Detroit is Different

  • Latest episode: “I Set Up Shop and Built the Vision, Jason Phillips on Art, Ink, and Detroit Legacy”
  • Latest episode: “Breaking Curses, Building Community: Inside the Modern Day High Priestess with Ber-Henda Williams”
  • Latest episode: “From Scripts to Fatherhood: MJ the Don on Creativity, Patience, and Legacy”

  • Latest episode: “I Set Up Shop and Built the Vision, Jason Phillips on Art, Ink, and Detroit Legacy”
  • Latest episode: “Breaking Curses, Building Community: Inside the Modern Day High Priestess with Ber-Henda Williams”
  • Latest episode: “From Scripts to Fatherhood: MJ the Don on Creativity, Patience, and Legacy”

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What Detroiters Should Expect if Mary Sheffield Becomes Mayor

“You don’t know Detroit ’til you know Vinewood!” In this deeply-rooted, powerful conversation, Victoria Camille takes us on a journey through generational migration, community transformation, and grassroots organizing. From her granddad “Kid Heney” the boxer at Joe Louis Arena, to growing up in River Rouge and Santa Rosa, to facing the harsh realities of returning to a declining Vinewood, Victoria brings layered Detroit truths: “I thought I saw a ghost—it was Auntie Lulu on my porch.” This Detroit is Different episode spans from field trips in a hippie teacher’s van to fighting off street racers with flower beds and block clubs. Victoria shares the real reasons she’s running for Police Commissioner in District 7: “We need to move from policing to true community safety.” If you’ve ever wondered how to turn inherited homes into healing spaces or how to push yourself to the edge like a 400-meter sprint, this one’s for you.

“Supporting your people isn’t always convenient—but it’s powerful.” That’s the gospel according to poet, author, and creator Shaun Moore-Bey. In this soul-stirring Detroit is Different episode, Shaun takes us on a journey from Conant Gardens to the Cass Tech classrooms, from Mississippi family reunions to standing-room-only poetry readings. “I was the nerd with a hundred X-Men toys, making up universes,” Shaun recalls. But his imagination and deep ancestral lessons from his grandfather—”Jesus is Black” being the first eye-opener—planted a seed that bloomed through hip hop, community activism, and the written word. From prison time to poetic purpose, Shaun’s story is a testimony to transformation. He speaks candidly about internal healing, cultural pride, and why “words are spells” that can build or break a people. Tune in to hear how this Positive Poet uses storytelling to uplift Black women, honor elders, and create a legacy for the next thousand years. “To love me is to love Black women,” he says. “We’re not separate—we’re two sides of the same coin.”

“I never ran for office thinking that I was going to be rich. I already knew. How did I know? Because your dad, my dad, we weren’t poor as folks would like to say. Folks don’t like to use the word poor anymore. But we weren’t in poverty, or we weren’t unfortunate in a lot of ways, but we weren’t rich. We still had tough times.” From family councils and tech legacies to state politics and AI innovations, Fred Durhal III’s life is a masterclass in leadership forged through Detroit’s unique cultural and political terrain. Raised in a family that counted MLK allies and owned tech firms before Black tech was a trend, Durhal says, “Public service was never a choice — it was a calling.” He shares how music shaped his leadership style, the reality of being a Black state rep under constant scrutiny, and why he’s running for mayor: “I want to rebuild Detroit through the strength of our families.” This Detroit is Different interview dives into roots, representation, and the relentless hope that fuels his vision.

“I sang before I could talk,” says Steffanie Christi’an, capturing the essence of a voice born in rhythm and raised on soul. In this powerful Detroit is Different interview, Steffanie weaves a narrative of musical lineage rooted in Southfield, church choirs, and impromptu jam sessions with her grandfather who taught her guitar and blues. She reflects on her time at Aisha Shule, calling it “one of the most enlightening and enriching experiences in my life,” and opens up about the real grind behind artistry—from acapella basement recordings to demo sessions in New York. Her journey, blessed by mentors like Proof and molded by family legacy, affirms the beauty of persistence. “I always wanted to be Beyoncé before Beyoncé,” she laughs, before revealing how redefining success keeps her creating across genres, from rock and roll to house music with Inner City. As she puts it, “Rock and roll is just the blues sped up,” and Steffanie Christi’an’s story is a soundtrack of resilience, reinvention, and unapologetic Black womanhood in music.

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