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.

Meet the Detroit Songwriters That Just Won Their First Grammy

Piper Carter Click the audio player above to listen. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on WDET 101.9FM Detroit public radio. A sister-duo...

Frozen: Detroit Photographer Documents Ice Culture in Michigan for NatGeo

Amy Sacka Pictured above: An attendee of the annual Perchville festival in Tawas, Michigan. Perchville, which is in its 69th year,...

Drink More Water: Senghor Reid’s “Distilled” Opens at M Contemporary

Courtesy of Senghor Reid Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to...

Bartenders are listening to everything you say at the bar

Courtesy of Detroit City Distillery Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation with bartender Garrett Passiak. If...

Filthy Fun: Dirty Show Celebrates 20 Years of Erotic Art

Courtesy of the Dirty Show Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m....

Check the Restroom First: An Interview with a Former Detroit Health Inspector

Courtesy of Agnes Gira Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to...

Immersive Haunted House-Meets-Art Exhibit Opens in Detroit for One Night Only

Red Devil Made This Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to...

Sam Rager is a Rising Star in Detroit’s Comedy Scene

Courtesy of Sam Rager Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to...

In The Groove with Alejandro Escovedo

Courtesy of the artist Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to...

Cooking With Heart: A Fond Farewell to Olga Loizon of Olga’s Kitchen

TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to...

A New Use for an Old School: Historic Building in Midtown Transformed Into Skate Park, Concert Venue This Weekend

Vans Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on...

Marc Evan Jackson Brings Improv Back to the Main Stage in Detroit

Photo via Marc Evan Jackson Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m....