Stateside Daily Archive

Michigan native Brittany Luce, host of It’s Been a Minute on NPR, has made a name for herself with her sharp, engaging commentary and deep dives into contemporary culture. Whether she's exploring the latest trends or unraveling complex issues, Brittany's approach is both thought-provoking and accessible.   Luse sat down with us to talk about Kamala Harris' campaign, candidacy and potential nominat...

Within just a couple hours of Vice President Kamala Harris announcing her candidacy for president, an impromptu fundraiser organized by Black women voters across the country came into being via Zoom. They raised more than a million dollars in a couple hours. It's an anecdote, but it speaks volumes about the power of Black women voters who organize around a common cause. GUEST: Danielle Atkinson ,...

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud speaks with Stateside's Zena Issa about how "Uncommitted" voters may give VP Kamala Harris a chance now that President Biden has dropped out of the race. But, he says, she'll have to earn their votes. GUEST: Abdullah Hammoud , mayor of Dearborn Zena Issa , production assistant, Stateside   -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside ? Right this way . If you li...

On today’s podcast episode, we talk with a student and a professor at Concordia University Ann Arbor. The school will need to significantly reduce its operations and program offerings, including athletics, after the 2024-25 academic year. The cuts have staff and students anxious about what the future holds for the institution. The Lutheran institution is facing a $9 million budget deficit. Enrollm...

President Joe Biden shocked the nation over the weekend by pulling out of the Democratic nomination process, and endorsing his VP, Kamala Harris. The question in Michigan is would Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who also endorsed Harris, be a viable No. 2 on a Harris ticket? GUEST: Debbie Dingell , congresswoman from MI-6 Stephen Henderson , host of Created Equal on WDET Zoe Clark , co-host of It's Jus...

July 20, 2024 marks the beginning of dystopian classic novel "Parable of the Sower", written by Octavia Butler 30 years ago.  GUEST: Ebony Elizabeth Thomas , PhD, is Chair of the Joint Program in English and Education at the University of Michigan’s Marsal Family School of Education See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan-based horror author Josh Malerman has a new set of psychological scares in his paranormal thriller "Incidents Around The House". Malerman rose to prominence in the horror genre with his novel "Bird Box", which became a Netflix hit. GUEST: Josh Malerman , best-selling thriller novelist and author of "Incidents Around The House" -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside ? Right this...

A new podcast delves deep into the Republican Party upheaval of the mid-1970s to help shed light on our current political climate. And it all begins with a Michigander we know and love: then-President Gerald Ford. The podcast, made by Nuanced Tales in partnership with WFAE and distributed by NPR, is called "Landslide." We talked to host Ben Bradford about the roots of America's current culture war...

Today, a conversation with Johnny Rodriguez, President and CEO of Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), a social services center focused on the Latino community in West Michigan. And, a sneak peek at LAUP's 60th annual Fiesta celebration this week (July 15-21) in Holland, Michigan. GUEST: Johnny Rodriguez, President and CEO of Latin Americans United for Progress -- Looking for more conversat...

In the wake of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump this weekend, many people are raising questions about the Secret Service's protocols at the Pennsylvania rally where the shooting occurred. Former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade joined Stateside to discuss what she sees as shortcomings in the agency's security measures this weekend, and how those lapses are fueling online cons...

A new children's book, "The Empty House", creates a fanciful world in which woodland critters take up residence in Michigan cottages during the winter. GUEST: Mary Scholl , author of "The Empty House"  -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside ? Right this way . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. See omnystudio.com...

When thinking about spells and witchcraft, a bar probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But in Hamtramck, Michigan, one stands out among the rest. It's the Black Salt Bar, where customers can order a spell kit with their cocktail. "There are a lot of different cocktail books that exist that play with this idea, but there's never really been a brick and mortar bar" said owner Zoey Ashwo...

Grand Rapids voters will elect a new mayor this year. Two of the candidates are familiar political names. A third is a military veteran. The fourth describes themself as a neurotic Capricorn who spends their free time “pretending to be a robot and fearing Roko’s Basilisk.” This is a story about the fourth candidate. GUESTS: Dustin Dwyer, West Michigan reporter, Michigan Public Hailey Lynch-Bastion...

Governor Gretchen Whitmer's new book, "True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between," is a brief, but insightful look at the Michigan governor's life and how her experiences have shaped the way she governs. It also sets the stage for a bigger political presence nationally. The co-hosts of It’s Just Politics on Michigan Public, offered their insights on one of th...

As vote-by-mail ballots start appearing for Michiganders, there’s an ongoing legal dispute about whose interests should carry representative weight when it comes to drawing legislative districts. Six state Senate districts stand at the center of that debate as they await court approval for their redrawn maps.  GUESTS:  Colin Jackson, reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network Clara Hendrickson...

When you think about amateur sports, sumo wrestling is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. However, the traditional Japanese sport has been growing in popularity across the United States, including right here in Michigan. Stateside's Yesenia Zamora-Cardoso headed to a gym in Grand Rapids where modern athletes are finding fun and challenge in the ancient sport.  GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE:...

How to tend to the crops in your yard when Michigan bakes with summer heatwaves. GUEST: Malik Yakini, founder of D-Town Farms and the Detroit People's Food Co-op Looking for more conversations from Stateside ? Right this way . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The longstanding conventional wisdom is that what we call hillbilly music originated in Western Europe. But the truth, as many scholars and musicians have been preaching for years now, is that country music is intimately tied into the experience of African Americans. In fact, one of the most recognizable instruments in the country music genre is the banjo--which made its way to America from West A...

Solar Party Detroit started as a idea to power a e-bike with solar power from off the grid. Now, the company owns a fleet of several solar generators that have powered everything from DJ setups to movie screenings. We talk to the co-founders and owners of the company about their experience powering the city's summer celebrations with sunlight.  GUESTS: Ash Arder, co-founder and owner of Solar Part...

President Biden's doddering performance at his first debate with Donald Trump this election cycle reportedly has many high up Democratic strategists nervous about the president's prospects. And it again raises the question of who could step in on short notice to run for president.... which brings Governor Gretchen Whitmer's name into the conversation. Is Michigan's governor interested? GUESTS: Jor...

The Legislature pulled an all-nighter to pass a record breaking state budget. Here are the topline items they passed, and how they got it done. GUEST: Elena Durnbaugh, reporter for Gongwer covering the Michigan House of Representatives -- Looking for more conversations from Stateside ? Right this way . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blu...

Michigander Courtney Andersen was recently named as the best social media influencer in Hour Detroit Magazine's Best of Detroit 2024 list. On her podcast Sober Vibes ,  Andersen shares her story as a woman who decided to leave her relationship with alcohol when she was 29 years old. The podcast, which she launched in 2020, focuses on alcoholism, family dynamics, and how Andersen has found healing...

Within the past few months, two men have been killed in the Grand Rapids area by law enforcement officials in encounters that involved injuries from the officers’ vehicles. We talk to a community activist and the Grand Rapids chief of police about what these incidents have meant for community trust in the police—and what steps the department is taking to rebuild trust in law enforcement. We reache...

The Surgeon General came out with a startling suggestion last week: social media should come with warnings, like packs of cigarettes and alcohol. Jenny Radesky is a pediatrician and researcher. Her work guides parents on how to mitigate their child's media use. Radesky says media habits start in infancy and can be hard to get rid of once they solidify. The more time kids spend on media, the less t...

A solo exhibit from artist Elizabeth Youngblood is on display now through August 3 at the University of Michigan's Stamps Gallery. It looks back at 40 years of the Detroit artist's work in art and graphic design. On this episode, we talked to Youngblood about her long career and the themes that she sees drawing a thread from past to present in her work. The exhibit, titled Syntax , is on view now...