The Alaskacast: Recent Episodes
The Alaskacast
Featuring conversations with Alaskans making a difference in their communities, this series explores the lives of those striving to make Alaska a better place. Stay tuned for interviews with influencers and up-and-comers working for a better state.
Lee Hart is the founder of the Alaska Outdoor Alliance, an organization dedicated to strengthening Alaska’s outdoor recreation sector. We talk about how the outdoor industry contributes to Alaska’s economy, the opportunities and challenges facing stakeholders in Alaska’s outdoors, and her own story of coming to and falling in love with the 49th state. The Alaska Outdoor Alliance is made up of businesses, non-profit conservation groups, public land management agencies, Alaska Native entities and leaders among major allied industries like healthcare and education, and their 2020 Confluence Summit is still - hopefully - coming to Fairbanks this October.
Doug Toelle is the co-owner of Running Reindeer Ranch and a long time disability advocate. Doug, who has multiple sclerosis, began looking into housing reindeer when his teenage daughter expressed interest in horses, little thinking his house would become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Fairbanks. He’s in the National MS Society Hall of Fame for Advocacy, created the first website in the State of Alaska, and has been part of many of the most important institutions in Fairbanks.
Deenaalee Hodgdon is the Executive Creative Director, host and a founder of the On The Land podcast and media collective. Deenaalee is a Deg Xit’an Athabaskan and Supiaq womxn from the villages of Gitr’ingithchagg (Anvik) and Qinuyang (South Naknek), Alaska. We talk about how On The Land is centering indigenous voices, Deenaalee’s experiences moving between Alaska and the east coast of Turtle Island, who gets to participate in the outdoors, and much more. You can learn more about On The Land at https://www.onthelandmedia.com/.
Teal Rogers is the founder and principal aerialist at Golden Heart Performing Arts, an aerial silks school, studio, and troupe in Fairbanks. She’s also the founder of the Alaska Yoga Festival and an Outdoor Programs Coordinator at REI. We talk about introducing aerial silks to Fairbanks, the effects of COVID-19 on her businesses, and her vision for the future of Alaska.
Dolores Van Bourgondien is a Juneau based nurse practitioner at Ideal Option, which provides medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids and other substances. She’s also a bloggler, author, mother, and fitness enthusiast. We talk about the opioid epidemic, how COVID-19 has affected telemedicine, her podcast “Synergy Health and Wellness”, and more.
Alyssa Quintyne is the interior organizer of the Alaska Center. We talk about Fairbanks Solarize+, voter education and involvement, and the future of the state.
Barbara Johnson is a PHD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the co-founder of 49th Rising, an organization dedicated to making Alaska as safe as it is beautiful through reducing sexual violence. We talk about what 49th Rising is doing to curb sexual violence and bring about healing conversations, as well as her work with economic indicators across the state. Learn more about 49th Rising at 49rising.com/.
Hannah Hill is the executive director of the Bread Line, Inc, an inclusive anti-hunger organization in Fairbanks that provides hot food, job training, and more to those in need. We talk about the various aspects of the Bread Line and their own background and volunteerism in community advocacy.
Craig Cythlook is a commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay and a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. We talk about fishing in Bristol Bay, his family, his work on UAF and Information Insights related projects, and what he hopes for in the future of Alaska.
Monte Pearson is a good samaritan based in Fairbanks. He’s spent most of his free time in the winter of 2019-2020 helping start, thaw, and otherwise rescue frozen and nonoperational vehicles around the community: all for free. At nearly 300 vehicles he’s helped this year, Monte talks about his experiences giving back to the community that raised him and how that’s built a movement that’s all about #payingitforward.
To kick things off we have Amy Gallaway, 2020 Alaska Teacher of the Year. We talk about her journey as an educator, her efforts to empower young people in and beyond the classroom, and the challenges facing Alaskan teachers and students.
Hello and welcome to the Alaskacast! I’m your host, Kuba Grzeda. Join me as we share conversations with local leaders, activists, business owners, politicians, and all around awesome Alaskans making a difference in their communities and across the state.
The goal of this podcast is simple: there are a whole host of great things happening here in Alaska, every day, that just don’t get enough attention. We’re going to fix that. I hope you jump in with us.
Each episode of the Alaskacast can be found on Alaskacast.com and your favorite podcast site. Episodes are typically recorded in Fairbanks, Alaska, in the territory of the traditional and original inhabitants of the land, the Dena people of the lower Tanana River.
Thank you, and we’ll see you again soon!