Listen In, Michigan

Raconteur John U. Bacon, BA ’86/MA ’94, regales the listener with tales – heartfelt and hilarious – culled from a 25-year career covering sports. His book "The Best of Bacon" features “select cuts,” showcasing Michigan heroes Bo Schembechler and Jim Abbott, as well as Detroit legends Ernie Harwell, Joe Louis, and more. Read full story at Michigan Today More on John U. Bacon Best of Bacon: Select Cuts John Bacon's Website

In this episode, we chat with Susan Pile, U-M’s senior director of university unions and auxiliary services. She is managing the 20-month renovation of the beloved Michigan Union, but fear not: She is fiercely protective of its legacy. Read full story at Michigan Today Michigan Union Photos and History More on Union Renovation Renovation Website "Find It" Resource

Zingerman's Bakehouse co-owner Frank Carollo, BS ’76, celebrates 25 years in business with a gorgeous cookbook rich in history, humor, and of course, those precious how-to's. You can practically smell the bread baking as Frank shares his love of the kitchen. Read full story at Michigan Today Zingerman's Bakehouse More on Zingerman's Zingerman's Website

From dinosaurs to dioramas, U-M holds some 25 million specimens and cultural objects in more than 20 distinct museums, libraries, and collections. Listen in, as we ‘meet’ some of the explorers who amassed this expansive archive. Read full story at Michigan Today Object Lessons & the Formation of Knowledge More on Object Lessons Carla Sinopoli Kerstin Barndt Kelsey Museum of Archaeology

Student organizations at the University of Michigan range from the sublime (Solar Car) to the ridiculous (Squirrel Club). Either way, the students who manage them are extraordinarily bright, motivated, and accomplished. Meet them on the Michigan Diag in this raucous, loud, and energetic episode. Read full story at Michigan Today More on Festifall View "How to Festifall" Checklist Video Festifall Information

Composer/arranger Jerry Bilik, BMus ’55/MMus ’61, takes you inside the Michigan Marching Band. He’s the artist behind some of their most beloved classics. Plus he's a huge Beatles fan. Read full story at Michigan Today More on Bilik and the Band Jerry Bilik's website Michigan Marching Band William D. Revelli

The Michigan Theater Foundation’s Lee Berry, BA ’78/MBA ’99, previews the new-and-improved State Theatre. At the time of the recording, the theater was still under renovation. It's quite spectacular now! Read full story at Michigan Today View Michigan Theater Website

Gail Offen, BGS ’78, takes foodies on a tasty trip through A2 past and present, from the Del Rio to Pizza Bob’s, from Drake’s to Le Dog. Her book "Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor" is filled with local history and wonderful anecdotes. Read full story at Michigan Today Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor

Investigative reporter, civil rights advocate, and U-M journalism instructor Will Potter talks propaganda, dissent, and a free press that is anything but an ‘enemy of the people.’ Preach, Will. Read full story at Michigan Today [View Video of Jay Cassidy as Featured Alum][2] More on Will Potter Potter's Website Ted Talk Faculty Contact

Bentley Historical Library Director Terrence McDonald examines the creative (and often conflictual) tension that has long existed between U-M and its constituents. Read full story at Michigan Today More on Terry McDonald Faculty Contact Appointment Story

U-M’s bicentennial (2017) is upon us. What better time to celebrate the legacies and achievements that make Michigan what it is? Hear from U-M historians Kim Clarke and Gary Krenz. They will regale you with trivia that will entertain your alumni party guests. We promise. Read full story at Michigan Today View Michigan Bicentennial Video More on Michigan's Bicentennial Bicentennial Website Kim Clarke Gary Krenz

Author and U-M professor Heather Ann Thompson, BA ’87/MA ’87, delivers the first definitive history of the 1971 Attica prison uprising and its devastating aftermath. This is a phoner, so the audio is a bit rough. Sorry! Read full story at Michigan Today Blood in Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy More on Heather Ann Thompson Personal Website Pulitzer Prize Winner Faculty Contact

Executive coach Fritz Seyferth, BSIOE ’73, shares lessons learned from mentor Bo Schembechler on how to build and lead great teams. He should know. He played for Bo and worked with him for many years. Read full story at Michigan Today View Fritz Seyferth's Consulting Business, FS/A

Imagine Mark Twain’s iconic ne’er-do-well as the high school counselor who launched your career. LA native and Emeritus Professor Larry Goldstein shares some of his poetry about Los Angeles and tells the story of how child actor Tommy Kelly (who once played Tom Sawyer in the movies) set him on a writing and teaching career that would have made Aunt Polly proud. Read full story at Michigan Today More on Larry Goldstein Faculty Contact Poetry Los Angeles: Reading the Essential Poems of the City

Professor Ralph Williams reflects on “the American project,” the pursuit of happiness, and the future of the human race. Williams is a beloved and highly revered professor at U-M and an expert on Shakespeare and world religions. Plus he has the most majestic way of speaking. Listen in! Read full story at Michigan Today More on Ralph Williams Royal Shakespeare Company Personal Website Faculty Contact

A rambunctious war of words is raging on the political front line while U-M’s No. 1 debate team reaps the spoils here at home. (This is a conversation with U-M debate expert Aaron Kall, and we recorded it during the Republican candidates' debates prior to the 2018 presidential election.) Read full story at Michigan Today View Video of Kall's Debate Commentary More on Aaron Kall Kall's op-ed Michigan Debate

It’s short. It’s sweet. And it can really swing. But the origins of “Let’s Go Blue” were anything but simple. Listen in, as arranger/composer/musician Albert Ahronheim deconstructs one of the most legendary sports anthems ever. Read full story at Michigan Today More on Albert Ahronheim & Jim Tobin Albert Ahronheim James Tobin

Author and Michigan Daily alumna Stephanie Steinberg shares tales from her book about the history of The Michigan Daily and recounts the high stakes and high jinks of life as a college newspaper reporter. Plus: Peace Corps at 55. Read full story at Michigan Today In the Name of Editorial Freedom — 125 Years at The Michigan Daily More on Stephanie Steinberg Personal Website U.S. News and World Report Alumni Spotlight

Sure, we know the War of 1812, but how about the War of 1817? It happened right here at U-M – in 1929. Listen in, as James Tobin recounts more bizarre history of the University. Later in the episode we hear from Aaron Dworkin, former dean of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Read full story at Michigan Today How Frank H. Culver changed history

Jim Tobin, PhD ’86, proves truth is more poignant than fiction in Michigan Today’s new audio feature, “Listen In, Michigan.” Read full story at Michigan Today More on Jim Tobin Heritage Project Tobin's Works