Video Essays & Interview Podcasts

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 story of his life and career along with his work in radio and television.  Michael is also a published author of 6 books about Michigan. Did I forget to say, a juror in a murder trial of the century in Genesee County?  Michael shares his fascinating stories about broadcasting and the characters he worked with in the golden age of Flint area radio. --- Purchase a copy of Michael's latest book Michiganians You Should Know, at the author's website (https://michaeljthorp.com/) ------- Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast (https://www.radiofreeflint.media) mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Insta…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 piece of journalism each month, covering hyper-local government meetings and thoughtful essays from some of Genesee County's best writers.  Jan Worth-Nelson is a retired University of Michigan-Flint English Professor whose experience in Flint has made her the most influential person on the local scene most political leaders have never heard of. She quietly assembled a talented group of writers and reporters at the East Village Magazine, making it a publication of record for the Flint area.  Jan shares her joy about living in Flint, frustrations, disappointments, and what is possible for the region's future.  ------  …

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 years in Flushing, Michigan.  Connor represented Flint's 7th Ward as its artist-in-residence for the National Endowment for the Arts, Our Town grant. In this grant, artists engaged ward residents to produce creative work for the 2013 City of Flint Master Plan. Connor's work has appeared in Vox.com, Belt Magazine, and Santa Clara Review. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and an adopted rabbit in Flint's College Cultural Neighborhood (East Village). Coyne's novel describes a fantastical plot founded upon a mythical city where the main characters grew up.  The story revolves around parts of a dying industrial rust b…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 Daly of the City of Flint Department of Transportation, Cindy Johns of Carriage Town Ministries, and Rico Phillips, a retired Flint Firefighter. This podcast explores the unusual adoption of a community identity taken by people from rust belt Flint, Michigan. We explore the origins of this identity and delve into what it means for the future of the factory town. To many Flintstones, Flint represents the resilient middle America that will see a rust belt revival. Is a rust belt revival possible while maintaining the blue-collar way of life? Can there be a Rust Belt Revival in Flint? Many Flintstones see …

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 (1875-1973) was an American businessman and philanthropist born in Flint, Michigan. He is best known for his involvement in the automobile industry and his philanthropic work. Mott began his career as a clerk in his family's business, which manufactured carriage and automobile parts. He eventually took over the company and expanded it into a major parts supplier to the automotive industry. Mott was also involved in developing the Chevrolet Motor Company, founded by his friend and business partner, William C. Durant. In addition to his business pursuits, Mott was a philanthropist and supported several charitable causes. …

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 homelessness for 70 years. The community has supported the work of the organization throughout those years. Many faithful Flint area churches and individuals recognize the calling of Matthew 25 to be ministers to the hungry, the thirsty, and the individuals in need of a place to stay. The Carriage Town organization seeks to find the cause of homelessness for each individual they serve. Carriage Town today is located on a campus of learning and restoration in Flint's historic Carriage Town neighborhood. Visitors and residents find a haven of safety and acceptance, learning and responsibility, structure and productivity…A place…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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, Michigan church is the former Community Presbyterian Church in Flint's Civic Park neighborhood. Pastor McCathern is the founder and director of the Urban Renaissance Center. The Urban Renaissance Center is a faith-based nonprofit established by Joy Tabernacle Church. They provide social and community development services specifically designed and administered as a direct response to the high level of need within the Civic Park Community. Our primary activities include developing, implementing, and facilitating proactive methodological initiatives that provide holistic empowerment supports to individuals and families of…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 have imagined. In 2021, a song he wrote, Revelations 19:1, was recorded by hip-hop artist Kanye West. The song won a Grammy Award for West and LeValley, who wrote the song. In previous years, LeValley was Grammy-nominated for his work in gospel music. LeValley also received a lifetime achievement award from BMI for his work in Gospel Music. LeValley has no shortage of Flint area fans. He wrote and performed a song played for Pope John Paul on his visit to the Detroit area. He has performed with Aretha Franklin, Peabo Bryson, and Lou Rauls, to name a few. He estimates he recorded 275 recording projects in his long musical …

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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, Jerry Cassady, to come to Michigan and murder her husband, Bruce. Ms. Miller did so using a litany of falsehoods about her husband abusing her and the love child she was carrying. Jerry Cassady killed himself, leaving behind a suicide note and a laptop computer. The laptop held a treasure trove of filthy and incriminating evidence of the murder plot. The emails and chats gave the Genesee County jury a road map to convict Ms. Miller for her role in the murder. In the end, two men died, and Sharee Miller was convicted and imprisoned. Our guest on this episode is David Nickola, a criminal defense attorney. Mr. Nickola…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 him to be unable to use his legs at the age of 43. It is an uplifting story of courage and determination to overcome his physical disability to become one of the most well-liked Judges in Genesee County. The Beagle family has practiced law in Genesee County for over 120 years! Charles Beagle was the Genesee County Prosecuting Attorney in 1929 during one of the most spectacular Bank crashes in America during the Great Depression. The Industrial Bank was looted in 1929 by its executives, who speculated in the stock market with depositors' funds. Then Prosecutor Beagle charged and convicted 13 of the banks' executives and m…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 his community. Judge Beagle's grandfather Charles Beagle was the Genesee County Prosecutor in the 1920s and practiced law for 56 years in Flint. John Beagle, Duncan's father, was also a Flint lawyer who practiced law with distinction for more than 50 years. The Beagle family has a rich legacy of community service in the greater Flint area. The Beagles have served on numerous community boards and have given richly of their time, talents, and treasure to the people of Flint. This podcast interview with Judge Beagle covers his life growing up in Flint, community activities, and accomplishments. The State Bar of Michig…

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2027801/open_sms) 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 Pharmacy with his father, Dale Hagerman, in 1975. Diplomat grew to be the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, with revenue growing from $25 million in 2005 to over $4 Billion in 2015, recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in healthcare. The start-up specialty pharmacy, located at the Great Lakes Technology Center, employs over 1,000 in the City of Flint.   Phillip started a real estate and venture investment firm headquartered in the historic Dryden Building in Downtown Flint, Michigan. The Dryden building, constructed in 1901, was home to the original offices of General Motors, formed by  Billy Dura…