Stateside

There is something special about strawberry season in Michigan: that brief moment of the year when we trade the pale gigantic plastic clamshell berries for the sweet, deep red jewels of in-season strawberries. On this episode, Chef Abra Berens is back with a recipe that gives those summer strawberries the respect they deserve. 

GUEST: 

Abra Berens, cookbook author and culinary director at Granor Farm 

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Whitefish populations in the lower Great Lakes have been declining for decades. Bridge Michigan environment reporter Kelly House joined Stateside to discuss what’s threatening the iconic fish, and what could be done to save them.

GUEST:

Kelly House, Environment Reporter at Bridge Michigan

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This summer, the Scripps Howard Fund gave Detroit Free Press reporter M.L. Elrick an award for his column “On Guard”, in which he publishes all manner of exposes, in the muckraking tradition. 

Back in 2009, Elrick and his colleague Jim Schaefer shared a Pulitzer prize for covering corruption in the administration of then-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. 

Elrick is also the creator of a student journalism project called Eye on Michigan at MSU.

GUEST:

M.L. Elrick, journalist, Detroit Free Press

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For a pilot, ejecting mid-flight is always a bad scenario.

Lt. Kegan "Smurf" Gill narrowly escaped from a fighter jet traveling 695 miles per hour, approaching the speed of sound. It’s the fastest survived ejection in naval aviation history.

“I have a very clear linear memory, right up to the point where I pulled the ejection handle, and after that I have no linear memory,” he said about the experience. “But over the course of the years, I'd gotten a lot back in flashbacks, which were often night terrors. So maybe not the most pleasant way to remember something, but that gave me some insights into what had happened.”

A former Naval fighter pilot, Gill flew a training exercise off the East Coast in 2014 when his F/A-18 ran into trouble. His subsequent injuries, including head trauma, changed his life forever.

Gill wrote about the experience and aftermath in his new book “Phoenix Revival: The Aftermath of Naval Aviation's Fastest Ejection.”

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In the wake of the U.S. military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, an Iranian-American scholar at the University of Michigan-Dearborn reflects on how public perception of Iranians has evolved alongside U.S. relations with the country over the years. 

GUEST:

Camron Amin, professor of Middle East Studies and Iranian Diaspora Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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As the weather heats up in Michigan, so does the excitement of the Ann Arbor District Library's 15th annual Summer Game. We talked to AADL library director Eli Neiburger about the origins of the beloved tradition and how it's changed through the years.

If you're already a Summer Game fan, we've got a treat for you! Enter the word 'STATESIDE' as a summer game code to earn 500 points. You can also text the code to (734) 327- 4200 to be signed up for the game and start earning points.

GUEST: 

Eli Neiburger, director of the Ann Arbor District Library 

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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The Detroit Tigers are the best in baseball right now. Yes, that's right. 

GUEST:

Rogelio Castillo,Tigers beat writer and podcaster

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Movement, Detroit’s long-running techno music festival made its way back to the city last month. Dynamic sounds and energetic tempos could be felt miles away from Hart Plaza as massive crowds danced their way through Memorial Day Weekend.

Headlining this year’s festival was Carl Craig, a Detroit music producer, DJ, and founder of the record label Planet E Communications. Last year, a documentary film that chronicles the artist's life, Desire: The Carl Craig Story, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. This year, the film was screened at a pre-party to the music festival, ringing in the vibrant celebration of techno.

“Most people don’t get a chance to see their lives before their eyes until a near-death experience. So I’m totally happy to see these things. These friends, family members, everyone in front of my face,” said Craig.

GUEST ON THIS EPISODE:

Carl Craig, music producer and DJ from Detroit

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This year Mackinac Island celebrates a big milestone; it's been 150 years since it was named a National Park. It was only the second space given that designation in the nation, behind Yellowstone. Mackinac Island is a State Park these days, and it enjoys a rich and intriguing history that creates a sense of timelessness. Today we explore some of the chronology that take the island from Anishinaabe fishing community, to Revolutionary War outpost, to the carless, fudge-filled spot it is today. 

GUEST:

Craig Wilson, Mackinac Island Historic Parks

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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The Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 brought attention to the harassment and violence that LGBTQ+ people faced in America. But it wasn't just America that was paying attention. We talked to an assistant professor at Michigan State University about how Pride celebrations have evolved in Mexico—which saw its first Pride celebration in 1979.

GUEST: 

Alejandra Márquez, assistant professor of Spanish at Michigan State University

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Immigrant advocates in Grand Rapids say ICE tried detaining people at routine check-ins. Now, immigrants face a difficult choice: show up and risk arrest, or stay home and break the law.

GUEST:

Gema Lowe, volunteer organizer with the immigrant rights group Movimiento Cosecha GR

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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You may be wondering why you haven’t seen swarms of mayflies yet. Cold water temperatures have delayed their arrival—but don’t worry, they’re on their way. Experts predict the mayflies will begin hatching in Michigan over the next couple of weeks.

GUEST:

Richard Merritt, former entomology professor at Michigan State University 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Scholar and poet Shonda Buchanan grew up in Kalamazoo with a deep love for Nina Simone. Her new book, The Lost Songs of Nina Simone, captures the singer's spirit in a unique blend of poetry, memoir, and historical reflection.

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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A UM student who has been active in the pro-Palestinian protest movement on campus, says he was followed by apparent plainclothes private surveillance teams contracted by the university. And he has video to prove it.

GUEST:

Josiah Walker, UM student

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Maykol Bogoya-Duarte is a Detroit high school student, who was just 3.5 credits away from earning his diploma when he was pulled over by Rockwood police for alleged tailgating. Bogoya-Duarte, who was already under an active deportation order and planning to fly back to Colombia with his mother, was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement during the May 20 traffic stop. He had hoped to finish his high school diploma by the end of this year, but now faces imminent deportation. We talked to Bogoya-Duarte's attorney and a reporter about the student's case, and what it can tell us about the bigger picture for undocumented students in Michigan. 

GUESTS: 

Hannah Dellinger, ChalkbeatDetroit reporter 

Ruby Robinson, senior managing attorney at the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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How Lansing native Terk Brunk, aka Sabu, changed wrestling and became a global sports hero for Arab Americans 

GUESTS:

Shaffee Abraham, former radio host and ring manger for Sabu 

Khalil AlHajal, Deputy Opinion Editor at the Detroit Free Press

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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The Senate may soon vote on a federal budget packed with President Trump’s priorities. The bill passed the house last month with major changes to Medicaid. Michigan’s Republican representatives argue these aren’t “cuts” – they say that they’re “protecting” Medicaid by removing “waste, fraud and abuse.” These changes, whatever you call them, could result in millions losing Medicaid coverage by 2027, according to estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Nearly two million Michiganders, including many people with disabilities, are enrolled in eMdicaid. State officials may be left with the choice to let many people lose coverage ormake cuts elsewhere to cover losses in federal funding.

GUESTS:

Amanda Rhines, director for Disability Network Lakeshore and member of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council

Terry DeYoung, board president of Disability Network Lakeshore and former disability concerns coordinator for the Reformed Church in America

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Alex B. Hill is the principal of DETROITography, an organization that provides data resources for city residents.

"You know, I have Detroit maps in the back of my head. I've made so many of them. And the Great Lakes, I've lived here forever, but I hadn't ever really made a map of the region," Hill said.

As a cartographer and information designer, Hill focuses on Michigan locations, offering new perspectives for understanding these areas.

His new book, "Great Lakes in 50 Maps," explores our freshwater features and the surrounding land, highlighting how this relationship impacts how people live.

"As I was thinking about this book, I realized how much the Great Lakes are a part of all of us," Hill said. "We're 90 percent water. We are the Great Lakes; we just walk around!"

The book includes maps featuring indigenous names for the lakes, treaties, and land rights associated with the Great Lakes, historical Underground Railroad stops, and shipwrecks in the inland seas, among other topics.

Hill is also the author of "Detroit in 50 Maps."

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The regents of University of Florida had already offered Ono the gig, and he had accepted. But the larger governing body - the Board of Governors - rejected that plan as pressure mounted from Republican lawmakers and influential voices decried Ono as too liberal.

At the meeting on June 3, 2025, the members of the Board of Governors peppered Ono with questions about his record of support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. DEI programs have become a target of the Republican Party under President Donald Trump. Ono halted DEI programs at U-M after Trump took office this year.

Ono told the board members this week that he stood by his decision to walk away from DEI.

"My evolution over the past 18 months or more... has really focused on my personal experience seeing DEI programs - that were started with all good intensions - what impact they've had on campuses," said Ono.

Board members also pushed on Ono's handling of pro-Palestinian campus protests, and questioned whether he came out with enough forceful support of Israel in the days after the Oct. 7th attack in 2023. Conversely, many pro-Palestinian supporters on campus and in Ann Arbor railed against Ono while president at U-M for being too supportive of Israel and for continuing university investment in Israeli businesses.

The Florida Board of Governors rejected Ono's appointment by a 10-6 vote. It's unclear what Ono will do now.

His departure from U-M came after three difficult years, in which the university was challenged on multiple fronts.

The reason and manner of Florida’s apparent rejection are also historic, and say a lot about this moment.

Today, we’ve invited back Jamal Watson, editor of the online journal, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education to explain what happened and what's next for Ono.

Watson is also a Professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations at Trinity Washington University.

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The mistrial in the criminal case against former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya, has left the Lyoya family vowing to continue seeking justice through civil court. Some legal experts argue that police training and the difficulty of convicting officers played a key role in the hung jury decision.

GUEST:

Ekow Yankah, Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and holds the title of Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. He's also a professor of philosophy at the university.

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Abra Berens, cookbook author and culinary director at Granor Farm in Three Oaks, offered a risotto recipe that works as the perfect catchall for your farmers market finds this spring. 

After you hear her tips, find the full recipe below:

Spring Risotto

This risotto can absorb any random spring vegetables like asparagus or ramps even baby carrots or radish. I just slice them thinly or into a small dice and then add in place of the peas. The broth is a great way to use up old parmesan rinds, but isn’t strictly necessary. 

In a large frying pan, heat a glug of olive oil over medium heat Add the onion and garlic with a hefty pinch of salt and sweat until soft but not browned Add the wine and reduce until dry Add the rice and toast for a couple of minutes Add a ladle full of hot liquid to the rice and stir continuously until the liquid is absorbed Continue with an additional ladle of liquid and stir until that is absorbed Continue adding ladle after ladle of liquid allowing to absorb fully between additions When the rice is 90% cooked, add the peas and an additional ladle of liquid Finish with the lemon zest and juice along  Taste and adjust seasoning as desired To serve finish with a hefty glug of olive oil and any herbs or pea shoot over the top

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The City of Dearborn is buying or parcels of land along an industrial stretch on the south end of town. The idea is to turn this strip into a green park buffer between industry and residential, in order to tamp down pollution of all sorts. 

GUEST:

Ali Abazeed, public health director, City of Dearborn

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Detroit artist Akea Brionne uses a digital loom to create painterly tapestries rooted in the Black experience. Her fresh approach to an age old craft recently earned Brionne accolades, and a $50,000 prize, from the Knight Foundation. We sat down with the Louisiana-born artist to talk about how she blends history and technology–and the stories she’s telling in her work.

GUEST:

Akea Brionne, Detroit-based artist

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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For decades, many Michigan farmers have relied on the herbicide Roundup for weed control. But the federal government has two conflicting policies that may affect whether they can continue to use this highly effective - and dangerous - product. At issue is Roundup’s active ingredient – glyphosate.

Environmental Reporter Keith Schneider is senior editor and chief correspondent at Circle of Blue. He recently wrote about the long history of research on this product’s carcinogenic properties, all the while its maker says the product can be used safely as directed.

Today, we’ll be talking with Keith about Michigan’s most popular farm herbicide, it's health risks, and how it’s regulated.

Background reading: 

Conflict Over a Blockbuster Farm Chemical

RFK Jr. tells farmers, GOPT not to worry about his report targeting pesticides

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A deep dive into the history of contamination by the Gelman plume in Ann Arbor. We hear about how it started, its impacts to water and human health, and what's being done about it today. 

Michigan Public's Elinor Epperson dug deep into the history of the Gelman plume.

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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It's festival season! As Detroiters prepare for Movement this weekend, we revisit a conversation with the festival's founder, DJ Carl Craig. 

Read the original story here.

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Music in this episode by Carl Craig.

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Planned Parenthood of Michigan closed four clinics this year.

Kate Wells, health reporter for Michigan Public, explained why operational costs and the loss of Title X funding may be the biggest threat to abortion access. She also discussed the role telehealth services have played in changing the reproductive care landscape, particularly in rural areas.

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Malcolm X would have turned 100 years old today. We revisit a series of conversations about why Americans so often overlook Malcolm X when it comes to Black History Month celebrations and formal education spaces. 

GUEST:

Also heard on this episode: 

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Malcolm X would have turned 100 years old today. We revisit a series of conversations about why Americans so often overlook Malcolm X when it comes to Black History Month celebrations and formal education spaces. 

GUESTS:

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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When Rachel Blistein couldn't find hair products that worked for her curly texture, she took matters into her own hands. Mixing formulas in her kitchen, she launched Original Moxie. It’s a hair care company rooted in Ypsilanti, Michigan, focused on sustainability while celebrating diverse hair types.

In addition to the non-toxic and environmentally friendly ingredients, Blisten decided to ditch the plastic containers. That was right before the COVID pandemic. She described her research into sustainable alternatives as "falling down a rabbit hole."

“It was just really a personal desire to shift to a more sustainable solution. I wasn't thinking about increasing our profits,” Blisten said. “I was just hoping we'd break even, in the transition.”

Listen to the interview to hear more about the ups and downs of growing a values-driven beauty brand rooted in Michigan. 

You can learn more about Original Moxie here.

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If you have little kids under ten who tune to PBS on a regular basis – its likely you know about Wimee’s Words.The PBS children’s show that reaches 30 million homes around the country is originally from Grand Rapids. It features Wimee the Robot, an animated puppet, who teaches kids about science, technology, engineering, art and math.

GUESTS:

Michael Hyacinthe, creator, Wimee's Words

Wimee, robot star of Wimee's Words

Want to support shows like Wimee's Words and Stateside? Sign this petition at Protect My Public Media or you can donate to Michigan Public or your local PBS!

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Five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of raping and brutally assaulting a white woman in 1989. The boys’ legal case gripped and divided the nation, and symbolized systemic injustices within the legal system for communities of color. All five men were exonerated over a decade later.

Detroit Opera brings the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera The Central Park Five to audiences on May 16 and 18. Award-winning director Nataki Garrett talked about bringing this powerful piece to the stage, and why it’s so relevant for audiences right now.

“I love that we're doing this opera in Detroit, which has a significant black population, because there are parts of this story that are a part of our collective consciousness, both through memory but also through experience,” Garrett told Stateside.

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Jeffrey Seller is one of the biggest Broadway producers. Beyond ‘Hamilton’ and ‘Rent,’ Seller’s work has grossed billions of dollars. The 60-year-old Tony award winner is nothing short of a living Broadway legend. But before the spotlight, Seller was another Michigan theatre kid – an outsider everywhere but school play rehearsals. Seller's new memoir, Theater Kid: a Broadway Memoir, explores the path that took him to Broadway.

GUEST:

Jeffrey Seller, Broadway producer and author ofTheater Kid

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Ever feel the need to get away? 

Perhaps, to a galaxy far, far away?

Michiganders did just this past May the 4th. Every year for two weekends a warehouse in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood gets converted into a Star Wars universe. A small army of do-it-yourself artists, makers, and fun-seekers transform a half-block of space into, well, outerspace.

The detail is otherworldly – streetscapes closely resembling Tatooine (otherwise known as Luke Skywalker’s home planet), stucco storefronts, dust-covered tents, and cosplay Mandalorians decked with helmets, breastplates, and blaster pistols.

Space Dive takes place atTangent Gallery, generally around May 4. There are still tickets available for this weekend’s events.

Star Wars attire is mandatory, as declared by the Empire.

GUESTS: 

Check out photos from the event here. 

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A mistrial was declared when a jury in Grand Rapids failed to reach consensus on the conviction or acquittal of Christopher Schurr, the police officer who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya. 

GUESTS:

Dustin Dwyer, Michigan Public

Michelle Jokisch Polo, Michigan Public

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Ann Arbor Writer Michelle Yang came to the states as a child, after growing up in a Chinese family in South Korea. Her debut Memoir, Phoenix Girl: How a Fat Asian with Bipolar Found Love, is a warm, engrossing story of becoming unmoored, and finding connection and community, even as she’s fighting with fierce cultural pressures about her own body image and identity as a woman.

GUESTS:

Michelle Yang: author, Phoenix Girl: How a Fat Asian with Bipolar Found Love

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network.

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Students at East Kentwood High School interviewed their family members about their immigration stories in a project marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. They will be sharing those stories this weekat events celebrating West Michigan's Vietnamese American community. 

GUESTS: 

EVENT DETAILS:

GR Stories: This is our home now, 50 years of building community after Saigon

50 Years After Saigon: Vietnamese Stories of a New Home

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A look back at Santa Ono's career in higher education thus far, and what's been particularly challenging about high education administration in the last several years. 

GUESTS:

David Jesse: senior writer, Chronicle of Higher Education

Jamal Watson, PhD: editor of "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education," professor of Strategic Communication and Public Relations, Trinity Washington University

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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The Scarab Club has played an important role in Detroit’s arts and cultural scene for more than a century. But like many other Detroit arts lovers, the club’s new gallery director first stumbled into it by chance. 

On today’s pod, we’re going to be talking to Scarab Club gallery manager Donna Jackson about her approach to community engagement–and the profound impact the Detroit arts scene has had on her own life. 

GUEST: 

Donna Jackson, gallery manager at the Scarab Club 

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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A new storytelling event in Grand Rapids called Unfilteredaims to bring people together through the sharing of experiences in and around the city.

Similar to the format of The Moth, Unfiltered features folks in and around Grand Rapids sharing stories about first loves, scary job interviews, weird interactions in grocery stores, make-or-break moments of adversity, and more. Storytellers are invited to tell a 12-minute story around a common theme.

Raul Alvarez, lead organizer for the event, initially pitched this idea to a group of friends with whom he regularly met for drinks. They were all excited to help plan a storytelling event, he said.

“They went to work, and we had no clue what to expect,” Alvarez said. “It was kind of a prototype, but all of a sudden it sold out.”

While Alvarez said storytelling might be a bit scary at first, because it involves a certain level of vulnerability, the community hasn't backed down.

“Now, we have the second sellout, which tells us it is a movement,” Alvarez said. “We want to keep it going, because there's a lot of stories out there. We already have stories that have been submitted for a future [event].”

The next Unfilteredis May 2, 2025 at the Four Star Theater, in Grand Rapids. The theme is “You Can’t Make This S*** Up!” 

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Back in September 2024, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged seven Pro-Palestinian protesters for allegedly defying orders from University of Michigan public safety officers. The individuals were charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor, and for resisting arrest, a felony.

In this episode we break down why the U-M Pro-Palestinian protestors want AG Nessel off the case. 

GUEST: 

Beenish Ahmed, journalist at Michigan Public

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions and Audio Network. 

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We are a time and place in America where more children of Holocaust survivors are with us than survivors themselves. In some ways this is the lens through which many Americans understand how the Nazi regime murdered 6 million Jews in the 1930's and 40's.

Sassa Akervall's mother survived the Holocaust. She shared part of her family's story in the book, The Ones Who Remember: Second-Generation Voices of the Holocaust.It was published in 2022 by members of Temple Beth-Emeth in Ann Arbor and contains a collection of essays telling the stories of the children of Holocaust survivors.

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Daria Burke’s life wasn’t easy growing up. Her parents split up, and her mom struggled with grief and addiction, forcing Burke to take on adult responsibilities at a young age. 

Years later, she became a marketing executive in the beauty industry. Her hunger to understand her own mind led to a season of deep self-investigation, resulting in a new book, Of My Own Making: A Memoir. 

Burke joined us to talk about the book. She'll be in Detroit May 13 for an event with Fresh Air’s Tonya Mosely at the Detroit Public Library.

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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The Dish, Stateside's spinoff podcast for Michigan foodies, met up with Eric Kinsler-Holloway, the baker and businessman behind EK's Cheescakes.

More than a decade ago, Kinsler-Holloway turned to baking as a way to rebuild his life after several run-ins with the law. He's since turned his life around, and runs a humble but thriving cheesecake bakery based in Milan, Michigan.

Subscribe to The Dish on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you love to listen to podcasts!

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West Michigan author and preacher Jeff Chu took the long way to the seminary. And once he got there, faith led him farther than he expected back out into the world. It all started with a compost pile on the seminary farm. 

On this episode, we’ll talk to Chu about his new memoir–titled Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand–which details his journey into community, stewardship, and love of the land.

GUEST: 

Jeff Chu, journalist, preacher and author of Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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President Donald Trump wants Michigan automobile manufacturers to move entire supply chains to the U.S. And he’s put steep tariffs on the automotive industry in an attempt to spur that change. But many of these manufacturers are taking a wait-and-see approach because of the administration's constantly changing policies, and the cost associated with moving production.

After President Donald Trump’s 25% automotive import tariffs went into effect on April 3, a report from Reuters estimated auto sales could decline by two million.

GUESTS:

Dr.  Jeff Rightmer, Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Global Supply Chain Management, Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University

Kate Magill,lead editor of Manufacturing Dive and Supply Chain Dive

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Ecorse, about 15 minutes south of Detroit, is facing major financial challenges. The city could run out of cash by the end of this month. On this episode, we hear how Ecorse ended up here—and its options for digging itself back out.

GUEST:

Louis Aguilar, Wayne County reporter for the Detroit News 

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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The city of Dearborn is launching RX Kids, a financial assistance program aimed at providing thousands of dollars for expectant mothers and their newborns. The program first begun in Flint and has expanded to Kalamazoo and several other counties in the Upper Peninsula. 

GUEST: 

Abdullah Hammoud is the mayor of the city of Dearborn. He announced the launch of the program in Dearborn during this year's State of the City address.

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Since Michigan legalized marijuana more than five years ago, cannabis has become pretty visible in everyday life. 

Dispensaries are everywhere, you can get marijuana in the form of candy and baked goods, and the industry is generating billions of dollars every year. But there’s also growing concern about how that normalization is affecting kids.

 A record number of Michigan kids were hospitalized last year for cannabis, according to the state’s poison control center. In the last five years, they received about 1,500 reports of kids under the age of six being exposed to or ingesting CBD, THC, or other cannabis products. 

We’re talking with Michigan Public reporters Kate Wells and Adam Yahya Rayes. They’ve been digging into what the numbers tell us, talking to parents, doctors, and people in the cannabis industry about why this is happening.

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With vaccine hesitancy and measles infections rising among children in the state — some parents are concerned. Here's what you should know about the virus and how to protect against it.

GUEST: 

Dr. Rebecca Schein, a pediatrician specializing in infectious disease and a Michigan State University assistant professor, is paying close attention to the measles cases in the state.

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Singer-songwriter May Erlewine’s new album offers a different side of an artist known for warm, intimate lyrics and bespoke acoustic arrangements. 

But the qualities that draw fans into May Erlewine’s music are still here, just with a less-compliant exterior. 

What It Takes is the second album she’s made with friend and producer Theo Katzman, of the post-funk band Vulfpeck. 

Erlewine has been thinking about the chaos of the moment and the moral choices she feels compelled to make. 

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Jaden Jefferson is 17-years-old and a senior in high school in Toledo. He's also a seasoned reporter, who has interviewed big name politicians like Elizabeth Warren and Tim Walz. Jefferson recently talked to Statesideabout how he started his journey as a journalist at just 11-years-old, and what he has learned as the youngest reporter in the room.

GUEST: 

Jaden Jefferson, Toledo-based journalist and host of the Behind the Byline podcast from the Toledo Free Press.You can find him on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms.

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A Michigan Supreme Court is considering who has the rights of a frozen embryo created using in-vitro fertilization after a couple gets divorced. The case involves Sarah and David Markiewicz who turned to egg donation and IVF to have children. Since 2019, the couple has been at odds on what would happen to their remaining embryo and after five years of legal battles the state's highest court is deciding on the matter. 

GUESTS:

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Some public finance experts worry that the unpredictability of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy will dampen consumer spending, putting state revenue generated by sales tax at risk. With consumer sentiment on the decline, some wonder if Michigander will continue to support state and local budgets through spending. 

GUEST:

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A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that rethinking how lithium ion batteries are manufactured could fix some of the key concerns keeping potential electric vehicle buyers on the sidelines.

GUEST:

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The Trump administation has revoked visas of hundreds of international students across the nation.  

An unspecified number of students at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University have had their visas revoked. 

Two students at Grand Valley State University, four at Wayne State, one at Eastern Michigan University, and twelve enrolled students and ten graduates of the University of Michigan have also been affected. 

The reasons are not clear. The Trump administration says it’s focused on students who are – in the words of Secretary Marco Rubio — “Hamas supporters." 

Today we’re going to talk about the crackdown on campus speech, and other ways the Trump administration has silenced voices of dissent opposing the war in Gaza.

GUEST:

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At 19, Michigan writer Lauren Roberts self-published her debut YA novel Powerless. Now, a few years later, Roberts is one of romantasy's biggest stars. We talked to Roberts about how she turned her passion for reading romantasy into a full-fledged literary career writing it.

GUEST:

Lauren Roberts, author of the Powerless series. The third and final installment in the series--titled Fearless--hit shelves April 8. 

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President Donald Trump recently described tariffs as a bitter medicine that, the president says, will lead to fairer trade between the U.S. and other countries. But for Michigan’s auto industry, the poison might be in the dose. On this episode, why the impact of global tariffs is likely to hit Michigan automakers particularly hard. 

GUEST: 

Glenn Stevens, executive director of MichAuto

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The University of Michigan recently announced it would be rolling back its DEI programs on campus. The move has been met with pushback from staff and students, but its not the first time the university's policies on race and equity have been met with ire. On today's episode, we talk with one historian about UM’s confrontation with issues of race and equity on campus over the decades, including as the poster child of affirmative action policies, and as the center of two losses before the U.S. Supreme Court over those policies.  

GUEST: 

Matthew Johnson, associate professor of history at Washington and Jefferson College and author of Undermining Racial Justice: How One University Embraced Inclusion and Inequality

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A conversation with Patrick Lyoya's father. The younger Lyoya was killed three years ago by a Grand Rapids police officer during a traffic stop. Lyoya was unarmed, and the officer is awaiting trial for Patrick's murder.

GUEST:

Peter Lyoya, Patrick's father

Thomas Lyoya, Patrick's brother and the translator for his father, who speaks Swahili, during this conversation

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The Trump administration is slashing funding for all sorts of programs and departments - funding that was guaranteed to many departments, institutions, and individuals. Today we hear about the cuts that are being felt, and the legal battle to preserve the funding streams.

GUESTS:

Kate Wells, Michigan Public

Izzy Ross Interlochen Public Radio

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Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a special exhibition honoring the life and work of Dr. Charles Harold Wright himself. Kevin Davidson, the museum's Director of Design and Fabrication, was hired by Wright. He joined us for an inside look at the exhibition. 

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A Canada-based reporter joins us for a deep dive on the history of the trade and manufacturing relationship between Windsor and Detroit. We also discussed why the new tariffs being rolled out this week feel, to some Canadians, "like your best friend sucker punched you."

GUEST:

Trevor Wilhelm, reporter, The Windsor Star

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A program that provided millions of dollars worth of donated foods to Michigan food banks has been cut by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We talked to the head of one West Michigan food bank about what this means for their operations.

GUEST: 

Ken Estelle, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America West Michigan

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From the start of the pandemic through March 2024, more than 44-thousand [ 44,728] Michiganders died after contracting COVID-19. These losses left many surviving family members drifting, as the rest of the world seemed to pick up and move on. We tap into our nation's long history with family and community collapse, and think about addressing grief head-on.

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Five years ago, the COVID-19 Pandemic shut doors and changed lives faster than we could learn its name. And amid uncertainty, people looked for answers, even if their searching brought consequences as serious as the virus itself. On this episode of Revival, we delve into the uncertainty that fueled the formulation of conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequences of misinformation.

GUESTS: 

Amy Simon, an associate professor of Holocaust studies and European Jewish history at Michigan State University

Melissa May Borja, associate professor of American culture at the University of Michigan and founder of the Virulent Hate Project

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The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the landscape of business and work. In this episode of Revival, we explore how businesses adapted during these unprecedented times

GUESTS: 

Robert Berkhofer, professor of medieval history at Western Michigan University

Jermale Eddie, former owner of Malamiah Juice Bar 

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Everyone reacted to the isolation of the first years of COVID a little differently. But there's evidence to suggest that Americans are becoming more solitary. This type of reaction isn’t new. In fact, it can even be found across the world in 12th century Japan. On this episode of Revival, we bring you the story of a Japanese aristocrat who withdrew from the world in response to rampant disease and natural disasters. And then, we have a story of a group of neighbors in Grand Rapids who were inspired to draw toward each other during the pandemic. 

GUESTS: 

Erin Brightwell, associate professor at the University of Michigan 

Grand Rapids neighbors Rae Bunce, Dot and Cal Hekman, Karen Brown, Susan Buist, Sally Wackerly, Josh Brinks, Barb and Joe

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"Revival" is a Stateside special podcast series, marking five years since our state went on lockdown over the COVID-19 virus. Today we look at how COVID changed our healthcare system, and we reflect on how pandemics have historically impacted medicine in other societies.

GUESTS:

Saeed Khan, associate professor, Wayne State Unviersity

Christina Hanson, hospital nurse in Marquette

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Two of Michigan's refugee resettlement agencies help us understand what's happening on the ground in the midst of federal funding cuts, and the suspension of refugee admissions to the U.S.

GUESTS:

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Wayne County is running a program to repay homeowners who lost their homes during the tax foreclosure crisis. The county had previously pocketed money collected at auction. But courts ruled the county must pay anything beyond what was owed in the tax foreclosure back to the original homeowners. But first the homeowners have to know to ask.

GUEST:

Koby Levin, reporter, Outlier Media

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As a curious and driven kid, Danielle Boyer worked hard to earn the money she needed to join her schools robotics team. But once she was able to join, she was met with bullying and harassment from male coaches and teammates. 

Now, the founder of an organization called The STEAM Connection, she's working to give students the STEM education her younger self wanted. Her latest invention 

GUEST:

Danielle Boyer, inventor and educator; enrolled citizen of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

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On thisStateside podcast, we hear from Michigan State University mathematician, Albert Cohen, on how we can use statistics to fill out our March Madness brackets. 

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On thisStateside podcast, Michigan Public's political director gets context and details about Michigan's new minimum wage and sick leave rules from Sean Egan. He oversees the State's Bureau of Employment Relations and the Wage and House Divisions, also know as LEO.

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Mary Frances Phillips' "Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Ericka Huggins” is a biography of the party's longest serving woman.

GUEST:
Mary Frances Phillips,author of Black Panther Woman and associate professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

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President Donald Trump nominated Dearborn Heights mayor Bill Bazzi as his ambassador to Tunisia. He’s also selected Hamtramck mayor Amer Ghalib as his ambassador to Kuwait.

Both men have been at the center of contentious conversations about local policies and culture. 

A reporter who's been covering their careers joined us to provide some context. 

Find Niraj Warikoo's coverage here.

GUEST:
Niraj Warikoo, reporter for The Detroit Free Press

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With just a few weeks' worth of data available, it's hard to say how immigration enforcement under the current Trump administration compares to that of previous years.

Michigan Public's data reporter helps us understand what we candetermine from the available data, and what to be mindful of as we see other numbers cited on social media and in the news. 

Find Adam's FAQ page on immigration data below:

Here’s what we know about immigrants, visas, DACA, ICE and more in Michigan

GUEST:
Adam Yahya Rayes, data reporter, Michigan Public

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Michigan’s marijuana enthusiasts pay a small price – the lowest price per ounce of marijuana in the country. But Whitmer recently proposed a 32% tax hike on wholesale marijuana products as part of her “Mi Road Plan” to help fund roads.

The 32% tax would be atop the current 10% excise tax and the 6% sales tax on marijuana products. This added cost would be passed to consumers, which would drive these record-low prices even lower, and Michigan marijuana businesses worry this will shut down already struggling doors.

In the past year, adult-use marijuana costs have dropped nearly 30%, from a little over $90 to just around $65 per ounce of marijuana. Crain’s Reporter Dustin Walsh toldStateside that the tax hike would hurt the state’s marijuana growers.

“The real issue is that these cultivators in these processes just aren't paying that wholesale tax now, and they're relying on the retail outlets to sell the product and return the money to them,” Walsh said.

In her press release, Whitmer wrote that the tax hike would fund roads with an additional $470 million. In the 2024 fiscal year, the state received more than $331 million from the Michigan Marijuana Regulation Fund. Michael Ward, CEO of marijuana grower Harbor Farmz, said that the tax hike would take money away from both Michigan and its cannabis industry.

“It's like a catch-22-tax-us-to-death, which is going to kill us. Well, if the taxes see death and we all die, they will not get the money that they're looking for from the tax revenue from the cannabis industry, which is also already contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to municipalities and the state.”

Businesses also worry that the tax proposal could revive the black market. Low marijuana prices kept the product in the legal market because the black market couldn’t sell it at a cheaper rate. The tax hike could change that.

Walsh said desperate marijuana businesses might have higher incentive to participate in the illicit market.

“You're now going to create more desperate operators, more cultivators and processors that are desperate because now that money, they owe more money now in taxes,” Walsh said. “And if it drives them into more desperate situations, you're going to see them potentially loading trucks up with marijuana and shipping it to markets where it's more expensive or doing other illicit market products.”

The adult-use marijuana market is still relatively new, meaning that everyone is dealing with the “growing pains,” according to Walsh.

For now, he said the Michigan legislature seemed to have taken a step back from the proposal once reporting came out.

CORRECTION FROM EDITOR: A previous version of this audio story inverted and misattributed Michael Ward and Chris Jacobson's quotes. The story was updated at 11:00am on March 12, 2025.

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A resolution in the state House is aimed at discouraging cities and universities from having policies that limit their interactions with federal immigration officials. We talked about what the new rule means, and how one city is thinking about the impact to its bottom line. 

GUESTS:

Michelle Jokisch Polo, Stateside producer 

Milinda Ysasi, Grand Rapids city commissioner 

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Yumna Jawad, known across social media Feel Good Foodie, shared the Ramadan meals that make her excited about the holiday season.

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Thousands of federal workers have been laid off in recent weeks. In Michigan that includes employees from the VA hospital, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Forest Service. These layoffs are a result of President Trump’s initiative to cut federal spending.

Emily Davies, a reporter for the Washington Post has been covering the impact of the Department of Government Efficiency—commonly referred to as DOGE—on federal agencies. In her latest article, Davies tells the story of Riley Cooper, a Trump supporter from Baldwin, MI who was laid off from the U.S. Forest Service.

In Cadillac, Marie Richards was laid off in mid-February from her job as a tribal relations specialist with the Huron-Manistee National Forests.

Richards, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, worked as its historic preservation and repatriation specialist before taking the Forest Service job in December of 2023. She was one of thousands of probationary U.S. Forest Service workers laid off as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut costs and reduce the size of the federal government.

That story came from Interlochen Public Radio climate reporter Izzy Ross. 

Background reading:

She hoped Trump’s victory would change her life, but not like this

U.S. Forest Service firings decimate already understaffed agency: ‘It’s catastrophic’

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The 25% tariffs issued against all Mexican and Canadian imports are cause for major concern for the auto industry, according to Jamie Butters, executive editor of Automotive News.

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A very rare sighting in the thumb region of Michigan this winter: an orange snowy owl. But how did it get that way?

GUEST: 

Sheri McWhirter, climate and environment reporter for MLive

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You've probably been hearing a lot of a particular term in the news and social media in the past few weeks: constitutional crisis. There are many people who believe the first few weeks of President Donald Trump's second-term administration have brought the United States dangerously close to one. We talked to Richard Primus, a constitutional law expert at the University of Michigan, about how to tell if you're in a constitutional crisis, and how the country has navigated them in years past. 

GUEST: 

Richard Primus, law professor at the University of Michigan

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Singer Isis Damil is young, but she's spent her lifetime crafting her uniquely Detroit sound. Now she's the new voice of WDIV's iconic "Go 4 It" theme song, and she's building her catalogue with her band.

GUEST:

Isis Damil, singer

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The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment saw an irregular drop in February. And economist joined us to break down the numbers, and put them into context.

GUEST:

Joanne Hsu, economist; director of the Survey of Consumers at the University of Michigan

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When we tell stories, we have the opportunity to connect across generations. And sometimes, those connections can become catalysts that shift the course of our lives. Michigan Public’s Christopher Johnson introduces us to Detroit storyteller, Dwight Stackhouse, whose journey led him from the pulpit to the stage to James Baldwin—and beyond. 

GUEST:

Dwight Stackhouse, writer and storyteller

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The Great Lakes are renowned for both its commercial and sport fishing industries.

Long before that, the gifts of the inland seas provided both sustenance and economic trading power to the Indigenous peoples who lived in the region. But, there was a time, not long ago, where the fisheries of the Great Lakes were almost left for dead.

A new documentary, narrated by actor J.K. Simmons, explores the decades-long hunt to identify and subdue one of the biggest threats to Great Lakes fisheries: the sea lamprey.

The film, The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery, was commissioned to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the agency tasked with controlling sea lamprey.

On this episode, we’ll be exploring how 19th and 20th century shipping opened the door for new vessels - and new threats to Great Lakes wildlife. 

GUESTS:

Lindsey Haskin, director of The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery

Mike Siefkes, director of sea lamprey control with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission

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Michigan is in the midst of one of the worst flu seasons in years. There have already been more than 10,000 flu-related hospitalizations in the state this flu season, and outpatient visits for flu-like symptoms are the highest they have been in 15 years. We talked to Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive, about flu season and the best ways to protect yourself. 

GUEST: 

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for the state of Michigan 

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This current outbreak of avian influenza, which started in March 2022, has been wreaking havoc throughout bird populations, domestic or otherwise. Causing high mortality rates amongst birds, bird flu has also spread to some dairy cattle and domestic pets.

Kimberly Dodd, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, said the virus tends to evolve over time, so pet owners should limit the exposure of their pets to sick or dead birds in the area.

Dodd also said to contact the Department of Natural Resources if you come across a dead bird, and if you have to remove the bird from the area, wear personal protective equipment (PPE), like masks and gloves, and double bag the bird before throwing it away.

While the risk of avian flu to the general population is low, it's higher for those who directly deal with animals that may be infected, such as farmers or veterinarians. But, according to Dodd, veterinary clinics around the country are being extra precautionary.

GUEST:

Kimberly Dodd, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University

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Industry experts discuss the swift impact of the Trump administration's new policies on the Michigan's agricultural industry, from research funding, to farm staffing, to international trade. 

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

David Tschirley, director of the Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research, Capacity, and Influence at Michigan State University

Chuck Lippstreu, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association

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One of the worlds largest real estate cryptocurrency marketplace has been sweeping up properties and selling them to multiple investors sometimes even to hundreds. And because there's not one person tenants can turn to when things go wrong, problems on these properties are piling up.

GUESTS:

Aaron Mondry, Senior Reporter at Outlier Media

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About a quarter of all trade value between the U.S. and Canada happens over one bridge - the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. But that free flow that bolsters these two communities may be threatened by a trade war.

GUESTS:

Drew Dilkens, mayor of Windsor

Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber

Travis Wright, Metro Detroiter and Canadian

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The bird flu outbreak is doing a number on the nation’s egg supply–and it's showing up in the price of your omelet. U.S. egg prices have hit an all time high–with an average price of $4.95 per dozen. And when you're a greasy spoon diner, you need A LOT of eggs. We talked to Johanna McCoy, owner of the Bomber in Ypsilanti, about how her restaurant is coping and what it will mean for customers in the long-term. 

GUEST: 

Johanna McCoy, owner of the Bomber in Ypsilanti

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After all that snow, who can be bothered to get all dressed up for a dinner out? That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your plans for a Valentine's Day dinner, though. We asked Chef Abra Berens to walk us through her recipe for a romantic night in. 

Find the recipeshere! 

GUEST:

Abra Berens, cookbook author and culinary director at Granor Farm

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Music in this episode byBlue Dot Sessions.

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Felicia B. George is a Professor of Anthropology at Wayne State University, and the author of one of this year's Michigan Notable Books: When Detroit Played the Numbers: Gambling's History and Cultural Impact on the Motor City

George joined us to talk about her anthropological approach to the book, the 20th-century resurgence of lottery games in Detroit, and the role they played in the lives of Black Detroiters. 

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

Felicia George, author of When Detroit Played the Numbers: Gambling's History and Cultural Impact on the Motor City

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New polling data shows the vast majority - 68% - of Michiganders have a favorable, neighborly view of our state's relationship with Canada. That poll was conducted by the Detroit Regional Chamber, which is opposed to tariffs against imports from Michigan's neighbor to the North and East.

GUEST:

Sandy Baruah, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber

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