Shows
Already Gone PodcastBONUS - Jack talks about JackContent Warning - Suicide/Self Harm An interview with Jack Lessenberry about Jack Kevorkian. Lessenberry won an Emmy in 1995 for one of two Frontline documentaries he helped report and produce on Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Learn more about our guest here - Lessenberry Ink Follow Already Gone on Instagram 2025-03-0640 min
Bonnie Jo Talks to EverybodyJack Lessenberry on Michigan PoliticsWhile visiting the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan I got a chance to chat with Jack Lessenberry, who knows a lot about Michigan Politics, past, present, and even future. I interviewed him at 7am, before he took his dogs out to the park for tug-of-war, so I was kind of dopey. But he sounds just right, so I won't bother trying to edit out my ums and hems and haws. He's the author of a book about (Republican) governor William Milliken, and if you want to hear more about every aspect of Michigan politics, here's a link to his...2024-09-2943 min
The Science of Superpowers on the Superpower NetworkSOS – When Conversations Get MessyWhat will you do when conversations get messy? In this episode of Science of Superpowers, host Tonya Dawn Recla welcomes guest Jack Lessenberry. Jack is the author of the book, Reason Versus Racism: A newspaper, family and justice. And so, Tonya and Jack's topic revolves around how to handle messy conversations. They talk about everything that isn't supposed to be talked about — religion, race, and personal relationships. This episode is about to get messy, make mistakes, and possibly tackle the incorrect thing. Yet, we will make amends by meeting each other in love and grace. Tune in to know what ha...2022-03-1826 min
Fugitive Farmer: A true crime podcast by Brian Johnson, author of "Murder in Chisago County."An interview with Jack Lessenberry, author of "Reason vs. Racism: A Newspaper Family, Race and Justice"In this episode of the Fugitive Farmer True Crime Podcast, author and journalist Jack Lessenberry discusses his recently published book "Reason vs. Racism: A Newspaper Family, Race and Justice." Thoroughly researched, the book examines how a chain of newspapers owned by the Block family covered issues related to race from the 1910s to the election of Barack Obama and beyond. Along the way, Lessenberry weaves in historical vignettes ranging from the notorious June 1920 lynching of three Black men in Duluth, Minnesota, to the 1920s-era heroism of Tom Lee, a Black man who saved 32 white people from drowning after an...2021-11-2535 min
The Tom Sumner Program - Archive10-14-21 9amInterview with Jack Lessenberry2021-10-1400 min
Radio Free Flint PodcastErnie Harwell: Detroit Tiger Broadcaster (ft Jack Lessenbury)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, a...2020-12-2038 min
ML Soul of DetroitThird Man Wreckers – December 1, 2020 * M.L. Elrick (Twitter @elrick/Facebook ML ELRICK/Instagram ml_elrick), Marc Fellhauer (Twitter @MarcFell) and Shawn Windsor (Twitter @ShawnWindsor) rock out with Dirtbombs drummer and Third Man Records impresario Ben Blackwell (www.thirdmanrecords.com). Matt Jennings (Twitter @MattRJennings) administers his Soft History midterm while Joey Zuver considers transferring.* THE STRAIGHT DOPE: Before he was a Rock God, Ben was a student in ML’s journalism class at Wayne State University. They reminisce about Ben’s most excellent excuse for missing most of his classes that semester.* Ben came on to discuss his adventures as one of the Dirtbombs two d...2020-12-022h 01
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesSupreme JusticeWhat’s it like to actually be ON the Supreme Court? Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack was elected to the court in 2012 and became the Chief Justice last year. In addition to having a key role in deciding the constitutionality of laws, she also has the job of overseeing all of Michigan’s other state courts. Find out what goes on behind the bench, gavel, and black robes of the Michigan Supreme Court.2020-10-0927 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesWhat Will Be the Effect of 3rd Parties In This Year’s Election?There’s no question that some people blame third parties – especially the Libertarians and the Green Party – for Donald Trump’s surprising election four years ago. Six million people voted for either the Green or Libertarian candidates for President, and the difference was more than Trump’s winning margins in most states, including Michigan.
But the leaders of those parties say that not only do they have as much right as the Republicans or Democrats to run, they aren’t running to tip any election, they are running to let people know what they believe in and stand for and try to win s...2020-02-1844 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesA Candid Conversation with Dana Nessel, Michigan’s Attorney GeneralDana Nessel was elected Michigan’s Attorney General in November 2018. She is the first woman to hold that office in state history, the first openly gay person to hold that office, and the first Democrat to hold it in nearly twenty years. Since taking office, she has been a whirling dervish of activity and hasn’t been afraid of controversy or of standing up to interest groups in either party. Find out more about this gutsy Attorney General and her thoughts about the job, unemployment compensation, the MSU investigation and more.2020-02-1132 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesGeoffrey Fieger - Why We Need a "Clear Vision for 2020"Geoffrey Fieger is one of Michigan’s most fascinating personalities and Michigan’s most successful medical malpractice lawyer. He became nationally famous in the 1990s for his defense of Dr. Jack Kevorkian in five trials and before the world’s media. He defied the odds and the party establishment to win the Democratic nomination for governor in 1998 and beat what he believes was a politically driven attempt by the Bush administration to convict him of campaign finance violations. Now, he says what we need is a “Clear Vision for 2020.” As always, he tells it like he sees it and pulls no punches2020-01-2247 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesWomen Who Shouldn't Be In PrisonWomen who shouldn’t be in prison -- and the effort of a few dedicated people to free them. The vast majority of Michigan’s state prisoners are men. Women inmates are all housed in a single prison, the Huron Valley Correctional Facility near Ann Arbor, which has been plagued with problems from overcrowding to sanitation issues.
Some of these women were dangerous criminals. But an appalling number of them were sentenced to long terms, often life, for crimes they were forced into by people, often boyfriends or husbands, which whom they were victims in abusive relationships. Some were convicted of m...2020-01-1538 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesIs American Democracy Really in Serious Danger?We have a President, Donald Trump, who often doesn’t appear to understand the nature of the presidency or its traditions. Nor does he seem to understand the central role of our Constitution.
Mr. Trump also doesn’t seem to recognize that in our system, the President is not just a political leader, he is the head of state, the symbol of our nation and its heritage to our people and the world.
It’s important to note that I am not talking here about his specific positions on the issues, but about his understanding of the nature of his job an...2020-01-0756 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesIs Detroit's Comeback Sustainable?We all know that Detroit has made a big comeback in recent years – at least we have been told it has. And it’s true that anyone walking around downtown or the midtown area will see streets that look better than they have in decades. But how deep does the comeback go? And what needs to happen next?
Joining me to talk about all of this:
Karen Dumas is a communications and media professional who has been well-known and respected in Detroit for many years; she has hosted a number of radio shows, served on many committees and boards and serv...2019-12-2452 min
The Virg Bernero ShowThe Virg Bernero Show - Episode 8 - Historic ImpeachmentThis week on The Virg Bernero Show... Virg discusses the historic Impeachment of President Donald Trump in the U.S. House of Representatives. He welcomes special guests MSU Professor Brian Kalt and veteran Michigan journalist Jack Lessenberry on the show to discuss the U.S. Senate's next steps in the impeachment process.2019-12-1954 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesWhat Future Does The US Auto Industry Have?Metro Detroit is the place that put the world on wheels. Eleven years ago, there was a very real possibility that the domestic auto industry might not survive. Now, after billions to bail out the industry, a confusing landscape of what does “American Made” really mean, the growth of electric and driverless cars, and the far-reaching scandal in the UAW, where do we go from here and how will it impact this country and the “Motor City?”
Joining me is Kristin Dziczek, VP of industry, labor, and economics for the non-profit Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor. She has degrees...2019-12-1747 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesDoes Our Legal System Still Work? A Legendary Judge’s View - Judge Avern CohnU.S. District Judge Avern Cohn has now been a federal judge for more than forty years, has served during the administrations of seven presidents and witnessed a lot of history – and is still on the bench and going strong at 95. But what does he think about the judicial system he has served so long? Does the system still work? Does the public understand it? And what does he think about what’s happened to politics and government in America today?2019-12-1035 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesDownstream from Here: A Big Life in a Small PlaceCharles Eisendrath covered some of the major stories of the 1970s as a foreign correspondent for Time Magazine, before returning to Michigan to reinvent and revitalize one of the world’s most prestigious journalist fellowship programs. He knew everyone from Mike Wallace to top fashion mavens and brought them to Ann Arbor to speak. But he had another life as an inventor, hunter, cherry farmer and very much a man of northern Michigan. Now, he has written a fascinating memoir, “Downstream From Here: A Big Life in a Small Place.”2019-12-0333 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesDetroit’s Black History: More Fascinating Than You Ever Knew!There’s so much more to black history than that black people were once slaves, that Martin Luther King made a famous speech called “I Have A Dream,” that there were riots in the 1960s, that segregation has ended, and the fact that Barack Obama got elected President. Black history and black history in Detroit and Michigan is richly textured, endlessly interesting, and completely interwoven with all our history in a way few people know about it.
It’s relevant, absolutely fascinating and something everyone should know about.
Joining me to talk about it are three of the best experts in Detro...2019-11-2548 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesAsking the Top Sheriffs: What Can We Do About Crime in Metro Detroit?Did you know violent crime dropped in Detroit last year? Even so, the city still ranked as the nation's most violent, according to FBI crime data. Whatever your background, income or status – you are concerned about crime. It affects everyone.
What’s going on and what can be done to make Metro Detroit safer?
Some top cops in Metro Detroit join me to talk about it. Michael Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff, Benny Napoleon, Wayne County Sheriff, and Anthony Wickersham, Macomb County Sheriff.2019-11-1948 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesThe Gordie Howe Bridge Across the Detroit River…Will It Ever Really Happen?For nearly twenty years, a battle has raged over building a new bridge across the Detroit River. The Ambassador Bridge is nearly ninety years old, in questionable shape, wasn’t built for today’s huge trucks and is in a location that, given today’s traffic patterns, doesn’t make much sense.
But it is also privately owned. And its owner, 92-year-old billionaire Matty Moroun, has spent millions fighting every attempt to build a new bridge – even though Michigan business interests have been nearly unanimous in saying a new bridge is needed.
If something happened to the Ambassador now, the economic c...2019-11-0540 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesThe Truth About Impeachment: Will it happen? What would it mean?The House of Representatives has begun an “impeachment inquiry” into President Donald Trump’s behavior, specifically in regard to the Ukraine. It’s alleged he tried to get that nation’s President to get dirt on former Vice-President Joe Biden’s son in return for aid. A majority of Americans now think that’s justified, but there’s still a long way to go. Only two US presidents have ever been impeached, and none have ever been convicted and removed from office.
There’s also a broad misunderstanding about how the process works, and how it is supposed to work. And nobody knows h...2019-10-2949 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesCrisis in Michigan’s Messed-Up Mental Health SystemThere is a crisis in mental health care in Michigan. A single mother had to wait for months to have her son hospitalized, even though he had repeatedly tried to kill her. A 19-year-old autistic, severely mentally ill man kicked an elderly man to death in an adult foster care facility. He needs help – but authorities could not find or agree on where to put him, and there is an increasing percentage of state prisoners are mentally ill, many severely so – and for them and society, prison is the worst and most expensive alternative. So how do we fix Michigan’s brok...2019-10-2235 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesWrongly Convicted: One Woman’s Lonely Search for Justice for Her HusbandLouise O’Connell is a senior banking executive, accountant and fraud investigator. Her husband Jim was semi-retired and spent time helping out at the church they belonged to and a preschool it ran. One day in 2013, a seven-year-old former pre-school student said “Mr. Jim” had abused her more than a year before. There was no evidence, no witnesses, and he had no prior record of any sexual misbehavior, but he was swiftly convicted and given what amounted to a life sentence. His wife Louise is completely convinced he is totally innocent – and has devoted her life to winning justice for her husb...2019-10-1539 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesPolitics & Prejudices Podcast: Will the census really count all of us? And will redistricting reform really happen?The U.S. Census is next April -- and it’s more important than ever for Michigan. For the first time, redistricting has been taken away from the politicians and given to the people.
Kurt Metzger is probably Michigan’s best-known and most experienced demographer and population expert. After working for the U.S. Census bureau for years, he ran a program at Wayne State and went on to work for United Way and then found Data Driven Detroit. Today, he still studies demographic trends and keeps an eye on the population as mayor of Pleasant Ridge.
Nancy Wang now serv...2019-10-0839 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesAre Our Politicians Bought and Paid For?Almost everybody knows that it takes indecent amounts of money to run political campaigns nowadays. But what you might not know is that politicians often try to hide just how much is being spent – and more importantly, where it is coming from. But a too-little known nonprofit outfit called the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN.org) is out there trying to hold the campaigns accountable and bring the facts to you.
Craig Mauger has been executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network for the last three years; he works full-time trying to get the truth about campaign spending, find ou...2019-10-0137 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesUSA & China – Trade, Tariffs and TensionEconomically, China and the United States are the two most important superpowers in the world – and now they are involved in an escalating trade war. Does this make sense? Who is most likely to be hurt? The answer may surprise you. Listen to my guests, Tom Watkins, and Bernard Swiecki and let me know what YOU think.
Tom Watkins has held a wide variety of important jobs in Michigan, from Director of the State Department of Health to State Superintendent of Schools, but he is now devoting himself to his greatest passion – building better ties in both business and education betw...2019-09-2539 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesWhat does a coffee company and a bus company have to do with the Detroit comeback story?Here’s what happens when two guys from Detroit take different and unique paths to step up and make a real community and economic impact.
A.J. O’Neil is a regular guy. He was a roofer until he fell off a roof and almost died. No longer able to stay in that career, he remade himself and is now the founder and CBO, (Chief Bean Officer), of Detroit Bold Coffee, which is selling a ton of beans a week, and employing folks in beaten-down Highland Park.
Andy Didorosi created Detroit Bus Company to give kids and other needy folk ride...2019-09-1930 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesHow the (BLEEP) Did This Guy Make An Award Winning Movie?There's no way millennial Mike Rott could have made an award-winning documentary film about a Tuskegee airman. He'd never had a day of film school. But since he didn't know he couldn't do it .... he did. Luft Gangster has won awards and been shown nationwide and overseas. And now, he's getting funding and working hard on a potentially even more important film: "Why the bleep do they hate us?" Listen to the story of how he did it -- and what he plans to do next.2019-09-1130 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesLiving Transgender, The Real StoryCivil rights and women’s rights have come a long way. America has even begun to recognize that gay and lesbian people have legitimate rights to live their lives the way they want to. However, society has lagged much further behind about respecting the rights of transgender Americans, as well as understanding anything about them. That’s why Julisa Abad, a transgender Latina woman and Alanna Maguire, president of FAIR Michigan, an organization that is fighting to end discrimination in the state are involved in this movement.2019-09-1127 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesThe Truth About Michigan's New Car Insurance LawGov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill designed to significantly reduce car insurance rates. But when you read this bill it contains loopholes for the insurance companies and turns out that it may not be all it’s said to be. Find out the truth the law and how it could affect you and your family.2019-09-1136 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesThe War We Can't Forget - Civil War Citizen-General, Alpheus S. WilliamsMichigan historian Jack Dempsey talks about his new biography of Citizen-General, Alpheus S. Williams, one of the most important Civil War general you never heard of.2019-09-1132 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesMarkie Miller – Lake Erie Bill of RightsMarkie Miller is the driving force behind the Bill of Rights ballot initiative for Lake Erie to reduce the toxic pollution to this Great Lake. Opposed by both major political parties and outspent in advertising forty to one, Markie successfully led the fight and helped this Great Lake win by a landslide. A modern-day David and Goliath story of passion and perseverance.2019-09-1121 min
Jack Lessenberry Politics & PrejudicesMore Than the Geoffrey Fieger You Thought You KnewEverybody knows Geoffrey Fieger is the toughest and most flamboyant attorney around. But do you know that he thinks Donald Trump is a “criminal and scam artist?” Did you know that he thinks that the intelligence in our country has gone down dramatically? Learn a lot more about the man you thought you knew.2019-09-1146 min
Business RapEp. 325"Supporting Veterans in the Workplace," with our panel of experts, Julie Haak of Neogen Corporation, Paula Thompson, veteran and Biggby Coffee franchisee, Luke Mardigian of The Mardigian Agency and Nick Babcock, of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Michigan. Next, Phil Zeller of Dale Carnegie answers your business communications questions in our "Ask Phil" segment. Also, Michael Patrick Shiels talks with Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry about the William Strample scandal coming out of Michigan State University. #AskBizRap2018-04-0556 min
Talking Michigan PoliticsCan Pete Hoekstra hang on to lead in Republican race for governor?Join Grand Rapids Press editors Jeff Cranson and Ed Golder for this week's Talking Michigan Politics. Topics include:
1. The race for governor Last week's poll (PDF), that found U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Holland, hanging on to a lead in the GOP primary. Is Hoekstra's solid support in Republican-rich West Michigan enough to propel him to victory in the primary?
Does the Manoogian mansion civil case and innuendo continue to dog Attorney General Mike Cox, another GOP candidate?
As Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard continues to lag in GOP polls, does he consider a run for Congress instead?
2. Congressional races...2010-04-1531 minTalking Michigan PoliticsWill Michigan House pass ban on texting while driving?Will Michigan House pass ban on texting while driving?Will Michigan House pass ban on texting while driving?Matt McLogan, vice president of university relations at GVSU, joins Grand Rapids Press political editor Jeff Cranson on this week's Talking Michigan Politics. recorded at One Trick Pony in downtown Grand Rapids. Thanks to proprietor Dan Verhil.
The topics include:
1. The race for governor. A poll out Tuesday (PDF) from Lansing-based EPIC MRA confirms that the Democratic field has a ways to go in capturing interest, let alone excitement.
Some 72 percent of those polled said they don't recognize the name of Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, and 53 percent don't recognize House Speaker Andy Dillon who was preparing a run for months...2010-04-0832 min
Poor Mojo's News ShowPoor Mojo's News Show Podcast No. 47 for Friday, February 9, 2007
Poor Mojo's News Show Podcast No. 47 (64 Kbps .mp3 8:08 3.7 Mb)
A daily roundup of things that seemed important.
Customer Service means never having to say you're sorry
IT’S POOR MOJO’S NEWS SHOW! FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY NINTH, TWO THOUSAND AND SEVEN
A DAILY ROUNDUP OF THINGS THAT SEEMED IMPORTANT .
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/02/07/passport_rule_change_in_us_keeps_iraqis_out/
IRAQIS WHO FIGURE THAT MAYBE THE UNITED STATES WILL TAKE THEM IN NOW THAT WE'VE REDUCED THEIR COUNTRY TO 13TH CENTURY CONDITIONS WOULD BE SADLY MISTAKEN. BOSTON DOT COM HAS A STORY ABOUT THE RULE THAT...2007-02-0908 min