The Metro: WDET’s annual ‘Festivus’ airing of grievances for 2024

Grievances, we’ve all had them. Whether it’s traffic, the weather, people nagging at us, we’ve all felt the need to get some things off our chest. 

These are the things that we’re thinking about as we celebrate this year’s Festivus on Dec. 23. The holiday was created by Daniel O’Keefe and it later reached the masses when his son, Dan O’Keefe, would become a writer on Seinfeld. Part of the Festivus traditions is the “airing of grievances” — a time to come together and talk about what’s bothering you. 

On the show Friday, we spent some time airing our own grievances and hearing from listeners about theirs. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Later in the show we discussed what we’re grateful for. 

The Metro Producer Sam Corey shared that he has been disappointed in Detroit’s public transit. While Detroit now has the Detroit Air Express bus going to the airport, he’s hoping for more places to board DAX in the city. 

“It works pretty well. It’s fast, it’s on time, it’s affordable, it’s good. What’s the problem? You gotta get to the DAX,” Corey said. 

WDET reporter Bre’Anna Tinsley is peeved at bad drivers. She said if you’re exiting the freeway, keep it moving. 

“Stop signs that are on the service drives next to the exit ramp. There are people who will exit the freeway and stop at that stop sign,” Tinsley said. “And that stop sign is not for you. It is for the people who are already on the service drive because you, freeway exiter, have the right away. Stop stopping.”

Gratitude is not always easy to access, but we have a lot to be grateful for at WDET. Sometimes, we’re so caught up in our grievances, that we forget the things that others do for us and the little things that give us joy – the blossoming of flowers, the thoughtfulness of strangers, the orange-pink sunsets, the reminders that life can be beautiful and breathtaking. 

In 2024, WDET launched The Metro. Co-host Robyn Vincent said she’s grateful for our listeners and team that makes the show hit the airwaves every day.

“You all are just like these bright, shining stars in my life,” Vincent said. 

Co-host Tia Graham said she’s grateful for her family and loved ones. 

“[My family has] been great, really been there for me. I had a rough year, like I said, and whenever I was down, they were right there to pick me up,” Graham said. 

Executive Producer Dave Leins shared his love and gratefulness for his wife and one-year-old daughter. 

“I got to shout them out, because that’s what I’m grateful for. I mean, I can’t not be grateful for the moments where they’re laughing and even the quiet moments where she’s sleeping, it’s all been just so beautiful,” Leins said. 

In the second hour of The Metro, we asked listeners to share their grievances, as well as what they are grateful for.

John in Detroit said he’s grateful for people working to provide residents with high quality and affordable food. 

“The first one is Raphael Wright. He turned a liquor store in the middle of Jefferson Chalmers into a neighborhood grocery. And the second one is the Detroit People’s Food Co-Op, opened up on Woodward,” John said. “And they’re just two amazing opportunities to keep the money inside the city and have access to fresh vegetables.”

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

More headlines from The Metro on Dec. 20, 2024: 

• WDET Reporters and editors were working around the clock during some of this year’s most chaotic happenings. News Director Jerome Vaughn joined the show to help us look back on what happened in 2024. 
• The Lucha Libre style of wrestling has grabbed the masses, including those in Detroit. Joining us to discuss the wrestling style and why he’s in Detroit is Joshua Markuez, otherwise known as El Dragon. He is one of the several luchadors that’ll be featured in this year’s LuchaBoom! Holiday Limbo. 
• Host of WDET’s In the Groove Ryan Patrick Hooper spoke with Detroit stand-up comedian Brett Mercer about his new special, “Not special,” streaming on YouTube.
• Plus, Detroit Documenters Coordinator Lynelle Herndon joined the show for Detroit Documenters Friday to recap what took place at many local government meetings this year.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.