Stateside from Michigan Radio

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For a pilot, ejecting mid-flight is always a bad scenario. Lt. Kegan "Smurf" Gill narrowly escaped from a fighter jet traveling 695 miles per hour, approaching the speed of sound. It’s the fastest survived ejection in naval aviation history. “I have a very clear linear memory, right up to the point where I pulled the ejection handle, and after that I have no linear memory,” he said about the experience. “But over the course of the years, I'd gotten a lot back in flashbacks, which were often night terrors. So maybe not the most pleasant way to remember something, but that gave me some insights into what had happened.” A former Naval fighter pilot, Gill flew a training exercise off the East Coast in 2014 when his F/A-18 ran into trouble. His subsequent injuries, including head trauma, changed his life forever. Gill wrote about the experience and aftermath in his new book “Phoenix Revival: The Aftermath of Naval Aviation's Fastest Ejection.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything you hear on Stateside is made possible by listener support. Please become a member today and help keep Michigan Public strong. In the wake of the U.S. military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, an Iranian-American scholar at the University of Michigan-Dearborn reflects on how public perception of Iranians has evolved alongside U.S. relations with the country over the years. GUEST: Camron Amin, professor of Middle East Studies and Iranian Diaspora Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the weather heats up in Michigan, so does the excitement of the Ann Arbor District Library's 15th annual Summer Game. We talked to AADL library director Eli Neiburger about the origins of the beloved tradition and how it's changed through the years. If you're already a Summer Game fan, we've got a treat for you! Enter the word 'STATESIDE' as a summer game code to earn 500 points. You can also text the code to (734) 327- 4200 to be signed up for the game and start earning points. GUEST: Eli Neiburger, director of the Ann Arbor District Library 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 Detroit Tigers are the best in baseball right now. Yes, that's right. GUEST: Rogelio Castillo, Tigers beat writer and podcasterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Movement, Detroit’s long-running techno music festival made its way back to the city last month. Dynamic sounds and energetic tempos could be felt miles away from Hart Plaza as massive crowds danced their way through Memorial Day Weekend. Headlining this year’s festival was Carl Craig, a Detroit music producer, DJ, and founder of the record label Planet E Communications. Last year, a documentary film that chronicles the artist's life, Desire: The Carl Craig Story, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. This year, the film was screened at a pre-party to the music festival, ringing in the vibrant celebration of techno. “Most people don’t get a chance to see their lives before their eyes until a near-death experience. So I’m totally happy to see these things. These friends, family members, everyone in front of my face,” said Craig. GUEST ON THIS EPISODE: Carl Craig, music producer and DJ from Detroit [Get Stateside on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or YouTube Music today.]See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year Mackinac Island celebrates a big milestone; it's been 150 years since it was named a National Park. It was only the second space given that designation in the nation, behind Yellowstone. Mackinac Island is a State Park these days, and it enjoys a rich and intriguing history that creates a sense of timelessness. Today we explore some of the chronology that take the island from Anishinaabe fishing community, to Revolutionary War outpost, to the carless, fudge-filled spot it is today. GUEST: Craig Wilson, Mackinac Island Historic Parks 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 Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 brought attention to the harassment and violence that LGBTQ+ people faced in America. But it wasn't just America that was paying attention. We talked to an assistant professor at Michigan State University about how Pride celebrations have evolved in Mexico—which saw its first Pride celebration in 1979. GUEST: Alejandra Márquez, assistant professor of Spanish at Michigan State University Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immigrant advocates in Grand Rapids say ICE tried detaining people at routine check-ins. Now, immigrants face a difficult choice: show up and risk arrest, or stay home and break the law. GUEST: Gema Lowe, volunteer organizer with the immigrant rights group Movimiento Cosecha GR 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.

You may be wondering why you haven’t seen swarms of mayflies yet. Cold water temperatures have delayed their arrival—but don’t worry, they’re on their way. Experts predict the mayflies will begin hatching in Michigan over the next couple of weeks. GUEST: Richard Merritt, former entomology professor at Michigan State University Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scholar and poet Shonda Buchanan grew up in Kalamazoo with a deep love for Nina Simone. Her new book, The Lost Songs of Nina Simone, captures the singer's spirit in a unique blend of poetry, memoir, and historical reflection. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A UM student who has been active in the pro-Palestinian protest movement on campus, says he was followed by apparent plainclothes private surveillance teams contracted by the university. And he has video to prove it. GUEST: Josiah Walker, UM student Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maykol Bogoya-Duarte is a Detroit high school student, who was just 3.5 credits away from earning his diploma when he was pulled over by Rockwood police for alleged tailgating. Bogoya-Duarte, who was already under an active deportation order and planning to fly back to Colombia with his mother, was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement during the May 20 traffic stop. He had hoped to finish his high school diploma by the end of this year, but now faces imminent deportation. We talked to Bogoya-Duarte's attorney and a reporter about the student's case, and what it can tell us about the bigger picture for undocumented students in Michigan. GUESTS: Hannah Dellinger, Chalkbeat Detroit reporter Ruby Robinson, senior managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Lansing native Terk Brunk, aka Sabu, changed wrestling and became a global sports hero for Arab Americans GUESTS: Shaffee Abraham, former radio host and ring manger for Sabu Khalil AlHajal, Deputy Opinion Editor at the Detroit Free Press Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Senate may soon vote on a federal budget packed with President Trump’s priorities. The bill passed the house last month with major changes to Medicaid. Michigan’s Republican representatives argue these aren’t “cuts” – they say that they’re “protecting” Medicaid by removing “waste, fraud and abuse.” These changes, whatever you call them, could result in millions losing Medicaid coverage by 2027, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Nearly two million Michiganders, including many people with disabilities, are enrolled in eMdicaid. State officials may be left with the choice to let many people lose coverage or make cuts elsewhere to cover losses in federal funding. GUESTS: Amanda Rhines, director for Disability Network Lakeshore and member of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council Terry DeYoung, board president of Disability Network Lakeshore and former disability concerns coordinator for the Reformed Church in America 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.

Alex B. Hill is the principal of DETROITography, an organization that provides data resources for city residents. "You know, I have Detroit maps in the back of my head. I've made so many of them. And the Great Lakes, I've lived here forever, but I hadn't ever really made a map of the region," Hill said. As a cartographer and information designer, Hill focuses on Michigan locations, offering new perspectives for understanding these areas. His new book, "Great Lakes in 50 Maps," explores our freshwater features and the surrounding land, highlighting how this relationship impacts how people live. "As I was thinking about this book, I realized how much the Great Lakes are a part of all of us," Hill said. "We're 90 percent water. We are the Great Lakes; we just walk around!" The book includes maps featuring indigenous names for the lakes, treaties, and land rights associated with the Great Lakes, historical Underground Railroad stops, and shipwrecks in the inland seas, among other topics. Hill is also the author of "Detroit in 50 Maps."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The regents of University of Florida had already offered Ono the gig, and he had accepted. But the larger governing body - the Board of Governors - rejected that plan as pressure mounted from Republican lawmakers and influential voices decried Ono as too liberal. At the meeting on June 3, 2025, the members of the Board of Governors peppered Ono with questions about his record of support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. DEI programs have become a target of the Republican Party under President Donald Trump. Ono halted DEI programs at U-M after Trump took office this year. Ono told the board members this week that he stood by his decision to walk away from DEI. "My evolution over the past 18 months or more... has really focused on my personal experience seeing DEI programs - that were started with all good intensions - what impact they've had on campuses," said Ono. Board members also pushed on Ono's handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests, and questioned whether he came out with enough forceful support of Israel in the days after the Oct. 7th attack in 2023. Conversely, many pro-Palestinian supporters on campus and in Ann Arbor railed against Ono while president at U-M for being too supportive of Israel and for continuing university investment in Israeli businesses. The Florida Board of Governors rejected Ono's appointment by a 10-6 vote. It's unclear what Ono will do now. His departure from U-M came after three difficult years, in which the university was challenged on multiple fronts. The reason and manner of Florida’s apparent rejection are also historic, and say a lot about this moment. Today, we’ve invited back Jamal Watson, editor of the online journal, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education to explain what happened and what's next for Ono. Watson is also a Professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Trinity Washington University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mistrial in the criminal case against former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, has left the Lyoya family vowing to continue seeking justice through civil court. Some legal experts argue that police training and the difficulty of convicting officers played a key role in the hung jury decision. GUEST: Ekow Yankah, Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and holds the title of Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. He's also a professor of philosophy at the university. 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.

Abra Berens, cookbook author and culinary director at Granor Farm in Three Oaks, offered a risotto recipe that works as the perfect catchall for your farmers market finds this spring. After you hear her tips, find the full recipe below: Spring Risotto This risotto can absorb any random spring vegetables like asparagus or ramps even baby carrots or radish. I just slice them thinly or into a small dice and then add in place of the peas. The broth is a great way to use up old parmesan rinds, but isn’t strictly necessary. 1 onion, sliced thinly 4 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup dry white wine 1 ½ cup risotto rice 8 cups water, parmesan broth, or stock, brought to a boil 2 cups shelled peas, fresh or frozen 1 lemon, zest and juice In a large frying pan, heat a glug of olive oil over medium heat Add the onion and garlic with a hefty pinch of salt and sweat until soft but not browned Add the wine and reduce until dry Add the rice and toast for a couple of minutes Add a ladle full of hot liquid to the rice and stir continuously until the liquid is absorbed Continue with an additional ladle of liquid and stir until that is absorbed Continue adding ladle after ladle of liquid allowing to absorb fully between additions When the rice is 90% cooked, add the peas and an additional ladle of liquid Finish with the lemon zest and juice along Taste and adjust seasoning as desired To serve finish with a hefty glug of olive oil and any herbs or pea shoot over the top See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City of Dearborn is buying or parcels of land along an industrial stretch on the south end of town. The idea is to turn this strip into a green park buffer between industry and residential, in order to tamp down pollution of all sorts. GUEST: Ali Abazeed, public health director, City of Dearborn Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Detroit artist Akea Brionne uses a digital loom to create painterly tapestries rooted in the Black experience. Her fresh approach to an age old craft recently earned Brionne accolades, and a $50,000 prize, from the Knight Foundation. We sat down with the Louisiana-born artist to talk about how she blends history and technology–and the stories she’s telling in her work. GUEST: Akea Brionne, Detroit-based artist Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, many Michigan farmers have relied on the herbicide Roundup for weed control. But the federal government has two conflicting policies that may affect whether they can continue to use this highly effective - and dangerous - product. At issue is Roundup’s active ingredient – glyphosate. Environmental Reporter Keith Schneider is senior editor and chief correspondent at Circle of Blue. He recently wrote about the long history of research on this product’s carcinogenic properties, all the while its maker says the product can be used safely as directed. Today, we’ll be talking with Keith about Michigan’s most popular farm herbicide, it's health risks, and how it’s regulated. Background reading: Conflict Over a Blockbuster Farm Chemical RFK Jr. tells farmers, GOPT not to worry about his report targeting pesticidesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deep dive into the history of contamination by the Gelman plume in Ann Arbor. We hear about how it started, its impacts to water and human health, and what's being done about it today. Michigan Public's Elinor Epperson dug deep into the history of the Gelman plume. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's festival season! As Detroiters prepare for Movement this weekend, we revisit a conversation with the festival's founder, DJ Carl Craig. Read the original story here. Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Carl Craig.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Planned Parenthood of Michigan closed four clinics this year. Kate Wells, health reporter for Michigan Public, explained why operational costs and the loss of Title X funding may be the biggest threat to abortion access. She also discussed the role telehealth services have played in changing the reproductive care landscape, particularly in rural areas. 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.

Malcolm X would have turned 100 years old today. We revisit a series of conversations about why Americans so often overlook Malcolm X when it comes to Black History Month celebrations and formal education spaces. GUEST: Ven Johnson, the attorney representing flood victims in Gladwin, Midland, and Saginaw counties, is involved in a lawsuit accusing the state of intentionally delaying the legal process and avoiding accountability. Also heard on this episode: Mid-Michigan dam restorations are picking back up, with residents to pay nearly $218M from WCMU Public Media reporter Teresa Homsi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm X would have turned 100 years old today. We revisit a series of conversations about why Americans so often overlook Malcolm X when it comes to Black History Month celebrations and formal education spaces. GUESTS: John Aerni-Flessner, associate professor for the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University Kidada Williams, associate professor of African American and American history at Wayne State University Herb Boyd, Detroit writer, journalist, and activist Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Rachel Blistein couldn't find hair products that worked for her curly texture, she took matters into her own hands. Mixing formulas in her kitchen, she launched Original Moxie. It’s a hair care company rooted in Ypsilanti, Michigan, focused on sustainability while celebrating diverse hair types. In addition to the non-toxic and environmentally friendly ingredients, Blisten decided to ditch the plastic containers. That was right before the COVID pandemic. She described her research into sustainable alternatives as "falling down a rabbit hole." “It was just really a personal desire to shift to a more sustainable solution. I wasn't thinking about increasing our profits,” Blisten said. “I was just hoping we'd break even, in the transition.” Listen to the interview to hear more about the ups and downs of growing a values-driven beauty brand rooted in Michigan. You can learn more about Original Moxie here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have little kids under ten who tune to PBS on a regular basis – its likely you know about Wimee’s Words. The PBS children’s show that reaches 30 million homes around the country is originally from Grand Rapids. It features Wimee the Robot, an animated puppet, who teaches kids about science, technology, engineering, art and math. GUESTS: Michael Hyacinthe, creator, Wimee's Words Wimee, robot star of Wimee's Words Want to support shows like Wimee's Words and Stateside? Sign this petition at Protect My Public Media or you can donate to Michigan Public or your local PBS!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of raping and brutally assaulting a white woman in 1989. The boys’ legal case gripped and divided the nation, and symbolized systemic injustices within the legal system for communities of color. All five men were exonerated over a decade later. Detroit Opera brings the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera The Central Park Five to audiences on May 16 and 18. Award-winning director Nataki Garrett talked about bringing this powerful piece to the stage, and why it’s so relevant for audiences right now. “I love that we're doing this opera in Detroit, which has a significant black population, because there are parts of this story that are a part of our collective consciousness, both through memory but also through experience,” Garrett told Stateside.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey Seller is one of the biggest Broadway producers. Beyond ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Rent,’ Seller’s work has grossed billions of dollars. The 60-year-old Tony award winner is nothing short of a living Broadway legend. But before the spotlight, Seller was another Michigan theatre kid – an outsider everywhere but school play rehearsals. Seller's new memoir, Theater Kid: a Broadway Memoir, explores the path that took him to Broadway. GUEST: Jeffrey Seller, Broadway producer and author of Theater KidSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever feel the need to get away? Perhaps, to a galaxy far, far away? Michiganders did just this past May the 4th. Every year for two weekends a warehouse in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood gets converted into a Star Wars universe. A small army of do-it-yourself artists, makers, and fun-seekers transform a half-block of space into, well, outerspace. The detail is otherworldly – streetscapes closely resembling Tatooine (otherwise known as Luke Skywalker’s home planet), stucco storefronts, dust-covered tents, and cosplay Mandalorians decked with helmets, breastplates, and blaster pistols. Space Dive takes place atTangent Gallery, generally around May 4. There are still tickets available for this weekend’s events. Star Wars attire is mandatory, as declared by the Empire. GUESTS: John Dunivant, co founder of Space Dive Daniel Land, cofounder of Space Dive Eric Heerspink, Grand Rapids ceramist Check out photos from the event here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mistrial was declared when a jury in Grand Rapids failed to reach consensus on the conviction or acquittal of Christopher Schurr, the police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya. GUESTS: Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Public Michelle Jokisch Polo, Michigan Public To listen to full episodes of Stateside, head over here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann Arbor Writer Michelle Yang came to the states as a child, after growing up in a Chinese family in South Korea. Her debut Memoir, Phoenix Girl: How a Fat Asian with Bipolar Found Love, is a warm, engrossing story of becoming unmoored, and finding connection and community, even as she’s fighting with fierce cultural pressures about her own body image and identity as a woman. GUESTS: Michelle Yang: author, Phoenix Girl: How a Fat Asian with Bipolar Found Love Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students at East Kentwood High School interviewed their family members about their immigration stories in a project marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. They will be sharing those stories this week at events celebrating West Michigan's Vietnamese American community. GUESTS: Le Tran, art teacher at East Kentwood High School Christina Le, junior at East Kentwood and one of the student speakers at GR Stories event EVENT DETAILS: GR Stories: This is our home now, 50 years of building community after Saigon May 7 @ the Grand Rapids Public Museum, 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 50 Years After Saigon: Vietnamese Stories of a New Home May 9 @ The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A look back at Santa Ono's career in higher education thus far, and what's been particularly challenging about high education administration in the last several years. GUESTS: David Jesse: senior writer, Chronicle of Higher Education Jamal Watson, PhD: editor of "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education," professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations, Trinity Washington University 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 Scarab Club has played an important role in Detroit’s arts and cultural scene for more than a century. But like many other Detroit arts lovers, the club’s new gallery director first stumbled into it by chance. On today’s pod, we’re going to be talking to Scarab Club gallery manager Donna Jackson about her approach to community engagement–and the profound impact the Detroit arts scene has had on her own life. GUEST: Donna Jackson, gallery manager at the Scarab Club Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new storytelling event in Grand Rapids called Unfiltered aims to bring people together through the sharing of experiences in and around the city. Similar to the format of The Moth, Unfiltered features folks in and around Grand Rapids sharing stories about first loves, scary job interviews, weird interactions in grocery stores, make-or-break moments of adversity, and more. Storytellers are invited to tell a 12-minute story around a common theme. Raul Alvarez, lead organizer for the event, initially pitched this idea to a group of friends with whom he regularly met for drinks. They were all excited to help plan a storytelling event, he said. “They went to work, and we had no clue what to expect,” Alvarez said. “It was kind of a prototype, but all of a sudden it sold out.” While Alvarez said storytelling might be a bit scary at first, because it involves a certain level of vulnerability, the community hasn't backed down. “Now, we have the second sellout, which tells us it is a movement,” Alvarez said. “We want to keep it going, because there's a lot of stories out there. We already have stories that have been submitted for a future [event].” The next Unfiltered is May 2, 2025 at the Four Star Theater, in Grand Rapids. The theme is “You Can’t Make This S*** Up!” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in September 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged seven Pro-Palestinian protesters for allegedly defying orders from University of Michigan public safety officers. The individuals were charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor, and for resisting arrest, a felony. In this episode we break down why the U-M Pro-Palestinian protestors want AG Nessel off the case. GUEST: Beenish Ahmed, journalist at Michigan Public Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are a time and place in America where more children of Holocaust survivors are with us than survivors themselves. In some ways this is the lens through which many Americans understand how the Nazi regime murdered 6 million Jews in the 1930's and 40's. Sassa Akervall's mother survived the Holocaust. She shared part of her family's story in the book, The Ones Who Remember: Second-Generation Voices of the Holocaust. It was published in 2022 by members of Temple Beth-Emeth in Ann Arbor and contains a collection of essays telling the stories of the children of Holocaust survivors. For more information on the book, go to secondgenerationvoices.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daria Burke’s life wasn’t easy growing up. Her parents split up, and her mom struggled with grief and addiction, forcing Burke to take on adult responsibilities at a young age. Years later, she became a marketing executive in the beauty industry. Her hunger to understand her own mind led to a season of deep self-investigation, resulting in a new book, Of My Own Making: A Memoir. Burke joined us to talk about the book. She'll be in Detroit May 13 for an event with Fresh Air’s Tonya Mosely at the Detroit Public Library. 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.

Please take a moment to fill out our listener survey. Your feedback helps The Dish team make the show great! The Dish, Stateside's spinoff podcast for Michigan foodies, met up with Eric Kinsler-Holloway, the baker and businessman behind EK's Cheescakes. More than a decade ago, Kinsler-Holloway turned to baking as a way to rebuild his life after several run-ins with the law. He's since turned his life around, and runs a humble but thriving cheesecake bakery based in Milan, Michigan. Read his full story here. Subscribe to The Dish on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you love to listen to podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Michigan author and preacher Jeff Chu took the long way to the seminary. And once he got there, faith led him farther than he expected back out into the world. It all started with a compost pile on the seminary farm. On this episode, we’ll talk to Chu about his new memoir–titled Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand–which details his journey into community, stewardship, and love of the land. GUEST: Jeff Chu, journalist, preacher and author of Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump wants Michigan automobile manufacturers to move entire supply chains to the U.S. And he’s put steep tariffs on the automotive industry in an attempt to spur that change. But many of these manufacturers are taking a wait-and-see approach because of the administration's constantly changing policies, and the cost associated with moving production. After President Donald Trump’s 25% automotive import tariffs went into effect April 3, a report from Reuter estimated auto sales could decline by two million. GUESTS: Dr. Jeff Rightmer, Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Global Supply Chain Management, Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University Kate Magill, lead editor of Manufacturing Dive and Supply Chain DiveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ecorse, about 15 minutes south of Detroit, is facing major financial challenges. The city could run out of cash by the end of this month. On this episode, we hear how Ecorse ended up here—and its options for digging itself back out. GUEST: Louis Aguilar, Wayne County reporter for the Detroit News Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city of Dearborn is launching RX Kids, a financial assistance program aimed at providing thousands of dollars for expectant mothers and their newborns. The program first begun in Flint and has expanded to Kalamazoo and several other counties in the Upper Peninsula. GUEST: Abdullah Hammoud is the mayor of the city of Dearborn. He announced the launch of the program in Dearborn during this year's State of the City address. 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.

Since Michigan legalized marijuana more than five years ago, cannabis has become pretty visible in everyday life. Dispensaries are everywhere, you can get marijuana in the form of candy and baked goods, and the industry is generating billions of dollars every year. But there’s also growing concern about how that normalization is affecting kids. A record number of Michigan kids were hospitalized last year for cannabis, according to the state’s poison control center. In the last five years, they received about 1,500 reports of kids under the age of six being exposed to or ingesting CBD, THC, or other cannabis products. We’re talking with Michigan Public reporters Kate Wells and Adam Yahya Rayes. They’ve been digging into what the numbers tell us, talking to parents, doctors, and people in the cannabis industry about why this is happening.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With vaccine hesitancy and measles infections rising among children in the state — some parents are concerned. Here's what you should know about the virus and how to protect against it. GUEST: Dr. Rebecca Schein, a pediatrician specializing in infectious disease and a Michigan State University assistant professor, is paying close attention to the measles cases in the state. 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.

Singer-songwriter May Erlewine’s new album offers a different side of an artist known for warm, intimate lyrics and bespoke acoustic arrangements. But the qualities that draw fans into May Erlewine’s music are still here, just with a less-compliant exterior. What It Takes is the second album she’s made with friend and producer Theo Katzman, of the post-funk band Vulfpeck. Erlewine has been thinking about the chaos of the moment and the moral choices she feels compelled to make. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaden Jefferson is 17-years-old and a senior in high school in Toledo. He's also a seasoned reporter, who has interviewed big name politicians like Elizabeth Warren and Tim Walz. Jefferson recently talked to Stateside about how he started his journey as a journalist at just 11-years-old, and what he has learned as the youngest reporter in the room. GUEST: Jaden Jefferson, Toledo-based journalist and host of the Behind the Byline podcast from the Toledo Free Press. You can find him on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms. 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.