• M.L. Elrick (Twitter @elrick/Facebook ML ELRICK/Instagram ml_elrick), Marc Fellhauer (Twitter @MarcFell) and Shawn Windsor (Twitter @ShawnWindsor) rock out with Dirtbombs drummer and Third Man Records impresario Ben Blackwell (www.thirdmanrecords.com). Matt Jennings (Twitter @MattRJennings) administers his Soft History midterm while Joey Zuver considers transferring.
• THE STRAIGHT DOPE:  Before he was a Rock God, Ben was a student in ML’s journalism class at Wayne State University. They reminisce about Ben’s most excellent excuse for missing most of his classes that semester.
• Ben came on to discuss his adventures as one of the Dirtbombs two drummers, how he started Cass Records, his role as an executive at Third Man Records, and the upcoming White Stripes Greatest Hits album. But first, he wants to talk about disgraced former WSU Journalism Prof. Jack Lessenberry, whose lechery ML called out and who was later taken down by some of ML’s former WSU students.
• While ML’s former students did a superb job, Wayne State’s investigation found he was even worse than we thought.
• You might think Ben’s early advocacy of vinyl while everyone was still buying CDs was a stroke of genius. But he would just laugh at you. On the other hand, the guy who gave him his first gig hawking vinyl now works for him, so you might not be as wrong as Ben would have you think you are. Listen to get the whole story.
• Ben has never met a Beatle, but Third Man Records is pressing a Paul McCartney album RIGHT HERE IN DETROIT. Ben did meet a Rolling Stone. He tells the boys who — and what caused him to holler: “Find me some effing ear plugs!!!”
• There are all kinds of amazing things going on at Third Man Records. Ben ticks some of them off, including how you can see records being pressed right before your very eyes.
• Listen and learn about life on the road with the White Stripes. You’ll also hear about an early late night appearance that Jack White (incorrectly) said “is as good as it gets,” as well as the time they went bowling with Conan O’Brien at the Garden Bowl on Woodward.  
• Before he goes, Ben turns the tables on ML with a series of questions — some of which ML dodges. Then Ben exposes Oasis as phony tough guys. Then we find out that Shawn used to be a lot cooler than we thought.
• After a plug for some great local shops — Nest, City Bird, Hugh, Pure Detroit and Leon & Lulu — ML welcomes Better Made honcho Phil Gusmano on to talk about the amazing journey every chocolate covered chip takes before it lands in your mouth. www.bettermade.com
• Better Made Snack FoodsAdd Better Made’s line of best-selling seasoned potato chips such as BBQ, Red Hot, Sour Cream and Onion, Salt an…
• THE GREAT DEBATE: Almost everyone loved it when Vanderbilt drafted the goalie of the university’s woman’s soccer team to fill in for their COVID quarantined kickers. ALMOST everyone. Find out who the sorehead is in this week’s lively exchange.
• GEEK OF THE WEEK: Marc is raged by the bell, Shawn is so woke it hurts, and ML is going back to Cali.
• THIS WEEK IN SOFT HISTORY:Professor Jennings shows his knowledge of history far surpasses his knowledge of Seinfeld.
• ROOM 7609: We asked you if you wanted us to get back to mining NuWave gold, or launch a month of NuWave holiday tunes. We counted all the votes, found no fraud, which is why we booked The Three Wise Men into the NuWave suite to play “Thanks for Christmas.”
• FIRST AMENDMENT TIME: Lots of feedback this week … and a business solicitation.
• HARD OUT: Clean up your act with Manscaped’s Weed Whacker and Lawnmower — each are built for a man, but strong enough for a woman! Go to www.manscaped.com and get 20% off and free shipping with promo code ML. Send proof of your purchase to [email protected] and you’ll be able to sit in via Zoom for an entire future broadcast of Soul of Detroit!
• Need a new ride? Roy O’Brien has been putting metro Detroiters on wheels for 74 years. Before you shop anywhere else, get on the right track to 9 Mile and Mack and check out their super groovy showroom. Find our more at www.royobrien.net.
• When it’s time to kick back with a tasty hometown classic brew, reach for an Altes! Learn more about which stores and other quality establishments carry these authentically Detroit suds at www.altes.beer
• You can’t beat the meat you get at The Butchery! Mention ML and get a free pound of bacon with a purchase of $50 or more. Learn more at www.thebutcherysl.com
• Don’t lose your mind trying to make sense of the financial markets. Let Luke Nowacki of Pinnacle help you make the right decisions that will help keep you on firm financial footing. Contact Luke at www.pinnaclewealthstrategies.com and be sure to tell him you heard about him on the Soul of Detroit! 
• If you need a mortgage or want to refinance your new digs or save on high-interest debt, contact Hall Financial at https://davidhallmortgage.com/soul or 248-308-5000 and let them know ML told you to call! 
• You — YES, YOU — can sponsor the show by hitting the DONATE button at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com. NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL (or too large)!
• REPRESENT! Show your Soul of Detroit pride with great merchandise, ranging from our hip trucker hats, retro keychains, masks and gaiters, super groovy hockey jerseys, comfy logo t-shirts, stickers, neon clocks and signed copies of “The Kwame Sutra: Musings on Lust, Life and Leadership from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.” Each copy includes a smart aleck inscription penned personally by ML! Open your heart, open your wallet at www.drewandmikestore.com
• Please subscribe to and share the podcast — your endorsement is very powerful! 
• We always appreciate your feedback at mlsoulofdetroit@gmail or 313-Butterfield8-9070 (aka 313-288-9070). If you leave a message, you could hear your voice on the air!

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