In 1992, singer-songwriter Jimmy Dennis was wrongfully convicted of murder. He was sent to death row for 25 years until his 2017 exoneration. Miraculously, he avoided execution. Who’s to blame for this atrocity? A corrupt Philadelphia police department. Prosecution that destroyed evidence. A fundamentally broken criminal justice system. How do we repair a structure that...
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What type of person would willingly allow themselves to be incarcerated for 60 days? As a former Corrections Officer and Military Intelligence Officer, Mark Din is no stranger to high-stakes situations. However, nothing could have prepared him for life on the inside when he agreed to be locked up for A&E’s hit reality TV series,...
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Stacks of money. Excess of drugs. Sex with models. These are tropes found in most Martin Scorsese films. They were also staples of Richard Bronson’s actual life. Today, he is CEO of 70 Million Jobs, which does the honorable work of helping people with criminal records find employment. But, in the 1980s, he was leading...
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In a nation where up to 10% of incarcerated people may be wrongfully convicted, how do you determine who’s innocent and who’s guilty? Dr. Burton Bentley is an emergency medicine physician who helmed a company called Elite Medical Experts. Its mission is to provide expert medical opinions in complex litigation in the hopes of avoiding...
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Jake Halpern is a prolific journalist, storyteller, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Ned Timmons is a former FBI agent who spearheaded investigations in the 1980s that led to the indictments of the world’s most dangerous drug smugglers. Together, they’ve collaborated on Deep Cover, a podcast detailing one of Ned’s undercover missions that unwittingly led to the...
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Devin Gardner was the starting quarterback for the University of Michigan from 2012 to 2014. He has since played for both the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers before leaving the NFL. He now works as a commentator for Fox Sports and runs the Young Go-Getters which works to develop aspiring quarterbacks with a dream...
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Brenda Hill is a candidate who ran to represent Michigan’s District 10 in the State House. She was on track to win until there was a sudden and suspicious surge in votes for her competitor, Mary Cavanagh. Brenda and her friend, City Charter Commissioner Nicole Small, suspect fraud. In this episode of the Open Mike...
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Michael Phillips Jr. and Romell Holmes run the Fathers First Movement in Detroit. Their organization works to encourage men to be active participants in their children’s lives. A relatively new group, Fathers First has made great strides very quickly in the Detroit community. In this uplifting episode, Michael and Romell talk about the need they...
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George Hunter is a seasoned journalist at the Detroit News who has been covering crime stories for over 20 years. A Detroit Native, he is the author of many true crime novels as well as host of the popular podcast Sins of Detroit, a show that looks at wrongful convictions that started with investigations by...
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Chantá Parker is an attorney, strategist, and criminal defense expert who is transforming the criminal justice system from the inside. She recently moved to Detroit, assuming the role of Managing Director of the Wayne County Neighborhood Defense Service (NDS), an organization that has pioneered a holistic, client-oriented model in addressing problems plaguing public defense. In...
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George Etheridge is a Democratic candidate campaigning to represent District 8 in the Michigan House of Representatives. He is a lifelong Detroiter who has worked as a city planner and legislative advisor. George is running for the seat that Sherry Gay Dagnogo formerly held and has her endorsement for this election. In episode 61 of...
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John Shea is the commissioner of the An Arbor branch of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission and an expert on public defense. He has been in private practice since 1988 and specialized in criminal defense. John is an advocate for better indigent defense statewide as well as an excellent lawyer. In this episode, Mike dives...
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