“What about us?” Sherry Gay-Dagnogo asks, cutting straight to the bone as she joins Khary Frazier to chart how Detroit’s past battles shape tomorrow’s wins for Legacy Black Detroit. In a conversation braided with urgency and receipts, Sherry salutes community media—“Education is key and your platform provides that”—then lays out why she’s seeking Detroit’s Ombudsman post: a 10-year, people-first watchdog who can “scale excellent service” across city departments and build real partnership with DPSCD. She refuses business-as-usual politics: “African Americans have been the backbone of the Democratic Party,” yet too often policy priorities like CVI, juvenile lifer reform, police accountability, and fair auto insurance are stalled while candidates chase culture clout—“through rappers”—instead of respecting the 92% of Black women who show up. She revisits the redistricting fight she led—“we deserve African-American representation”—and the unanimous court ruling that followed, tying it to a longer arc of emergency management, EAA missteps, and school closures that hollowed neighborhoods. From bus routes to literacy, from Brightmoor to Birmingham lines drawn wrong, she calls for audacious leadership rooted in elders like Coleman Young and JoAnn Watson: “Justice will always ultimately prevail—but only if we demand it.” This is Detroit memory and muscle, a blueprint for accountability that insists our institutions serve the people who built them.
From Grandma’s Bedroom to 500: The Pulse of Legacy Black Detroit
“Back in Detroit is Different studios—my grandma’s house—where the organ once sat and the stories still breathe.” Episode 500 turns
From Grandma’s Bedroom to 500: The Pulse of Legacy Black Detroit
From Voting Tests to Community Benefits Agreements: Brenda Butler’s Detroit Playbook
“Council is empowered — they’re not using their power.” Brenda Faye Butler from Birmingham to Detroit—walks us through a life
From Voting Tests to Community Benefits Agreements: Brenda Butler’s Detroit Playbook
Delivering Justice: How a Detroit Son Reconnects, Joe Drew-Hundley
“My father used to say, ‘If you’re gonna deliver mail, own the block you walk on.’ That stuck with me.”
Delivering Justice: How a Detroit Son Reconnects, Joe Drew-Hundley
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What Detroiters Should Expect if Mary Sheffield Becomes Mayor
“The biggest word that inspired us to be here is grit.” From that charge, Brittany Vanderbeek of Aqua Action and host Khary Frazier dive into Detroit’s bluest truth: “the greatest asset in the world…water,” and how our city’s relationship to it will shape what comes next for Detroit. Brittany lays out Aqua Action’s mission to “build a water-secure future through entrepreneurship,” explaining how everyday residents—not just agencies—can be “the people with a voice in water innovation.” Why Detroit is the hub (“so many opportunities…for water entrepreneurs to pilot their technologies”), how municipalities and startups can partner, and why design thinking means “start with the people.” The episode also gets real about tech: AI’s thirst—“one simple prompt takes energy and water”—and the need for alternatives to water-cooled data centers. Brittany connects the global and the local—from a binational AquaHacking program (“anybody with an idea”) to Detroit River kayaking. If you care about Belle Isle, clean taps, and Detroit’s right to define and benefit from the Blue Economy, this one’s a listen.
“We can do our own planning… I want to see Black people living well and thriving.’ —Lauren Hood, Institute for Afro-Urbanism” Lauren Hood pulls back the curtain on Afro-Urbanism and flips the script on who gets called an “expert.” In this Detroit is Different conversation, she breaks down the pivot from disruptor to builder, why abundance beats scarcity, and how Detroiters’ lived experience is technical knowledge. From a fellowship spanning ages 18–70 to global interviews shaping a Detroit-centered practice, Hood shows how culture, metaphysics, and social capital move policy and place. Tap in to hear what it really takes to plan a future where Black Detroit thrives and feels like home.
It’s not about showing your teeth—it’s a reminder to be kind, Phillip Simpson, founder of The Smile Brand, takes it from Sojourner Truth Homes and seven & Hoover to DSA hallways, a U-M critique that birthed his iconic smile, and the ATL streetwear era that sharpened his business grind. He breaks down jitting, mentors like Joyce Ivory and Tyree Guyton, closing the Baltimore Gallery, and why Black men’s joy is resistance—not performance. This one is Detroit to the bone: family, faith, murals, and a mission to make kindness contagious. Tap in and catch the full journey behind the face you’ve seen all over the city.
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Detroit, Thank You. From living-room brainstorms to citywide storytelling, your listens, shares, prayers, and pull-ups made Detroit is Different more than a platform—it’s a people-powered movement. We’ve felt the love through every high and every hurdle, and we’re still here because you show up. To our elders, youth, artists, activists, and everyday geniuses: you are the heartbeat. The work continues—louder, safer, and stronger.
In Love for your Support through the Growth of me to share collective Detroit stories
#DetroitIsDifferent #ThankYouDetroit #CommunityPower #BlackDetroit #StorytellingMatters #shorts
From Grandma’s Bedroom on Rosa Parks to a citywide archive: Khary Frazier sits with Kahn Santori for the 500th episode of Detroit is Different this Week! No clickbait—just the heartbeat of Legacy Black Detroit: My Natural Hair Show, Collard Green Cook-offs, & much more.
#DetroitIsDifferent #Episode500 #LegacyBlackDetroit #313
With hearts full of gratitude, we invite you to Legacy of Support: A Celebration of Thank You—honoring every guest, collaborator, listener, neighbor, collard green grower, natural hair stylist, podcast producer, elder, and all who’ve poured into Detroit is Different since our first podcast in 2014. What began as a concept has grown into a mission and a community of storytellers, culture keepers, organizers, artists, and everyday Detroiters. We’ll celebrate the love and labor behind our milestones, lift up the people who’ve built with us on air, online, and in community, and share what’s next—because the vision ahead is big and only possible with you. This is our way of saying thank you for your time, trust, testimonies, and ten-toes-down commitment to Detroit culture. Come be seen, be celebrated, and add your story to the legacy.
Invitations for RSVP coming very soon
#DetroitIsDifferent #LegacyOfSupport #DetroitCulture
Success Takes Time a 20-Year Journey
"It might not happen right there, but perseverance is key. Earl `E-40` Stevens remarked on his 11-year journey in the spirits industry, emphasizing long-term vision and adaptation. In his exclusive Detroit interview, E-40 delves into the importance of understanding market trends and staying healthy in business. Gain a fresh perspective on navigating challenges and staying ahead. Don`t miss this enlightening discussion on music, business, and personal growth.
The Game Ain’t Changed—Just the Product: E-40 Talks Ownership at Taste of Black Spirits Detroit
Detroit is Different episode 494 with Earl `E-40` Stevens
#E40 #BusinessStrategies #DetroitTalks #Perseverance #IndustryInsights
Shocking Reality of College Tuition Costs
"Full tuition is due. Wow. Whoa." From that overwhelming moment to finding a path forward, Mindful B Anthony shares a deeply personal journey of resilience and determination. This interview delves into the sacrifices made by family and the unyielding spirit that fuelled his success. Tune in to discover how a last-minute band audition paved the way for a partial scholarship and an inspiring story of perseverance.
From Van Dyke to Hampton to Healing: The Journey of Mindful B Anthony
Detroit is Different episode 491 with Mindful B Anthony
#DetroitIsDifferent #HigherEducation #CollegeTuition #MindfulBAnthony #Resilience
Stay Focused the Key to Success
"Detroit`s energy is electric, much like Oakland," reflects Earl `E-40` Stevens in his interview with Detroit is Different. Drawing parallels between these vibrant cities, E-40 shares anecdotes from his influential music career and insights from his 11-year journey in the spirits industry. Tune in to discover how these experiences shape his entrepreneurial spirit.
The Game Ain’t Changed—Just the Product: E-40 Talks Ownership at Taste of Black Spirits Detroit
Detroit is Different episode 494 with Earl `E-40` Stevens
#E40 #DetroitIsDifferent #Entrepreneurship #MusicAndSpirits
Perseverance the Only Way Out is Through
"When you change the words you use, more worlds and opportunities open up." Join us in the latest Detroit is Different episode as Mindful B Anthony unveils their journey of overcoming obstacles through spiritual practice and artistic expression. Explore how leveraging energy art with copper and crystals became a catalyst for transformation and empowerment. Gain insights into the resilience needed to forge a new path when life demands change. Watch to discover how language, mindset, and creativity can open new doors.
From Van Dyke to Hampton to Healing: The Journey of Mindful B Anthony
Detroit is Different episode 491 with Mindful B Anthony
#DetroitIsDifferent #MindfulBAnthony #Resilience #EnergyArt #PersonalGrowth
Having Each Other`s Back
"So we just gotta have each other back like a backpack." Earl `E-40` Stevens shares the secrets behind his multifaceted success, from New York Times bestseller to spirits mogul. In this exclusive Detroit is Different interview, discover how the transition from artist to entrepreneur has shaped his brand and inspired countless fans. Learn how he built an empire with the support of industry giants like Snoop Dogg, and what he`s got planned next.
The Game Ain’t Changed—Just the Product: E-40 Talks Ownership at Taste of Black Spirits Detroit
Detroit is Different episode 494 with Earl `E-40` Stevens
#E40 #Entrepreneurship #SpiritBrands #DetroitIsDifferent #NewYorkTimesBestseller