Crude Conversations

In this episode, we have a conversation with Lisa Sauder, the executive director of Bean's Cafe, a soup kitchen in Anchorage, Alaska. We talk about how she came to work at Bean's Cafe, her passion for food and big get-togethers—Sunday meals and how on a busy day at Bean's they'll see over 500 people and make over 1,000 meals—and how the foundation for humanitarianism starts with kindness, food and shelter. We also discuss second chances, the opioid epidemic and Lisa's son Tucker's battle with addiction. With guest host Aurora Ford.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Alaskan author K Jered Mayer. We talk about comics — their history and the difference between a nerd and a pop culture enthusiast — comics as an important form of storytelling, being an author and his writing process. We also get into politics, accountability, gun control, and the repercussions of a president who doesn't play by the traditional rules of democracy. We also discuss Jered's stepdad, Terry Stahlman, who escaped from prison and owned the Showboat strip club in Anchorage, Alaska.

In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Jesse Burtner, a professional snowboarder and creator of Think Thank films. They talk about what it means to be a father — providing your child with the tools they need to succeed and allowing them to follow their own path — what it meant to be a snowboarder in the late 80s and early 90s, snowboarding as a conversation not a competition, and how Jesse went from making a local Alaskan snowboard and skateboard video with Boarderline and JB Deuce (along with Jason Borgstede) to founding his own production that introduced a new style of snowboarding. Jesse also answers a few questions from our Instagram followers. 

In this episode, we have a conversation with Melissa Mitchell of Hope Social Club. We talk about the influence an audience has on performers, the power of music and song, how she began performing for inmates at New Folsom Prison—what she learned from the experience and how she became friends with a few inmates in the process—what it's like having to wear a stab jacket, and performing at Spring Creek Correctional Center in Alaska. We also discuss trauma, domestic violence and the importance of mental health. 

In this episode, we have a conversation with Victoria Petersen and Sam Davenport of The Spenardian, a hyperlocal zine dedicated to Anchorage's Spenard neighborhood. We talk about the history of Spenard, when it was its own town during Anchorage's infancy, and how now it's considered Anchorage's "hipster neighborhood." We discuss how a quarter of the small businesses in Anchorage are located in Spenard, why their favorite stories to tell are the ones that best represent the neighborhood, the importance of not selling out, and the challenges of reporting on a microcosm of the city. We also talk about the difference between how people who grew up here view Alaska versus those who moved here. 

In this episode, we talk to John Woodbury, publisher of Coast and Snowrider Magazines. John also recently became the new Executive Director of Iron Dog, the longest snowmachine race in the world. We talk about how you keep an organization alive by calling on its ardent supporters, new Iron Dog board members, how the best racers are most often the best all-around riders, and growing snowmachining as a recreational sport. We also discuss co-founding Coast Magazine and friendly competition. 

In this episode, we have a conversation with Tim Davis, a history teacher and the head football coach at West High in Anchorage. We talk about technology — our addiction to it and how it shapes our youth — how to develop authentic relationships with your students both as a teacher and a coach, teaching in one of the most diverse high schools in America, what it's like to participate in an active shooter drill, and why media literacy is important now more than ever. We also discuss how football can unite us and the time some of his players decided to kneel during the national anthem. 

In this episode, we have a conversation with freelance journalist and Covenant House Alaska employee Aurora Ford. We talk about sex trafficking in Alaska—the people who get caught in it and the people who prey on them—how the Anchorage prostitution business is divided into gangs, making it virtually impossible to be a freelance prostitute without the possibility of repercussion, solutions journalism over institutional journalism as a way to affect change, and what if Trump is America's Professor Snape?

In this episode, we have a conversation with stand-up comedian Richard Bowen. We talk about performing in all 50 states and how he used a job building skateparks to do it, winning $10,000 in a Laffy Taffy competition, the mechanics of joke writing, and being diagnosed with depression and how comedy helps him combat it. We also debate who would win in a fight, a Silverback Gorilla or a Kodiak Brown Bear. 

In this episode, we have a conversation with Alaskan rapper Michael Cofey, aka Starbuks. We talk about what it was like growing up and selling crack in Fairbanks, Alaska—the psychological impact, what he learned from it and how it shaped him as an adult—how the FEDS once took a hard drive of his music, how America's perception of white and black gun ownership is skewed, and what it's like being a father and raising young, black men in today's America. Exclusive first listen, "What's In Your Hear"  featuring Tayy Tarantino off Starbuks' upcoming album Black Polar Bear.