"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.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
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"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."
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
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"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.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
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"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.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
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Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]
“My grandmother taught me how to program when I was seven,” Bryan Campbell shares, setting the tone for a story that stretches from East Side Detroit roots to Silicon Valley boardrooms. In this powerful Detroit is Different interview, Bryan opens up about hacking school systems as a teenager, building websites for Michigan State before they even knew what email was, and becoming a key engineer behind ad systems that generated billions at Google. With family ties to tech pioneers and civil rights activism, Bryan’s journey includes personal battles—divorce, depression, and alcohol abuse—during his tenure at tech giants like Google and Amazon. Yet his story transforms when he returns to Detroit and builds his own firm, Pec Tech, from the ground up. “I didn’t walk away from Amazon; I walked toward healing,” Bryan says, reflecting on faith, failure, and finding purpose beyond corporate success
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]
“An abandoned house is not an abandoned house unless I see it as that.” In this soul-stirring Detroit is Different interview, Kim Sherobbi reflects on her lifelong commitment to community, tracing her purpose from childhood fashion shows on Bethune Street to founding the Birwood House as a space of radical love and collective leadership. Guided by a lineage of powerful Black women like her grandmother Lula White—"block club president for real"—and shaped by organizers like Ron Scott and the Boggs Center, Sherobbi affirms, “We can figure out how to go through this journey no matter what.” Her story illustrates how deeply community, family, and grief interweave into our purpose: “Community is big… people came to us and loved on us.” Through organizing block parties, teaching physical education with intention, and nurturing youth through programs like Community Lens, Kim lives the ethos that supporting others in finding their power is where transformation begins.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]
“You can’t put love into a house you don’t own.” That one quote encapsulates the spirit of Ken Elkins’ journey, vision, and mission as founder of Renewed. In this powerful Detroit is Different interview, Ken speaks truth to the generational impact of housing instability, sharing how growing up in a series of rentals shaped his understanding of pride, permanence, and purpose. From his early days in Saginaw, working at Chuck E. Cheese and joining the Navy Reserves just to find a path to college, to co-founding Ferris State’s “Black Leaders Aspiring for Critical Knowledge,” Ken’s life is a testament to how community can turn potential into power. “When I owned my first home, I felt value for the first time,” he reflects. Now, he’s pouring that lesson back into Detroit, offering affordable homes where the mortgage is never more than 25% of your income. It’s not just about equity—it’s about emotional stability, dignity, and the ripple effects of ownership for families who have long been priced out of their own neighborhoods. As Ken puts it, “I can't stop the developers, but I can flip one house and keep that in the community.” Filled with laughter, real talk, and a deeply rooted love for the culture—yes, lamb chops, buffs, and all—this episode is a masterclass in what it means to build legacy through healing and homeownership.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]
"We are not here for ourselves—we are here for other people. Period." These words from Orena Perry don't just summarize her perspective—they declare her purpose. Her story, like so many rooted in Detroit, is a vibrant blend of faith, family, and fearless entrepreneurship. From her great-grandmother’s home on Calvert to the stages of Jazz on the Boulevard and the halls of Redford High, Orena’s life journey has been one of intention, perseverance, and spiritual grounding. “I’ve always been a servant,” she says, reflecting on years organizing events, empowering Black-owned businesses, and uplifting voices through conferences, prayer breakfasts, and women’s luncheons. After surviving a near-fatal car accident in high school, Orena’s life took on a deeper clarity—faith became more than a belief; it became her strategy. “God can tell you when to move, when to stop, and when something is over—but you’ve got to be able to listen,” she shares. As a mother of three daughters who each embody her entrepreneurial spirit—one in design, one in administration, and one leading programs for autistic youth—Orena has turned her business into a family legacy. Watching them blossom, she says, is her proudest accomplishment. Whether mentoring young boys through the Loop It program, or sharing stages with legends during her Detroit Black Expo days, her impact has always extended far beyond any resume. “It was never about me,” she insists. “It was always about them.” With a laugh that warms the soul and a conviction that can organize armies, Orena Perry walks in grace, models resilience, and reminds Detroit—and the world—that healing begins when we make space to breathe, listen, and serve. What in Orena’s journey inspires you to listen more deeply to your own calling?
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]
“You all live in the realm of impossibility because you’ve been conditioned by Western society to understand why a thing is not possible. Unlike you, my friends, I live in the realm of the impossible.” In this rich and deeply introspective episode of the Detroit is Different podcast, community organizer and cultural educator Raúl Echevarría shares a powerful narrative of transformation, memory, and resistance through his journey from Chicago's Puerto Rican Humboldt Park to Detroit's vibrant but complex Southwest. With profound insight into community organizing, Raúl emphasizes the spirit and commitment it takes to truly work within and uplift neighborhoods: “You’ve got to come correct,” he says, reflecting on his own approach to entering Detroit’s unique cultural landscape. This isn't just talk—it's a testament to a life of praxis rooted in justice, spirituality, and cultural preservation. He unpacks his work saving the oldest Puerto Rican mural in Chicago, “The Crucifixion of Don Pedro,” noting, “We own our own shit,” affirming a community’s right to its land and legacy. Through storytelling, Raúl brings the listener into the sacred act of community dreaming, describing workshops where “memory energy” transforms defeat into imagination. He challenges the false idol of rugged individualism, reminding us that “we’ve always been collective,” and that collectivity is a form of resistance in a system that benefits from our fragmentation. From maroon communities resisting colonial empires to the reawakening of African memory through Puerto Rican Bomba, Raúl’s perspective connects dots across time, space, and struggle. “Part of the challenge for the organizer,” he explains, “is can the organizer adopt the motif of vision caster... who goes into the other realm and then convinces the people?” This episode is a masterclass in organizing as spiritual and cultural labor, where remembering itself is revolutionary.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]
We need to be healed as a community.” Krystal Larsosa, co-founder of the Black Marriage Movement, sits down to share an intimate and powerful journey rooted in love, healing, and transformation through marriage. Raised on the same Detroit block where she met her now-husband Jasahn at age 12, Krystal opens up about the realness of growing into womanhood in the heart of the city, the impact of protection and stability in relationships, and the vision she and Jasahn share for healing Black families through the institution of marriage. From weathering literal fires in their home to building the Black Marriage Movement from the ground up, Krystal speaks with vulnerability and wisdom on the challenges and triumphs of cultivating a love that not only nurtures a household but strengthens a community. She speaks candidly on learning the true roles of wife and mother, reshaping narratives around submission and support, and creating spaces like the Detroit Wives Club and Birth Fathers Detroit to educate, affirm, and uplift Black love. This episode is a rich blend of personal storytelling, cultural critique, and community visioning, echoing the foundational Detroit is Different mission of “healing community through culture.” Krystal’s story is more than a testimony—it’s a blueprint for rebuilding the foundation of family, legacy, and power in our neighborhoods.
Detroit is Different is a podcast hosted by Khary Frazier covering people adding to the culture of an American Classic city. Visit www.detroitisdifferent.com to hear, see and experience more of what makes Detroit different.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing [email protected]