Video Essays & Interview Podcasts

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 sounds of the morning, and talks directly with the people who make this iconic tradition come alive.From families bundled up in the cold, to lifelong Detroiters describing what the parade means to them, to first-timers experiencing the floats, balloons, and Big Heads with wide-eyed excitement—this episode brings you the street-level spirit of a Detroit Thanksgiving.Arthur reflects on the city’s resilience, the legacy of the parade, and why moments like this matter to Michigan’s identity. If you couldn’t make it downtown, this episode puts you right there at the curbside.🎧 Listen for:• Candid conversations with parade-goers• Atmosphere and live sounds from Woodward Avenue• Arthur’s insights on Detroit’s holiday traditions and community pride…

In 1937, a 23-year-old Flint woman stood between General Motors security, Flint police gunfire, and the workers fighting for their lives inside Fisher Body.Her name was Genora Johnson Dollinger — and she did more than rally the Women’s Emergency Brigade.She dodged bullets for the UAW and helped spark a labor uprising that reshaped the American middle class.This episode begins with a cinematic reenactment of the Flint Sit-Down Strike and Genora’s electrifying moment on the picket line. From her kitchen-table organizing to the chaos outside the plants, Genora’s bravery becomes the doorway into a deeper story about labor, power, and the long shadow cast over America’s auto industry.🔍 What This Episode Explores• The Real Genora Johnson DollingerA young mother who stepped into leadership during a crisis — and became one of the most important (and overlooked) women in American labor history.• The Strike That Built the Middle ClassThe 1937 Sit-Down wasn’t just a labor dispute.I…

In 1937, a 23-year-old Flint woman stood between General Motors security, Flint police gunfire, and the workers fighting for their lives inside Fisher Body.Her name was Genora Johnson Dollinger — and she did more than rally the Women’s Emergency Brigade.She dodged bullets for the UAW and helped spark a labor uprising that reshaped the American middle class.This episode begins with a cinematic reenactment of the Flint Sit-Down Strike and Genora’s electrifying moment on the picket line. From her kitchen-table organizing to the chaos outside the plants, Genora’s bravery becomes the doorway into a deeper story about labor, power, and the long shadow cast over America’s auto industry.We would like to hear from you! Send us a Text. (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 👉 Subscribe to Radio Free Flint Podcasts at The Mitten Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@TheMittenChannel?sub_confirmation=1) :• YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheMit…

In 1937, Genora Johnson stood before the workers of Flint and delivered a speech that changed American labor history. At just 23 years old, she organized the Women’s Emergency Brigade—women in red berets who defended the Sit-Down Strikers when police and company forces closed in.This reenactment brings her voice and courage back to life.A moment of history restored.A spark that helped build the American middle class.This is The Mitten Channel.This is Flint’s story.This is Genora Johnson.

This is the VIDEO EDITION featuring Detroit photography and visual montage. Welcome to the Detroit comeback. With a voice as warm and familiar as the streets themselves, we take a tour of the Motor City's stunning revitalization. From the iconic Hudson’s Building and the architecture of the Whitney Building to the vibrant Riverwalk and the energy of the city's sports scene, this video captures the enduring, tough, and durable spirit of Detroit.This is more than a travel documentary; it’s an ode to the city that refuses to quit. As the "big brother" to the state's industrial heartland, Detroit's story of resilience mirrors the community spirit we champion on our network.The Mitten Channel is dedicated to exploring the true policy and labor history behind the Michigan experience. If you love the complexity behind the comeback, subscribe to our hub!This is a Mitten Channel Production.

Remastered Video--Flint’s own Paul Staroba remembers catching his first touchdown pass in the Big House — and the hilarious way the celebration ended.A slice of Michigan football history from one of the greats.Remastered Video first released in 2020. Improvements in editing and sound quality. The Mitten Channel • Radio Free Flint • Flint Justice Podcast#MichiganFootball #GoBlue #BigHouse #PaulStaroba #FlintMichigan #MittenChannel #UMich #Wolverines

Remastered version. Paul Staroba — Flint native, University of Michigan standout, Big Ten leader in receptions, NFL wide receiver and punter — sits down with Arthur Busch to share the story of a lifetime.From backyard football on Flint’s east side to catching touchdowns in the Big House under Bo Schembechler, Staroba reflects on the coaches, teammates, and moments that shaped his career. He opens up about:Growing up in a working-class Flint neighborhoodHow Coach Jack Pratt pushed him to believe he could play big-time footballBecoming a Wolverine and adjusting to Bo’s famously brutal practicesLeading the Big Ten in receptions and puntingPlaying for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay PackersThe 1975 NFL players’ strike and his unforgettable Green Bay arrestHow Flint’s grit and loyalty prepared him for life after footballThis episode blends sports history, Michigan culture, NFL insight, and the emotional arc of a Flintstone who made it big — without ever forgetting wher…

Detroit legend Wayne Kramer of the MC5 joins Arthur Busch to talk music, activism, prison reform, and the incredible story behind Jail Guitar Doors USA. A deep dive into Detroit jazz, counterculture history, FBI surveillance, radical politics, addiction, and redemption — from one of rock’s most influential guitarists.#flintmichigan #detroit #rockmusicinterviews #rockmusician

Join Arthur Busch on location in downtown Detroit, Michigan, 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 sounds of the morning, and talks directly with the people who make this iconic tradition come alive.From families bundled up in the cold, to lifelong Detroiters describing what the parade means to them, to first-timers experiencing the floats, balloons, and Big Heads with wide-eyed excitement—this episode brings you the street-level spirit of a Detroit Thanksgiving.Arthur reflects on the city’s resilience, the legacy of the parade, and why moments like this matter to Michigan’s identity. If you couldn’t make it downtown, this episode puts you right there at the curbside.🎧 Listen for:Candid conversations with parade-goersAtmosphere and live sounds from Woodward AvenueArthur’s insights on Detroit’s holiday traditions and community prideA snapsh…

Is it possible to make Flint laugh?If anyone can, it’s Bryan McCree — nationally touring comedian, actor, writer, and proud Flintstone. Known for his sharp insight into American culture and his uncanny ability to make us laugh at ourselves, Bryan brings a humor that is both fearless and deeply rooted in real life.In this interview, which is part of The Mitten Biography Project, Bryan shares personal stories from his Flint upbringing, his family’s remarkable legacy, and clips from his act that poke fun at race, poverty, stereotypes, and the everyday absurdities of growing up in a blue-collar Michigan town. His timing, physical comedy, and stage presence are unmatched — a skillset built partly on the school bus, where he delivered daily comedy routines to his classmates.Listen to the full interview at The Mitten Biography Project a production of The Mitten Channel.

Radio Free Flint is a storytelling project born in the heart of Michigan.This trailer introduces the mission: to preserve the voices, struggles, triumphs, and untold stories of Flint, the Rust Belt, and working-class America.Hosted by Arthur Busch, former Genesee County Prosecutor, the series blends personal narrative, history, true crime, labor stories, and the lived experience of a community that shaped modern America — and paid the price for its abandonment.From the UAW Sit-Down Strike to the Flint Water Crisis, from neighborhood mysteries to the resilience of everyday Michiganders, Radio Free Flint documents what really happened here — and why it matters now more than ever.Welcome to The Mitten Channel.Where Michigan’s stories live.

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) The Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936–37 wasn’t just a labor dispute — it was a turning point in American history. In this short documentary segment, former Genesee County Prosecutor Arthur Busch breaks down what really happened inside the Fisher Body plants, why the strike succeeded, and how Flint became the birthplace of modern union power.This video explores:• The strategy workers used to shut down General Motors• How the UAW was born inside the factory walls• Why General Motors feared the sit-down tactic• The role of women’s brigades and community support• How Flint’s labor victory shaped wages, work, and democracy for generationsThe sit-down strike wasn't about nostalgia — it was about power, dignity, and the fight for the American middle class. Its lessons are still relevant today as workers confront automation, corporate consolidation, and the changing nature of labor.I…