MI Insider: Recent Episodes
KMIH 88.9 The Bridge
Mercer Island community figures give their perspectives on issues pertaining to Mercer Island and the world as a whole. Hosted by Miles Avilez, MI Insider gives a voice to those whose messages, hardships, or accomplishments warrant being highlighted.
Sam Harb and Alaine Sommergren of the Mercer Island Parks and Rec Department share the details of a recently passed levy that provides additional funding for parks. They discuss the two main upgrades from the levy, those being more funding for forest restoration in Pioneer Park, and more funding for the replacement of playground equipment.
Miles talks with Michael Ketchum, the teacher of Mercer Island High School's new "Media Technology" class, about his career through the years. Michael has served in the navy, owned a restaurant, worked as program manager of allrecipes.com, and has since become a freelance film producer and the teacher of Media Tech. In Michael's class, storytelling is above all else, and video is the tool that allows students to tell these stories.
The streets of Mercer Island are alive in the middle of the night. From shoplifters to Pokémon Go players to police on their patrol routes, there is so much to be seen when the sun goes down. David King, a Mercer Islander with insomnia, recounts the crazy experiences he's had while walking the streets of Mercer Island in the middle of the night. He explains why he enjoys his night-walks so much and why you should give it a try...
Protests have erupted across Iran after Mahsa Amini was wrongfully killed for refusing to wear a hijab. Protestors call for revolution and an end to the reign of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Anahita, a second generation Iranian Immigrant, shares her perspective on the movement and what the future may look like for Iranian citizens.
Miles speaks with Tolly, an MIHS student who has family currently living Russia. Tolly gives the inside scoop on Russian attitudes towards the war, how propaganda has affected its citizens, and how thoughts are starting to shift among Russia's youth. Tolly suggests that Russia's failure to overcome a NATO-backed Ukraine will lead to a revolution in Russia.
Miles Avilez interviews Tech Specialist and ethnic Tigrayan, Beniam Yetbarek, on the dire state of the war and humanitarian crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia. In Tigray millions of civilians are stuck behind the blockade, being deprived of food and water. Miles and Beniam discuss the origin of the war, Beniam's family still in Tigray, the current situation on the ground, and what you can do to help.