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Kikkan Randall is quite possibly Alaska's most prized athlete. And now, the five-time Olympian and gold medal winner is the subject of a movie that will be debuting in theaters later this month. On this Hometown, Alaska host Dave Waldron speaks with the film's director and Kikkan about her incredible journey, and what it's been like to put it on the big screen. HOST: Dave Waldron GUESTS: Kikkan Randall, professional cross-country skier, cancer survivor, mom Matt Clark, director, "Kikkan" LINKS: Kikkan Randall website "Kikkan" tickets ]]>

February is the Anchorage Vegan Chef Challenge, where restaurants around the city highlight vegan options on their menus. From pastries to curries and everything between, chefs are trying out new vegan ideas. On today’s episode of Hometown, Alaska we’ll be talking about vegan cooking and what it’s like to run a food-focused business. HOST: Anne Hillman GUESTS: Alex Bury, Vegan Outreach and Vegan Chef Challenge coordinator Joy Kiehn, Gia Dinh Vietnamese Cuisine Michelle Sinnott, Flaky Pastry LINK: Anchorage Vegan Chef Challenge webpage Vegan Outreach website Gia Dinh website Flaky Pastry Facebook ]]>

On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we're joined by UAA's Atwood Chair of Journalism John Sharify. He’s a 79-time Emmy award winner, a nine-time Edward R. Murrow award winner and a DuPont Columbia award winner, which is the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. Now in his second year as the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Atwood Chair of Journalism, Sharify has been imparting the university’s students with knowledge gleaned from a career spanning three decades. HOST: O'Hara Shipe GUEST: John Sharify, UAA Atwood Chair of Journalism LINKS: John Sharify YouTube Anchorage Press "Backstories: John Sharify" Atwood Chair of Journalism UAA Department of Journalism and Public Communications ]]>

The Anchorage Folk Festival is a 10-day event that is celebrating its 35th year of showcasing national and local talent. On this Hometown, Alaska we'll hear from a pair of board members about some treasures you can find this year and have some in-studio performances from this year's featured musicians. HOST: Dave Waldron GUESTS: Johnse Otsman, Board President, Anchorage Folk Festival Marianne See, Board Director, Anchorage Folk Festival Tim and Natalie Tucker, musicians, Tucker Tunes Robin Hopper, award-winning songwriter, musician, educator LINKS: Anchorage Folk Festival website Anchorage Folk Festival schedule Tucker Tunes Facebook Robin Hopper website ]]>

On this episode of Hometown, Alaska host Dave Waldron explores the cosmos and discusses Winter Solstice with the Anchorage Museum's Planetarium and Discovery Center Director Aaron Slonecker. Later in the show we hear an in-studio performance of an adaptation of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" by Anchorage's TBA Theatre. HOST: Dave Waldron GUESTS: Aaron Slonecker, Director, Anchorage Museum Planetarium and Discovery Center TBA Theatre: Ryan Buen, Jessica Faust, Shane Mitchell, Erin Dagon Mitchel, Wayne Mitchell, Dana Mitchell LINKS: Anchorage Museum Planetarium TBA Theatre ]]>

Halloween is almost here and there isn't a better time to tell scary stories. On this episode Hometown, Alaska we give you tales of terror – one from an Alaska author and another from the longtime manager of one of Anchorage’s most haunted buildings. We also spend time with some famous spirts courtesy of Ghost Tours of Anchorage. HOST: Dave Waldron GUESTS: Jessica Faust, author and illustrator Shane Mitchell, manager of the Wendy Williamson Auditorium LINKS: Jessica Faust webstore and portfolio Ghost Tours of Anchorage "The haunting of the Wendy Williamson Auditorium" - The Northern Light RELATED: State of Art: Anchorage writer releases spooky new book in time for Halloween ]]>

Alaska Children's Trust is a statewide organization working to prevent childhood abuse and neglect. They recently hit a major milestone of having distributed over $10 million in grants across the state. We're joined by Alaska Children's Trust President and CEO, Trevor Storrs, to discuss their work and the role community plays into raising thriving children. Later in the show we hear from visiting, award-winning poet and contributing editor to Alaska Quarterly Review, Jane Hirshfield. She was in Alaska for readings and discussions about poetry, science and the environment as part of the Consortium Library’s 50th anniversary. She stopped by the studio to discuss her new collection of poetry "The Asking" and shares a couple of poems. LINKS: Alaska Children's Trust The Poetry Foundation: Jane Hirshfield ALSO FEATURED: State of Art: Anchorage Opera sets classic comedy in the 1980s ]]>

What are some of the best mysteries, cold cases and tales of intrigue in our state? On this episode of Hometown Alaska, host Dave Waldron digs into them with Anchorage writer and historian David Reamer. Hear stories about predictions of death to mysterious objects in the sky and maybe even learn about one that some of Alaska's longest residents have never heard. HOST: Dave Waldron GUEST: David Reamer LINKS: David Reamer Anchorage Daily News articles David Reamer on X (Twitter) ]]>

The Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention is only a few weeks away and there will be plenty of speakers, crafts and traditional music. But what about contemporary music? On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we have two very different in-studio performances from some up-and-coming Alaska Native musicians. Join host Dave Waldron as he speaks with hip-hop duo Brother Buffalo and singer-songwriter Witty Youngman about their music and how their heritage influences their art. HOST: Dave Waldron GUESTS: Garrett and Jake Swenson, Brother Buffalo Witty Youngman, singer-songwriter LINKS: Brother Buffalo Instagram Brother Buffalo Spotify Witty Youngman Instagram Witty Youngman Facebook Witty Youngman Website ]]>

Temperatures are dropping quickly and hundreds of Anchorage residents are currently living unsheltered in camps and on the street across the city. What’s the plan to keep them safe this winter and beyond? Join host Anne Hillman as she speaks with three city leaders who are working on this problem. HOST: Anne Hillman GUESTS: Alexis Johnson, Anchorage Health Department, Housing and Homeless Coordinator Jessica Parks, Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, Chief Operations Officer Felix Rivera, Anchorage Assembly member LINKS: Anchorage Health Department: Housing Services Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness Anchorage Assembly Housing and Homelessness Committee ]]>

The stigmas and statistics of mental health awareness are important issues for Alaskans, especially as it relates to suicide prevention. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska host Justin Williams leads a conversation about how to discuss mental health and suicide prevention with Blaze Bell of Standing Together Against Rape and Recover Alaska as well as Shana Cooper of the Alaska Native Justice Center. They share their professional insight and personal experiences to explain how to approach these issues and share what resources are out there. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or having thoughts of self-harm or suicide dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support. HOST: Justin Williams GUESTS: Shana Cooper, Alaska Native Justice Center Blaze Bell, S.T.A.R., Recover Alaska LINKS: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Suicide prevention resources 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline AK Division of Behavioral Health treatment and recovery resources ]]>

When most people think of Alaska sports, hockey, basketball and mushing are top of mind. But, as the Alaska Rugby Union celebrates its 50th anniversary, they are poised to make the sport of rugby an Alaska staple. On paper, the objective of rugby is simple—carry a ball across the scoring zone to secure more points than your opponent. It sounds easy enough. In reality, 300-feet and 15 burly athletes looking to knock you off your feet at every turn make scoring a point a Herculean task. But therein lies the joy of being a rugby player. On this episode of Hometown, Alaska host O'Hara Shipe discusses rugby with leaders of the Alaska Rugby Union to discuss the history and the future of the sport in The Last Frontier. HOST: O'Hara Shipe GUESTS: Dave Delozier, President of the Alaska Rugby Union Jami Almonte, women and youth coach, Vice President of the Alaska Rugby Union LINKS: Alaska Rugby Union Alaska Rugby Union Facebook ]]>