Shows
Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 012 Finding your passion and chasing it, with artist and muralist Rejoy ArmamentoRejoy Armamento says that she’s always been interested in art, ever since she was a kid, but that it took her a while to reconnect with it in a serious way as an adult. As she got older, her attraction and affinity for it was stifled by feelings of ambivalence about whether being an artist was a realistic occupation. That was until she went to college in San Francisco, which she describes as a formative experience that re-introduced her to art. She says that she loves the sense of movement that comes with the energy of an active ci...2021-03-1752 minCrude ConversationsEP 085 with Alaskan Author Don ReardenIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Alaskan author Don Rearden. Don attributes being an author to his experiences and upbringing in rural Alaska. When he was a kid, he and his family moved to a number of small communities in Southwest Alaska. There, he dealt with the loss of friends to suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and going missing. As a youth and as an adult, he made sense of this real-life horror and tragedy by turning to creativity. He says that that has allowed him to explore and embrace the darkness—both figuratively and literally.
I...2021-03-071h 30Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 011 Indigenous traditions of healing and coming-of-age, with traditional healer Meda DeWittWhen Meda DeWitt was in her early 20s, she began her journey as a traditional healer—she was pursuing a degree in nursing when she says that Spirit had other plans for her. She was having health events that couldn’t be explained by western medicine, so she sought and found answers in holistic medicine. She says that people have a tendency to think of traditional healing as antiquated or obsolete. However, traditional healers of the past and the present are in constant pursuit of knowledge and understanding. And for over 10,000 years, they have focused on a culture of well...2021-03-011h 00Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 010 The importance of diverse voices in media, with photojournalist and documentary photographer Ash AdamsAsh Adams' work tends to focus on people and stories about humanity, and elevating the voices and experiences that have historically been underrepresented. In her work, this includes actively dismantling stereotypes by highlighting Indigenous voices and advocating for gender equity. She says that one role of photojournalism is to show what inequity feels like so that others may understand. And that if we diversify the voices that are telling the narratives and are writing history, then we’re going to have a documented history that is more reflective of what actually happened.
Chatter Marks is a podcast of...2021-02-221h 12Crude ConversationsEP 084 with comedian Matt CollinsIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with radio host and comedian Matt Collins. Matt got his start in radio at 17 years old at 87.7 The End in Anchorage. He was the overnight jockey and intern there, learning the ropes and getting used to being on-air. From there he went on to work as a producer and board op at 100.5 The Fox. But then after the Bob and Mark Show moved from The Fox to 106.5 KWHL in 2004, so did Matt. At KWHL, he continued to produce the show, as well as host his own afternoon show, Alice in the Afternoon...2021-02-211h 32Crude ConversationsEP 083 with Anchorage Assembly member and Anchorage mayoral candidate Forrest DunbarIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Anchorage Assembly member and Anchorage mayoral candidate Forrest Dunbar. Forrest’s introduction to local politics came in 2002, right after he graduated high school, when he interned for Frank Murkowski—who, at the time, was a United States Senator from Alaska. Before becoming a member of the Alaska Assembly, he was the Vice President of the Scenic Foothills Community Council. In 2016, Forrest joined the Anchorage Assembly. Since then, he has served as a member, Vice Chair and Chair. More recently, he’s been gearing up to run for the mayor of Anchorage. If ele...2021-02-041h 35Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 009 The duality of storytelling: Balancing journalism and nuance, with photographer Jeroen ToirkensJeroen Toirkens is a documentary photographer based out of The Hague in The Netherlands. He mainly works on long-term projects that can take years to complete. His most recent project, Borealis, took six years to complete. It’s a book that documents the Boreal Forest and the people who live in it. To accurately tell the story of the Boreal Forest—which is the largest land-based vegetation zone and makes up around 29 percent of the total forested area on earth—he and co-author Jelle Brandt Corstius immersed themselves in the culture and in the environment.
In pursuing a proje...2021-01-301h 00Crude ConversationsEP 082 The legacy and fate of Arctic Flow, the legendary Alaska rap group, with Jerremy SantacroseIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Jerremy Santacrose, who’s also known by his rap alias, AKream, from back in the Arctic Flow days. Arctic Flow was an Alaskan rap group that started in 1999, and went on to influence and define what authentic Alaskan rap should sound like. The group consisted of Jerremy, Josh Boots, Soiled Seed, Nauseous and Alkota—four rappers and a beatmaker. Jerremy says that a defining characteristic of the group was that everyone and everything they did was so sincere. They were living in the moment, often caught up in illicit activity, and prod...2021-01-171h 39Crude Conversations2020 Recap: EP 070 Long Live Larson
This week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2020. Number 1 on this list is Long Live Larson, where family and friends share some of their favorite memories of professional snowboarder Chris Larson. In April 2020, Larson took his own life. Without speculating on reasons why he did it, this episode focuses on the life of Larson.
If you didn’t know Larson, then the best way to understand him is that he was someone who came from a loving family, he had loyal friends and he was extremely talented, but he just had a hard time being comfortable. May...2021-01-0856 minCrude Conversations2020 Recap: lost anchorage EP 07 with Joe RamburThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2020. Number 2 on this list is with Joe Rambur, where we look at addiction through the perspective of a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. Joe took his first drink of alcohol at 13. Although his first experience getting high on opiates was at 14, it wasn't until adulthood that he became addicted. He smoked heroin for 12 years. He's been sober for the last 9 months, and for that he credits a program and turning his will over to his higher power.
He says that if telling his story can h...2021-01-071h 03Crude Conversations2020 Recap: EP 061with John StalloneThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2020. Number 3 on this list is with John Stallone. John comes from a military family—his grandfather served in World War II, and his dad and his uncle served in Vietnam—so enlisting in the military was a no-brainer for him. He joined the US Air Force at 18. From 1998 to 2002, he served as a security forces member and was deployed four times in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In 2002, at the age of 22, he joined the Alaska Air National Guard. After he left...2021-01-061h 36Crude Conversations2020 Recap: Special Conversation: Micah Booze on Fighting Wildland Fires in AlaskaThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2020. Number 4 on the list is with wildland firefighter Micah Booze. Booze has been a firefighter for over 15 years, five of which have been spent in Alaska. Fighting wildland fires in Alaska, he says, involves more than just putting water on the hot stuff. It involves strategic thinking.
2021-01-051h 13Crude Conversations2020 Recap: EP 078 with Mike WardThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2020. Number 5 on the list is with Mike Ward, the co-owner of The Pioneer Bar. The Pioneer Bar, better known as Pio, is a classic Alaskan bar located in downtown Anchorage. It’s been around since the 1950s, before Alaska became a state. Back then, it was a working class bar with a regular crowd of blue collar workers and barflies. It eventually began to attract a younger crowd in the late 1990s. That trend has continued to this day, where crusty sourdoughs and weekend warriors drink side-by-side.
...2021-01-041h 05Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 08 with Francesca DuBrockFrancesca DuBrock is the Chief Curator at the Anchorage Museum, and she recently finished putting the finishing touches on Extra Tough: Women of the North, an exhibit dedicated to exploring how women have shaped Alaska and the circumpolar north. The exhibit was a massive undertaking, it took over 9 months to complete and now occupies the entire third floor of the Museum, which is about 7,500 square feet. It’s not intended to be a comprehensive history of the subject, but rather a multitude of snapshots that help explain how integral women are to the past, present and future of the no...2021-01-041h 01Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 007 with Thomas ChungThomas Chung says that he’s always been interested in art, even as a child, but that as he got older it became a means of self-preservation. His upbringing was marked by racism and homophobia, and art allowed him to express the emotions he didn’t consciously understand at the time. Those emotions, he would later realize, focused on cultural awareness and compassion, and would come to define much of his professional art.
In addition to being an artist, Thomas is also an assistant professor of Art at the University of Alaska Anchorage. There, he continues to cham...2020-12-2152 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Dr. Mindlin Gets the Covid-19 Vaccine
In this Special Conversation, Cody talks to Dr. Danny Mindlin about getting the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Mindlin is an emergency room doctor in Anchorage, Alaska
2020-12-1823 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Covid-19 Update with Dr. Danny MindlinIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Dr. Danny Mindlin about where Alaska is with Covid-19. Danny is an emergency room doctor in Anchorage, Alaska. Currently, Alaska is diagnosing between 700 and 800 daily statewide Covid-19 cases. This interview took place on December 8, 2020.
2020-12-101h 02Crude ConversationsEP 081 King of the Hill Part 1In this episode, I talk with my uncle, Jay Liska, and Richie Fowler about King of the Hill. Jay and Richie are both former pro snowboarders, and King of the Hill was a legendary snowboard competition held in Thompson Pass back in the 1990s. Three days and three disciplines. There was Extreme Day, where riders competed for the most challenging, but stylish line down a mountain; There was Downhill Day, where a race course was set-up and riders competed for the fastest time; And then there was Freestyle Day, where competitors battled for who could land the best tricks...2020-12-061h 05Crude ConversationsEP 080 with Robi GonzalezIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with artist and musician Robi Gonzalez. Robi’s had an affinity for music since he was a kid, back when his uncle taught him how to sit on the drums and play a basic beat. In 2006, that took a more tangible shape in the form of two projects. One was Robi’s solo project called Robot, where he produced ambient music that, he says, would fit a sci-fi movie. The other was a project called rawbeats, where he teamed up with his best friend Max Cuzor. They both played the drums at the...2020-11-271h 38Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 006 with Tiffany Shaw-Collinge Part 2Tiffany Shaw-Collinge is an artist, curator and architect based in Alberta, Canada. She says that place and climate contributes to her work in a way that can’t be understated. It’s as integral to her craft as much as it is to her identity. In Part 2 of this conversation, Tiffany talks about her preference for working in a collective—that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts—and that her ultimate goal is to convey a sense of wonder and belonging in every project she’s part of.
Chatter Marks is a podcast of...2020-11-2635 minCrude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 005 with Tiffany Shaw-Collinge Part 1Tiffany Shaw-Collinge is an artist, curator and architect based in Alberta, Canada. She says that place and climate contributes to her work in a way that can’t be understated. It’s as integral to her craft as much as it is to her identity. Her lineage is Métis, a fact that became more and more part of her professional life after she realized how little indigenous voices and identity are covered. Today, she continues to explore her Métis lineage through her family, and then expressing it through her craft.
Chatter Marks is a podcast of the...2020-11-2130 minCrude ConversationsVeterans Day Throwback: EP 066 with Jimmy SettleIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with retired pararescueman Jimmy Settle. Jimmy details his arduous journey to becoming a pararescueman, or PJ, in his book “Never Quit.” He talks about the endless hours of training and everything it took to become a PJ. All of that training ultimately led him to a heavy firefight in the Watapur Valley in Afghanistan in 2010. He was part of a military operation called “Bulldog Bite 2 Charlie,” and while on his way to provide medical aid he was shot in the head. Fortunately, the bullet didn’t penetrate his skull. And after he received m...2020-11-121h 47Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Meghan Barker on Pebble MineIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Meghan Barker about the ongoing Pebble Mine controversy. Meghan is the Bristol Bay Organizer at Trout Unlimited, a non-profit dedicated to conserving the habitats of aquatic species and people.
2020-11-0542 min
Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 004 with Aaron LeggettAaron Leggett is the president of the Native Village of Eklutna. He is also the Senior Curator or Alaska History and Indigenous Culture at the Anchorage Museum. In both of those responsibilities, he’s been a champion and an educator of the Alaskan identity. He’s found that critical thinking is key to understanding how Alaska’s history can help us navigate the present and the future.
In this conversation, Aaron talks about his responsibilities as the president of Eklutna and how the Museum fits into the larger conversation surrounding Alaska Native equity.
Chatter Marks is a p...2020-10-3146 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Jered Mayer on DepressionIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with author Jered Mayer about depression. Jered was clinically diagnosed with bipolar depression around 25. More recently, he has made a point of talking openly about living with depression in order to destigmatize it and normalize the importance of mental health.
2020-10-241h 11Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 003 with Acacia Johnson Part 2Acacia Johnson is a photographer focused on human relationships to the environment. She spent most of her twenties traveling around Scandinavia and the polar regions, working on ships. Today, she has over 50 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica.
In Part 2 of this conversation, Acacia talks about creating a record of stories, of people and place. About how, through photography, she has the opportunity to start important conversations about polar regions—about the people who live there, climate change and, ultimately, the lessons we can learn from it.
Chatter Marks is now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Ama...2020-10-2028 min
Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Kathleen Parker on Sobriety During the PandemicIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Kathleen Parker about managing addiction during the pandemic. Many in-person meetings have transitioned to virtual meetings, and that has resulted in new challenges and opportunities. Kathleen has been sober for nine years.
2020-10-1650 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Dan Cannon on the Roadless Rule and the Tongass National ForestIn this special conversation, Cody talks with Dan Cannon, the Tongass Forest Program Manager at the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. Dan explains how exempting the Tongass National Forest from the Roadless Rule will affect the forest, its inhabitants and the economy in Southeast Alaska. The Roadless Rule is a federal safeguard that restricts logging and road building on roughly 58 million acres of national Forest Service lands. The Tongass accounts for about 17 million acres of that land.
2020-10-0749 minCrude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 002 with Acacia Johnson Part 1In this episode of Chatter Marks, Cody talks with Acacia Johnson, a photographer focused on human relationships to the environment. She spent most of her twenties traveling around Scandinavia and the polar regions, working on ships. Today, she has over 50 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica.
In part one of this conversation, she talks about subverting the stereotype of what it means to be an explorer. And that means reframing the image of a man conquering landscapes to an image of a symbiotic relationship between people and the landscapes they live on.
Follow and subscribe to...2020-09-3023 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Micah Booze on Fighting Wildland Fires in AlaskaIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with wildland firefighter Micah Booze, better known as Booze. Booze has been a firefighter for over 15 years, five of which have been spent in Alaska. Fighting wildland fires in Alaska, he says, involves more than just putting water on the hot stuff. It involves strategic thinking.
2020-09-261h 13Crude ConversationsChatter Marks EP 001 with Sebastian GarberIntroducing Chatter Marks, a podcast of the Anchorage Museum, hosted by Cody Liska. Chatter Marks is dedicated to exploring Alaska’s identity through the creative and critical thinking of ideas—past, present and future.
In this episode, Cody talks with Sebastian Garber, the Senior Designer at the Anchorage Museum. Sebastian has been a graphic designer for about 12 years now, and in that time he’s worked for large companies, small firms and a magazine. He says that the most important things he’s learned in those 12 years is being able to adapt to changing trends in design and commu...2020-09-2127 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Josh Branstetter on Racism at Anchorage Christian SchoolsIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Joshua Albeza Branstetter about the controversy currently surrounding Anchorage Christian Schools (ACS). At the time of this recording, 180 alumni had shared their experiences of racism at ACS. Joshua is one of those alumni.
Follow Anchorage Christian Schools alumni speaking out against the historical racism at ACS on Instagram @a.christian.school.
2020-09-1754 minCrude ConversationsEP 079 with Sharon LiskaIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with his mom, Sharon Liska. For the past 13 years, she has worked as a nurse at a neonatal intensive care unit at an Anchorage hospital. While she worked as a nurse, she continued her education and eventually moved to a Clinical Nurse Specialist position. To her, it’s more than a job. It’s a calling and a privilege to be welcomed into those sacred places of tragedy and happiness.
From owning a gym in the 80s to being a stockbroker in the 90s, her working life has been a seri...2020-09-101h 18Crude ConversationsEP 078 with Mike WardIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Mike Ward, the co-owner of The Pioneer Bar. The Pioneer Bar, better known as Pio, is a classic Alaskan bar located in downtown Anchorage. It’s been around since the 1950s, before Alaska became a state. Back then, it was a working class bar with a regular crowd of blue collar workers and barflies. It eventually began to attract a younger crowd in the late 1990s. That trend has continued to this day, where crusty sourdoughs and weekend warriors drink side-by-side.
Mike’s relationship with The Pio goes all the...2020-08-301h 05Crude Conversations2019 Throwback: EP 043 with Julie DeckerIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Julie Decker, the Director and CEO of The Anchorage Museum. When she took the job, Julie made a radical shift in the way museums typically function. Rather than just collecting and displaying artifacts, she decided to transform the Anchorage Museum into a living museum, focused on local issues by examining present themes in order to look at Alaska's cultures and traditions in a contemporary way. Ultimately, this shift was meant to answer one fundamental question: how does the museum and its network make Alaska a better place?
Julie is u...2020-08-201h 00Crude ConversationsEP 077 with Deb YarianIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with tattoo artist Deb Yarian. Deb started tattooing in New York in 1979. Back when tattoo culture was reserved for outsiders, or what Deb calls “carnival people.” The tattoo culture then was predominately male, and women usually found their way into the culture through a man, because men were the gatekeepers. More recently, those barriers have been broken down, making the culture more equitable. Today, Deb and her husband Don own and operate Eagle River Tattoo.
Early in Deb’s career, her mom told her that she didn’t want Deb getting t...2020-08-151h 32
Crude Conversations2019 Throwback: lost anchorage EP 001 with Aaron RobertsIn this episode, we look at crime from the perspective of a retired police officer. Aaron Roberts was an officer for the Anchorage Police Department for over 20 years. He patrolled downtown Anchorage, was a detective in robbery, assault, and metro with a focus in narcotics. At the time of his retirement, he was the team lead negotiator and worked closely with SWAT.
2020-08-0950 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Teacher Tim Davis on High School During COVID-19
In this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Tim Davis about teaching during COVID-19. Tim has coached high school football for 20 years, and has taught at West High School in Anchorage, Alaska for 12 years.
Full disclosure: Cody and Tim are friends.
2020-08-0146 min
Crude ConversationsEP 076 with Duke Russell
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Alaskan artist Duke Russell. Growing up in Anchorage in the 1970s, Duke would draw everything he could in downtown Anchorage. At that time, he and his dad were living in an apartment above a bar called Ruthie’s 49er—which would later become Darwin’s Theory. Duke would sell his paintings in downtown Anchorage for a dollar, in addition to working and going to school. A lot of his youth was also spent taking care of his alcoholic father. It was this upbringing, in a past version of Anchorage, that continues to inf...2020-07-251h 48Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: COVID-19 Update for 7/16/20 with Dr. Andy ElsbergIn this Special Conversation, Cody catches up with Dr. Andy Elsberg for an update on where Alaska is with COVID-19. The last time they talked, Alaska had been in quarantine for over a month. Since then, many businesses have re-opened and many non-essential employees are back at work, but social distancing and wearing masks is encouraged. Andy is an emergency room doctor in Anchorage, Alaska.
2020-07-1640 minCrude ConversationsEP 075 with Alexis SalleeIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with radio and podcast host Alexis Sallee. Alexis has worked in radio for about ten years now. She started right out of high school at 90.3 KNBA in Anchorage, Alaska. She was a sound editor on a radio program called Earthsongs. She now hosts and produces INDIGEFI. Both of those programs feature modern music by indigenous artists. In addition to INDIGEFI, she hosts a podcast called “Native Artist,” where she talks with indigenous artists about their creative journeys.
Alexis says that she’s always asked a lot of questions and that she’s...2020-07-121h 05Crude ConversationsEP 074 with Fairbanks Ladies of WrestlingIn this episode, Cody and Dustin H James talk to Fairbanks Ladies of Wrestling, better known as FLOW. Two summers ago, FLOW gave Crude access to the green room before their event at Williwaw Social in Anchorage on July 20. Cody and Dustin talked with event organizer and FLOW co-founder Donald Crocker, and wrestlers Leslie Dope, TJ Rocks Rivera, Thunder Thighs and Freya the Slaya.
The following interviews were originally conducted with the intention of making a short documentary. Back when Crude was transforming from a physical magazine to digital media, and then eventually to this podcast. In t...2020-07-0444 minCrude ConversationsEP 073 with Alaska Redd
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Fairbanks-based rapper Josh Silva, better known as Alaska Redd. Redd is one of the pioneers of Alaska hip hop. He’s been pursuing it for over 20 years. And in that time, he’s had to learn what a successful career in hip hop looks like in Alaska, that it can’t follow the conventional route of radio-play and touring because many times local radio stations won’t play your music, and statewide touring is not always possible because of a lack of venues or an unwillingness to host a hip hop show. So, he’s...2020-06-271h 21Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Jasmin Smith on Hosting the "Icantbreathe Social Distance Rally"In this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Jasmin Smith, an entrepreneur and community activist. On May 30, Jasmin hosted the "Icantbreathe Social Distance Rally" in Anchorage following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Thousands of people gathered at the rally to protest against police brutality and systemic racism.
2020-06-2620 minCrude ConversationsEP 072 Black Lives MatterIn this episode, Cody talks with three prominent black voices in the Alaska community to understand the conversations and the perspectives of Alaskans in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Floyd’s death has sparked worldwide protests and rallies against police brutality and systemic racism in the United States. Alaska has seen a number of these rallies, including in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Palmer, Utqiagvik, Unalakleet, Sitka and Kotzebue.
Cody talks with rapper and community activist Michael Cofey, journalist Zakiya McCummings, and high school teacher Mike Thompson. Each conversation comes with its own unique perspective, but there is...2020-06-201h 25Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Cliff Groh on the Fiscal and Economic Challenges Alaska FacesIn this Special Conversation, Cody catches up with Cliff Groh, who raises some important questions about Alaska's economy during COVID-19, including short-term and long-term solutions to current and ongoing issues. Cliff is a former Alaska Revenue Department official and longtime advocate for the Permanent Fund Dividend, and a board member of Alaska Common Ground, a non-profit that focuses on Alaska’s public policy issues.
2020-06-0524 minCrude ConversationsEP 071 with Kerry TaskerIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Anchorage-based photographer Kerry Tasker. Kerry says that to be a freelance photographer in Alaska, your skillset has to be versatile. Because Alaska is such a small market, there’s not a whole lot of consistency in the type of work you do. Meaning, one day you might be taking headshots for a business and the next day you might be shooting video for a commercial. And whenever you find the time, you focus on your passion projects.
Kerry says that in a hyper-competitive field like photography, you can’t stan...2020-06-041h 13Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Cody and Carrie in QuarantineIn this Special Conversation, Cody and his wife, Carrie Hambach, talk about being in quarantine for eight weeks together. There's a lot of scary news out there right now, so they decided to highlight some of the positive outcomes of the quarantine.
2020-05-1947 minCrude ConversationsEP 070 Long Live Larson
In this episode, family and friends share some of their favorite memories of professional snowboarder Chris Larson. About a month ago, Larson took his own life. Without speculating on reasons why he did it, this episode focuses on the life of Larson.
If you didn’t know Larson, then the best way to understand him is that he was someone who came from a loving family, he had loyal friends and he was extremely talented, but he just had a hard time being comfortable. Maybe because he was restless, maybe because he was an old soul, like so many of his...2020-05-1356 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Cliff Groh on the Alaska Economy During COVID-19In this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Cliff Groh about Alaska's economy during COVID-19. Cliff is a former Alaska Revenue Department official and longtime advocate for the Permanent Fund Dividend, and a board member of Alaska Common Ground, a non-profit that focuses on Alaska’s public policy issues.
2020-05-1033 minCrude ConversationsEP 069 with Zach CarothersIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Zach Carothers of Portugal. The Man. Zach grew up in Wasilla, Alaska, where he spent most of his time skateboarding, snowboarding and playing music. He started playing music in elementary school programs. Then in high school, he played for a band called The Dependable Letdowns. The next band he played for was A New Hope, which eventually changed its name to Anatomy of a Ghost. After Anatomy of a Ghost broke up, Portugal. The Man was formed in 2004. Between then and now, a lot has happened. They’ve gained band mates an...2020-05-031h 13Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: COVID-19 Update with Dr. Andy ElsbergIn this Special Conversation, Cody catches up with Dr. Andy Elsberg for an update on where Alaska is with COVID-19. Andy is an emergency room doctor at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.
2020-04-2742 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Historian David Reamer on Pandemics in AlaskaIn this Special Conversation, Cody talks with David Reamer about how Alaska has historically reacted to pandemics. David is an academic and public historian based out of Anchorage, Alaska.
2020-04-2325 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Heidi Hill from AWAIC on COVID-19In this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Heidi Hill about how COVID-19 is effecting Abused Women's Aid In Crisis (AWAIC) and their resources. Heidi is the Grants and Program Director at AWAIC in Anchorage, Alaska.
If you or someone you know is currently in an abusive relationship, you can call AWAIC's 24-hour crisis support hotline at (907) 272-0100.
2020-04-2021 minCrude ConversationsEP 068 with Louie VitoIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional snowboarder Louie Vito. Louie grew up in Ohio, where winter is short and there wasn’t much of a snowboard scene. So if he wanted to pursue snowboarding at a professional level, he had to travel. At that point, his dad was his mentor and his coach. He would bring Louie to events, competitions and snowboard camp. Louie eventually enrolled in Stratton Mountain School, a boarding school in Vermont that specializes in training winter sports athletes. There, he was around likeminded peers, all focused on the same goal. Today, Louie is...2020-04-181h 15Crude ConversationsEP 067 with Emma Hill
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with musician Emma Hill. Emma is a prolific Alaska folksinger and songwriter. She released her first album when she was 19. Since then, she’s released seven full-length albums, a live album, and two EPs. The focus of her music has always been introspective, focusing on healing, recovery and more recently mental health. She says that she’s always been a heart-on-her-sleeve songwriter and that a lot of her music focuses on heartache in one form or another.
Emma’s worked as a traveling musician since 2006, so it makes sense that her live performance has evo...2020-04-121h 14Crude ConversationsEP 066 with Jimmy SettleIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with retired pararescueman Jimmy Settle. Jimmy details his arduous journey to becoming a pararescueman, or PJ, in his book “Never Quit.” He talks about the endless hours of training and everything it took to become a PJ. All of that training ultimately led him to a heavy firefight in the Watapur Valley in Afghanistan in 2010. He was part of a military operation called “Bulldog Bite 2 Charlie,” and while on his way to provide medical aid he was shot in the head. Fortunately, the bullet didn’t penetrate his skull. And after he received m...2020-04-021h 47Crude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: High School Senior Jerico Masangay on COVID19In this Special Conversation, Cody talks with Jerico Masangay about the effects COVID19 is having on high school seniors. Jerico is a senior at West High School in Anchorage, Alaska.
2020-04-0124 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Bean's Cafe Executive Director Lisa Sauder on COVID-19
In this special conversation, Cody talks with Lisa Sauder about the effects COVID-19 is having on Anchorage's homeless population, and how Bean's Cafe is reacting to it. Lisa is the Executive Director of Bean's Cafe, a soup kitchen in Anchorage, Alaska.
If you'd like to donate to Bean's Cafe, Lisa says that "whatever you can do will be spent right here in our community to feed those who need it the most. The best way to do that is to go to beanscafe.org or drop a check in the mail to 1020 E 4th Ave."
2020-03-2631 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Teacher Abby O'Neill on COVID-19In this special conversation, Cody talks with teacher Abby O'Neill about the Anchorage School District shutdown as a result of COVID-19. Abby is a kindergarten teacher in Eagle River, Alaska.
2020-03-2430 minCrude ConversationsSpecial Conversation: Dr. Andy Elsberg on COVID-19In this special conversation, Cody talks with Dr. Andy Elsberg about COVID-19. Andy is an emergency room doctor at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska.
Andy would like to thank the Alaska Emergency Medicine Associates management team. Dan, Sami, and Ben, and all the folks in the back hall of the ED, Jaime, Brenda, Liana, Karen, Matt and everyone else who has put countless hours into making their team and facility as ready as it can be. Also, a shout out to the parallel teams at the other Alaska hospitals as well.
2020-03-2230 minCrude Conversations065 with Malcolm HarrisIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with journalist and author Malcolm Harris. Malcolm writes essays and books that are analytical of the establishment and the status quo. His first book, “Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials,” deconstructs many myths associated with being a millennial. Including the idea that millennials are lazy and entitled. His second book, “Shit Is Fucked Up and Bullshit,” is a collection of essays that are critical of modern day North American society. In it, he examines, explains, and even demystifies cultural and political movements and events. Speaking about the millennial experien...2020-03-201h 08Crude ConversationsEP 064 with Peter WallackIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional stuntman Peter Wallack. Peter jokes that he just kinda fell into being a stuntman. After pursuing a number of different majors in college, he eventually decided to focus on technical theatre at the University of Alaska Anchorage. There, a mentor suggested that he become a stuntman. Not giving it too much thought, Peter went on with his life. It wasn’t until he was almost hit by a truck while biking to work did he really start to consider it. He realized that despite falling face-first into a curb, he in...2020-03-151h 47Crude ConversationsEP 063 with Carrie Hambach
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with his wife, Carrie Hambach. This episode was Carrie’s idea. She’s an avid listener of the podcast, and she’s been telling Cody that he needs to put himself out there more, that he needs to reciprocate more with guests. For the record, Cody says the reason he doesn't usually put himself out there in these conversations, is because they aren’t about him, they’re about the guests and their stories and their experiences. At any rate, he was all for having a conversation with Carrie.
Carrie has been t...2020-03-051h 10
Crude ConversationsEP 062 with Callan Chythlook-Sifsof
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Olympian and climate activist Callan Chythlook-Sifsof. Callan’s life has been a mixture of snowboarding, social justice, and climate activism. She was raised in Aleknagik, Alaska, a village of about 300, just outside Dillingham. Aleknagik, like Dillingham, is a community that relies on fishing, and is located near Pebble Mine. So, Callan has been around the Pebble Mine controversy since it began, which led to her early involvement in activism. Alongside that activism, she’s worked as a professional snowboarder, competing in the Olympics, as well as medaling in many endemic competitions. In 2...2020-02-261h 09Crude ConversationsEP 061 with John StalloneIn this episode, Cody and guest host Mike Dempsey have a conversation with John Stallone. John comes from a military family—his grandfather served in World War II, and his dad and his uncle served in Vietnam—so enlisting in the military was a no-brainer for him. He joined the US Air Force at 18. From 1998 to 2002, he served as a security forces member and was deployed four times in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In 2002, at the age of 22, he joined the Alaska Air National Guard. After he left the Guard in 2009, he took...2020-02-091h 36Crude Conversations"lost anchorage" EP 07 with Joe RamburIn this episode of "lost anchorage," we look at addiction through the perspective of a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. Joe Rambur took his first drink of alcohol at 13. Although his first experience getting high on opiates was at 14, it wasn't until adulthood that he became addicted. He smoked heroin for 12 years. He's been sober for the last 9 months, and for that he credits a program and turning his will over to his higher power.
He says that if telling his story can help somebody else get sober and stay alive, then it's worth telling.
2020-02-011h 03Crude ConversationsEP 060 with Laura Cole
In this one, Cody has a conversation with chef Laura Cole. Laura grew up with a strong sense of duty to community, and a refined palate. Both were instilled in her by her parents, and continue to influence her taste and her actions to this day. In 2019, Laura was a contestant on Top Chef, an experience that she says gave her some of her closest friends. Today, she splits her seasons between her restaurant near Denali National Park, called 229 Parks Restaurant and Tavern, and Muse, the restaurant at the Anchorage Museum. She says that in all her professional endeavors, she...2020-01-261h 38Crude ConversationsEP 059 with Micah Hollinger
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional skateboarder turned videographer Micah Hollinger. Micah grew up skateboarding with a tight-knit crew in Anchorage, Alaska. At the same time, he was learning his way around a camera—filming everything he could. From skateboarding to parties to neighborhood fights, nothing was off limits. Micah’s 40 now, he’s a videographer, and as far as skateboarding goes, he says that “if you wanna keep skating as you get older, you have to adapt.”
If you were skating or snowboarding in Alaska in the 90s and early 2000s, then you’re...2020-01-161h 18Crude Conversations2019 Recap: EP 023 with Scott LiskaThis week, Crude is revisiting the top 5 most popular podcast episodes of 2019. Tied for the number 1 spot is with Cody's dad, Scott Liska, the founder of Boarderline, an Alaskan snowboard and skateboard shop that nurtured, represented and influenced the Alaska snow and skate scene in the late 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. They talk about a lot of firsts: how Boarderline began and what it turned into, how King of the Hill—a three day snowboard competition in Thompson Pass—got started, and how Boarderline Summer Camp got started. They also discuss the importance of local businesses to a comm...2020-01-031h 09Crude Conversations2019 Recap: EP 033 with Jason Borgstede
This week, Crude is revisiting the top 5 most popular podcast episodes of 2019. Tied for the number 1 spot is EP 033 with Jason Borgstede, owner of the Anchorage-based snowboard and skateboard shop Blue & Gold Boardshop. Cody and Jason talk about how he went from being a professional snowboarder to a professional poker player to a waiter and now the owner of a local snow and skate shop. Jason's history with the Alaska snow and skate scene goes back twenty some odd years and includes some pretty wild stories. They get into that (story time) as well as what it means to...2020-01-031h 23Crude Conversations2019 Recap: EP 053 with Roger SparksThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2019. Number 2 on the list is with retired marine and pararescueman Roger Sparks. In 2010, Roger was part of operation Bulldog Bite 2 Charlie, a heavy firefight with insurgents in the Watapur Valley in Afghanistan. The fight was, as Roger puts it, surreal. He talks about how, after the fight, he was in such disbelief that he checked Wikipedia for proof that the fight actually happened. For his part, he was awarded the Silver Star, one of the highest awards for valor in combat you can receive from the United S...2020-01-022h 24Crude Conversations2019 Recap: EP 029 with Jay LiskaThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2019. Number 3 on the list is with Cody's uncle, Jay Liska. Jay was the first professional snowboarder from Alaska to get his own pro-model. He also started Boarderline Alaska Snow and Skate with his brother, Scott Liska, and went on to start his own shop, Northern Boarder. They talk about the snowboard scene in the 80s and 90s, and Jay shares some of his most memorable stories from back in the day, including the time he was in a helicopter crash on Mount Spurr and the time he t...2020-01-011h 16Crude Conversations2019 Recap: "lost anchorage" EP 05 with Claude "Muff" ButlerThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2019. Number 4 on the list is "lost anchorage" episode 05 with Claude "Muff" Butler. Muff ran a crackhouse in the late '80s. After he gave that up, he made deliveries all over town. Between dealing drugs, prison and tragedy, Muff's past was a turbulent one. Today, he is an ideal example of someone who turned their life around. He now teaches kids how to play basketball and emphasizes the importance of school.
This episode originally aired on Thursday, September 5, 2019.
2019-12-311h 05Crude Conversations2019 Recap: EP 032 with Andy ElsbergThis week, Crude will be revisiting the top 5 most popular episodes of 2019. Number 5 on the list is with Andy Elsberg, an emergency room doctor at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Cody and Andy talk about how he went from being a ski bum to an ER doc, the idea of wilderness medicine, the pervasiveness of alcohol and opiate addiction in Anchorage, what a gunshot actually does to a human body, and the short but aggressive spice epidemic that hit Anchorage a few years back.
They also discuss how the urban/wilderness split doesn't exist in Alaska, m...2019-12-301h 01Crude ConversationsEP 058 with Brian Adams
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with photographer Brian Adams. Brian originally got into photography by way of videography. When he was a kid, growing up skateboarding with his friends, he would film everything. The motivation back then was getting a shot in one of the local skate and snowboard videos. In high school, he took a photography class because it was the closest thing to a videography class at the time. That experience, along with what he was reading about skate photography, helped him make the transition from video to photo. Today, Brian is a well-known photographer with...2019-12-241h 26Crude ConversationsEP 057 with Dan RedfieldIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Dan Redfield, the creator of Alaska Photoventures, a television series that explores Alaska through photography. Although Dan grew up in the outdoors, he didn’t start documenting it for himself until about three years ago, after he decided that this was how he could scrapbook his adventures and family memories. As he puts it: “Instead of opening up a book, we’re turning on either the TV or a computer and watching it.”
Dan has a new show called Adventure for Ava, where he helps families with special needs create m...2019-12-121h 02Crude Conversations"lost anchorage" EP 06 with Aaron LeggettIn this episode of "lost anchorage," we look at how the colonization of Alaska has and continues to affect Alaska Natives through the perspective of Aaron Leggett, the Curator of Alaska History and Culture at the Anchorage Museum, and the President of the Alaska Native Village of Eklutna. Aaron explains how the effects of colonization didn't happen overnight, that it was a gradual chipping away at an indigenous system that was in place for thousands of years.
2019-11-281h 04Crude ConversationsEP 056 with John NorrisIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Anchorage comedian John Norris. John’s parents were pastors for the Salvation Army, so a good portion of his upbringing was spent moving around. He says that in order to make friends in these new places, you could either be good at sports or be funny. John chose to be funny. He says that he doesn’t exactly remember a defining moment that really pushed him toward comedy, but that he listened to a lot of comedy albums as a kid and watched a lot of stand-up on Comedy Central. Then, when...2019-11-231h 09Crude ConversationsEP 055 with Ben BogartIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional snowboarder Ben Bogart. Ben grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, he played hockey for Bartlett high school, but mainly he snowboarded. Cody has known Ben for most of his life, and has always known him to be a fast learner. So, it wasn’t long after he started snowboarding that he was getting shots in JB Deuce snowboard and skateboard videos in the 90s and early 2000s. He later became a fixture in the Think Thank films. He credits, among others, Jesse Burtner of Think Thank and Sean Genovese of Dinosaurs Wi...2019-11-171h 30Crude ConversationsEP 054 with Kate TrefryIn this one, Cody has a conversation with Stranger Things staff writer and story editor Kate Trefry. When she was a kid growing up in Anchorage, Alaska Kate says she was an obsessive reader and writer. That those two things have always been part of who she is. The need to express herself and to leave a mark was imprinted on her at a young age when her parents took her to Italy and she saw all the timeless pieces of art. From that point on, she's been interested in leaving a legacy. Although the specifics of that idea...2019-11-061h 07Crude ConversationsEP 053 with Roger Sparks
In this episode, Cody and guest host Whitney Branshaw have a conversation with retired marine and pararescueman Roger Sparks. In 2010, Roger was part of operation Bulldog Bite 2 Charlie, a heavy firefight with insurgents in the Watapur Valley in Afghanistan. The fight was, as Roger puts it, surreal. He talks about how, after the fight, he was in such disbelief that he checked Wikipedia for proof that the fight actually happened. For his part, he was awarded the Silver Star, one of the highest awards for valor in combat you can receive from the United States Armed Forces.
After a 25-year-long ca...2019-10-252h 24Crude ConversationsEP 052 with Kyle ClaytonIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Kyle Clayton, the owner of Chilkat Valley News. To understand how Kyle ended up in Haines, he starts with the four years he served in the army. He explains that his upbringing in Indiana instilled in him a feeling of isolation, like the rest of the world and the experiences it held always felt out of reach. That was, until the army opened up the world to him.
When Kyle left the army, the camaraderie of his friends, and the extreme experiences, he said civilian life made him feel...2019-10-171h 06Crude ConversationsEP051 with Rosie MancariIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional snowboarder and Olympian Rosie Mancari. Rosie began snowboarding at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska at 3-years-old. At 15, she was competing in local competitions, and at 17 she moved out of state to begin training full-time. At 21, she began racing for the U.S Ski and Snowboard Team. Her sport is boardercross, probably the closest discipline in snowboarding to a contact sport. Riders race down a course of banked turns, rollers, drops and jumps at high speeds. As you might imagine, the accidental, and also purposeful, shove or collision is not uncommon.2019-10-091h 09Crude ConversationsEP 050 with Philippa HughesIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Philippa Hughes, the founder of Curiosity Connects Us, an organization that connects people who would not typically associate with each other. Specifically democrats and republicans. The idea came about after the 2016 election didn’t turn out the way Philippa had hoped. So, she came up with an idea to learn why. She decided to host a dinner at her home in Washington D.C., where she invited liberals and conservatives. Her mission was to create a space where both sides of the aisle could meet in a setting conducive to meaningful co...2019-10-031h 01Crude ConversationsEP 049 with David ReamerIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Anchorage public historian David Reamer. A public historian is concerned with including a public audience, while an academic historian is generally concerned with including an audience of their peers. Academic historians, David says, have a tendency to create an echo chamber of ideas that perpetuates and builds off of old and often prejudiced narratives. Whereas the purpose of the public historian is to deliver information to the people if affects. David calls this, "the democratization of knowledge."
A lot of David's work is concerned with Anchorage's historical relationship with...2019-09-181h 08Crude Conversations"lost anchorage" EP 05 with Claude "Muff" ButlerIn this episode of "lost anchorage," we look at the Anchorage drug trade through the perspective of an ex drug dealer. Claude "Muff" Butler ran a crackhouse in late '80s. After he gave that up, he made deliveries all over town. Between dealing drugs, prison and tragedy, Muff's past was a turbulent one. Today, he is an ideal example of someone who turned their life around. He now teaches kids how to play basketball and emphasizes the importance of school.
2019-09-101h 05Crude ConversationsEP 048 with Libby BakalarIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Libby Bakalar, the creator of the One Hot Mess blog. Libby’s One Hot Mess originally began as a mommy-blog, where she wrote about things like recipes, make-up, and the trials and tribulations of parenting. She says it transformed into what it is now—a social justice blog—after President Trump was elected and especially after Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy was elected. She explains that, as a lawyer, she really had no choice but to speak truth to power because if she were to stay quiet in the compassionless government we’re curre...2019-09-051h 09Crude ConversationsEP 047 with Joker the BailbondsmanIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Sean Sullivan, better known as Joker the Bailbondsman. Joker is, without a doubt, the most commercially successful rapper from Alaska. His music videos were in heavy rotation on BET: Uncut, a late-night, uncensored music video block on BET back in the early 2000s. Back then, Joker was fully in it, he was living the stereotypical rap life—selling drugs and rapping about it. That is, until he got caught trying to sell to an undercover agent. He ended up spending over eight years in federal prison for the distribution of crack. To...2019-08-281h 18Crude ConversationsEP 046 with Gus EngleIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Gus Engle, a former professional snowboarder turned musician. Back when he was a snowboarder, rather than taking to the mountains, Gus headed to more urban locations to ride. He ollied sidewalks, slid on corrugated pipes, rode down cement ledges, and jumped off overpasses. Altogether, he helped change the definition of what it means to go snowboarding. His impact on the sport is one of those things that was immediately felt, but was not immediately attributed to him. But that's how those thing go sometimes. However, in time, history may be kinder...2019-08-211h 16Crude ConversationsEP 045 with Lauren MurphyIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with UFC fighter Lauren Murphy. Lauren was introduced to combat sports in 2009 when she dropped her son off at jiu jitsu class. She ended up taking the class alongside him so that he wouldn't be afraid. He wasn't afraid, but she did get hooked. The following year, Lauren competed in her first MMA fight in Wasilla, Alaska. She knocked her opponent out in 17 seconds. It was the first fight she had ever been in. Today, when she talks about why she got into fighting she says that she wanted to find out h...2019-08-0354 minCrude ConversationsEP 044 with Mike Dempsey
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with his friend Mike Dempsey. Mike is a videographer and visual storyteller. It's a hard-won career that not everybody succeeds at, and Mike's well aware of this, which is why he got a degree in computer science—so that he could work remotely. The computer science degree has allowed him to work from anywhere in the world, while he pursues his real passion of documenting people and places. He's traveled to Kenya, Peru, and Columbia for work, and Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Jamaica for himself. He's interviewed people for his own pe...2019-08-0157 minCrude ConversationsEP 043 with Julie DeckerIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Julie Decker, the Director and CEO of The Anchorage Museum. When she took the job, Julie made a radical shift in the way museums typically function. Rather than just collecting and displaying artifacts, she decided to transform the Anchorage Museum into a living museum, focused on local issues by examining present themes in order to look at Alaska's cultures and traditions in a contemporary way. Ultimately, this shift was meant to answer one fundamental question: how does the museum and its network make Alaska a better place?
Julie is...2019-07-241h 00Crude ConversationsEP 042 with Cory Davis
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional snowmachiner Cory Davis. Cory's been riding a sled since before he could walk. At least that's what his parents tell him. And it's an easy thing to believe if you've ever seen him on a snowmachine. Dude's a natural. Fast forward to 2007, and he's competing in the X-Games at 18-years-old. Today, he holds six X-Games medals in Long Jump and Speed & Style, and a first place win at Iron Dog, the longest snowmachine race in the world. In addition to competing, he co-produced Winter Project, a documentary about backcountry snowmachining in...2019-07-171h 14Crude ConversationsEP 041 with Stephanie Wonchala
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Stephanie Wonchala, the Executive Director of Pulse Dance Company and the owner and operator of Studio Pulse Center for Dance. Stephanie started Pulse Dance Company in 2010. Back then they rehearsed wherever they could find space. At one point they held rehearsals on the second floor of a massage studio, with carpet, low ceilings, and no mirrors. Although not ideal, Stephanie remained thankful, but always kept looking. Then, in 2013, she opened Studio Pulse Center for Dance in order to provide the company with a permanent home.
As you mature as a business owner, yo...2019-07-111h 01Crude ConversationsEP 040 with Pastor Kent Redfearn
In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Pastor Kent Redfearn. Kent has been the pastor of Muldoon Community Assembly in Anchorage for over thirty years. In that time, he's watched the perception of organized religion change—for the better in some situations, and for much worse in others. And while the fundamental job of a pastor has not changed, their methods have. Meaning, because of the influx and often bombardment of information nowadays it has become necessary for leaders of churches to find ways for their message to be heard above the fray.
If you're a pas...2019-07-041h 01Crude ConversationsEP 039 with Josh PoeIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Fairbanks skate legend Josh Poe. Josh got a taste for skate culture as an army brat in Germany in the mid-90s, where he spent a lot of time skipping school to skate with friends. He got to Alaska in 2005 by way of the Air Force and caught the tail end of the Boarderline era, years that were marked by substantial growth in the Alaska snow and skate scene. After Boarderline went out of business in 2006, Josh recognized that a void was left in the Fairbanks skate scene, so he started...2019-06-2655 minCrude ConversationsEP 038 with Alice GlennIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with Alice Glenn, the host of Coffee & Quaq, a podcast that explores Native life in urban Alaska. If you live in Alaska, then you're aware of racism toward Alaska Native people. It can be casual, or it can be abrasive. Either way, it's detrimental to an entire group of people who have lived in Alaska for thousands of years. Long before the Russians or the Europeans came here. And therein lies the heart of this conversation. Not racism specifically, but the effects of colonization to every facet of Alaska Native life. From...2019-06-191h 04Crude ConversationsEP 037 with Mark LandvikIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with professional snowboarder Mark Landvik, better known as Lando. Lando has been instrumental in snowboard videos that raised the bar in the progression of the sport, as well as the way action sports are filmed. Specifically, "The Art of Flight," "That's It, That's All," and "The Fourth Phase." In 2015, at the height of his career, Lando left the filming of "The Fourth Phase," one of the most anticipated documentaries of 2016. His mental health was declining and he didn't know why. What followed was a manic episode that lasted about five months, followed...2019-06-171h 04Crude ConversationsEP 036 with Ben SullenderIn this episode, Cody has a conversation with spatial ecologist Ben Sullender. Spatial ecology is the study and understanding of a landscape using maps. Meaning, scientists like Ben use topography to look at how small differences in landscape affect every part of life. From the migratory patterns of birds, to the melting of the Arctic Ocean sea ice and how it significantly changes our ability to live on land. They also talk about coastal environments, the affects of ship traffic in the Bering Strait, the ability for fish and animals to seasonably access the habitats they need, and how...2019-06-1259 min