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Radio Free Flint Podcast

Podcast Episodes Interviews, Show Notes, and Transcripts

May 3, 2022

Dave Liske: History of the Flint Style Coney Island Restaurant

Send us a text 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 Detr…

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April 26, 2022

Michael J Thorp: Michigan Trivia & People We Should Know

Send us a text Michael J. Thorp Has Stories to Tell about His Life in Mid-Michigan Television and Radio. Michael Shares Curious Tales from His Latest Book Former WJRT TV-12 morning anchor Michael J. Thorp has been a familiar voice to the people of Mid-Michigan for nearly 50 years. He shares the sto…

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April 19, 2022

Jan Worth-Nelson: History of the Iconic East Village Magazine

Send us a text 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 p…

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April 12, 2022

Connor Coyne novel "Urbantasm" Set in Deindustrialized Flint

Send us a text In this interview, 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…

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April 5, 2022

Flintstones: Whats in a Nickname?

Send us a text What does it mean to be a Flintstone? Rustbelt 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 …

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April 2, 2022

CS Mott: A Giant in Automotive History Part 1

Send us a text CS Mott was a giant in automotive history. Author Ed Renahan discusses the remarkable life of Charles Stewart Mott. "The Life of Charles Stewart Mott" is a fascinating and comprehensive look at the life of one of the world's most successful capitalists. Charles Stewart Mott (1875-197…

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March 23, 2022

Carriage Town Ministries and Homelessness in Flint

Send us a text 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 homeles…

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March 15, 2022

Rev Robert McCathern and His Hip-Hop Civic Park Church

Send us a text Rev. Robert McCathern, the 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, leads a church some call a "hip" church. His Flint, Mich…

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Feb. 22, 2022

Jeffrey LeValley, Gospel Grammy Songwriter

Send us a text 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 hav…

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Feb. 17, 2022

The First Internet Murder Trial (ft David Nickola)

Send us a text The Sharee Miller murder case is one of Michigan's most notable criminal cases this century. 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, Jerr…

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Feb. 9, 2022

Judge Duncan Beagle Interview Part Two

Send us a text 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 retire at the end of his current term. This is a riveting conversation about the illness that caused hi…

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Feb. 2, 2022

Judge Duncan M. Beagle Part One

Send us a text Judge Duncan Beagle of Genesee County is a 3rd generation lawyer. He shares his 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 hi…

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Jan. 25, 2022

Reviving Rust Belt Flint with Phil Hagerman

Send us a text Philip Hagerman started a real estate and venture investment firm, Sky Point Ventures, headquartered in Flint, Michigan. He discusses his $50 million investment in reviving downtown Flint including the historic Capitol Theatre. Philip R. Hagerman co-founded Diplomat Specialty Pharmac…

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Jan. 18, 2022

Safetyville, Corvettes, T-Birds, and Miniature Flint-- Part Two

Send us a text 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 kids' first driver's licenses. Many Flint baby boomers received their first driver's licens…

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June 8, 2021

Flint Poet Laurate Semaj Brown

Send us a text Poet Semaj Brown is Flint's Poet Laureate. Her work in Flint uses poetry to address literacy problems with lead-poisoned children. Semaj Brown is the first Poet Laureate appointed by the City of Flint. She delivers a riveting read of a poem she wrote for the people of Flint. The Acad…

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May 20, 2021

Rico Phillips Helps Hockey Break Barriers to Diversity

Send us a text Rico Phillips is a retired, 27-year veteran Flint Firefighter. He is also an inspiration!. In 2019, the National Hockey League honored Rico with its prestigious Community Hero Award. They did so because, in 2010, Phillips started an inner-city hockey program to introduce Flint kids t…

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May 6, 2021

Michigan Truck Camper Tour: Lake Huron Shoreline

Send us a text 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 …

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May 2, 2021

Michigan Lumber Company: Oldest Lumber Yard in Flint Area

Send us a text 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 affo…

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April 25, 2021

Author Patricia Majher

Send us a text 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. A deep-sea diver, a…

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April 18, 2021

The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water Crisis (ft. Anna Clark)

Send us a text Anna Clark is an accomplished author and journalist. In The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy, Anna examines what happened to poison the water in Flint, Michigan. She digs into the public policies that need reform and drinking water policy decisions by the F…

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April 13, 2021

Jermaine Reese, PhD

Send us a text Jermaine Reese, spent eighteen years as a Flint Police Officer. He shares his policing career, its highs and lows. He patrolled the Flint, Michigan neighborhood where he was raised. What is life like in a City of Flint patrol car? What will it take for Flint's crime statistics to imp…

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April 4, 2021

Michael Jablonski

Send us a text 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 a…

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March 28, 2021

Joel Bye and the Blue Hawaiians Band

Send us a text 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 w…

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March 21, 2021

William S. Ballenger III

Send us a text William S. Ballenger III of Flint, Michigan is a descendant of one of the founders of Buick, Chevrolet Motor Car Company, General Motors. Bill is a member of the family that philanthropically endowed the Flint area. Bill shares his family's history, accomplishments, and philanthropic…

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