Detroit Strange

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 52 - Deliciously Different (Vernors) Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

We've made it to one year baby! In this epsiode Jess & Alex talk covid testing, how to be like Lizzo, and hair styles before they both start to indulge into their Dirrrty Boston Coolers. Jess then goes on to tell Alex about James Vernor and his magical concoction that all Michiganders love; Vernors! How did James come up with the recipe? Who is Jerome the Gnome? And why were bottles exploding in California? Tune in and find out! #staystrange

BONUS - Good Company with Detroit Strange - The Fit Park Jul 27, 2020

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Join Jess and Alex in their new bonus episodes; Good Company with Detroit Strange. They talk with Detroit & Metro Detroit Black and POC business owners. In this inaugural episode, Jess and Alex sit down with Mark and Thea Parker of the Fit Park in Ferndale to talk about the gym, the people behind it, how a gym looks during the pandemic, and the community they've built within.

Ep. 51 - Thumbs Up for a Road Trip (The Shrinking Sparling Family) Jul 22, 2020

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On this week's episode, Jess and Alex talk lakes, Michigan summers, and campfire food before they hit the road to go to Ulby, Michigan (in the thumb) so Alex can tell Jess the story of the shrinking Sparling family. What killed John Sparling? How is the family doctor involved? What happened to the rest of the family? Find out all this and more on this week's episode #staystrange

Ep. 50 - Revolution is Evolution (Grace Lee Boggs) Jul 15, 2020

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Jess & Alex talk about their post-quarantine/still basically quarantine lives, pet scares, and the Oceans movie trilogy. Jess then tells Alex about the life of activist Grace Lee Boggs (1915-2015). What Marxists philosopher did Grace study in College that would forever change her path? What activist movements did she witness during her college/post-college years that would plant seeds in her head? How did her first dinner with a man named James turn into a 40 year long marriage? Tune in and find out!

Ep. 49 - The Wall (The Birwood Wall) Jul 08, 2020

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On this week's episode, Alex and Jess talk about how hot it's been, wearing masks and plants before Alex tells Jess about the West Eight Mile community and the Birwood Wall. Who settled that part of Eight Mile and why? How did the new deal play out for the people there? And why was there a 6 foot tall concrete wall put up between two neighborhoods? All this and more on this week's episode #staystrange

Ep. 48 - "Dirty Hippies" (Murders at Stonehead Manor) Jul 01, 2020

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In this episode Jess & Alex catch up a little on what they're watching and doing in these strange times. Then Jess tells Alex all about the 1970 murders at Stonehead Manor near Wayne State University. Why did Sandra Garland's father break into the apartment she was staying in? Where did his wife Martha drive right after? What was the eventual sentence given for the heinous crime? Tune in and find out!

Ep. 47 - Kick Out the Jams (The Grande Ballroom) Jun 24, 2020

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On this week's episode, Alex and Jess talk about Pop Punk, French Names, & what they're watching. Then Alex tells Jess about the legendary rock venue the Grande Ballroom. How did a jazz era ballroom become home to the Detroit punk scene? How did a middle school teacher make it happen? And why did it all end just as quickly as it started? All this and more on this week's episode. #staystrange

*Recorded May 30th

Ep. 46 - S.T.R.E.S.S. (DPD S.T.R.E.S.S. unit & Ken Cockrel Sr. ) Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode Alex and Jess catch up a little, talk movies, recommendations and what they've been up to recently. Then Jess takes Alex on journey back to the early 70's when the Police Department implemented their S.T.R.E.S.S. unit (Stop The Robberies Enjoy Safe Streets) in which Police would go undercover in an attempt to become the "victim" of a crime in order to make an arrest (or in many cases a fatal shooting). You can imagine how well that went...What types of decoys did they use to go undercover? Were the police ever charged in any of the incidents they caused? One of the former officers admitted to planting a knife at the scene, what became of that?

Ep. 45 - The Gay Spot (Ruth Ellis) Jun 09, 2020

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Jess and Alex catch up and talk about the heat, their favorite summer fruits, and dogs. Then Alex tells Jess about Ruth Ellis; a black, lesbian, 20th century female (we mean this quite literally - she lived from 1899-2000), activist whose work with black LGBT youths in the city helped to provide them with a safe space to gather. In addition a place to meet she often helped them with money for food, books, and education. How did Ruth figure out her sexuality in 1915? What was "the Gay Spot"? And what legacy did she leave behind? Tune in and find out! And as always "staystrange

Ep. 44 - Some Alibi (The Murder of Grace Loomis) May 27, 2020

Show notes

This week Jess tells Alex all about the Murder of Grace (Gladys) Loomis in 1927. Grace was found in her home bludgeoned to death in her home while her children slept and her husband Frank was supposedly out for a walk. However, police didn't believe Frank when he came in to the station to them with this story. What holes were in his story? What happened at the trial of Frank Loomis (or rather who)? What drastic measures did Frank take a year later? Tune in and find out! #staystrange

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