Erika Erickson makes her debut as a co-host, showing ML, Marc and Shawn how a REAL professional does podcasting!

STRAIGHT DOPE: Special thanks to Mr. Magoo for this week’s outstanding graphic, which we’ve been saving for Erika Erickson’s debut as a co-host of the show. The question now is whether we will rise to her level … or drag her down to ours?

Jane’s Addiction cancels its tour, but ML is more concerned about missing out on a chance to see Love and Rockets again. Marc and Shawn point out, not for the first time, that it’s not all about ML.

This week’s intro features “Night Shift,” Michael Keaton’s breakout movie that co-stars Henry Winkler. The crew gushes over what a great guy Henry Winkler is, while ML muses that it is the only movie starring Fonzie and Batman.

ML is criticized for bullying Shawn, which puzzles him, especially after comparing Shawn to the vultures in India whose deaths are having a devastating impact on the population.

Shawn, distracted as always by his phone, gets a message from a friend who loves Erika’s hair. Then he thinks he smells toast, but is pretty sure he’s not having a stroke.

Marc asks Shawn how much heat he’s taken since writing about America’s gun culture and how it contributed to the death of two people who were tailgating at Eastern Market for the Lions game. Read all about it here.

A lively discussion about guns, Detroit and how the bad gunowners are giving the good gunowners a bad name somehow leads ML to mention how buying a leather biker jacket affected him more than 30 years ago.

Shawn has a question about assless chaps. ML offers Dan Gilbert a real estate deal he can’t refuse. Erika is wondering what she got herself into.

Michael Phelps does not have a lot of fans among the Soul of Detroit crew. Listen and learn why.

Shawn dredges up a racy old email ML sent him at the Free Press, Marc gets a hot tub, and Shawn recalls his days as a competitive swimmer.

Things get a bit somber as ML and Erika tell drivers to move over to help avoid accidents like the crash that killed Michigan State Trooper Dan Kerstetter and ML pays tribute to legendary Lion Joe Schmidt. ML shares his personal encounters with Dan and Joe, two tremendous gentlemen.

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GEEK OF THE WEEK: An advertising firm quotes a whale of a price to a nonprofit that wants to restore a beloved mural in downtown Detroit.

ROOM 7609: Marc takes over, which is the only way Jane’s Addiction would ever get into the New Wave suite. Send us your favorite deep cut or obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing to mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com.

FEEDBACK: Jim remembers “Trooper” Sean Thornton and Dan floats a conspiracy theory. We welcome all your comments – and constructive criticism – at mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com

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