Podcast Episodes Interviews, Show Notes, and Transcripts
Toxic Tadpoles and Curious Kids: Flint's First Lead Crisis
Send us a text General Motors dumped leaded automotive paints, thinners, laquors, and other chemicals into a public park and surrounding areas in Flint, Michigan. The most obvious evidence of the environmental dirty deed was covered up with bulldozer and a little dirt. Then in 1953, the area known …
Gritty Flint: George's Gambling Joint, Armed Robbery and Pinball #200…
Send us a text Most paperboys finish their route at the neighbor's house. Arthur Busch's route finished at a gambling joint on the "strip" in front of a GM factory. He recounts a story of life in gritty Flint, Michigan. In his story, he of delivers the Flint Journal to a bar on his paper route and …
Welcome to Flint: Charlie's Drug Store Murder #20021
Send us a text Arthur Busch narrates a story about the unsolved murder of a Flint drug store owner in 1954. It was the former prosecutor's welcome to Flint as his mom was pregnant for him at the time she witnessed the armed robbery and murder. The murder took place in a 1950's style drug store comp…
US Supreme Court & Flint's Gang-Related Murder Case #20020
Send us a text Lawyers dream about appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Only a very small number of lawyers ever get the chance. Arthur Busch argued the first Flint criminal case ever to come before the United States Supreme Court, in March 2003. Arthur Busch shares his diary by telling the sto…
Flint Culture Clash: Southerners Find Auto Boomtown USA
Send us a text The second diary essay by Arthur Busch. Flint, Michigan is a rust-belt factory town. The town was transformed in the 1950's by a great migration of eager southerners seeking work in GM automobile factories. Arthur describes fondly his family and the hillbilly traditions and values th…
Student Diary: A Riot at High School
Send us a text History repeats itself. Flint Southwestern experienced violence that most remember as a "race riot" in 1970. The spark that started that racial disturbance was not what people thought at the time. Arthur Busch gives an audio diary of his memories of that incident. He discusses the cu…
Income Inequality in a Factory Town
Send us a text Arthur Busch discusses the awakening of the northern Hillbillies in the heartland of America. Intellectuals call parts of the country where globalization has decimated manufacturing jobs the "Rustbelt". Income inequality has given rise to white American nationalism. It has found a ho…
Flint's Hidden History
Send us a text Hop in for a ride with local history columnist Gary Flinn to the halcyon days of flint. Revisit the contributions of oft-overlooked David Buick, the inventive and invaluable Flint auto pioneer who lacked the business savvy to become an auto legend. Travel back to the original Kewpee …
Investigative Reporter's Most Haunting Murder Cases
Send us a text Flint, Michigan has been one of America's most violent cities for decades. It has been been a national leader in per capita homicides, violent crimes, sexual assaults and arsons. There are many unsolved crimes. Did you ever wonder what the back story was on some of these crimes? What…
Flint's 1960's "Golden Age" Memories: Hot Rod Cars, Music and Girls
Send us a text 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 tha…
A Career in Journalism In a Place Like No Other
Send us a text 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, neighborhoo…
Oldtime Baseball News: From Hobby to Dream Job
Send us a text 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 nume…
A Champion for Flint's Poor
Send us a text 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 Catholi…
A Grand National BMX Racer and Auto Gypsy
Send us a text 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 tha…
Sports Broadcaster Recalls Flint's Best Athletes #20007
Send us a text 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 broadcasti…
JFK, Coors, Golf: Flint's Trailblazer Leo Seide #20006
Send us a text 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…
Jeff Natchez, DO: A Detroit Tiger Baseball Dream
Send us a text 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 …
Ode to John Prine
Send us a text 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. …
Americana tribute to Working People of Flint #20003
Send us a text 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 spe...
Radio Free Flint Podcast: Voices from America's Heartland (Trailer)
Send us a text --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/message Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.
Musician Rachel Cole: Flint Roots #20001
Send us a text 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 ...