In this powerful two-part conversation, Detroit is Different welcomes Carlos Nielbock—master craftsman, historian, and visionary artist—to explore his transatlantic journey of forging identity through the skilled trades. “I'm a child of occupation,” Carlos begins, recounting how he was born in Germany to a Black American GI and a German mother, in a time when their union was illegal. At 24, he came to Detroit seeking his father and instead discovered “a kinship with everybody I encountered” and a calling rooted in Black life and community. Carlos reflects on his early days squatting in abandoned buildings, discovering Detroit’s architectural jewels, and turning ruins into sanctuaries. “What I saw was chaos, but inside it—liberty, creativity, and survival.” He talks about the Fox Theatre restoration—his first major project—and the value of old-world craftsmanship: “You can't 3D print what I do. You have to live it.” His artistry blends the sacred with the practical, shaped by monastic blacksmithing and Detroit hustle. “I'm not here to make weapons; I'm here to make beauty that outlives generations.” Joined by co-author Paul Draus, Carlos shares the story behind their new book, Forging Identity, a chronicle of craft, culture, and community. He speaks passionately on uplifting Detroit’s youth through skilled trades and the legacy of Detroit’s historic architecture: “Detroit used to be the Paris of the Midwest. We can bring that back—not with gentrification, but with education, empowerment, and our own hands.”
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
In this special two-part Detroit is Different episode, we dive into Forging Identity: The Story of Carlos Nielbock with Dr. Paul J. Draus, a University of Michigan-Dearborn sociology professor whose Detroit journey began back in 2005. “We first met Carlos through his creations,” Draus recalls, describing towering windmills and ornate gates built from salvaged materials on Detroit’s east side that sparked a friendship and a story worth telling. This episode traces Draus’s own path from Chicago to Wyoming to New York to Dayton, and ultimately to Detroit, where community partnerships led him to Carlos—an artist, a craftsman, and a character whose life mirrors Detroit’s own transformation. Draus shares how Carlos, a Black German immigrant raised in Europe, navigated identity, racism, and the post-industrial city with resilience and creativity. “It’s a mock-heroic narrative, almost like a Don Quixote story,” Draus explains, reflecting on Carlos’s work turning Detroit’s discarded industrial relics into symbols of hope and sustainability. From scrapping in junkyards to preserving historical architecture, Carlos’s story challenges notions of identity, place, and revitalization in Detroit. As Draus puts it, “There’s something in each of us that is not reducible to environment or genes,” and Carlos embodies that beautifully. The book’s reception has been heartfelt, with community members like Mama Myrtle saying it “brought her to tears.” It’s a Detroit story with global resonance, touching on art, sociology, community, and courage. Tune in to learn how this story came to life and why it matters now more than ever.
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
"I just took time for myself," says Ra'Marie, reflecting on the transformative journey that led her from childhood trauma to community healing. In this powerful Detroit is Different interview, Ra'Marie opens up about growing up on Fenkell, surviving instability, and rediscovering purpose through self-reflection. "I was born and raised in Detroit, so my whole life, so I'm rooted in Detroit. This is my city." From family dinners at grandma's to her mother’s addiction and her own battles with anger and trust, Ra'Marie walks us through the layered experiences that shaped her resilience. "I had to grow up real fast. I had to take care of my family quick." With authenticity, she discusses being kicked out of DPS, learning to teach herself, and ultimately healing through art, dance, and mirror work. "Don't run from it... sit in your thoughts, recognize your thoughts." Today, Ra'Marie leads healing arts sessions across the city, pouring into others what she had to first pour into herself. "I'm not here to collect money. I'm just here to help and do my part." From community cleanups with her children to founding free therapy workshops, Ra'Marie embodies radical love in action. Her testimony is a deep call to Detroiters to reclaim our mental, physical, and spiritual wellness: "We have to start with the mind to keep the community clean."
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
"If we don’t tell our stories, who will? And if they do, will they tell it right?" — This question grounds the work of Marcia Black, a powerful cultural steward who’s leading the charge at Black Bottom Archives, celebrating 10 years of preserving and honoring Black Detroit’s legacy. In this Detroit is Different podcast, Marcia shares how her passion was sparked by early roots in environmental justice organizing through EMEAC, where she witnessed the brilliance and resilience of Black women leading on the frontlines. That experience lit a fire, and inspired by pioneers like PG Watkins and Camille Johnson, Marcia embraced the responsibility of archiving Black life, especially the voices of Black women too often erased from historical narratives. From growing up between Detroit and Duval County, Florida, her journey is a mosaic of Black Southern and Midwestern cultural memory. Guided by the radical education at Marygrove College and the example of her entrepreneurial, Catholic, beauty-salon-owning, computer-working, reverend grandmother, Marcia now curates community through exhibits, storytelling, and cultural programming. “Black women have always been the keepers of the flame,” she says, and her work ensures that flame continues to burn bright—one story, one installation, one memory at a time.
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
In this powerful Detroit is Different podcast episode, Officer Yahaira Gomez shares her deeply personal and inspiring journey from Guadalajara, Jalisco, to the heart of Southwest Detroit, painting a rich portrait of how her life, family, and cultural roots led her to serve as a Detroit Police officer. Her story intertwines immigrant perseverance, military discipline from her time in the Marine Corps, and a passion for building stronger family and community connections through service. Raised in Southwest Detroit, a vibrant hub of Chicano culture, Officer Gomez reflects on the importance of neighborhood relationships and how her experiences shaped a sense of duty and care. She speaks on balancing her roles as a mother, Marine, and public servant while emphasizing the importance of mental health, faith, and purpose. Host Khary Frazier adds his critical lens, connecting her story to broader systemic issues, acknowledging that crime and violence in Detroit are often symptoms of deep-rooted economic disparity and lack of opportunity. Together, their dialogue highlights the nuanced complexities of policing, community trust, and healing in a city where trauma and resilience walk hand in hand. 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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
From the spark of curiosity ignited in Detroit to the cultural epicenter of Atlanta, Darralynn Hutson has been scripting stories since “my first article was written in 1990 in the 1900s,” she jokes, weaving words with love and purpose across decades. “I've been writing for over 25 years on Black culture. I love it.” And that passion first bloomed when a young Darralynn immersed herself in magazines like The Source, saying, “How else can you find out about who’s the king of New York hip hop?” Her storytelling foundation was deeply personal too—growing up as an only child, “my joy, my passion, my excitement came from outside my house,” and writing became a tool to explore, escape, and express. She fondly recalls imagining “Twilight Zone episodes from a Black perspective,” like one where a family’s rat takes over household responsibilities, embodying her early creative genius. That creative fire took her from Cass Tech to Spelman, where “Detroit demanded respect” and the AUC campus became its own cultural ecosystem. “We were developing it,” she says of Atlanta's evolution into a Black cultural mecca, remembering moments like OutKast performing in “hole in the wall concerts” and Spike Lee recruiting students for School Daze. Post-college, it was another Spelman sister, Sheila Brown of Upscale Magazine, who turned Darralynn’s passion into profession, teaching her how “to use a mouse, how to interview, how to research,” and most importantly, how to trust her voice. Now an international journalist and TV/film writer, she honors that journey by capturing not only celebrity stories but also deeply personal ones, like writing obituaries for over 27 family members—a responsibility she holds sacred. “Everybody has a role to play,” she says, “I’m the writer of the family.” Whether it's penning features for Essence, profiling unsung icons, or celebrating Detroit's soul, Darralynn's pen remains her passport and purpose. “Writing was always something I did for fun. It was a passion. I didn’t know it could be a profession.” Lucky for us, she found a way to turn her passion into pages that speak to our culture, our past, and our 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.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Sticher.
Comment, suggest and connect with the podcast by emailing info@detroitisdifferent.com
"You stay vibrant, you stay young, you stay healthy by participating in the life that's going on around you." On this episode of Detroit is Different, we sit down with the incomparable Theo Broughton, a true pillar of Detroit’s Black political and cultural community. As the co-founder of Hood Research, Theo has spent decades shaping political awareness, fostering community engagement, and preserving Black history in the city. From Harlem’s jazz era—where her father played saxophone with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong—to the mid-1950s when she arrived in Detroit, Theo shares her journey through the city's evolution. We dive into her deep involvement in Detroit’s political landscape, from working alongside the legendary Barbara-Rose Collins to leading community forums with greats like Dr. Claud Anderson and Bob Law. She recounts her groundbreaking haunted house project that brought joy and excitement to Detroit’s youth, her years of activism through media, and her relentless push for civic engagement. Theo’s wisdom, passion, and storytelling bring history to life as she reflects on how Detroit has changed and what the future holds for its people. Tune in for a conversation that is as inspiring as it is deeply rooted in Detroit’s legacy of resilience and empowerment!
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
"Hate pushed me to leave the South, but love brought me to Detroit." In this electrifying episode of Detroit is Different, we sit down with powerhouse attorney, political strategist, and self-proclaimed vanguard of the New Great Migration, Thomaesa Bailey. From her roots in Eatonton, Georgia—home of literary icon Alice Walker—to making waves in Detroit’s political scene, Thomaesa shares her passionate journey of advocacy, civic engagement, and Black political power. She’s not just talking policy—she’s making it plain, breaking down legislative complexities, and bringing the people into the process. With experience in the Umoja Debate League, Detroit City Council, and grassroots mobilization, she’s on a mission to educate, activate, and empower. We dive deep into Detroit’s over-assessed property taxes, redistricting, and the larger fight for community self-determination. Plus, find out why an alien visitor’s first stop in the D should be the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center! Tune in for an unfiltered, inspiring conversation about the future of Black Detroit, political power, and what it truly means to be ten toes down for the people.
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
"Our problem was never just the pothole—our problem is that we don’t control the decision-making process that determines whether the pothole gets fixed." In a time when Black leadership is under attack, Detroit is standing strong with Jackson, Mississippi Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. This special Detroit is Different show introduces you to a leader who has carried the torch of self-determination, justice, and empowerment from Detroit to Jackson. Facing politically motivated charges, Mayor Lumumba is in the fight of his life—not just for himself, but for all of us who believe in Black power and progress. Join us for a powerful conversation on the legacy of struggle, the urgency of organizing, and why Detroit’s support is critical in this moment. It’s more than an interview—it’s a call to action. Let’s show up, speak out, and stand with Chokwe Antar Lumumba!
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com
“We are in relationship with each other, and the perception of cultural difference is just a perception,” Angelique Power. In this thought-provoking episode of Detroit is Different, Angelique Power, President & CEO of the Skillman Foundation, sits down with Kari Frazier for a deep dive into the evolution of education, community organizing, and the intersection of systems that shape young people’s futures. From her South Side Chicago roots, where activism was as common as dinner table debates, to her commitment to disrupting inequitable structures in Detroit, Angelique shares her journey with wisdom, candor, and a bit of sneak-out-the-house teenage rebellion. They unpack everything from the lasting impact of Harold Washington’s election to the power of youth-led philanthropy and the complex web of Detroit’s school landscape. Check out this episode for an inspiring, critical conversation about education, policy, and the future of Detroit.
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 info@detroitisdifferent.com