Crude Conversations

EP 017 with The Spenardian

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. 

EP 016 with John Woodbury

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. 

EP 015 with Tim Davis

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. 

EP 014 with Aurora Ford

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?

EP 013 with Richard Bowen

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. 

EP 012 with Michael Cofey

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. 

EP 010 with Jana Weltzin

In this episode, we have a conversation with Jana Weltzin, an Alaskan attorney with a focus on recreational marijuana business law and regulation compliance. We talk about moving back to Alaska and her newfound, intimate relationship with the community, the importance of independently owned businesses, and the Alaska weed industry—licensing, permits and regulations.
Crude weed columnist Whitney Branshaw sat in on the conversation.

EP 009 with Craig Medred

In this episode, we have a conversation with long time Alaska journalist Craig Medred. We talk about the purchase of the Alaska Dispatch and the Anchorage Daily News by Alice Rogoff, Baby Boomers versus Millennials, news in a post-truth era, and the time he was attacked by a bear. 

EP 008 with The Hoffman Life

In this episode, we have a conversation with Lyn and Lacey Hoffman of @the_hoffman_life, an Instagram account dedicated to hunting, snowmachining and the Alaska outdoors. We talk about being influencers on social media, death threats, moving to Alaska and living in the middle of nowhere, hunting—how it's a lifestyle, but there are inherit politics and controversy that come with it—and what it means to pose with your kill. 

EP 007 with Dr. Alexander James

In this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Alex James, an economics professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, with a research focus on resource economies. We talk about Alaska's economy—economic growth and our dependence on oil—whether or not we suffer from a "resource curse," and everybody's new favorite Alaskan, Chad Brad.