Stateside Daily Archive

The pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone’s mental health, and that includes kids. On today’s episode, we talk about the challenges kids and families are facing when it comes to pandemic stressors, and get some advice on how you can help the kids in your life cope with the uncertainty surrounding school and, well, everything else. GUEST: Erin Hunter, child psychologist and interim...

Yesterday after being charged with 24 felony counts, John Geddert died by suicide. Today we’re looking into who John Geddert was, and what his death means in the name of justice for survivors of his abuse in elite gymnastics. GUESTS: Dan Murphy, staff writer at ESPN Looking for more conversations from Stateside ? Right this way . If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our...

Historically known as "Black Eden", Idlewild has been many things over the past 100 years.  A center of entertainment and resort space for black celebrities. A peaceful haven when Jim Crow made safety feel impossible for black people.  These days, there's a renewed interest in this part of Yates' Township.   Black families still live here, and there’s so much new energy....

New data from the state paints a grim picture of racial disparities in vaccination rates for Black Michiganders. The state cautions that there are some major gaps in that data, but it's a troubling snapshot. On today's episode, we’ll talk to a Michigan Radio reporter about what the state is trying to do to address both the incomplete data and the low rate of vaccination for Black communities...

In the first half of the 20th century, Detroit’s African American population was booming. The Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods became centers of Black life and culture. But they were destroyed during the 1950s and 60s to make way for highways. On today’s episode, we’ll talk about the history of those lost neighborhoods and about what it looks like now to create spac...

A recent Ann Arbor school board meeting left everyone wondering if the district was deciding not to return to the classroom at all this school year -- a point the district has been quick to note it has not finalized its decision. Today, a look at the big picture for how schools are making decisions about reopening, and the challenges districts face as they return to the classroom.   GUESTS: R...

Firekeeper's Daughter , a new novel by Michigan’s Angeline Boulley, is not just one of the most-anticipated YA reads of the year. It’s also a complex story about a girl finding her way in two cultures. Today we're talking with Angeline Boulley about her debut novel and growing up around Sault Ste Marie, where the book is based.  Guest : Angeline Boulley is the author of Firekeeper...

Maybe you’ve heard some of the sea shanties making the rounds on social media - most prominently on TikTok. But did you know that Michigan has a few shanties of its own to sing? Today we’re taking a look at the history and legacy fo Black Sailors in the Great Lakes and the sea shanties that came with them. Guest: Jillian Reese is the curator of Exhibits at the Michigan History Center L...

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for COVID have offered hope to millions. But a lot of us have questions about getting vaccinated. We asked you to submit your question about the COVID Vaccine and today we're getting some answers. Guests: Dr. Mouhanad Hammami is the Wayne County Chief Health Strategist and a lecturer at University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus school of public health. Kristen...

Taste the Diaspora Detroit is celebrating the enormous contributions people of African origins make to American cuisine. A dream team of regional chefs is creating boxed lunches, a different one for each week of Black History Month. Each meal tells a story.  GUESTS:  Raphael Wright is a co-founder. He’s also with Urban Plug, a social conglomerate that starts and owns businesses ded...

The pandemic has upended school for everybody, but some Black families are finding that might not be such a bad thing. On today’s episode, we’ll talk to two homeschooling Detroit moms who have been helping other families navigate the world of at-home learning. GUESTS: Salima Ellis, school leader at Universal Minds School of Evolution Bernita Bradley, founder of the Engaged Detroit Home...

Michigan wildlife managers and the state’s outdoor recreation industries are worried about invasive carp species. So much so, that Michigan and several adjacent states have spent millions to mitigate the threat. But is there something more we could be doing to reduce the population of carp maybe even before they get here? GUESTS: Keith Matheny is a reporter for the Detroit Free Press Lester...

You can’t say Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been entirely smooth. There simply aren’t a lot of doses. But the city of Detroit has been beating a lot of expectations for getting residents scheduled and moving them through the process. Today, a look at how it happened.   GUEST: Jared Fleisher is a VP for government affairs for Quicken Loans.    Stateside&rs...

For the second time in less than two years, former President Donald Trump is facing a Senate impeachment trial, this time for his alleged role in inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. On Tuesday, House impeachment managers and Trump’s defense attorneys argued over the constitutionality of impeaching someone no longer in office. On today’s episode, we talk to someone who was...

Showing Up Showing Out is a short film that tells the story about the past, present and future of Motown. It's a showpiece for the music, fashions and creators of Detroit. The film was recently nominated for four awards at the Fashion Film Festival Milano. GUESTS:  Imani Mixon is a writer, host and creative consultant.  Margot Bowman is a filmmaker and creative director.   Stateside...

On today’s episode, we’re talking ice cover on Michigan’s lakes. We’ll get an expert’s advice on how to stay safe during your winter beach strolls, and we’ll hear about how ice fisherman are dealing with the trend toward less and less ice cover in a warming climate.   GUESTS: Myron Gilbert, member of the U.S. World Ice Fishing Team Lester Graham, Michigan R...

One hundred years ago, in the aftermath of World War I, the United States was well into its experiment with national temperance. Michigan wasn’t a stranger to Prohibition — the state banned alcohol in 1918, about two years before Prohibition went into effect nationwide. Despite restrictions, thirsty Michiganders still found ways to get their hands on booze. And before long, alcohol smu...

The complete upending of “normal” life brought on by the pandemic has left a lot of us acutely aware of social and economic injustices. When it comes to job loss, it is women, specifically women of color, who have been hit the hardest. GUEST:  Betsey Stevenson is a labor economist and professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.  &nbs...

With a vaccine in distribution, it’s starting to feel like there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. But in a small town of Calumet, in the western U.P., the fight against any change in daily life due to COVID-19 continues to rage as maskless patrons crowd a local cafe that has ignored state orders at every turn. We talk to a reporter who visited the town to understand how the combin...

For the first time since Mid-November, you can now make reservations and grab a meal or drinks, indoors, at restaurants and bars in Michigan again. People working in the industry have some cautious optimism. Maybe the return of indoor dining means we’re on a slow return to normalcy?    GUESTS: Tyler Scott is a weekend host and reporter at Michigan Radio. Amanda Danielson is the co-...

Last week, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that reversed a Trump-era policy barring transgender people from serving in the military. It was welcome news to many transgender service members and veterans. But that doesn’t mean the fight for full inclusion is over yet. On today’s episode, we’ll talk to a Michigan National Guard member about her experience being trans i...

GM announced today it will aspire to sell only electric vehicles by 2035. Even if the company doesn’t bullseye that target, this is a big deal for a brand that’s focused for so long on Internal Combustion Engines What does it mean for GM to commit to electrics like that? And what will more electric cars mean for the rest of us? GUESTS : Tim Soules is the co-owner of Steve Steeb Service...

Governor Gretchen Whitmer made a peace offering to Republicans in her third State of the State address on Wednesday night. That’s as Republicans have ramped up their resistance to her COVID-19 restrictions. The speech was delivered from the quiet of Whitmer’s Capitol office instead of before a live audience.  GUESTS: Rick Pluta is the State Capitol bureau chief for Michigan Public...

There are now 18 confirmed cases of the B117 coronavirus variant in Michigan. The arrival of the more contagious mutation of the virus led the University of Michigan to shut down its athletics program at the strong recommendation of public health officials after several student athletes tested positive for it. On today’s episode, we’ll hear what we know about the clusters of B117 infec...

Acclaimed actor, playwright, musician and Michigander Jeff Daniels talks about his latest album “Alive and Well Enough” and tackles all the political and pandemic feels of the past year. GUEST: Jeff Daniels is an American actor from Chelsea, Michigan.   NOTES: Stateside theme music is by 14KT. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider su...