Created Equal

Author and anthropologist Jason De León spent seven years documenting the lives of “coyotes,” or smugglers who help migrants leave their homes and head for America. He joined Stephen Henderson to talk about his new book, "Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling," and how political instability, poverty, climate change and other factors are contributing to a perilous journey for migrants and smugglers on the journey through South and Central America to the United States.

What is causing a rise in maternity care deserts? Stefanie Worth from the nonprofit March of Dimes and Dr. Sonia Hassan from Wayne State University join Stephen Henderson to discuss why women’s access to health care is declining in the U.S.

Today on "Created Equal," we share highlights from this week's episodes, including

Tonya Mosley is the host and co-producer of "She Has a Name," a personal story of loss and redemption, mending broken family ties, and facing the trauma experienced by countless individuals who've lost loved ones to violence. Tonya and co-producer Antonio Wiley join Stephen Henderson to share their story and discuss the podcast. Tonya Mosley is the co-host of Fresh Air and owner of TMI Productions.

The sports betting business is booming, and one of the side effects of this boom is the way sports betting is fueling a public health crisis. Dr. Shane Kraus is the director of the Behavorial Addictions Lab at UNLV, which conducts research on compulsive behaviors, including gambling. Saul Malek is a public speaker who educates the public on the perils of gambling addiction by sharing his personal story.

If you want to know what a governor is prioritizing for the year, look no further than their budget. On today's episode of "Created Equal," Monique Stanton, CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, joins Stephen Henderson to talk about Whitmer's budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year and what it tells us about her approach to equity and poverty eradication.

Some assume that rural, urban and suburban areas have very different problems, but a recent book co-authored by University of Michigan professor Luke Shaefer examines — up close — some of the poorest parts of America, and what they have in common. Shaefer joins "Created Equal" to discuss his book, "The Injustice of Place," and how to address poverty in the most rural communities in America.

It's WDET's spring on-air fundraiser. We're going to take a break from posting podcasts this week, but you can still listen live weekdays 9-10 a.m. at WDET.org. We'll be back on the podcast feed on Monday, March 25. And if you want to support the show, become a member of WDET, Detroit Public Radio and tell them the Stephen Henderson sent you. Thanks, see you next week!

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom is ending no-knock warrants in the city, arguing they “do more harm than do good.” Winstrom joins the show today, along with violence historian Danielle McGuire, to discuss the modern-day impacts the practice has on communities.

In February 2021, The Atlantic launched "Inheritance," a multi-year project about American history, Black life and the resilience of memory. On today’s episode of "Created Equal," Stephen Henderson revisits a conversation he had with the project's managing editor, Gillian B. White, and Atlantic staff writer Clint Smith, who contributed to the project.

The Supreme Court recently ruled unanimously that Colorado couldn’t take Donald Trump off the ballot because of his participation in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. University of Michigan Law Professor Richard Primus returns to "Created Equal" to describe the Supreme Court's thinking behind the case, and why it may set a dangerous precedent for future elections.

It seems like anyone who grew up with family in Detroit has heard of "the Numbers." This old-style gambling game originally from Harlem, New York, found it’s way to the Motor City in the early 20th century and became a mainstay for Black families. On today's episode of "Created Equal," Wayne State University professor Felicia George joins Stephen to talk about her new book, "When Detroit Played the Numbers," and what side-hustle gambling meant to Black Detroiters in those days.

Today on "Created Equal," we share highlights from this week's episodes, including research on Black victims of violent crime being disproportionately denied compensation; whether grant programs for nonprofits lead to prosperity and more.

On today's episode of "Created Equal," we talk about how economic development can be more inclusive for Detroit's long-time, majority Black residents. Stephen is joined by Chase Cantrell, a Detroit resident and founder of the nonprofit Building Community Value, and Andre Perry, whose research at The Brookings Institution explores the Livernois-McNichols corridor and how investments there have not moved Black people out.

More women are running for president now than in decades past, but the U.S. still hasn’t had a woman president. On today's episode of "Created Equal," we revisit a conversation from 2022 with NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent and author Ali Vitali about why women are often excluded from politics or denigrated within the political arena.

Can grant programs for nonprofits lead to prosperity? Kim Trent, deputy director for prosperity for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) joins Stephen Henderson to make the case for bipartisan anti-poverty programs with the goal of making Michigan a more prosperous state.

Victim compensation is a lesser-known part of the criminal justice system. University of Michigan professor Jeremy Levine had not heard of it until he needed to use it himself, after he was shot in the leg and needed assistance paying his hospital bill. In doing his own research, he discovered that Black victims were disproportionately denied for benefits in many states for subjective reasons. On today's episode, Levine joins Stephen Henderson to explain what victim compensation is and why this discrepancy exists.

Today on "Created Equal," we share highlights from this week's episodes, including the push to rotate the states that vote early in presidential primaries, NPR's Ayesha Rascoe on her new book and how historically Black colleges and universities add value to the world and more.

What does the “uncommitted” vote in Michigan’s Democratic primary mean for President Biden in November? Abbas Alawieh from the Listen to Michigan campaign joins Stephen Henderson to discuss the groups reasons for voting “uncommited.” Plus, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and Abed Hammoud, founder of the Arab American Political Action Committee, add their perspective.

The Founding Fathers originally left the right to vote out of the Constitution. On today’s episode of "Created Equal," host Stephen Henderson revisits a conversation from the WDET Book Club with two voting rights experts, Bertrall Ross and Theodore Johnson, about why the omission has made access to the ballot box a constant struggle for Black voters.