Arctic Entries: Recent Episodes
Arctic Entries
In the spirit of "The Moth" and "Stoop Stories," Arctic Entries brings Alaskans to the stage to share their personal stories, funny, sad, and sweet.
Missy was born to a fiery second generation Italian woman and a Cuban immigrant on the east coast. She started formally telling stories at age five when she forced her grandfather to record her interviewing her relatives at thanksgiving. She is a bit of a gypsy who will move to a new city on a whim driven by her spirit of adventure. When she isn’t cooking comfort food for friends, having a random dance party (with it without other people) or sitting around a camp fire telling stories of her worst dates you’ll find her laying in her hammock soaking up the Alaskan summer sun!
Nicolette (also responds to Nicky/Nico/Nic) was born-and-raised in Airport Heights. She has lived among the Douglas firs of Oregon, the saguaro cactus of Arizona, and now the maple forests of Quebec. She just earned her Master of Urban Planning degree from McGill University and is ready to move to a cabin in the woods.
Alison has been living, hiking, and skiing - often with friends but rarely without a dog - since she moved to Alaska in 1990. She's lived in Homer and Valdez and now calls Spenard home.
Jennifer’s patchworked career path has included teaching piano, guiding kayak and road bike trips, teaching downhill skiing, and being a property manager. Her list of idiocies/adventures span trekking in Tibet, paddling the cayes of Belize, road biking through the Yukon, and learning how to paraglide by running off a cliff at Hatcher’s Pass, but it’s possible that telling this story for Arctic Entries tops all that.
Nithya is a lifelong Alaskan and Sri Lankan Tamil. She missed the memo in middle school and has currently become obsessed with vampires while hunkered down. She is a lover of history, dancing and advocating for human rights, and hopes that in these tough times, she can continue to support local and global communities in building a more just and equitable future.
Kathryn loves living in Alaska! She was born and raised here. She liked to spend her time looking at wildflowers, enjoying winter and summer outdoor sports, and rebuilding cars (especially her Subaru!). On the coldest winter days, you'll find her by the fireplace reading a good book.
Gabby is a senior at West High. These days, she’s doing what she can to stave off existential dread. A former spelling bee prodigy, Gabby loves being outside, playing soccer, and hanging out with friends. She hopes that her story can be a lighthearted escape from everything going on in the world right now.
Despite growing up in Fairbanks, Bonnie settled upon Anchorage after her release as an opportunity to start her life fresh in a new spot. Now a supervisor at Fire Island Bakeshop, Bonnie has become an active member in the Anchorage community. While incarcerated at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, Bonnie was involved in Running Free Alaska, a structured running program that promotes healthy habits and relationships. She continues to serve as an ambassador for Running Free Alaska, working to maintain connections with the women once they are released into our community.
Since graduating in 2014 from the Felony DUI Therapeutic Court, Lance has pursued a career in the recovery services field to better help others find their way to freedom from addiction. He is a trained Moral Reconation Therapy facilitator, a trained peer mentor through the McShin Foundation, and a Chemical Dependency Counselor I.
Chet was born in Anchorage on 9th & L streets in 1960. He identifies as Yup’ik and his first language was Yup’ik. Chet is the proud father of two, grandfather of nine, and great grandfather of three.
Having graduated from the Anchorage Felony DUI Court in 2018, Carlos is extremely active within the local recovery field and is working to become more involved at both the state and national level. He holds the chair position of the Alaska Therapeutic Court Alumni, a group that promotes sobriety and right living for therapeutic court participants and graduates. Carlos lives in Anchorage and currently works as a painter for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and Alaska Summit Drywall and Paint. He hopes to transition into more full-time recovery work in the near future.
Joel–half Yup’ik Eskimo and half white–is from Togiak, Alaska. He is 32 years old. Joel received his bachelor’s degrees in Yup’ik language and music from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Laneea’s life has been full; full of the joys, full of the pains, and full of faith. Half Tongan and half white, she is originally from Arizona. Laneea is a mother of four and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is eager to use her lived experience to give back and serve her peers.
Now 60 years old, Jeff has been clean and sober for nine years. Since 1990, Jeff’s addiction has led him in and out of prison; he most recently served seven and a half years. Despite being on electronic monitoring for over 14 months, Jeff has worked his way up to becoming a kitchen manager, where he commonly hires folks coming fresh out of prison or residing in a halfway house. Jeff is committed to paying it forward and doing the next right thing.
I'm Daija from the city of Oakland. I was blind for 10 years but now my eyes are opened. And even though my eyes didn't work, I swear I've seen things that would make a lion's heart hurt. That's why I'm standing here today, to tell the story of this blind girl who moved to AK from the Bay.
Esther is an artist, educator, traveler, and lifelong Alaskan. She enjoys baking pies from scratch, drinking coffee in the bath, and hunting for the perfect hammock spot. Her favorite stories make her both cry and laugh, and she's grateful to be here and enjoy the juiciness of this event.
Sophia is Korean born and Alaskan raised, and seems to have a polar opposite means to happiness. Sophia finds happiness and enjoyment in hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing and paddle-boarding in beautiful Alaska outdoor scenery all year round. However, she's equally happy to cuddle with her 3-lb Chihuahua with books and cup of hot chocolate in her bed as well. Additionally, Sophia hates aftershocks/earthquakes, not because they scare her, but because they usually indicate more work for her as a structural engineer.
City mouse. Indoorsy. Baker, traveler, the world's biggest fan of her family. Would 100% win Survivor.
Julie was born and raised in Anchorage and is the proud mom of two young boys, Mason and Eli, who keep her very busy. Julie’s motto for raising boys is: “what little boys lack in common sense they make up for with energy!” When she’s not keeping up with her kids you can find her fishing and biking in the summer, sledding and ice skating in the winter and making beaded jewelry year round.
Elizabeth is the third member of her family to tell an Arctic Entries story. She counts herself lucky, but also knows that luck comes from not being afraid to try to new things, or to follow her instincts and marry a nice guy she met in a grocery store, as one example. She’s a communications manager and the proud mom of two kind and adventurous teenage boys.
Elijah moved to Alaska a few years ago from Michigan and decided to stay. He has served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon and is always planning another adventure. He enjoys hiking and running on Alaska’s beautiful trails
Destiny is originally from Alaska but grew up in Oregon and Idaho. She has worked with individuals with disabilities since she was 16. She is now a Registered Behavior Technician(RBT) and an Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) manager, and works with kids who have autism. She has three beautiful children and a wonderful husband.
Michele is a proud Alaskan Resident who has lived here since she was three years old (that was 1969!). She has been married to her wonderful husband, Ken, for 29 years and together for 32 years. They raised three kids (now young adults) Jordan, Madison & Hunter to love Alaska, too. Michele and her husband own Distinctive Homes and System Clean. She is a survivor of the Route 91 Music Festival shooting in Las Vegas, and is grateful to her husband who continually reminds her that she is a warrior.She says Lighthouse Christian Fellowship is where you need to be, if you're looking for a church.
Growing up in Anchorage, Donteh was exposed to criminal activity and drug addiction at an early age. Soon he became addicted to the fast life, and making money was his mission. After his second prison term, he began to understand his potential and worth. He is now the author of a treatment manual entitled From Hustling to Healing which highlights overcoming the addiction to a criminal lifestyle. He has been featured on numerous news outlets for his continued involvement in positive community efforts, which include reentry housing and mentoring youth through public activities. He is an entrepreneur with a passion to encourage and inspire, seeking to continually motivate, change, and redirect the lives of men and women alike. He is now a man of faith about his Father’s Business.
Susan is a lifelong Alaskan. Volunteerism & advocacy are her passion. She has not expired, only semi-retired, and is a bit of a roamer between Anchorage & Homer.
Megan is a lifelong Alaskan, and proud Spenardian. She is the Communications Director for the ACLU of Alaska, but in her past life she was cranking out copy for peanuts in newsrooms around Anchorage, reporting on everything from homelessness to elephants. In her free time, she's either in the woods, hanging with her dog pack or looking for an excuse to go to Fire Island Bakery
One of Al's hobbies is exploring volcanoes. He has explored Mount Vesuvius near Pompeii, Mount Popocatepetl in Mexico, Mount Bromo in Indonesia, and Mount Katmai in Alaska.
Jacqui is the middle sister of 10 and an Auntie to over 20 nieces and nephews. She is a writer, graphic designer, and traditional dancer from Kotzebue. She has traveled across the world, but her favorite places are the Inuit communities in Chukotka, Canada, and Greenland. Jacqui is passionate about astrology, poetry, mental health, and old Native legends. You can find more of her work at jacquiiwithacue.com or on Instagram and Twitter.
When Holly’s twins were born (just over two years ago) she would drive out to Kincaid while simultaneously breast pumping to optimize her time skiing. During her husband’s 24-hour shifts working for the Anchorage Fire Department, she mines the chocolate chips out of the Ghirardelli brownie mix. Holly loves powder, cilantro, cats, Norwegian brown cheese, making the uncomfortable comfortable, and her husband, Rob.
Matt has been Anchored in Anchorage for 10 years, and serves as the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage. He loves painting, hiking, and spending time with his wonderful wife, his three amazing kids, his awesome dog, and his adequate cat.
Beth is an avid traveler, hiker, and photographer who can often be found in the Chugach Mountains. Beth is a fundraising consultant and an active community volunteer, including serving on the board of Alaska Public Media and the newly formed Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance (www.akeatingdisordersalliance.org). She has a dashing husband and two very cool adult children
David was born and raised in Texas and has been in Alaska since 2011. He even skipped the graduation at his University to get on the road quicker to drive up here. In his free time, David enjoys photography, biking, kayaking and hiking. He is a firm believer that bad decisions make good stories.
Aimee is a 42 year old Cannabis activist, writer, and mother. She moved to Alaska in 2005 from WA state. Aimee writes for Anchorage Press and Alaska Leaf. She enjoys riding bikes, reading books, adventuring, and exploring life with her two sons.
Natalie was tempted to put “Natalie Chai Fraser is an enigma”, but ultimately decided that would be a bit of a cop out. She is a senior at West High School and has an irrational fear of mold.
Growing up, Kelli’s parents encouraged her to explore, discover, and create. That basic principle has led her on a lifetime journey of exploring new places, going big, and pushing her boundaries. She spends her time in the mountains, exploring new places, skiing spines in the winter, cuddling her puppy Kenai, drinking whisky and beer, and hoping she doesn’t envision you all nude when she steps on stage
CIndy has been an Alaskan for 3 years. She loves that you can wear pants with a dress here and no one cares – the last time she got away with that was in 2nd grade...! Cindy is the mother of 2 adult children, a military spouse (he’s retired now) and a nurse. She is honored to be invited here to Arctic Entries!
Dela is an Alaskan who grew up Outside and returned home in adulthood. Still trying to find her niche, she has worked as a teacher, reservationist for a water sports company in Hawaii, naturalist park ranger, land sales specialist for the State, studied volcanology, and most recently became a licensed land surveyor. She loves hiking and orienteering, wants to do more kayaking, and is trying to like skiing, but recent winters keep conspiring against her, in spite of her briefly having an Olympic gold medalist as a neighbor.
Melanie is a born and raised Alaskan. She loves her mom and sister, adores her friends (who are the best people in Alaska) and walks with her dogs, fast bicycle rides, full-belly laughs and traveling to warm places during the unruly winter months. She has recently been into fermenting and making different types of hot sauces and kimchi.
Seemingly partial to the outdoor and nomadic lifestyle, Forrest seeks out ways to combine the two with work. An interest in fish, mountains, and reading the book “Hatchet” too many times as a kid brought him to Alaska. He enjoys art and music, the company of most people, free food, roadkill, and dumpster diving. He dreams of climbing tall peaks and eating weird food items while pursuing different avenues to educate himself and enjoy life.
Scott Owens is an emergency physician living in Anchorage, but often as not working abroad. He has worked with those affected by conflict in South Sudan, lectured remotely for Syrian medical students and residents whose training was interrupted by war, and taught ultrasound in a clinic for Rohingya refugees in Malaysia.
Isaac Sugimoto is a Seattle-born Alaskan wannabe who loves cooking for friends and public use cabins.
Lynda Leal Prince teaches high school social studies, runs marathons and ultra-marathons, has studied five languages but mastered none, kayaked 600 miles of the Yukon River, survived the winter of ‘88-‘89 in Fairbanks, didn’t flunk out of Harvard, fought off an attacker with her bare hands, helped deliver a baby in a country where she didn’t even know the word for ‘soap’ in the local language, is a sugar addict who gave up sugar for 6 weeks straight last winter, and saved the princess once. Parenting, though, remains the hardest thing she’s ever done.
Jacob moved to Anchorage in February in no small part because he had never been to Alaska before. He has competed in the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships multiple times and mostly hasn't done too well. From Texas, he's a little unnerved to have already found his windshield iced over in the morning.
Chelsea loves any excuse to dress up in costumes and will most definitely be the person “dancing” erratically on the dance floor. Her go-to karaoke song is “Real Slim Shady” and her life motto is, “full send, no goggles”. Chelsea is a firm believer in climate change and drinks her weight in seltzer water. She enjoys many different outdoor and indoor activities and usually finds herself hours into a type-2 fun kind of day.
Kim has been in Alaska for a little over 7 years, but she was born in Harlan, Kentucky and spent most of her life in the South. So, if she is mad, tired, or angry you might be lucky enough to hear her southern accent come out. She and her husband are both scientists and spend most of their free time on outdoor adventures with their sweet and sassy threenager.
Stacy Boles is a mother of four and freelance producer. When she’s not at home singing into wooden spoons to liven up dinner, she's crafting stories for television, commercials and films. While Stacy loves a good adventure, she prefers a story-worthy misadventure.
As a proud son of Cleveland, Ohio and its sports teams, Mark is a perennial optimist (and knows that WTNY means Waiting Till Next Year.) Now thoroughly immersed in all things Spenardian - Mark lives, works and “plays well with others” in Spenard as one of the co-founders of the Spenard Farmers Market, the Spenard Chamber of Commerce and the Fish Creek Festival. His biggest smiles are reserved for when Eagle Scout Mark hops off the Alaska Railroad Flagstop train at Canyon with the woman of his life and walks, skis, or snowshoes to his cabin.
A product of parents from the peace, love & happiness generation, this apple doesn’t fall from from the tree. This entrepreneurial flower power gal is all about spreading good vibes & pushing the limits of life. Jacenda manufactures her own sunshine on the rainy days & is proud to be the creator & co-founder of a beautiful little fitness studio called /vīb/ cycle.
Marietta “Ed” Hall lives in Anchorage with her husband and two boys. All are born and raised Alaskans. She works as a financial advisor with Alaska Permanent Capital Management to support her 30+ year rowing habit and other vices.
Paul L. Craig is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist. Dr. Craig has been practicing in Alaska since 1980. Paul is the father of three daughters - Heather, Hanna, and Marie. Being a father of daughters has been the biggest adventure of his life and Paul’s greatest source of pride. In Paul’s words, “My daughters have given me faith in the next generation." In addition to his profession, Paul has been an adventure bicyclist since 1976 when he bicycled from New York City to the Coast of Oregon. When Paul is not relaxing, he likes to relax.
Russell is a reluctant musician and the exploring companion to a large and fluffy Newfoundland dog with a skiing obsession. He told his best story to four people over a pot of potato fondue in Switzerland in 2010. As a 15-year resident of Anchorage, he is happy to be a part of Alaska's community of storytellers at Arctic Entries.
Julie grew up near Seattle but has made Alaska home for the last 30 years. She is a retired educator who loves rowing, and, along with her husband and son, enjoys skiing, biking, and spending time at their cabin near McCarthy
My name is Rebekah. I'm a middle school teacher and the mother of 3 kids. So, basically, I'm invincible. :) I love stories and feel we all have important ones to share.
Adam is a 35-year-old lifelong Alaskan. When he's not working for Guardian Flight, he's probably out biking, skiing, climbing, reading or sleeping. If he's not doing any of those things, he's probably up to no good.
Diego is a senior at Service High School and is an outgoing person who loves to laugh. He's part of the biomedical program at Service and is looking forward to someday attending medical school.
Cindi has enjoyed the Alaskan outdoors for over 48 years. Her only child, the Snowbird Hut, is a constant source of joy and crazy experiences in her life. Volunteering for projects like this has put her in touch with an incredible community of outdoor people. Check out the Snowbird Hut Facebook page to see these amazing Alaskans and view the great work they do to support the hut!
Ross is married to Grace, has a daughter named Faith, and is expecting his second bundle “Joy” shortly after this show. He founded Accelerate: Alaska because he thinks we need to start having REAL conversations about how Alaskans can impact our state’s future. Ross holds an MBA from the AGSM, ranked as the third-best global business school by Forbes Magazine. It’s important to the story.
Barred from higher education and faced with religious persecution because of his Baha’i faith, O’Mead decided to come to the US from Iran a month before the 1979 revolution. Within a year he was deported because of hostage crisis and became a refugee seeking asylum in the US. He achieved his goal of higher education to become a chiropractor and moved to Anchorage-one of the most diverse cities in the US-to serve all. He believes Earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.
Born & raised in Ketchikan, Anne can trace her family roots back to Captain John Gore, who sailed to Alaska with Captain Cook aboard the HMS Resolution in 1778. She has 2 teenage sons who she loves madly but who are slowly driving her crazy.
Carter Brubaker is 15 years old and is a freshman at the Service High School Seminar School. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, nordic skiing with Alaska Winter Stars and ski jumping.
A lifelong Alaskan with wanderlust, Alisa is both shocked and thrilled to be setting her roots in her hometown of Anchorage after 31 years away. She most recently has been a Palmer girl for the past 17 years, with a short interlude on the Big Island. She is a mom of 2 sweet boys, and lucky in love with her husband Todd. Alisa works as a pediatric occupational therapist where she strives to help kids feel comfortable, confident, and in touch with their own super powers.
Charlie is a local family doctor who is in love with Anchorage. He is an avid skier and runner and passionate but rhythmically limited bachata dancer. He is proud to have recently solidified his Alaskaness by obtaining his first pair of XtraTufs.
Joanne is originally from Scotland and finds Alaska is quite similar...except for all the snow, the vastness of the landscape, bears, earthquakes, and volcanoes!!!! Okay so both places are very green in the summer and the people are great. She especially loves that in Alaska, people are okay when she gets super excited about snow!
Oakland breed. Hapa: Japanese and British. Uses her hands to talk. Uses her face to yell. Hogs over mochi. Does not carry heavy bags but she lifts, bro. When she clocks in at 8:30, she has six kids. When she clocks out at 4:00 she has zero kids.
Accused of being a workaholic and/or hustler, Elana works two jobs, one in public health where she attempts to prevent the negatives of using substances, and the other teaching students/being a student herself about public health promotion. When she’s not doing that, you’ll find her volunteering for various causes, Tindering, or being outside as much as possible. Her favorite quote is: “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” by Oscar Wilde, a quote that continuously reminds her to seize the day.
Ben was born and raised flying around remote Alaska and spent a few years Outside working for SpaceX, where he helped build launch and landing sites. He now co-owns K2 Dronotics, where they fly drones and work with rocket start-ups around the US. He has a two-year-old daughter who is much cooler than he is.
Ezra has spent many years flying small planes in various countries bringing public health services to remote and isolated villages. Now he’s building Greenstand, a platform that fights climate change and extreme poverty by using technology to employ people to plant and steward forests. If you see him on the street, he might be the guy with a mischievous grin and a perfect snowball.
Michiyo has been living in Alaska for 32 years, and this is her home now. She feels lucky to live in Alaska. Being Japanese, she loves the “all you can eat salmon”, if she can catch it.
Zoey skips when she is happy, which is most of the time. She’s also exceptionally skilled in the art of trying.
Raised on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies, Mandi spent her youth adventuring and fundraising with her local Boy Scout Troop 223. As a young adult, she moved around the state until finally she made a great leap of faith and for the price of a one-way ticket bought a new life. She now resides in Seward with her dog ‘the goodest boy’ Woodrow and her fat cat Buster Beans Keaton.
While Taylor could very easily use this bio to endlessly list interesting facts about himself, he has instead decided to identify the Disney character that most accurately epitomizes his sparkling personality, supporting cast member mentality, and comedic wit.
“He touched the butt.” – Tad, Finding Nemo
E.J.R. David is a father, husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He enjoys writing and talking, especially if the writing and the talking will get him into necessary trouble. Other than this, his main duty is to drive his family to their basketball games, swimming lessons, and midwifery gatherings.
Nevaeh Miller is a gregarious cat and dog loving Hispanic female. First in her bloodline to graduate high school and college with an Associate’s in Automotive Technology from the University of Anchorage Alaska.
Jolene is a proud Alaskan Native and a self-made super woman. She wears many hats but her favorites are of a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. When she has free time she enjoys spending it with family, her numerous pets, and reading.
Marie is a mama of two, an educator, a traveller, and a story-midwife. She runs See Stories (www.seestoriesconsulting.org), an organization that engages youth throughout Alaska in creating documentary films that share vital community stories. Two truths and a lie: she once busked as a fire dancer in Italy, she has shaved her head seven times, and her greatest ambition is to engage in space tourism.
Naomi is a born-and-raised Alaskan, passionate about writing, wine and bluegrass. She spends her days working in public relations at a non-profit, where she brings her dog, Whiskey, every day. She spends her weekends looking for live music to see or trails to hike.
Erynne is an almost lifelong Alaskan, minus a short stint in Maryland after college where she decided she didn’t like people as much as she thought she did and couldn’t live around millions of them. She’s a single mom of two kids and spends most of her time picking up stale goldfish from her car.
A former military brat, Ellen Piekarski (Pie-car-ski) is currently an amazing wife for over 22 years and mother of five awesome kids. In her free time, she teaches Math at East High and goes on hikes. Her greatest talent is saying the alphabet backwards in less than 3 seconds.
Tam Agosti-Gisler (Ah-gauze-tea Geez-lure) arrived in Alaska with her family as a toddler in the year of statehood. She’s had a lifelong relationship with the Anchorage School District—first as a student, then as a teacher and a parent of children in the system, next as director of the School Business Partnership program, and finally as a school board member, now retired. Tam’s lifelong wanderlust has taken her to many nooks and crannies of the world, where she has had many life-changing experiences.
On a good day, Marcia feels that her life is full of love, laughter, maybe a couple tears and warm companionship. On a bad day, she checks out Alaska Airlines for good deals to take her to a new adventure. On all days, she tries to remember to feel gratitude that she is still breathing.
Raised in Anchorage, Westley graduated from the University of Wyoming in addition to studying abroad at the Carl von Ossietzky Universitat in Oldenburg, Germany. He is passionate about the outdoors, and enjoys all things involving mountains and running—especially when combined. Above all, he loves his family.
Kathy identifies as a reformed Southern Belle who has made the transition from not knowing that she was high maintenance to now living without pretense and being able to go places without her purse matching her shoes, wearing makeup, and fixin’ her hair. She has been a nurse practitioner for 15 years but has specialized exclusively in psychiatry for the past 8 years. She has traveled many literal and figurative miles to find her way home.
Daniella is an electrical engineer and ex-navy nuclear electrician’s mate who pulled up anchor at eighteen in California. Through many twists and turns, she made her way to Alaska. When she’s not playing with live electricity, you can find her in her cabin off the grid in Chicken, AK, with her husband Ray. To read more about her latest Alaskan adventure, check out her website and sign up for her newsletter at: dmshepard.com. You can also find her on Twitter, @dmshepard13.
John came to Alaska as an interpreter for Russian biologists 30 years ago. He is looking for a way to slow down time so he and Elizabeth can enjoy their teenage boys a little longer before they leave home, which they claim they will. His favorite joke involves a tea bag, a match, and a story about a couple of astronauts.
Paul graduated from high school in Nome, and has been with the University of Alaska Anchorage for 17 years. He has a daughter who is an award-winning poet, three grandkids, and a wonderful nephew and great nieces. Paul has lived in Nome, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Barrow, Sitka and Anchorage. He is a former photographer of Alaska fashion for public radio.
Carmel was born and raised in Southeast Alaska, and has loved watching three generations of family grow here. A fortune teller once revealed to her that she would someday have a story to tell, and someone would come find her to tell it. And now, here she is.
Margaret has been a lifelong Seward resident since 1933, the mother of four children and mother-in-law to four more. In that time, she operated a seafood processing plant with her kids, and is now involved in local politics and community affairs.
After a childhood spent in Alabama and then Hawaii, Donna headed Alaska in 1976, where she was the recreation director for the Glennallen construction camp during the building of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, after which she met and married Bill Walker when she moved to Valdez. As First Lady, Donna serves as the Honorary Chair of the Alaska Children’s Trust and assists other organizations in improving the health, safety and wellbeing of Alaska’s families. Her interests include family dinners, ski trips, and spending time with her five grandchildren.
Penny is a 49-year resident of Alaska. The mother of dachshunds and yogi enthusiasts, she has been a hairdresser for 38 years.
Born in American Samoa, Mao grew up playing basketball and football in Alaska. In 2000, he was taken in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he led the defensive line in tackles, as a rookie. Injured in his third season, he moved back to Alaska to raise his young family and begin working with at-risk youth in Anchorage.
Adil is a first-generation Pakistani American who loves to workout, play sports, and socialize. He’s always trying to plan the next vacation and is a strong believer in karma.
Michele is a lifelong Alaskan who has been teaching in one form or another since she was in fourth grade. When she’s not teaching, she prefers to be rowing, Nordic skating, or hiking. Her eclectic family includes a musician, an actress, and an outdoor educator.
Rebecca is a born-and-raised Alaskan, who loves technology and is a connoisseur of novelty mugs. Often she is found luxuriating at home watching TV with her two feline furbabies. Ultimate life goal? Travel the world!
Charlie moved to Anchorage from New York City with 21 boxes, a backpack, and 2 duffle bags. He likes cycling, skiing, beer, and building things. He once had an odd job.
Bennett is a 15-year-old from Anchorage currently attending West High School. He’s a saxophone-playing short person who likes to be outside as much as possible. When not outside, he’s typically working on bikes or busy with homework.
World traveler, adequate mom to three great kids, and wife to a guy who thinks biking up hills is fun, Alisha is an estate planning attorney, helping people plan for their future. In this case, “future” is a nice way of saying “death.” Her great claim to professional fame is taking the bar exam when she was 40 weeks pregnant—and passing.
Amy shares other true-to-life stories on her blog, TrivialCircumstances.com. Lately, she’s been writing about evangelicalism and sex. She’s also working on a divorce memoir (working title: Never Covered with Shame). When she’s not writing, you might find her managing software and IT projects for money, playing violin and piano, adventuring outside with her cranky corgi-mix dog, or eating all the good cheese.
Danelle is a third-generation Alaskan who has followed in her father’s footsteps as a mental health professional here in Anchorage. She also enjoys trail running, triathlons and teaching mountain biking.
Bill Popp came to Alaska in the winter of 1968 as a military brat arriving from Phoenix via the Alcan Hwy. Graduating from East High in 1977, he married his wife Nicole in 1979. After several careers, serving in political office, and growing corn and tomatoes and big-ass blue ribbon cucumbers in his greenhouse, all while raising a family in Kenai for 25 years, Bill moved back to Anchorage in 2007 to run the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation.
Charlotte is an intrepid hiker, climber, runner, skier, and people-watcher. She once biked across the country, subsisting primarily on peanut butter and bananas. Charlotte is originally from New Hampshire and moved to Anchorage in 2014. When she’s not at work as an Occupational Therapist, you’ll find her adventuring in, around, and way, way out of town.
Originally from Minnesota, Catherine has lived in Alaska for 20-plus years. She has three kids, two dogs, and one husband. She’s a nurse, and is part of a band.
Linda is a journalist who got her start covering the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in 1980. Despite (or perhaps because of?) a horrific wardrobe malfunction and swearing loudly on live TV as the volcano erupted, her career took off and brought her across the Pacific Northwest. She has two grown, energetic children and three old, lazy cats.
Lizbeth works for state government. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, was featured in Buzzfeed, Brit&Co., and Reader’s Digest.
Kate, a self-proclaimed certified badass #platinumstatus, is a born-and-raised Alaskan who has done her time ‘Outside’ long enough to know AK is her home. When she is not saving this Great State one cleanup at a time as an environmental engineer, Kate is influencing the next generation though various outreach events, as well as participating in her ‘hobby job’ as the U14 Alpine ski coach for Alyeska Ski Club. In the summertime, you can find Kate pretending to be a triathlete, but above all else, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her dogs.
Jessica is a sophomore at West High School with a passion for music, traveling, and the outdoors. She spent her entire childhood outside in Alaska, whether it was cross-country skiing or hiking, and she absolutely adores traveling, especially internationally. She has two younger sisters with whom she does everything, and unlike most people, never checks her phone.
Sarah is a mother, photographer, and lifelong Alaskan. She loves to travel, and once schlepped a nun costume around Europe for five weeks just so she could spin around in the Austrian Alps singing “the hills are alive with the sound of music,”for a few minutes.
Darl has been in Alaska nearly 40 years and plans parties for a living. When asked what his autobiography would be called, he responded: Don’t Try to Out-Southern Me. He claims to be only slightly less dysfunctional than the rest of his family.
Daniel recently quit his job and started school in what may only be a premature midlife crisis. He grew up in North Pole, but currently lives in Anchorage.
Zac grew up in Talkeetna where he learned many things, including how to get drunk. Two weekends ago he practiced being drunk and that’s why he’s here.
Jake grew up in Utah, bounced around Europe and Africa for a few years, and moved to Anchorage in 2002. He describes himself as a mountain guy with a flair for the arts. He is happily married to Amy Malouf. So far they have climbed, along with their 15-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, the highest mountain in 44 of the 50 states. This introduction has basically nothing to do with the story he is about to tell.
Jeff moved to Alaska in 2004. He graduated from UAA in 2009 and worked in the IT and telecom industry for 7 years. He has run for the state senate twice, unsuccessfully (maybe third time is the charm?). He is widely known around Alaska for the infamous“Speedo-gate”scandal. He recently returned to Alaska from Australia, where he spent almost a year working and traveling. He started a blog, the Alaska Landmine, after he got back last October.
Sarah is a born-and-raised Alaskan. When she is not working as an employment attorney, Sarah loves to spend time exploring and adventuring with friends and family. She is a big fan of tutus and fanny packs.
With fist pounding on the lunchroom table for a bass beat in the 5th grade, this Wonder Woman used to be known as Kid Dynamite. Over the years, she cultivated her poetry, creative writing and emcee skills through contests, published works and open mics until she felt she reached a level of self-mastery. Nowadays, she is acknowledged as the dynamic M.C. MoHagani Magnetek.
Kokayi attended the Million Man March on October 16, 1995. Since that day, he has dedicated himself to addressing social injustice, using very interesting means to do so.
Gabriela’s native language is Spanish. Growing up, she thought that by memorizing all the words in the dictionary, she could better understand the world in which she lived, and made it all the way through M, before having to set the task aside. Many years later, she became a writer and an editor. She has published 11 books and is the editor of Sol de Medianoche, Alaska’s Hispanic newspaper. She plans to cover N to Z when she gets old.
Nettie is a lifelong Alaskan who moved back to Fairbanks after a brief period of misspent youth in Berkeley, California. She and her husband continue to toil in the cold and dark of Fairbanks, where they successfully raised two children. Their now-adult children have fled to Anchorage and to Denver, where they are contributing members of society, to their parents’ pride and joy.
Sarah is from Dillingham, newish to Anchorage. She spends most of her free time outdoors with her two dogs, or sitting somewhere with a drink in her hand obsessing over AK politics.
Nikka is a proud believer in the magic of the Christmas season— and she thinks you should be, too.
Tim got to Alaska as soon as he could, arriving a dozen years ago on the two year plan, although it’s unclear where exactly he came from. No matter, Alaska is home now. When he’s not busy experimenting in the kitchen or listening to music, he’s often making dinner for friends who come over to listen to music.
Corey is a flight paramedic with LifeMed Alaska; Ginny is an EMS battalion Chief and paramedic supervisor with the Matsu Borough. Their teenagers would often roll their eyes and proclaim the 4 p’s: overProtective-paranoid-paramedic- parents! They are just entering their fourth year as foster family.
Terre was born in Washington, but has lived in Anchorage since ‘77 and considers herself a true Alaskan. She is a wife, a mother of three, and a 25-year career flight attendant. She loves live theatre and is honored to be sharing her story.
Ben is 16 years old and a junior at West Anchorage High School; he especially loves the three month break that comes every May. He enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with friends, any chance he can get.
Teeka is a Language Arts teacher at Begich Middle School, the executive director of Alaska Theatre of Youth, a writer and artist, and one of the owners and the events coordinator of The Writer’s Block—a bookstore, café, and performance space. Set to open January 2018, the Writer’s Block is located at 3965 Spenard Road. For more information, visit: writersblockak.com, or write: teeka@writersblockak.com.
Olivia moved to Alaska from Chicago in 2013 to continue to pursue her personal interests and professional career in environmental work. She likes bad jokes, good weather, and nice people. Olivia originally hails from Pure Michigan, America’s high five.
Amanda is happy to be home in Anchorage after a decade away. Her big challenge this week is figuring out what winter gear to get—any advice?—so that she can spend enough time outside this winter to feel like a real Alaskan again. Her job, which is generally too enjoyable to be considered work, is coordinating education programs at the Alaska Humanities Forum.
Zachariah is a reporter for Alaska Public Media in Anchorage. His work has appeared nationally on NPR, Marketplace, and The Guardian, as well as the Iditapod, a podcast about the Iditarod. He grew up in New England, and has lived abroad in Turkey and the Czech Republic. He is 5’9” and has brown hair.
Originally from Anchorage, Melanie believes that you can find an adventure in every day if you know where to look. She has three life goals: to build an international career, to be someone’s crazy aunt, and to collect fabulous tales to tell from her rocking chair. She’s excited to share her storytelling debut with you tonight at Arctic Entries.
Raj moved to Alaska in 2014. After completing his education in Montana, he decided he was prepared to move to a big city, thus, he chose Anchorage, the biggest city of Alaska. His hobbies includes fishing, reading nonfiction books and tasting beer. By profession, he is an accountant. By nature, he is a goofball. His strengths lie in networking and his weakness is public speaking. With Arctic Entries, he is hoping to combine the two together.
Becca is 37 weeks pregnant. If she has to run off stage for a mid-show potty break, she hopes you’ll understand.
Quinn is a lifelong Alaskan and a 15-year-old sophomore at Dimond High School. He first told his story in his high school English class for a program called Story Works.
Nicole lives in Fairbanks, where teaches English at a school for incarcerated youth. She’s the author of Steam Laundry. Her second book, You Are No Longer in Trouble is forthcoming in 2019.
Bill grew up in Anchorage in the 1950’s and 60’s. He lived in a log house with his parents, two sisters and a dog named Mickey. Every February, he looked forward to strapping on his mukluks and being flung in the air during the Fur Rendezvous blanket toss. Otherwise, he hung out with his gangster friends.
Gregory (Tungwenuk) is a lifelong Alaskan. Raised by his Inupiaq grandmother in Nome, Inupiaq was his first language. He is a member of Kingikmiut Singers & Dancers of Anchorage. He has traveled to over 35 Alaska Native communities and collected over 10,000 Sobriety Pledge Signatures for Iditarod Musher for Sobriety, Mike Williams. He considers himself a ‘Living-Example-To-The-Truth (LETTT)’ that life can be lived and enjoyed without ‘having to’ consume any mood/mind altering substances and supports HB138.
Jeff is an IT Operations Manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers. He also recently retired from the Alaska Air National Guard after 25 years of service. Jeff enjoys many types of cycling (aka two-wheel therapy) and spoiling his grandsons. While he may not remember what he had for lunch yesterday, he can remember the important stuff, like 80’s movie quotes.
An Inupiaq born and raised in Kotzebue, Bekah enjoys the adventures and misadventures of life out of the ’bue. A BBA graduate and outdoor enthusiast, Bekah now works at Alaska Pacific University, where glacier tours are just another part of the job. Bekah and her husband Jason live in Eagle River with their dog Kaviqsuq (Kavi, pronounced ‘covey’), where she lives to be the person Kavi thinks she is.
In 1990, Gretchen moved from the Lower 48 to Bethel, sight unseen, for a one-year contract. She stayed for five years before leaving for graduate school in Seattle. Currently, she works as a biostatistician in health research here in Anchorage, and is the mother of four school-aged children. In her spare time, she writes creative non-fiction.
As a teenager in the 60’s, Larry moved from Seattle to Alaska, first to Kenai then Anchorage. After college, he took a job in California, where he met his future wife Sunnie. They married and returned to Anchorage to live, work and raise their three sons: Graham, Nolan, and Marshall. Today, Larry and Sunnie enjoy cycling, backcountry hiking and skiing, and “cabin time” at their hand-built log home in Willow. In the future, they anticipate extensive travel abroad, spending time with their sons and granddaughter Kinley Rae in the Lower 48.
Leisha arrived in Alaska last summer after many years of traveling and working around the world. She is a pediatrician; however, she has decided to hang up her stethoscope and work to stomp out disease through public health.
Nyakor is the mother of nine children and owns a business here in Anchorage. She was born in a refugee camp in Ethiopia, after her father migrated to the country in 1975. Twenty years later, she moved with her family to the United States. Five months later, she got married and started a family in New York City. In 2012, she and her children moved to Anchorage. Today, she continues to pursue her education, with the goal of earning a BA in Psychology through Wayland University.
Zakiya a local journalist and student at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is the proud owner of 35 liquid lipsticks and continues to search for a perfect taco in Anchorage.
For his midlife crisis, Eric bought something more expensive than a Porsche: a law degree and a career in public service.
Bridgette moved to Alaska in 1989 with her father, mother, and four sisters. She now runs a solo legal practice. Bridgette loves her work, helping families as an attorney for parents and children in Child In Need of Aid cases, and as a mediator in a variety of cases. Her biggest accomplishments this summer include (not necessarily in their order of significance): winning the Parkstrip E League Softball Championship, as a member of the Gumbo House Deciders; and landing the man of her dreams—due to be married in November.
Rachel is from Seattle. She has a Master’s in Botany from the University of Minnesota. She has studied plants in the Australian rainforests of far north Queensland, and she loves to give impromptu lectures on invasive species and the differences between fruits and vegetables. She lives with her husband Chris and his sexy head of hair, and her eight pets.
Becca loves freckles, cats, and 90’s hip-hop. She hails from Spenard and likes to swear. Her heart is happy when her community is strong and healthy.
Katy and John are high school sweethearts born, raised, and married in Anchorage. After 12 years away, living in Seattle, they’ve returned home to raise their two boys and share with them all the adventures Alaska has to offer.
Erin is a writer, scientist, and a compulsive adventurer. She’s lived in Alaska for a decade and walked about 8,000 miles of it, much of that with her two young kids. Her latest book is Mud Flats and Fish Camps: 800 Miles around Alaska’s Cook Inlet. Bretwood is a geologist, data scientist, and wilderness adventurer. He grew up in Seldovia, and loved it enough to move back, where he helps run 501c3 nonprofit Ground Truth Trekking, and works for Nuka Research and Planning.
Luz is a first generation Mexican immigrant who has lived in Alaska most of her life. She enjoys traveling with her Fiancé Andy all over the world, embracing different people and cultures. Anaely has spent her days working as a classroom teacher for the last 20 years in the Spanish Immersion Program, while moonlighting with her husband as a competitive amateur salsa dancer and professional chauffeur for her three beautiful anchor babies.
David and Debbie are a cliché: she is a teacher, and he is an engineer. He likes to hunt and fish, and she likes to cook and go to church. They have two kids, a dog, and a mortgage.
Josie grew up in Wisconsin. There may be a food on this Earth more delicious than deep-fried cheese curds, Josie has yet to encounter it. Paul is a first-generation American, autodidact, and Renaissance man. Recently retired from the military, he is using his new-found freedom to experiment with facial hair.
Adyson spent her early childhood in Wyoming but moved to Valdez with her family as a teenager. She loves all things outdoors and daydreams of the next adventure. She has one dog named Otter and a stellar husband whom she continuously drags on random explorations.
Ira is the Executive Director of The Atwood Foundation, one of Alaska’s oldest and largest family philanthropies. The foundation provides grants and scholarships for education, arts and journalism projects. A 40-year resident of Spenard, he and his wife Virginia, an avid gardener, live in a picturesque log home surrounded by beautiful flowers. They have two grown daughters, Esther and Sara. The impresario of the Anchorage Concert Association for 20 years and former director of the Alaska Humanities Forum, Perman is a charter member of The Motorheads, Alaska’s Extraordinary Gentlemen Snowmachiners, who each year perform their Motorhead Follies to standing room only crowds in tiny roadhouses in snowy remote corners of our state.
Having grown up in the semi-wilds of New York’s Adirondack Mountains and in the total wilds of 11 siblings, Joe came to Alaska 30 years ago in search of more wild experiences. As a wildlife biologist and park ranger, he has worked in many wild places and has become an aficionado of things like brown bears, Norway rats, sea lion feces, and walrus penises.
Jaron is a web designer and the editor in chief of Lit.cat: The Literature Box of the Internet. He spends his time tilting pinball machines, writing bad jokes, and smelling weird.
Her passion for living shapes how she views and interacts in the world. Her love for learning opened the door for her career as an educator and teacher. Her curiosity about other cultures led her to travel the world, immersing herself in new cultures as she learns new ways of seeing things from every place she visits. She is grateful for each experience and person she has met on her journey.
Forrest Gump is the greatest movie of all time. And that’s all he has to say about that.
Tammy is a lifelong Alaskan and the General Manager at Crowne Plaza Anchorage Midtown. Not your average “Rambolina” but considered a pretty tough lady whom you’d want on your team during a crisis.
When Eve was a child, she was convinced she was a fairy. Her whimsical back-woods Bird Creek upbringing only encouraged this sentiment. When not on the Arctic Entries stage, you will find her frolicking in magical mountain passes.
Molly starred in the 1999 made-for-TV movie Asteroid. Okay, her part got left on the cutting room floor, but her performance riding a bike across the street was Oscar worthy, she promises. When not starring in made-for-TV movies, Molly still rides her bike, and loves the outdoors and her new pup, Champ Bailey.
Charlene is a lifelong Native Alaskan from Kenai. She has lived in Anchorage since graduating from UAA and works as a manager at an Alaska Native regional corporation.
Leyla was born in Hong Kong and grew up across the globe. Seeking adventure from a young age, she pursued an undergraduate degree in what her family calls “professional camping” or what is otherwise known as environmental science and adventure education. Always drawn to the path least taken, she continues to adventure from her home base in Anchorage, where she works as a biologist.
Lucas spends his summers as a wild land firefighter, and his winters chasing snow and adventure both domestic and abroad. You’ll be happy to hear at this time there are no long-lasting physical effects from the incident featured in Lucas’s story. The jury is still out on long-term mental effects.
Jay doesn’t just admit to living in Spenard with a chicken coop and a compost pile—he proudly proclaims it. He’s a husband, a dad, a high school teacher, a community activist and a year-round bike commuter.
Emily is a sophomore at West High. She is described by her friends as a 5’7 and 3/4” ball of fury, with mediocre reflexes and advanced voice projection. Her activities include excessive hair twirling, mispronunciation of common words, and canoeing.
Harry and his twin brother Larry were born in February 1947. Two years later, Larry died due to complications from an experimental Blue Baby Syndrome corrective surgery. Harry knows that Larry has been orchestrating his life from the very beginning. Harry has made Anchorage his home since June 2013. He has been haunted by a speech impediment from early childhood experiences, which is now mostly controlled. Still, Arctic Entries is providing him the opportunity to further confront that Inner Child that can be found inside of us all.
Tami was born and raised in Israel. After working as a journalist and theater director, she became a psychologist. She is currently a provider at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, and is proud to be part of a great team of people devoted to providing quality care. She believes in play, laughter, kindness, and the ability of stories to change the world. If she had to sum up her life in one word, that word would be “Flash.”
Leanna embodies the dichotomy of order and structure mixed with a good dose of free-spiritedness. Basically, she likes to straddle boundaries, build bridges, move between worlds, and sample everything at the salad bar. Leanna has a Ph.D. in oceanography and works on climate change issues by helping to build coalitions of people who work in science, policy, design, communications, conservation, art, and engineering, etc. Ten years ago she met the most delightful, amazing, inspiring, and one-of-a-kind man, who—as her husband and partner—has been her greatest teacher in life.
Phillip comes from Yup’ik and Quebecois families found on the
lower Kuskokwim River and Valleyfield, Canada, respectively.
He is a life-long artist, educator, musician, playwright, and storyteller currently working at the Alaska Native Heritage Center as a Cultural Arts Specialist. Recently, he had work accessioned into the French National Museum. At the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, he led 800+ statewide community members on an art project now on display above the Norton Sound Seafood House.
For Annie, her grandmother’s sudden death at her grandfather’s wake would remain the most compelling story of her youth—a story her mother would retell at holiday gatherings so often because it drew folks in. Tonight’s story came from a text Annie sent a friend in the middle of the night after she realized that she couldn’t do what she promised she would. She credits her Forrest Yoga practice axiom: always speak your truth.
Candace lives with her wife, Jen Novobilski, and their two cats, Oliver and Ipa. Before they were married, Jen told her that the cats were part of the package and that she would always have two cats. Despite the sneezing and feline hair everywhere, Candace has grown to love the cats, and has recently taken on such domestic duties as grooming and feeding the cats. She has come to the realization that the cats will always win.
Cierra grew up just north of normal in Eagle River. She is the youngest of five children, and in case you were wondering, yes, she is the favorite. While she is a lifelong Alaskan, Cierra has managed to never set foot in the great outdoors. Her likes: travel, food, and friends. Dislikes: people who don’t like Breaking Bad.
Stephanie was born and raised in Fairbanks, but when she left Alaska for college out-of-state, she thought she’d never look back. Well, after many adventures throughout the country and around the world for both school and work, she did look back and has recently chosen to make Alaska home once again.
Kristin is a high school English teacher, printmaker and third generation fisherwoman. She has spent the last 12 summers commercial fishing with her family out of Naknek. Growing up in Homer, her parents helped to cultivate a deep love of traveling and adventure. Kristin’s roommate helped her write this bio while she was away on a climbing trip in Tucson.
Jim made a career as an attorney in Alaska before moving into nonprofit work in California and dirt work in Oregon. He spends his metal energy contemplating Citizen’s United and organic compost (not together), and all his airline miles flying back and forth to visit his grown kids. When he doesn’t answer the phone on the first ring, it’s probably because he’s in his truck-tent camped out along a riverbank.
Stephanie hails from the tropical suburbs of Florida. She came to Alaska for the first time in 2011 to lead land tours for a cruise line. The following year, she surprised her family and friends by claiming, “I was born for the tundra,” throwing caution to the wind, and driving the 6,500 miles up in her tender little Diesel Bug. Today she is no longer a guide, but still loves to tell stories about Alaska to anyone who will listen—especially the tourists who annually migrate here.
Brooke likes to dabble in all things wilderness while tickling her creative poetic muse. That’s a cute way of saying, she makes her living as a seasonal guide and educator in Alaska, because we all know poetry doesn’t pay. She has a penchant for dirty jokes, dancing on the bar, powder in the face, and glitter—copious amounts of glitter. Apologies ahead of time for inappropriate language, as that is this storyteller’s learning style.
Wendy has done many different things in her life: British Army Officer, Outward Bound Instructor, Mountain Guide, Musher, Aid Worker, Travel Guide, Silk Shibori Artist. She has travelled to many of the remotest places in the world, and is now happily settled with her husband Richard and their husky Nick at their homestead on Sheep Mountain. In the summer, they operate Little Bear Guest Cabins, and she does silk classes and retreats, occasionally guiding on the Matanuska Glacier. In the winter, she leads trips for Alaskans to Britain, France, and Morocco.
Oscar is an immigrant from Colombia who grew up riding bikes throughout Anchorage. A recent father of two, he is exploring what he wants to do for the next phase of his life. Oscar often wonders how his life experiences differ from those of others and translates what he learns into visual narratives as a photographer.
Juan is a hockey fanatic. He moved from Mexico City to Alaska in 2012. Juan loves Marvel and Star Wars. He is 16 years old and attends West Anchorage High School. Enchiladas are his favorite food.
Ole spent his early childhood in Unalakleet listening to stories of the coast as told by the wind howling through frosty window-panes, over snow machine windshields, or through the fur ruff on his mother’s parka. He now lives in Anchorage and with his older brother, sets out all over Alaska’s road and trail systems to expand his horizons, break barriers, eat ice cream and make a little mischief.
Chrissy was born and raised in Parma, Idaho and attended the University of Idaho to become a counselor. She did that for a few years and then decided to try teaching. Teaching has taken her all over the world from the Middle East to New Jersey and now to Talkeetna.
Born in California and raised in Chugiak, Laura grew up determined to leave this cold and desolate state. After 11 years of teaching, traveling and adventuring around the globe, she is back in her home state, reacquainting herself with what it means to be Alaskan.
Eric is an Alaskan Grown musical mountain man day-lighting as an engineer and board member for the Anchorage Folk Festival. He can be found playing with local groups High Lonesome Sound and The Hot Club of Nunaka while designing mechanical systems for buildings with RSA Engineering. Rumor has it, he likes pasta.
Katy was born and raised in Anchorage, and recently returned to Alaska with her family after eight years in Washington. Her Arctic Entries performance is the culmination of a year of taking epic chances, including leaving her job, starting a new business, Nerd Nite presentations, improv practice, tap dance classes and moving back to the state she calls home.
Nyachan is a Justice student at UAA. Born in Ethiopia, her family migrated to the U.S. due to the continuous civil war in her home country of South Sudan. Nyachan’s friends often give her crap for her poor storytelling abilities. Now joke’s on them!
Helen grew up in Pennsylvania and moved to Alaska in 1959. She spent the 60’s having kids and homesteading in Eagle River Valley. In 1970 she became chair of the Alliance for Humane Abortions. That experience changed her view of herself and women and what she and women could do. She is best known as co-author of “55 Ways to the Wilderness in Southcentral Alaska.”
Teresa is a 25-year paramedic whose career includes metro, rural, flight and SWAT medicine. For the past 18 years, she has lived in Alaska where she owned and operated 3 paramedic schools, flew medevac and ran ambulance 911. Teresa is an educator, entrepreneur, wife, mother of four, and grandmother. She is currently the director of a non-governmental organization, Mobil Medics International, which provides medical teams to disaster and underprivileged areas all over the world.
Hailing from Anchorage since birth, J.C. has made it a mission to see as much of Alaska as he can. In constant awe of nature, he likes to spend time in the woods or by the water and won’t shut up about his deer hunting trip next week. He enjoys thinking about politics, traveling, and Alaska’s future.
Britteny hails from Detroit and has lived in Anchorage for four years. Despite her serious professional demeanor as an advocate for disenfranchised Alaskans, she would like you to know that she has super-sick dance moves. Her other talents include kissing puppies and eating a lot of pasta.
Ex-professional fingerboarder Mikey Huff lives his life in Alaska as a photographer, leather worker, and owner of The Mercantile, a menswear shop in Anchorage. If he’s not taking pictures or leather crafting, he’s probably hanging out with his four legged child, Boogie.
5 Truths and 2 lies about Tim: He was born in Texas, holds a college degree that he’s sworn never to use, once painted a prison, has swum in 4 of the 5 oceans, holds an obscure world record, has ridden his bicycle to Prudhoe Bay, and thinks you’re fabulous.
Carolynn came up to Alaska 20 years ago for a summer job and left only long enough to pack up her belongings in Utah and drive the Alcan. Since then she has been working on her Alaskan skills check list with the goal of earning Sourdough status. So far, of the 4 things on the list, she has checked off peeing on the Yukon River. Carolynn’s hometown roots are in New England, which can be readily determined by the emergence of a noticeable accent after a few drinks. Her favorite things to do are sitting around a campfire, with a frosty adult beverage in hand, telling stories with friends, going places with no cell phone service and adventuring with her husky dog, Sassy.
John loves life and all of its regular every day amazingness. He is a lucky husband and father of two wonderful boys, ages seven and fifteen. He cherishes his Alaskan life and the opportunities Alaska offers us to live and experience this amazing world. He wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on earth (except maybe Hawaii twice per year or an NFL game).
When Peter was three years old, he travelled with his family of six for a year in Europe. He was nicknamed “the family friend finder” because while his family would set up the tent, he would wander off around the campground wearing nothing but his diaper and would invariably return with a complete stranger, hand in hand, his new friend, no common language, no nothing; he’d just find them and bring them home. Sometimes, he would have his newfound friend in one hand and his diaper in the other, buck naked. His folks would then thank the kind stranger for bringing him home, and sometimes a real friendship would ensue. Peter really has not changed that much, except his wardrobe is a bit more secure.
Rebecca has spent her life in Alaska, making only brief escapes to convince friends who have moved away to come back. She lives mostly on soup and the occasional bag of sour cream and onion potato chips.
Darl, a highly respected business leader, successful entrepreneur and world traveler, is thankful every day that the world is giant freak show and he gets front row seats.
Nicole is a recovering Midwesterner who has been living in Alaska for 12 years now, recouping from years of flat land. She is passionate about her work in adolescent substance abuse and human trafficking in Alaska. As a single mom of a middle school boy, she is sure she will soon have many more stories of survival, ingenuity, and last ditch efforts. Luckily, she has a great credit score and lots of energy.
Amy is an Oregonian at heart who was imported to Alaska in 2005. She loves her family, the Packers, Jamestown Revival and local food & drink. Mostly in that order.
Rafi made his move to the 49th State after graduating college out East in May (as if that was original!), and hasn’t looked back since. He manages political campaigns around the state, and is based out of Sitka. So far, since moving to Alaska five months ago, he’s found himself all over Southeast, Anchorage, Bethel, Fairbanks and the Kenai Peninsula. He loves the outdoors with all his heart, and is passionate about fly fishing, running around the back country, and flying. Like other young east coasters who have fled west (and north), he’s experiencing a lot of familial pressure to get home, so we’ll see how long this Alaska journey goes for.
Kris Lira was born in California and raised all over the United States. For the past 33 years, she has happily called Alaska her home. She lived many years before she married Paul, but that’s really when her life began. Now that their three children are all amazing adults with amazing lives of their own, Kris is hoping to become the Colonel Sanders of her generation and really start something big as she looks beyond middle age! Any ideas?
Jen hails from Canada, where she first fell in love with the outdoors. She fell in love with Alaska in 2004 and spent 10 years visiting, on frequent trips kayaking and hiking in Southeast, before making the move official. The wild Alaska outdoors continues to inspire new endeavors and current interests include skiing, running and hiking with her young family, but anything goes!
Kent Haina has travelled extensively in the Air Force and airline industry. He was born and raised in Hawaii, and eventually landed in Alaska. He is a 747 Captain and instructor for a major airline.
Jonathan is a Chicagoan, a musician, a skier, and an epidemiologist. He learned to walk on ice skates, and learned to cook on a camp stove. He’s been a few places, too, like West Africa and Atlanta. Now he lives in Anchorage and thinks it’s pretty great. In his opinion, breakfast is the best meal of the day, but that’s more of a fact.
Christy is a most-of-her-life Alaskan who works in education and thinks high school students are the best. She works to make time for travel and writing and is a compulsive editor... in fact, she is probably re-writing this intro in her head even now.
Born in Washington State, Pat moved to Alaska in 1973 and has worked for the Alaska Zoo for the past 30 years. Hobbies include wrestling with bear cubs, moving elephants and donating golf balls to the wilderness.
Nick has lived in Alaska for 11 years, has had Type 1 Diabetes for 30 years, and has loved Madonna for longer than both those. He sells Subarus because he loves them, is an avid Seattle Sounders fan, and hopes to meet David Beckham one day. Typically, Nick and his dog and are the extroverts, while his partner, best friend, and boss (separate people) are all introverts.
Marcia is the Alaskan cliché who came for a year and has stayed 41. Currently, she is the founder and co-director of the Listening Post of Anchorage, where stories of the community are heard and respected at the Transit Center, Brother Francis Shelter and Bean’s Cafe, and soon the Mt. View and Loussac Libraries. To learn more, visit: listeningpostanchorage.com
Born and raised in Anchorage, Trevor is a graduate of Northwest University where he studied business and biblical literature. From 2008-2013, he was the local director of a Christian non-profit called Young Life. He is a former: skydiver, scuba diver, mountain runner college athlete, thrill seeker, and self-proclaimed man’s man. But he’s currently a: Jesus follower, reader, sports spectator, professional therapy participant, and a very happily married man. He’s a future: billionaire, philanthropist, Olympic curling gold medalist, and organ donor.
Lisa works as a writer and editor, with bylines in a variety of local and national publications. If you think she looks familiar but can’t quite place where you’ve seen her, you’ve probably bumped into her out on the hiking trails or seen her Irish dancing. She does other types of dancing, too; in fact, it was a night of dancing that started her down the road to a real-life soap opera.
Jeff moved to Alaska in 2004 from New Mexico when he was 19 looking for an adventure. He worked a variety of odd jobs, including driving a cab and working as a doorman at the Captain Cook Hotel while in school. He graduated from UAA in 2009 and soon after found work doing sales in the IT industry. He speaks Russian and has traveled all over the world.He currently works at GCI as a commercial account manager.
Born in Seattle, Roman went to high school in Virginia and moved to Alaska when he was sixteen. He has been a husband since 1985, a father since 1987, and a professor at Alaska Pacific University since 1992.
Jamie has been living and flying in Alaska since 1995. She owns SkyTrek Alaska Flight Training at Merrill Field, and teaches intrepid students how to fly. When not living and breathing aviation—and scrubbing the grease out from underneath her fingernails—she likes to spend time with her very tolerant husband and two teenage daughters. She’s famous for trying out her tofu recipes on her family and friends, and finding the leftovers in house plants. She’s honored to be chosen to tell another story.
After 16 years in Anchorage, Christy Everett Jordan and her family prepare to move to the edge of the wilderness, up above Lowell Point, in Seward, with plans to build an off the grid home. She’s leaving her job as an elementary school counselor to help transition the kids, work on her first book, build community, and clear land. Christy will continue to write about her experiences at: www.followingelias.com.
Becky has been, among other things, a lawyer, a teacher, a campaign organizer, a travel writer, and an Arctic Entries Storyboard Member. You might remember her as the cheeseburger from October 2011’s “Spooked” show. In her spare time, when not running, biking, skiing, or playing outside, Becky continues to collaborate with her husband Bill to keep the red-haired population of Alaska strong and growing.
Born in MN, and raised without boundaries. Daddy was a beatnik, Mommy was a belly dancer. In high school in the Valley, Orion dreamt of living in the big city. Now he’s living the dream in Fairview, or as he and his wife call it: Paradise.
Kevin performs: upright bass duties as a Super Saturated Sugar String; host and producer duties for the Parlor In the Round (Season Finale, May 20th); Director of Entertainment duties for the Alaska Design Forum Dine By Design Event (May 13th); consultant duties for organizational culture and performance; lunch packing, taxi service and life lesson instruction duties for his 10-year-old boss; and soon-to-be-husbandly duties for his ever-youthful fiancée. Tickets are still available for some of these performances.
Brett Rawalt is essentially a big kid. He is the same height that he was in eighth grade, and PB&J’s are still a main food staple in his life. Even his job at UAA is only a nine-month contract, meaning that he gets summers off to go play. For fun, he likes riding bikes and stressing out his parents.
Issa has six siblings and believes that her love for storytelling is rooted in family dinners, where each person yelled louder and with more charisma to capture the attention of their parents. In recent years, she has been honored to continue to see the strength of stories in her daily work with refugees and working with LGBTQ teens. She is beyond belief honored to be back at Arctic Entries sharing her passion for storytelling with you all.
Don is a screenwriter and novelist. He wrote the Washington Post Notable novel The Raven’s Gift. A new work on nonfiction, Never Quit, will be out next winter with St. Martin’s. He lives in Anchorage and is a professor at UAA. Sign up for his Spam-letter at www.donrearden.com.
Jason is a lawyer, a college professor, and a cautiously optimistic New York Mets fan. He likes to tell stories.
Paul graduated from high school in Nome, Alaska, and has been with the University of Alaska Anchorage for 17 years. He has a daughter who is an award winning poet, three grand kids, and a wonderful nephew and great nieces. Paul has lived in Nome, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Barrow, Sitka and Anchorage. He is a former photographer of Alaska fashion for public radio.
Linda is a retired art teacher/artist from NY. She has been a docent at the Anchorage museum for 13 years. She works in a variety of mediums and is best known for her playful paper maché dogs.
Like Bob Dylan, Merlin grew up in northern Minnesota and mumbles. His daughter describes him as a cross between Indiana Jones and Red Green.
As Erica likes to say: if at first you don’t succeed, try a new career. This year alone, she has worked in commercial fishing, hospitality, seamstressing, and as of a couple days ago, she was stuck off the Oregon coast in an enormous storm as she tried to track down nesting sites of Marbled Murrelets. It is always nice to be back on land where the dancing is easier and the next vocation awaits.
Growing up with four brothers, Janel learned three important survival skills: talk fast, tell captivating stories, and if all else fails, cry! With these skills, she successfully avoided ever being grounded while growing up, and later in life it helped to deflect all but one speeding ticket. Hopefully, you will only get to experience one of these skills for yourself tonight, but which one will be a surprise to you and her both!
Rion is a sophomore at West Anchorage High School. She has a passion for 70’s classic rock, indie movies, and is a rabid Francophile. Her future plans include interning at Saturday Night Live, screenwriting, and eventually directing motion pictures and documentaries.
Susie is a transplanted mid-westerner who never thought she would stay in Alaska, and as a result had her bags packed for the first ten years. Many years later, she’s still here. Over the years she has had various jobs and volunteer opportunities but the best of them have been in this building, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Having worked six years in the PAC’s business office and volunteering as an usher for 23 years in the Ushering in the Arts program, the PAC just seems like home.
Laura is a lifelong Alaskan who spent the highlight of her upbringing on the shores and mountainsides of Lake Clark National Park. Her latest venture has been creating an artisan ice cream and popsicle truck called The Mint Chip. Be sure to say hi when you see her around the parks and streets of Spenard this summer!
Martin moved to Alaska in 1975 when his parents gave him a one way ticket to Anchorage from California. Upon landing in town, Martin decided that it wasn’t exciting enough and headed for the seaport of Seward. In 1986, he got lucky and convinced his wife to marry him and produced two sons: David and Mark. He retired from the National Park Service last year and runs the Wooden Ski Classic—if we ever get snow—and coaches Junior Nordic.
- Hopeless romantic to her own detriment. Likes long walks on the beach, champagne with her pizza. Must love dogs.
Barbara grew up in California and stayed in college as long as she could because she was really good at it. After two degrees and a teaching credential, she was forced to get a job to pay off student loans. Barbara spent four years teaching the hormonal crazies and then moved to Alaska for a brief stint caretaking a gold mine, followed by working at a remote fishing lodge. She has spent 24 years in the pipeline industry and wants to be retired when she grows up.
Erik is excited to tell a story at Arctic Entries, and sad he can tell only one! Born and raised in Alaska, he went to college in Washington before moving back and finding work as an environmental engineer. In his spare time, he constantly attempts to eliminate blank space on his calendar with as many hobbies as possible. He currently performs with Scared Scriptless and Urban Yeti Improv, and just wrapped up a run of A Christmas Carol with Perseverance Theatre; he does not miss the mutton chops.
Elizabeth is a sophomore at Dimond High School. She plays with the local youth symphony and volunteers with her school’s Key Club.
Debbie is an author and a musher, a lover of wilderness trails and the dogs who go there. The 28 huskies who live in the Moderows’ Denali Park backyard are a continuing source of her inspiration, adventure, and good humor. Her leaders Sharp Cheddar and Brie have been looking forward to tonight’s show. They are very tired of hearing Debbie practice her Arctic Entries story while mushing down the trail.
Nelson is originally from Mountain Village, on the Lower Yukon, and grew up in Fairbanks. He works at Alyeska Pipeline as a business analyst and loves spending time in the outdoors with family and friends. And he loves to take naps... Lots of naps.
Marty has been in Alaska for over 30 years and enjoys all of the beauty and recreation it has to offer. He has travelled to many parts of the state and enjoys meeting all sorts of people. Next spring he will be going to Attu Island, and one day hopes to see Southeast Alaska on a boat.
While living in an old trapper’s cabin, Christy woke up to a bear on her porch and another bear on the roof; while running on a single-track trail by Chester Creek, she was kicked by a charging Mama, as she dove out from under its front hooves—but neither experience scared her as much as parenthood. To survive life with two wild children, and to make meaning out of mayhem, Christy attempts to write at: followingelias.com.
David has five children ages 8 through 19. He loves scuba diving and bike touring, and spends his time between Alaska and Hawaii.
John-Henry house-sits for two cats, subsists predominantly off cans of Amy’s lentil soup, and works at the Boardroom. Aspiring to the core competencies of adulthood, his mother tells him he’s pretty close.
Originally from Emmonak, Alaska, Emily (Yup’ik/Iñupiaq) is the Director of Sustainability of First Alaskans Institute, a statewide Alaska Native non-profit dedicated to the advancement of the Alaska Native community. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Communications from the University of Alaska Anchorage and an Executive Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership from Alaska Pacific University. Emily's Yup’ik name is Keneggnarkayaaggaq, meaning a person with a beautiful persona, spirit, aura and friend. She is the proud mother of Anya Tyrrell, an ANCCS fourth grader who loves to read, laugh and cook breakfast.
Britta’s family moved to Anchorage from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan in 2008. She fell in love with Alaska.
Lucy grew up in a huge Eastern Catholic family on the outskirts of Chicago. As the youngest of seven, she struggled to have her voice heard and was determined to do things her own way. Traveling gave her that independence; in Alaska, nothing holds her back.
Lynn Paulson grew up in San Francisco and State College, Pennsylvania. Dr. Paulson has spent most of her professional life at the front of a college classroom, teaching interpersonal communication, public speaking, writing and cultural studies, first at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, and then at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, where she moved in 1993. In 2010, she left university teaching and launched her life coaching and motivational speaking business, Flying Heart Industries. Lynn publishes as a free-lance writer and has just completed a self help cartoon book for women, Be Her Now.
Steve first came to Alaska by bike from Minnesota in 1998. He and his wife have a son named Liam and enjoy spending time outside. Steve has worked for several non-profits and as a stay-at-home dad. He is passionate about biking and didn’t buy his first (half) car until age 33.
Born in Minnesota, and raised without boundaries. Daddy was a beatnik, Mommy was a belly dancer. All through high school in the Valley, Orion dreamt of living in the big city. Now he’s living the dream in Fairview, or as he and his wife call it: Paradise.
Kristin is a lifelong Alaskan. Her true passion is her community, where she has held positions on the planning committees for such wonderful organizations as Dare To Care, YWCA, Alaska Trucking Association, and the Mayor’s Charity Ball, among many others. Currently, Kristin is the President of the Board of Directors for MDA Alaska. She lives in Anchorage with her two sons, and works as the Sales & Event Planner for Sullivan’s Steakhouse. In her spare time, she still runs the company she opened three years ago, Absolutely Kristin, an event management and production company that helps business find their flair.
Alaska born and raised, Mikey is a photographer, leather worker, and creative type. When he’s not taking pictures, you can find Mikey in his workshop creating things with his hands, hosting community building events throughout Alaska, or hanging out with his four-legged dog child, Boogie. Mikey has a strong sense of adventure, which sometimes gets him into a little bit of trouble.
Ruth grew up in the Matanuska Valley and spent her childhood running wild and barefoot through the hills with all her siblings and more animals than she can count. She moved to the big city after college, and has been privileged to work on some really neat projects: 10 years on the pipeline; 10 years designing and constructing the Anchorage International Airport Concourse C; and three months out in the Aleutian Chain with the U.S. Census Bureau. Currently, Ruth works for a small architectural firm, saving up enough money to travel.
Kimball is a former-Anchorage, now-Seattle based actor and writer. He is a best-selling Off-Broadway playwright and a member of the Dramatist Guild of America. Allen is the creator and host of “Triple Threat with Kimball Allen,” a recurring variety talk show. He has written for several syndicated publications such as the New York Times and filmed with Comedy Central and Amazon studios. He is thrilled to be back in Anchorage.
Born and raised in rural Alaska, Danielle is Yupik Eskimo—a self-proclaimed weekend warrior, adventure schemer, community racer, gear hoarder, proud dog owner, wife and soon-to-be first time mom. She’s found many ways to enjoy this great state, such as skiing, running, climbing, and mountaineering, which have all led to exciting adventures, but none have yet topped the adventure she’s going to share on stage tonight.
Growing up in Valdez, Sarah ate more salmon and caribou than beef and pork, which means Alaska is literally in her bones. She went away to college in Utah but dreamed of Alaska every day. She called herself “Sarah from Alaska” to the point where people didn’t know her actual last name. Two years after completing two degrees, she finally decided it was time to move back. Now she works as a social worker in Anchorage—she’s finally home.
Angel was born in Anchorage in 1988. Her 11-year journey in and out of foster care led her to becoming adopted at 16, and an active member of River in the Desert Community Church(RDCC) and Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA). She is now married, with 6 step-children, and works for the Fostering Futures Initiative, training volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA’s) to be mentors for foster youth aging out of the system.
Jeff works as a trial lawyer with Ashburn & Mason, although he still harbors hope that the CDC will hire him as an international consultant. He loves all things outdoors, especially when they involve his wife Hanley, his famous daughters Maggie and Bridget, and their oversized Newfoundland, Abby.
Born and raised in Alaska, with family roots in the Interior and Southeast Alaska, Agatha is a diehard policy and political wonk who enjoys spending time outdoors, when she isn’t watching C-Span or Gavel to Gavel. She is an avid “urban” subsistence user, putting away her own fish and berries. She is always on the search for a bigger, better blueberry patch and when she finds it, she won’t be telling you.
Jack is a mild-mannered middle school teacher by day (Go, Central Huskies!) and a wild and crazy doggy dad at night. The adjectives may have gotten switched in that statement...
A second generation born-and-raised Alaskan, Katrina feels as if she has been living here since the 1950’s, considering all of the old timer stories she’s heard and reheard in her lifetime. She is now an elementary school teacher for the ASD and a mother of a wild three-year-old little girl, loving life and embracing each and every wonderful day. However, some days require a bit more wine than others! Cheers!
Penny was raised in Sitka (the most beautiful town in the state, if you didn’t know!) and moved to Anchorage a year ago. Her university and graduate education as a Nanook and Hoya was split by a stint with the U.S. Peace Corps in Nicaragua, which was full of mangoes, hammocks and hard work down in the dirty grassroots. When she’s not working at her current nonprofit job, which combines her dual passions of Arctic issues and energy policy, you can find her teaching indoor cycling classes or making kombucha.
Mary came to Alaska in the 1970’s and has worked many jobs: gardener, housekeeper, mapmaker, wife, and mom. Upon retiring from a career in civil engineering, she became the burning soul of Ravens Roost Cohousing.
Chris is the Director of Sustainability and Dining Services at Alaska Pacific University. He lives his life as a true nerd; anything science, especially marine science, will float his boat. Here, Chris details an encounter with a true beast of the depths during his pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from APU.
Susanne, a native New Yorker, visited Vermont in 1985 with only a cat, a Karmann Ghia, and a guitar. Just over the border, the car broke down, the guitar was bartered to the tow truck man, and the cat ran away. Despite what others might have taken as ill omens, Susanne decided that Vermont was the perfect place to call home. In addition to being a jazz drummer and a storyteller, Susanne teaches workshops on how to take the funny and poignant events in human lives and turn them into stories that heal, inspire, and entertain
listeners (sueschmidtcomedy.com). Susanne is also a professor
for Southern New Hampshire University’s graduate program in
Clinical Mental Health, a job she keeps because it enables her to
have brunch monthly in Anchorage at the Snow City Cafe. She
is honored to be part of this Arctic Entries event.
musician profile
Since moving to Alaska in 1981, Wendy Withrow has: played guitar and sung regularly at the Renaissance faire, Anchorage Folk Festival, and Downtown Market; acted in numerous Alaska Ove- nighters and one UAA Mainstage production; had a full-length play in Play Lab at the 2000 Last Frontier Theatre Festival; won the 2009 Radical Arts for Women short story contest; and—most importantly—raised a fine daughter, who performed with her at RenFaire and organized the first poetry slam ever at Bates College.
Shawna without a C loves vintage wares and mixing the tastiest cocktails this side of the Yukon.
Schawna landed her first job in Alaska working at a set-net site in Kodiak catching pink salmon, and from there went on to a career in Alaska politics. When people ask her, “Why politics?” she always answers, “Well, it’s never boring!” She lives in Spenard but uses every opportunity to get out into the Alaska wilderness with her husband Michael Powell, to run, hike or ski.
Paul graduated from high school in Nome, Alaska, and has been with the University of Alaska Anchorage for 17 years. He has a daughter who is an award winning poet, three grand kids, and a wonderful nephew and great nieces. Paul has lived in Nome, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Barrow, Sitka and Anchorage. He is a former photographer of Alaska fashion for public radio.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Stories told from the Arctic Entries stage in Nome, Alaska. Show was recorded April 4, 2015.
Rachel was born and raised in Anchorage and attends Polaris K-12. She is currently participating in the Early Honors program at Alaska Pacific University and can be found hiding from her homework under a heating blanket, eating ice cream, and reading.
Kirk is a first generation Alaskan. He strives to keep an equal say/ do ratio. He’s had some crappy jobs (literally), but his best gig is his current role as the Executive Director of the Anchorage Community Land Trust, a community and economic development nonprofit focused in Mountain View.
In the year 2000, Jenny got married and was imported to Anchorage by her hunting, fishing, flying Alaskan grizzly man. She worked at Providence Hospital as an Emergency Medicine physician until she had the first of four children (one set of twins!) and was inspired to switch careers to become a full-time mom. Thankfully, her love of the great Alaska outdoors gets her running or hiking daily, allowing her to burn off the chocolate that she can’t seem to save herself from. She loves to laugh,especially at herself—like the time she went to the grocery store unaware that she was wearing a facial mud mask.
Derek was born and raised in Alaska. He is a writer and member of local literary group “The Life Partners.” His nonfiction story “Gunshots on Dogfish” took 1st place in F Magazine’s 2011 Statewide Writing Competition.
Since coming to Alaska in 1976, Mike has worked in public and museum education for 39 years, reviewed music and written columns for the Anchorage Daily News, and presented shows with his wife Katy (mostly as Whistling Swan Productions) since 1987. Mike and Katy have two children, Patrick and Mary.
Devon is a Lower 48 expat who moved to Alaska after a post-college bout of boredom with the East Coast. She’s fallen in love with the phrase “Why not?” and tries to weave gratitude into each day. Most of the clothing she wears has been gently worn by a stranger or given to her by a friend.
By night, Kevin is on upright bass as a Super Saturated Sugar String, a Swing 49-er, a Crimeface Nelson-er (with Orion Donicht)and the host and producer of Parlor In The Round. By day, he is a Certified Safety Professional and Creative Consultant with Northern Industrial Training. He’s 8 years into the wild adventure of fatherhood with his son, Miles. He spends his free time tilting at windmills, so he tries to stay busy.
Singer-songwriter Caleb Aronson was born and raised in Interior-Alaska. He grew up climbing mountains, fishing, and listening to his fathers records. At 14, he taught himself guitar and, inspired by a love of poetry, began writing songs. Since then, Caleb has played many venues, from festivals, clubs, coffeehouses, and stern-wheel riverboats in Alaska, to busking the subways if Boston and playing the legendary Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. He's won songwriting awards, including recognition from American Songwriter Magazine for his song "Northbound," and an Individual Artist Grant Award from the Rasmuson Foundation.
Singer-songwriter Caleb Aronson was born and raised in Interior-Alaska. He grew up climbing mountains, fishing, and listening to his fathers records. At 14, he taught himself guitar and, inspired by a love of poetry, began writing songs. Since then, Caleb has played many venues, from festivals, clubs, coffeehouses, and stern-wheel riverboats in Alaska, to busking the subways if Boston and playing the legendary Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. He's won songwriting awards, including recognition from American Songwriter Magazine for his song "Northbound," and an Individual Artist Grant Award from the Rasmuson Foundation.
Shanna born and raised in Alaska. After high school, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she earned a degree in Art. After graduation, she moved back to Alaska and worked for two years as a laborer and heavy equipment operator for Peak Oilfield Services in Prudhoe Bay, where she soon began to feel called in a very different direction. Inspired as a child and adolescent by several outstanding teachers, she began to consider what it would look like if she could actively work to change the world. In this vein she enrolled at UAA, where she earned her BA in English, a Masters of Arts in Teaching (MaT) Secondary: English, and later a Certificate in K-12 Educational Leadership.
In 2003, her book club took up the task of creating a Waldorf inspired charter school within the Anchorage School District, approved in March of 2005. The following month, Shanna was hired as the founding principal of Winterberry Charter School. Shanna lives in Anchorage with her husband Troy and three sons, who attend Winterberry. She is the first one to say that Winterberry would not have been possible without their support and love.
There has only been one person named Brett Rawalt. Ever. So it is not inaccurate to say he is “one-of-a-kind.” For employment, he spends nine months of the year working at UAA, and his summers traveling the land. Also, the sea. He has an old pink kayak named “Duane.” In his free time, Brett enjoys sour cream, filing cabinets, and troglodytes.
Jessie is your typical Midwestern transplant: she is a five time thumb-wrestling champion and an avid viewer of cheesy movies (you do not want to watch Spaceballs with this girl--while her line recitation is spot on, her rendition of “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” could use some work). She cuts her pizza with scissors and throws a mean beanbag. She is an idealist struggling with the transformation into a reluctant realist.
Dave considers himself the best fisherman on the Russian River. (He has yet to find someone who agrees.)
Once, as a result of losing a bet, Dave spent two hours in a dunk tank, raised money for charity and nearly succumbed to hypothermia. (He regrets the entire episode.)
Dave’s best feature is his wife, Liz, the most tolerant person he has ever met. (He has found many people who agree.)
Rori is a lifelong Alaskan and pageant enthusiast. By day, she is a civil engineer; in her spare time, the reigning Mrs. Anchorage 2015.
Andranel was born in Colorado and grew up in Australia, Indonesia, and Oklahoma. Her first real hike was in Glacier National Park in a downpour wearing jeans and a denim coat. You will be relieved to know that she has since driven from Anchorage to Portland via Virginia all on her own. And yes, she camped along the way.
Dennis has lived in Alaska for 45 years. A journeyman electrician by trade, he occasionally performs magic shows but loves doing street magic most of all. His family includes his beautiful wife of 30 years and two wonderful children who continue to bless their lives. His favorite pastime is canning, pickling, and smoking salmon; his recipes have won awards in a couple local competitions.
Marc is a retired deputy US Marshal and author of the USA Today Best Selling Jericho Quinn novels. He and his beautiful bride have lived in Alaska for seventeen years. DAY ZERO, number five in the Jericho Quinn series, was released last week.
Bridget moved to Alaska from New York City about three years ago, and accidentally fell in love with it here. She likes the usual activities: skiing, camping, hiking, and drinking local beer. For reasons that will become obvious during her story, Bridget is a year-round bike commuter.
Bruce came alone to Alaska in 1982 for a job with the federal government. For years, when he visited family in Maryland, his mother would say, “When are you coming home?” Then his father would say, “He’ll come home when he is ready,” as if he were referring to a kid who climbed a tree and wouldn’t come down. Bruce is still in the tree. He lives in Eagle River.
John has been a freelance illustrator and cartoonist for most all of his adult life, creating illustrations of everything from tap dancing shrimp (for a business logo) to fishes (for Audubon Field Guides) to squid respiratory systems (for textbooks) to pies & cabbages & roasting chickens.
Kate is a common 15 year old. She is here to tell you why you should always keep your chin up.
Paul is a harried father of three. He moonlights during the day as a pararescueman, battling Darwinism and the law of gravity. Everyone except his mother (and his wife when she is angry) calls him Bear.
Laura is an Anchorage-based Singer Songwriter. In 2013 she released a debut CD titled “Alchemy.” Her songwriting style is simple, dangling haunting melodies and provocative lyrics for the listener to hook into. Laura is also a Founder and Director of the Anchorage Music Co-op. Now in its 4th year, the co-op has produced 23 Artist Showcases, and an Under 21 Open Mic series.
For more info, visit: Lauraoden.com; Anchoragemusiccoop.org.
Aaron hails from Western Colorado. He plays Ultimate Frisbee and is a terrible fisherman. He is still getting over the Broncos’ defeat in the playoffs, but we think his mood will improve soon.
Laura is an Anchorage-based Singer Songwriter. In 2013 she released a debut CD titled “Alchemy.” Her songwriting style is simple, dangling haunting melodies and provocative lyrics for the listener to hook into. Laura is also a Founder and Director of the Anchorage Music Co-op. Now in its 4th year, the co-op has produced 23 Artist Showcases, and an Under 21 Open Mic series.
For more info, visit: Lauraoden.com; Anchoragemusiccoop.org.
Originally from Georgia, Grace came here for snow and big mountains, and stayed because of the people. Alaska has been home for about 12 years now. This is Grace’s debut telling one of her own stories to more than an audience of about 10 folks. She hopes you can laugh a little with her tonight.
Laura is an Anchorage-based Singer Songwriter. In 2013 she released a debut CD titled “Alchemy.” Her songwriting style is simple, dangling haunting melodies and provocative lyrics for the listener to hook into. Laura is also a Founder and Director of the Anchorage Music Co-op. Now in its 4th year, the co-op has produced 23 Artist Showcases, and an Under 21 Open Mic series.
For more info, visit: Lauraoden.com; Anchoragemusiccoop.org.
Arran was born during a thunderstorm in Anchorage. Accomplishments since then include: teaching yoga in twelve countries, and graduating college on time despite the first accomplishment. She subsidizes her lifestyle by overseeing environmental restoration projects for Alaska’s Big Industry. This capitalist-environmentalist dichotomy has contributed to premature aging, but fortunately the yoga helps.
Indra is a Mexican artist, writer, and research analyst. She enjoys the great Alaskan outdoors from the comfort of warm spaces, good food, strong drinks, and great company. A Libra, she is fascinated by noses and is a sucker for full lips.
Katherine co-founded The Boardroom, Alaska’s coworking space, with locations in Anchorage and Juneau. She is also a partner in a venture capital firm with a focus on building, financing, and supporting local startups. Katherine has a BA from the University of Washington, an MPA from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and is a graduate of Leadership Anchorage. She serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Anchorage and Spirit of Youth, and is a Commissioner on the Anchorage Women’s Commission. When not working and volunteering, Katherine and her husband enjoy adventuring in the great outdoors and traveling.
Jessica recently moved to Anchorage from Missoula, Montana. As a journalist and playwright, she is much more used to telling stories about other people than about herself. She hopes to be remembered as a bocce ball enthusiast, an aspiring chef, and a lover of books and top shelf gin.
Joaquin is a sophomore at West High School. He runs cross country and plays basketball. Joaquin is very happy to have recently gotten his license; after his story you’ll see why.
Scott writes code, drinks beer, and walks dogs in west Anchorage. Originally from Maine, Scott moved to Alaska in 2005, stationed at Fort Richardson.
Roger has been a Pararescueman in Alaska for almost a decade. At the center of Roger’s life is his family and the love for the art of tattooing. He considers himself very lucky to be alive and is happy to share some of his colorful experiences with you tonight.
Shannon was born and raised in Anchorage and is now a junior at West High School. Yes, school is going well and she is enjoying this new year of teachers. No, she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life yet. She does, however, enjoy singing, baking, tennis, her Husky dog Nuky, and Netflix.
Mike and his family moved to Alaska in late 2007 after complet- ing a successful family farm project in Maine that involved buy- ing the land, clearing it themselves, building their own house, and passing along the lessons learned to their children, who built the out buildings and raised animals as home school as- signments. These days, they engage in a different kind of work—adventure. Follow along at www.childventure.com.
Eric is Assistant Professor of Music at Alaska Pacific University. He has a BS in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting. He plays and teaches just about any instrument you can think of and runs a non traditional music curriculum at APU that he created. He served as music director, arranger, and keyboardist for Pamyua’s album “Caught in the Act” which won “Best Album” at the Native American Music Awards. He and his wife Blaze have just released their debut album “The Sound of a Duo.” You can catch their brand of sultry jazz and inventive covers, Sundays and Mondays at Sullivan’s Steakhouse, or visit them at www.blazeanderic.com.
Matt is a Combat Rescue Officer in the Air National Guard. This year, he began a three-year Master of Fine Arts program at UAA, where he is concentrating on creative nonfiction. He’s been published or has essays forthcoming in the New York Times; War, Literature and the Arts, and Brevity.
Anne Marie's heart is firmly rooted in Alaska but that doesn't keep her from eternally planning the next vagabonding adventure to keep sanity through the forces of wild wanderlust. From the mountains to the sea, from Alaska to the equator, she apparently enjoys experiencing opposite extremes, from solitude in the bliss of nature to excitement in the jostle of ginormous festivals. Her goal is to be Peter Pan when she grows up, and to experience the southern Hemisphere.
As an American who calls England home (long story), Caitlin has lived on 3 continents and travelled to 35 countries, and considers herself a bit of a nomad. When a friend from "home" told her she was an Alaska girl at heart, she decided to find out for herself and shortly after finishing her Master's in College Student Services Administration, she accepted a position as a Resident Director at UAF, where she met her husband, Cameron Poindexter. This past summer, Caitlin was hired as the Early Honors & First Year Advisor at Alaska Pacific University, where she works with students and colleagues who inspire her, surrounded by the serenity of mountains and woods. In her spare time, Caitlin likes to dog mush, clean, and sing (seriously), edit papers and people watch at airports.
If you wish to know the gravity of the situation, John is the geophysicist you need to know, when he's not floating on his AT skis in Canada, paddling his kayak in the Brooks Range, writing poems on boarding passes, or flying his Cessna.
Linda is a retired art teacher/artist from NY. She has been docent at the Anchorage Museum for 11 years. She works in a variety of mediums and is best known for her playful papier-mache dogs.
Merryn is a junior at West High. When she's not being tortured by her over-commitment to school, sports, and music, she enjoys a good nap. She also relishes opportunities to fling herself from planes, bridges, and cliffs (attached to a parachute or bungee cord, of course). Merryn is a citizen of both the United States and New Zealand; but unfortunately, she doesn't know any hobbits.
Forced from his home in Bhutan by threat and intimidation in the early 90's, Netra lived in a Nepalese refugee camp from 19 years before coming to the U.S. in 2010, where he settled into life in Alaska and learned to speak English.
Steve is familiar to Alaskans as a broadcast personality, newscaster, public radio talk show host and country music disc jockey. He arrived in Alaska in 1982 but did not realize until recently that he was an official Alaska Codger. He was the last to know. Everybody else figured out long ago- his partner recognized this codger nature within minutes of their driving across the border.
Born and raised in Anchorage, Mark was elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 1988 and served for nearly 10 years. In 2008, he was elected to the Senate after serving as mayor of Anchorage for nearly six years. He and his wife Deborah and son Jacob enjoy spending time together reading, traveling, and enjoying the many great things Alaska has to offer.
Alaskan grown, Kelly has a natural knack for adventure and discovering the joys of different cultures and perspectives. She agrees with Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. “ This perspective propels her to dream the impossible and bring light into dark places.
Scott works as an Alpine and River guide in McCarthy for St. Elias Alpine Guides and Copper Oar. When not mountaineering for fun or work, he is usually traveling, climbing, running, or reading. He studied Philosophy at Carleton College and the University of Chicago before becoming a seasonal worker in Alaska for the past 10 years. This winter, he plans to leave his 1975 Dodge van behind in Anchorage and travel through Mexico on a motorbike with his girlfriend Ali.
Harold first came to Alaska in 1969 as an engineer for ARCO. He was ARCO’s Engineering Manager at the time of first production from the Prudhoe Bay Field in 1977. In the 80’s, Harold headed up the Alaska producing operations and subsequently the Long Beach based pipeline and oil tanker operations of ARCO. Part- ing with ARCO in 1990, Heinze moved to Alaska for the fourth time to serve as newly-elected Governor Hickel’s Commissioner of Natural Resources. Having failed several times at retirement, Harold has continued to work in both the Alaska public and pri- vate sectors, and is currently leading a small high-tech startup company based in Anchorage.
Christopher is a merry prankster known by many names: Trouble Maker, Rabble Rouser, and sometimes even the Mayor of Fairview. He is a visual artist, a writer, and works in strategy. He is known to support such causes as Fairview revitalization, LGBTQ Equality, and community issues in general.
Laurel is a lifelong Alaskan and proud of it. She has experienced many firsts here... first boyfriend, first college degree, first home, first fiance, first dog and most importantly first Arctic Entries show! Inside the office, she helps people plan for the ultimate vacation: retirement. Outside the office, she runs many miles, flies many miles and enjoys the company of awesome friends and family.
A West High student interested in the art of Bonsai, Sam takes the annual Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge and makes videos for the Alaska Teen Media Institute.
Alaska’s wilderness has always mesmerized Roy Corral since the time he first came to Fairbanks with his parents 50 years ago. Not long after high school, his love of wild places eventually took him deep into the Brooks Range, where he homesteaded 40 acres of federal land in 1970. He built his log home from surrounding spruce trees, ran a team of 13 dogs, and finally “proved up” on the land 13 years later to receive a patent to the property. Roy’s work as a photojournalist has been published in newspapers and magazines across the nation, and in books through Graphic Arts Publishing of Portland, Oregon. When- ever time allows, Roy continues to pursue his other interests in cross-country skiing, birding, ocean kayaking, and picking banjo for the Irish band, Whiskeyjacks.
Mike moved to Alaska at the age of ten from Orange Grove, Mississippi. He graduated from Anchorage High School and the University of San Francisco, and is currently in the Master of Arts program at Alaska Pacific University. He is still active in Chilkoot Charlie’s, the business he started on January 1, 1970.
According to her twitter feed, Joan is a writer, lawyer, mom, and Chicago native transplanted to Alaska about 20 years ago. That about covers it, although her husband would probably like her to add wife. Because she’s the kind of person who never gives up, she’s still waiting on a Cubs World Series Championship. She has been hard at work on The Book of Timothy, A Sister’s Pursuit, a journey of faith and the pursuit of justice—a book that should be out in the world sometime next year, just about the time the Cub’s clinch the pennant.
Born and raised in Anchorage, Hans works as a hydrologist for a local consulting firm. In his spare time, he tries to balance his life- long love of traveling in the mountains with his newfound love of playing gypsy jazz guitar. He likes to write haikus, especially competitively, and engages in storytelling on rare occasions. He is hopeful that after tonight’s show, his mother, noted storyteller Betty Arnett, will stop bugging him about storytelling for a while.
A former native of Colorado, Elysia began converting to Alaskanism in 2010 after a road trip opened her eyes to the wonders of the big mountains and big men. When she is not playing on her bike or packraft, Elysia can be found impersonating Robin Hood, writing bad poetry (oh noetry!), championing equal-opportunity drinking, or performing 80’s love ballads on her kazoo.
A full-time Alaska resident for over 34 years, Deborah has been the Executive Director of five organizations, a practicing attorney, and a Presidential Appointee. For most of her life, Deborah has been involved in David and Goliath battles—on David’s side—and has worked to protect Alaska’s magnificent environment, lung health, utility consumers, and youth. Deborah’s favorite saying is “The only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is the way you use it.” She’s been fortunate throughout her life to love and work with family, friends, and colleagues who share the same philosophy with passion, skill, commitment, and humor.
Chip grew up outside of Madison, Wisconsin, and first arrived in Alaska in 1970 for a summer job at Big Red’s Flying Service on Lake Hood. One of the more memorable experiences of that summer, at age 17, was sneaking into Chilkoot Charlie’s in its first year of operation to hear Mr. Whitekeys and his band, the Oosik Music Company. After college, Chip moved to Alaska and found the allure of working on the ‘big pond’ as a commercial fisher- man too great to resist. In spite of swearing “never to do that again” after the first few crab trips, he has continued to fish. In his maturity, after more than thirty-five years spent in a variety of fisheries across the state, he fishes herring in the spring and salmon in the summer.
Now residing in Anchor Point, ex-Czech Jardo got out of his home country to smoke fish on the Kenai Peninsula.
Often traveling, be it to locations or between the world of musicianship and strategic planning, Tom will always call Anchorage home.
A strong proponent of equality, Löki recalls a time of racism during her years in the Peace Corps in Kosovo.
Full of stories, the nomadic nurse had to choose just one for Arctic entries, settling on a prank at a friends bachelor party. Kaylin has moved from Connecticut to Alaska and spends her days playing outside, nursing, and doing yoga.
Issa is an enthusiastic history enthusiast who wants to see everything. She has been seeing Alaska for the last four years, after moving from Michigan with her girlfriend.
Amy is an adventurous vagabond who is afraid of balloons. Currently working at the Bear Tooth, Amy loves to walk on the beach and has special powers over the sun.
Aileen had an interesting journey as a six year old, road tripping from her hometown of Fairbanks to eastern Washington to attend a family wedding and intervention. She currently lives in Spenard, enjoying Alaska’s fun offerings.
Gretchen is an honest, fun-loving, occasionally emotional career woman. No longer single, no longer looking. She lives in Chugiak with her husband, Joe, and their two dogs: Athena and Diva Destructo.
Anne hails from the center of the universe, Chicago, but left the Flat Land for the Great Land over two decades ago. She is a recovering trial lawyer and high school teacher though frequently exercises the outside voice she mastered in those professions on her family and her dog. When not volunteering, Anne can be found outside and Outside.
Will was having a wonderful time flying around the world, avoiding responsibility, and trying to determine what people mean when they say, “It is what it is.” On his way past, he happened to look down and see a beautiful summer day in Alaska, so he stopped for a spell. When the ice came, he realized that he was stuck.
Though you’ve never met, Tim thinks you’re fabulous. He spends his time telling (typically) less ridiculous stories for his creative agency Axe & Antlers, and at Alaskalifelist.com.
Beth is a recently arrived Alaskan, having moved here last summer with her husband and younger son from the SF Bay area. She took early retirement as a college instructor from the California State University system so her husband could take a promising job here in Anchorage and is currently underemployed and exploring her options and all the walking trails in town with her dog, while also driving her son around to his multiple musical commitments.
Katie was born and raised in Fairbanks and is proud to call herself a 5th generation Alaskan. In her spare time Katie loves to travel, cook and go fishing with her family (she always catches the biggest fish). This September, Katie gets to marry her best friend and love Ryan Bancroft—who never fails to make her laugh and try new adventures.
Kris is a novelist, historian and award-winning freelance journalist. He was a professional archaeologist for ten years before getting laid off and turning to writing full time, an occupation that, like archaeology, often sounds a lot more glamorous than it really is. His novels include Turn Again and The Devil’s Share, and his novella Edge of Somewhere appeared in the recent collection Weathered Edge. He is a semi-regular contributor to Alaska magazine, and his essays about various eclectic subjects—surfing in Alaska, log cabin building, and the demise of Xtratufs, to name a few—have appeared for several years in The Anchorage Press. Kris is a seasonal nomad who divides his time between Anchorage and his off-the-grid cabin near Homer.
Life can be pretty good. Ira has lived in Alaska for over 30 years, which has resulted in him becoming an avid outdoorsman and accomplished adventurer, successful hunter and fisherman, and a well versed gardener and arborist. But what he really loves to do the most is to SKI!!! Oh yeah, and he does all this from a wheelchair these days.
A daughter's quest to save her mom. Kathleen just moved from San Francisco last summer. She decided to drop all the luxuries of city life and to reconnect with her Alaskan heritage. As events unfold, this has proven to be the best decision she could have possibly made.
Risk is an opportunity. Thomas is a small-statured man with a big thirst for adventure. He has an eclectic background of sorts with one foot in the business world and the other always itching to strap on a backpack for a new experience. Whether it’s avoiding the aggressive advances of handless women in Poland or having dinner with the Dali Lama’s former bodyguard in Argentina, his anecdotes are sure to bring a smile to your face.
One of the first things we learn, is to tell the truth. A marine conservation professor with the University of Alaska, from 1980-2010, Rick was responsible for the university’s conservation and sustainability extension effort. He advised the emergency response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, helped found the Regional Citizens Advisory Councils and the Prince William Sound Science Center, and helped formulate federal and state oil spill legislation. Subsequently, he worked globally on oil/environment issues, advising the United Nations, governments, NGOs, and industry. He drafted the U.N. manual on environmental damage assessment for marine oil spills; and was an adviser during the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico spill in 2010. Today he consults internationally on conservation and sustainability issues through Oasis Earth, focused on Arctic conservation, energy and climate change, marine conservation, establishment of Citizens Advisory Councils for oversight of resource industry, and extractive industry responsibility.
It had been 365 days since Bethany disappeared. Born and raised in Anchorage, Glen wears many different hats, including: dad, author, CEO, speaker, designer, detective, artist, hacker, friend, and all around “bad boy.” His soon-to-be published true crime memoir about loss, murder, and redemption, will be out this April and is entitled “Finding Bethany.”
This icy vortex just swallowed me up. Bruce is currently teaching third grade at Pacific Northern Academy and has taught a wide variety of subjects and ages from kindergarten to 12th grade. He has taught telemark and skate skiing, run his own paragliding school for twelve years and worked at REI for sixteen years. Bruce loves to learn, loves to teach—and his favorite classroom is the great Alaskan outdoors!
Confessions of a kangaroo murderer. Ben’s only claim to fame is that his wife told a really good story for Arctic Entries last year. “I’m not trying to outdo her or anything, but come on, if she can do it…..” Ben is a stay-at-home dad for two kids and six dogs, all of which his wife gave him so he’d have no time to get into trouble. It’s not working.
Alison came to Alaska by way of New Jersey and California and has spent the last 23 years working all over Alaska as well as in the Middle East, Asia, and Antarctica. Life has presented her with a variety of work opportunities: some paid very well, others not at all, but each has a special place on her resume. Whether sucking sap to make birch syrup or studying microbial gene expression in hydrothermal vent worms, she tries to keep an open mind.
Sarah came from Colorado in 2011, where she developed a long list of odd jobs. In addition to becoming an expert in miniature pigs, she spent many years trapping and counting thousands of mosquitoes, singing to lung cell cultures, and inspecting casino restaurants. Her current job as a public health specialist is usually a bit more normal. Outside of work, you can usually find her reading at every spare moment, sweating bullets in hot yoga, and consuming copious quantities of caffeine.
Originally hailing from Maine, Eric is a captain and marine engineer who has worked worldwide. He currently lives on the Upper Hillside with his wife, Christine, and wonder dog Harvey. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, boat building, and ukulele playing.
Katherine is an aspiring outdoorswoman who wishes she could find somewhere in Alaska that sold fresh frisee & heirloom tomatoes. She lives in Anchorage, but has spent time pretty much everywhere else. She is convinced her dog, Burlington, can secretly understand her but doesn’t want to let on. Katherine is known in various circles for her alarmingly loud voice and her propensity to break into unplanned dance routines without warning.