"I am really humble I'm used to being the person asking all the questions" is how Tunesia Turner opens this unforgettable Detroit is Different conversation, revealing the curiosity, confidence, and purpose that have shaped her journey as an entrepreneur, singer, actress, and cultural leader. From memories of her grandmother's home in Southwest Detroit to stories of growing up in Royal Oak Township where "everybody always knew where you were," Tunesia reflects on the community values that continue to inspire her work today. She celebrates the legacy of her grandmother, a brilliant laboratory technician who "would have been a doctor" if opportunities for Black women had been different, connecting family history to the responsibility of building a stronger future. Tunesia shares how creativity and business move together through her performances alongside her husband Khary Turner when they were performing in Black Bottom Collective, and her commitment to using music, theater, and storytelling to create opportunity. Filled with laughter, neighborhood memories, and reflections on Black history, this conversation reminds us that entrepreneurship is about creating opportunities, artistry is about preserving culture, and community is built through relationships that span generations. This episode is a celebration of Detroit's creative spirit and a blueprint for honoring the past while courageously creating the future.
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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“There was Detroit before Coleman Young and after Coleman Young and they’re two different cities.” That powerful reflection from Khary Turner sets the tone for a conversation that moves effortlessly from laughter to legacy, reminding us that the stories we tell shape the future we build. What begins with the hilarious reality of the two Khary's constantly being mistaken for one another evolves into an intimate dialogue about creativity, mentorship, history, and civic responsibility. Turner explains why renaming Woodward after Coleman Young is more than symbolism, saying, “Coleman changed the heart of the city and Woodward is the heart artery of city streets,” connecting Detroit’s geography to its political and cultural transformation. Throughout the episode, the conversation celebrates the value of listening, honoring elders, and preserving the memories that too often disappear with time. Turner reflects on learning from historians and longtime community leaders, sharing how he prefers to “close my mouth and open my ears” when they speak, recognizing that their experiences are living archives. This episode explores why Detroit’s past cannot be separated from its future, revealing how creative people, community institutions, and honest storytelling become the foundation for stronger neighborhoods and deeper civic engagement. It is a conversation about identity, leadership, and why preserving Black Detroit’s history is essential to inspiring the next generation to imagine and create an even greater future.
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 am Detroit. My people still live here... and I'll be buried in Detroit soil." That declaration sets the tone for one of the most heartfelt conversations ever shared on Detroit is Different as Marsha Carter reflects on the Eastside neighborhoods, family roots, and church upbringing that shaped her life long before audiences knew her as a celebrated spoken word artist. Growing up between Seven Mile and Hull, attending and graduating from the legendary Pershing HS 'I'm a Dough Girl for Life.' Finding purpose in church, Marsha explains how faith became her first foundation. "I was a church girl in the hood," she says, reminding us that Black Detroit has always been filled with layered stories that refuse simple stereotypes. From there, the conversation blossoms into the remarkable evolution of a woman who transformed poetry into purpose. Marsha shares how spoken word became more than performance—it became confidence, business, healing, and community. She opens up about using creativity to discover her authentic voice, create opportunities for herself and others, and build spaces where culture and connection thrive. This episode is a testimony to the power of believing in your gifts, honoring where you come from, and understanding that when one person finds their voice, they inspire an entire community to imagine a stronger future together.
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 wasn't just collecting artifacts—I was protecting the evidence that Black people have always defined ourselves." That reflection from Dr. Khalid el-Hakim anchors one of the most profound conversations ever recorded on Detroit is Different. Long before earning his doctorate, Dr. el-Hakim was rescuing books, photographs, newspapers, flyers, artwork, and priceless artifacts that many dismissed as ordinary, understanding that every item carried the story of Black people determined to define themselves. In this expansive interview, he traces his family's journey from Virginia through the Underground Railroad into Canada and Detroit, the influence of his grandparents' activism, Great Lakes Mutual Insurance, People's Community Church, Carter G. Woodson's visit to Detroit, and the library that first awakened his love for history. He shares how schools like Mumford High, African-centered educators like Mama Shushana (Ms. Taliaferro), and Detroit's rich political and cultural legacy shaped his life's work. Now, with the scholarship of a Ph.D. reinforcing decades of grassroots preservation, Dr. el-Hakim explains not only 'what' he collected, but 'why' context is the true treasure—connecting every artifact to the larger struggle, brilliance, resistance, and imagination of Black people. This episode is a masterclass on cultural preservation, proving that safeguarding our history is not nostalgia; it is a strategy for community empowerment, historical truth, and building a future where our children inherit knowledge instead of erasure.
To discover more about the work of Dr. Khalid el-Hakim visit www.blackhistorymobilemuseum.com today.
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]
Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co
"Sports is not the only way for us to get through some of our problems, but it is a vehicle." That lesson, shared with Leland Stein III by legendary Georgetown University coach John Thompson, anchors this compelling Detroit is Different conversation about journalism, legacy, and the power of Black storytelling. While his foundation was built in Detroit through institutions like the West Side Cubs, Stein's career truly took shape after spending time in Los Angeles, where he entered journalism and discovered that covering sports opened the door to documenting Black history in real time. Through interviews and relationships with iconic figures including Magic Johnson, Don King, Al Davis, and Jim Brown, Stein witnessed how sports intersect with business, politics, culture, and community leadership. Working within the proud tradition of the Black Press, he came to understand that sports journalism is more than reporting scores or headlines—it's about ensuring Black people tell Black stories with the depth, context, and humanity they deserve. Stein explains that authentic storytelling preserves history, challenges incomplete narratives, and inspires future generations. Returning home to Detroit with a national perspective, he dedicated himself to documenting the people, institutions, and cultural legacy that continue to define the city, making this episode a powerful reminder that the Black Press is not simply a record of events but a living archive of our voices, our victories, and our vision for the future.
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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Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co
“I just grew up thinking that was normal.” For John Sloan III, a childhood surrounded by music, theater, and Detroit's rich cultural traditions became the foundation for a life dedicated to using the performing arts as a tool for transformation. In this episode of Detroit is Different, John reflects on a career that has taken him from the stage as an actor to directing, producing, choreographing, and developing artists, revealing that theater is about far more than entertainment—it's about building community. "Behind every actor who looks amazing on stage are writers, designers, technicians, stage managers, and directors," he explains, highlighting the collaborative ecosystem that makes performance possible and the countless opportunities the arts create both onstage and behind the scenes. Drawing from his family's legacy of educators and musicians in Detroit Public Schools, John shares how storytelling, performance, and cultural expression became gateways for leadership, mentorship, and social activism. The conversation explores how Detroit's artistic institutions cultivate confidence, preserve Black history, and create spaces where difficult conversations about race, identity, and justice can unfold through creativity. From family stories about Detroit's historic trolley system and the city's legendary music culture to his own work developing productions like the Obsidian Theatre Festival, which platforms Black theatre. His journey reminds us that the arts are essential civic infrastructure—cultivating imagination, strengthening relationships, and organizing people around a shared vision for a more just and vibrant future.
The Obsidian Theatre Festival (OTF) launched back in March 2021 as a platform for emerging Black voices in theatre and film. Visit to www.obsidianfest.org today to explore and discover more.
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]
Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co
"I'm trying to put a beacon out so I can find my people." That powerful declaration from Lauren Hood captures the heart of this Detroit is Different conversation—a thoughtful exploration of belonging, leadership, and what it means to build community without sacrificing your peace. Recorded on the Fourth of July, this episode opens with reflections on Frederick Douglass and the enduring truth that many of the injustices he challenged remain with us today. Lauren shares how she has shifted from judging others to extending grace, reminding us that "everybody is doing the best that they can with the information they have available to them at the present moment." Together, Khary Frazier and Lauren Hood unpack the importance of protecting your nervous system, embracing your unique path instead of forcing yourself into ideological camps, and recognizing that authentic relationships—not titles or status—are what truly move Detroit forward. Lauren reflects on being a visionary rather than a manager, the power of broadcasting your values so your people can find you, and why the city's greatest resource has always been trust built over time. This conversation bridges the wisdom of Detroit's past with the possibilities of its future, offering timeless lessons about culture, organizing, friendship, and finding the courage to become more fully yourself so that stronger, healthier communities can emerge for generations to come.
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]
Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co
"The vision is bigger than the no.” Amber Ewing, Director and Executive Producer of *Cooking with Comedians Challenge*, brings a Detroit story rooted in family, art, womanhood, and the will to create anyway. In this Detroit is Different conversation, Amber shares how her imagination was shaped by Rosedale Park, Detroit schools she calls “the original HBCUs,” DSA, Oakland University, and the feeling she got watching the Bad Boys Pistons on VHS—realizing later that editing and video/film production made her feel that energy. As “the only Black woman in program” in her college, Amber had “a rough time.” She accepted that she had to “work harder than most” to earn respect. That reality still informs how she moves: “I come with my experience, I come with my work, I come with a proof of concept.” *Cooking with Comedians Challenge* became six years of persistence, borrowed cameras, personal checks, live audiences, chefs, comedians, hosting nerves, and hard-earned lessons. Amber’s journey reminds us that creativity is not extra—it is quality of life, community memory, and a future Detroit can taste, laugh with, and build from.
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]
Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co
“People call lawyers not because they want to, because they need them when they have a problem.” Mayor Byron Nolen’s Detroit is Different conversation reveals how his success in law became the foundation for his public leadership in Inkster. With no lawyers in his family and no law firm pipeline before law school, Nolen built his career through study, courtroom discipline, and hustle, first taking court appointments because he “just wanted to be in the courtroom,” then learning civil litigation from respected Detroit attorney Ernest Jarrett, whose work included major police misconduct cases. Nolen describes practicing across Wayne, Washtenaw, Macomb, and Oakland counties, running from court to court before Zoom, knowing that when “it’s time to try that case, you just got to be better than everybody else.” That reputation became trust when Inkster residents were hit with a 105% water bill increase and came to him saying, “I need you to represent us.” Though he was a solo practitioner facing the city, residents put in $20 each, sued, and won $3.5 million in credits. That victory turned legal skill into community confidence, and Inkster residents encouraged him to run for Mayor, where he currently serves. Now, that same encouragement is carrying him forward as a candidate for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, showing how advocacy, knowledge, and trust can move people from crisis to political power.
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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“The idea that things can fundamentally be better—and that we can make that happen—is what pulled me into organizing.” On this Detroit is Different episode, Chris Gilmer-Hill, candidate for Michigan State House District 8, connects his campaign to family history, Black Detroit memory, and years of grassroots political work. He traces his roots from his great-grandmother Annabelle coming from Louisiana to Wayne University in the 1930s, to his family becoming “the first Black family on their block” in University District with a racial covenant crossed out in Sharpie, to stories of sharecropping, labor struggle, and the Elaine Massacre shaping his understanding of power. Chris shares how Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign moved him from watching politics to organizing, rooted in the belief that “a better world is possible.” Through DSA and Detroit campaigns, he began knocking doors for Lyra Spencer, Denzel McCampbell, and others, learning that real power comes from “normal people” talking to neighbors about policies that can materially improve their lives. He has canvassed across Detroit—east side, west side, southwest, every council district—and says the work taught him that people are willing to listen. This episode shows how family knowledge, socialist values, environmental justice, and door-to-door organizing brought Chris from studying systems to fighting to change them.
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]
Find out more at https://detroit-is-different.pinecast.co