“You Gotta Lead with Your Curiosity,” Denzell Turner’s Blueprint for Black Podcasting Power

“You gotta lead with your curiosity if you want to build a platform.” That’s just one of the gems Denzell Turner drops in this in-depth Detroit is Different episode hosted by Khary Frazier. Denzell—founder of the Black Fridays Podcast—shares his journey from growing up on Ashbury Park, surrounded by four generations under one roof, to crafting media that speaks directly to Black Detroit’s present and future. The conversation digs deep into how Turner’s experiences at Cass Tech, U of M, and the Midnight Golf Program shaped not only his understanding of business and marketing but his mission to amplify Detroit’s underrepresented voices. “I had to figure out how to put the Denzell spin on it,” he says, recalling his inspiration from Earn Your Leisure. With a studio of his own, a new podcasting course, and nearly a million impressions across his content, Denzell is part of a new wave of Legacy Detroiters transforming the creative economy. This episode is a full-circle moment—documenting a Detroit story generations deep, with a future rooted in cultural storytelling and community power.