Denise Ilitch show

Chef Luciano DelSignore went from busboy and dishwasher in his family's Italian restaurants to one of Metro Detroit's most celebrated names in hospitality. The son of Italian immigrants behind Di Giovanni's Pizzeria and Fonte d'Amore in Livonia, he opened Bacco Ristorante in Southfield, a Detroit Free Press Restaurant of the Year, then Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina, Casa Pernoi, and e Fiori in Birmingham. In 2024, he took over Laurel Manor, the Livonia event venue his father built. The three-time James Beard Award semifinalist talks with Denise about the family business, the heart of hospitality, Thanksgiving entertaining tips, and what's next.

What happens when one of Detroit's most storied family names passes to the next generation? Denise explores legacy, leadership, and entrepreneurship with father and son Dennis Archer Jr. and Dennis "Trey" Archer III. The Archer name is woven into the fabric of Detroit, and each generation has taken that legacy and built something of its own. Dennis Archer Jr. is a lawyer, marketer, developer, investor, and hospitality leader who has played a major role in development projects that bring economic opportunity and affordable housing to the city, along with civic leadership at the highest levels. Sitting beside him is the next chapter. Trey is a student at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business preparing for a future in business and civic leadership. A standout student-athlete at Detroit Country Day, he's already exploring real estate investment and community impact. Together, they talk about the values passed from one generation to the next, all built on a foundation of service and community.

Recorded on-site at Gypsy Distillery, Denise Ilitch sits down with identical twin brothers Adam and Michael Kazanowski, the Birmingham, Michigan natives who built one of the state's fastest-growing craft spirits companies out of the back of a van. Turned down by every bank they pitched, the brothers opened their first distillery in Petoskey in 2017 and launched Gypsy Vodka, funding it through music-festival gigs and reinvested cash flow. That single bottle grew into High Five Spirits, distributed statewide with three tasting rooms including one on Mackinac Island, and their biggest swing yet: Gypsy Farms on Lake Michigan. It's entrepreneurship in its rawest form, and what happens when the people who said no become part of the reason you keep going.

For America's 250th year, Denise Ilitch talks with two veterans who took very different paths.

Our first guest is Evan Fay, who spent 10 years in the Air Force, rising to major as a nuclear missile officer and munitions leader in Wyoming and Alaska. He then moved to Detroit to launch Café Noir in the North End and Roar Brewing Company, the city's first Black-owned brewery. He explains why veterans make strong entrepreneurs, what "Service Before Self" cost him, and how the Lions, Tigers, and Motor City inspired the name Roar.

Next is Khadijah Queen, who enlisted in the Navy to escape family hardship and pay for college, then earned a PhD and became an award-winning poet and memoirist. Her book, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", won a Michigan Notable Books award. She talks about truth-telling, banned books, and reframing adversity through imagination, and she reads from her poem "Anodyne."

Two honest, wide-ranging conversations about where service leads, how a life gets rebuilt, and what it takes to make something of your own.

In this family-themed episode, Denise Ilitch sits down with her daughter Brooke Lites and "daughter-in-love" Isabella Tobias Lites. Brooke, a U-M psychology grad with a JD and a master's in clinical psychology, traded a path toward law for work in animal care and canine management in metro Detroit. Isabella spent 22 years as a competitive ice dancer, ranked 12th in the world, and skated at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics for Lithuania and later Israel. They talk about building a life you love, what elite competition teaches you about friendship and self-worth, raising kids with composure, responsible dog adoption through groups like the Michigan Humane Society and Detroit Dog Rescue, and why education and authenticity hold a family together.

In this special episode, actor and comedian Dave Coulier steps in as guest host to interview the host herself, Denise Ilitch. Dave takes Denise back to her early years as the oldest of seven Ilitch siblings and into the very first Little Caesars location. Denise shares vivid childhood memories of sitting on towering flour bags in the back room while her parents worked side by side—her mom on the register, her dad making pizzas—and the family conversations and sacrifices that shaped an iconic Detroit brand. Stay tuned for an engaging, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny episode of The Denise Ilitch Show, presented by Secure Financial Group.

In this episode of The Denise Ilitch Show, Denise sits down with one of her dear friends, Colleen Pobur, for a powerful conversation about public service, leadership, culture-building, family, and sports.

This episode is a compelling listen for anyone interested in how government works, what effective leadership and culture-building look like in practice, and how personal values, family, and even sports fandom can fuel a life of meaningful public service.

This month's episode is packed with inspiration, insight, and real-life stories.

First, Denise sits down with Bryan Spencer, founder of Secure Financial Group, for a candid conversation about what it's really like to build a business alongside his father. From family dynamics to financial planning, Bryan shares lessons on trust, legacy, and creating a secure future.

Then, Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion Haley Skarupa takes us inside the world of women's hockey. She opens up about competing at the highest level, the growth of the women's game, and what it takes—mentally and physically—to perform on the world stage.

Finally, rising hockey standout Giuliana Golden joins the show to talk about how the sport is shaping her journey to college. She reveals how she's balancing academics and athletics, managing life away from home, and using the discipline of hockey to prepare for her future.

Presented by Secure Financial Group.

This week on the Denise Ilitch Show, Denise welcomes Jon Oberheide, co-founder of Duo Security, for an inspiring conversation about his early passion for technology and the entrepreneurial spirit that led him to launch his first business while still in middle school. Jon shares how his childhood curiosity shaped his career and offers valuable insights into building a successful company from the ground up.

Denise also sits down with Gigi Doelle, a junior Political Science major at the University of Michigan, to explore how artificial intelligence is woven into her daily life. Gigi discusses the real-world impact of AI on students and young professionals, and reflects on both the opportunities and challenges that come with embracing this rapidly evolving technology.

Tune in for personal stories, expert perspectives, and a closer look at how technology is shaping our world today.

This week on The Denise Ilitch Show, Denise welcomes Dean Simpson—former New York City police officer, Army veteran, and now an accomplished author. In this compelling episode, Dean opens up about the moments that shaped his remarkable journey. He shares what he's most proud of from his years in uniform, offering an unfiltered look at what it was really like to police New York during some of its most challenging times. Dean also reveals how facing darkness and adversity ultimately led him down a path of healing and personal reinvention. Don't miss this inspiring conversation about resilience, transformation, and the power of never giving up.