spring 1927, Andrew Kehoe, the treasurer for the school board in Bath, Michigan, spent weeks surreptitiously wiring the public school, as well as his farm, with hundreds of pounds of dynamite. The explosions on May 18, the day before graduation, killed and maimed dozens of children, as well as teachers, administrators, and village residents, including Kehoe’s wife, Nellie. A respected member of the community, the Kehoe himself died when he ignited his truck, loaded with crates of explosives and scrap metal. In its portrayal of several Bath school children, Day of Days examines how such a trauma scars one’s life long after the dead are laid to rest and the wounded heal, and how an anguished but resilient American village copes with the bombing, which in its time seemed beyond comprehension, and yet now may be considered a harbinger of the future. One survivor, Beatrice Turcott, who decades later lies on her death bed, recalls the spring of 1927, and how this haunting experience has led her to the conviction that one does not survive the present without reconciling hard truths about the past. John Smolens has published twelve works of fiction, eleven novels and a collection of short stories. His most recent novel is "Day of Days" , published by Michigan State University Press. His novel Wolf’s Mouth was selected as a Library of Michigan Notable Book for 2017. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Michigan Author of the Year Award from the Michigan Library Association. #JohnSmolens #HistoricalFiction #BathMichigan #TrueCrime
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Flint radio broadcaster David O. Norris shares memories of a career in public and country radio broadcasting. He shares how Flint came to proclaim itself as the "Country Music Capitol of the North". He shares highlights of his decades long association with Maybelle Carter and the Carter family. He tells a great story about Johnny Cash and the Carter Family performing at the IMA Auditorium in Flint during his final career tour. During the performance an irate fan jumped on stage and attempted to fight with Johnny Cash. That incident with the fan, in which Maybelle Carter was a witness and David Norris was the program announcer resulted in a lifetime friendship with David and Maybelle. Enjoy the podcast! Special thanks to David O Norris, Rachel Cole, the late Scott McKinstry. The song Ruuged Road was written and performed by Rachel Cole of Nashville, Tn. If you would like to listen to this podcast or others, watch videos or read articles from the Radio Free Flint website please visit: https://www.radiofreeflint.media #Flint #David Norris #JohnnyCash #MaybelleCarter #Whiting Auditorium
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Wayne Kramer is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, author, producer, and film and television composer. He was co-founder of the Detroit rock group MC5, and Rolling Stone named him one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. Wayne was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.
Wayne Kramer has written a memoir, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the Mc5, and My Life of Impossibilities.
The MC5 recorded and performed the song "Kick Out the Jams, which became an anthem for the protest movement of the 1960s. Along with that, came a passion for rock and roll and social & economic justice.
Wayne is now touring again! Check out the story in the Metro Times.
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Ernie Harwell was a Michigan cultural icon. This podcast episode full of fan memories and stories about Ernie Harwell is to cherish all that Ernie meant to the people of the Flint area and the State of Michigan. Guests on this episode include award winning journalist Jack Lessenberry formerly of Michigan Public Radio who was a personal friend of Ernie. We invited Flint area fans to recount their favorite memories of Ernie. Included on our guest list is Sue Meisner-Kelly a retired Flint Community Schools teacher, Rau, Dave Cobb a Flushing resident and retired GM employee, and Jeffrey Natchez a Flint area Optometrist who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played in their minor league system for a number of years. Ten years ago in Ernie's final farewell to his fans, “I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit, I love the way they face life, I love the family values. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all. No question about that.”. Ernie Harwell may be gone but his legacy still lives in baseball fans everywhere especially in Flint and Detroit. #ernieharwell #detroittigers #sportsbroadcaster You can find this and other episodes by clicking Radio Free Flint It is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Google Podcasts and most platforms where you listen to your favorite podcast.
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Joe Ryan III is a multi-talented music wizard who exudes charisma and confidence reminiscent of Magic Johnson. Flint, Michigan has shared its athletes with America not as much is said about its musical artists. Joe is only in his early 30’s now and has had a remarkable start to a career in Hollywood. Ryan is an independent Artist, Producer, Songwriter, Composer, Engineer and DJ. Previously, Radio Free Flint interviewed Joe Ryan III about his song Flint, Michigan (Click Here to Listen to Previous Podcast) It was a song with his 90 year old grandmother. He was so popular with our audience we decided to release the biographical segment of his interview. This podcast relates to Joe's background and his story about how he ended up in Hollywood working with some of the biggest names in music today. Joe Ryan III reflects his generation by using the ever-changing technology of music and recording. He is a Tele-Pixs composer. That is a job description that few claimed just 30 years ago. He has mastered the art of engineering and recording music. He also has a gift that very few musicians come to naturally, the gift of matching song and music with other forms of entertainment. Joe Ryan III also has composed music for Fox television networks’ "Lethal Weapon", NBC's "The Voice", MTV's "The Challenge: Champs Vs. Stars", ABC's "The Ellen Degeneres Show", Cartoon Network's "Teen Titan's Go!", ABC's "Dancing with The Stars", talk shows "The Real" & "The Preachers", and more. Joe went on to compose music for ESPN, FOX, ABC, VH1 and even became a music supervisor and composer for B.E.T.'s "Hip Hop Sisters". After a successful composing run, he began building his resume as an artist again, landing opportunities of rapping on The Discovery Channel. He has also charted his own songs in the top ten in Japan!
Link to Joe Ryan III website: https://www.joeryaniii.com/
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This episode features two amazing award winning singer-songwriters Antje Duvekot and Barb Barton These folk singers use their voices and platforms to help keep us from forgetting the poisoned children of Flint, Michigan. The Flint Water Crisis has captured the attention of songwriters who have written about the drinking water tragedy in Flint. The water crisis has resulted in dozens of deaths and children poisoned by lead in the water supply. The crisis was 5 years ago and still not resolved. Antje Duvekot wrote and performs the song Flint, Michigan. She is a German born Folk singer who lives in the Boston area. She is an accomplished songwriter and has performed at the Newport Folk Festival, one of the world’s most renown folk festivals. Antje has won some of the top songwriting awards including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the prestigious, Kerrville (TX) "Best New Folk Award" and in one of the nation's top music markets, she won the Boston Music Award for "Outstanding Folk Act", three of the top prizes in the singer songwriter world. Duvekot's latest album, Toward the Thunder, is her fourth full-length studio album featuring 11 tracks. In 2007, Duvekot's song "Merry-Go-Round" was featured a large-scale marketing campaign for Bank of America, including a high-profile spot during Super Bowl XLI. Barb Barton is a Lansing-based folk singer-songwriter. The making of her song “Water” was captured with a video and is the focus of this podcast episode. (https://youtu.be/b9S7h8KRy6A) Barb arranged for a Flint community choir, Cho’zen, directed by Albert Strickland to participate in recording the song. The result is a magnificent and moving testament to the unity that only a community emergency brings about. The filming of the song “Water” was then followed by the production of a documentary movie by the same name. The movie focused on the efforts to help the victims of this horrible crisis. Barb Barton founded “Love From Lansing”, a group in Lansing, Michigan (https://www.facebook.com/LovefromLansing) a charitable group that was determined to help out the people of the City of Flint during their time of need. This Lansing, Michigan group raised money to buy water, diapers, baby wipes and other supplies. Barb Barton is also an award winning author. Her book Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan has received the following awards: MSU Press Award 2018 Michigan History Award 2019 Michigan Notable Book Award 2019 American Library Association Choice List of Outstanding Academic Titles 2020 Independent Publishers Bronze Medal (Great Lakes Region). You can learn more about Barb Barton and her music by visiting her website at www.Barbbarton.com
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Kate Garns is a national motivational & leadership speaker, Disney Performer and author. Kate works with student government leaders across the nation about self talk and leadership using motivational themes. Her family is from the Flint area. She discusses the pursuit of her career in entertainment and public speaking. Her message to young people of America is inspiring and convincing. More importantly she speaks to values based lessons that are not just good medicine for the younger generation but for all generations. More specifically Kate specializes in self talk. She shows teens how to find their worth and value when nobody shows up to tell them that they are worthy or valuable. She tells her story of being told she was never good enough, to being a performer at some of the worlds top tourist destinations to being a gladiator. She show teens how to overcome obstacles and have personal success, not because anyone saved her, but because she chose to save herself. In her recent book, Mixtape: How To Stop Listening To The Recordings Of Your Past, Kate discusses her speaking themes. You can find a copy at Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/Mixtape-Stop-Listening-Recordings-Your/dp/1708738649 For more information about Kate Garns and her work visit: http://www.kategarnes.com/#motivational-speaker a View a sample the motivational talks of Kate by visiting: https://youtu.be/lHyAmfU5mUA #kategarns #motivationalspeaker #disneyperformer
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Marty Embry is a legendary basketball player, whose teams at Flint Central Hight School won two Class A Michigan High School basketball titles. While at DePau1l University, his teams played in three NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments as well as an NIT college post season tournament. He was a NBA 3rd round draft pick of the Utah Jazz and went on to play 13 seasons of professional basketball. Notably, Marty has published 13 books. His works include: 8 cook books, a self help book (Diary of a Depressive), 2 books of quotes, 3 poetry books and several novels that are amazing! He describes himself as a serial entrepreneur. He credits his upbringing in Flint, Michigan for the grit and determination and will to win that made him a success in basketball and life. His story is nothing short of inspiring. Flint, Michigan has a reputation for fabulous basketball players and Marty Embry is one of the reasons why. You can see the list of the 13 books Marty Embry authored by visiting: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=marty+embry&ref=nb_sb_noss or the Author's Den: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?authorid=102467 #flintcentralbasketball #flintstones #depaulbasketball
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American popular culture has memorialized the Purple Gang in books, movies and even Elvis Presley's hit "Jail House Rock" mentions the notorious Detroit gang. The Purple Gang sat on top of the underworld of Michigan in the 1920s and 1930's until the Mafia took over in Detroit, Michigan. They did deals with Al Capone, the notorious mobster from Chicago. The Purple Gang played in northern Michigan and hid out in places like Lupton, Clare and Roscommon, Michigan. Our guest is Gregory Fournier, author of The Elusive Purple Gang: Detroit's Kosher Nostra is a concise history of one of America's most notorious Prohibition gangs. The Burnstein brothers and their associates were the only Jewish gang in the United States to dominate the rackets of a major American city. From their meteoric rise to the top of Detroit's underworld to their ultimate demise, this is an episodic account of the Purple Gang's corrosive pursuit of power and wealth and their inevitable plunge towards self-destruction. Find author Gregory Fournier's book on the Purple Gang as well as other true crime works of his at: https://gregoryafournier.com/ #purplegang #jailhouserock #alcapone
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Hip Hop recording artist Joe Ryan III a Flint, Michigan native, who was profoundly moved to action by the Flint Water Crisis. He called back home to his 90 year-old grandmother, Odessa Houston, who began to sing a song on the telephone. Joe recorded her singing over the phone line, then he composed, produced and recorded his "hip hop" style song "Flint, Michigan". Joe Ryan III discusses why he wrote the song and its meaning. Learn more about Joe Ryan III and his musical career at : https://www.joeryaniii.com/ To view a slide show about the Flint Water Crisis produced by Joe Ryan III follow this link: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/joecryaniii%40gmail.com/KtbxLwGvWcLtZNTGrbTpPVwTrXpDwKHKvB?projector=1
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Flint, Michigan's Buick City brownfield site does not have just a little bit of toxic chemicals left behind, there appears to be a massive amount of environmental damage. Like the Flint water crisis, the real story is not out there just yet and the damage is growing by the day. The Buick City site appears to be a crime scene. Remember there has already been millions and millions of EPA Super Fund dollars spent to clean the site up. While General Motors (GM) can claim bankruptcy and walk away from Flint without financial liabilities, the criminal laws do not afford the same protections from those who poisoned the environment in the City of Flint. In 2018, according to the Flint Journal, testing at the Buick City site revealed PFAS in the storm water drain system. That drain system feeds into the Flint River. PFAS is a chemical known to cause cancer. For more on this story please visit our website's Featured Blog Post: https://www.radiofreeflint.media. Special Thanks to Colton Ort who provided the outro music, The Flint River Blues. Colton is a singer-songwriter who wrote this song to help keep the poisoned children of Flint from being forgotten. Visit us at www.radiofreeFlint.media to hear other episodes, blog posts and watch videos with out other guests. #flintwatercrisis #radiofreeflint. #pfas
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The Flint River Blues is one of many songs written about the Flint Water Crisis. Colton Ort, a singer songwriter documents for history the lead tainted water of Flint. He discussed his song and the message he is trying to send. To learn more about Colton Ort and his music visit www.coltonort.com. #radiofreeflint #flintwatercrisis #coltonort
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True crime story about fratricide. The killing involves fraternal twins. One twin who along with a friend helped kill the other twin by stabbing him 45 times. It is a shocking crime. The Prosecutor in the case, Arthur A. Busch narrates the case from his vantage point. This is a riveting story. It remained in the local news for nearly two years from the time of the crime in 1995 until the sentencing in 1997.
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Our podcast interview with Neil Woodward covers his life's work. Neil is an instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and folk historian who helps preserve musical traditions. He holds the title -- state troubadour. In 2003 the Legislature of the State of Michigan officially named Neil Woodward Michigan’s Troubadour in recognition of his lifelong commitment to preservation of Great Lakes folk music and culture. Woodward has served as the village troubadour at Genesee County's historic Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad and spends his summers as a strolling musical performer at Greenfield Village in Dearborn. During the podcast you will hear four of his songs; "Engine 464", the "Swampin' of the Genesee Belle", "... say No?!" and "Peach Tree Creek". These songs represent Flint historical stories. The song "Engine 464" details the history of Engine 464 of the Huckleberry Railroad located at Crossroads Village near Flint, Michigan. the "Swampin' of the Genesee Belle" is a story about a boat which submerged on Mott Lake during its madien voyage. The song " ... say No?!" is about Flint, and its legendary autoworkers. He painfully describes the pressures Flint autoworkers felt in the 1990's from the forces of globalization and the threats of losing their jobs to Mexican factories. Lastly, Peachtree Creek is a Civil War song which tells the story of a Flint, Michigan soldier wounded in Sherman's March to the Sea (Battle of Atlanta). Neil Woodward is recipient of 2018 State of Michigan Heritage Award "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Michigan's cultural heritage." Most of Neil’s work focuses on the preservation of Michigan's songs in the troubadour tradition, from Great Lakes sailor shanties to lumberjack songs. For more information about Neil Woodward and his storytelling and songs visit: https://www.neilwoodward.com/ Also visit the Radio Free Flint website https://www.radiofreeflint.media to read a blog post about this podcast. We also have posted in the Video tab a YouTube video of the songs on this podcast.
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Singer-Songwriter Justin Townes Earle was a Nashville, Tennessee native who understood Flint, Michigan perfectly. Justin never played a gig in Flint, but he was eager to find his way to a stage in the Flint area. He died before he had his opportunity. Earle penned the song “Flint City Shake” that encapsulates the history and importance of Flint, Michigan to America. The people of the City of Flint who never knew Justin Townes Earle lost a great advocate. He stood up for the real America and for social and economic justice. Earle understood what the people of Flint gave America, and his words are a great tribute to Flint’s legacy. Below are the lyrics to “Flint City Shake It”. Special thanks to singer-songwriter Rachel Cole of Nashville, TN for granting permission to use her song "Rugged Road". You can find her music at YouTube Music https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNAkAIjL88&feature=share Read Radio Free Flint Blog Post about Justin Townes Earle by clicking the link below: https://www.radiofreeflint.media/flint-city-shake-it-with-the-death-of-justin-townes-earle-flint-loses-an-advocate Justin Earle's music is available at his website: https://www.justintownesearle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justintownesearle YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvzzQfR-VbA "Flint City Shake It" Lyrics Written by: Justin Townes Earle Detroit rock, baby that's a fact Anybody say different, better get back Jack Well, you've gotta be tough but there's a good time to be had I'd like to think everybody here knows that So let's talk about a place that you might not know Just a little further on up the road Well you know about meat, baby, let's get down to the bones Tell you 'bout a place that really made America roll Flint City shake it (Flint City shake it) Flint City shake it (Flint City shake it) Let 'em all know (let 'em all know) Let 'em all know (let 'em all know) Detroit rock but Flint City roll Now the truth is, we ain't what we used to be Whole lotta trouble come to our streets The only one to blame is GMC If you don't know, baby, let me tell you how I mean We built Buick cars, GM trucks Chevy engines, AC sparkplugs Built planes for the war back in '41 Every piece straight from the ground on up Then trouble come in '86 With this son of a bitch named Roger Smith Cut our throat with a stroke of a fountain pen We're knocked down but we're gonna get up again Flint City shake it (Flint City shake it) Flint City shake it (Flint City shake it) Let 'em all know (let 'em all know) Let 'em all know (let 'em all know) Detroit rock but Flint City roll (roll) Well, there ain't no work and everybody's hurtin' It's been that way for a while They ain't got us licked just yet Flint City knows how to have a good time Well, we might be poor and we might be rough We're just good people down on our luck And you know it seems nobody cares about us We just ain't the kind to give up Flint City shake it (Flint City shake it) Flint City shake it (Flint City shake it) Let 'em all know (let 'em all know) Let 'em all know (let 'em all know) Detroit rock but Flint City roll (roll) Detroit rock but Flint City roll
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Safetyville, Flint Michigan has a very special place in the hearts of many baby boomers in the Flint Area. This podcast narrative by Arthur Busch recalls the Safetyville of the 1960's in Flint, Michigan. This episode has a brief interview with an expert, Lee Exline, on the cars driven by Safetyville. He was the man who bought the cars we drove in our youth. STOP-LOOK-LISTEN remember that lesson? Many Flint children growing up in Flint received their first drivers license at Safetyville-Flint. It was located at Kearsley Park. The powered cars were actually vintage replicas of the Ford T-Bird and just for good measure there were a few Corvettes. More on Safetyville, Flint, Michigan: http://www.mycitymag.com/safetyville-usa/ #flintmichigan #safetyville. #kearsleypark #schoolsafety #trafficsafety
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Mark Parsell's stories of the history of radio and television advertising in Mid-Michigan are full of humor. Mark's late father, Vern Parsell was a pioneering Flint area automobile dealer. Mark's career in Flint, Michigan gave him the grit and determination needed to launch a second career in the recording business. Mark Parsell a Flint-area native, operates South Main Studio, in Memphis, Tennessee. His studio attracts recording artists from across the globe. He is also known as the "Mayor" of South Main. He also reveals himself as a "chip off the old block" with his flair for promotion. Entertaining and insightful, Mark Parsell provides insights into a side of television advertising the viewers never see. To learn more about South Main Sounds in Memphis, Tn visit Mark Parsell's website at : https://www.southmainsounds.com This is a re-release episode from April 10/2020.
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Save The Flags Which is a State of Michigan project to preserve, research and display 240 battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers in the Civil War, the Spanish American War and World War I. It now has an “adoption” program to conserve these flags. Individuals, organizations, schools, families and communities can help with the preservation, research and display of the flags by “adopting” flags in the collection. To date, almost 150 flags — mostly from the Civil War — have been adopted, providing the project with much-needed funds. Flint resident David Norris' great-grandfather, Talmon C. Owen, fought with the 10th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War. The 10th Michigan Infantry was organized at Flint, Michigan, and mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on February 10, 1862. This Michigan unit fought their way in support of and on the front-lines, all the way with Sherman to the Sea. They were part of the attack and taking of Atlanta. Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 95 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 223 Enlisted men died by disease. Total 327 Michigan State Capitol construction initiated in 1872, just seven years after the end of the Civil War. The building was built in large part to serve as a memorial to the sacrifices made by the Great Lakes State in the war and through the years this connection has continued. Before leaving for the field of battle the men of these regiments were presented with beautiful silken flags. The regiments received a stand of colors consisting of two flags: a national flag and a regimental flag. The national flag was the traditional American red, white, and blue Stars and Stripes. The regimental flag typically had a solid blue field emblazoned with the Federal or Michigan coat of arms. The flags quite often were presented to the regiments by the ladies of their communities in grand ceremonies. Music provided in this episode is courtesy of songwriter David O. Norris, who wrote the Song "Peach Tree Creek". Folk singer Neil Woodward performs the song written in honor of Flint's 10th Infantry who fought valiantly in the Civil War battle at Peach Tree Creek. That critical battle that led to the fall of Atlanta. David Norris' great grandfather, Talmon Owens, fought on the side of the Union Army in this battle. Folk singer Neil Woodward Neil Woodward is recipient of 2018 State of Michigan Heritage Award "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Michigan's cultural heritage." In 2003 the Legislature of the State of Michigan officially named Neil Woodward Michigan’s Troubadour in recognition of his life long commitment to preservation of Great Lakes folk music and culture. You can listen to more of Neil Woodward's music at https://www.neilwoodward.com Special thanks to our guests David O. Norris, Neil Woodward and Mattew J. VanAker, Director, Tour, Education and Information Service, Michigan State Capitol and Save The Flags, Curator. For more information on how you can help Save the Flags visit: http://capitol.michigan.gov/SaveTheFlags #SaveTheFlags #CivilWarHistory #Flint #NeilWoodward #MichiganCivilWarHistory
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In spring of 1975, the US government decided to save as many orphans as possible during the tumultuous fall of Saigon in the last days of the Vietnam War. On April 4, an aircraft lifted off the ground with hundreds of babies and young children crowded into its upper and lower decks, attended to by a crew of dedicated military men and women and a few civilian volunteers fleeing the chaos on the ground. Then a mysterious event occurred: A rear door blew open and the horror began 25,000 feet in the air. Fragile Delivery: Operation Babylift C-5A Crash sheds light on the doomed flight, the brave men and women involved in Operation Babylift, and one man's story of near-impossible survival in the horrifying shadow of death as the plane split violently apart in swampy rice paddies. It is the story of Flint, Michigan native Sgt. Phillip R. Wise and his decades-long quest to find the answers about the crash; bond with the children his mission saved and the few other adults who survived the flight; honor the fallen; and come to terms with why God let him live. Sgt Wise was the only crew on the cargo area of the plane to survive the tragic plane crash. Wise told the Flint Journal, "The doctors thought I would be a vegetable. They thought I wouldn’t be able to see out of my left eye or to walk,” the Flint resident and decorated veteran said. “I came through with 20-20 vision. I became a mailman. I missed one day in 13 years." The U.S. Air Force bestowed upon Phillip Wise a medal for his heroism for his part in the military operation to rescue these children. Phillip Wise is part of a veterans group Peaceful Warriors who speak across Michigan and the US about their role in helping others. Wise has authored a book about his experience in Vietnam. His book Fragile Delivery: Operation Babylift is available on Amazon Books. You can learn more about this riveting story and follow news reports and see photos by visiting Sgt. Wise's website: http://fragiledelivery.com/index.html. National Public Radio news report https://www.npr.org/transcripts/402208267 The Military Times did a story about a 40 year reunion of those involved in this amazing story here is the link https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2015/04/25/operation-babylift-kids-veterans-reunite-40-years-later/#.X3tXTJXj-Y8.link Podcast: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/episodes/Harrowing-of-Orphan-Babies--a-plane-Crash-and-a-Flint-Hero--Phillip-Wise-edcai4
FlintMichigan #VietnamWar #AirForce #Rescues #Operationbabylift
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The Radio Free Flint Camper Truck Tour Podcast continues with a visit to the mighty Mackinac Bridge. With a total span of approximately 5 miles, the Mackinac Bridge connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan uniting the communities of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan. ... The engeneering of the Mackinac Bridge was designed to accommodate the high winds, temperature changes and constant changes of weight. Mackinaw City is a village on the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Mackinac Bridge crosses the Straits of Mackinac to the Upper Peninsula. Colonial Michilimackinac is a reconstructed 18th-century fort and fur-trading post. Founded in 1889, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse has restored quarters and views from the top. Wilderness State Park includes stretches of Lake Michigan shoreline, trails and campsites. This podcast can be heard at https://www.radiofreeflint.media
TravelMichigan
TruckCamper
MackinawCity
MackinacBridge
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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her life in service to the cause of women's rights and equality. She was a giant in history even while still alive to millions of Americans. She will long be remembered as one of the greatest justices to ever serve on our nation's high Court. Arthur Busch appeared in front of Justice Ginsburg as a Prosecutor in 2003. He recounts his memories of her and what her service meant to America.
Supreme Court, #RBG, #Notorious RBG, #Women's Rights
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Arthur Busch takes his Radio Free Flint podcast on a Truck Camper tour along the magnificent shores of the Great Lakes. Nowhere on earth can this amount of fresh water be found other than than Michigan. The coastal towns and parks provide a backdrop for story telling. Listen in as Radio Free Flint shares trips to Tawas Point Lighthouse, Ossineke State Park near Alpena, Cheboygan State Park, Mackinaw City and Wilderness State Park on Lake Michigan. To listen to this and all episodes of the tour visit, visit https://www.radiofreeflint.media. #Wilderness State Park, #Pure Michigan, #Great Lakes, # Truck Camping
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Remi Harris is one of the most accomplished guitarist in the United Kingdom. He grew up in the Midlands of England which has been fertile ground for world-class guitarist like Robert Plant, etc. Some of his notable performances include the Montreal Jazz Festival, Buckingham Palace, BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Jamie Cullum (televised on BBC 4) and live on BBC Radio 2 & 3. He has received numerous British Jazz Awards for his work over the past 6 years. Remi's unique style draws inspiration from artists such as Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Peter Green, Ahmad Jamal and Led Zeppelin. Critics who publish reviews Remi's work, such Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2, describe him as "an extraordinary musician". Music critic Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 2 & BBC 6 Music describes Remi's music as "astonishing stuff" Remi shares with us his personal story and plays some music for us as well. I think you will find him engaging and definitely a great jazz artist. His aunt, Bernadette Regnier-Busch lived in the Flint area for many years and taught at Flint Southwestern H.S. as well as Powers Catholic H.S. Remi's website is https://www.remiharris.com/home. You can also listen to his music on Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple Music. If you would like to get a taste of Remi's talent go to his YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RemiHarrisMusic This podcast and all other episodes of Radio Free Flint can be located at https://www.radiofreeflint.media This podcast is also available wherever you listen to your podcasts as well as https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/episodes/British-Gypsy-Jazz-Guitarist-Remi-Harris-ej6bin
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Steve Dawes is a new UAW Regional Director and shares labor's goals and aspirations for the future. He also shares his path to leadership in the UAW. His work in Flint, Michigan has been vital to the area as the Michigan manufacturing workforce has been downsized in the era of globalization. His work in the region which manufactures the America's best selling trucks is critical to the members and the people of Michigan. Steve Dawes was elected UAW Region 1D director Feb. 13, 2020, at a special regional convention. He had served as an assistant director since June 16, 2010, when he was appointed to the position at the union’s 35th Constitutional Convention in Detroit by President Bob King. Region 1D covers 73 Michigan counties and UAW members in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the central, western and northern portions of the Lower Peninsula. Dawes began his career in 1978 at the Flint Truck Assembly Plant as a spot welder, a job he worked until he was hired on as an apprentice toolmaker at AC Spark Plug in 1984. He was a dedicated member of UAW Local 651 and was elected as a Skilled Trades Committeeperson in 1989. In 1999, he was elected UAW Local 651 vice president, and as a delegate to the UAW Constitutional Convention. Shortly into his term of vice president, Dawes took over as UAW Local 651 president. He was re-elected as president in 2002. In 2004, he was appointed to the Region 1C International staff by UAW President Ron Gettelfinger at the request of Region 1C Director Bob Roth. He was assigned as a servicing representative in the Flint and Lansing areas. Since, he has played a major role in the development, construction and upkeep of the Sit-Down Memorial located at the Flint office.
FlintMichigan #UAW, #UAWRegion 1D, #LaborDay
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The story of Sherwood Forest (Davison, Michigan) is an improbable one that is part of Rock and Roll History. In the 1960's and 70's the popular Michigan music festival venue helped launch the careers of many of Michigan's emerging Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Bob Seger, Stevie Wonder, Alice Cooper, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Ted Nugent, MC5, Sammie Hagar, REO Speedwagon, George Clinton, Blue Oyster Cult, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Chuck Berry all performed at Sherwood Forest. Bob Seger and Stevie Wonder in particular played frequently at the venue. throughout the 1960's. Sherwood Forest attracted as many as 14,000 concertgoers for its festival-like events. It was a place more akin to Woodstock than the tin roof pavilions of today's era. Dean Sherwood, whose father Don with the help of his children and a unconventional promoter and djay, Peter C. Cavanaugh, turned his 200 acre dairy farm into a garden of eden, replete with picnic pavilions, a dance hall, an outdoor performance state, carnival rides and sleigh rides. The Sherwoods' developed a family venue that became the unlikely place where tens of thousands of young people gathered to enjoy a celebration of Wild Wednesdays and Super Sundays. They created a place for thousands of kids to gather for a $2.00 admission fee or $4.00 per vehicle. Those who attended these events were treated to emerging artists who honed their craft on the stages of Sherwood Forest. Today that list of performers includes many members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Southeastern Michigan in the 1960's and 1970's was a hot bed for the best rock and roll in the world. It was where those Hall of Famers got their start. Sherwood Forest hosted future stars as they developed performance skills and developed a loyal fan base. Dean Sherwood shares his story of Sherwood Forest. He grew up watching these great performers. From his vantage point he is able to tell a few stories about his parents and their vision as well as encountering these young artists. For thousands of Flint area baby boomers, Sherwood Forest holds many memories of fun and a great place to visit. It was much more than a corporate pavilion of today. Many in their 60's and 70's today, still tell stories of the Age of Aquarius and their version of attending Woodstock Music Festival which was found in Davison, Michigan at Sherwood Forest. Radio Free Flint will also post a YouTube video of this interview at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf7RggWQolcVMxGiWBQJL1kWfiYtuZ_cc You can find this podcast at https://www.radiofreeflint.media/
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Barb Barton is the author of the book Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan. As a lifelong Michigander and an endangered species biologist by training, Barton finds boundless inspiration in the region’s rich history. Manoomin traces the interwoven stories of the Anishinaabek, European colonizers, and the role native wild rice has had in shaping their shared histories. The first book of its kind, Manoomin won a 2018 Michigan History Award in the University Press/Commercial Press category as well as a 2019 Michigan Notable Book Award. For Barton, storytelling and cultural preservation are one in the same. In addition to her non-fiction books, Barton has authored articles about the complex relationships between people and food for Michigan History Magazine and The Historical Society of Michigan’s Chronicle magazine. Barton also travels the state as a public speaker--and sometimes folk musician--continuing the oral traditions that have informed her research and writing. Her song WATER is featured on this podcast. Her book Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan has received the following awards: MSU Press Award 2018 Michigan History Award 2019 Michigan Notable Book Award 2019 American Library Association Choice List of Outstanding Academic Titles 2020 Independent Publishers Bronze Medal (Great Lakes Region) Barb is also a filmmaker and has recently produced and directed a newly released documentary film "WATER". The documentary short was filmed in Flint, Michigan and captures the relief efforts to help the people of the city where its water supply was poisoned by lead. The film captures the volunteers who poured into the city from across America to provide water and relief services to the children and families of Flint. She captures the emotional trauma suffered by the entire community and seeks answers to why people wanted to serve residents they didn't know and had never met previously. "Water" - has received awards for documentary short film as follows: Official Selection, 2020 Great Lakes State Film Festival Official Selection, 2020 I See You Film Festival Official Selection, 2020 Thunder Bay International Film Festival Official Selection, 2020 Capital City Film Festival For more information about Barb Barton and her endeavors as an author, filmmaker and singer/songwriter: http://www.barbbarton.com To obtain a copy of Manoomin: The Story of Wild Rice in Michigan: MSU PRESS https://msupress.org/9781611862805/manoomin/ Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/Manoomin-Story-Wild-Rice-Michigan/dp/1611862809#:~:text=Manoomin%3A%20The%20Story%20of%20Wild,9781611862805%3A%20Amazon.com%3A%20Books
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Planet of the Humans has already been seen by over 10 million viewers world-wide!! Jeff Gibbs, a Flint native, is a successful documentary filmmaker. Jeff and his lifelong friend, Michael Moore recently released an eco-documentary movie, Planet of the Humans. Jeff grew up in the Beecher area and graduated from Davison High School. Jeff has worked on several of the most successful documentaries in the history of film. His work contributed to winning an Oscar along with many national and international awards. He has written musical scores for 7 movies and won the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) Award in 2005 for the musical score for the record-setting documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Jeff Gibbs, the writer/editor/director of Planet of the Humans, has dared to say what no one will – that “we are losing the battle to stop climate change because we are following environmental leaders, many of whom are well-intentioned, but who’ve sold out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America.” This film is the wake-up call to the reality which we are afraid to face: that in the midst of a human-caused extinction event, the so-called “environmental movement’s” answer is to push for techno-fixes and band-aids. You can watch Planet of the Humans for free by clicking on https://PlanetoftheHumans.com . The film is streamed for free. Please listen to Planet of the Humans at http://www.radiofreeflint.media or wherever you listen to your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and Anchor.fm/radiofreeflint You can learn more about Planet of the Humans at https://www.PlanetoftheHumans.com
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Flint's blue collar workers have long led America's political rebellions. History tells us exactly why.
My latest podcast examines Flint's blue collar voting history in Presidential elections since 1968. History reveals the common themes that attracted disaffected Flint's southern auto migrants to the presidential campaigns of Gov. George Wallace, Mayor Donald Williamson and President Donald Trump. The alienation of Flint's disaffected auto workers has consequences for America's political stability. Listen to learn more.
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Jon Harpst is a colorful figure in Flint's history. Jon was instrumental in the beginnings of the Bobby Crim Road Race and getting it to locate in Flint. He shares the early history of what has become one of the best long distance running events in America. Jon was the campaign manager for Flint's first elected Mayor, the late James Rutherford. He also served in the Rutherford administration as Director of Governmental Relations. He was the chief lobbyist for the City of Flint during some tumultuous times. John gives a detailed account of Mayor Rutherford and what kind of man he was and what made him tick. Jon Harpst played a crucial role in the re-development of Flint in the 1970's and 1980's. The Rutherford years were considered productive as the Mayor and his team lead efforts to develop the airpark at Bishop Airport, built River Village, Windmill Place, the Flint IMA, the Hyatt Regency and many other projects still visible in Flint today. He describes a City on the move and one that had persistent conflict. In his humorous way he describes the colorful characters he had to work with to advance the interests of the City of Flint. If you are a Flint history buff you will like this interview. And if you like good banter and lots of humor join Jon Harpst and myself as we discuss the good ole days. For more information on the late Mayor James Rutherford: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W._Rutherford#:~:text=Law%20enforcement-,James%20W.,Rutherford%20served%20for%20two%20terms. A Time of Transition for Flint: 1970's http://www.mycitymag.com/flint-through-the-decadespart-7-a-time-of-transition-1970-1979/Tran
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Tom R. Pabst has dedicated his legal career to obtaining justice for the underdog, the weak, the powerless and those without a voice. He is recognized by his peers as one of the best trial attorneys in Michigan. He has obtained over a dozen million dollar jury awards for his clients in his career. As a trial attorney, Tom R. Pabst is recognized by Judges as being in the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan. Trial experience includes over 80 major trials with substantial verdicts in the following areas of law: wrongful discharge, civil rights, Whistleblower Protection Act, Federal Constitutional rights, personal injury, medical malpractice and commercial litigation. He was recognized as a 2011 “Leader in the Law” in Michigan and a Michigan “Super Lawyer” since 2007. He was elected by his peers as President of the Genesee County Bar Association (1994-95), President of the Flint Trial Lawyers Association (1991-1994) and Chairperson of the Bench and Bar Committee. Attorney Tom R. Pabst has been practicing law since November, 1977, having both a law degree and a master’s in tax degree (with an all-A average) from Wayne State University. He practices law in Flint Township, Michigan. Website of Tom R. Pabst: http://tomrpabstpc.com/attorneys
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With over three decades of experience, broad knowledge of both state and local government, and deep roots in the community, Representative Tim Sneller has hit the ground running in the Michigan House of Representatives and is working hard to serve his home community. Currently, Tim is serving his second term in the House of Representatives, representing the 50th House District, which includes the cities of Grand Blanc and Burton, as well as Grand Blanc and Mundy townships. He currently serves on the Energy Policy and Insurance committees, as well as the Democratic Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee. Tim grew up in Genesee County, graduating from Bentley High School in Burton. He went on to work at the Flint General Motors Truck and Assembly Plant following graduation and became an alternate committeeman and a proud member of UAW Local 598. While employed at the shop, Tim began his studies at the University of Michigan - Flint, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
Following an internship in the Michigan State Senate, Tim left GM and began his 30 plus year public service career as legislative aide to State Representative Bob Emerson. He continued his service to Genesee County residents by joining the staff of State Senator John Cherry, later working with him during his transition to Lt. Governor for the State of Michigan. During this time, Tim resumed his studies at U of M - Flint, adding a secondary teaching certification to the B.A. degree he completed in 1985.
Tim then turned his focus to the Michigan House of Representatives, working for the citizens of Burton, Grand Blanc, Mundy Township, Davison, Flint, and other areas in Genesee County while working as legislative aide to State Representatives Charles Smiley, Rick Hammel, Lee Gonzales and Brenda Clack. During this time, he also substitute taught social studies and history for two years in middle schools throughout Genesee County. For More Information about Representative Tim Sneller Rep Tim Sneller's Website: http://www.timsneller.com/ https://housedems.com/tim-sneller/d Videos Representative Tim Sneller https://youtu.be/CD9Ir56Ix_E https://youtu.be/E78eLsq8I8I https://youtu.be/2A9x1-11u5g
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Judge Herman Marable has served 20 years on the 68th District Court bench. Over that time he has been active in helping high school students through his charitable initiative : Judge Marable's Student of the Month. He describes how he has helped mentor Flint area youth to attend college and set goals for themselves. His program has worked in conjunction with James Madison College at Michigan State University to introduce Flint area students to the requirements of college. Judge Marable also shares his concerns about how juries in Genesee County are selected. The Courts have long sought to have a broad cross section of jurors representative of the entire community. However, the inclusion of minorities and some senior citizens who don't have access to the internet and technology are not able to complete their juror questionnaires leaving them out of the pool of potential jurors. This poses a problem for the community as in some cases no minorities serve at all on Genesee County juries and thus don't reflect the community as a whole. Lastly, Judge Marable shares with us his personal story of his family and growing up in the Flint area. If you want to learn more about Judge Marable here are some links for you to follow: Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/JudgeHermanMarableJr/ Profile of Judge Marable http://www.mycitymag.com/leading-by-example-honorable-herman-marable-jr/?fbclid=IwAR1uU3sK03CLyu2uvvX5F5k-brg8lRMns_3Uv_0hx-IIX1MqLQRNMYStoqE Student of the Month Program http://legalnews.com/detroit/1428345/ Judge Marable on Debt Collection & Garnishment http://legalnews.com/detroit/1472019/
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Paul Staroba was a three-sport standout at St. Matthew High, he enjoyed an outstanding career at the University of Michigan and played several seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns. Paul is a member of the Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame. At St. Matthew, Staroba was All-State in football, basketball and track. He starred on the undefeated teams in football an basketball during his senior year of 1966-67. He started for Michigan at split end and also was the Wolverines' punter and led the Big Ten in punting in 1970 with an average of 41.8. Paul shares stories of growing up in Flint, learning to play the game of football on Flint's playgrounds and sandlots. Paul shares his special stories of famed football coaches Jack Pratt (St. Matts & Powers Catholic H.S.) and Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan. In this interview he shares life lessons taught by his high school Coach Jack Pratt, perhaps one of the most successful coaches in Flint History. Paul shares memories about playing for Coach Bo Schembechler the coach's first year at Michigan and his first touchdown at the "Big House" in Ann Arbor. Paul Staroba is a winner and he made Flint, Michigan proud. His career in athletics and business brought him respect for his excellence and thoughtfulness. Listen in to this interview to hear some great old stories about Flint sports.
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State Representative Sheryl Kennedy (D-Davison) is a member of the Genesee County state legislative delegation. Her career is off to an amazing start being named to a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee where she serves on subcommittees for School Aid & Education, Corrections and Agriculture. Sheryl spent a career in education as a teacher in the Davison School District and later as a school administrator in Oakland County. She has earned the trust of her colleagues as well as Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She shares her impressions of Michigan government, her first 18 months in office and how she goes about the work of a state legislator. Sheryl is a sixth generation resident of the Davison area of Genesee County, Michigan. She attended Davison High School where she was involved in the performing arts. She went on to obtain a PHd from Oakland University in Education Administration. She talks about fixing the roads in Montrose, trying to fix the education system by making college available and affordable for all citizens and how to deal with COVID 19. She was recently appointed to a special group by Governor Whitmer to develop some guardrails for the reopening of schools in Michigan after the COVID 19 shutdown. Her efforts to make schools safe for all is commendable. Based on her first 18 months in office, it is clear that she is a budding star in the Michigan Legislature with her passion for education and drive to accomplish her goals. She has rose quickly to prominence in the legislature because of her competence and obvious skills at working well with others. For more information on State Representative Sheryl Kennedy and how to contact her visit : https://housedems.com/kennedy For other information go to: https://www.electsherylkennedy.com/
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Flint Public Art Project a non-profit group has helped fuel the creation of over 100 new murals in the City of Flint. This year, the goal for 2020 is to add between 60 to 75 more and artists are needed to make that vision a reality. Local and international muralists have come to Flint and transformed many parts of the city with beautiful and thoughtful murals. This projects has evolved into a activity for those who want to tour the city. Each mural has a computer code enabled to give touring visitors the backstory of the mural, the artist and other information concerning. Sandra Branch who leads this project along with others in the group have not just transformed blight but they have mentored graffiti artists and those charged with vandalism giving them a new and positive avenue of expression. Sandra also has engaged projects in area parks by painting basketball and tennis courts, using area schools to engage in art education as well as cleaning up blight. Sandra Branch is a former police officer, a Flint native, a graduate of Bentley High School, and has bachelor and Masters degrees from the University of Michigan-Flint. Her enthusiasm and dedication to do something positive for the Flint area is remarkable. Listen in and enjoy a fascinating and uplifting story about Flint, Michigan Flint Public Art Project. Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/flintproject/ Map & Locations of Flint Area Murals: https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2018/11/artists_aim_to_enrich_lives_he.html News Articles and Television Coverage: https://www.flintside.com/features/flint-murals-070820.aspx https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Flint-Public-Art-Project-looks-to-add-60-murals-artists-encouraged-to-apply-568405901.html https://www.flintside.com/features/waveofnewmuralspositionFlintasoneofworldstopdestinationsforstreetart.aspx
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The Flint Golf Club has a place in Michigan history. It been host to the PGA Carling Open in the 1950's. It was where the legendary Arnold Palmer made his debut on the PGA tour. It also hosted Michigan Pro and Amateur championships. There is a reason that PGA golfers, PGA Tour Officials, weekend duffers and others love this course. Harry Barrett is one of those reasons. He has worked with some of the best names in golf (Amy Alcott, Ken Venturi, Greg Reynolds, etc) over his 50 year career as a teaching pro. Harry Barrett is also a legend in Michigan golf circles. Harry discusses the history of the Flint Golf Club. He shares his stories about its members and traditions. Those traditions included the C.S. Mott family, Jerry Rideout, also known as the Father of the Buick Open, and many others. Harry helped develop some of the best Michigan based golf pros and amateurs. He spends his time now helping kids learn the game of golf. Harry played the PGA Buick Open twice, on a sponsor's exemption. According to the Flint Journal, "The club was founded by an impressive group of Flint A-listers whose names still label streets and landmarks around the city. The original board of directors and members were J. Dallas Dort, A.G. Bishop, C.M. Begole, Colonel B. Burr, C.S. Mott, W.A. Smith, W.C. Durant, K.T. Keller, John J. Raskob and Alfred Sloan -- some of the same people who were instrumental in the start of General Motors." Its original location was in Atlas Township when it started as the Flint Country Club in 1910. The board of directors moved it to the current location in Flint and opened for play in 1919 to be closer to, at that time, a more prosperous area. Join us for a lively discussion and a few laughs about the good old days. This podcast is a re-release broadcast. Learn more about the history of the Flint Golf Club https://flintgolfclub.com/
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In 1995, in Flint, Michigan Prosecutor Arthur A. Busch received a letter from a man in a prison cell in Starke, Florida. The man wrote that he "wanted to get right with God" as he had just a short time to live. He had been diagnosed with HIV-Aids. His conscience was not clear and he did not want to die without revealing his responsibility for the murder of two men. The Prison letter writer wanted a trip to Michigan to show where he disposed of the dead bodies. He claimed he dumped one body in a Genesee County lake and the other body was buried in the woods in Clare County, Michigan. Arthur tells of what then unfolds in details about the steps in the investigation. In a first person true crime investigation, the prosecutor speaks from his perspective about a head scratching case. It is sure to get your attention. Prosecutors receive prison letters fairly regularly. Many are full of pleas for mercy, leniency and yes, some protesting convictions. But very few prosecutors receive letters from prisoners admitting murders. This story speaks to a mystery and begs the question of what was the real reason this prisoner sent this letter confessing to two murders.
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Judge Jessica Hammon has an unusual passion for community service and yoga. The new Judge has taken her yoga practice so seriously that she has taken it to the Genesee Valley Regional Detention Center for Youths. There she has introduced those youths detained to trauma based yoga. The idea being the yoga experience will help deal with the stress and trauma they experienced. Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 her appointment of Jessica J. Hammon, age 38, a private practice attorney, to fill a partial term in district court after Mark W. Latchana was appointed in March to a judgeship in Genesee County Circuit Court. She previously served as President of the Genesee County Bar Association and a member of the Board of Directors. Judge Jessica Hammon comes from a family devoted to public and community service. Her father, Ted served many years on the Burton City council, Genesee County Commissioner as well as a State Representative and a member of Michigan's Parole Board. She has learned about her community from childhood. She has been a well-known volunteer for various community organizations including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, During her tenure with the Genesee County Bar Association she started and continued various efforts to foster community action on the part of local attorneys. Her work has resulted in raising much needed funds for various worthy causes in the Flint area. She has been recognized by her collegues as a dynamic leader in area professional activities. She was an expert at Child Abuse and Neglect matters, criminal and family law. Judge Hammon has much of her career devoted to representing the poor. Judge Hammon earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint with a back and a Juris Doctor degree from the Ave Maria School of Law. She is a graduate of Atherton High School in Genesee County. For more information on Judge Hammon: https://retainjudgehammon.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RetainJudgeHammon/ https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499-524643--rss,00.html https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Burton-attorney-appointed-to-Genesee-County-District-Court-judge-position-569442271.html
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Mary's Sunshine Dairy was the forerunner of the more current version of a Genesee County party store. Almost from the start they were victims of robbery. Arthur tells the true crime story of one of the most sensational robbery-murders in Genesee County history, It was a triple murder execution style in the sleepy bedroom community of Flushing, Michigan. Party stores have become the focus of community outrage, upset and protest at times over the past 40 years. Mary's Sunshine Dairy was an iconic chain of local "Party" stores in the Flint, Michigan community. They were ahead of their time. The local chain was a version of a mini-grocery store and sold what "drug stores" sold with party supplies, candy and drinks. They were a place to drive-in and get a gallon of milk and a six-pack of beer and be on your way in 3 minutes or less. The chain stores seemed to attract customers that love to hangout, sell dope and guns, trade food stamps for wine and beer and engage in serious violent crimes. Arthur also recounts a case he handled in which the United States Secret Service conducted a "sting" operation by busting the owners of a Flint party store, King Ave Party Store and then operating the store as clerks selling beer, wine and grocery items. The result was the arrest and prosecution of 130 people. This episode should give pause to the role of Party Stores in a blue collar community and whether they tend to be magnets for crime and violence. If you like storytelling and true crime you will love this podcast. Here is an article about Dollar stores as being the newest version of the Party store. It details the disturbing trend for these places to attract violence and crime. https://www.propublica.org/article/how-dollar-stores-became-magnets-for-crime-and-killing?fbclid=IwAR0Kc7VLxyWzbawrcq4U0n70lOG_7UV2AegzTaCIJvOUW1Wtz1_PzxDhyRY#970051 Here is the most recent version of killing at a Flint Party Store to prove the point of the article above applies to the Flint area. https://www.abc12.com/content/news/Customer-shot-in-Flint-liquor-store-after-attacking-security-guard-570551281.html Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-free-flint/id1506799868 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RNwie9IEMX57kFlBklL1A Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xODBkODQ5Yy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
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At age 92, Harry Binder finished his last Bobby Crim Road Race. The Binder Family is well known in the Flint area for their successful businesses. During Harry Binder's long business career he owned a radio station, WAMM-AM along with Reliable Furniture Store. His cousin Julius Binder owned Binders' Big and Tall Mens Store. He tells of his file growing up on McFarland Avenue in Flint with other Jewish families. He is a humanitarian raising funds for the needy in Flint and even has a Crim Festival of Races award named in his honor for over 40 years of participation. Harry's storytelling is a living history of Flints' multi-cultural Industrial Avenue. He recounts his days in Flint after WWII and describes Flint as a bustling city, full of life and hustle Describing houses of prostitution, his fun as a kid and his service in the United States Air Force. Harry served in France, Germany, Japan and the South Pacific. Harry is now 95 years old and lives in California. His life has been full and active. For many years he was an active member in Flint area civic and charitable organizations. Listen to his story of life in Flint during its glory days. Listen carefully as he describes Flint as a place that taught him life lessons. He describes the multi-cultural fabric of the city including Flint's Jewish community. Flint Journal article about Harry's participation in the Bobby Crim Festival of Races. https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2015/08/oldest_crim_racer_91_tells_sec.html Flint Journal article about 91 year old Harry Binder about to participate in is last Crim Road Race. https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2015/08/oldest_crim_racer_91_tells_sec.html
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Chris Christenson, is a dynamic lawyer and also a Flint native. He took an unusual path to the Courthouse and becoming President of the Genesee County Bar Association. Chris was a union carpenter when he decided to give up nails and planks for law books. He worked his way through law school as a union carpenter. Recently named a Super Lawyer by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Chris has built his career around community service and activism in the legal profession. He is an expert in construction lawsuits, criminal law, real estate and trial practice. Chris was elected to serve as the Chairperson of the Michigan Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section and as a Commissioner of the State Bar of Michigan. That is the governing body of Michigan's State Bar Association. He is also a candidate for Genesee County Circuit Judge in the November 2020 election. Attorney Christenson shares some amusing stories of his life and path to becoming a lawyer. He also describes how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the legal system and practice of law. Chris has a remarkable life story as a home grown Flint Attorney. He shares his opinions about Flint and how the area's culture helped his success. Chris is a graduate of Flint Southwestern High School, University of Michigan-Flint and the Western Michigan's Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.christenson.33 Law firm's Website: https://www.cflegal.net/attorney-profiles/chris-d-christenson-iii/ Mlive Judicial Announcement: https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2018/03/chris_christenson_announces_ru.html Institute for Continuing Legal Education Biography: https://www.icle.org/modules/directories/contributors/bio.aspx?Pnumber=P61009
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This is the second episode of the Boomer Zone. Arthur Busch and Scott McKinstry, lifelong friends talk about Radio Free Flint and the Boomer Zone. They talk about the selfie photo booth in the 1960's at Kresge's Department Store in downtown Flint, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, Dawn Donuts the Flint's legendary chain of donut shops people grew up on in the 1960s and 1970s. The talk goes to the essence of boomer culture and memories. So listen in and take a stroll down memory lane.
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General Motors dumped leaded automotive paints, thinners, laquors, and other chemicals into a public park and surrounding areas in Flint, Michigan. The most obvious evidence of the environmental dirty deed was covered up with bulldozer and a little dirt. Then in 1953, the area known as the Dixieland Subdivision was built on top of and around this lead laced toxic chemical stew. Testing done in the area showed extremely high levels of lead at 200,000 parts per million in certain areas. In yards of some nearby houses, lead was found at 9,700 ppm. The U.S. government says that humans should not be exposed to lead found in excess of 400 parts per million. There remain questions and mysteries as to the health effects on the children and residents of Dixieland Subdivision. There does not appear to be any study of groundwater or the watershed in the area. This is so even though the toxic chemicals had been exposed to repeated flooding for over 50 years. It is not hard to imagine the toxic chemicals from the magic ponds leaching into the stream, creek and even a nearby Thread Lake. Even more troubling is the limited knowledge homeowners and residents have about the amount of contaminated soil in subdivision. This appears to be kept secret from the public. Public officials and GM admitted they underestimated the size and the extent of the hazardous waste site. The question is what else did they know and why haven't they shared it all with the public? Arthur Busch recounts his neighborhood and the places where kids played. He describes playing in and near the magic ponds which were laced with lead. He also describes using GM's discarded auto parts such as fenders, hoods and trunk lids to make forts and camps. Later in life, Mr. Busch became the a County Commissioner and County Prosecutor. He began to get some insight into the dump and the toxic park where he and his friends played during Michigan summers. As the County tried to stop the extensive flooding over top of the toxic neighborhood and part, Mr. Busch details the County finding of an unmarked "poor farm" burial ground complete with the skeletal remains of more than 19 people, found in unmarked graves. The discovery was made as the County found an even larger GM toxic waste dump nearby. The effect of toxic lead on the locals who complained of various ailments and disease over the years have been given little to no attention. The effect of this dumpsite on the watershed is also not clear. This much is clear, that for 50 years the toxic dumpsite operated while little kids played in and around it. Further, most of those exposed to the hazardous lead are now in their 50's and 60's. No comprehensive effort was ever made to test the people known to be in direct contact with the most toxic parts of the park in order to determine the full extent of the harm done to Flint's children at the time. This is the first in a series on Windiate Park and its environmental secrets.
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Most paperboys finish their route at the neighbor's house. Arthur Busch's route finished at a gambling joint on the "strip" in front of a GM factory. He recounts a story of life in gritty Flint, Michigan. In his story, he of delivers the Flint Journal to a bar on his paper route and stumbles onto a robbery. Arthur then faced down the burglar who had sawed off shotgun in hand. The story of the "strip" as it was known to the neighborhood kids is about life in a factory town in the 1960's. It explores the thoughts of boys in handling thoughts of fear, retaliation and revenge. It also gives insight into blue collar life of teenagers. It's a story of true crime, culture and growing up in a hard scrabble town as told by its former Prosecutor.
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Arthur Busch narrates a story about the unsolved murder of a Flint drug store owner in 1954. It was the former prosecutor's welcome to Flint as his mom was pregnant for him at the time she witnessed the armed robbery and murder. The murder took place in a 1950's style drug store complete with a soda fountain. He recounts his mother's trauma and what unfolded afterwards. Flint, Michigan was once a wealthy town now has been harmed by globalization, drugs, public health crisis and crime. Today, it is a city that struggles to become relevant to the American people. Perhaps it is just the mid-stages of a soon to be "ghost town" complete with bad water, polluted brownfields.
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Lawyers dream about appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Only a very small number of lawyers ever get the chance. Arthur Busch argued the first Flint criminal case ever to come before the United States Supreme Court, in March 2003. Arthur Busch shares his diary by telling the story of his historic experience.. His story includes what growing up in Flint taught him about winning and lawyering. It is a behind the scenes look at what a lawyer thinks and does to get ready for the biggest case of his career. In late 1991, three teenagers decided they would drive over to Hamady High School to settle a old scores with a rival gang. While the trio was outside beefing with rivals, dozens of Hamady students were inside the school building enjoying their annual homecoming dance. A friend of the trio, an unintended target, was lying dead with a gunshot wound outside the high school. The three were charged with open murder and having a firearm in the commission of a felony. They faced trial together in the Genesee County Circuit Court. Gang violence had become so prevalent that the local news did not cover this shooting. Defendant Vincent was convicted of first degree murder in the October 6, 1991 shooting death Twelve years later the murder case crawled it's way to the United States Supreme Court. The Prosecutor won 9-0 and the murder conviction was upheld. If you would like to hear the actual arguments made before the United States Supreme Court you may follow this link to listen to the audio: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2002/02-524 For summary of the case and the full U.S. Supreme Court opinion issued in Price v. Vincent please follow the link below: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/538/634/#tab-opinion-1961246
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The second diary essay by Arthur Busch. Flint, Michigan is a rust-belt factory town. The town was transformed in the 1950's by a great migration of eager southerners seeking work in GM automobile factories. Arthur describes fondly his family and the hillbilly traditions and values they brought to Flint's Dixieland subdivision. He describes his family's southern customs and culture as they assimilate their lives into a northern GM company town. This all during the Golden Age for America's middle class. His neighborhood, Dixieland subdivision, was built on a GM dump site loaded with toxic heavy metals and lead. He describes the new houses, the swamp where he learned about science from school projects. Two school buildings were built on top of this dumpsite and a playground put next to the toxic swamp/pond. In the 1990's GM made offers to buy out the houses in this subdivision. They were forced to do expensive remediation of the swamp, park and playground at Windiate Park. No studies were ever done to determine if the children of that area were poisoned by the lead. Amazingly, the park sits one short block for GM's historic Fisher Body #1, the site of the 1937 sitdown strike. That strike led to the recognition of the UAW and labor peace in the auto industry. However, the people and children of Dixieland subdivision, many southern migrants sharecroppers, found for the first time, a home they could own and a GM job. This essay series is part of a diary and memories of Arthur Busch, who was born and raised in Flint. For more information about Radio Free Flint and other podcasts: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/episodes/Born-A-Deplorable-Southern-values--culture-meets-a-northern-factory-town-eeosd1 Website: https://radiofreeflint.media/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RadioFreeFlint/
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History repeats itself. Flint Southwestern experienced violence that most remember as a "race riot" in 1970. The spark that started that racial disturbance was not what people thought at the time. Arthur Busch gives an audio diary of his memories of that incident. He discusses the current model of local policing; militarization of the police that has taken the cops from roles as those who protect and serve to those who occupy and suppress. Policing the police in America 2020 has not reconciled itself to the duties prescribed for Prosecutors and police leaders. Arthur Busch discusses solutions for today's policing crisis. His essay is part diary essay from memories of his 10th grade year at Flint Southwestern High School Flint Southwestern High School seemed a model of racial integration efforts of the 1960’s. It was a school that combined the wealthiest residents of Flint, white working class,, Jewish students, middle class blacks and those from the projects and poorer neighborhoods. It was a potpourri of young people from all social and economic levels of society. Diverse was perhaps the word they would use today to describe it. Detroit, just 70 miles down the road, went up in flames that summer. A large section of the City of Detroit was burned to the ground requiring the authorities to mobilize the National Guard to quell the riot. The Detroit riots were the result of frustration by Blacks, who felt America let them down. You can also find this podcast at www.radiofreeflint.media
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Arthur Busch discusses the awakening of the northern Hillbillies in the heartland of America. Intellectuals call parts of the country where globalization has decimated manufacturing jobs the "Rustbelt". Income inequality has given rise to white American nationalism. It has found a home in places like Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan with profound social and political implications. To better understand the ingredients that give rise to this political unrest in the heartland of America, Arthur Busch describes the stark divide between rich and poor in his hometown of Flint, Michigan Southern auto migrants paved the way for an American golden age that brought about incomes, outstanding schools, good quality of life and strong families. These were hallmarks and results of the handwork, grit and determination giving rise to the modern American middle class. It has now come unraveled. History teaches lessons. Please tune in and listen to this interesting podcast. It is the first of a series of essays on being "Born a Deplorable".
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Hop in for a ride with local history columnist Gary Flinn to the halcyon days of flint. Revisit the contributions of oft-overlooked David Buick, the inventive and invaluable flint auto pioneer who lacked the business savvy to become an auto legend. Travel back to the original Kewpee Burger and wash it down with an old Vernor’s ginger ale before catching a show at Capitol Theatre. In the shadow of Flint's success as an industrial hub and the tragedy that is the water crisis that came to a head in 2014, the fascinating past of Flint has been largely forgotten. Local author Gary Flinn showcases the obscure and surprising elements of the Vehicle City's past, such as local Civil War hero Franklin Thompson who was actually Sarah Edmonds in disguise; the city's most prolific inventor, Lloyd Copeman, created the electric stove, flexible ice cube tray and automatic toaster; and even Thread Lake's Lakeside Amusement Park that offered seaplane rides and a giant roller coaster partly built over the water before closing in 1931. Flinn offers the reader the often-overlooked but fascinating history of Flint, including how the 2014 water crisis was a half century in the making. Gary Flinn has written extensively about the glory days of Flint. His focus on Flint's business history, architectural history and development as a city makes for a fascinating interview. If you would like to learn more about Flint and Michigan history you can find his books on Amazon: Amazon: Remembering Flint, Michigan: Stories from the Vehicle City (American Chronicles) Paperback – October 4, 2010 Hidden History of Flint Paperback – July 3, 2017 https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-History-Flint-Gary-Flinn/dp/1625858418/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/145-4211473-3074930?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1625858418&pd_rd_r=e44b9ef1-1161-4c3f-b6ba-219790203b7c&pd_rd_w=FhxYQ&pd_rd_wg=KWWCq&pf_rd_p=4e3f7fc3-00c8-46a6-a4db-8457e6319578&pf_rd_r=8NFZPJE9XTZJDYA00G5Z&psc=1&refRID=8NFZPJE9XTZJDYA00G5Z
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Flint, Michigan has been one of America's most violent cities for decades. It has been been a national leader in per capita homicides, violent crimes, sexual assaults and arsons. There are many unsolved crimes. Did you ever wonder what the back story was on some of these crimes? What goes into an investigative journalists efforts to dig to get the real story? Two veteran criminal investigators, one a seasoned former prosecutor the other a veteran investigative crime reporter discuss notorious criminal cases. They both worked the same beat but in different roles. They discuss some of the the big cases including the shooting death of a 6-year old school girl. Arthur Busch and Tom Sussi have nearly 70 years combined experience in criminal investigation. They share tales of true crime cases they worked. Tom Sussi was a television investigative reporter in Flint (ABC-12 & NBC-5) and then later Detroit (UPN-50), Pittsburgh, Orlando and (FOX) Columbus, Ohio. Together they share perspectives on some of the most notable murder cases in the history of Flint. They also share the challenges they face personally and professionally doing this type of work and what still troubles them..
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Why are Baby Boomers looking back reveling in memories of the "golden age" of the 1960's and 1970's? Hot Rod cars, movies, music, girls and all that made up their youth seem to be fair game for conversation these days. Is it a look away from chaotic times? Is is a fair assessment that times were really better than now? This podcast features Arthur Busch and Scott McKinstry who met in the 1960's and grew up in the 1970's. One rather liberal and the other a self-described "anarchist". One that went to Michigan State University and the other the very conservative christian college, Bob Jones University. They have interesting perspectives as they look back to the "golden age". This podcast will make you smile, laugh and send you back to the "good ole days. Baby Boomers represent the 76 million people born between 1946 and 1964. They rejected and then redefined traditional American values. They are also the wealthiest, most active and have the most disposable income for food, apparel and retirement programs.
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So is it fake news or just the facts you don't want to hear or accept? Do headlines belie the news story? What is the future of local news coverage in Michigan. Our guest is Rhonda Sanders who worked as a journalist for 40 years in the Flint area. She was a beat reporter, neighborhood reporter and a columnist for the Flint Journal most of her career. In 1995, she authored a book about Flint's African American Community the Bronze Pillars: An Oral History of African Americans in Flint. Her coverage of Flint's neighborhoods was legendary. Over her career she became one of the most respected journalist in the region. Her insights into how news is covered, her views on journalism today and the future of journalism are worthy of consideration. It is refreshing to learn about the inside of a newsroom and what most motivates journalists. Rhonda Sanders is now retired and living in Flint, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and worked her entire career in journalism. She was a beloved figure in the neighborhoods of the metro Flint area and her columns shined a bright light on the problems and the accomplishments of the people of Flint. A copy of the book "The Bronze Pillars: An Oral History of Flint's African American Community" can be obtained by clicking the link below: https://www.amazon.com/Bronze-pillars-history-African-Americans-Flint/dp/0964983206 Review of Rhonda Sanders' book the Bronze Pillars. http://annaclark.net/reading-list-rhonda-sanders-bronze-pillars/
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Good school districts are more than a function of how much money they collect from taxpayers. Schools must connect with the community where they are located in ways that go beyond math, science and reading. Flint, Michigan at one time was the envy of America in having developed and funded concept of the Community Schools Program. The Flint School District was the envy of the nation. It's Community Schools based system drew people from across the nation and the world to study the system. The concept was replicated in thousands of school districts in the United States and abroad. The product of that district's efforts were after-school programs that enriched the community and provided learning experiences for the whole family after school was in recess. Skip Harbin, a life long native of Flint as well as a former teacher, school administrator and school board member shares with us the "golden years" of the Flint Community Schools. Skip provides context and insight to the devolution of on of America's great industrial towns. He discusses the effects of economic changes that resulted from GM's globalization, the breakdown of family structure and the growth of Charter and private schools. This interview is part of a series of personal histories that showcase the people of Flint, Michigan. They provide a tapestry from which to view the dramatic economic and social change that has come to the heartland of America.
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Flint natives Scott and Michael McKinstry started and published Old Time Baseball News, a national baseball publication spotlighting retired baseball players. The paper was published in Flint for 12 years until the business was sold due to illness. Scott recounts meeting up with numerous major league baseball players including the members of the 1968 Detroit Tigers. Scott traveled the nation interviewing the past greats of baseball including Detroit Tiger great Charlie Gerhinger, Hall of Fame Member Ted Williams, Dennis McLain, Mark "the Bird" Fidrych and many others. Scott tells of the fun and joy he got from being around baseball for a dozen years. Scott spoke of how he took his passion for baseball to develop a baseball publishing business. Scott and his brother Michael were inducted into the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame for their work with major league baseball.
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Rev Fr. Phillip Schmitter, currently assigned to Christ the King Catholic Church. He has spent nearly 50 years of his life serving Flint's catholic community at a variety of churches. His career has been marked by his passion and devotion to serving the poor. In the finest of Catholic traditions, Father Phil has been a fierce advocate for Flint's minority community on such issues as environmental racism, poverty, hunger and seeking dignity for those who are the least among us. His work is legendary in Flint's minority community. He lived in public housing in Flint for three decades to be closer to the people he wanted to serve. Father Phil currently serves at Christ the King Catholic Church in Flint, Michigan, a church founded by Father Norman DuKette. In this interview Father Phil discusses his life and his career as a priest. He was raised in Mason, Michigan where coincidentally Malcolm X was sent to live as a teenager. Father Phil recounts that his inspiration to serve the minority community by reading the best selling autobiography of Malcolm X. His life history is the epitome of a devoted priest whose love for the people he serves drives him to serve their spiritual needs as well as advocating for social justice.
More on the life story of Father Phillip Schmitter' https://www.thehubflint.com/lessons-malcolm-x-made-father-schmitter-champion-diversity-racial-tolerance/ https://nypost.com/2019/12/09/us-catholic-priests-overworked-beset-by-isolation-and-scandal/ http://www.oleantimesherald.com/meditation-gratitude-keep-priest-going/video_b93cbaea-1c60-5460-938a-62255a18dacd.html
More on Christ the King Catholic Church and Father DuKette the first black priest in Michigan: https://faithmag.com/black-history-diocese-lansing
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Dennis Ybarra is a General Motors auto gypsy and a Grand National BMX Race Champion. Dennis, who has been laid off and transferred an amazing number of times. During his career he has learned to accept more layoffs than he can count. He shares his personal story about the anxiety that is caused when the economic winds of change result in his having to accept transfers to far away auto plants just to maintain his position with the company. He describes his life growing up in a General Motors factory town and living in a house with a General Motors factory on the other side of a fence in his backyard. He lived with grandparents who immigrated to America from Mexico. Dennis is a third generation factory worker in Flint, Michigan. Yet in spite of the problems with economic instability he manages to still serve his community and the children who live there. It is an amazing picture of the resilience of the American autoworker and their desire to help kids find a path to the American Dream.
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FlintTom Skinner has spent decades broadcasting Flint area athletic events. His remarkable career has made him one of the best known sports broadcasters in Mid-Michigan and beyond. Tom figures that in his career he has broadcast over 1,700 athletic contests. His journey in broadcasting has been his passion. He is a regular at MHSAA football and basketball events Mid-Michigan. Tom shares his observations about some of the greatest athletes and coaches to ever play or coach in the Flint area. h Tom Skinner has spend decades broadcasting Flint area athletic events. His remarkable career has made him one of the best known sports broadcasters in Mid-Michigan and beyond. Tom figures that in his career he has broadcast over 1,700 athletic contests. His journey in broadcasting has been his passion. He is a fixture in the broadcast booth at MHSAA sponsored high school football and basketball events Mid-Michigan. Tom shares his observations about some of the greatest athletes and coaches to ever play or coach in the Flint area. Tom has served on the Boards of the Greater Flint Hall of Fame, The Whaley Home, and various state and national sports broadcasting organizations. But none of his community service has aroused his passion like helping the students at Montrose high school learn the fine art of sports broadcasting. His students have been recognized nationally with prestigious awards of excellent. It is often said that if you would like to be excellent at something follow your passion. Flint native, Tom Skinner has done just that.
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Leo Seide, has been an affable pioneer in Michigan business, politics, civil rights, golf and real estate development. He is truly a Flint treasure. Leo was the "father" of the PGA Carling Open convincing the Carling Brewing Company to sponsor a PGA Tournament in 1957. A young Arnold Palmer played in the tournament at the Flint Golf Club. The Carling Open later became the Buick Open and moved to Warwick Hills Golf Club,
Behind the scenes, Leo Seide was was a respected voice in political circles at all levels. He was a close friend and adviser to former Michigan Governor John Swanson. In 1962, he was responsible for organizing a rally for President John F. Kennedy in Flint. He personally convinced the Coors brewing family, of Golden, Colorado, to introduce their products in Michigan. Leo represented the National Beer Wholesalers Association of America before Congress on various issues including legislation affecting the development of franchising laws in his industry. Leo Seide served as a member of the Board of the Flint Community Schools. He was a trailblazer in civil rights, being invited to be first Jewish member of the exclusive Flint Golf Club, a membership he held for 50 years. Leo was part of the Greatest Generation of Michigan. He fought in the fox holes of Italy for three years during World War II.
Leo is the epitome of civility and kindness. Leo's story about his home town is riveting.. He speaks of the rise of a great American city, Flint, Michigan. A city which during his lifetime earned the status of having the highest income per capita of all American cities. Listen closely if you want to learn the lessons of entrepreneurship, remarkable vision and risk taking. Leo Seide represents the values, resilience and toughness of Flint, Michigan.
Leo's story about his home town is riveting.. He speaks of the rise of a great American city, Flint, Michigan. A city which during his lifetime earned the status of having the highest income per capita of all American cities. Listen closely if you want to learn the lessons of entrepreneurship, remarkable vision and risk taking. Leo Seide represents the values, resilience and toughness of Flint, Michigan.
View the Award Ceremony for PGA Golf Professional Paul Harney, who racked up his first PGA Tour win at the Flint Golf Club in 1957. (click the following link) https://fb.watch/1i_HqBiWBA/
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In 1971, Flint optometrist Jeff Natchez was a 6th round draft choice of the Detroit Tigers. He was scouted and signed by legendary Detroit Tigers General Manager Bill Lajoie. Jeff spent 5 years in the Tigers minor league system. Jim Leyland, former Tigers manager, was Natchez' first minor league manager in 1971- Leyland was 26 years old and in his first year as a manager at the time. Jeff played with some of baseball's future stars, including Tigers catcher Lance Parrish and Tigers legend Mark "The Bird" Fidrych. Following his baseball career, Natchez became a Doctor of Optometry and practiced in Reno, Nevada before returning to Flint. In this podcast, Jeff recounts his experiences in the Tigers farm system, as well as what is was like growing up in Flint. Jeff also shares stories of playing on the sandlots of Flint, including having NFL Hall of Famer Paul Krause as his supervisor during summer baseball at Freeman School.
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Ode to singer/songwriter John Prine who died this week. John Prine's music spoke of the culture of the Southern migrants who left the coal mines and their rented farms in places like Kentucky and Tennessee. He left a rich legacy of songs that document all aspects of life in America. His powerful lyrics put in the company of the best songwriters like Bob Dylan, Robert Earl Keen and Neil Young. His work describes the life that the people of Flint, Michigan and other rust belt towns where southern migrants settled. Grammy Award winner John Prine's humor and searing insight into the dreams and disappointments of those who found themselves in their own country trying to reconcile two cultures.
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Singer Dan Hall and songwriter David Norris share stories of nearly 40 years authoring songs about the Great Lakes and the American labor movement. Their important work has been featured on PBS documentary specials about the UP and Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Their work has been part of the Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan and the Flint Labor Museum. Dan and David, both with Flint, Michigan roots, have written some of the best Great Lakes Americana songs. Their work documents the struggles of working people and culture of Michigan. They share with you the song sit-down strike ballad "1937" as a tribute an to honor the life of Ruben Burks, the former Secretary-Treasurer of United Automobile Workers Union who passes away this week. Also found in this episode is "The Wheelsman" a song about the people who lived and lost their lives on the Great Lakes. To view this interview on YouTube click the link below: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=291413381856906
YouTube Videos of Dan Hall Performing his songs "1937": https://youtu.be/BYjJxstGl7Y The Wheelsman: https://youtu.be/n_pkyrefzvA
Information on the Flint Sit-down Strike: https://youtu.be/mZ7v1FQJTiQ Thank you Dan Hall and David O. Norris for your brilliant work in preserving the culture of your hometown Flint, Michigan. Your efforts will guarantee that generations to come will have a history to visit and understand. It was the working people that you sing about that made America great !
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Rachel Cole is a Nashville, Tennessee musician with Flint roots. Her music has Nashville soul with Americana roots. She is a vibrant young musician whose first album is to be released summer 2020. All songs on this album were written and recorded in her hometown of Nashville. She shares with us for the first time her song Rugged Road. She also give us a view of the road a talented young musician travels. She shares advice for others who want to pursue in musical performance.
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