Explore every episode of the podcast CuriosiD

The Midwest shares a lot, including a love for specialized hotdogs. This CuriosiD collaboration with WBEZ Chicago and WUWM Milwaukee kicks off the Curious Midwest mini series... with relish. Three reporters make the case for their city's signature sausage.

University of Michigan lecturer Fatema Haque asked WDET a question: who is playing cricket in Detroit? The British sport is immensely popular in Bangladesh, where Haque grew up before moving to Detroit. It turns out other Bangladeshis might have kickstarted this most recent surge in cricket playing, bringing the international passtime to fields across Southeast Michigan.

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Where did the term Downriver come from, and which communities are part of the region? In the latest episode of CuriosiD, WDET explores the history, boundaries, culture and identity of Downriver communities in southeast Michigan.

A WDET listener noticed an interesting pattern: several Detroit fire stations have koi ponds. Is it mere coincidence, or is there a deeper reason? Russ McNamara toured some local stations to find out how keeping koi ponds around helps fire fighters relax and go with the flow after stressful situations. 

Listener Katie Byerly wanted to know more about Detroit's dance scene. What separates Detroit ballroom and hustle-style dance, and what makes them both so Detroit? WDET Reporter Bre'Anna Tinsley went out and spoke to community dance instructors, including living legend Fast Freddy, creator of the Turbo Hustle. She found a thriving social scene that gives a everyone the chance to let go on the dance floor.

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Max Spayde wanted to know why Belle Isle has both a boat and a yacht club. What's the distinction? Why Belle Isle? Reporter Sascha Raiyn waded through the history of both organizations with the guidance of Detroit Boat Club archivist Stephen Malboeuf and the Detroit Yacht Club's Mike Alberts to find out. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

 

During the 100 years that the Detroit Red Wings have been playing hockey, their winged wheel logo has become iconic. So it may surprise you, like it did listener Scott Deaner, that there is a shoe company that has a strikingly similar name and logo. In this episode of CuriosiD, reporter Alex McLenon looks into how the professional hockey team got its name and scarlet emblem—entirely independent of the shoe company.

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about metro Detroit from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

When Leah Warshaw first heard someone say they remembered when The Old Miami was The New Miami, she thought it was a corny joke. But nope, that was a real thing. That got her thinking, why the name change? 

WDET's Ryan Patrick Hooper digs into the long—sometimes bloody—history of the dive bar to trace its journey across decades and several name changes, as well as what it means to folks today. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about metro Detroit from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Following the holiday season, what happens to all the pine trees cut for the occasion? Listener Deanna VanAtta wanted to know. WDET's Bre'Anna Tinsley digs into tree recycling—just one of the ways the Campus Martius tree is repurposed. 

She speaks to the Downtown Detroit partnership, Mid-Michigan Recycling, and the executive director of the Michigan Christmas Tree Association to get a good look into how Christmas tree's past their expiration date can be given new life. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Listener Deanna VanAtta wanted to know what happened to the big tree in Campus Martius after the holiday season... but first, we take a look at Michigan's Christmas tree industry to gain insight into how the big evergreens are grown.

WDET's Amanda LeClaire talks to Michigan Christmas Tree Tree Association President Tony Stefani at his family-owned and operated Hillside Christmas Tree Farm to learn more. 

Stay turned for part two of the Christmas tree investigation, coming out in December! 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Having grown up right off shore of Lake St. Clair, listener Bryan Champine wanted to know why it isn't counted among the Great Lakes. WDET's Pat Batcheller set out to answer this question while taking a deep dive into what makes the lake great regardless. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Listener Martha Rotter asks, "What happened to Chamberlain Bakery?" In this episode of CuriosiD, reporter Nargis Rahman discovers what happened to the beloved Lithuanian bakery in Southwest Detroit, once well-known for its sour rye and raisin breads.

Have a Detroit question of your own? Send it our way at wdet.org/curious.

When listener Peter Bloye began working in Detroit, he heard the common greeting "What up doe?" everywhere he went. But despite the phrase's popular use, no one he asked could agree on its meaning. 

In this episode of CuriosiD, Russ McNamara finds out what's up with "What up doe", from its initial use to what it means to Detroit today. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

In the latest episode of CuriosiD, we discover the roots of the name Dogleg for the southernmost part of Southwest Detroit, and explore its other name: the most polluted zip code in Michigan. 

This month's question came from Detroiter and WDET DRIS volunteer Keith Mason.

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

WDET listener Jennifer Kulczycki had heard for years that Detroit doesn't have a robust transit system because the city's Big Three automakers undermined the streetcar and bus systems in order to sell more vehicles. But she couldn't prove whether or not this claim was true.

In this episode of CuriosiD, Quinn Klinefelter takes to the streets to uncover the true relationship between Detroit automakers and public transit.

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

WDET listener David Perry was perusing the stacks at Ann Arbor's Encore Records when he stumbled upon a three-disc compilation album with 60 tracks — ranging from R&B and doo-wop to hillbilly, rockabilly, blues and gospel — all recorded at the now defunct Fortune Records in Detroit. It was his first introduction to the pioneering mom and pop label, which — as a music lover — led him to wonder why he hadn't ever heard of it before. 

In the latest episode of CuriosiD, we dig into the mysterious history behind Fortune Records and why it seems to have faded into obscurity. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Fire trucks are among the most recognizable vehicles on the road. They’re big, red, loud, and built to respond when lives are on the line. But what happens when these machines are retired from service?

In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Alex McLenon answers this question from WDET listener and Detroit Fire Department cadet Kevin Snook.

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Ann Arbor is known for its tree-lined streets and vibrant university culture. But how the town got its name is...a bit of a story. In this edition of CuriosiD, Amanda LeClaire finds out for one WDET listener. 

Our CuriosiD series is fueled by questions about the region from listeners like you. Have your own question? Fill out the form here.

Bob Seger is a Detroit rock legend, but do younger generations know his music today? In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Madison Ganzak spoke with Seger fans, music experts, and Detroiters of different generations to answer this question from listener Alyse Nichols.

If you’ve ever wondered about Detroit’s history, culture, or community, send us your question at wdet.org/curious.

In this episode of “CuriosiD,” WDET's Ryan Patrick Hooper goes on a quest to find the oldest bar in the city with the help of bar historian Mickey Lyons. This month's question comes from WDET listener Collette Nutton.

The Cobo Hall Christmas Carnival ran for nearly 40 years in downtown Detroit before quietly ending in 2002. On this episode of CuriosiD, host Amanda Le Claire answers a question from WDET listener Angela Gallegos about what happened to the beloved Detroit holiday tradition, with the help of Detroit historian and writer Amy Elliott Bragg.

In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET listener Adam Danis pressed us about Michigan's cider mill obsession and the time-honored tradition of enjoying cold apple cider and fresh, hot doughnuts with friends and family. Host Amanda LeClaire caught up with Diane Smith of the Michigan Apple Committee to talk about what make's the state's cider mills so special.

In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET’s Jeff Milo visits the Detroit Public Library's reference desk with a simple query: Where are the ghosts? Milo joined listener and retired librarian Anne Kabel at the Main Library to speak with staff members about the many alleged supernatural encounters over the years.

For the past decade, CuriosiD has captivated WDET listeners with its unique take on Detroit-centric stories. But what does it take to bring an episode of this beloved series to life? On this special 10th anniversary episode of CuriosiD, we take you behind the scenes and talking with some of the folks here at WDET who put the episodes together.

Plus, we revisit a previous episode of CuriosiD about the origins of the Detroit Lions’ iconic team uniform colors, as they kicked off a highly anticipated new season this month.

Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious.

Thomas Mollicone immigrated to Detroit from Italy with his family as a young child, and was later drafted into the military to serve in World War II at the age of 23. Mollicone was killed in the line of duty, and the Indian Village community where he resided moved to dedicate a local park in his honor years later. On the latest episode of "CuriosiD," we answer a question from Mollicone's family about what led to the park's dedication in his name. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious.

On the north side of Belle Isle, better known as the "Detroit side," sits a historic landmark that has been the home of Detroit's only rowing club for more than 100 years. In its heyday, the boathouse was a bustling venue, featuring a grand ballroom, dining rooms and a bar frequented by Detroit's elite. But the future of the boathouse remains uncertain. In this episode of "CuriosiD," WDET's Amanda LeClaire digs into the history of the iconic structure, and what needs to be done to save it.

In this episode of “CuriosiD,” Rob Reinhart answers a question about the short-lived, but well-loved jazz venue located just around the corner from WDET’s studios.

The Detroit Lions updated their uniforms for the upcoming NFL season, adding black to the Honolulu blue and silver they’ve worn for 90 years. But what is Honolulu blue, anyway? And how did it get its name? In this episode of "CuriosiD," WDET's Pat Batcheller gets to the bottom of the Lion's colorful history.

Vernors Ginger Ale is one of America's oldest soft drinks and a favorite hometown beverage in Michigan — born right here in Detroit. Over the years, the soda has gained a local reputation as a cure-all for stomach aches, colds and more. But is the medicinal magic of Vernors a myth or reality? In this episode of "CuriosiD," WDET's Amanda LeClaire answers the bubbling question by consulting with two Detroit area doctors.

Get ready to uncover the heights of Detroit like never before! In the latest episode of "CuriosiD," join Outlier Media's Koby Levin as he delves into the city's unique pursuit of peaks.

Outer Drive is an epic street in Detroit and the suburbs that winds for more than 40 miles. But the roadway isn't continuous, it's broken up into pieces. One listener wants to know why. WDET's Pat Batcheller has the answer. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious.

Before Michigan was known for making cars, it was known for manufacturing stoves. As part of that legacy, the city of Detroit became host to “The World’s Largest Stove.” In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Laura Herberg tells the story of the birth and death of that stove. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious.

All around metro Detroit there are tiny, white tile, old-fashioned buildings that sell hamburgers, or more specifically, sliders. There's Brayz, Hunter House, Telway and more. But if these places are owned by different companies, why do they all look so similar? WDET's Russ McNamara answers this popular question, and tours as many slider joints as he and a listener can handle, in this episode of CuriosiD.

A group of bikers formed the Outcast Motorcycle club in Detroit in 1969. Some say that this was the first all-Black club that eventually spread nationwide. These days, if you cruise around Detroit you'll see dozens of clubhouses with members dressed in leather, wearing patches representing names like the Hell Raisers, Soul Stars or the Black Syndicate. In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Quinn Klinefelter dives into the history behind Black motorcycle clubs in Detroit. Plus, a white rider reflects on his journey from being a hardcore biker criminal to becoming a motorcycle missionary.

Just outside Detroit, along the side of a I-94, sits a very big tire. In this episode of CuriosiD, a listener asks how the Uniroyal Giant Tire ended up there, and what it's like inside. Plus, did the it ever roll across the freeway? WDET's Jack Filbrandt goes the extra mile to get some answers. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious. It might be the subject of a future episode.

Where do the mile roads in metro Detroit begin? And why do we have mile roads in the first place? WDET's Pat Batcheller answers those questions and explains what you need to know about mile roads in Southeast Michigan. Then, we connect the dots on why intersections on roads like Michigan Ave and Fort Street have such weird angles. Finally, we find out who John R really was. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at wdet.org/curious.

In Michigan -- and a few other select states -- you can buy a red, yellow and blue ice cream often called Superman. One WDET listener wants to know the flavors behind this iconic treat and how it came to be. WDET’s Eli Newman digs in to bring you the scoop. Plus, WDET's Laura Herberg interviews Chicago Tribune's Nara Schoenberg on the origin of Blue Moon ice cream. || Read Nara Schoenberg’s reporting on Blue Moon in the Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-08-31-0708300659-story.html || See Daniel Huffman’s Blue Moon ice cream maps: https://somethingaboutmaps.wordpress.com/2020/11/02/the-quest-for-the-blue-moon/ | | Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious

Listener Jack Nagle knows that it's possible to catch your limit in fish down on the Detroit River, but he hasn't had any luck. For this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Laura Herberg tries to find out how to fish the Detroit River. She also interviews a toxicologist to find out if the fish are safe to eat. | Eat Safe Fish guides: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/topics/eatsafefish/guides | Story about PFAS in the Detroit River and other water bodies: https://www.bridgedetroit.com/high-levels-of-pfas-great-lakes-fish-detroit/ | Have a question about Detroit? Ask it here: https://wdet.org/curious

On Detroit's westside there's an area known as the Bagley neighborhood. There's also Bagley Elementary and Bagley Street. But who was Bagley? In this epsisode of CuriosiD, WDET's Sascha Raiyn delves into the history behind the Bagley neighborhood and its namesake. | Have a question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious | Live or work in the Bagley neighborhood, the University District, Martin Park or Fitzgerald? WDET would like to hear from you for a special project we're working on. Please fill out this survey before June 1, 2023: https://wdet.org/live6

For nearly 100 years there was an amusement park on an island in the Detroit River that you could only get to by boat. Two large steamships, the Columbia and the Ste. Claire, ferried people to Boblo Island. The amusement park closed down in 1993 and now one WDET listener wants to know what's on Boblo Island today... and what happened to the boats? To answer these questions, WDET's Laura Herberg travels to Boblo Island and she also tours one of the steamships with the listener. | Link to Boblo Boats documentary: https://www.bobloboatsfilm.com/ Link to Laura's interview with Boblo Boats director Aaron Schillinger: https://wdet.org/2022/10/11/documentary-follows-the-restoration-of-historic-boblo-boat/ | Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious | Support programming like CuriosiD by giving a tax-deductible donation to WDET at http://wdet.org/give

Today, Coney Island restaurants are all over Detroit. These establishments sell Detroit's own specialty hot dog, the Coney Dog. A listener wanted to know why there are so many Coney Islands spread across the city. WDET's Quinn Klinefelter sniffs out the answer. As part of his reporting, he talks to Joe Grimm and Katherine Yung, authors of the book "Coney Detroit." Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious Support programming like CuriosiD by giving a tax-deductible donation to WDET at http://wdet.org/give

Streams are buried underneath Detroit. A few other cities that had covered streams have dug them up and restored them to a more natural state. One listener asks CuriosiD if 'daylighting,' as it's called, has happened anywhere in Detroit. WDET's Pat Batcheller uncovers the answer. Plus, we talk to Gary Belan of the national nonprofit American Rivers about some successful daylighting projects. | Here's a link to a story from the Detroit Free Press Flashback series that question asker Bill McGraw edits: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/01/08/frank-zuzek-voice-of-detroit-river-westcott-company/69775287007/ | Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious | Support programming like CuriosiD by giving a tax-deductible donation to WDET at http://wdet.org/give

Pheasants are often spotted darting around the city of Detroit. In this episode of CuriosiD, a listener asks "why?" Reporter Shelby Jouppi takes her out to find one of these large, colorful birds in the urban wild. Then, WDET's Laura Herberg heads into the woods with Nyeema C. Harris, an associate professor in the School of the Environment at Yale University. The pair search for one of the cameras Harris' team has hidden in Detroit parks to capture urban wildlife. || Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious || Support programming like CuriosiD by giving a tax-deductible donation to WDET at http://wdet.org/give

Have you ever noticed that it looks like steam is coming out of the sewers in Detroit? Well, it's not actually coming out of sewers, but steam plumes do come out of manhole covers in the streets of Detroit. In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Laura Herberg heads 60 feet underground to get to the bottom of where the white vapor is coming from.

Detroit-style pizza has become a bit of a national phenomenon over the last decade. The distinctive square pies have appeared on menus from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. Even Pizza Hut has its own version of the pan pizza. But the style hasn’t always been so popular. In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET’s Claudia Brancart looks into what Detroit-style pizza is and where it came from. | We want to hear from you! For a future episode we're working on, tell us your memories of Boblo Island. Leave a voicemail on the CuriosiD Question Line: (313) 403-5747. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious | This is the link to the Detroit pizza map from DETROITography that Laura mentions in the episode: https://detroitography.com/2020/05/22/map-detroits-pizza-place-geography-2020/

Back in November 2020, after the polls closed, chaos ensued at a convention center in Detroit where poll workers were counting absentee ballots. Republican challengers stormed the center, banging on the windows, demanding that workers "stop the count." In this episode of CuriosiD, WDET's Russ McNamara recounts what happened and answers listeners questions about what's being done to ensure something like that doesn't happen during the upcoming election. We want to hear from you for a future episode we're working on! Tell us who makes the best Detroit-style pizza and why it's so good there. Tweet us at @CuriosiDWDET or leave a voicemail on the CuriosiD Question Line: (313) 403-5747. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious

Inside Detroit there is a little city named Hamtramck. And no -- that's not a typo -- there really is no vowel between the 'm' and the 'ck.' Where did this unique-sounding name come from? WDET's Nargis Rahman looks into the origin of the word Hamtramck.

In the late 1960s, the City of Detroit got its first swimmobile. This pool on wheels was carted around to the neighborhoods for kids to swim in on hot summer days. WDET listener Angela Hart is one of many Detroiters who remembers swimmobiles from her childhood. She asked WDET to find out what happened to them. WDET's Laura Herberg looks into it for this episode of CuriosiD. Have your own question about Detroit? Submit it at http://wdet.org/curious. Now though August 31, 2022 we are specifically seeking questions about Michigan's 2022 General Election. Submit you election questions here: https://wdet.org/2022/08/09/do-you-have-questions-about-michigans-elections/ Stay in the loop! Twitter: @CuriosiDWDET @WDET @HerbergRadio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wdetdetroit/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WDETFM/ Website: http://wdet.org/curious

A listener wonders if the tall trees found in Detroit's Palmer Park are part of a virgin forest, untouched by man. Planet Detroit's Nina Ignaczak looks into it and finds that the answer is actually pretty complicated. Then WDET's Laura Herberg ventures into an old growth forest in East Lansing with Michigan State University Forestry Department Chair Richard Kobe. Wondering something about Detroit? Submit your question at http://wdet.org/curious. Have a reaction to this CuriosiD story? Leave us a voicemail by calling (313) 403-5747 or record a voice memo on your smart phone and email it to curiosiD@wdet.org. We may include your thoughts in a future episode!

In this episode we answer the question, "What's up with those CORN REAL GOOD signs around Detroit?" Maybe you've seen them? The red, yellow and blue hand-painted signs. Reporter Eli Newman tracks down the man behind them, Orrin Fields. It turns out Fields is selling elote-style corn dusted with Flaming Hot Cheetos from what would otherwise be a vacant lot in Detroit. Wondering something about Detroit? Submit your question at http://wdet.org/curious. Have a reaction to this CuriosiD story? Leave us a voicemail by calling (313) 403-5747 or record a voice memo on your smart phone and email it to curiosiD@wdet.org. We may include your thoughts in a future episode!