In this episode of the VVK Podcast, host Craig Fahle speaks with Rachel Alternative of the Alternative Foundation about her work in support of neighborhood improvement projects in Detroit. Then, Devon O'Reilly of the Detroit Regional Chamber discusses the upcoming Mackinac Policy Conference, and his work as the director of the influential "Leadersh…

Most of us don’t really think about our garbage, as long as it’s picked up on time at the curb each week…but the industry itself is actually pretty fascinating. Many cities used to have in house garbage service, but more an more communities have outsourced waste collection…and there are some very large companies that control a big slice of that bus…

In this special Valentine’s Day episode, we’re talking all about love. Host Evann Webb sat down with VVK’s VP of Creative Production John Heiple and his wife Angie, VVK’s Senior Executive Consultant Annmarie Erickson and her husband Paul, VVK friends Marc and Sharon Berke, and her own boyfriend, Robert Thomas, to discuss dating, marriage, and all t…

Today's guest on the program is New York Times bestselling author Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm. Detroit native J Dilla was a record producer, drummer, rapper and songwriter who died of a rare blood disease at the age of 32. Despite his short life, his impact on hip …

Today's episode includes two more interviews conducted at this year's Detroit Policy Conference. Guests today include Matt Elliott, president of Bank of American - Michigan, and the chair of this year's upcoming Mackinac Policy Conference. Craig and Matt discuss BofA's philanthropic efforts in Detroit, and also what Matt hopes will come from this y…

Our guests this week on the VVK Podcast are Bud Denker, President at Penske, and the Chair of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix sponsored by Lear, and Melanie Markowicz, Executive Director of the Greektown Neighborhood Partnership. The Grand Prix moves to downtown Detroit this year, and Greektown is getting ready for some major upgrades, including n…

Today's VVK podcast guests are the leaders of VVK PR+Creative. Founders Jamie Kaye Walters, Mike Sherman and Peter Van Dyke talk about the company's founding, the challenges and rewards of starting a new business, and what it takes to make a partnership work. We also welcome new VVK Podcast co-host Evann Webb to the program!…

In honor of Veterans day, we invited two distinguished vets to join us to discuss the importance of the holiday, and what we should consider as we try to ensure veterans get the opportunities they need to ensure success after the military. Today's guests are Ryan Friedrichs, who served in the U.S. Army, and State Representative Joe Tate, who served…

Don Tuski, President of The College of Creative Studies recently appeared on WDET's "Culture Shift" program to discuss the recent "Cumulus Detroit: Design for Adaptation" conference that CCS hosted recently. The conversation focused on the important international conference, why CCS and Detroit were chosen to host, and what role design will play in…

Our guests for the VVK podcast this week are Chanell Scott Contreras, executive director of ProsperUs, and Racheal Allen, COO of the Marygrove Conservancy. Both women are working to improve the climate for entrepreneurship in Detroit, especially among women of color. Chanell helps them get the capital they need to get started, while Rachel helps th…

Today, we get a bit introspective on what it takes to make a good talk show segment. More specifically, what makes for a "good" guest for a program? Is it polish? Expertise? Bombast? Perhaps a little of all of the above? Our guests today have a lot to say about it, and they should know. Jamie Kaye Walters is the COO / Head of Marketing and Talent f…

Our guest today is Barb McQuade, former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. She is currently a law professor at the University of Michigan Law School, the host of the popular "Sisters in Law" podcast, and a regular contributor to MSNBC. We talk about her career trajectory, her work in media, and her rising influence and popularity. …

Craig's guest this week is Chris Moyer, Senior Director of Communications for Visit Detroit, aka the Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also worked at the Detroit Regional Chamber, and has some experience in helping to create the annual Mackinac Policy Conference. The two discuss the challenges of juggling multiple events crammed into a bus…

Craig's guests for the latest VVK Podcast are New Detroit CEO Mike Rafferty, and Rebecca Irby, New Detroit's Director of Programs and Services. New Detroit was formed in response to civil unrest in 1967 that uncovered a host of entrenched social and community ills. At the request of then Michigan Governor George Romney and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cava…

Craig's guest is Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. The longtime County Commissioner and former Mayor of Ferndale took over as County Executive in August of 2019, just two weeks after the death of longtime Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. Coulter is the first Democrat to hold the position, to which he was reelected handily in 2020.…

Craig's guest is Ambassador Žygimantas Pavilionis, a member of the Lithuanian Parliament, and the former Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. and Mexico. We caught up with the Ambassador at the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference, where he was raising funds for the defense of Ukraine, and trying to raise awareness of the impor…

The very first episode of the new VVK Podcast with Craig Fahle! Craig's guest for this inaugural edition is Cindy Pasky, CEO of Detroit based Strategic Staffing Solutions! The two caught up at the Grand Hotel for the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference. The wide ranging discussion focused on everything from civility, to COV…