From Detroit to Broadway and back: Actor Joe Joseph returns home with “The Band’s Visit”
Joe Joseph watched "The Band’s Visit" during previews on Broadway. At the time, he didn’t think he’d end up...
Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host of "In the Groove" on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. Hooper has covered stories for the New York Times, NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine.
Hooper grew up reading the Sunday paper with his dad. That’s where he learned the basics of writing while dreaming of one day writing the stories himself. At 16, he knocked on the door of his hometown paper and asked for a job as a reporter. Since then, he's written extensively for the Detroit Free Press -- the same paper he grew up reading.
Since joining WDET in 2017, Hooper has expanded the station’s arts and culture coverage and received numerous awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasting along the way. Nationally, Hooper was awarded a 2020 RTDNA Regional Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting for his story “Would You Rent a Stray Dog From the City of Detroit?“ In 2018, Hooper was named the Associated Press Michigan Editors Broadcast Rising Star in broadcast journalism. He received the prestigious Crain’s Detroit Business “20 In Their 20s” award in 2014. His commitment to volunteerism was recognized by the State of Michigan in 2007.
His juggalo-inspired I.C.Pizza costume was selected by the Huffington Post as one of the best Halloween costumes of 2014.
Freep Film Festival brings diverse array of documentaries to Detroit
If you’re looking for a Michigan-centric documentaries that run the gamut from failed pizzeria owner who invented the modern-day...
Larry “the Drummer” Hull, a Detroit legend, has died
The Cass Corridor is quiet after the death of a musical staple of the Detroit neighborhood. Larry “the Drummer”...
“Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back” captures highs and tensions of tap dancer’s storied career
With a showbiz career that spans seven decades, "Maurice Hines: Bring Them Back" is not your typical talking head documentary film....
Independent Restaurant Coalition calls for Congress to refill the Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The unpredictability of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the restaurant industry into unstable territory with challenges coming from labor shortages...
Detroit deaf rapper Sean Forbes brings American Sign Language to the Super Bowl
Hip-hop isn’t just a love language for deaf rapper Sean Forbes. He’s funneled that passion into American Sign Language for...
How “hustle culture” has become status quo in the American workplace
Detroit hustles harder. It’s a slogan that’s printed on thousands of T-shirts, and it comes from an identity that defines...
Sober curious. Nondrinker. A new language around sobriety is emerging
Sarah Wood is a writer who covers topics like mental health, relationships and sobriety, which she most recently tackled for...
Going sober? Detroit bars and brands are embracing “dry January” and beyond
The idea of “dry January” -- giving up alcohol or other vices for a month to kick off the year...
Didn’t learn much about sex in school? Zoë Ligon fills in the gaps with “Carnal Knowledge”
Sex educator Zoë Ligon has made a name for herself as the “dildo duchess of Detroit." There's plenty to back...
“Grandmothers of America” captures the beauty and wisdom of aging
The new photo book “Grandmothers of America” is highlighting the beauty of an aging population and the advice they’d give...
Kenny Washington broke the NFL’s color barrier. Why don’t we know his story?
When it comes to sports history, Kenny Washington isn’t a household name like Jackie Robinson. At least one writer wants...