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Call for questions: DETROIT (Patreon)

Published:
2022-09-29 20:51:54
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Detroit. What a history! It’s a place close to my heart and tomorrow I’m interviewing Aaron Foley, who worked for years as Detroit’s official storyteller. So leave your questions for the Motor City below!

I’ve been wanting to interview him for years so I’m puuuumped. Okay. Questions. Yay.

-Ol’ Poddad

Comments

cheyanne morris

at what point did detroit hit its all time low?

cheyanne morris

at what point will detroit reach it's peak?

Alia Myers

How did detroit fall so far so fast?

cheyanne morris

will detroit ever have a subwayesque system like nyc?

RJ Doidge

Eastern Market! It’s so cool! I’d shop there all the time if possible - but I live in NJ and that’s a hell of a commute. But talk about it!

em

WHY IS THE PIZZA RECTANGULAR

cheyanne morris

the boyfriend wants to know; if henry ford was from say, california, would motor city still be the motor city?

Alia Myers

So the auto industry btwn the USA and Canada ... Why are detroit and windsor the hubs and more importantly, why is there so much back and forth of goods throughout the manufacturing process? Car parts literally go over the border like 5 times, WHY???

Alia Myers

What detroit celebrity has had the biggest impact (good or bad) on its reputation?

Zed Shirogane

Why is it called Detroit? Like is there some sort of origin story for the name?

Alia Myers

Best detroit celebrity?

Bennett Vanderbosch

What is your favorite Detroit quirk? Cold be about the city, the people, the accent, or anything

RJ Doidge

Oh! I know this! They used metal trays from the auto industry because it’s what they had. Also it slaps.

Jessie Dragon

Was Detroit always Rock City or did KISS just come up with it by themselves? Also, what did you think of Detroit: Become Human?

Sarah

OH MY GOSH! If you could spend one day in Detroit to show someone what it has to offer, where would you take them?

cheyanne morris

will detroit freeze over during climate change lol

Chris Curious

What is Detroit pizza and why is it the best?

Alia Myers

Tell me about the detroit music scene

justusbears

How did the urban agriculture movement develop in Detroit? I have read about it being a hotbed for sustainable and local agriculture, but I am really curious who started it, and how it became such an iconic movement.

Quinn West

Do people from south Detroit quote “don’t stop believing” a lot?

Megan Duffy

For a city that loves cars why are they such bad drivers? lived there for 9 months and was almost driven off the road on several occasions 😅

cheyanne morris

why do u think a lot of concerts/events overlook detroit?

Jack Sparks

Whats up with the Nain Rouge Gnome?

Emily Adams

Most importantly I want to know about being the official storyteller and how you get to be that person! What should we know about Detroit that we probably have never heard?

Brian Madsen

I, for one, am dying to know what -ology this is going to be. Detroitology?

Joe Mueller

Why did the train station fail, and what is happening to it now?

annie

Can you speak about Detroit’s food justice movement? I’ve read some really rad stories, and would love to know more.

Sarah Schmitz

No questions, just mad excitement for this episode. Detroit, represent!

Sarah

How have things like the Greening of Detroit or Avalon Village and the urban agriculture movement shaped the socioeconomic landscape in Detroit?

Erik, Aaron, and Robbie

What is it about Detroit that has led to so many styles of music coming from there? From mo town to protopunk bands like death, to techno, to a unique brand of hip hop that brought us satanic imagery, serial killers, clowns, and kid rock. Also, do you have a favorite flavor of faygo?

Ellie

What can I do as a person who lived in Michigan and cares about the city do to help?

Kerri

Yes, this!!

Morgan Casey

If it wasn't THE Motor City, what would you nickname the city?

Abby Snell

Yes, would love to know more about this topic! And also as a food studies student am interested in knowing about whether Detroit residents feel there are food deserts in the city, how those have been shaped over time and who is addressing them and how?

Mallory Nettleton

Hi there! How has Detroit sharing a border with Canada influenced it's history?

Ray Holloman

How has Detroit dealt with trying to bring people back to the city core and gentrification?

Chris Lipford

(FTQA) So not technically a question, but I’d LOVE for you to talk about Fordite, Detroit’s very own man made rock-type. It ties in well to the recent Geology episodes.

Jason Zatkovich

As a native with nothin' but luv- Do you think the city will ever be as great/iconic as it once was? What will it take to bring it back? Why do the Lions suuuuck so bad? Like so, so bad... Detroit v. Everyone.

Nathalie Jones

What is up with Detroit pizza and is it the best kind of pizza? (pizzaology??)

Sarah

Which pop culture figure who has come from Detroit given back to the city the most?

Sarah

Seconding the question about Detroit: Become Human! Such a fun game and I’m curious to know!

Sarah

What is your favorite representation of Detroit and its story in the media?

Sarah

What do people misunderstand most the city? What’s one thing you wish people knew about Detroit?

Arson

how do you become an official storyteller?

Sarah Meaden

Seconding the question on how they got to be the official storyteller b/c that is badass. Also - what are your favorite places to eat and learn about Detroit? (Not necessarily at the same time)

Kaylee Dyer

A DETROIT-OLOGY EPISODE?! I need to know everything about the Golden age of Hockeytown please #LGRW

Sarah

100% this! It’s such an incredible thing but as an outsider, it feels like it came out of no where.

Elektra

Detroit houses the Cryonics Institute, founded by Robert Ettinger. How did that come to be in Detroit? Is it a welcome presence? What has the reception been to it? Any complex history there?

E-Veh-Lease Sanchez

Tell me all the ghost stories! Any deaths/ghosts at Ford?!

Jona

Water?

Popita

As someone who has lived in the MetroDetroit area all of my life I am super pumped to hear this episode! - what do you know about the salt mines under Detroit? - I think I read somewhere that the grounds of Eastern Market used to be a cemetery. Is that true? - How do you feel about the gentrification of the city? -What is the history of Belle Isle? - What we’re some of the people and buildings involved in the Undergroubd Railroad,

Jennasis

What were some alternate names for Detroit? And how was the name picked?

Will Clark

What makes Detroit such an important place in the world of music and musicians?

Willow Hall

What are the ongoing plans to revitalize Detroit's economy? Also, what was the city's history before colonization? Which First Nation or Native American tribes lived on the land and what happened to them when settlers came in?

Kristina Weaver

Motown. How did that record label become so iconic and why Detroit had a part in it?

Lauren

Not a question - just PUMPED you’re doing an episode on my hometown!! DETROIT RULES 🥳❤️

Nicole Losurdo

First time question asker! What are the best films that accurately depict Detroit? What about Detroit made it fall so hard as a city? (Pronunciation of last name Luh-Sir-Doe)

Ethan Bottone

What happened to the aquarium on Belle island? It sounded really cool from what I've read, but don't know if it's still operating or not.

Diana Teeter

YES!!!! I lived in Detroit while getting my undergrad degree at CCS (College for Creative Studies) from 2000-2004 and sooooo much had changed there since then. When I lived there one of the big adventures we went on was exploring the Michigan Central Train Station. (it was a rite of passage as an art student to either go there or the Packard plant at least once) I am excited that the train station is being renovated but I want to know if there are any cool stories from the heyday of its time as a train station.

Louis Goldberg

I just learned about Swimmobiles being a thing in Detroit back in the day. They look fun and wild at the same time. I would love to hear more about their history.

Rebecca Shay

No question, just hi from a michigander!

Kelsey Story

What was it like to be in the city during its recession? Does Detroit seem to be making a comeback? Did anyone actually buy a house for a dollar?

Valerie Jaruzel

I live 10 min north of Detroit!! I know a lot about the city, having worked and went to college there for four years (Wayne State represent, I was actually a student of Dr Lesnik’s!!). Something I’ve always wanted to know more about is the salt mines - how did those enormous deposits get there?

Amanda McClendon

1) If a non-Michigander who has never been to Detroit were to ever come visit, what should that person do while there? 2) Are you folks friendly with the Canadians across the way or is there a rivalry/prank war the rest of us don't know about? 3) Do you like Sufjan Stevens's album Michigan y/n

Nicole Story

What's the most misunderstood about Detroit? What do you think would benefit the city the most? How do you feel about the current I-375 project? they displaced a whole neighborhood to built it and now it's being torn down to put in a boulevard. I'm born and raised in Michigan about an hour north of the D so I'm very excited for this episode :)

Kamryn (Atomic Outfitters)

Oh cool! I work for GM! Super excited to hear more about Detroit history. ❣️❣️❣️

Kamryn (Atomic Outfitters)

And of course would love to hear about how and what the industrial giants are doing to create lower emissions, who is going carbon neutral and conservation efforts.

Sydonie S.

What was the impact of the downfall of Detroit on other Michigan cities (Flint, Saginaw, etc)?

Adam Silk

What's the history of fordite?

Sydonie S.

What's the history of Belle isle? Also, the giant slide is wild.

Bee

I live an hour south of Detroit and I love it! My biggest question is what do you think of the legend of the Nain Rouge?

Shannon Patterson

Are all the stories my mom tells about boblo Island real?

Lizzy Carr

What's the weirdest/most unhinged fun fact you know about Detroit?

Susan P

When you tell a tall tale, how do you get the listener to buy into it?

Steve Haskin

I'm a confirmed Ann Arborite who spends next to no time in the city. About 6 months ago, I decided to get a room at a nice downtown hotel and enjoy the city. I was amazed at the comback, but dismayed by the holes and gaps where the city has not revived yet. It's 55 years since the riots and what accounts for the lack of progress? Is it corruption? Is it unrelenting crime (I don't think so)? Is it the still segregated neighborhoods? When I first moved to Ann Arbor, I used to go to the CCS (College for Creative Studies) to blow glass. I noted then that the city was like a mouth with broken teeth. One building was burned out next to an empty lot. The Detroit INstitute of the Arts was the same. Now there are new developments around the DIA, but not so much around the CCS nearby. Personally, I'd like to see Detriot great once more. The music scene is still fantastic. I wish the city was just as fantastic.

Kelli Brockington

Middle east Immigrants - why so many & what is the best restaurant they have contributed to Detroit

Nico Peruzzi

Thoughts on the old Comedy Central show Detroiters?

Nicole Kleinman

How did Detroit become so poor so fast? Wasn’t it one of the richest cities in the 60’s?

Ira Gray

Talk about motown music please!

John Worster

How many different manufactures built vehicles in Detroit during it's heyday ?

Ariane Leroux

Favourite abandoned building that you’d like to see restored? Also favoured white stripes song :)

ConnieConnieBoBonnie

How do the people of Detroit feel about the Lions being the butt of 93% of all NFL jokes? Is this the year the Lions make it to the playoffs? Is the team cursed?

John Worster

Detroit appears to be on the way back, but what percentage of the population ended up leaving, I've heard 50%, is that accurate?

Stacy Graves

Why isn’t Detroit the capital of Michigan?

Eric Johnson

Did they ever wind up finding a home for the giant Robocop statue? And how do people of the city feel about being linked that franchise?

GreenBriar

I used to visit my then-boyfriend in a house near Indian Village that he shared with some other people. Driving past street after street of abandoned Victorian houses was so odd to me (I'm Canadian, and I can't really imagining that happening here). Then, we'd go to his work in Grosse Point, like not very far away, and there are some of the hugest, fanciest houses you have ever seen. Even Indian VIllage is like super fancy. How can this be? Such poverty, snugged up to such wealth. It's just so strange and I can't imagine living there. I guess I am also asking about the gentrification problem, because I know that those abandoned areas are being developed, but what happens to the people who were living there?

Emma

Used to live in Harper Woods and work in Detroit, can confirm that the transition from the Grosse Points to Detroit is horrifying in its unapologetic inequity.

Emma

What do you think is the future of Detroit, and what lessons can other American cities learn from Detroit's history?

Cassie Babcock

YES! I sent some Fordite to an Aussie friend. It's so incredible and uniquely ours.

Aaron S.

Not a question, but a request: Please ensure Alie and the audience learn the proper pronunciation of "Detroit". And then, for giggles, let's hear how Alie thinks "Gratiot Ave" is pronounced :)

Cassie Babcock

Also a lifelong Metro resident (and WSU grad)... YES the salt mines!! Also Boblo Island??

Melanie Diana

What do you think contributes to the pride and loyalty that Detroiters and Michiganders feel for this city? (I married into a Michigan family!)

Average_pi

Best food/ soda in detroit

Sonjabird

What's up with the incredibly fast and dangerous slide at Belle Isle?

LobsterKnifeFight

Not a question but! I live in Windsor and almost all the postcards for our city are just a picture of the Detroit skyline. Thought you'd get a kick out of it if you haven't ever been to our side of the River :)

Ken Chambers

What is the deal with X mile road around Michigan cities? How do you not end up with a confusing box that's doesn't help you understand where you are?

Erin Gunderson

Fordite. Detroit agate. Tell us about this bizarre bit of manmade dross that's becoming jewelry. Is it actually a gem???

Pavka34

I had a friend years ago from Canada who talked about how she’d cross over to see bands and Detroit natives would cross to Canada to drink. Is that still a thing?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) What the heck do the parts of the Detroit flag mean? 2) How do French Canadians pronounce "Detroit"? 3) What was the area like prior to colonization? 4) Why is Detroit in the exact spot it is? Who picked the location and why? Where is the original settlement relative to Detroit today? 5) If you dig underneath Detroit, can you find remains of older parts of the city? 6) How important was Detroit in the Underground Railroad? How many people went through to Canada here? 7) What major events happened in Detroit that I might not have learned about in school? 8) How has Detroit shaped American culture (outside of all the cars)? 9) How does the American-Canadian border work in the strait? How are recreational boats prevented from crossing? How are shipping lanes organized?

Shaun Gritten

Whats the most famous shipwreck near Detroit?

Gretchen SG

I have heard of The Great Mound of the River Rouge. Was it destroyed? Why was it destroyed? What artefacts were found there? Who made the mound?

Alicia B

How can Detroit accomplish sustainable and successful public transportation? How many urban farms/gardens are in the city now?

Sharon Rietveld

Why is Chennai, India known as the Detroit of India?

Bill LaBranche

(FTQA) Growing up in Canada in the city of Windsor, I was always a little smug that this was the only place where a Canadian city was SOUTH of a US one. My question is regarding the bridge AND tunnel to Canada - both were completed at essentially the same time. Was it a contest? a race? an ego-display thing? and how did this quick and easy connection to Canada change Detroit?

zombot

Please tell me all about the SLOW ROLL, it is the best thing about Detroit in its entire history! (I participated and I love it!!)

zombot

Motownology lol

zombot

What's the deal with frozen custard?

zombot

The International Bridge that connects Michigan to Canada actually has U.S.A. on the north side of the bridge and Canada on the south. Was this on purpose? What's the story here?

zombot

When was the statue of Robocop dedicated, and who/what/where/why/how?

zombot

DAYTWAAAA

zombot

Coneys & Faygo lol

zombot

you mean besides the Edmund Fitzgerald?

zombot

When (what years) was Detroit the murder capital of the U.S.?

zombot

Alie: Why Detroit? Is this the first "city"ology? Will there be more "location"ologies?

Specs Owl

What can other post-industrial cities (ie Glasgow) learn from Detroit?

Victoria Oetting

What about Detroit allowed the mob to flourish? Proximity to Canada to smuggle in liquor during prohibition? I’ve heard that they used to drive on the river from Windsor to Detroit to transport alcohol and therefore the cars that didn’t make it are at the bottom of the river there. What made Greeks want to move to Detroit and therefore create Greek town? What does the huge upright circular structure mean in downtown Detroit and is it just a coincidence that it perfectly encircles the ornate AF church of Scientology building? Obviously the Ford museum has an amazing collection of cars but how did they get the MOST amazing artifacts ranging from planes, to combines, to trains, to instruments, drugs and furniture? They even have Rosa Parks bus! It is one of the best museums I had ever been to and I just went there to kill time when my flight was cancelled during my layover in Detroit. What an amazing surprise it was!

Meredith Snowlander

I am curious how the history of race relations in Detroit, racist policies like redlining, phenomena like “white flight, etc. shaped the city and how echoes and ongoing effects of this persist today.

Popita

And the DIA! Van Goghs, Holbein, Goya! Oh, my!

Dicken Crane

Motown, Detroit Diesel both great reasons to love Detroit.

Hannah Reilly

Please ask about Motown Records! Stevie Wonder, James Jameson, just so many amazing musicians all in one place.

Jess Swann

I'm super interested in the position of 'official storyteller.' Why was that job created and how did you get it?

Adam Foote

As a storyteller: What do you think this chapter of Detroit's history is called? What kind of help does the city need for it to move on to a new, more prosperous chapter? As a historian, what lessons do you take from the past that you think can apply to making Detroit one of the great cities of the USA and the world again?

Meladie Gey-Burke

Tell us what's happening with Michigan Central Station, please!

Maren Prophit

Is your go to Lafayette or American Coney dogs? Or another less known third option?

Maren Prophit

Hamtramck is one of my favorite metro Detroit spots to frequent, could you give any insight to the community and how it feeds into the larger Detroit commituny as a whole?

BolognaShoes

Also curious about this! Detroit pizza is the best pizza and also not really pizza, but the best regardless.

BolognaShoes

Detroit coneys are not coneys. Flint coneys reign supreme. ;)

Maren Prophit

I have yet to give them a try but I'll have to give them a go!!

Tatum

What’s the most challenging thing and the most rewarding thing about your job? Do you have a favorite story?

Grandma Theresa

Is there still a music industry in the motor city like in the days of Motown

Your New Favorite Animal Podcast

I have a special interest in rust belt cities utilizing abandoned space for ecological purposes (greening up the city, providing animal habitat, parks and recreation, rewilding, etc). Has Detroit tried to do anything like this? How are they addressing brown fields and contamination?

Shannon Ruhl

I remember getting so excited a few years back when there were Mies van der Rohe rowhouses for sale at a ridiculous price. Not that I could afford it as a young architecture student. But this was also when I was becoming aware of the phenomenon of gentrification... With so many vacant or blighted properties throughout the city (or maybe this has gotten better in the past 15 years?), what's the latest on how Detroiters are feeling about local investments / redevelopment / gentrification in certain areas? Have blighted neighborhoods seen a lot of redevelopment?... What ever happened to those $1 houses? Did those homes ever get rehabilitated or rebuilt? Who, if anyone, has benefitted?

Olivia Anderson

Why the square pizza?!? Like Chicago deep dish but square

Olivia Anderson

How did the car industry contribute and hurt the city?

Krystal Symons

For international listeners: what are the most ture/untrue depictions of Detroit that are serious/funny/absurd?

Alex W

Are there still places to find “Fordite” in the city? My partner had a necklace made for me from a polished chunk and I am OBSESSED with it and this wacky non -mineral.

Rebecca Davis

What is Aaron's favorite part of the city?

Matt Youngblood

What is the history of LGBTQ friendly neighborhoods in Detroit? (so called 'Gayborhoods')

Kevin Bunch

Love Detroit! Grew up in the area, still near and dear to me. Always want to hear more about Old Fort Wayne and the history there, I hope you got to touch on it!

Brack Stovall

My only literary knowledge of Detroit is from Loren Estleman’s Detroit Series. Was this series just good story telling and what else would you recommend?

S-R Patreon Content Dependency

This! This is what I want to know about too. I always thought it would be such an amazing opportunity for people my age (geriatric millennial / 41) to actually have the opportunity to own a house *and* to help build an intentional community, but I also thought it was maybe icky gentrification??? How did it all turn out? I’m so curious.

Gabrielle

Is it true you can’t have shit in detroit? (btw this is a meme for those that don’t get it)

Mackenzie Spencer

Do a lot of cities/towns have official storytellers? New to the Patreon, can't wait to join all the conversations and ask all the questions! :)

obanham

Considering the way the auto industry has affected the city, what do think Detroit’s future will look like?

Paige Austin

What’s up with the vegetation out there? I feel like I’ve heard in passing that the soil by the lakes is rich and nature is extremely resilient there.

Neal Sorensen

Hi! First time patreon question-asker! With so many cultures in Detroit, I have to know what's your favorite ethnic cuisine in Detroit? Greek/Mediterranean? Middle Eastern? SE Asian?

Neal Sorensen

Electronic music and Detroit are tightly connected. Is there still a lot of Techno in the birthplace of Techno?

Ted Vician

Can also ask how Schoenherr Road is pronounced. Tip: not like my HS German language lessons would indicate.

Ted Vician

For the old folks, Detroit and the surrounding area also gave us MC5 and Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band.

Erik, Aaron, and Robbie

I'm not familiar with the silver bullet band but mc5 are a great protopunk band and Bob Seger is awesome too. Thanks for mentioning them.

Joe Wilkie

asking for my grandfather: what sort of progress have the urban gardens made, and how has the local response to them changed over the years?

Anthony P

Why do you think Detroit has been used as the setting for a number of different horror movies lately, including Don’t Breathe, It Follows, and Barbarian? It seems to be an increasingly common setting lately!

Katie Murray

I’ve heard Detroit has some of the worst drivers. Do you agree?

Ebony Maldonado

How do the arts influence the culture in Detroit? Between being known for music, art, and theater, what makes Detroit such a hotspot for artists?

Maisie Lopez

there have been ties to lead in gasoline and crime, being the "motor city" as well as environmental racism, do you think that lead in gasoline had more dramatic affects on detroit and that's how it got its high crime reputation?

Dylan V

How are Juggalos received nowadays in Detroit? Are their numbers growing despite being classified as a gang by the US Govt?

Scarlet P

Curious if he thinks that public art pieces installed in large vacant areas offer a net benefit to Detroit residents, or if they are mainly frivolous / encourage gentrification? Or both?

Scarlet P

Also - is "urban farming" actually a viable growth industry for Detroit? Or just a nifty but impractical idea?

Elizabeth Reed

Why is Detroit considered a dusty armpit of the US? What’s the background/controversy on that?

Kleargle

Yeah as a non-american who has picked up this impression I want to know too

Bethany Barlow

Can you explain the Michigan water crisis?

Christina Johnson

Are positive changes being made in Detroit that the rest of the country and other cities could learn from..

Kamryn (Atomic Outfitters)

Did I miss this episode? Has it come out? It is entirely possible that it has. I don't see it. Am I dumb? :)

Naar

aw!! I was just re-listening to the mythology ep! this is so cool :)