Hometown, Alaska Archives - Alaska Public Media: Recent Episodes
Alaska Public Media
The Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention is only a few weeks away and there will be plenty of speakers, crafts and traditional music. But what about contemporary music? On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we have two very different in-studio performances from some up-and-coming Alaska Native musicians. Join host Dave Waldron as he speaks with hip-hop duo Brother Buffalo and singer-songwriter Witty Youngman about their music and how their heritage influences their art.
HOST: Dave Waldron
GUESTS:
Garrett and Jake Swenson, Brother Buffalo
Witty Youngman, singer-songwriter
LINKS:
Brother Buffalo Instagram
Brother Buffalo Spotify
Witty Youngman Instagram
Witty Youngman Facebook
Witty Youngman Website
Temperatures are dropping quickly and hundreds of Anchorage residents are currently living unsheltered in camps and on the street across the city. What’s the plan to keep them safe this winter and beyond? Join host Anne Hillman as she speaks with three city leaders who are working on this problem.
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Alexis Johnson, Anchorage Health Department, Housing and Homeless Coordinator
Jessica Parks, Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, Chief Operations Officer
Felix Rivera, Anchorage Assembly member
LINKS:
Anchorage Health Department: Housing Services
Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness
Anchorage Assembly Housing and Homelessness Committee
The stigmas and statistics of mental health awareness are important issues for Alaskans, especially as it relates to suicide prevention. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska host Justin Williams leads a conversation about how to discuss mental health and suicide prevention with Blaze Bell of Standing Together Against Rape and Recover Alaska as well as Shana Cooper of the Alaska Native Justice Center. They share their professional insight and personal experiences to explain how to approach these issues and share what resources are out there.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or having thoughts of self-harm or suicide dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support.
HOST: Justin Williams
GUESTS:
Shana Cooper, Alaska Native Justice Center
Blaze Bell, S.T.A.R., Recover Alaska
LINKS:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
AK Division of Behavioral Health treatment and recovery resources
When most people think of Alaska sports, hockey, basketball and mushing are top of mind. But, as the Alaska Rugby Union celebrates its 50th anniversary, they are poised to make the sport of rugby an Alaska staple. On paper, the objective of rugby is simple—carry a ball across the scoring zone to secure more points than your opponent. It sounds easy enough. In reality, 300-feet and 15 burly athletes looking to knock you off your feet at every turn make scoring a point a Herculean task. But therein lies the joy of being a rugby player. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska host O'Hara Shipe discusses rugby with leaders of the Alaska Rugby Union to discuss the history and the future of the sport in The Last Frontier.
HOST: O'Hara Shipe
GUESTS:
Dave Delozier, President of the Alaska Rugby Union
Jami Almonte, women and youth coach, Vice President of the Alaska Rugby Union
LINKS:
Alaska Rugby Union
Alaska Rugby Union Facebook
45 years ago KSKA flipped a switch and became the very first public radio station in Southcentral Alaska. On the next Hometown, Alaska we revisit some of the station's best memories with KSKA’s original general manager and the station's longtime program director of nearly 40 years.HOST: Dave Waldron
GUESTS:
Alex Hills, KSKA’s original general manager
Bede Trantina, KSKA's program director for 39 years
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Kake, Alaska is currently populated by about 500 people but it’s the hometown of many more. This week on Hometown, Alaska we take a trip on a seal hunting vessel and into a kitchen as we explore the community through interviews about its past and present with the hosts of the podcast "A Piece of Kake."HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Mona Evan and Sarah Campen, hosts of "A Piece of Kake" podcast
LINK:
"A Piece of Kake" website
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Zeynep Kilic was born and raised in Turkey. A former professor of the now-defunct sociology program at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Kilic is now an accomplished film director, as well as the new owner of the recently rebranded and reopened Turkish Delight, a restaurant specializing in authentic Turkish cuisine. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we will hear about her history and relationship surrounding the food she makes and loves, and what approaches she takes for her favorite dishes. HOST: Justin Williams
GUEST: Zeynep Kilic, Owner of Turkish Delight
LINKS:
Turkish Delight website
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Paula Poundstone is a stand-up comic known for her witty observations on NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and her really large family of pets. The author, podcaster and expert dog-waste-remover will be performing in Anchorage in late June. She joins host Anne Hillman to discuss her comedy, her home life, and more.Event information:
Saturday, June 24
7:30 p.m.
Discovery Theater
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUEST: Paula Poundstone
LINKS:
Paula Poundstone website
Tickets
ALSO FEATURED: State of Art: Celebrate summer with the Sundown Solstice festival
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If you happened to be driving down Tudor Road in Anchorage last weekend you may have noticed a throng of people dressed in armor, medieval gowns and maybe even a dragon suit. That’s because we are in the midst of the Three Barons Renaissance Fair which runs through this weekend. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska host Dave Waldron speaks with a long-time board member about the fair and moderates a debate between the three Barons as they vie for the public's support to rule the realm of Hillshire.HOST: Dave Waldron
GUESTS:
Mel Kalkowski, long-time board member of the 3 Barons Fair and the Magistrate of Hillshire
Blue Baron
Red Baron
Green Baron
LINKS:
3 Barons Fair Website
Ticket information
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heartbreaking. As part of their Military Voices Initiative, StoryCorps partnered with us at Alaska Public Media to record veterans, active members of the armed forces or their families to document their stories. On this episode of Hometown Alaska, producer Ammon Swenson discusses the Military Voices project with the CEO of StoryCorps and learns about the women's veteran organization Operation Mary Louise.
While the virtual opportunities have closed, StoryCorps will be at the Anchorage Public Library July 24 through the 28th for in-person recordings.
Sign up HERE
HOST: Ammon Swenson
GUESTS:
Sandy Clark, CEO of StoryCorps
Vanessa Meade, Co-lead of Operation Mary Louise
LINKS:
StoryCorps
Military Voices Initiative
Alaska Public Media Military Voices
Operation Mary Louise
Despite the May snowfall, it is definitely growing season in Anchorage. On this episode of Hometown Alaska host Dave Waldron and two master gardeners discuss the challenges and rewards of gardening in our northern climate, answer some listener questions and do a little gardening trivia. Later in the show we visit an apple orchard with the president of the Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association to find out what goes into the growing process this time of year.
HOST: Dave Waldron
GUESTS:
Emily Becker and Nick Riordan, master gardeners
Dr. Mark Wolbers, President, Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association
LINKS:
Alaska Master Gardeners Anchorage
Alaska Master Gardeners Anchorage FACEBOOK
University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service
Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association
ALSO FEATURED: State of Art: Anchorage Community Theater’s ‘Wait Until Dark’
Nearly 61 thousand households in Anchorage have pets. That works out to about 105 thousand dogs and 88 thousand cats. That’s a lot of animals — and a lot of animal waste. And pet ownership doesn’t just impact the people who live with the creatures. Caring for pets is both challenging and rewarding for veterinarians and their staff, too. This week on Hometown, Alaska, we’re talking to veterinarians about their mental health and pet care basics as well as taking a trip to the dog park to see how your actions affect everyone downstream.
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Dr. Judy Montalbano and Dr. Tracy Ward, veterinarians, The Alaska State Veterinary Medical Association
Cherie Northon, Anchorage Waterways Council, Executive Director
LINKS:
The Alaska State Veterinary Medical Association
ASPCA Animal Poison Control (888) 426-4435
Anchorage Waterways Council
BROADCAST: Monday, May 8th, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Monday, May 8th, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
Alaska education has predominantly aimed its resources at younger generations to build them up early. Unfortunately, this can leave out older citizens who may be yearning to re-engage education and discover new skills, activities, and friendships. Since 2007, OLÉ! has existed in Anchorage as a non-profit organization aimed at providing older Alaskans aged 50 and up an opportunity to continue their education in creative and engaging ways. President board Gretchen Bersch and curriculum committee chair Bill Cole join host Justin Williams on Hometown, Alaska to discuss how OLÉ! began, obstacles they have had to creatively overcome and the mental and social importance of education in Alaska for its older citizens.
HOST: Justin Williams
GUESTS:
Gretchen Bersch, Board President, OLÉ!
Bill Cole, Curriculum Committee Chair, OLÉ!
LINKS:
OLÉ! website
OLÉ! courses
OLÉ! registration
BROADCAST: Monday, May 1st, 2023. 10:00 am – 11:00 a.m. AKT
REPEAT BROADCAST: Monday, May 1st, 2023. 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. AKT
HOST: Dave Waldron
GUESTS:
Laura Atwood, Executive Director, Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Katie Thorman, Rehabilitation Assistant, Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Chandelle Cotter, Education and Behavior Curator, Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Girdie, Crow, Bird Treatment and Learning Center
LINKS:
Bird Treatment and Learning Center
Bird TLC Facebook
Bird TLC Instagram
HOST: O'Hara Shipe
GUESTS:
Robin “Lamia Lexicon Monroe” O’Donoghue, Drag Performer
Zaide “Dela Rosa” Manzano, Drag Performer
Kendra Arciniega, Owner of Arciniega Street Productions
Mercedes Arciniega, Owner of Arciniega Street Productions
There is a drink that some say is slowly but surely gaining popularity in America.That drink is sake. This week on Hometown Alaska we'll learn how to drink it, pair it, and even cook with it as part of sake week: a six day event taking place in Anchorage and Girdwood.
HOST: Justin Williams
GUEST:
Erin Baldwin Day, lead organizer of Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage
LINKS:
Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage website
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Austin Quinn-Davidson and Meg Zaletel, Anchorage Assembly
LINKS:
Information on the upcoming election
Ballot tracking
Information on the Anchorage Assembly
HOST: O'Hara Shipe
GUESTS:
JT West, 907 Pro Wrestling Academy
Jared Cox, pro wrestler
LINKS:
907 Pro Wrestling Academy WEBSITE
907 Pro Wrestling Academy FACEBOOK
HOST: Dave Waldron
GUESTS: Melanie Cross and Christy Hedrick, Fur Rondy Melodrama co-producers
LINKS:
TICKETS
Fur Rondy Events: Melodrama
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Carl Jacobs, Anchorage School Board member
Andy Ratliff, Anchorage School District Chief Financial Officer
LINKS:
Anchorage School District
Anchorage School Board
ASD School Bond Information
Contact Anchorage School Board
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Rachel Bernhardt and Julie Raymond-Yakoubian, Alaska End of Life Alliance
Kris Green, Death Cafe
LINKS:
Death Cafe, Anchorage
Alaska End of Life Alliance:
Death Doulas
Funeral Homes
Alaska Laws and Regulations
Hospice and Palliative Care
Advanced Directives
Grief and Bereavement Support
Home Funerals
Other Alaska End of Life Alliance resources
Five Wishes
GUEST SUGGESTED READING:
"Notes for the Everlost: A field guide to grief" by Kate Inglis
"The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion
GUEST HOST: Dave Waldron
GUEST: Cody Carver, Program and Events Manager at the Anchorage Museum
LINKS:
Anchorage Museum
Pass the Mic exhibit
HOST: Anne Hillman
GUESTS:
Barbara and Ethan Jacko Atwater, mother/son writing partners, authors of multiple children’s books and more
Sara Juday, co-president of the board, Alaska Center for the Book
LINKS:
Alaska Center for the Book
Read Alaska Native reading challenge resources
The American Indian Library Association
HOST: Anne Hillman
Guests:
Abdelqader "Abdoo" Ezzedine, New Habitat for Humanity homeowner
John Frommer, Consruction Manager, Habitat for Humanity
Jasmine Boyle, Chief Operating Officer, Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL Cap)
Colleen Dushkin, Association for Alaska Housing Authorities
LINKS:
Habitat for Humanity, Anchorage
RurAL Cap
Association for Alaska Housing Authorities
HOST: Justin Williams GUESTS:
Dr. Elizabeth Whitney, executive director, Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
Dr. Kristine Crossen, president, board of directors, Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
LINK:
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature
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Host: Anne HillmanGUESTS:
Gail Fenumiai, Division of Elections
Jeannette Lee, Sightline Institute
Links:
Division of Elections website
Make a Plan to Vote
Learn about ranked choice voting
Candidate Comparison Tool
Alaska Public Media elections coverage
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (10-11 a.m.)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (E-mails may be read on air).
- Post your comment or question below (Comments may be read on air).
- LIVE: Monday, October 31, 2021 at 10 a.m.
- RE-AIR: Monday, October 31, 2021 at 8 p.m.
- PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.
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HOST: Justin WilliamsGUESTS:
Tiffany Hall, executive director of Recover Alaska
Dr. Vivian Gonzales, professor of psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage
LINKS:
Recover Alaska
Rethinking Drinking: Website created by National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Provides information on drinking to help people assess their drinking and tools to change drinking habits.
Checkup and Choices: Offers check-ups (assessment with feedback) for alcohol, opioids, cannabis, and stimulant use. You can choose to begin an intervention based on the results to help you reduce use and consequences. Not free, but much lower cost than traditional treatment, self-guided, and has evidence to support it’s effectiveness in helping people reduce their substance use and consequences.
Smart Recovery: Free mutual support groups that are an alternative to AA or NA. Provides general mutual support meetings as well as meetings specifically for vets and first responders, LGBTQ+, friends and family, and people under 30.
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This week Hometown Alaska hosts three writers telling significant parts of Alaska’s story.The idea for our show began with the hope of bringing Alaska’s current writer laureate, Heather Lende, to the mic, and picking her brain for what we should be reading this winter. We called, she agreed, but we have ended up with so much more.
Since Heather took the state writer mantle for 2021-23, she has made her mission to bring forward other voices from Alaska. When I called to invite her to Hometown Alaska, all we talked about were other writers she wanted to share.
We have two such voices with us today: journalist and writer Laureli Ivanoff of Unalakleet – whose essays and reflections have appeared in The New York Times, High Country News, Alaska Dispatch and elsewhere; and Leigh Newman of Connecticut, author of a memoir about growing up in Alaska, and her new book, a short story collection called “No One Gets Out Alive,” about women navigating male-dominated Alaska.
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
Heather Lende, Alaska's Writer Laureate
Laureli Ivanoff, author
Leigh Newman, author
LINKS:
- Heather Lende author website
- “Heather Lende, whose memoirs chronicle life in Haines, is named Alaska State Writer Laureate,” ADN, May 13, 2021
- Laureli Ivanoff writing portfolio website
- Laureli Ivanoff, “The Bearded Seal my Son May Never Hunt,” NYTimes, 10.20.2018
- Leigh Newman, author website with details on her memoir, “Still Points North,” and her short story collection, “No One Gets Out Alive.”
- Leigh Newman talks about “Still Points North,” on The Rumpus Interview
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The Last Frontier is known for its appreciative beer subculture. The craft has been honored here and its processes mimicked in garages and storefronts alike. Alaska Beer Broads is an all-female, Alaska-based group consisting of beer enthusiasts from all over the state who connect and meet up at beer events to support local businesses and talk beer. D’Lany Nichols is their creator, and between podcasting, event coordination, taste tasting and leading the group, she always has her toes dipped into the local scene, expanding her expertise and celebrating the established culture.HOST: Justin Williams
GUEST: D'Lany Nichols, Alaska Beer Broads
LINKS:
Alaska Beer Broads:
PODCAST
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Business and the economy are ever-changing in Alaska. As life becomes more expensive and old models of creating revenue streams are met with apprehensive resolve, two local entrepreneurs set out to change the business landscape of the Last Frontier. Sourdough Dan Morris is the owner of Alaskan Footprints food tours. He offers historical insight, humor and delicious delicacies in his treks, setting a fun pace for both local Alaskans and tourists to experience downtown on foot.
Atlas Katari is the founder of Anchorage Independent Worker Alliance. They are dedicated to connecting like-minded entrepreneurs in the city together to change the way we live as individuals, and build as a society.
This week on Hometown Alaskan we will explore the purposes of their journeys, and the end result that will hopefully inspire a generation to step out of the shadows and into their dreams.
HOST: Justin Williams
GUESTS:
Segment 1:
"Sourdough" Dan Morris, Alaskan Footprints food tours
Segment 2:
Atlas Katari, Anchorage Independent Worker Alliance
LINKS:
Alaskan Footprints food tours
Anchorage Independent Worker Alliance Facebook page
AIWA co-working events
LISTEN:
- FIRST AIR: Monday, September 19, 2022 at 10 a.m.
- RE-AIR: Monday, September 19, 2022 at 8 p.m.
- PODCAST: Available after the program.
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With winter coming on, maybe you need a cozy, creative activity you can do with friends that adds up to something beautiful?Poster for this year’s Great Alaska Quilt Show, their first after a 2-year absence. Photo courtesy of ALCQ.
Today’s Hometown Alaska introduces the Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters Guild. Their unjuried annual Great Alaska Quilt Show is Sept. 17-18. With something like 100 quilts on display, and another 50 small quilts up for auction, you can get a good idea of what this group does. The annual fundraising event is free to attend and has moved from the old Conoco Phillips building to a new location, First United Methodist Church at 725 W 9th Avenue. Parking is also free.
Today’s program was prerecorded for scheduling reasons so we won’t be taking your calls. Join us to meet quilters and find out why this craft and art became their passion.
GUESTS:
Peggy Brewer, current president of the ALCQ
Pat Sims, charter member of the ALCQ, started in 1979
Lynne Seitz, Comfort Quilts program coordinator for ALCQ
Sheila Toomey, publicity, ALCQ
LINKS:
Contact email for Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters Guild:anchoragequilters@gmail.com
“It ain’t your grandma’s quilting bee anymore,” Senior Voice, Aug. 1, 2022.
Anchorage Log Cabin Quilters Guild blog, scroll topics at the top of the page.
ALCQ Meetings and Fun Page, blog page for details on their many local service projects.
ALCQ Facebook page
10 Decades and Counting, images of ALCQ 2015 centennial project, Anchorage through the decades in quilted images.
The history of quilting, Wikipedia.
PARTICIPATE:
Today’s podcast was prerecorded so we won’t be taking calls during the program.
Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the broadcast.
Post your comment or question below.
FIRST AIR: Monday, September 12, 2022 at 10 a.m.
RE-AIR: Monday, September 12, 2022 at 8 p.m.
PODCAST: Available on this page after the program.
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So, here’s one new thing: This fall, UAA, our hometown university campus, is offering its first marijuana information class, open to students and community members. How and why did the university decide now was the time to bring this topic to campus? We’ll meet the professor who successfully made the case. She’ll curate the course, using local subject experts to do the teaching.
We’ll also meet a regulator, the new director for the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO). We’ll learn how much money the industry brings into the state, and what some of the regulatory challenges are. One factoid: this office regulates about 2000 alcohol licensees, and between 400-500 marijuana licensees.
And we’ll visit a vertically integrated cannabis company, called the Secret Garden. There, a local Anchorage workforce of 40-plus grows and harvests plants, manufactures products like edibles and oil-filled cartridges, and staffs a busy retail store open seven days a week.
Svaja Worthington was only five years old in 1944 when her family walked away from their Lithuanian home in the face of Russian brutality. During World War II, Lithuania had been occupied first by the Soviet Union and then by Nazi Germany. Towards the end of the war in 1944, as the Germans were retreating, […]
The Spenard area of Alaska is known for its eclecticism and diversity amongst its people, its businesses, and its artistic sensibilities. Long has it been the host of Tommy's Burger Stop, Chilkoot Charlies, Center Bowl, and more currently The Drip, the city's first black-owned coffee hut. It's no wonder that this area specifically also openly celebrates American jazz culture, and has instituted an event to partake in its music.
Depending on where you live, the snow is finally mostly gone. The sun is back, the earth is warming, we’ve had a little rain. The seed starts on the dining room table are about to climb out of their tiny four-packs and walk to your back yard or patio. It’s time to garden. Anchorage is […]
On this episode of Hometown, Alaska, Zoryna Lealai, a youth advocate for the Anchorage Youth Task Force, and Julia Terry, co-director of the organization Choosing Our Roots, will be joining the discussion on exposing and combating youth homelessness, while providing a very personal perspective on the issue. What organizations are out there shedding light on, and actively engaging in, the fighting against youth homelessness?
Here’s a new word for you: infodemic. The World Health Organization coined the term and centered a recent global conference around coming to terms with a glut of mis- and dis-information that is harming public health. While this is a global issue, and links below will take you to the WHO’s many universal resources, a […]
cleaning. To a lot of people in Alaska, though, April is also Sobriety Awareness Month. Alaska’s history with alcoholism and recovery runs deep, and three local recovery heroes join host Justin Williams to share their encouraging experiences.
Community Health Workers are relatively new to Alaska. They come from the communities they serve. They get specialized training in communication and health systems, and their mission is to help guide people toward the health care they need.
many years. The team behind the center bring a shining light into Fairview, and the recent inclusion of a new indoor playground is sure to leave an even brighter legacy for its residents. This episode discusses the impact, history, and legacy of the Center.
diversity in Alaska, and raise the standard for how we observe and celebrate black culture?
On this week’s Hometown Alaska, Anchorage teens describe how they have suffered, endured, and even grown through living under the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ll hear from teens at the Alaska Teen Media Institute, Covenant House and MHATS, which stands for Mental Health Advocacy Through Storytelling, a student-founded and student-run non-profit in Anchorage. ATMI students began creating […]
The UAA Women’s basketball program is elite. Conference champs, sweet 16 appearances, perennial national championship contender, and of course - mayhem! What makes them so successful? How much attention are they getting locally, and nationally? Should they be getting more attention given their success? And what does the future hold for UAA basketball?
Andrea Noble, executive director of the Alaska State Council on the Arts, has one word for the Alaska artists and arts organizations now tackling Year Three of life under Covid: “Resilient. They just don’t quit.” On today’s Hometown Alaska, we’ll hear from five arts groups on how they have adapted and persisted. What lessons did […]
The gig economy isn’t exactly a new income stream for individuals, but the paradigm shift of the market due to COVID and other factors have launched gig work and entrepreneurship into an undeniable macrolevel behemoth. One artist and businesswoman shares her story of how she established her brand to The Last Frontier and how we can support self-employed creatives.
January 2022 marks the world’s third year working to overcome the Coronavirus pandemic. For many different and valid reasons, people hesitate to get vaccinated. Yet broad and successful vaccination rates are necessary to avoid giving the virus time to mutate and create another variant, as it has done with Omicron. Alaska Public Media has joined […]
Arguments over mandates, pandemic death, disruptive politics, climate change disasters. We’ve seen them all this year; we’re worn out. The battles and struggles will continue, but this week’s Hometown Alaska seeks to console. Our topic today is celebrating our good habit of gathering together for food and camaraderie, whether that is Christmas, birthdays or Sunday […]
If you’ve ever been to a hospital or a medical clinic or some type of medical facility, which most of us probably have, you may have noticed that a lot of health care workers are Filipino. They can be doctors, or home care providers, or some type of health care worker, but most of them are nurses. This is not just your imagination, as statistics show that Filipino nurses do compose the largest share of immigrant nurses in the United States. In fact, the Philippines is the world’s biggest supplier of nurses.
UPDATE: Since the recycling/composting program aired Monday morning, here’s a bit of useful info for Mat-Su Valley residents interested in curbside recycling. Alaska Waste began curbside recycling in the Valley last February, including within the city of Palmer, in an effort to divert recyclables away from the landfill. Here’s a link to their FAQs. We’ve […]
olks still commonly dress up in stereotypical Native costumes, and it is also when Thanksgiving happens, a holiday that is fraught with many problematic portrayals of history and Native Peoples. In this episode, we talk about these and many other relevant issues pertaining to Native Heritage Month.
to escape the dark, chilly winters that conquer the final months of each year. The politics and popularity of film, comic, game, and novel franchises have brought folks together in ways we did not know possible, bringing a sense of irony to the isolated Last Frontier.
Indigenous Peoples' Day strikes the intersection of beauty and triumph, controversy and pain. Many have fought to reclaim its purpose and name from Columbus, to the people of the land he claimed to discover.
The month of October has been recognized by the U.S. Congress and by several state legislatures as Filipino American History Month, to celebrate the long history of Filipinos in the United States. This episode focuses on Filipino Alaskan history, along with Filipino Alaskans’ many achievements and contributions.
Addiction and recovery are two sides of a heavy coin. September is National Recovery Month, so this week on Hometown Alaska, we’ll learn how substance addiction contributes to recidivism and how to celebrate recovery and support sobriety and sober-curious lifestyles.
Alaska’s food and restaurant culture is a massive and ever-shifting adhesive for the local economy, serving and effecting both customers and business owners alike. But why is it so crucial? And how are local restaurant and food truck owners riding the wave back to success during COVID? Join host, Justin Williams, with two champions of the local restaurant community to discuss our food culture here in Alaska.
immigrants and refugees make Alaska their home. How are new Alaskans adjusting? How can the government help in their transition? What are the ways through which immigrants and refugees enrich Alaska? Join host E.J. David for conversation about a collaborative community project called “Untapped Talent.”
On the latest Hometown Alaska, host Kathleen McCoy is speaking with the editors of a new anthology that collects the first 25 years of the journal “Alaska Women Speak."
Hometown Alaska is back after its short summer hiatus, and we return Aug. 23 at 10 am with a program featuring two Alaska writers with first books. In the first half of the program, we’ll meet Matt Caprioli, author of “One Headlight,” a memoir of growing up gay in Alaska, a story that captures his […]
Juneteenth has been called “America’s Second Independence Day”. But surveys show that only about half of Americans even know what Juneteenth is. So what exactly is Juneteenth? Why is it important? And should it be celebrated? With community leaders Jasmin Smith and Dino Allen, we will discuss the history behind Juneteenth and its continued modern day significance on the next episode of Hometown, Alaska
What if our latest conversations about Alaska didn’t lodge on the dollar amount of a PFD, or how much a budget should be cut? What if we leaped over these sticking points and employed our collective imagination to envision an Alaska of the future? What kind of place do we want Alaska to be? What […]
Host Kathleen McCoy talks with founders of the Alaska Center for the Book and a librarian about community programs to promote reading.
APD's Acting Chief Ken McCoy joins host Kathleen McCoy for a conversation on the department's work in Anchorage, and more broadly, on modern policing — a public safety field that has come under increasing scrutiny as social media and video cameras have captured police at work.
Recent events have put a spotlight on anti-Asian racism. Many Americans even seem shocked & surprised that it’s happening. But is anti-Asian racism new? Is anti-Asian racism rare? What does it look like? Where does it happen? And how does it impact Asian Americans? Join us as we discuss the complexities of anti-Asian racism on this episode of Hometown, Alaska.
Hometown Alaska is hosting a mayoral candidates' discussion between Dave Bronson and Forrest Dunbar.
Today’s question came from a listener, a father who has weathered and completed his own family’s journey through expensive childcare, for which he’s grateful. But his own success don’t solve the huge challenge in our community, and he asked us to share with listeners the scope of the issue here in Anchorage. We invited panelists […]
A listener posed a question for Justice Alaska on Hometown Alaska and we tackled it on this week’s show. Where are the Alaska Native defenders, prosecutors and judges in our state’s judicial system? What would justice in Alaska look like if there were more robust representation of Alaska Natives throughout the process? In conversations with […]
It’s probably time for everyday Alaskans to learn more about new developments in nuclear technology that may have potential benefits for Alaska—an energy-producing state that still faces rural high energy costs and challenging geography. The time is right because the industry is making fast progress on size and safety. Still, disastrous events like Chernobyl and […]
Over the past few years, acknowledging the Indigenous roots of the places we call home has become more common. This is especially true in Alaska, a state rich with Indigenous history and the state with the highest percentage of Native people in its population. Alaska, however, also has a rapidly growing non-Native population that may […]
One week in the month of April 2021, the 18th-24th, is set aside to remember victims of violent crimes in communities across the United States. In Anchorage, Victims for Justice, an organization that advocates for victims, will share its annual ribbon-tying ceremony at Hostetler Park in downtown Anchorage on social media platforms. The event is […]
The arrival of a new host to Hometown Alaska is a good opportunity to open the phone lines to hear what topics you want us to work on. We call it “all ears” because we’re listening for the ideas you want us to pursue. Joining the Hometown Alaska team is EJ David. You may have […]
UPDATE: Candidate responses to Alaska Public Media’s 2021 Mayor Candidate questionnaire are now available at Running 2021. Fifteen candidates filed to run; 9 candidates returned the questionnaire. Albert Swank, Reza Momin, Anna Anthony, David Bronson, Darin Colbry and Jacob Seth Kern did not respond. (Scroll for a full list of candidates and seats. The mail-in […]
UPDATE: Candidate responses to Alaska Public Media’s 2021 School Board Candidate questionnaire are now available at Running 2021. Sixteen candidates are running; 12 responded to the questionnaire. Candidates Judy Norton Eledge, Marilyn Stewart, Kim Paulson and Marcus Sanders did not respond. (Scroll for a full list of candidates and seats.) The mail-in election is April […]
Many programs on Justice Alaska focus on explaining Alaska’s judicial system from the inside, from the perspective of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, as well as participants in therapeutic courts and administrators within the Department of Corrections. Today’s program is a look from the outside. A team of reporters from the Anchorage Daily News and […]
In a sweeping, song-filled and emotional telling, Henry Louis Gates takes viewers through the beginnings of the Black Church in America, from its beginnings in white Christianity with influence from home countries and spiritual traditions that enslaved people brought with them. The 400-year history of the Black Church reveals influence during the Civil War, Reconstruction, […]
Dana Stabenow is having a great writing career. Her latest book, Spoils of the Dead, is No. 5 in her series about Alaska State Trooper Liam Campbell. After a demotion from sergeant back to trooper for a serious mistake, he finds himself policing in a commercial fishing town dubbed Newenham, “an ice-bound bush town with […]
One dark December morning, as I headed out with my dog for some exercise, I met a young man carrying an aluminum ladder. Since it was nearly Christmas, I asked if he was decorating a random tree to surprise and delight winter hikers. Not quite — he had just cleaned out an owl box of its […]
In times of stress and economic hardship, it can be easy to let art and its impact on us slip off the radar screen. Yet, that could be the very time when we need art the most. The inauguration of new President Joe Biden is an example. Not only did 22-year-old Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The […]
As Cliff Groh puts it, he’s studied how the State of Alaska “collects, saves and pays out money” for 40 years. As a legislative aide in 1982, he worked on creating the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Five years later, as a special assistant to the commissioner of revenue, he worked on the successful effort to […]
On Dec. 14, electors in all 50 states cast their ballots for the U.S. President. On this occasion, Hometown Alaska took the opportunity to reflect on the 2020 national and state elections, the impact a tumultuous national election may have on democracy, and to explore local opportunities for civic engagement. Joining us were guests from […]
Back in late August, UAA’s chancellor Cathy Sandeen announced a difficult financial decision: university funding for women’s gymnastics, men’s hockey and men’s and women’s skiing would be eliminated. A campus town hall to discuss, and UA regents’ action at their Sept.10 meeting gave the athletic teams the opportunity to try and support themselves. The ski […]
In early November, in the midst of a pandemic, the Anchorage Museum welcomed visitors to ‘Extra Tough: Women of the North.” With constraints, the museum has been able to invite visitors to view the exhibit several days each week. Beginning December 1, the museum, like much of Anchorage, will return to a closed phase for […]
The YWCA of Alaska recently named its 31st cohort of Women of Achievement. On this edition of Hometown Alaska, we learn more about the mission and priorities of this organization as it has thrived through three decades. And, we meet and speak with several Women of Achievement to learn their story and hear their wisdom. […]
National and state elections were, and continue to be, major distractions from a global pandemic that is tightening its grip around Alaska. Congress and the President have failed to agree on a supplemental CARES Act to stabilize U.S. small business and residents facing evictions. On the next Justice Alaska on Hometown Alaska, we’ll speak with […]
It seems as if the coronavirus COVID-19 is that unwanted guest who came for a three-day visit; eight months later its still taking up space in our mental spare bedroom. Evidence of its overstay range from long, difficult recoveries or death, to an economy that hit a brick wall and has yet to pick itself […]
This November 3, Alaskans will go to the polls to choose a president and congressional and state leaders. But there is more on the ballot. In Southcentral, part of the Third Judicial District, voters will see seven District Court judges on the ballot, eight Superior Court judges, one appellate judge and one serving on the Alaska Supreme Court.
On today’s Justice Alaska, three guests explain how framers of the state’s Constitution chose to select judges through a judicial council process focused on merit. The council moves the most qualified candidates forward for consideration by the governor, who makes the appointment.
Citizens have their say by communicating directly with the judicial council, attending hearings on proposed candidates, and ultimately, voting to retain or dismiss judges when they run for retention. The evaluation process includes interviews with jurors, social workers, prosecutors and defense attorneys — which are further opportunities for public input in the evaluation process.
Selecting judges and evaluating them for retention is complicated. The judicial council has seven members. Three come from the general public, three are attorneys, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides but only votes in a tie.
One of the most interesting aspects of today’s program is hearing from a citizen serving his second 6-year term on the judicial council. Dave Parker worked more than two decades as a police officer, 18 years in Anchorage and four in Palmer, before being able to fulfill an interest in serving on the judicial council.
Today’s program was prerecorded due to scheduling reasons, so we will be unable to take calls during the 2 pm or the 8 pm airing. If you email questions to Hometown@alaskapublic.org, we will endeavor to find answers for you.
HOSTS: Kathleen McCoy and Senior Judge Elaine Andrews
GUESTS:
- Susanne DiPietro, executive director of the Alaska Judicial Council
- Dave Parker, public member of the Alaska Judicial Council, serving his second term
LINKS:
- About the Alaska Judicial Council, AJC website
- Find out who is standing for retention in your judicial district, AJC website
- Review evaluations for judges running for retention, AJC website
- Comment on judges’ performance here, AJC website
- Read some of the research publications written by judicial council staff, website
- Alaska Judicial Council Facebook page for current events
PARTICIPATE:
- Because this program was pre-recorded for scheduling reasons, the hosts cannot take calls at 2:00 pm or at 8:00 pm.
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the broadcast and we will seek answers to your questions
- Post your comment or question below
- Pre-recorded October 2 to air: Monday, October 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, October 19, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
October 2-9, 2020 marks this year’s Alaska Book Week. Find a list of happenings here. While in-person events won’t be the norm, a slate of virtual opportunities await:
Alaska Reads 2020: Join a Zoom discussion of “Find the Good” with author Heather Lende through your local library. List of participating libraries statewide on this poster. Anchorage’s event is Saturday Oct 17 at 3 pm.
49 Writers Reading and Craft Talk series: Heather Lende will read from Find the Good, via Zoom, as a part of this series. October 15, 6-7 pm.
Alaska women writers share their stories – Vera Starbard, Dana Stabenow, Heather Lende, Erin Coughlin Hollowell. (Will be recorded and posted on Alaska Book Week website when available.)
UNSETTLING: Native art histories on the Northwest Coast – Ketchikan Museum
October 1– Evelyn Vanderhoop: Museum Midday “Soft Robes of Thundering Power: Mountain Goat Fiber Textiles of the Northwest Coast”
October 8– Unsettling Native Art Histories on the Northwest Coast: Museum Midday discussion with editors Kathryn Bunn-Marcuse, Aldona Jonaitis, and contributor Lou-Ann Ika’wega Neel whose essay “Ellen Neel and Carving on the Coast: Three Decades of Change and Renewal” is featured.
Tune in to the Ketchikan Museum Facebook page for more details.
Alaska Quarterly Review’s benefit series, called Pieces de Resistance, October 4 though May 2, 3 pm. Begins with Amy Hempel and Stuart Dybeck on October 4. Find link to this event and upcoming readings here.
Writing Alaska’s Mountains – a Zoom conversation moderated by David Stephenson and featuring Kelsey Gray, Joe Stock, Jon Waterman and Chris Kalman. Oct. 6, 7 pm.
DIY- Haiku Invitational and Video Invitational.
Haiku should “celebrate the ways that reading about Alaska or works by Alaskans enhances your life.” Deadline is September 28 or Oct. 3, so check out the events page to make sure. Here is the link to the haiku page.
Videos – in lieu of the opportunity for personal interaction that Alaska Book Week normally allows for, Alaska Book Week invites authors, publishers and readers to submit links to YouTube videos or videos on other platforms or to submit videos that Alaska Book Week can post on its YouTube channel. Link to the video page.
Listeners please note: This show was pre-recorded to accommodate scheduling, so there will be no call-in opportunity for this program.
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
- Heather Lende, writer of the Alaska Reads 2020 selection, “Find the Good”
- Frank Soos, writer and Alaska Reads 2020 organizer
- Trish Jenkins, UAA professor and Alaska Book Week coordinator
LINKS:
- Alaska Book Week website (check here for schedule of events)
- Alaska Center for the Book, website, contains Alaska Reads details
- AQR Benefit Reading Series, website
- Heather Lende’s website
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, October 5, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, October 5, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Save Our Sisters Alaska, a multimedia statewide awareness campaign to reduce extreme rates of violence against women in Alaska. Created through Affinityfilms, Inc, a nonprofit media production company based in Alaska since 1982 focused on creating social issues media. Ten months ago, filmmaker Mary Katzke had an idea. Television is filled with detective stories created to draw viewers into the terror, victimization and truth-unraveling of real crimes. Why is no one telling the incredible stories of Alaska Native women, threatened for so long by outrageous rates of abuse and rape. She determined to do it.
To that end, she is collaborating with a creative team to weave these true stories into a statewide multimedia awareness campaign to reduce the staggering occurrences of violence against women in Alaska. Team contributors and advisors range from Alice Qannik Glenn of the Coffee & Quaq podcast, to musical artists Pamyua for sound tracks, to advocates such as Keeley Olson of STAR, Tami Jerue of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, journalist Rhonda McBride and support advisor Tara Bourdukofsky. Deborah Schildt is filming and editing the episodes.
So far, four 30-plus minute podcasts and one 22-minute film have been produced. We will sample from the podcasts during today’s show, and in a partnership, these podcasts will air on Alaska Public Media in the future. As producer, Katske is working to acquire more support to continue production. Sealaska Corporation and Bristol Bay Native Corporation have stepped up.
“We have incredible stories,” Katzke said. “And we have the talent to tell them.”
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
- Anna Sattler tells her story of child sexual abuse and rape for the Save Our Sisters Alaska public awareness effort
- Alice Qannik Glenn, podcast host for Save Our Sisters RESOLVE episodes
- Mary Katzke, producer for Save Our Sisters Alaska creative initiative
LINKS:
- Save Our Sisters Alaska website
- Film Trailer and four episodes, Save Our Sisters website media page
- Anna Sattler’s story as told to the Anchorage Daily News for the Lawless series on sexual violence in Alaska 9.6.2019
- Save Our Sisters Alaska Facebook page
- Affinityfilms website
- ‘We all have a part to play in making our communities safer,’ Anna Sattler commentary ADN 12.24.2019
- Link to Lawless: Sexual Violence in Alaska, by ADN and ProPublica, project website
- Coffee & Quaq, Resolve episodes
- Alaska Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, 2019 dashboard and report, 26-pg PDF print or read here.
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, September 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, September 28, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
Since mid-March 2020, the Alaska Court System has coped with the public health risk of the COVID-19 pandemic by delaying court proceedings. Altogether, the presiding judge has issued seven orders. The latest, Order No. 7, was issued August 27. It staggered the start dates of trials set to begin. Examples: trial calls currently set for September 2 were continued to October 27. Those set for September 23 were continued until November 18. Pre-trial conferences had a similar bracket of continuations. Find the full list here.
District Court Judge Kari McCrea Delays like these are unprecedented. As Bethel attorney Myron Angstom told the Anchorage Daily News in March, “For criminal cases, “you’re balancing someone’s right to a speedy trial with a bunch of people’s right to remain free from significant illness. That’s a pretty tough call.”
In today’s Justice Alaska on Hometown Alaska, District Court Judge Kari McCrea will detail how the court has adjusted to dealing with the pandemic, and how it affects the everyday role and activities of a sitting judge.
McCrea was appointed to the District Court by former Gov. Bill Walker in September 2018. Prior to that she had served as a public defender in Bethel for seven years, and as a magistrate judge in Anchorage for three years.
HOSTS: Kathleen McCoy and Elaine Andrews
GUEST:
- Judge Kari McCrea, District Judge, Third Judicial District, Anchorage
LINKS:
- COVID-19 response page, Alaska Court System website
- Changes about Filings and Hearings, FAQ, Alaska Court System website
- How Alaska Courts wrestle with COVID-19 constraints, Hometown Alaska, 4.16.2020
- Deputy Presiding Judge Order No. 7, PDF, Alaska Court System website
- Alaska Supreme Court Orders Sweeping Changes to how the Courts run during the coronavirus pandemic, Anchorage Daily News, March 23, 2020.
- COVID resources, Alaska Law Help.org
- Alaska Court System Facebook page
- Alaska Court System Twitter feed
- COVID-19 Small Business/Nonprofit Legal Clinic, Alaska Legal Services Corporation with pro bono help from Perkins Coie and Lawyers for Good Government, 45-minute free consultation registration page
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, September 21, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, September 21, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
Image from the fbi.gov website dealing with protecting citizens from cyber crime. UPDATE after the broadcast: If you have a cyber crime to report, do so here: IC3.org
If you wish to check on info breaches related to your email, check at haveibeenpwned.com
FBI agents from the Anchorage field office will join us on the next Hometown Alaska to share strategies on improving your home cyber security.
The challenges are many and growing. Working, studying or shopping from home due to COVID-19 restrictions has added risk. Home security cameras, talking personal assistants who will turn on your radio or select your favorite tunes, printers — all can be security risks unless you take correct steps to protect your home network.
Agents will share local stories about computer security breaches that have happened right here in Anchorage and Alaska. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, so we’re getting a jump on updating ourselves, including children and elders, on how to stay safe online. Your questions and comments are always welcome. Please join us!
GUEST:
- Elliott Peterson, Anchorage-based FBI agent in the Cybersecurity Squad
- Ed Kilgore, supervising FBI agent, Cybersecurity Squad
LINKS
- Online shopping: safety basics from the National Cyber Security Alliance website
- Hacked accounts: Signs you’ve been hacked, additional help from social media services like EBay, Google, Twitter, Facebook etc., National Cyber Security Alliance website
- Securing your home network, secure your wireless router, tips from National Cyber Security Alliance website
- How to enhance your home wireless network, blog post, Heimdal Security website
- FBI Cyber Crime website
- FBI Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October) website
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, September 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, September 14, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
- PODCAST: at www.alaskapublic.org/hometown for free future public access
Beth Baker on a winter bike ride, one of her Alaska passions. (Photo courtesy Beth Baker) Beth Baker came to Alaska at age 32, joining an Anchorage medical group as a pulmonary physician in 1982, staying with them for 36 years, through 2018.
As she wrote in a letter to her patients, “Unfortunately, due to changes in the US medical system, it has become increasingly difficult for pulmonary physicians to remain in private practice and to care for patients on Medicare, Medicaid, or those without insurance…evidenced by the fact that multiple pulmonary physicians have closed their private practice within the last decade in Anchorage.” Baker moved over to Providence Hospital’s pulmonary clinic for her last two years. She still cares for lung patients with sleeping disorders through a local sleep clinic, but she has retired as a pulmonary physician.
On the Iditarod Trail, 1994. “Because I enjoy my career, it is difficult to stop, ” she wrote to her patients in her goodbye letter.
Baker has taken full advantage of her nearly 40 years as an Alaska resident: to play, to give back, to challenge herself. In this edition of Hometown Alaska, we’ll ask Dr. Baker why she chose Alaska, about her many outdoor adventures here, how she copes with COVID 19 on the brink of her retirement freedom, and her thoughts on the American health care system and what she’s observed about its strengths and its problems.
Hers is a unique perspective fueled by curiosity and the drive to keep learning and growing, an attitude as true in her retirement as it was as a fledgling doctor and a new Alaskan. Please join us!
Summit bound on Denali. 1996. Photo courtesy of Beth Baker HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUEST:
- Dr. Beth Baker, nearly 40-year Alaska resident who chose the state for its beauty and adventure, and spent decades helping lung patients.
LINKS
- Iditarod archives, Beth Baker’s 1994 run, winner of Sportsmanship award
- The Race: Medical attention lacking – Where are the Idita-docs? Veterinarians wait for the dogs at every checkpoint, but ailing mushers are on their own, ADN 2.23.2003 through News Bank (will require a Loussac library card to view)
- Women in the Wild – Venturing into the outdoors is not just a ‘man thing’ anymore, ADN 7.5.1996 through News Bank (includes details of Baker’s Denali climb, will require a Loussac library card to view)
- Typical Outdoors hotline listing for Beth Baker, ADN, 6.24.2007, “Naturalist Beth Baker leads a hike to an active beaver colony on the upper loop of the Albert Trail. No dogs, please.”
- Opinion: The business of health care depends on exploiting doctors and nurses, The New York Times, 6.8.2019
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, August 31, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, August 31, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
- PODCAST: at www.alaskapublic.org/hometown for free future public access
KL Marshall, originally from Texas but currently living in Alaska (thanks to COVID-19 shuttering her graduate school), is an academic writing her doctoral thesis at the University of Edinburgh School of Divinity.
Her topic is an examination of dispensationalism, a religious interpretation of the Bible that says biblical history is divided into eras, or dispensations, and that God governs these eras differently. It’s complex, but surprisingly relevant to Alaska and American politics of the moment.
Along the way, as she researched, she says she kept coming upon references to Alaska, the oil pipeline, Rev. Jerry Prevo, and former Gov. Sarah Palin. So last summer she traveled here to try and understand why Alaska and Alaskans were popping up in her research. The result is this new book, just out in May.
Here is how Marshall describes the book:
Faith and Oil tells the story of conservative Christianity’s relationship with America’s oil industry. It shows how the libertarian values of big oil companies–such as government deregulation of business practices and curbing laws that protect the environment–became embedded within the theologies of the Religious Right. These theologies of oil later found their being in the public consciousness through the rise of Sarah Palin and led to the election of Donald Trump.
We live in an oil state. Sarah Palin was our governor. Donald Trump is our president. The connection is intriguing and worth exploring. That’s the goal of today’s program.
It is worth noting that Marshall’s book has strong endorsements from two established academics and students of religion and politics. They are Dr. Darren Dochuk, a history professor at Notre Dame University, and a guest on today’s program, and Dr. Mark Noll, who has had long affiliations with both Wheaton College in Illinois and Notre Dame. Both have studied the intersection of religion and politics in American life. Please join us.
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
- KL Marshall, author of “Faith and Oil: How the Alaska Pipeline shaped America’s Religious Right”
- Darren Dochuk, author of “Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America,” history professor at Notre Dame University
- Holly Pivec, Evangelical researcher of new religious movements
LINKS
- “Christianity will have power”: Donald Trump made a promise to white evangelical Christians, whose support can seem mystifying to outside observers, The New York Times, August 2020
- BBC report: How the Independent Network Charismatic (INC) Christianity is growing and affecting America, audio story, BBC website, June 16, 2017
- Talk by Darren Dochuk at the University of Alberta on his book, “Annointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude made Modern America, October 22,2019, You Tube
- Darren Dochuk bio and research interests, Notre Dame University website
- Holly Pivec, new religious movement researcher, on panel at Religious News Association journalism conference, discussing intersection between religion and politics and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, Churchwatch website, Religious News Association video
- Spirit of Error, Holly Pivec blog, “a biblical response to the modern apostles and prophets movement”, website
- Holly Pivec’s two books on NAR, Amazon website
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, August 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, August 24, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
- PODCAST: at www.alaskapublic.org/hometown for free future public access
Image by Mohamed Hassan, of Pixaby. Used with permission. Alaska has approximately 3,000 youth in foster care, and many of these young people have stepped forward to ask for a mentor. Their wish is for the steadying guidance of an adult as they exit the foster care safety net and take their first steps into independent adulthood. This transition to responsible adulthood is hard for anyone, but can be especially difficult for a young person going it alone.
Here are the words of former foster care client Slade Martin, who left foster care at age 19:
“Basically it’s just like one day everybody is there for you and the next day, you are on your own. I didn’t understand what my credit score was. I didn’t understand anything about how to find an apartment. I didn’t understand … how to find out who is scamming you and who is not.” He said he wishes he had had a mentor to guide him along.
He was quoted in an Anchorage Daily News story on the kick-off of the mentor program.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska (BBBS) is actively working to find these mentors. SYNC is the name of their program designed to match foster youth age 14-21 with “a supportive and caring adult mentor who will be there as a friend and provide stability as they move through the system and transition out of foster care.” They hope the connection might last for years, from foster care to beyond.
Mentors must be 25 years of age or older. SYNC is funded by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services – Office of Children’s Services.
The need is great, advocates say. According to a sponsor statement for HB 151, a bill passed in 2018 that recommended improvements in foster care,”roughly 40 percent of our foster youth end up homeless at some point in their lives after leaving care, and roughly 20 percent end up in jail.”
On today’s Hometown Alaska, we’ll talk about mentoring foster youth on the brink of adulthood, a person-to-person connection that can be made even more complicated right now by COVID-19 constraints. Join us.
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
- Trina Resari-Salao, VP Programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska
- Amanda Metivier Hernandez, co-founder, director and board member of Facing Foster Care in Alaska
- Les Gara, foster care advocate, Alaska State Representative 2003-2018, sponsor of HB 27 and HB 151, bills to improve foster care
LINKS
- How to find out about mentoring a foster care youth, details found on this page
- New mentoring program helps youth after foster care, Anchorage Daily News, 9.16.2016
- Facing Foster Care in Alaska, a lifeline for foster youth and alumni, website
- Details on HB 151, Alaska Legislature website
- Details on HB 27 2015, Alaska Legislature website
- Youth aging out of foster care system need a runway, not a cliff, article from Youth Today website
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, August 17, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, August 17, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
- PODCAST: at www.alaskapublic.org/hometown for free future public access
Portugal. The Man going at it. Visible from left are Zach Carothers, John Gourley and Eric Howk. (From Portugal. The Man website) There they are, as the January 28, 2018 Grammy night gets underway, doing a red-carpet interview, Zach and John. Their song, “Feel It Still,” written during a 45-minute break from working on “Live in the Moment,” was a surprise nominee for best pop duo/group performance.
Zach does most of the media chatter, claiming to be wearing his first ever tuxedo. John listens and nods, and chimes in that they are most creative right after they finish a record. The hit song “just makes me want to work harder,” he said.
Two hours later, they hold the Grammy in their hands. There’s Eric, all smiles, in a tux. Again, Zach does the speechifying, saying it’s important to “Rep where you’re from,” and giving a shout out to villagers from “Shishmaref, Barrow, Bethel, all the Indigenous Peoples in Alaska and around the world. You’re beautiful, your culture’s beautiful…Rep where you’re from!”
When asked about being nominated for a Grammy on their eighth album, Zach said:
“There’s amazing artists that come out of nowhere that are just amazingly talented. We weren’t those people — we had to work for a while and get better… We had to play thousands of shows, we had to make those albums and keep getting better, and we’re all about hard work, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
“We like the struggle,” he added. “We like sleeping in vans and eating rice at rest stops and it feels good to look back on the journey that we’ve done and all that it took to get there and get this nomination [for best pop duo/group performance] is huge for us.”
It will be fun to hear Eric’s take on the journey (he’s been with the band since 2015 and plays on ‘Feel It Still’) as we listen to this and other tunes, dissect some lyrics and hear tales from the tour.
So get ready. Watch the music video
Thanks for listening!
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
- Eric Howk, Alaskan, Valley guy, band member Portugal. The Man
LINKS:
- Portugal. The Man website
- “Erik Howk. The Man,” The New Mobility, 6.1.2018
- Guitar hero:Eric Howk of Portugal. The Man is a rock star with a cause, ADN, 8.28.2017
- Eric Howk and Zack Carothers interview, Part 1, Face Culture, 7.3.2017
- Eric Howk and Zack Carothers interview, Part 2, Face Culture 7.3.2017
- Eric Howk and Zack Carothers interview, NTI
- Erik Howk PSA for National Telecommuting Institute
- Links related to “Feel It Still,” the Grammy winner
- ‘Feel It Still’ lyrics explained, NME website, 10.31.17
- ‘Feel It Still’ lyrics explained, TIME magazine, 11.15.17
- ‘Feel It Still’ lyrics explained, Genius You Tube video, 5.16.17
- ‘Feel It Still’ lyrics explained, Songfacts
- American Music Awards 2017 performance ‘Feel It Still’
- Portugal.The Man on the new album Woodstock, Build series, 6.20.17
- Band with Local Roots Stays Grounded Amid Success, The Frontiersman, 12.2.2011
- Portugal. The Man singer tends to his Alaska roots, ADN, 2.22.12
- John Gourley: The Man Behind Portugal. The Man, Pigeons & Planes, 6.26.13
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air)
- LIVE: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
- REPEAT: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.