Advertise on podcast: Keep Your Voice Down

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. celebrate their 100th episode with a casual and authentic conversation with poet, author, spoken word artist and educator Aubrey Barnes aka Mister Aubs. Aubrey recommends some of his favorite anime, Doug explains how he's changed politically and fundamentally since his college days, and Alek and Aubrey discuss the challenges of nonprofit work. The trio also touch on men's mental health, burnout, refusing to farm out creative work to A.I., and how the Château d'Orquevaux Artists & Writers Residency impacted Aubrey. Watch Aubrey and Alek perform at this year's Watershed Voice Artist Showcase on Saturday, July 25 at 6 p.m. at the Huss Project (1008 8th St.) in Three Rivers. Celebrate local musicians, spoken word artists, and local journalism for just $5. Tickets can be purchased at the door. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Rage Money Power” by ZISO. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Alek and Doug provide a preview of the upcoming Watershed Voice Artist Showcase and unveil this year's lineup. The celebration of local talent and local journalism will take place Saturday, July 25 at 6 p.m. inside the Huss Project's Imaginarium (1008 8th St., Three Rivers). The duo's return to their respective mics comes two months after their last episode, as they attempted to secure a very special guest for Keep Your Voice Down's 100th episode. They explain who they hoped to land, and why it won't likely happen despite their best efforts.  The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Let You Down” by Lucky Fultz. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Canadian journalist and baker Chantal Hortop, who serves as managing editor of The Gleaner in Quebec, stops by Keep Your Voice Down to talk cake and shop with hosts Doug Sears, Jr. and Alek Haak-Frost. The wide ranging conversation includes how Chantal and Alek met, the impact of the LION Independent News Sustainability Summit on both their organizations, what local journalism looks like in Canada, and Chantal's penchant for creating dazzlingly delicious baked goods. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Howling at the Moon — Short Version” by D Fine Us. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. discuss Alek's experience during the tornado that touched down in Three Rivers last week and the days that followed. Alek describes how the community has come together, what he did and felt as the tornado went through his neighborhood, the humanity, empathy, and care on display as Three Rivers picks up the pieces, and how disheartening it was to witness the vulturous intent of some contractors in the immediate aftermath of the storm. The St. Joseph County United Way is accepting monetary donations through their PayPal link to support those affected by the tornado in Three Rivers. If you'd like to donate, you can do so here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

WMUK's Gordon Evans stopped by Keep Your Voice Down this week to discuss his career in public radio, the state of journalism, how it's changed, where it's headed, and what gives him hope about the industry he's dedicated his life to. Other topics include the quotability of Almost Famous, news anchors of yesteryear and the glaring absence of such figures in 2026, U.S. women's hockey, and whether Doug Sears Jr.'s dad actually skipped class to watch the Miracle on Ice in 1980. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “A Taxi Full of Tarantulas” by Ikoliks. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears. Jr. are joined by Screen Tea Podcast hosts and friends Lisha and Jules McCurry to talk about love. The quartet discuss how they met their future spouses, when they decided to get married, what makes their respective marriages work, and the films about love they love. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “March the Machine” by Flint. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by frequent collaborator and friend Layne Deuel to talk about distractions that helped them endure the past year. The trio discuss the benefits of going to the movies alone, why Sinners was easily the best film they saw all year, books that made them laugh (shout out to Princess Donut and Dungeon Crawler Carl), and the video games Layne plays in the wee hours of the morning because parenting is a full-time job. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Chess” by Nate Rose. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

By the grace of Betty White, Doug and Alek return to their respective mics to look back at the year that was on Keep Your Voice Down. The duo also touch on Watershed Voice's year-end fundraising efforts, emphasizing the importance of community support and monthly recurring donations in sustaining local, independent news. The conversation concludes with discussion about supporting others, the value of listening more, and reconnecting with the outside world post pandemic. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “It's a Vibe” by SOURWAH (featuring Fabien Darcy). You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Watershed Voice Staff Writer Maxwell Knauer joins Keep Your Voice Down hosts Doug Sears Jr. and Alek Haak-Frost for what might just be the most chaotic conversation in KYVD history.  Alek goes "full Larry David" over his counterparts' use of their full first names in some settings (professionally, on social media, etc.), while almost no one refers to them by those names in the course of every day life. Maxwell describes how majoring in philosophy and political science in college led to a career in journalism, and why he believes community engagement and storytelling are so important.  The trio also discuss the merits of audiobooks vs. traditional reading, whether Maxwell could beat a professional basketball player one-on-one, and if investing $200K in pickleball courts is really sound city planning.  The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Break It Down” by Ikoliks. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed. The former Rhodes Scholar and Michigan gubernatorial candidate fields questions about civil liberties, affordable housing, Medicare for All, and automation's impact on the economy. El-Sayed is running for Michigan's soon-to-be open U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Gary Peters, who is not seeking reelection in 2026. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Premiere” by Adrián Berenguer. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. reveal the lineup for the fifth annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase, which will take place later this month at The Huss Project in Three Rivers. The duo also explores the role of AI in content creation and journalism, what is lost in the over reliance of such technology, and what society stands to gain by re-embracing human creativity and connection. The Artist Showcase will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at The Huss Project (1008 8th Ave.) and will feature live music, poetry, and spoken word performances. Admission is just $5 per person and while limited seating will be provided, attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or other outdoor seating just in case.  The event will also include a 50/50 raffle, free food courtesy of Corey Lake Orchards, and the last chance to enter Watershed Voice's new monthly donation giveaway, the winners of which will be announced toward the end of the show. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Mochi” by Just for Kicks. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by Three Rivers Pride Board Secretary Lexi Jacobs, President Chuck Lepinski, and Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Apwisch to preview the third annual Three Rivers Pride Festival. This year's festival will take place Saturday, June 21 in downtown Three Rivers from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include live music, food, and access to over 40 vendors offering a variety of services. The Kittens' Drag Show will cap off the day's festivities at the Riviera Theatre. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. You can pre-order tickets for $15 or buy tickets the day of the show for $20, while supplies last. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Tantrum” by Ozo Bozo. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Watershed Voice launched in 2020 only weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic had much of the country sheltering in place, and a short time before protests, the size and frequency of which the country hadn't seen since the Civil Rights movement, dominated the headlines. It was a tumultuous time in the history of the United States, and quite possibly the worst time to start a new business outside of the Great Depression. Yet somehow, five years later, Watershed Voice is still here. In honor of the news organization's upcoming five-year anniversary, Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by Deborah Haak-Frost to provide an oral history of Watershed's inception and the months and years that followed. Join us as we recall the trying and triumphant times of your favorite award-winning nonprofit news magazine. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Get Dangerous!” by Frank Bentley. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

This week on Keep Your Voice Down Three Rivers singer-songwriter Lucky Fultz joins hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. to discuss his upcoming album "Riverside Drive," which is set to drop on February 28. Fultz details his musical influences and methodology, Tupac gets praise, Drake gets all the smoke, and male vulnerability is celebrated. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Normal” by Lucky Fultz. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. are joined by Watershed Voice Staff Reporter Najifa Farhat to discuss her educational and professional background, the experiences in Bangladesh that propelled her toward a career in journalism, family dynamics, and her interest in climate vulnerabilities. The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Till I Die” by ZISO. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here. Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.