Aug. 25, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s legendary Motown Studios, better known as Hitsville U.S.A., the modest West Grand Boulevard house where Barry Gordy Jr. launched Motown Records in 1959. What began as a small independent label grew into a cultural phenomenon that transformed American popular music, introducing the world to iconic artists including Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Jackson 5, and many others. Their music crossed racial and generational boundaries, helping establish Detroit as one of the most influential music cities in the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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Aug. 11, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois visits The Schvitz, Detroit’s historic bathhouse tucked away on the city’s near west side. Founded in 1910 by Jewish immigrants who brought the bathhouse traditions of Eastern Europe to a rapidly growing Detroit, The Schvitz has served for more than a century as a place of relaxation, connection, and community. Once a men’s-only gathering place, The Schvitz has evolved with the city while preserving its distinct character and traditions. Today, The Schvitz remains one of Detroit’s most enduring and authentic institutions, a hidden landmark where history, resilience, and community continue to thrive. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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July 28, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s Dakota Inn Rathskeller, a beloved German restaurant and tavern that has been fostering community and tradition since 1933. Founded by German immigrant Karl Kurz in a former Chinese hand laundry on John R Street, the Dakota Inn grew from a small neighborhood gathering place into one of Detroit’s longest-running cultural institutions. With its dark wood interiors, Bavarian-inspired décor, communal tables, and generations of sing-alongs led from a distinctive barrel-enclosed piano stage, the inn offers an experience that feels untouched by time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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July 14, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s Greektown, where a modest brick church on a busy downtown corner holds an extraordinary story. At first glance, Second Baptist Church appears to be an unassuming neighborhood landmark, but behind its simple façade lies a powerful legacy as the oldest Black-founded church in the Midwest and one of the most important stops on the Underground Railroad. Today, the church remains a lasting reminder that one of the nation’s most remarkable struggles for freedom unfolded in plain sight on the streets of Detroit. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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June 17, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes listeners to Detroit’s east side and inside the storied walls of Harpo’s Concert Theatre, a venue where decades of sound and history collide. Originally opened in 1939 as the Harper Theater, this sleek Art Moderne movie house once welcomed families seeking Hollywood escape beneath glowing lights and painted murals. But as the city evolved, so did the building—transforming in the 1970s into a high‑energy nightclub before finding its true identity as Detroit’s legendary “metal church.” Over the years, Harpo’s has hosted a powerful mix of artists, from Iron Maiden and Slayer to U2 and Snoop Dogg, each leaving their mark on its worn but resilient interior. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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June 2, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois brings listeners to the heart of downtown Detroit, where the long‑gone J.L. Hudson’s department store once transformed Woodward Avenue into a powerful stage for patriotism. Towering above the city, a massive American flag would unfurl from the building’s roof, cascading down its façade in a breathtaking display that brought traffic to a halt and drew crowds in awe. Over time, the flag became a symbol of civic pride, appearing only on significant national occasions such as the Fourth of July and, increasingly, June 14th as Flag Day gained recognition across the country. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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May 26, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois transports listeners to Detroit’s east side to uncover the forgotten legacy of Water Works Park. Once a sprawling 110‑acre civic treasure along Jefferson Avenue, the park featured lush landscapes, recreational amenities, and its iconic water tower—an early symbol of the city’s skyline and ambition. Livernois traces the park’s rise as a beloved gathering place, its layered history stretching back to early French settlers, and its eventual decline and closure in the mid‑20th century. The episode also highlights the remnants that remain today, offering a glimpse into a remarkable piece of Detroit’s past that still lingers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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May 12, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois looks up—way up—along Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit to reveal the storied past of the Book Tower. Opened in 1926 and once the tallest building in the city, the Italian Renaissance landmark embodied Detroit’s roaring‑twenties confidence, rising in limestone and terracotta as a bold declaration of ambition. The episode traces the Book Tower’s arc from skyline‑defining marvel to long‑neglected giant, reflecting Detroit’s own struggles and resilience, before exploring its recent revival as a vibrant, mixed‑use destination. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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April 28, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois takes us to Detroit’s east side to uncover the fading grandeur of the Vanity Ballroom, an Art Deco landmark along Jefferson Avenue whose quiet exterior still echoes with nearly a century of music and motion. Designed by renowned architect Charles N. Agree and opened in 1929, the Vanity rose as a beacon of optimism just before the Great Depression—its geometric façade and pastel details promising escape and celebration in uncertain times. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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April 14, 2026 ~ In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, Dr. Robert Livernois turns our attention to a quiet figure seated in bronze near the heart of downtown Detroit—the statue of William Cotter Maybury in Grand Circus Park. Just steps from Comerica Park and surrounded by the energy of Woodward Avenue, the monument depicts a composed, almost contemplative mayor whose legacy is easy to overlook amid the city’s larger‑than‑life history. Unveiled in 1912 and intentionally modest in design, Maybury’s statue sits directly across from Pingree’s, the two former rivals facing one another in silent dialogue. Today, Maybury remains a symbol of steady leadership, measured governance, and the kind of civic patience that helped shape Detroit’s industrial future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

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