The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Big House Time Machine - September 8, 2026

   ML thought he was late, but Marc put 1 second more on the clock. Then Shawn shares a behind-the-scenes story about his "lost column."STRAIGHT DOPESPECIAL OFFER: Get 15% off Detroit City FC tickets by entering promo code SOUL at check out when you buy tickets at http://www.detcityfc.com. ML asks Marc whether he was happy or relieved at the end of what Shawn called the "the most joyless miracle finish in college football history." Read all about it here.Shawn describes how he almost had a "Dewey Beats Truman" moment when he was poised to post his "Broncos Win!" column -- just before the Big Ten officials put another second on the clock, allowing the Wolverines to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. Then Shawn talks about how sports writers have stories ready to publish before games end -- and what happens when there is a surprising ending.There was a lot of hot MAC-tion in Michigan over the weekend, with the Toledo Rockets coming to East Lansing and the Broncos in Ann Arbor. ML says watching the Broncos stymy the Wolverines made him feel a lot better about the Rockets giving his Spartans a scare.ML says all the money flowing through the Power Four conferences has him thinking about becoming a big Mid-American Conference (MAC) fan, but says he thinks the dough is messing up even the conferences that fly more under the radar. Listen and learn why.Marc says the burgeoning Mary Sheffield boyfriend payments scandal is beginning to mushroom after Charlie LeDuff posted new revelations last week. Here is LeDuff's latestML says other reporters are digging into the doings in Detroit City Hall and that he expects to post something "significant" soon.Shawn says he was surprised to see Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed win over Fox News host Jesse Watters. ML says El-Sayed not only won Waters over, he's featuring him in one of his commercials.Looking for a great gift for a friend, relative or even someone you don’t particularly like? A Free Press subscription is a bargain! Hit this link to get a deal: Detroit Free Press Subscription Offers, Specials, and DiscountsPlease support the show by becoming a Soulmate. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like early access to new episodes, the video version of the show, no insertion ads and access to our monthly bonus episode. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on PatreonGEEK OF THE WEEKML says anyone who still beefs about "Spartan Bob" after the Wolverines somehow put an extra second on the clock to beat the Broncos are this week's geek. In other words: Marc.ROOM 7609Mr. Magoo is back promoting Nell and the Flaming Lip's cover of Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand" -- along with a fantastically poignant tale. Please send us your suggestion for a song — along with a great story — to [email protected] BENEFACTORSWe're delighted to welcome Keith as our newest Soulmate. Did you know you can make one payment to support the show for a whole year? Try it -- you just may like it!For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Soulmate by joining our Patreon supporters club and get perks by supporting the show! Use this link: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on PatreonFEEDBACKKim is back, throwing shade on ML and his fellow Spartans. We welcome all your questions, comments – and constructive criticism – at [email protected] OR SPONSOR USSupport us on Patreon or make a donation via Venmo or PayPal at mlsoulofdetroit.com. Or drop us a line at [email protected] to find out how cheap and easy it is to advertise on our show!LISTEN AND LEARNFind out more about the podcast at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com, where you’ll find previous episodes and so much more!SUBSCRIBE/SHARE/RATE/WATCHSubscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever quality podcasts are found! When you check out the podcast, remember to rate it (even if you hate it)!!! Your endorsement is very powerful! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ml-soul-of-detroit--5780647/support.

   September 08, 2026·1h 1min
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   Number 2: City Hall & Football Follies - September 1, 2026

   Detroit's new mayor is raising old concerns about ethics in city politics and ESPN's Dan Wetzel drops in to talk college football.STRAIGHT DOPESPECIAL OFFER: Get 15% off Detroit City FC tickets by entering promo code SOUL at check out when you buy tickets at http://www.detcityfc.com Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield made headlines last week after Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison copped to asking a local activist to take down social media posts featuring Sheffield and an old boyfriend. ML and Marc discuss the story, which was broken by Charlie LeDuff of the Michigan Enjoyer and No BS Newshour.Madam Mayor acknowledged that she has made some regrettable dating choices. But Marvin Walker is not the first bad boy Sheffield has socialized with. In 2014, ML reported that she celebrated her birthday and mugged for a photo with Rayford Jackson, who had just gotten out of prison for bribing former city council president Monica Conyers. Last year, members of Sheffield's inner circle acknowledged that she had been in a relationship with a contractor now under investigation for the quality of the dirt he used to fill holes left at demolition sites.Dan wonders why politicians aren't more careful about who they associate with. ML shares some stories about other Detroit politicians who showed up in photos that raised questions about the company they kept.ML's latest column explores whether the city's top lawyer is undermining the Detroit Board of Ethics. Read it here.College football kicks off in Michigan this weekend, but the first games have already been played -- but it seems like the controversy never stops. Dan, Marc and ML discuss whether former college players who went pro will be able to play college football again in Baton Rouge.ML asks Dan whether Michigan State will win more than three games and whether Marc will be happy with his Wolverines. His answer may surprise you.You really do need a program to know the players these days in college sports. Dan says Bill Belichick's University of North Carolina Tar Heels won their first game with 70 new players. ML again laments the state of the game, while Marc says it's better than ever.Dan just got back from Texas, where he visited Tarleton State and noticed something unusual about the president's cup -- the one he drinks from, silly!Can't get enough Dan Wetzel? Join the club! Catch his EPSN podcast here.Looking for a great gift for a friend, relative or even someone you don’t particularly like? A Free Press subscription is a bargain! Hit this link to get a deal: Detroit Free Press Subscription Offers, Specials, and DiscountsPlease support the show by becoming a Soulmate. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like early access to new episodes, the video version of the show, no insertion ads and access to our monthly bonus episode. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on PatreonGEEK OF THE WEEKLSU coach Lane Kiffin will do anything to win but, so far, his only trophy is for Geek of the Week.ROOM 7609Joe says he prefers Faith No More's epic performance of, well, "Epic" on Saturday Night Live, which also brings back fond memories. Please send us your suggestion for a song — along with a great story — to [email protected] BENEFACTORSDid you know you can make one payment to support the show for a whole year? Try it -- you just may like it!For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Soulmate by joining our Patreon supporters club and get perks by supporting the show! Use this link: https://www.patreon.com/MLSoulofDetroitFEEDBACKKim questions whether the media and politicos conspired to make Mary Sheffield mayor. We welcome all your questions, comments – and constructive criticism – at [email protected] OR SPONSOR USSupport us on Patreon or make a donation via Venmo or PayPal at mlsoulofdetroit.com. Or drop us a line at [email protected] to find out how cheap and easy it is to advertise on our show!LISTEN AND LEARNFind out more about the podcast at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com, where you’ll find previous episodes and so much more!SUBSCRIBE/SHARE/RATE/WATCHSubscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever quality podcasts are found! When you check out the podcast, remember to rate it (even if you hate it)!!! Your endorsement is very powerful! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ml-soul-of-detroit--5780647/support.

   September 01, 2026·1h 26min
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   Number 3: Missing: ML MIA - August 25, 2026

   What a mess. ML Elrick is late, Marc is annoyed, Shawn is resigned, and Brandon McAfee gets promoted to substitute Elrick as the Soul of Detroit crew starts the show without its alleged leader.The basement brain trust talks Lions expectations, whether anybody should care about alternate uniforms, the Tigers’ disappearing act, baseball’s money problem, the pitch clock, dynasties, the WNBA and several other subjects that probably weren’t on the rundown.Then ML finally wanders in with an actual journalism excuse involving Detroit City Hall, the Board of Ethics and a potential conflict-of-interest mess.Just another perfectly organized episode of ML Elrick’s Soul of Detroit.STRAIGHT DOPEML Is Missing. The show begins without Elrick, who is trapped on an important work call while Marc slowly progresses from concern to irritation.Brandon McAfee takes ML’s chair and discovers the intoxicating power of pontificating into someone else’s microphone.Are the Lions Really Super Bowl Favorites?Shawn Windsor talks about the strange new reality of Detroit football: expectations. The crew debates the Lions’ new rivalry uniforms, preseason football, injuries, the offensive line and why being a lovable up-and-coming team eventually turns into being a team that’s actually expected to win.What Happened to the Tigers?Football is arriving, the Tigers have cooled off, and Detroit sports fans are doing what Detroit sports fans do: looking for the next thing to worry about.Sean explains what the numbers tell newspapers about Lions, Tigers and Michigan football readership — and why baseball still has a surprisingly strong hold on the audience.Baseball Might Actually Be Getting BetterThe pitch clock shortened games, balls are being put back in play, ratings have shown some life and baseball may have finally remembered that three-and-a-half-hour games aren't mandatory.The crew also reaches one of sports television’s eternal truths: everybody claims to hate dynasties right up until they start watching them.UConn, Paige Bueckers & a Trip Completely Off the Rails: A discussion of a UConn women’s basketball documentary becomes a conversation about Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, leadership, the WNBA and — somehow — imagining Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as a couple.GEEK OF THE WEEK:ML arrives and explains that his tardiness involved something considerably more important than the nonsense happening in the basement: questions surrounding Detroit’s Board of Ethics, the city Law Department and possible conflicts involving Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett.Le Rouge Keeps Rolling: Detroit City FC knocks off the first-place Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-0, with Carlos Herrera recording another clean sheet.DCFC sits in second place with ten regular-season games remaining and heads to Louisville City FC next.Soul Night Recap:The Soul Mates invaded the Cadieux Cafe for feather bowling, drinks, questionable athletic performances and music from Smiths United.The weather cooperated, nobody appears to have been permanently injured, and plans are already being floated to do it again next summer.ROOM 7609:Better Live Than in the Studio. Listener Todd submits a 1982 live recording of Ministry performing “America” at Clutch Cargo’s — from an era when Ministry sounded considerably different and Al Jourgensen was apparently still pretending to be British.That leads naturally to memories of St. Andrew’s, mosh pits, chipped teeth and the comforting realization that going down to retrieve a lost shoe in an ’80s mosh pit could legitimately make you wonder whether you were about to die.FEEDBACK: Did Detroit Media Ignore a Horrific Murder? A listener challenges the show over what he believes was inadequate local coverage of the killing of a 57-year-old woman, allegedly by a 15-year-old boy, after surveillance footage spread widely online. ML pushes back against the idea of a media blackout and explains the realities of shrinking newsroom resources, the difference between TV breaking-news coverage and deeper newspaper reporting, and why readers who want strong local journalism eventually have to help pay for it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ml-soul-of-detroit--5780647/support.

   August 25, 2026·1h 3min
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   Number 4: Taryn Asher Outburst Analyzed - August 18, 2026

   STRAIGHT DOPESPECIAL OFFER: Get 15% off Detroit City FC tickets by entering promo code SOUL at check out when you buy tickets at http://www.detcityfc.com. Get tickets for Soul Night 2.0 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-smiths-united-tickets-1991957105324It's not too late to join our Patreon supporters group The Soulmates! You'll get to feather bowl with us from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, we'll have some sweet swag for you, and we'll groove to some fantastic live music performed by The Smiths United!ML recounts how he met the band at the Berkeley Front more than 15 years ago while playing pinball.How does someone decide to become Morrissey? Chris George of The Smiths United explains how he joined the band -- and why a lack of synths stopped him from becoming Dave Gahan.The Smiths United have had more stability with Max Prokop on bass, but they've had their own Spinal Tap experience with drummers.Max goes on assignment for the podcast, tracking down Afroman in Ann Arbor to discuss the defamation lawsuit he won against an Ohio sheriff -- and pound cake man.Marc shows ML some video of his former colleague Taryn Asher going ham on some colleagues that emerged in the course of her lawsuit against Fox 2. ML offers his analysis, which The Smiths United supplement with their perspective.Shawn zooms in from Pittsburgh, where the Tigers had to lend him a belt.ML and Shawn rave about Pittsburgh as a city, a ballpark, and a place where articulating jaws are required to eat the city's trademark sandwich.Marc asks Shawn if the Tigers REALLY needed to trade Skubal. Listen and learn what our man in the 'Burgh says.Looking for a great gift for a friend, relative or even someone you don’t particularly like? A Free Press subscription is a bargain! Hit this link to get a deal: Detroit Free Press Subscription Offers, Specials, and DiscountsPlease support the show by becoming a Soulmate. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like early access to new episodes, the video version of the show, no insertion ads and access to our monthly bonus episode. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on PatreonGEEK OF THE WEEKDarline Graham may not win her brother's U.S. Senate seat, but her hypocrisy won this week's Geek trophy.ROOM 7609ML books the Smiths to play "Unhappy Birthday" for birthday boy Shawn before The Smiths United analyze the tune. Please send us your suggestion for a song — along with a great story — to [email protected] BENEFACTORSDid you know you can make one payment to support the show for a whole year? Try it -- you just may like it!For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Soulmate by joining our Patreon supporters club and get perks by supporting the show! Use this link: https://www.patreon.com/MLSoulofDetroitFEEDBACKKim wants to know how the Free Press handles breaking news and whether the media is going overboard on Kim Mathers. We welcome all your questions, comments – and constructive criticism – at [email protected] OR SPONSOR USSupport us on Patreon or make a donation via Venmo or PayPal at mlsoulofdetroit.com. Or drop us a line at [email protected] to find out how cheap and easy it is to advertise on our show!LISTEN AND LEARNFind out more about the podcast at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com, where you’ll find previous episodes and so much more!SUBSCRIBE/SHARE/RATE/WATCHSubscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever quality podcasts are found! When you check out the podcast, remember to rate it (even if you hate it)!!! Your endorsement is very powerful! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ml-soul-of-detroit--5780647/support.

   August 18, 2026·1h 32min
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   Number 5: Screwing, Dealing, & Running - August 11, 2026

   Meet the wild man of Detroit journalism -- Tom Henderson -- who tells tales of reporting, drug dealing, screwing and running that somehow helped him get into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.STRAIGHT DOPESPECIAL OFFER: Get 15% off Detroit City FC tickets by entering promo code SOUL at check out when you buy tickets at http://www.detcityfc.comGet tickets for Soul Night 2.0 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-smiths-united-tickets-1991957105324ML starts the show with a mea culpa addressing what he got wrong about last week's primary, then promotes his analysis of the election results. Find out why he says Abdul El-Sayed could win ... and why John James may be in trouble.Legendary Detroit journalist and bad boy Tom Henderson joins ML and Marc to discuss his new memoir "A Boomer's Tale." He offers an unflinching look back on his difficult childhood, unconventional path to a career in journalism, drug dealing, brushes with greatness, and passion for running. Find out more about this book, and where to find it, with this link.Hendo gave one of the more memorable induction speeches in Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame history. Marc plays a clip that gives you a sense of why the director of the Michigan State University School of Journalism tried to get Tom to stop talking. Twice.Hendo spent a lot of his early career covering sports. But the pro tip he got during spring training from Tigers manager Sparky Anderson had nothing to do with baseball.Like a lot of us, Hendo decided to kick cocaine by running a marathon. He explains how one addiction replaced another.One of Hendo's biggest scoops was exposing the shady past of the owner of the Detroit Express. Nearly two decades later, that story helped him get a gig writing true crime novels.Marc and ML grill Hendo on why he believes Michael Fletcher did not murder his wife while having an affair with not one, but two Warren judges.ML shares his favorite part of Hendo's true crime novel about two hunters who were killed Up North and fed to pigs.Shawn shows up after attending Detroit Lions practice and gives Marc and ML an update on his travels to Big Ten football media day, the Detroit Tigers west-coast swing and whether he'll show up for Soul Night 2.0 at the Cadieux Cafe on Friday, Aug. 21, featuring The Smiths United. Get tickets here.Marc and Shawn razz ML for wearing his sunglasses inside -- even though they are bifocals! ML says he's also doing an homage to the local guy who does an homage to Tom Cruise, who he ran into at Meadowbrook last Saturday. Then ML reveals some secrets about Detroit's leading Risky Business impersonator.Looking for a great gift for a friend, relative or even someone you don’t particularly like? A Free Press subscription is a bargain! Hit this link to get a deal: Detroit Free Press Subscription Offers, Specials, and DiscountsPlease support the show by becoming a Soulmate. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like early access to new episodes, the video version of the show, no insertion ads and access to our monthly bonus episode. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on PatreonGEEK OF THE WEEKChicago funeral home owners who tucked dead bodies in a shed -- instead of putting them to rest -- are this week's geek.ROOM 7609Olivia is too young to be a fan of the Eagles in their heyday, but she still loves listening to them play "Those Shoes." Please send us your suggestion for a song — along with a great story — to [email protected] BENEFACTORSJamie makes a generous one-time donation and Gary is our newest Soulmate! Did you know you can make one payment to support the show for a whole year? Try it -- you just may like it!For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Soulmate by joining our Patreon supporters club and get perks by supporting the show! Use this link: https://www.patreon.com/MLSoulofDetroitFEEDBACKJamie and Susan have some questions for ML about the primary election and Robert shares a theory about an incident in Indian Village that ML doesn't know much about -- other than the curious t-shirts the suspects were wearing that may reveal their preference in the governor's race. We welcome all your questions, comments – and constructive criticism – at [email protected] OR SPONSOR USSupport us on Patreon or make a donation via Venmo or PayPal at mlsoulofdetroit.com. Or drop us a line at [email protected] to find out how cheap and easy it is to advertise on our show!LISTEN AND LEARNFind out more about the podcast at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com, where you’ll find previous episodes and so much more!SUBSCRIBE/SHARE/RATE/WATCHSubscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever quality podcasts are found! When you check out the podcast, remember to rate it (even if you hate it)!!! Your endorsement is very powerful! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ml-soul-of-detroit--5780647/support.

   August 11, 2026·1h 33min
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