Best Mitten Channel Podcasts (2026)

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Inside Anatomy of a Murder 2:51

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10d ago2:51

2:51

This is a short excerpt from an upcoming episode of Flint Justice. In this preview, Arthur Busch explores the real Michigan homicide case that inspired Anatomy of a Murder and the lawyer behind it, John D. Voelker—prosecutor, defense attorney, Supreme Court justice, and writer. The full episode examines what this case still teaches us about jury tr…

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John D. Voelker and Anatomy of a Murder: Law, Doubt, and Justice in Michigan 13:45

15d ago13:45

13:45

In 1952, a saloon killing in a small Upper Peninsula town became one of the most important—and controversial—criminal trials in Michigan history. The lawyer who defended the accused was John D. Voelker: former county prosecutor, defense attorney, future Michigan Supreme Court justice, and a gifted writer who would later publish the landmark legal n…

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The Age of Anxiety: Political Media, Dementia, and the Boomer Fear 7:15

22d ago7:15

7:15

The Age of Anxiety: Political Media, Dementia, and the Boomer Fear In Michigan living rooms—from Flint to Saginaw to small towns up north—older Americans watch political news that feels less like reporting and more like a public trial of aging itself. Every stumble, verbal slip, or moment of confusion by national leaders is clipped, replayed, and m…

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Inside Detroit’s 99th Thanksgiving Parade:On-the-Ground Coverage by Arthur Busch 8:27

27d ago8:27

8:27

Join Arthur Busch on location in downtown Detroit as he takes you inside the magic of the 99th Annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade. In this special field-report episode, Arthur walks Woodward Avenue, captures the sights and sounds of the morning, and talks directly with the people who make this iconic tradition come alive. From families bundled up…

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She Dodged Bullets for the UAW — and Her Legacy Still Haunts the Auto Industry 17:47

27d ago17:47

17:47

In 1937, a 23-year-old Flint woman stood between General Motors security, Flint police gunfire, and the workers fighting for their lives inside Fisher Body. Her name was Genora Johnson Dollinger — and she did more than rally the Women’s Emergency Brigade. She dodged bullets for the UAW and helped spark a labor uprising that reshaped the American mi…

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When Flint Fought Back: Genora Johnson and the Strike That Changed America 0:54

28d ago0:54

0:54

In 1937, a 23-year-old Flint woman stood between General Motors security, Flint police gunfire, and the workers fighting for their lives inside Fisher Body. Her name was Genora Johnson Dollinger — and she did more than rally the Women’s Emergency Brigade. She dodged bullets for the UAW and helped spark a labor uprising that reshaped the American mi…

1
DETROIT RISING: A Photo Tour of Motor City's Amazing Comeback | The Mitten Channel 2:39

1M ago2:39

2:39

Welcome to the Detroit comeback. With a voice as warm and familiar as the streets themselves, we take a tour of the Motor City's stunning revitalization. From the iconic RenCen and the architecture of the Whitney Building to the vibrant Riverwalk and the energy of the city's sports scene, this video captures the enduring, tough, and durable spirit …

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Flint’s 1937 Sit-down Strike Saved Wages, Work, and Democracy 0:59

2M ago0:59

0:59

The Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936–37 wasn’t just a labor dispute — it was a turning point in American history. In this short documentary segment, former Genesee County Prosecutor Arthur Busch breaks down what really happened inside the Fisher Body plants, why the strike succeeded, and how Flint became the birthplace of modern union power. This vide…

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The Michigan Murderer: John Norman Collins and the Ypsilanti Terror 23:52

2M ago23:52

23:52

He was handsome, popular, and lived the perfect fraternity life in Ann Arbor. But behind John Norman Collins’s all-American image lurked one of Michigan’s darkest secrets. In the late 1960s, a series of brutal murders terrorized the college towns of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Seven young women—mostly students—were abducted, raped, and murdered. The m…

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Flint’s Coney Island Legacy: The Immigrant Story Behind a Michigan Icon 36:27

2M ago36:27

36:27

Few Flint residents know that one of the city’s most beloved traditions began with immigrants from a tiny mountain village in North Macedonia. In this episode of Radio Free Flint, host Arthur Busch welcomes Karen Paul Holmes, daughter of Carl Paul, co-founder of Angelo’s Coney Island—the restaurant that helped define Flint’s working-class culture f…

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Why I Leave Michigan Every Winter (And What It Says About Us) 13:27

2M ago13:27

13:27

What’s a “Snowbird,” really—and why do millions of Americans and Canadians head south every winter? In this video essay, Arthur Busch—former Genesee County Prosecutor and host of Radio Free Flint—shares why he became a Snowbird and what the lifestyle reveals about working-class culture from the Rust Belt to the Sunbelt. From union paychecks and shi…

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The Golden Age: Flint Community Schools 36:15

3y ago36:15

36:15

Good school districts are more than a function of how much money they collect from taxpayers. Schools must connect with the community where they are located in ways that go beyond math, science and reading. Flint, Michigan at one time was the envy of America. Flint leaders developed and funded the concept of the Community Schools Program. The Flint…

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Electronic Drone Musician Hauras: A Song for Flint, Michigan 18:10

3y ago18:10

18:10

Our guest is musician Howard Ryan, a native of Wisconsin who now lives in San Francisco, California. Ryan, also known as Hauras composed a song, "Flint, Michigan," intending to make a social statement about the problems of the beleaguered rust belt city. Ryan is a musician and composer who is known for his work in the drone music genre. He has rele…

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Conservation and Sustainable Food Growing in Michigan 28:17

3y ago28:17

28:17

Our podcast guest is Daniel Moilanen, a Fenton area native now living in Flint. Dan is currently the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD). His leadership in this organization brings conservation-minded farmers together to reduce toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes by encouraging environmentally sound agr…

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Potholes, Roads and the Future of a Michigan Rustbelt Town 36:41

3y ago36:41

36:41

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 n…

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Midnight in the Vehicle City: The Strike Heard Around the World 33:33

3y ago33:33

33:33

Midnight in Vehicle City by author Edward McClelland is a book that tells the story of Flint, Michigan, during the Great Recession and the struggles of its residents as they try to survive in a city that has been hit hard by the economic downturn. The story centers around autoworkers struggling to make ends meet and their challenges of working for …

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George Winters — A Michigan Music Life: Flint, Davison & The Red Piano 34:13

3y ago34:13

34:13

A Michigan original. A musical storyteller. A man who made a lifetime of memories from behind a piano. In this episode, we sit down with George Winters, the beloved “Red Piano Man” from Flint and Davison. George is a lifelong musician, entertainer, teacher, and creative force. His signature red electric piano has become a staple at community events…

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In Flint They Don't Name the Streets for Us 25:58

3y ago25:58

25:58

This is a conversation with Sarah Carson about her book of poems, How to Baptize a Child, in Flint, MI. Carson's poems are a jarring portrayal of life in a declining, once mighty, and still proud American rustbelt town, Flint, Michigan. "How to Baptize a Child in Flint, Michigan" is a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of faith, family,…

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Emily Doerr: What Can Be Done To Fix Flint's Schools? 23:36

3y ago23:36

23:36

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. Th…

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Bryan McCree: A Flintstone Comedian With Joy in His Bones 30:52

3+ y ago30:52

30:52

Stand-up comic Bryan McCree shares Flint stories, family humor, and the Michigan grit behind a life on stage. Is it possible to make Flint laugh? If anyone can, it’s Bryan McCree — nationally touring comedian, actor, writer, and proud Flintstone. Known for his sharp insight into American culture and his uncanny ability to make us laugh at ourselves…

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Prep School Transfers Impact Flint Prep Hoops and Culture 34:41

3+ y ago34:41

34:41

Flint, Michigan, has long been touted as a hotbed for high school basketball. Indeed, Flint has produced some of the top basketball talents in the nation. Many Flint athletes are playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and at major colleges and universities. Flint basketball players have had lucrative careers playing internationally. F…

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The 2017 Bishop Airport Terror Attack: Chief Chris Miller Tells the Inside Story 38:59

3+ y ago38:59

38:59

In this episode of Radio Free Flint, retired Public Safety Director Chris Miller recounts one of the most shocking events in Flint’s recent history — the 2017 terrorist attack inside Bishop International Airport. Miller describes the moment a Tunisian national stabbed an airport police officer and how he and an airport maintenance worker subdued th…

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Keeping Old Documents,Photos and Donating Your Treasures 25:10

3+ y ago25:10

25:10

In our highly mobile society, figuring out what to do with our old papers, photographs, and keepsakes is challenging. We accumulate boxes of possessions over a lifetime, and when moving, retiring, or upon the death of a parent it sits in your house begging for a home. Your junk can be true treasures that preserve the history of your community or yo…

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A Conversation with Genesee Historical Center Archivist Colleen Marquise 26:35

3+ y ago26:35

26:35

Colleen Marquise, Associate Archivist at the University of Michigan-Flint, Francis Willson-Thompson Library, takes podcast listeners on a virtual tour of the Genesee County (MI) Historical Center archive collection. This historical collection has a fascinating collection of oral histories, documents, papers, etc. The Center has three primary collec…

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Flint’s Civil War Heroes: The Story of the 10th Michigan Infantry 40:57

3+ y ago40:57

40:57

Flag Day Special — The Untold Story of Flint’s Civil War Soldiers and the battle flags that led them through America’s defining conflict. In the American Civil War, 90,000 Michigan soldiers marched into battle. Among them were the men of the 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment, organized in Flint, Michigan and mustered into federal service in February …