Podcast Episodes Interviews, Show Notes, and Transcripts
Feb. 12, 2026
A Flint Medic, a Plane Full of Babies, and the Crash That Shook Saigon
In this re-edited Radio Free Flint interview, Flint Southwestern graduate Sgt. Phillip Wise recounts surviving the 1975 Operation Babylift crash—one of the most devastating aviation disasters of the Vietnam War.
Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Saigon, the rear cargo doors of a C-5A Galaxy fai…
Feb. 9, 2026
A Flint Athlete’s Journey From High School Stardom To Optometry
Remastered edition: re-edited and shortened for clarity and pace. We trace Jeff Natchez’s path from Flint open gyms and sandlots to a **Detroit Tigers draft pick, rookie ball under a young Jim Leyland , and a second career in...
Feb. 6, 2026
Joe Ryan III: From Flint to Hollywood — The Sound of a New Generation
In this Radio Free Michigan interview, Arthur Busch revisits Joe’s early days in Flint and his viral song Flint, Michigan recorded with his 90-year-old grandmother to trace his path from local talent to Hollywood composer. Ryan reflects on evolving recording tech, creative independence, and what it…
Feb. 6, 2026
Law and the Rights of States to Prosecute Federal Officials
Do federal officials enjoy absolute immunity from state criminal prosecution? Arthur Busch dismantles the myth of “absolute immunity” for federal agents and explains how state and county prosecutors can and sometimes must bring criminal charges against ICE officers involved in fatal shootings.
Feb. 3, 2026
A Republic at War With Itself: Militarized Policing and the Slow Erosion of Civil Liberties
The episode looks at what happened to the Bill of Rights under pressure. It discusses how guarantees of counsel, bail, due process, and protection from unreasonable searches were narrowed by exception, doctrine, and rhetoric. The Constitution remained on the page, but its reach shrank in practice.
Jan. 29, 2026
Flint on the Brink: Who Governs After Collapse—Broken Systems, Billion-Dollar Philanthropy, and Flint-First Leadership
Flint on the Brink is a clear-eyed examination of an American rust-belt city struggling to decide who controls its future. In this episode, former Michigan prosecutor and legal educator Arthur Busch reads and expands on his e...
Jan. 25, 2026
Bad Water, Kids, Big Money, and Lawyers
When water systems fail, the damage is not the same for everyone. In Flint, the deepest harm lives in children’s brains. In other cities, the damage is buried in pipes, mains, and hydrants. In this episode, Arthur Busch exami...
Jan. 21, 2026
Leaving Flint to See America on a Schwinn Bicycle
I Left My Blue-Collar Hometown On A Schwinn And Learned How The "Other Half" Actually Lives Have you ever felt that crushing pressure to leave home just to "figure out your future"? 🤔 In this episode, I’m looking back at 1970...
Dec. 26, 2025
Inside Anatomy of a Murder
This is a short excerpt from an upcoming episode of Flint Justice . In this preview, Arthur Busch explores the real Michigan homicide case that inspired Anatomy of a Murder and the lawyer behind it, John D. Voelker—prosecutor...
Dec. 26, 2025
John D. Voelker and Anatomy of a Murder: Law, Doubt, and Justice in Michigan
In 1952, a saloon killing in a small Upper Peninsula town became one of the most important—and controversial—criminal trials in Michigan history. The lawyer who defended the accused was John D. Voelker: former county prosecut...
Dec. 15, 2025
The Age of Anxiety: Political Media, Dementia, and the Boomer Fear
The Age of Anxiety: Political Media, Dementia, and the Boomer Fear In Michigan living rooms—from Flint to Saginaw to small towns up north—older Americans watch political news that feels less like reporting and more like a pub...
Dec. 12, 2025
Inside Detroit’s 99th Thanksgiving Parade:On-the-Ground Coverage by Arthur Busch
Join Arthur Busch on location in downtown Detroit as he takes you inside the magic of the 99th Annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade . In this special field-report episode, Arthur walks Woodward Avenue, captures the sights and...