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Radio Free Flint Podcast

Radio Free Flint Podcast

Arthur Busch

We present audio and video podcasts about life and culture in middle America. Our essays and life histories share the story of people in America's rust belt.This podcast is born of blue-collar, working-class values. Our podcast has its roots in the greater Flint area. We dedicate this podcast to the beleaguered town of Flint, Michigan, and communities like it across America.Our podcasts subjects include true crime, law, history, sports, arts & literature, and the Flint water crisis, and more. Our interviews focus on society and culture in middle America.

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Top 10 Radio Free Flint Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Radio Free Flint Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Radio Free Flint Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Radio Free Flint Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Radio Free Flint Podcast - Ernie Harwell: Detroit Tiger Broadcaster (ft Jack Lessenbury)
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12/20/20 • 38 min

Jack Lessenberry and Flint area Detroit Tiger fans share their special memories of Ernie Harwell in this tribute podcast.

Award- winning journalist Jack Lessenberry, formerly of Michigan Public Radio, was a personal friend of Detroit Tiger broadcaster,

Ernie Harwell was a Michigan cultural icon. He has a special place in the hearts and memories of Tiger fans.

We invited Flint area fans to recount their favorite memories of Ernie. Included on our guest list are"

  • Sue Meisner-Kelly a retired Flint Community Schools teacher,
  • Dave Cobb a Flushing resident and retired GM employee, and
  • Jeffrey Natchez a Flint area Optometrist who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played in their minor league system for a number of years.

Ten years ago in Ernie's final farewell to his fans he said, “I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit, I love the way they face life, I love the family values. And you Tiger fans are the greatest fans of all. No question about that.”.

Ernie Harwell may be gone but his legacy still lives in baseball fans everywhere especially in Flint and Detroit.

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#ernieharwell #detroittigers #sportsbroadcaster

--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/message

Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - George Winters and his Red Piano

George Winters and his Red Piano

Radio Free Flint Podcast

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11/01/22 • 34 min

Musician George Winters has performed for audiences for over 50 years across America. The Michigan native is well-known in music venues in southeastern Michigan for his fabulous keyboard skills, especially on a Hammond organ. George plays the keyboard, guitar, and harmonica and also sings.
This podcast includes a conversation with George Winters about his long career and several unreleased tracks that include his distinctive mellow jazz and upbeat popular music. Winters shares his story about how his music career started and grew in and around Flint and Detroit, Michigan. In this podcast interview, he talks about how the troubles of the automobile industry affected the life of local musicians in Michigan.
The son of a Hammond B3 organ salesman, George got his musical start very early in life in Flushing, Michigan. He entertained the audience during local theater intermission as a child by playing the organ.
George shares stories about his interactions with former Detroit Tiger star pitcher Dennis McClain, who also was an organist. Winters tells of his amusing experience delivering a Hammond B3 organ to the home of Mark Farner of the Rock Band Grand Funk Railroad.
In recent years he has toured the country in clubs that host dueling pianos.
George has produced five compact disc recordings. The first, entitled "The Seed" was completed in 1994 and was recorded in less than two hours. "The Seed" was picked up by major retailers in Michigan, including Harmony House, prompting some local success. George's second effort, "Rhythm," released in 1998, comprises mostly original music with instrumentation including the Hammond B3, drums, bass, guitar, and piano.
His love of the dueling pianos concept also began in 1998 at JD's Key Club in Pontiac, MI, and continues to this day. You can see George at select Dueling Pianos clubs - click on "show dates" on his web page for a complete schedule.
With the release of his fifth CD, "Back to the B3" George hopes to put his music into more hands than ever, using the internet medium to deliver his creations. "Back to the B3" will be available soon from online retailers such as iTunes, or you can order directly from this website.

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - 1970's Flint and Other Tall Tales: Jon Harpst
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08/15/20 • 57 min

Jon Harpst is a colorful figure in Flint's history. Jon was instrumental in the beginnings of the Bobby Crim Road Race and getting it to locate in Flint. He shares the early history of what has become one of the best long distance running events in America. Jon was the campaign manager for Flint's first elected Mayor, the late James Rutherford. He also served in the Rutherford administration as Director of Governmental Relations. He was the chief lobbyist for the City of Flint during some tumultuous times. John gives a detailed account of Mayor Rutherford and what kind of man he was and what made him tick.Jon Harpst played a crucial role in the re-development of Flint in the 1970's and 1980's. The Rutherford years were considered productive as the Mayor and his team lead efforts to develop the airpark at Bishop Airport, built River Village, Windmill Place, the Flint IMA, the Hyatt Regency and many other projects still visible in Flint today. He describes a City on the move and one that had persistent conflict. In his humorous way he describes the colorful characters he had to work with to advance the interests of the City of Flint. If you are a Flint history buff you will like this interview. And if you like good banter and lots of humor join Jon Harpst and myself as we discuss the good ole days.For more information on the late Mayor James Rutherford:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W._Rutherford#:~:text=Law%20enforcement-,James%20W.,Rutherford%20served%20for%20two%20terms.A Time of Transition for Flint: 1970'shttp://www.mycitymag.com/flint-through-the-decadespart-7-a-time-of-transition-1970-1979/Tran--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/message

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - Comedian Bryan McCree a Joyful Flintstone
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09/20/22 • 30 min

Is it possible to make Flint laugh? If anyone can, it's Flint native Bryan McCree, a nationally known comedian, actor, and writer. He regularly tours America with shows marked by their insight into American culture and the oddities of life in our country. He is particularly astute at using humor to make us laugh at ourselves.
In this interview, Byran shares hilarious clips of his shows featuring humor about Flint, making the audience laugh at itself and its stereotypes about race and being poor.
Byran has regularly appeared on Comedy Central, Mad TV, NBC, and Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen. He is the nephew of the late Floyd J. McCree, former Mayor of Flint. Mayor McCree was a Michigan Civil Rights icon. Bryan's father was a jazz virtuoso, and his Great Aunt was a Broadway legend.
The Jherri curled comic has shared the stage with comedians such as Sinbad, George Wallace, and Robert Shimmel and with the group, The Isley Brothers. Bryan is a hilarious man with a demeanor and acting skills that can keep an audience in tears with laughter.
He spent years acting at Flint's McCree Theater, a venue named after his famous uncle. It was there he honed his stagecraft skills and charm. Comedy allows McCree to assume himself as the character in his one-man shows. He does all this with tremendous wit, insight, and a natural stage presence.
In this interview, he shares his life growing up in Flint, his family, attending Flint Southwestern High School, etc. He shares humorous antidotes about his younger days in Flint. Bryan tells of giving comedy shows to his classmates on the school bus each morning on their way to school. He laughs at the neighborhood days of playing the game of twelve. He never gives up on his beleaguered hometown.
McCree describes what it is like to live in a blue-collar town like Flint, Michigan. He reflects a good-natured poke at his audiences and himself.
Visit Bryan McCree's website to discover his scheduled shows, watch videos of his act, or get branded merchandise.
Watch Bryan McCree's comedy shows on his YouTube Channel or visit his Facebook Page.

Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - The Interesting Journey of a Flint Civil War Battlefield Flag
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06/14/22 • 40 min

Flag Day Special. The Flint soldiers had much success as union soldiers in the American Civil War.

There were 90,000 Michigan soldiers deployed in the American civil war.

The Flint 10th Infantry deployed along with their battle flag to the civil war battlefields of Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and North Carolina.

The union battle flags they carried were made and gifted to the 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment by women of Flint, Michigan. The union flags were presented to the men who went off to fight in the American civil war.

The 10th Michigan Infantry battle flags played a vital role on the civil war battlefields where they fought. After the American civil war ended, the battle flags were returned to Michigan and given to the Governor of Michigan. However, not all battle flags made it back home.

Save The Flags is a State of Michigan project to preserve, research and display the 240 civil war battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers during the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World War I.

Michigan now has an "adoption" program to conserve these battle flags. Individuals, organizations, schools, families, and communities can help preserve, research, and display the civil war flags by "adopting" flags in the collection. To date, almost 150 flags — mostly from the Civil War — have been adopted, providing the project with much-needed funds.

Flint resident David Norris' great-grandfather, Talmon C. Owen, fought on the civil war battlefields with the 10th Michigan Infantry. The 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment was organized at Flint, Michigan, and mustered into Federal service for a three-year enlistment on February 10, 1862.

This Michigan unit fought their way in support of and on the front line of civil war battlefields, all the way with Sherman to the Sea. They were part of the attack and taking of Atlanta that resulted in the union side winning the civil war. The 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment lost during service; 7 Officers and 95 Enlisted men were killed and mortally wounded, and 2 Officers and 223 Enlisted men died by disease. There were 327 total civil war casualties in the unit.

Local townspeople presented Michigan regiments with beautiful silken battle flags leaving for the battlefield. The regiments received a stand of colors consisting of two national flags and regimental flags. The national flag was the traditional American red, white, and blue Stars and Stripes. The regimental flag typically had a solid blue field decorated with the Federal or Michigan coat of arms.

Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - Kate Garns: Self Talk & Motivational Speaking
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11/26/20 • 16 min

Kate Garns is a national motivational & leadership speaker, Disney Performer and author. Kate works with student government leaders across the nation about self talk and leadership using motivational themes.

Garns has Flint roots as her family is from the Flint area. She discusses the pursuit of her career in entertainment and public speaking.

Kate's message to young people of America is inspiring and convincing. More importantly she speaks to values based lessons that are not just good medicine for the younger generation but for all generations.

More specifically Kate specializes in self- talk. She helps show teens how to find their worth and value when nobody shows up to tell them that they are worthy or valuable.

Garns shares her own story of being told she was not good enough to be a performer at one of the worlds top tourist destinations where she eventually became a gladiator.

Kate shows teens how to overcome obstacles and have personal success, not because anyone saved her, but because she chose to save herself. In her recent book, "Mix Tape: How To Stop Listening To The Recordings Of Your Past," Kate also discusses her speaking themes during this podcast interview.

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--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/message

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - Emily Doerr: What Can Be Done To Fix Flint's Schools?
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10/23/22 • 23 min

Emily Doerr is a candidate for the Flint Community Schools Board of Education. The election will be on November 8, 2022. She joined a slate of four other individuals running to serve the Flint Community Schools. These candidates agree on core principles governing their service on the Board of Education should they be elected on November 8, 2022. The other candidates on the slate are Dylan Luna, Terae King Jr, Melody L. Relerford, and Michael Clack.
The Flint Community Schools are at a crossroads facing dwindling student enrollment, financial deficits, and decisions about rebuilding school buildings. In recent years the Flint Board of Education has experienced dysfunction of its governing board. Those seeking election in Flint will face enormous challenges in fixing the school district.
For the first time in recent memory, five respected and accomplished residents have joined together to seek to bring energetic leadership to focus on Flint's young scholars and the school district. This podcast discusses the problems facing the Flint Community Schools and possible solutions. Our podcast guest discusses her team's philosophy and plans should the voters elect them.
Radio Free Flint is not endorsing any candidates for the Flint School Board but seeks to bring forward information about the school district's problems. Our podcast guest is only the second political candidate we have ever interviewed. Flint Board of Education candidates appears on the non-partisan portion of the ballot.
Emily Doerr is our podcast guest. She is a Flint native and has an impressive education and resume. Doerr is a leader in the State of Michigan on community development and land use policy issues. She is also a Flintstone with deep roots in the community.
Emily received a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Central Michigan University and a Master's in Business Administration from Detroit Mercy.
View YouTube Interview of Emily Doerr with Spectacle TV with Paul Herring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-OCiLdazC0
Candidate Profile, Emily Doerr by Flint Beat (E-Newsletter)
https://flintbeat.com/meet-flint-board-of-ed-candidate-emily-doerr/

Subscribe to the Radio Free Flint Podcast mailing list free of charge. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

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State Representative Sheryl Kennedy (D-Davison) is a member of the Genesee County state legislative delegation. Her career is off to an amazing start being named to a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee where she serves on subcommittees for School Aid & Education, Corrections and Agriculture. Sheryl spent a career in education as a teacher in the Davison School District and later as a school administrator in Oakland County. She has earned the trust of her colleagues as well as Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She shares her impressions of Michigan government, her first 18 months in office and how she goes about the work of a state legislator. Sheryl is a sixth generation resident of the Davison area of Genesee County, Michigan. She attended Davison High School where she was involved in the performing arts. She went on to obtain a PHd from Oakland University in Education Administration. She talks about fixing the roads in Montrose, trying to fix the education system by making college available and affordable for all citizens and how to deal with COVID 19. She was recently appointed to a special group by Governor Whitmer to develop some guardrails for the reopening of schools in Michigan after the COVID 19 shutdown. Her efforts to make schools safe for all is commendable. Based on her first 18 months in office, it is clear that she is a budding star in the Michigan Legislature with her passion for education and drive to accomplish her goals. She has rose quickly to prominence in the legislature because of her competence and obvious skills at working well with others. For more information on State Representative Sheryl Kennedy and how to contact her visit : https://housedems.com/kennedy For other information go to: https://www.electsherylkennedy.com/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/message

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - Harry Barrett FGC Golf Teaching Pro

Harry Barrett FGC Golf Teaching Pro

Radio Free Flint Podcast

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07/16/20 • 32 min

The Flint Golf Club has a place in Michigan history. It been host to the PGA Carling Open in the 1950's. It was where the legendary Arnold Palmer made his debut on the PGA tour. It also hosted Michigan Pro and Amateur championships. There is a reason that PGA golfers, PGA Tour Officials, weekend duffers and others love this course. Harry Barrett is one of those reasons. He has worked with some of the best names in golf (Amy Alcott, Ken Venturi, Greg Reynolds, etc) over his 50 year career as a teaching pro. Harry Barrett is also a legend in Michigan golf circles. Harry discusses the history of the Flint Golf Club. He shares his stories about its members and traditions. Those traditions included the C.S. Mott family, Jerry Rideout, also known as the Father of the Buick Open, and many others. Harry helped develop some of the best Michigan based golf pros and amateurs. He spends his time now helping kids learn the game of golf. Harry played the PGA Buick Open twice, on a sponsor's exemption. According to the Flint Journal, "The club was founded by an impressive group of Flint A-listers whose names still label streets and landmarks around the city. The original board of directors and members were J. Dallas Dort, A.G. Bishop, C.M. Begole, Colonel B. Burr, C.S. Mott, W.A. Smith, W.C. Durant, K.T. Keller, John J. Raskob and Alfred Sloan -- some of the same people who were instrumental in the start of General Motors." Its original location was in Atlas Township when it started as the Flint Country Club in 1910. The board of directors moved it to the current location in Flint and opened for play in 1919 to be closer to, at that time, a more prosperous area. Join us for a lively discussion and a few laughs about the good old days. This podcast is a re-release broadcast. Learn more about the history of the Flint Golf Club https://flintgolfclub.com/--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/radiofreeflint/message

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Radio Free Flint Podcast - Potholes, Roads and the Future of a Michigan Rustbelt Town
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11/22/22 • 36 min

We discuss how the roads got so bad and how to fix the problem with road and infrastructure expert Dr. John Daly.
Michigan has a significant problem with its roads and bridges. The state has one of the highest numbers of structurally deficient bridges in the country, and many of its roads need repair. This problem has been exacerbated by years of neglect and insufficient funding.
One of the main issues is the lack of funding to maintain and repair the roads and bridges properly. Michigan has relied heavily on gas tax revenues to fund infrastructure projects. Still, these revenues have been declining due to more fuel-efficient vehicles and the increased use of electric vehicles. Additionally, the state has not increased its gas tax since 1997, leading to a significant shortfall in funding.
The state has also struggled with inadequate funding for road maintenance, leading to a backlog of repairs that grows yearly. This has resulted in a significant portion of the state's roads being in poor condition, causing damage to vehicles and creating a safety hazard for drivers.
Furthermore, Michigan's harsh winter weather can also contribute to the deterioration of its roads and bridges. The constant freeze-thaw cycles and heavy snowfall can cause significant damage, compounded by the lack of proper maintenance.
To fix these problems, Michigan needs to invest in its infrastructure by increasing road and bridge maintenance and repair funding. This could involve increasing the gas tax or finding alternative funding sources, such as tolls or user fees. The state also needs to prioritize infrastructure projects and allocate funding more efficiently, focusing on the most pressing needs first.
In conclusion, Michigan's problems with its roads and bridges are multifaceted and require a comprehensive approach to fix. The state must address these issues in a timely manner to improve the safety and quality of life for its citizens.

Fixing aging roads and bridges in cities like Flint, Michigan, needs creative solutions for its hollowed-out city with blocks and blocks of vacant homes. While a vacant house can be torn down, the near-bankrupt municipality must maintain the aging paved roads in front of those houses. Is the answer to downsizing or shrinking the city? How difficult is that to do? Get some answers to these questions and others.
Please share your thoughts with us by email or voice message.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Radio Free Flint Podcast have?

Radio Free Flint Podcast currently has 115 episodes available.

What topics does Radio Free Flint Podcast cover?

The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, News Commentary, Podcasts and Michigan.

What is the most popular episode on Radio Free Flint Podcast?

The episode title 'Ernie Harwell: Detroit Tiger Broadcaster (ft Jack Lessenbury)' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Radio Free Flint Podcast?

The average episode length on Radio Free Flint Podcast is 32 minutes.

How often are episodes of Radio Free Flint Podcast released?

Episodes of Radio Free Flint Podcast are typically released every 6 days, 2 hours.

When was the first episode of Radio Free Flint Podcast?

The first episode of Radio Free Flint Podcast was released on Apr 3, 2020.

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