Best Grio Podcasts (2024)

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JULY 4: Dr. Cal Williams, African American History Keeper and Alaskan Grio 53:39

9d ago53:39

53:39

Community activist Dr. Cal Williams was born on November 30, 1941, in Monroe, Louisiana. A college graduate, Williams served in the United States Air Force during the early 1960s and participated in the Civil Rights Movement through his affiliation with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). In 1965, following the advice of Charles and John LeVieg…

1
Arianna Bellizzi: Director of Anchorage's Federation of Community Councils 48:55

10h ago48:55

48:55

Arianna Bellizzi is the new Executive Director of Anchorage’s Federation of Community Councils. We talk about her background, how she came to this job, and the history of Anchorage’s community council system. We also discuss the current state of community councils in our city and potential ways for improving them. Find your community council by cli…

1
Listen to Booker & Olivia by William Sutphin 4:21

4h ago4:21

4:21

While I am putting together more episodes of "Harlem Queen", please I enjoy listening to "Booker & Olivia" by William Sutphin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Yhane Washington Smith

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Lisa Parker: Anchorage Charter Commissioner & Soldotna City Council Member 49:38

1h ago49:38

49:38

Soldotna City Council member Lisa Parker became at the age of 19 the youngest person in Alaska to achieve elected office when she won her election to the Anchorage Charter Commission. In 1975 that commission unified the City of Anchorage with the Borough of Anchorage into the municipality that it is today. Like our guest last week, Jane Angvik who …

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THE UNIFICATION OF ANCHORAGE 1975: Jane Angvik, Charter Commission Member 41:30

4h ago41:30

41:30

Anchorage Charter Commission member Jane Angvik ran for the Anchorage Charter Commission not too long after she had moved to Anchorage in 1973. What she had learned during her time working for the Greater Anchorage Borough Planning Department was that the City of Anchorage and the Borough of Anchorage hated each other – they couldn’t stop suing eac…

1
Jane Angvik: Founding Mother of Anchorage 57:22

5d ago57:22

57:22

Jane Angvik was an Anchorage Charter Commission member who drafted the founding document that unified the city and borough of Anchorage in 1975. On July 1, 2024, she administered the oath of office at the inauguration of Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. Jane has spent her life in service to Alaska whether at her first job for the Anchorage borough…

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PRIDE: Tafilisaunoa Toleafoa, Director of the Pacific Community of Alaska 58:27

16d ago58:27

58:27

Tafilisaunoa Toleafoa was born and raised in the islands of Samoa in the the South Pacific. She moved to Anchorage 20 years ago to join the rest of her family who were already here. Ms. Toleafoa serves as Executive Director at the Pacific Community of Alaska. She serves as co-chair for the board of directors for the National Association of Pasifika…

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Kevin Berry: UAA Economics Professor on private vs. public sector growth, Assembly-proposed zoning changes, and Anchorage community councils 52:22

19d ago52:22

52:22

University of Alaska Anchorage Economics Professor Kevin Berry returns to the podcast to discuss the Alaska economy. For a deeper dive into his personal story, listen to his episode from November 2022 (click here). Today we talk about the way the private sector and the public sector economies interact with each other in typical states and how Alask…

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JUNETEENTH: Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage) 25:01

1M ago25:01

25:01

In honor of Juneteenth 2024, I am airing an interview I conducted with Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson from 2023 for my previous podcast, "East Anchorage Matters." Last month the Alaska State House and Senate passed Sen. Gray-Jackson's bill making Juneteenth an Alaska State Holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States and bega…

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ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS (SPANISH): Conoce tus derechos como trabajador en Alaska 12:56

25d ago12:56

12:56

intérprete: Israel Portilla Gomez La información de este episodio se basa en una entrevista que realizó en 2024 con Jeremy Applegate, jefe de la división de Salarios y Horas del Departamento de Trabajo del Estado de Alaska. Todos los trabajadores en Alaska tienen derecho a un salario y un trato justos según la ley. Muchos trabajadores desconocen su…

1
ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS (UKRAINIAN): Знайте свої права як працівника на Алясці 11:43

1M ago11:43

11:43

Перекладач: Катерина Клименченко Інформація в цьому епізоді базується на інтерв’ю, яке він провів у 2024 році з Джеремі Епплгейтом, керівником відділу оплати праці та робочих годин Департаменту праці штату Аляска. Відповідно до закону, усі працівники на Алясці мають право на справедливу оплату праці та ставлення. Багато працівників не знають своїх …

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ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS (ESTONIAN): teie õigused töötajana 7:57

27d ago7:57

7:57

See on eestikeelne versioon taskuhäälingusaate intervjuust Jeremy Applegate’iga – Alaska tööministeeriumi palga ja tunni osakonna juhatajaga. Kui arvate, et teie õigusi on rikutud, helistage numbril 907-269-4900. Te ei pea inglise keelt rääkima. Interpreter assistance: Leino Mandre.By Andrew Gray

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ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS (HMONG): Koj txoj cai ua haujlwm 17:28

28d ago17:28

17:28

Zoo siab txais tos txhua tus los rau Tsab Ntawv East Anchorage; Hnub no lub xov tooj cua luv luv no yuav piav qhia txog Alaska cov neeg ua haujlwm txoj cai hauv lus Hmoob. Kuv lub npe yog Emery Yaj , kuv yog tus txhais lus Hmoob rau tus tuav thiab coj xov tooj cua Andrew Gray. Andrew Gray yog tus sawv cev rau East Anchorage hauv Alaska State House.…

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ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS (FILIPINO): Ang iyong mga karapatan bilang isang manggagawa 15:29

1M ago15:29

15:29

Ito ay isang Filipino na bersyon ng isang nakaraang podcast episode. Ang layunin ay upang turuan ang mga manggagawa tungkol sa kanilang mga karapatan. Ang interpreter ay si Elsie Janes. Kung naniniwala ka na ang iyong mga karapatan ay nilabag, makipag-ugnayan sa Alaska Department of Labor sa statewide.wagehour@alaska.gov o tumawag sa 907-269-4900. …

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ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS (KOREAN): 노동자 권리 에피소드 한국어 12:50

1M ago12:50

12:50

이번 팟캐스트 에피소드는 송명숙 번역가가 참여한 한국어 버전입니다. 알래스카의 모든 근로자는 공정한 임금과 안전한 근무 조건을 누릴 자격이 있습니다. 귀하의 권리가 침해되었다고 생각되면 907-269-4900으로 전화하십시오. 불만사항을 제기하기 위해 영어를 구사할 수 있을 필요는 없습니다.

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ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS: short guide in English 13:26

1M ago13:26

13:26

This short episode is largely based on information gathered from the podcast interview with Jeremy Applegate, the chief of the Wage and Hour division for the State of Alaska Department of Labor, from May 6, 2024. To listen to the whole interview, click here. The plan is to release this short guide in Spanish, Tagalog, Hmong, Ukranian, and other lan…

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Amber Batts: activist for Alaska's sex workers 1:01:34

1M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Amber Batts is a founding member of the Community United for Safety and Protection (also known as CUSP), an Alaska-based group of current and former sex workers, sex trafficking survivors, and allies working towards safety and protection in Alaska’s sex industry. Amber began working as sex worker at the age of 30 to escape an abusive marriage while…

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S4 EP4 - Madame Stephanie St. Clair's Trial (Season Finale) 17:21

2M ago17:21

17:21

This episode tells the tale of Stephanie's trial. This season’s special sponsor is Harlem Brewing headed by the first black woman beer brewer, Celeste Beatty. Get ready for Harlem Brewing’s Harlem themed taproom in Brixton. That’s Brixton in London. This episode was edited by Jordan Kauling, sound designed by Xperience J., Emanie White -Heard is ou…

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Rebecca Braun: Publisher-Editor of the Alaska Budget Report & Senior Policy Advisor to Gov. Bill Walker 1:01:19

2M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

Rebecca Braun of Juneau moved to Alaska about 30 years ago initially to work for the forestry service. She then taught math and science at Juneau-Douglas High School before randomly applying for a journalist position with The Alaska Budget Report. The Alaska Budget Report, which no longer exists, was a nonpartisan publication that covered state gov…

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S4 EP3 - Harlem Queen Live! Wilhemina Returns. 24:52

2M ago24:52

24:52

This is the recording of our live show!! In this episode Stephanie and Wilhemina hatch a plan that will put Dutch Schultz six feet under. Original music by Jason Moran and produced, edited, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith. This episode featured: Gabrielle Adkins Kara Young Luke Slattery Ian Bell Karen Chmielnicki Ele Matelan our fole…

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Donna Arduin: 2019 OMB director for Gov. Dunleavy & current staff to Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski) 1:01:56

2M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Donna Arduin is most well known in Alaska as Governor Dunleavy's 2019 director of the Office of Management and Budget. She is currently staff for representative Ben Carpenter of Nikiski. As Dunleavy's OMB Director, she advised major cuts to the state budget including eliminating the state ferry system, dismantling the University of Alaska, and dras…

301
S4 EP2 - We Meet Bunky 17:28

2M ago17:28

17:28

CONTENT WARNING: A lynching is discussed. In this episode, Stephanie escapes tragedy and meets Bunky. Stephanie explains to Josephine how she built her numbers empire. This episode was edited by Jordan Kauwling. Sound designed by Xperience J. original music by Jason Moran and produced, written and directed by Yhane Washington Smith. This episode fe…

1
ALASKA WORKERS' RIGHTS: Jeremy Applegate, chief of Wage and Hour, State of Alaska Dept. of Labor. 54:33

3M ago54:33

54:33

Jeremy Applegate is the chief of Wage and Hour for the State of Alaska Department of Labor. The goal of today’s episode is to inform workers, particularly seasonal workers who may have never worked in Alaska before, of their rights. Important things to know up front: workers are entitled to a written contract at the start of their employment which …

101
S4 EP1 - We Meet JB (Josephine Baker) 16:41

3M ago16:41

16:41

In this episode, Stephanie St. Clair escapes jail in New York City, lands in France and recounts her tale of arrival to "America" to her friend Josephine Baker. Around 1915, Stephanie arrives in “America”, young, pregnant, alone and gets to work building a life for herself and her baby. This episode features: Gabrielle Adkins Marie-Francoise Theodo…

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Libby Bakalar: One Hot Mess Alaska 39:31

3M ago39:31

39:31

Municipal attorney of Bethel Libby Bakalar is today's guest. Libby became famous in Alaska for her blog, One Hot Mess, and then her social media presence as One Hot Mess Alaska. Her outspokenness led to her unlawfully firing by the Dunleavy administration when she was working there as an assistant attorney general. Today, we discuss all of that as …

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TRANS RIGHTS: Rep. Andrew Gray on garnering more support for Trans Rights 14:58

3M ago14:58

14:58

Today is the final episode in our series on Transgender Rights. I, Rep. Andrew Gray, explain the purpose of this series and broadcast the special order that I gave on the Alaska State House floor on April 17, 2024. It provides an olive branch to folks who may be on the other side with regards to these issues. It is my sincere belief that the vast m…

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New episodes of "Harlem Queen" start on May 5! In the meantime, check out "Auricle"! 3:03

3M ago3:03

3:03

Hi! We are ready to drop new episodes of "Harlem Queen" about our very gangster and philanthropic Madame Stephanie St. Clair during the Harlem Renaissance. In the meantime, check out the promo to a show that I listen to for inspiration titled "Auricle"! Help us make more episodes of "Harlem Queen" by becoming a patron!: https://www.patreon.com/harl…

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TRANS RIGHTS: Dr. Marci Bowers, president of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) 28:56

3M ago28:56

28:56

Dr. Marci Bowers is a pelvic and gynecologic surgeon with more than 32 years’ experience. She is the president of WPATH – the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Her gender diverse work has been highlighted through appearances on Oprah, CBS Sunday Morning, Discovery Health and the TLC reality series, “I am Jazz." She was intervie…

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TRANS RIGHTS: Dr. Joshua Safer, author of the Endocrine Society Guidelines for the medical care of transgender patients 31:44

3M ago31:44

31:44

Dr. Joshua Safer is the executive director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York. He is the founding medical director of the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine, and he was the inaugural president of the United States Professional Association for Transgender Health…

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TRANS RIGHTS: Becca Bernard, a lawyer, minister, and mom to a trans girl 27:55

3M ago27:55

27:55

Becca Bernard is a former environmental lawyer and a Unitarian Universalist community minister based in Anchorage. She is also mom to two children, one of whom is trans. This episode is part of a series on trans rights. The inspiration for these interviews is three bills currently moving through the Alaska State House: HB 183 which bans trans girls…

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TRANS RIGHTS: David Leslie, an Inupiaq Sipiniq (Two-Spirit) 32:33

3M ago32:33

32:33

David Leslie is an Inupiaq Sipiniq (Two-Spirit) living in Fairbanks. He is a frequent testifier against the anti-trans bills moving through the Alaska State House. We discuss his specific perspective as a queer Alaska Native man. To check out the book recommended by our guest, Yuuyaraq: The Way of The Human Being, by Harold Napoleon, Click here. Th…

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TRANS RIGHTS: Henry, a 15-year-old trans boy and his mom 23:56

3M ago23:56

23:56

Henry is a 15 year old trans boy. He and his mother are the guests today discussing their experience in Alaska. No last names will be given in the interest of their safety. This episode is part of a series on trans rights. The inspiration for these interviews is three bills currently moving through the Alaska State House: HB 183 which bans trans gi…

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TRANS RIGHTS: Retired Army 1st Sergeant Jessica Kalarchik on being trans 27:55

3M ago27:55

27:55

Jessica Kalarchik was an Army First Sergeant who deployed with me and the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1-297th infantry battalion to Kosovo 2019-2020. 1st Sergeant Kalarchik presented as a very masculine man, and I never suspected that she was a trans woman. She was medically retired after 31 years in the military during her next deployment to Pola…

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TRANS RIGHTS: An Air Force family raising a trans child 1:07:12

3M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

The Banning family consists of: Lindsey, clinical psychologist, mom Charlie, age 15, non-binary trans masculine Ezzy, age 12, sister Earl, neuropsychologist in the Air Force at Elmendorf, dad This episode is part of a series on trans rights. The inspiration for these interviews is three bills currently moving through the Alaska State House: HB 183 …

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TRANS RIGHTS: wildlife biologist Aaron Poe discusses being a father to a trans daughter in Anchorage 36:03

3M ago36:03

36:03

Aaron Poe has been a wildlife biologist in Alaska since 1998. He is the father of a trans daughter in the Anchorage School District, and today we discuss that experience. This episode is the first in a series on trans rights. The inspiration for these interviews is three bills currently moving through the Alaska State House: HB 183 which bans trans…

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James Kaufman (R-Anchorage): AK State Senator for Abbott Loop and the Hillside 43:27

4M ago43:27

43:27

Alaska State Senator James Kaufman represents the Abbott Loop and Hillside areas of Anchorage. Although in his teens and 20s he was a guitar player & song writer for several successful rock bands, James began earning real money as an aircraft mechanic in Houston, Texas. He quickly found himself taking on bigger and bigger management positions which…

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Reggie Joule: Kotzebue House Rep (1997-2012) & Northwest Arctic Borough Mayor (2012-2015) 1:22:36

4M ago1:22:36

1:22:36

Reggie Joule of Kotzebue is a former Alaska State House Representative and the former Northwest Arctic Borough Mayor. He is listed in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame as: “the greatest practitioner of the blanket toss in the long history of the World Eskimo Indian Olympics.” His skill in that Alaska Native sport led to his appearance on the Tonight S…

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The Grio's Harlem and Moscow 1:00:42

4M ago1:00:42

1:00:42

While we are putting the finishing touches on Season 4 of "Harlem Queen" check out "Harlem and Moscow". I had the opportunity to speak with the writer of the series, Alle Mims. We had a lovely chat about the people of the Harlem Renaissance who traveled to Russia to make this ill-fated Russian propaganda film, the Russian creatives of this film as …

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Sharon Gleason: Chief Judge of the US District Court for Alaska 42:12

4M ago42:12

42:12

Judge Sharon Gleason is the Chief Judge of the United State District Court for the District of Alaska. She was appointed by Barack Obama in 2012 after serving 11 years as a judge on the Alaska Superior Court. She is the first woman to serve as a federal judge for Alaska. On March 29, 2024, she released a 29-page decision against the fishing of the …

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Lisa Wawrzonek: Statewide Guardianship Compliance Officer on Alaska's Guardianship Crisis 49:30

4M ago49:30

49:30

With over 20 years of experience in Alaska's guardianship system Lisa Warzonek has been our statewide guardianship compliance officer since the position was created four years ago. A guardian is a person that the court appoints to manage the affairs of another person. In spite of the sensationalized negative headlines we see, most guardians do a di…

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Mobile Home Owners Town Hall with Attorney Charles Ward, David Andrew, and Demetria Veasy 50:29

4M ago50:29

50:29

The Mobile Home Owner Town Hall Episode Today our show is about mobile home parks. As the state representative for house district 20, I have several mobile home parks in my district. Mobile home owners face unique challenges: they own their home but must rent the land on which their home sits. Every year that rent goes up – yet the value of their h…

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Charisse Millett: Director of PSEA & former AK House Majority Leader 57:21

5M ago57:21

57:21

Charisse Millett is a born and raised Alaskan who represented the Abbott Loop area of Anchorage in the Alaska State House from 2009 to 2019. During her legislative career she served as both the House Republican majority and minority leaders. In this episode we discuss: growing up Alaska Native in Anchorage serving as chief of staff to Rep. Vic Kohr…

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Chelsea Foster & Bailey Stuart: Alaska Marijuana 101 45:06

5M ago45:06

45:06

Chelsea Foster of Anchorage is a director on the board of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association and a long-time cannabis advocate. She is COO for Birch Alaskan Naturals CBD, and a consultant for the Alaskan cannabis industry. She has successfully pursued regulatory and statuary changes for the Alaska cannabis industry with a focus on social equ…

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