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https://www.havenhomesofdetroit.org/

The clink of whiskey fades and a tougher story comes into focus: trafficking in Michigan isn’t a movie plot. It’s months of grooming, IDs taken, credit shattered, and a system that expects people to start over with nothing. We sit down with Aaron from Haven Homes Detroit to unpack how survivors actually rebuild—and what it takes for a small team to turn outreach into long-term stability.

Aaron traces the moment that changed everything: a young woman helped into rehab who was lured back and killed days later. That tragedy exposed the real gap—rescue without housing and documentation isn’t a fresh start. Haven Homes steps into that space with renovated transitional housing, trauma‑informed support, and practical milestones: restoring birth certificates and Social Security cards, repairing credit, teaching financial literacy, and building daily rhythms that make independence possible. With capacity for eight residents across two homes, they’ve already celebrated graduates whose lives now point forward.

We dig into Detroit’s unique dynamics: sports, conventions, and development bring demand; ownership patterns and bulk sales make housing acquisition hard; and while Michigan ranks among the top states for trafficking prevalence, public response still earns failing marks. Aaron talks partnerships with local services, the push for policy change with the Attorney General’s office, and the funding realities nonprofits face in election years. The mission is clear—scale beds, strengthen services, and keep survivors from ever returning to exploitation.

Want to help? Join the Hope & Toast Gala at the Garden Theater, support the June golf outing, or share this conversation with someone who needs to hear the truth behind the headlines. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell a friend—your signal boost can put another key in a survivor’s hand.

https://www.havenhomesofdetroit.org/

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www.ManCaveHappyHour.com

Jamie Flanagan @DJJamieDetroit

Matt Fox @fox_beazlefox

August Gitschlag @rawgusto

Merch www.WearingFunny.com

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freshvictor.com

What if the mixer, not the spirit, is the real secret to a great cocktail? We sit down with Fresh Victor founder Ken McKenzie to explore how fresh-pressed, refrigerated mixers turn home pours into bar-quality drinks without the corn syrup, neon dyes, or guesswork. Ken’s journey starts in Guadalajara, where he learned to treat tequila as an Epicurean spirit—complex, mineral-rich, and worth savoring—and ends at a solar-powered facility near Lake Tahoe crafting nine vibrant blends designed to play with any spirit or sparkle on their own.

We crack open flavors like Mexican Lime and Agave, Cactus Pear and Pomegranate, Three Citrus and Mint Leaf, Pineapple and Ginger Root, and Jalapeño Lime, then put them to work in simple builds that anyone can nail. Think a clean, bright margarita; a rye-forward whiskey sour with proper balance; a paloma that pops with sea salt; even a jalapeño-laced highball that delivers real vegetal character, not just heat. Along the way, Ken breaks down how consistent sourcing, pH testing, and cold-fill techniques protect freshness, texture, and aroma—plus why he refuses to go shelf-stable, even when it would be easier to ship.

This is a masterclass in smarter home bartending: use better acids, trust measured ratios, and let the mixer carry the weight while your spirit provides structure. We also dig into refrigerated logistics, on-premise strategy from Vegas to New York, and clever kitchen crossovers like ceviche and grilled fish marinades. Ready to taste the difference? Grab your favorite bottle, stock the fridge, and try a blend that actually tastes like the label.

Enjoy a listener perk: use code “mancave20” at freshvictor.com for 20% off. If you loved the conversation, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—what flavor should we mix next?

https://shop.freshvictor.com/

Support the show

https://linktr.ee/ManCaveHappyHour

www.ManCaveHappyHour.com

Jamie Flanagan @DJJamieDetroit

Matt Fox @fox_beazlefox

August Gitschlag @rawgusto

Merch www.WearingFunny.com

Send us a text

Holiday spirit tastes better when it comes with stories, experiments, and a little chaos. We kick off with a surprise: a red blend built from an AI “recipe.” The winemaker hated the idea, followed the constraints anyway, and ended up impressed by the result. That tale sets up a larger theme as we juggle innovation and tradition—how to honor craft while giving new ideas a seat at the bar.

From there we throw open the door to real-life hosting. We swap Rochester misadventures, bottle share finds, and Irish pub nostalgia while laying out a blueprint for stress-light entertaining: focus on meats, let guests bring sides and desserts, set early, and actually use the nice china. We talk seating 35 without losing your mind, why punch bowls deserve a comeback, and the etiquette of shipping gifts that shouldn’t be opened before the big morning.

Behind the bar, we get hands-on. A cranberry bourbon sour becomes a lesson in restraint—choose one tart driver and give cranberry room to paint the glass. A rum old fashioned with agave and orange bitters proves that sweetness should support, not smother. We debate maple syrup in an old fashioned, weigh a New York sour’s wine float, and rethink orphan liquor into party-ready punches with ginger and pineapple. Then we go deep on nog and milk punch: how to whisk yolks with sugar, fold in whites for lift, and grate nutmeg; why clarified milk punch looks like amber and drinks like silk; and how a few historic techniques can make your holiday table sing.

By the end, you’ll have a shortlist of crowd-pleasing winter cocktails, a smarter approach to hosting big family gatherings, and a fresh take on what tradition can mean when you let flavor lead. If this episode made you thirsty, share it with a friend who’s on drink duty, hit follow for more spirited conversations, and drop your favorite holiday cocktail in a review—we might mix it next time.

Support the show

https://linktr.ee/ManCaveHappyHour

www.ManCaveHappyHour.com

Jamie Flanagan @DJJamieDetroit

Matt Fox @fox_beazlefox

August Gitschlag @rawgusto

Merch www.WearingFunny.com