ML Elrick's Soul of Detroit podcast available now

(FOX 2) - By M.L. Elrick
Fox 2 Investigative Reporter

Only a complete fool would ignore an invitation from a local FM radio legend to join his fledgling podcast network. I may be a fool, but I’m not a complete fool!

Besides, launching a podcast seemed like an exciting new way to connect with people as well as a good contribution to Fox 2’s never-ending effort to inform and engage the public. So, after months of planning, consulting with colleagues at Fox 2 and pulling together the right team, I launched the ML Soul of Detroit podcast in February. 

And now that we’ve worked out many of the kinks, I’m inviting you to check it out!

Soul of Detroit is about an hour long and comes out once a week. We typically record on Wednesday nights and post a new episode by Thursday morning. SOD is the fourth show produced by Drew Lane’s Red Shovel Network, which started three years ago with the Drew and Mike Podcast, a no-holds-barred version of the top-rated morning radio show Lane created and hosted on WRIF 101.1 FM for more than 20 years. The No BS Newshour with Charlie LeDuff and No Filter Sports with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page are the other shows in the network.

The inspiration for the name of my show comes from my life-long effort to help people understand our dynamic and complex metropolitan area. As a native East Sider who has lived in Detroit’s East English Village neighborhood for the past 20 years, my love for and interest in all-things Detroit runs deep. Only a complete fool would present himself as the definitive expert on Detroit and our diverse and complicated community, and I’m just a regular ol’ fool, so my goal is merely to share stories and insights and encourage discussions about my work and the city many of us hold dear.

Listeners to a typical episode may get behind-the-scenes stories into the investigations I do for Fox 2, my take on major news stories, or reflections and now-it-can-be-told tales about some of the biggest topics I’ve tackled in my 25-year career as a political and investigative reporter.

Joining me on this aural adventure is Marc Fellhauer, who has worked with Lane for decades, and Shawn Windsor, a top sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press. Lane joins us occasionally, and I expect to have guests from time to time. Right now, I’m planning to chat with Space Skull, one of the more bizarre and dynamic musical acts I’ve seen in 30 years of hitting Detroit’s bars, clubs and concert venues.
We’re not a sports show, but as a proud Spartan working with a proud Wolverine (Fellhauer), there is plenty of good natured sparring over which university reigns supreme on the playing field. Windsor, a proud EMU Eagle, often tips the balance in these spirited discussions.
And just like in the City of Detroit, there is always a lively debate in the Soul of Detroit.

Each week we feature The Great Debate, in which Fellhauer, Windsor and I spar over an interesting topic. We also select and discuss a Geek of the Week. And there’s always a party going on in Room 7609, a weekly feature in which we introduce listeners to an overlooked or forgotten song from a NuWave band - a nod to my love of the post-punk movement that was in vogue in the late 80s and early 90s.

As our audience grows, I hope to include more comments and content from listeners - and I hope that you will be one of them!

So please give us a listen. You can find each episode here on the Fox 2 homepage or on all the popular podcast hosting sites including the podcast app on your iPhone, Google Podcast and Stitcher. If you like what you hear, please give us a positive rating.

You can find out more at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com, write to us at mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com or call us at 313-Butterfield8-9070 (313) 288-9070.