Detroit parents Bridget Finn and Sam Beaubien found their lives upended when their daughter, Florence, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called STXBP1. As they adjusted to a new reality for their family, they also worked to fund research for their daughter's disorder. On today's episode, we talk to Bridget and Sam about their family's story. 

GUESTS: 

Bridget Finn, Director, Art Basel Miami Beach 

Sam Beaubien, audio producer and musician 

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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For those who have flown through Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan you have likely noticed the art in Concourse A. The artwork—titled Facets— is built through three suspended sculptures that might make travelers feel like they are suddenly a part of the piece — as though they are composed beneath hundreds of small colorful connected shapes all hanging overhead. Transit is highlighted beneath what the artist's father saw as a capiz chandelier. For travelers, and the artist himself, that sense of imagery is important - it speaks to a sense of home and a feeling of movement.

Today, we talk with Jeffery Augustine Songco about his artistic journey, his Catholic Filipino upbringing, and the vision that drives his creative process.

GUEST:

• Jeffrey Augustine Songco, portraiture and sculpture artist based in Allendale, MI

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Michigan has a rich history of women in the state's top leadership. Can Vice President Kamala Harris learn anything from our state's political leaders about running—and winning—as a woman? We talked to BBC reporter Madeline Halpert has been thinking about that question and recently wrote about what lessons Michigan's women-dominated politics offers to the likely Democratic presidential nominee. 

GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• Madeline Halpert, North America correspondent for the BBC

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Extreme weather patterns, fruit flies, and decay have impacted Michigan's sweet cherry crop this year. Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking them to declare a federal disaster for the region, which would make emergency funding available for the state's cherry farmers. On this episode of the podcast, we'll talk to one of those farmers about how he's coping with this tough year.

GUESTS ON THIS EPISODE

• Isaiah Wunsch, CEO of Wunsch Farms and agribusiness consultant for Third Coast Fruit Co.

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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The FAFSA rollout for the 2025-26 academic year has been delayed, continuing headaches for students applying for federal aid for higher education. The updated 2024-25 FAFSA form suffered from a series of delays, glitches, and other issues, impacting the number of students who chose to fill out the application for student aid, and potentially limiting the options they had for financing a college education. On this episode, we'll dig into what happened, the potential ramifications for students, and the outlook for next year. 

GUEST: 

• Jason Gonzales, higher education reporter for Chalkbeat

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Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

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Black Tech Saturdays is an organization with a mission to create space for Black tech founders to connect and collaborate. 

It’s grown tremendously since its founding. The workshops, trainings and networking events have provided valuable resources to its members, especially in an industry where Black people’s contributions have not always been visible. 

Today, a conversation about leveraging tech talent in Detroit and beyond. 

GUESTS: 

• Johnnie Turnage, co-founder of Black Tech Saturdays 

• Darrell Marshall, founder of Total Analysis Solutions–a biotech startup based out of Ann Arbor 

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A new exhibition at the Ukrainian American Archives and Museum in Hamtramck documents a recent phenomenon across the Ukrainian diaspora: tattooing. 

“Since the beginning of the war in 2022, there's been a significant uptick in the use of various Ukrainian symbols, whether they be folk symbols, or national symbols to represent the nation,” Olga Liskiwskyi, executive director of the museum, said. 

Stateside paid a visit to the museum for a tour of the gallery.

GUEST ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• Olga Liskiwskyi, Executive Director of the Ukrainian American Archives and Museum
• Sofia Kuczer, submitted to "Ink as Identity" gallery
• Roman Wonsul, submitted to "Ink as Identity" gallery
• Veronica Rogalla, submitted to "Ink as Identity" gallery

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In February's Democratic presidential primary, Michigan state representative Abraham Aiyash was one of thousands of people to vote "Uncommitted" in protest of the Biden administration's foreign policy towards Israel and the war in Gaza. Today, he joined Stateside to talk about what it would take for Kamala Harris to earn "uncommitted" voters' support.

The verdict is still out, Aiyash said, on how Harris' foreign policy proposals may differ from that of the Biden administration.

GUEST ON TODAY’S SHOW:

• State Representative Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck), 9th House District and Michigan House Majority Floor Leader

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On today's episode we explore details of the historic exchange that allowed the U.S. to welcome home Michigander Paul Whelan from a Russian prison.

Whelan, a security contractor and former U.S. marine was imprisoned in Russia for six years. He was convicted of spying, but maintains he got caught up in a Russian sting.

Our guest, Tom Nichols recently published an essay in The Atlantic detailing the benefits for Russia of systematically detaining Americans and Europeans, and how President Putin has manipulated prisoner negotiations to his own benefit.

GUEST: 

Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, and professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College

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When Melissa Isaac began campaigning for re-election to the board of Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, it wasn't long before she noticed something was odd. Voters on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Indian Reservation had ballots that did not list their school district. Instead, their ballots listed Shepherd Public Schools.

Isaac called the township clerk's office to ask about the discrepancy, and after several conversations, was told that a correction would be made right away.

Read Neely Bardwell's reporting on this story at NativeNewsOnline.net.

[Get Stateside on your phone: subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or YouTube Music today.]

GUESTS ON TODAY'S SHOW:

• Melissa Isaac, head of the Indigenous Education Initiative for the Michigan Department of Education; treasurer of the Mt. Pleasant Public School Board

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