Podcast Episodes Interviews, Show Notes, and Transcripts

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 wen...

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 covera...

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 Me...

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 legend...

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 fact...

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. hTom...

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 ...

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 "...

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 ...

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 strugg...

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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.--- Send in a voice m...