The Alaskacast

Teal Rogers is the founder and principal aerialist at Golden Heart Performing Arts, an aerial silks school, studio, and troupe in Fairbanks. She’s also the founder of the Alaska Yoga Festival and an Outdoor Programs Coordinator at REI. We talk about introducing aerial silks to Fairbanks, the effects of COVID-19 on her businesses, and her vision for the future of Alaska.

Dolores Van Bourgondien is a Juneau based nurse practitioner at Ideal Option, which provides medication-assisted treatment for addiction to opioids and other substances. She’s also a bloggler, author, mother, and fitness enthusiast. We talk about the opioid epidemic, how COVID-19 has affected telemedicine, her podcast “Synergy Health and Wellness”, and more.

Alyssa Quintyne is the interior organizer of the Alaska Center. We talk about Fairbanks Solarize+, voter education and involvement, and the future of the state.

Barbara Johnson is a PHD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the co-founder of 49th Rising, an organization dedicated to making Alaska as safe as it is beautiful through reducing sexual violence. We talk about what 49th Rising is doing to curb sexual violence and bring about healing conversations, as well as her work with economic indicators across the state. Learn more about 49th Rising at 49rising.com/.

Hannah Hill is the executive director of the Bread Line, Inc, an inclusive anti-hunger organization in Fairbanks that provides hot food, job training, and more to those in need. We talk about the various aspects of the Bread Line and their own background and volunteerism in community advocacy.

Craig Cythlook is a commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay and a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. We talk about fishing in Bristol Bay, his family, his work on UAF and Information Insights related projects, and what he hopes for in the future of Alaska.

Monte Pearson is a good samaritan based in Fairbanks. He’s spent most of his free time in the winter of 2019-2020 helping start, thaw, and otherwise rescue frozen and nonoperational vehicles around the community: all for free. At nearly 300 vehicles he’s helped this year, Monte talks about his experiences giving back to the community that raised him and how that’s built a movement that’s all about #payingitforward.

To kick things off we have Amy Gallaway, 2020 Alaska Teacher of the Year. We talk about her journey as an educator, her efforts to empower young people in and beyond the classroom, and the challenges facing Alaskan teachers and students.