The Metro

When “Sing Sing” was released last summer, it became the first film to be simultaneously released in theaters and in prisons through Edovo, a free online education platform serving over 900,000 incarcerated learners. 

Brian Hill is the CEO of the Edovo Foundation. He joined The Metro to talk about the significance of connecting incarcerated people to information and education.

Today on The Metro, we’re taking a step into our nostalgic side as we reminisce about the snow days of our childhoods — when school districts close schools for a day or two due to wintry weather. We bring you a conversation with Superintendent of Ypsilanti Schools, Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, to learn about what goes into to closing schools for the day. We also talk to the Craig Bryson with the Oakland County Road Comission and Richard Rood, a professor emeritus of climate and space science and engineering at the University of Michigan.

The public library is more than a place that houses books and other reading materials. It’s a community hub, art gallery, summer barbecue spot and even a place to rent tools. Libraries are also helping people access information outside their buildings too, giving access to online services through a library card. 

Jeff Milo is the host of MI Local on WDET. He is also an employee at the Ferndale Area District Library and an avid reader. He joins the show to talk about the many things libraries offer to residents year-round.

Today on The Metro, we bring you a conversation with Detroit Documenter Madiline Beck and Coordinator Noah Kincade on a potential cigar lounge coming to the Detroit Metro Airport. 

The cigar lounge wouldn't be hard to miss, located just past security at the McNamara Terminal between gates A43 and A45. To many, this is a drag — so we discuss why.

Reading abilities for students in America aren’t where they should be. But a new pilot study by the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute and Shoelace Learning shows promise for “gamified learning” as an effective reading intervention.

Julia Dexter is the Founder of Shoelace Learning, an education platform that developed the games used in the pilot study. She spoke with Senior Producer David Leins about how gamified learning can improve reading skills in students.

Today on The Metro, we share highlights from this week's episodes, including the evolution of Detroit through the eyes of "Rust Belt Reporter" John Gallagher; the renewed interest in women's sports and the trajectory of women in sports more broadly; and more.

The 97th Academy Awards will air on ABC in March. Buzzed about movies like "A Complete Unknown" and "Nickel Boys" will compete for major awards, but there's a whole different set of competition that doesn't always get the same amount of attention. 

The short form live action and animated films are hard to find, even if you're looking for them on your favorite streaming service. But the Detroit Film Theatre gives these films the spotlight they deserve with their annual Academy Award Nominated Short Films program. 

WDET's Ryan Patrick Hooper caught up with DFT Director Elliot Wilhelm to learn more about these movies. The Oscar nominated short film program runs through March 2.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Each year, Kresge Arts in Detroit selects and awards one eminent artist with a $100,000 unrestricted prize to acknowledge their achievement in the arts and dedication to uplifting Detroit’s cultural community. 

Marion Hayden, virtuoso jazz bassist, educator and 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist, joined The Metro on Thursday to talk about the honor and reflect on what inspired her love for music.

Hayden said music has always been a huge part of her life. Both of her parents played piano and they lived in Detroit's historic Russell Woods neighborhood during a time when art and creative outlets within the Black community were thriving. 

Beginning at Cass Technical High School at 16 years old, Hayden connected over music with Marcus Belgrave — known far and wide as a musical savant and mentor — who was also named a Kresge Eminent Artist in 2009. 

Use the media player above to listen to the full conversation.

Hear more stories from The Metro on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Winter in Michigan is known by many as a time to hunker down and stay inside, but in a society that’s navigating a lot of loneliness, isolation can cause more problems than it solves. 

Therapist Dr. Zain Shamoon has been leading the “Narratives of Pain” nonprofit since 2015. In that space, he’s hosted several events throughout the year, allowing people to share anguish and grief they’re feeling. Shamoon believes that letting people come together and share their stories allows for its own kind of healing. 

Narratives of Pain will host its “Broken Hearts and Connections” event at 6 p.m. at the Apothecary Espresso and Coffee shop in Farmington on Valentine's Day. Shamoon joined The Metro on Thursday to discuss the event. 

Hear more stories from The Metro on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

Social media has dramatically changed our world. Connecting with new people meant leaving your house, starting a hobby or joining a group of interest. But social media and dating apps have made all of that much simpler, at least when you’re glued to a screen.

All it takes is the swipe of a finger to discover or connect with someone you may have never actually met in the real world. There is a significant number of people doing this via popular dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, BLK and Hinge. According to the Pew Research Center, 30% of adults in the U.S. have used a dating site or app.

Today on The Metro, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, we explore how social media and dating apps have altered romantic relationships. 

Guests:

More headlines from The Metro on Feb. 13, 2025: 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.