WORLD FOOTPRINTS

For over a century Detroit, Michigan has hosted an auto show.  The show's start in 1907 had a regional focus and continued that way for several decades.  Then, in the 1980s a London cabby asked a board member why Detroit's show didn't include international auto manufacturers.  That started the wheels turning (no pun) and in 1987 the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) made it's debut.  Bob Shuman, Chairman of NAIAS, joins World Footprints to talk about the latest innovations in automobile design and what visitors can expect to see.

Then we head north on I-96 to Lansing, Michigan's state capital to meet a son of the city who left after school to pursue a musical career.  John Fluker is an award-winning pianist, composer, vocalist and arranger who has a string of credits backing such R&B notables as Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Oleta Adams, Mavis Staples, David Hasselhoff, Boys 2 Men, Queen Latifah, Brenda Russell, Stephanie Mills and more.  In addition to backing Gladys Knight, John also served as her music director for several years.  He also has a number of television and threatrical scores to his credit.  How did this small town guy make it big in the music industry?  John will share his secret.

Finally, we will discover Lansing's rich transportation history with a tour of R.E. Olds Transporation Musuem where we'll explore the REO Motor Car Company, old-time bicycles and aviation endeavors.

Today World Footprints  will explore a sample of the multiple treasures that can be found in New Orleans.  We will share a wonderful conversation with Chef Leah Chase of Dokie Chase restaurant fame.  Chef Leah is an iconic figure in New Orleans.  She was the inspiration behind Tiana, the principle character in the Disney Animated Picture Princess and the Frog.  Then World Footprints will take listeners through two little known musuems, the Free People of Color museum and the African-American museum.  Other stops on this audio trip include a tour through Treme and a visit to the famed Carosel bar in the Hotel Monteleone. New Orleans is a treasure trove of wonderful museums, rich history and cultural gumbo and today’s show will explore just a few of the treasure today.

Join World Footprints as we explore the Great Lakes State of Michigan and travel from Mackinac City to Detroit. 

Our audio tour will start with a visit to the Michigan Historical Center and Museum in Lansing where we will offer a flavor of every place in the State between the lower and upper peninsula.  Museum director Linda Endersby and Michigan History Foundation director Cindy Hales will help us learn about the stories of the people who helped shape Michigan.

Then, one of Michigan's crown jewels is Mackinac Island--Tonya's childhood playground.  Since the late 19th century, the island's Grand Hotel has welcomed celebrities, Presidents and other visitors from around the world.  The Grand Hotel offers the world's longest porch and has been the setting of several movies, including "Somewhere In Time" with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.  Hotel historian and concierge, Bob Tagetz, will take us inside the rich history and traditions of this iconic hotel.

Finally, we will share the legacy of a family deeply intertwined in the history of Michigan and Mackinac Island--the Shepler family--the namesake behind Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry.  This multi-generational family enterprise has transported legions to and from Mackinac Island between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.  Chris Shepler will share his family's legacy, their passion for customer service, philanthropy and he'll give Tonya a new experience as Captain.

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Peter Vogel, founder and managing director of CulturePrep Inc., is a noted speaker on advancing cross-cultural relations and a philanthropist. Peter joins World Footprints to talk about how CulturePrep has been empowering individuals and groups from around the world to overcome the obstacles that threaten meaningful and productive cross-cultural relationships.  He will also talk about the volunteer work his organization is spearheading in Uganda.

Then, David Morey, co-chair of The Fund for Peace and former chair of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Task Force on Public Diplomacy, sits down with World Footprints to talk about the current events in Northern Africa and the Middle East and how the insurgent strategy he has developed will help the U.S. to re-boot its foreign policy as .  David is one of America’s leading strategic consultants.  He has advised some of the world’s top business leaders, five Nobel Peace Prize winners and twelve successful global presidential campaigns, including President Barack Obama. David is also an award-winning co-author of The Underdog Advantage, a book that outlines a powerful insurgent strategy to put business on top.

Finally, prepare your taste buds and Malaysian Chef Susheela Raghavan cooks up the Flavors of Malaysia from her new cookbook with World Footprints.  Flavors of Malaysia: a Journey through Time, Tastes, and Traditions, will take you on a wonderful sensory journey as Susheela serves up more than 150 amazing recipes, touching family stories, and fascinating notes about the multi-cultural origins of Malaysian food in this wonderful collection.

World Footprints traveled to New Orleans for our annual broadcast at French Quarter Festival.  We streamed live from the heart of the Quarter at Jackson Square in the Tableau restaurant--Dickie Brennan's latest gem. Each year we bring you something new and this year was no exception.  We took a deep dive into the city's African-American history, New Orleans role in World War II, the history of voodoo, culinary arts and the performing arts.   We had an amazing year and we thought it appropriate to end 2014 in The Big Easy.  Join us for the world's largest music brunch and let the good times roll. 

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Just for Christmas... NBC News correspondent and former Middle East Bureau Chief, Martin Fletcher, joins World Footprints to share his new book, Walking Israel.  Fletcher’s book chronicles his adventures and insights as he walked along the coast of Israel meeting people and immersing himself in his surroundings.  We will discuss some of the misperceptions that some have of Israel and why a visit to the historic country is worth considering. 

Then, the art of human rights in the African Nation of Eritrea takes center stage as we introduce you to artist and activist Elsa Gebreyesus who is using her art to encourage hope, preserve history and fight political oppression across an ocean.

Finally, “Who-ville” comes alive and everyone from Horton to the Cat in the Hat raises awareness of a variety of social issues when curator Bill Dreyer takes us inside the art of Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss).  Dreyer represents the Art of Dr. Seuss and he will tell us why Dr. Seuss was ahead of his time with his art and its commentary on everything from discrimination, the environment, to the state of the economy.

In what would become one of her final interviews, World Footprints enjoyed a intimate chat with "Global Renaissance Woman" Dr. Maya Angelou.  Dr. Angelou shared some wisdom, insights and stories from her incredible life's journey, including the transitional relationship with her mother Vivian Baxter.  Her mother shared messages of courage, hope, forgiveness and unlimited possibilities and those messages are what Dr. Angelou attributed to many of her life's blessings.  Dr. Angelou joined us to talk about her last book "Mom & Me & Mom" and she generously offered nuggets of wisdom for everyone.  Dr. Angelou's time with us was the most memorable interaction we've ever experienced and we greatly miss her presence. 

We continue along the heart's path and take a short trip to a city that is near and dear to us--Detroit, where we share the city's great comeback and one of the greatest reinvention stories in America. Finally we chat with a dear friend, artist Michele Wood - a Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator whose work is displayed in her book "I See the Rhythm of Gospel"

Study abroad and global citizenship were front and center at a recent White House Travel Summit.  The White House invited the most influential travel journalists and bloggers to join policymakers here in Washington, D.C. to discuss how the U.S can build stronger relationships to the rest of the world with the help of young Americans, especially through study abroad programs.  World Footprints was there and today we will bring you some of the highlights from the speakers and panelists who spoke.

The White House Travel Bloggers Summit on study abroad and global citizenship sought to build on President Barack Obama's vision of studying, learning and working together as a way to bring prosperity to the United States and the world.  On today's show you'll hear from policy makers and thought-leaders like (in order of appearance): Benjamin Rhodes (Dep., National Security Advisor), Evan Ryan (Assistant Secretary of State), Bernadette Meehan (National Security Council), Patrick Dowd (Millenials Trains Project), Paula Froelich (Yahoo Travel), Johathan Greenblatt (Special Asst. to Pres. Obama), Daniela Kaisth (Inst. of International Education), Penny Pritzker (Secretary of Commerce), Tina Tchen (Michelle Obama's Chief of Staff), Robert Reid (National Geographic), Robin Goldberg (Minerva Project), James Howard (iHeart Radio) and Don Wildman (Travel Channel).

World Footprints will walk in the footprints of two socially-conscious guests--a Grammy-nominated singer whose musical talents led her to change her life and live her passion, and we'll welcome back a good friend whose efforts are savings one of the most graceful and beautiful big cats on our planet.

Rene Marie is a Grammy-nominated singer, actress and writer who uses her energetic and dynamic voice to raise awareness about social issues.  Inspired by iconic entertainer - Eartha Kitt - Rene has released a tribute album honoring Eartha Kitt, an inspiring artist who helped changed America's landscape for the better.  Rene also uses her voice to shine attention on important issues in America.

Next we welcome back Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of The Cheetah Conservation Fund.  The cheetah is one of the oldest and most majestic animals in the world and is fighting to survive.  While it's taken four million years for the species to develop, it has only taken 100 years for mankind to bring the cheetah to the brink of extinction.  Dr. Laurie Marker has made it her life's mission to reverse that trend.  As the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Dr. Marker and her team are ensuring that the cheetach is here for the ages.

World Footprints takes you on an exciting journey through Montana’s Missouri River Country as we go digging for dinosaurs and gold.   First, we’ll go in search of Carl the Dinosaur with the help of Dave Trexler and Sue Frary of the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station as they take us digging for dinosaur bones.  We’ll introduce you to Brenda Koss, whose family-owned ranch has produced some major dinosaur fossils, including one discovered by her daughter Kennedy.   Then it’s off to Zortman, an interesting gold rush era town nestled in Montana’s Little Rocky Mountains that’s filled with lot of character and characters alike, and we’ll learn about this quirky place from one of the town’s resident entrepreneurs, John Kalal.