Detroit Is Different Podcasty

Nandi Comer is Michigan’s first Poet Laureate in over 60 years. Her writing is flavored with descriptive adjectives painting pictures of time, place, space, and much more. The Poet Laureate of Michigan has roots in the Shrine of the Black Madonna, found a love of poetry in a Summer Job, Fan of attending Luche Libre Wrestling in Mexico, and is also …

Comedy is a joke to many but for Mic Larry, it has been an inspiration, motivation, and purpose. From the Cooley neighborhood, the Redford Huskie basketball player was a gifted athlete from birth. Mic Larry’s life has been a testimony to finding glory through storms. Learn his approach to utilizing time and taking advantage of the opportunity. Come…

Laughs, smiles, Joy, and love are acts in life that fulfill life. Zsa Zsa has spent a lifetime adding this flavor to her family. In this feature, Zsa Zsa opens up about the pain that brings trauma and tragedy to many families in our community. Zsa Zsa shares how hee solutions of adding life, imagination, creativity, and fun have centered loved ones…

Grand River Ave and Joy Rd have taken on many iterations of the Black experience. Bomani has witnessed them all since the 1970s. Bomani began connecting to a community of Black consciousness as a die-hard enthusiast. Today in a role of leadership for the Detroit Chapter of the Malcolm X Grassroots Organization he is sharing the knowledge he has gai…

Depending upon when and how you and when you meet Antonio Rafael, you could have an engaging exchange on many things. When connecting with Antonio, concepts from the community will be balanced with the world or vice versa. Antonio’s journey from Southwest Detroit and having working-class parents left grand impressions of ways development impacted t…

East Pole Town to many Detroit residents is Chene, over there by the old Packard Plant, or Tyree Guyton’s artistic footprint. For the families that live in the community, it is a place with rooted traditions. Jasmine Noble taught at the James and Grace Lee Boggs School and had the plan to connect the school to the community. Jasmine was in love wit…

Wisdom is the application of lived experience. TeShayla Coates has walked many paths in life, providing an in-depth relationship in understanding how to connect with people. Coates Communications gives clients assets to share their messaging locally and internationally. TeShayla’s path to building the business was from playing a role in retail serv…

Arlyssa Heard struggles with crushing debt from student loans and a high-interest car payment. The single mom was excited to get a promotion at her job, but did not want a huge raise. “The extra $150 extra take-home in my paycheck meant losing benefits worth far more,” she said. Detroit residents like Heard hear over and over again they’re to blame…

Ypsilanti is a city between Detroit and Ann Arbor that mixes a bit of both culture. Chanel Stitt grew up in Ypsilanti with interest in Detroit. Detroit captured her heart at a young age. U of M Dearborn was Chanel’s gateway to activism, culture, entertainment, restaurants, and small business throughout Detroit. Chanel joined many student organizati…

Entertainment, cultural events, and live productions add to the essence of Detroit Summers and make Detroit Winters enjoyable. Nina Payne and Foundation Management have been a key part of high-level productions for years. Now she will welcome a collection of her friends, colleagues, and contacts in the production world to share on the All Behind th…

The legendary Maryann Mahaffey took a chance to work with a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Regina Ann Campbell while serving office. Today leading Build Institute Regina applies that same selfless understanding of the people to advocate for them to systems bigger than their present state. Business development, training, and opportunity are ideas that…

Buying a home is a benchmark of success and a sign of stability for economists and people in finance. For a family owning a home creates a place to develop culture, ethics, and find comfort. Tansley Stearns has assisted Michiganders in this journey leading Community Financial Credit Union. Tansley’s travel in career began in the world of marketing …

If Erykah Badu and Jill Scott rhymed over something with essence was the sound Mahogany Jones was searching for. An emcee battle led her to discover Detroit as the place with that for her. Mahogany is a world-traveling emcee that mixes energy, spirit, and joy to deliver live performances that win over the most hardcore hip-hop fan and the elder tha…

Intelligence is as different as Detroit. One of God's greatest gifts is how our minds process, interpret, and understand information and apply it. Myka Burley had a family of love that poured into brilliance from a young age. A Grandbaby Baby, Myka grew up doted and dolled over at an early age. The principles and ethics of spending time with her el…

New Jersey is more than the home of blue-collar work and the backdrop for Bruce Springsteen records; it’s a place filled with the grit and tough attitude Detroit has. Rebecca’s journey to Detroit started long ago, transversing many places. The grit and attitude place her right at home in Detroit. Rebecca’s start in missions much more significant th…

Acknowledging the brilliance of being Gifted and the essence of being Beloved are ways family poured into Sherry Gay Dagnogo as a child. Her love for Detroit runs deep from a tradition of family working for the ‘Fords’ and walking with Faith. Gospel music, math, and science were platforms that grew Sherry’s confidence to take on the world. One of t…

Source Booksellers welcomed the poet, performer, and all-around creative Gia Scott Heron for a special in-store Detroit is Different podcast recording. Gia Scott-Heron is the daughter of the revolutionary artist and creative Gil Scott-Heron. Spectrum Legal Services, led by Attorney Michael Fortner, welcomed Gia here to perform in honor of the ‘Diff…

Kristy Love is a Detroit original sharing her love of life with the world. At a young age, Kristy began honing her talents in video, audio, graphics, and more. Taking lessons learned in her broadcast journalism major and applying them immediately strengthened Kristy’s confidence, talents, and skills. Kristy explains how exploring self-growth, motiv…

Jam sessions are a kinetic, eclectic, and improvisational expression of creativity. Juuni, Nique Love Rhodes, and Sophiyah E have expanded that energy into D Cipher. Juuni is a world-class drummer. Nique Love Rhodes is a band-leading emcee meshing live instruments and hip-hop. Sophiyah E is an expression of keys and mixed medium art. Together with …

Dexter Sullivan’s family’s roots are grounded deep in Detroit. Passion for the people, culture, and essence of Detroit is the reality for Dexter Sullivan. Today his work in mentorship, communication, and Faith all place him in positions of influence nationally. In his Detroit is Different feature, we discuss the ways he discovered opportunity in ha…

Eastern Michigan University welcomed one of the largest collections of Legacy Black Detroit students from 2000 – 2015. Ypsilanti was filled with an active Black Greek Life, Spoken Word Poetry collectives, Open Mic Hip-hop, and a rebellious NAACP Chapter. Brandon Jessup was one of the Legacy Black Detroiters ready to debate, challenge, and engage an…

The 1990s welcomed the talking points of melting point, the Browning of America, and English as a Second Language programming. Today these concepts are seen as insensitive at worse and antiquated at best. For Angela Lugo-Thomas, the dual reality of living in Detroit and Puerto Rico impacted her deeply. Metro-Detroit is home to many cultures of the …

Battle rapping, performing, break dance, and hip hop culture captured the heart and mind of Supa Emcee as a child. One of the youngest emcees to cipher and freestyle with Proof (RIP & honor) has become a staple in all things Highland Park, MI. Kent ‘Supa Emcee’ Brown has used hip-hop as a gateway through Hollywood, NYC, Atlanta, and every stage rap…

Gaining an understanding of Detroit culture has grounded Jeremiah Staes for a lifetime. Living a life in a majority Black populated and politically influenced city gives Jeremiah a different perspective on Metro Detroit. A Mother that passed at a young age and a Father that was a visual artist added to Jeremiah's connection to the city. Raised in t…

The Sweet Spot of the Avenue of Fashions is Good Cakes and Bakes. April Anderson loved baking sweets and witnessing people fall in love with her gift. After college, career, grad school, and marriage, she makes the entrepreneurial leap. Her story is about learning to develop quality sweets and business systems and enjoying the process. April’s unde…

Mission, vision, and purpose are associated with organizational development. Racheal Allen has spent a lifetime re-entering herself around these concepts. Racheal's journey from Southern California to Detroit Eastside's Sojourner Truth homes is a start to a grand understanding of the Detroit Community. Racheal is a Margrove graduate and now works o…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

In the Fall of 2022, The Detroit Digital Justice Coalition green-lighted Tawana Honeycomb Petty bringing together an eclectic mix of creative working in technology, media, and music to deliver a DiscoTech. DiscoTechs, short for Discovering Technology, has the potential to provide a positive and hopeful experience for youth and seniors, creating a p…

Self Determination and collective responsibility are pillars in the principles of Kwanzaa, but also ethics of life. Dwan Dandridge’s work with Black Leaders Detroit challenges Black people to delve deeper into our resources to resource our organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs. Dwan’s story of arriving in this space is a mix of commitment to…

Community leadership in Detroit looks in many ways. Jeff Jones is stepping into an uncommon community leadership position a community resident leading a community development corporation. Hope Village Revitalization is the community development corporation Jeff Jones now leads as President/CEO. He has spent his whole life walking around, talking wi…

Ph.D. studies are immersive. Dr. Carl Taylor stands as a native Detroiter that’s traveled the world as a professor, writer, and researcher. To many across Detroit, he is an ally to brothers like Yusef Bunchy Shakur. As Yusef is moving closer to completing his Ph.D., his relationship and bond with Dr. Taylor have strengthened. This Detroit is Differ…

Marvin Elliot is the owner of the Green House where the Means Logistical Park is being built around his residency. Marvin shares his story of how a development imposed upon his neighborhood has ruined his quality of life. This was a powerful one-on-one discussion of how corporations violently engage communities like Highland Park and Detroit. Detro…

Khursheed made his way to Highland Park, MI, from Chicago’s Northside. He came to HP looking for a home for his family that supported his Islamic faith and entrepreneurial spirit. In 2010 he learned from a home-buying program in Highland Park that HP needs much more love. Since a deal in bad faith to buy a home, Khursheed has been driven to provide…

From the Eastside to Renaissance High School Sarida Scott is deeply rooted in Legacy Detroit. She joins Detroit is Different to open up about her story and her family story. Learn the relationship between education, family, and love that built her vision. Sarida tells her story in activism and empowering activists. We also discuss how development i…

The renaissance and revitalization of Metro-Detroit is a story being told by corporate media. The story of how a city rose from the ashes of bankruptcy under the visionary leadership of Mayor Mike Duggan and business leader Dan Gilbert is a story that reaches media outlets worldwide. The media has exhaustive stories of how risk-taking visionaries l…

Devon grew up a basketball junkie in Dearborn, MI. His love for sports led to a passion for Sports Marketing. Today he works with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce to empower small businesses. The NeighborHUB Grant was awarded to Detroit is Different to support our 2022 a Lot of Studio project. The grant helps businesses and non-profits in D…

Halima Afi joined Detroit is Different to share information about an upcoming public meeting on December 19, 2022 for the Wayne County Arts Institute Authority. The DIA currently receives $25-$30 Million dollars per year in public funding through the Tri-county millage. Over the next ten years, the DIA will receive an estimated $330M! In the curren…

Greg McKenzie celebrates Kwanzaa by living and honoring the Nguzo Saba daily. 2022 tasked Greg with the mission of building the World’s Largest Kwanzaa Kinara for Detroit. In this interview, he shares the project management of what it took and how he made it happen. I also provide more context to Kwanzaa and its role in the Black community. Detroit…

‘Free Game’ is what we call valuable information that can be applied to life. Kofi Kenyatta joined me to share ideas and ‘Free Game’ from the lens of UpTogether. UpTogether is a national organization with hundreds of thousands of members that focuses on empowering the community. UpTogether is an organization that listens to the community and follow…

Theo Pride from the Detroit People’s Platform joined Detroit is Different again to give an overview of Detroit’s Multi-Billion dollar budget. Did you know how much money Detroit has to spend beyond the general fund on Detroit? Do you know Detroit has hundreds of millions allocated to home and building demolition? Pride breaks down how money can be …

Boniswa Brock is a fifth-generation educator. The tradition of education her family leads is institution building. Boniswa’s passion for science began early, questioning life and discovering nature. What began as questions have led to a career empowering young people with the gift of discovery. Mama Boniswa was one of my many beloved teachers at th…

Rae is a creative that dives in and out of many disciplines. Rae is a Detroit Eastsider that lived throughout the Eastside as a child. In this interview, Rae opens up about family and how from Georgia to Detroit’s Eastside was a gateway for her roots. Experience the balance of family and life and why it impacts last generations. Rae shares her work…

E Block Radio is one of the many media offerings by Quincy Q Lewis. What started as fun between friends has become a staple in Detroit podcasting. Lewis has experience in journalism that goes back to Black Enterprise and being mentored by the late great Mr. Earl Graves. Lewis shares his journey from Martin Luther King Jr. Sr high school football to…

Charles Wilson joins Detroit is DIfferent to discuss the Detroit Department of Transportation bus system in the 1980s and 1990s. Wilson shares how as a Vietnam vet, he navigated beyond that to sustain his family. He shares stories from famous routes like Fenkell, Woodward, Dexter, and Gratiot. Wilson also opens up about how Detroit's poor busing ro…

In 1987 the Detroit Wholistic Center launched on Dexter and Clairmount. Dr. Jesse Brown opens up about how he saw a need for natural healing in our community. For over 30 years, alkaline water, treatments beyond mucous and PH, and so much more were all knowledge provided by Dr. Brown. In this interview, learn more about his methods in healing and n…