Radio Free Flint Podcast

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.

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RESOURCES AND LINKS 

Troubadour Neil Woodward is an instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and folk historian who helps preserve Michigan musical traditions. He is often heard in the summer months at historic Crossroads Village, Michigan near Flint.  

Neil holds the title -- State Troubadour. In 2003, the Michigan Legislature officially named Neil Woodward Michigan’s Troubadour in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the preservation of Great Lakes folk music and culture.

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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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You can learn more about Semaj Brown and her poems by:

Dave Liske discusses his new book "The Flint Coney: A Savory History". Learn about the history of the Flint food culture and love affair with the Flint-style Coney Island hot dog.

In a lively interview with author Dave Liske who shares recipes, secrets and myths about Flint and Detroit's legendary coney island hot dogs.

The history of Flint's food culture has always been largely overshadowed by the stories of its industries. But 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.

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Jan Worth-Nelson former editor of the East Village Magazine, 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. 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. 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 quietly assembled a talented group of writers and reporters at the East Village Magazine making it a publication of record for the Flint area. She shares her joy about living in Flint, frustrations, disappointments, and what is possible for the region's future. 

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In this interview, Connor Connor discusses his newest novel, the 4th in the series "Urbantasm." The series is set in deindustrialized Flint, Michigan.

Connor Coyne is a writer living and working in rust belt Flint, Michigan, a town devastated by deindustrialization. Connor spent his teenage years in Flushing, Michigan.  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 in Flint's College Cultural Neighborhood (aka the East Village).

Coyne's novel describes a fantastical plot which is founded upon a mythical city where the main characters grew up.  The story revolves around parts of a dying industrial rust belt town. In the interview the author, Connor Coyne acknowledges that this factory town is Flint, Michigan.

The book sets out the good, bad and ugly way of life in middle America where the characters navigate the vices and demons of urban life in a blue collar America that struggles to survive.

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What does it mean to be a Flintstone?

Rust belt Flint, Michigan residents and expatriates call themselves Flintstones. They discuss their community identity and its rust belt revival.

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.

In this podcast we explore the unusual adoption of a community identity taken by people from rust belt Flint, Michigan.  We explore the origins of this identity and delve into just what it means for the future of the factory town. To many Flintstones, Flint represents the resilient middle America that will see a rust belt revival. Is a rust belt revival possible while still maintaining the blue collar way of life?

Can there be a Rust Belt Revival in Flint?

Many Flintstones see rust belt Flint, and its blue-collar workers, as having made it possible for rank and file factory workers to have a life in America's middle class.  They did so by fighting for union recognition and worker rights to fair wages and working conditions.

Indeed along with the resilience they deeply believe is part of their factory town dna. Flintstones believe there is going to be a rust belt revival in Flint. Working class Flint, Michigan, according to podcast interviews thinks the town will shed the factory worker image and recover as the rest of middle America has done.

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Cindy Johns discusses homelessness and the causes of 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 working to find solutions to poverty and homelessness 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. The Carriage Town organization seeks to find the cause of homelessness for each individual they serve.

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.

Finding homelessness solution requires resoures and community collaboration

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 in the civil war battle at Peach Tree Creek (March to the Sea).

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Rev. Robert McCathern, pastor of a hip church in Flint's Civic Park tells of convincing young people to put away guns and take up hammers to improve the area.

Rev. Robert McCathern, the pastor of the Joy Tabernacle Church which some call a "hip" church.  His Flint, Michigan church, is the former Community Presbyterian Church in Flint's Civic Park neighborhood.

Pastor McCathern founder and director of the Urban Renaissance Center. The Urban Renaissance Center 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.

Jeffrey LeValley is a gospel composer and songwriter. He discusses a Grammy winning song he wrote "Revelations 19:1" recorded by hip-hop artist Kanye West.

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. 

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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.

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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

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Genesee County Circuit Judge Duncan M. Beagle's uplifting story of courage and determination to overcome his physical disability.

Genesee County Circuit Judge Duncan M. Beagle will be retiring at the end of his current term.  ThIS is a riveting conversation about the illness that caused him to be unable to use his legs at the age of 43.  It 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.

Judge Duncan Beagle is a 3rd generation member of the Genesee County legal profession. He shares growing up in Flint, community activities, and accomplishments.

Judge Duncan M. Beagle has lived a remarkable life. Judge Beagle has inspired, mentored, and coached courage and resilience while serving his community.

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. Judge Beagle is a member of 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.

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Philip Hagerman started a real estate and venture investment firm, Sky Point Ventures headquartered in Flint He discusses his $50 million investment in reviving downtown Flint including the historic Capitol Theatre.

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.

The 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, Michigan 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.

Many kids in Flint counted the hours down until their visit to Safteyville. Don't miss Safetyville, USA Part One of this series.

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Poet Semaj Brown is Flint's Poet Laurate.  Her work in Flint uses poetry to address literacy problems with lead-poisoned children.

Semaj Brown is the first Poet Laurate appointed by the City of Flint.  She delivers a riveting read of a poem she wrote for the people of Flint.

The Academy of American Poets recently recognized her talents as a Poet Laurate.

Semaj works in Flint using poetry to address literacy problems with lead-poisoned children.  Semaj is also an accomplished playwright, published author, and lecturer.

In Flint, her work in the Flint Community School District has been nothing short of amazing.  She has presented 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, just to name a few.

Semaj Brown is one of the most inspirational guests in Radio Free Flint's history!

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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.

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Michigan Lumber is a Centennial business in the City of Flint. Gerald Haan and his daughter Katie are the third and fourth generation to run the family-owned business.

Gerald also shares his views about Michigan Lumber, Flint, and its future. He also shares his dream of building affordable new single-family housing in the downtown Flint area.

Michigan Lumber is located just beyond the center of downtown Flint. The family-owned business has been working from its original location since its founders came to the Greater Flint area in 1916.

Most observers would assume that any business starting about that time would be tied to the booming automobile factories. This lumber company contributed not only to the building of Flint's auto manufacturing prominence but also to the overall growth of the Flint area.

The company holds the distinction of being the oldest lumber yard in Genesee County, Michigan. Michigan Lumber continues to operate under the philosophy established by its elders to give today's established customers the finest quality lumber products with an underscore of premier service by exceptionally experienced staff.

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Patricia Majher, discusses her books of mini-biographies including three Flint natives, MI; Michael Moore, Jim Abbott, and Sara Emma Edmonds.

Her books Great Girls and Bold Boys are designed for children but are informative and entertaining for people of all ages.

Anna Clark is an accomplished author and journalist.

Grand Blanc, MI attorney and businessman Michael Jablonski is an entrepreneurial success. Jablonski shares stories from his business career in the food and entertainment business in Mid-Michigan.

Few people in Michigan have made an impact on the Flint area community's entertainment and fine dining as Michael Jablonski.

Michael has developed several concept businesses in the Flint, Michigan area. Those establishments, 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 including:

• R.C. Coopers, a fine dining establishment in Flushing, Michigan
• BeachTree in suburban Flint Township, Michigan
• JT Thornberry's in Mt. Morris, Michigan.

Michael Jablonski also has also maintained a law practice in Grand Blanc, Michigan 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. A. Johnson High School and Michigan State University.

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Joel Bye and his band the Blue Hawaiians are legendary amongst Michigan music fans.

Joel shares the colorful 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, Michigan 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 listening to 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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Learn more about Joel Bye and the Blue Hawaiians:

Norman Bryant is a former President of Flint Board of Education. At 85 years of age, he shares the history of the Flint Community Schools and high school athletics.

Norm is the founder of the Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame.

Norm provides a wonderful oral history of African American life in a northern US industrial community in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's.

During the interview Norm Bryant discusses the people and activities 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.

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.  Her parents struggled to provide a home for their five children during the Great Depression. She grew up in Flint, Michigan. Arlene tells of 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.  That was a challenge they conquered together through love for each other. 

Arlene will make you laugh and maybe shed a tear.  But if you enjoy good stories from a kinder, gentler time, listen to this podcast as she recounts her memories she put in her book "Homemade Noodles and Cars". Order Arlene's book to get the secret stories she speaks of in this interview. You can get a copy of her book at: 

Daniel Clark, Professor of Business at Oakland University, establishes in his book; Disruption in Detroit: Autoworkers and the Elusive Postwar Boom, that autoworkers and the auto industry experienced anything but stable prosperity during the so-called Golden Age of the 1950s.

Professor Clark draws on oral interviews with retired UAW members and archives of regional newspapers. Professor Clark's methods of research prove 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. Autoworkers were flush with cash from high wages and enjoying the benefits of generous union contracts, The workers became the backbone of a thriving blue-collar middle class.

The popular narrative of a golden age is also a myth.

Ang Adamzcik is executive director of Detroit, MI 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.

They 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.

Arts and Scraps also connects the private and educational sectors by recruiting and recycling 28 tons of material.  The non-profit assists in training disabled people to gain employment skills.

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broadcaster David O. Norris shares memories of a career in public and country radio broadcasting.

Norris 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.

David shares 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!

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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.

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.

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.

Garns has Flint roots as her family is from the Flint area.  She discusses the pursuit of her career in entertainment and public speaking.

Kate's 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 helps show teens how to find their worth and value when nobody shows up to tell them that they are worthy or valuable.

Garns shares her own story of being told she was not good enough to be a performer at one of the worlds top tourist destinations where she eventually became a gladiator.

Marty Embry is a legendary basketball player, whose teams at Flint Central High School won two Class A Michigan High School basketball titles.

Marty Embry played at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. His teams played in three NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments, as well as an NIT college post-season tournament.

Marty was an 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 cookbooks, a self-help book (Diary of a Depressive), 2 books of quotes, 3 poetry books, and several novels that are amazing!

Embry 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.

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See the list of 13 books Marty Embry authored by visiting:

Hip Hop recording artist Joe Ryan III a Flint, Michigan native, 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 in this interview why he wrote the song and its meaning.

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