love where you live!™

Why Are Cars So Expensive? Beyond the UAW

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 14:00:00 GMT

CONTENT WARNING: This podcast contains adult language. Please take this into consideration before listening.

The average cost of a vehicle in the United States in 2023 is $46.2K. And that's just a "basic" model. Many SUVs and Trucks are upwards of $70K to over $100K. Many people blame the UAW worker for the cost of vehicles. Their "greed" is causing the price of cars to skyrocket. The average UAW autoworker makes $18.54 an hour, hardly greed. The overall cost of vehicles today isn't due to the salary and benefits package of UAW workers today.

In this episode, we speak with William Graham. William worked for over a decade with two of the top tier automotive suppliers in the world. He unpacks the real reason cars are so expressive today, the hefty profit margins, and why the UAW worker is not to blame. We also talk about why paying living and fair wages to UAW autoworkers is not going to send production overseas.

Episode Resources
Test Crash https://youtube.com/shorts/6V6RkhIK6Hw?si=oOgbE0EafSmaH81V
ALEC Exposed https://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
NRWC https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Right_to_Work_Committee
Michigan Right to Work https://www.michigandaily.com/government/what-the-repeal-of-right-to-work-means-for-michigan-workers/
Right to Work is Wrong https://www.epi.org/blog/why-right-to-work-was-always-wrong-for-michigan-restoring-workers-rights-is-key-to-reversing-growing-income-inequality-in-michigan/
Purpose of Right to Work https://aflcio.org/issues/right-work

This podcast may contain adult language or sensitive topics and may be triggering to some. Please take this into consideration before listening.

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Bay City, MI’s Immigration Debate: Public Safety, Fear Politics, and the Mayor’s Veto with 7th Ward City Commissioner, Chris Runberg

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Bay City is tucked into the curve of Michigan’s Thumb, nestled along the shores of Lake Huron. Its people like to pride themselves on being a welcoming community, a place where neighbors help neighbors and public safety is built on trust, not fear. Its tagline is “A Beautiful View of Life.” But only if you “fit in,” apparently. Recent events at City Hall have tested its identity.

On March 17, the Bay City Commission narrowly passed the Resolution Affirming Bay City's Commitment to Local Public Safety Priorities and Jurisdictional Integrity—5-4—that sought to reaffirm that local law enforcement should focus on protecting and serving Bay City, not being pulled into federal immigration enforcement that has taken over the nation. It was a simple, straightforward commitment to public safety.

Then came the mayor’s veto.

Today, we talk with Chris Runberg, Bay City's 7th Ward Commission and author of the Resolution, on his feelings about the public response to the Resolution and the mayor's veto. Along with the question that all of us should be asking ourselves regardless of where we live: Do we want to be a city that leads with fear, or a city that leads with integrity?

Podcast Show Notes

Link to Resolution Affirming Bay City’s Commitment to Local Public Safety Priorities and Jurisdictional Integrity.

PULSE of the Great Lakes article

Chris' Substack Political Neophyte Goes to City Hall

Email Chris: CRunberg@baycitymi.gov

Chris' Facebook

Article: What basic rights do people have if ICE stops them? A lawyer explains

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

The New Detroit Lions: DC Did NOT Lose Us the Game!

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Everyone has an opinion about the new Detroit Lions, including "old fans" who always look at the negative with our team.

In this podcast, we share our take on the team, coaching, players and naysayers. And we give our take on why the missed filed goal attempt did NOT lose us the game and was the right call for DC to make.

Content Warning: This podcast contains adult language. Take this into consideration before listening, or listening around small children.

GO LIONS!

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

Reconciliation and Healing of Michigan's Indigenous Peoples: Episode 2

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 19:00:00 GMT

We continue our powerful journey of truth, reconciliation, and healing with survivors of the Indigenous boarding school The Holy Childhood School of Jesus in Harbor Springs. Through their courageous narratives, we confront the difficult truths of abuse, torment, and the unsettling realities concealed in unmarked graves and beneath paved roads.

This isn't a podcast about seeking revenge or assigning blame. Instead, it serves as a platform to witness the resilience and strength of our Native brothers and sisters. For those of us who are descendants of white assimilation, we must pause, acknowledging the historical atrocities committed by our ancestors.

This journey goes beyond notions of "white guilt" or superficial apologies. It's about actively listening to and understanding the truths of our Native communities, striving to reconcile the past and actively participate in the healing of intergenerational trauma. It calls for a commitment to truth, understanding, and empathy.

This is Episode 2 of many to come where you will hear the unfiltered truths and conversations from the survivors. In this podcast, you'll directly hear from Bob Hazen from the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. These are Bob's truths; unfiltered and unmediated.

Through the medium of podcasts and the written word, we aim to amplify the voices of survivors; sharing their truths and accompanying them on their healing journey toward a shared, unified future. Join us in engaging in open dialogue, amplifying Indigenous voices, and supporting initiatives that address systemic challenges. Together, we contribute to a collective journey of reconciliation, fostering a future of healing and cultural revival—central tenets of our shared national narrative of autonomy and democracy.

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

Breaking the Silence: Mental Health and Michigan Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT

In the realm of public safety, first responders are the everyday heroes among us who rush headfirst into emergencies, often saving lives or property and at great personal risk. They face a unique set of challenges and stressors that can take a severe toll on their mental health and personal relationships. They are regularly thrown into traumatic situations, witness immense human suffering, and face life-and-death decisions.

In this podcast, we begin a conversation to help break the silence in Michigan. We acknowledge the mental health challenges facing first responders, which is the first step toward breaking the silence and stigma. We speak with members of East Jordan and Charlevoix Township volunteer firefighters and first responders on the mental health challenges they face; the importance of addressing mental health issues; and how they actively work toward breaking the silence and ending the stigma.

Resources for this Podcast
How to Become a Volunteer Firefighter in Michigan https://firefighternow.com/how-to-become-a-firefighter-in-michigan/
The Columbia Lighthouse Project https://cssrs.columbia.edu/
East Jordan Fire Department Facebook https://m.facebook.com/p/East-Jordan-Fire-Dept-100067749455668/
Charlevoix Township Fire Department Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072537455323
Heroes Among Us Article featuring East Jordan and Charlevoix Township Fire Departments https://livelovelocalmi.com/heroes-among-us/

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

Reconciliation and Healing of Michigan's Indigenous Peoples: Episode 1

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:00:00 GMT

In this podcast, we invite you to join us on a powerful journey of truth, reconciliation, and healing with survivors of the Indigenous boarding school The Holy Childhood School of Jesus in Harbor Springs. Through their courageous narratives, we confront the difficult truths of abuse, torment, and the unsettling realities concealed in unmarked graves and beneath paved roads.

This episode is one of many to come where you will hear the unfiltered truths and conversations from the survivors. In this podcast, you'll directly hear from the Walker siblings. For two of them, this marks the first time they've spoken about their experiences. These are their truths, unfiltered and unmediated.

Through the medium of podcasts and the written word, we aim to amplify their voices, sharing their truths and accompanying them on their healing journey toward a shared, unified future. Join us in engaging in open dialogue, amplifying Indigenous voices, and supporting initiatives that address systemic challenges. Together, we contribute to a collective journey of reconciliation, fostering a future of healing and cultural revival—central tenets of our shared national narrative of autonomy and democracy.

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

Walking with the Paranormal

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMT

For our October Haunted Michigan, we joined Detroit Rock City Paranormal for two paranormal investigations. Our first was at Eloise Asylum, and old abandoned asylum and hospital that has since been turned into a multi-million dollar, year-round horror attraction. The second combined two investigations: the Carnegie Museum and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Michigan. Both are operated by Port Huron Museums and are located in Port Huron.

In this podcast, we talk about our experiences - a few very eventful experiences - at all three locations and the activity and spirits we encountered.

Episode Resources
Detroit Rock City Paranormal https://www.detroitrockcityparanormal.com/
Port Huron Museums https://www.phmuseum.org/
Eloise Asylum https://eloiseasylum.com/
The Drowning of Harmonia Kiossain https://www.facebook.com/memoriesofeloise/photos/poor-10-year-old-harmonia-kiossain-had-been-a-patient-at-eloise-for-a-year-due-t/1534067103295063/
Memories of Eloise (includes many newspaper clippings about the hospital and patients) https://www.facebook.com/memoriesofeloise

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

A Conversation with the UAW and Their Battle to Save the Middle Class

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that the middle class is on its death march - if we allow it to happen. Michigan has a rich history when it comes to union organization. The Flint Sit Down Strike in 1936-37 was the catalyst of the organized labor movement in this country. We can thank the workers from 36-37 for the myriad of labor laws that we all enjoy today. During the bust of 2008-2009 Stellantis (Chrysler at the time) and GM filed for bankruptcy protection and took billions in a tax payer funded bailout. UAW workers also made massive concessions to help keep the companies afloat. Beginning in 2010, the Big 3 started making their profits back. Massive CEO salaries followed, but the restoration of UAW concessions did not. In this podcast, we speak with two General Motors UAW workers, Michelle Howard and Chris Facundo, about those concessions and the current fight the UAW is in with the Big 3; not only to restore those 2009 concessions and a wage that reflects their projected $32B in profit in 2023, but the revival of the labor movement in the United States and the UAWs bigger fight to save the middle class. Chris is also on the union bargaining team with UAW Local 362 in Bay City.

Episode Resources
UAW https://uaw.org/
UAW Facebook https://www.facebook.com/uaw.union
General Motors https://investor.gm.com/investor-relations
General Motors 2023 Proxy Statement https://investor.gm.com/static-files/b64a3a95-3f28-41e5-b43f-afc8a50c7ce6
UAW Automakers Negotiations https://www.epi.org/blog/uaw-automakers-negotiations/
The Strike Heard Around the World https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/february/flint-michigan-sit-down-strike
Disaster Story #13: Ohio's Long History with Lordstown Assembly https://economicaccountability.org/lordstown/
The End of the Line https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/01/magazine/lordstown-general-motors-plant.html
Lordstown's Devastating End https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/23/general-motors-factory-ohio-lordstown

The Strike Heard Around the World https://guides.loc.gov/this-month-in-business-history/february/flint-michigan-sit-down-strike

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

The Continuation of The Hijacking of Ottawa County, Michigan

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:00:00 GMT

This podcast is a follow up to our previous podcast regarding the Hijacking of Ottawa County. If you remember from that podcast, this past May, Ottawa County’s Board of Commissioners chose to disregard the desires of the majority of Ottawa County residents and voted Ottawa County a “Constitutional County.” In essence this means – at least they believe it means – that it appoints their small group of right-wing extremists as the kings and queens of Ottawa County and allows them to rule as dictators without impunity. If you also remember from that podcast, a majority of these commissioners were newly elected this past November with the backing of the extreme right-wing group Ottawa Impact, which is part of Michigan Impact.

Today, the are attempting to oust Public Health Officer, Adeline Hambley, and dismantled the Public Health Department of Ottawa County.

In this podcast, we talk with Marcia Mansaray, the current Deputy Health Officer of Ottawa County. She unpacks the past 10 months, what got us here, and how the current board of Commissioners are truly unqualified and unschooled when it comes to their own positions and its limitations. And those are my words, not hers.

Episode Resources
Ottawa Integrity PAC (donate and support candidates who uphold democracy) https://ottawaintegrity.org/
Register to Vote https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/registervoter
Volunteer to Register & Inform Voters in Michigan
1. https://www.apiavotemi.org/volunteer
2. https://votingaccessforall.org/
WoPo Article...The Mistrust Never Ends https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/10/22/ottawa-county-michigan-covid-mistrust/

Keeping Up on the Issue
From Attorney Sarah Riley Howard and the firm Pinsky Smith https://www.pinskysmith.com/news/

News Links Regarding Issue (scroll sown to News section to the left for links) https://www.pinskysmith.com/people/sarah-riley-howard/

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

Haunted Michigan Lighthouses with Author Dianna Stampfler

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 03:00:00 GMT

As part of our Haunted Michigan October theme, in this episode we speak with Dianna Stampfler, author of "Michigan's Haunted Lighthouses" and "Death & Lighthouses on The Great Lakes." We chat about some of the more haunted lighthouses in Michigan, paranormal investigations, and about how the tourism industry benefits from a haunted Michigan. You can purchase Dianna's books via the links below in our Resources section. You will also find a link to her calendar of speaking events where she dives deeper into her paranormal experiences at some of Michigan's most haunted lighthouses.

Resources for This Episode
Dianna's Speaking Calendar https://promotemichigan.com/events
Buy "Michigan's Haunted Lighthouses" https://promotemichigan.com/product/michigans-haunted-lighthouses
Buy "Death & Lighthouses on The Great Lakes" https://promotemichigan.com/product/death-lighthouses-of-the-great-lakes-a-history-of-misfortune-murder
Michigan Tombstone Tourist FB Page https://www.facebook.com/MiTombstoneTourist

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

The Hijacking of Ottawa County, Michigan

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Hey Michigan, welcome to the very first episode of love where you live! ™

Hold on to your hats, because in this inaugural podcast, we are plunging headlong into the wild world of politics! It's that touchy subject we can't help but love to talk about.

Who said we’re afraid of a little political disorder?

Today we are dive into the world of Ottawa County and the minds of people behind the ultra-conservative organization Ottawa Impact.

As some of you may be aware, Ottawa County’s Board of County Commissioners with the backing of Ottawa Impact, recently took it upon themselves to hijack democracy with a vote that designated Ottawa County as a “constitutional county.”

Our guests today are Taran Damalcheruvu, who is a brand new Gen Z voter; Dan Martin, a resident of Ottaway County who also happens to be an attorney and a constitutional scholar; and Lynne Smelser, a freelance journalist who has been working on this story for PULSE of the Great Lakes™

In this podcast we define what a constitutional county is, if its even legal, and we unpack what this means for the residents of Ottawa County and Michigan moving forward.

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.

Introducing love where you live!™

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to love where you live™ - the definitive podcast to all things Michigan.

This podcast is brought to you by PULSE of the Great Lakes™ - the online and print magazine celebrating the Great Lakes Region through Amazing Adventures, Stunning Photography, High-Profile Content & More.

Don’t miss a single episode! Tune in, subscribe, and let’s explore the wonders of the Great Lakes together!

To make a tax deductable donation to our various initiatives to help Empower Great Lakers, please visit lovewhereyoulivefoundation.org/donate.