A Drink With

In the fourth episode you'll meet Veronika Scott the social entrepreneur and CEO of The Empowerment Plan. This Detroit-based nonprofit focuses on hiring single parents from local shelters and providing them with training and full-time employment as seamstresses so they can earn a stable income, find secure housing and regain their independence. The Empowerment Plan manufactures coats that meet the needs of those in the homeless community. The durable coat transforms into a sleeping bag at night or an over-the-shoulder-bag when not in use. Scott talks about the light bulb moment for her idea that occurred at just 22 years old, how homelessness isn't what you think it is and how people can come into your life at just the right time.

In the third episode we feature StockX co-founder Josh Luber. We hear all about his one-in-a-million idea, how he connected with Dan Gilbert and Eminem, what StockX is doing to attract talent to Detroit and why the path to success is never a straight line. Luber's honesty will make you look at entrepreneurship in a whole new way. Prior to StockX, he had a several startups and for one he had to call his list of investors — including friends and family — and explain that the money was gone. Listen in on why Mark Wahlberg, Eminem and Scooter Braun are just some of the lucky few invested in the startup that is making $2 million a day in sales and is on track to being the fastest growing company in the world.

In the second episode you'll meet social entrepreneur and Detroit activist Jason Hall, the co-creator of Slow Roll Detroit. Slow Roll is a community bike ride that started out as getting together with friends but quickly grew to thousands of riders gathering for a greater purpose. The ride has put more than $5 million back into the city and caught Apple's eye leading to an Apple commercial and feature on Slow Roll shot in Detroit. Hall talks about his departure from Slow Roll and what he has planned next. Slow Roll isn't just a bike ride, it's a means to bring people of all races and all ages together in Detroit which is what Detroit is about. Hall reminds us how sometimes it's nice to just let life take you where it takes you.

In the season premiere of Season 2 of “A Drink With – Detroit” we’re getting a drink with Shannon Washburn, the president of Shinola. In 2011 Shinola decided to make Detroit home and has been a job-creation vehicle ever since. Shinola is known for their watches, bicycles, leather goods and will be opening its first hotel in Detroit this fall. Shannon joined the team in 2012 as the vice president of watch development and in February of 2018 was named president. What’s so great about Detroit is that while it’s a big city, it very quickly can feel like small town, which is why we were able to grab a drink with Shannon. Listen in as we do happy hour and get the scoop on how she worked her way to president and what it’s really like running the Detroit-based company that champions American-made goods.

Boxing legend Thomas "Hitman" Hearns also known as "Motor City Cobra" started his career by knocking out his first 17 opponents and then continued to make it to 32-0. At 10 years old he wanted to be like his idol Muhammad Ali. We talk about keeping a positive mind, being focused on what you need to do and how nobody could stop him from what he wanted to get to. The Detroit Foundation Hotel is located in the old Detroit Fire Department Headquarters and the former Pontchartrain Wine Cellars and Hearns shares memories from being in this very building. Listen in on why he loves Detroit "with everything I have in my body." Visit adrinkwith.com or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @adrinkwith for BTS photos and more.

One of America's best bakeries is women-run and located in Detroit's West Village. Over a bloody Mary at the Detroit Foundation Hotel, head baker and Sister Pie owner Lisa Ludwinski shares how some soul searching led to her lightbulb moment, what the hardest part of being a business owner is and how the people of Detroit watch out for each other. And of course we had to ask what exactly makes a good pie. Visit adrinkwith.com or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @adrinkwith for BTS photos and more.

Hip-hop artist Trick Trick joins us for a drink in the Foundation Studio at the Detroit Foundation Hotel. Listen in as the legendary Detroiter shares stories about his big break with Eminem, Detroit pride, his vegan lifestyle and how everything in life starts with your mind. Visit adrinkwith.com or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @adrinkwith for BTS photos and more.

Musical artist and son of the late Detroit Pistons and Guardian Industries owner Bill Davidson, Ethan Davidson, opens up about music not working out the way he wanted it to, what he thinks his father would say about the Pistons' move downtown and all of the things his father and their foundation, William Davidson Foundation, quietly did (and do) for the city of Detroit. Davidson also tells us about his very unique first date with his wife, Gretchen, Tom Gores (the current Pistons owner)inviting himself to his recording session before he took over the Pistons, how he was once a naysayer about Detroit and the best business and life lessons from his father.

Detroit's Flint Eastwood (singer-songwriter Jax Anderson)opens up over an old fashioned at Detroit Foundation Hotel. Listen in on why the Detroit creative community has survived so long and how the more you peel back the layers in this city the more that you find. We chat about how music is what she wants to do and she isn't going to stop at nothing to make it happen.

Ed Welburn of Detroit is one of the most influential designers of our time. He was the VP of Global Design at General Motors for 13 years of his 44 years at GM. It's only fitting to have this chat in the Motor City at Detroit Foundation Hotel. Pour yourself a martini and listen in as we talk about his conversation with Barack Obama, how to manage creatives, what makes a good design, how a clear vision is needed to be successful and what the the bankruptcy was really like at GM.