Alaska Teen Media Institute

Medium Build | Zoom Room #54

On April 24th and 25th, Nick Carpenter, better known by his band name Medium Build, played four shows at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub. They were billed as Takeaways Town Halls, intimate, acoustic seated shows with stories, requests, new music, and that raw energy only Nick can bring to the stage. He was supported by openers Ken Yates and Whale Songz.

On that Saturday afternoon, just before the second night of shows, ATMI producers Mo Spooner and Rhys James sat down with Nick in the green room of the Bear Tooth for an extended conversation.

This is ATMI’s second interview with Nick. We first spoke with him in 2023 after signing to Islands Records. Since then, Medium Build has put out the album “Country” and has toured all over the world.

Mo and Rhys spoke with him about the intimate nature and format of these Bear Tooth shows, how his songwriting perspective has changed as the scope of Medium Build has broadened, and a little bit about a new upcoming album.

Hosted by Deacon Laurance.

Video production by Xander Rose and Logan Ehrhart. Edited by Xander Eaton, Carter Vermiere, and Logan Ehrhart.

This podcast episode was made possible with funding from Rasmuson Foundation through the Arts in Education Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena'ina people, whose land we work on.

In Other News | May 2026

May is Mental Health Awareness month, so we centered our show around that. We chatted with Charlene Aqpik Apok, the founder and executive director of Data For Indigenous Justice (12:27) about the work the organization is doing. ATMI producers Mo Spooner and Rhys James sat down with Nick Carpenter of Medium Build to talk about his recent shows at Bear Tooth (27:21). And we rounded the show out with a roundtable discussion about mental health (47:41).

Plus Kaylee reported on recent local and national news stories (06:00) and Robbie highlighted some upcoming all-ages events around town (42:28).

Hosts: Jay St. John and Deacon Laurance

News: Kaylee LaTocha

Events: Robbie Raychel

Board-op: Rhys James

Producer: Kaylee LaTocha

This youth radio program was made possible with funding from Rasmuson Foundation through the Arts in Education Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Additional support comes from the Atwood Foundation.

This episode originally aired live on KNBA 90.3 FM Anchorage on May 2nd, 2026.

 

In Other News | April 2026

For our April radio show, we kick things off with an interview with Dyani Chapman, the State Director of Alaska Environment Action, about the work her organization is doing to protect the natural world (06:12). We also have a chat with Christine Dittrich, the Vice President of the Anchorage Weavers and Spinners Guild about some upcoming workshops they're hosting (22:25).

We finish things up with a roundtable discussion led by new producer Elsa Boots about life in Anchorage, ATMI projects, and our beloved mascot (42:50).

Hosts: Jay St. John and Wren Crocket

Producer: Kaylee LaTocha

News: Xander Eaton

Events: Robbie Raychel

Board-op: Deacon Laurance 

This youth radio program was made possible with funding from Rasmuson Foundation through the Arts in Education Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Additional support comes from the Atwood Foundation.

This episode originally aired live on KNBA 90.3 FM Anchorage on April 4th, 2026.

In Other News | March 2026

Our March show starts off with an interview with Gwyneth Eggleston, a youth ambassador with the Anchorage Assembly, about a resolution passed to encourage youth voting (06:52). Then we chat with Kass Smiley and Ida Taylor about the B4UDIE Comedy Festival happening in cities across Alaska from March 26th through April 4th, and they joke about their big "sponsor," which appears not to acknowledge the festival in any way, much less fund or endorse it (19:22). From the Anchorage Community Theater's production of "Marvel," director Mary Giles and lead actor Naomi Taymen talk about the story of Alaska's first female aviator, Mary Crosson (43:53). And the show rounds out with some trivia to recognize Women's History Month (54:44).

Hosts: Rhys James and Wren Crockett

Producer: Kaylee LaTocha

This youth radio program was made possible with funding from Rasmuson Foundation through the Arts in Education Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts. Additional support comes from the Atwood Foundation.

This episode originally aired live on KNBA 90.3 FM Anchorage on March 7th, 2026. 

In Other News | February 2026

Our February show features interviews with the local youth nonprofit Trajectory Youth Initiatives, a UAF student who was arrested for eating AI-generated artwork, and a filmmaker whose work was featured in our annual youth film screening. 

Hosts: Jay St. John and Deacon Laurance

Producer: Kaylee LaTocha

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on February 7, 2026.

Yoga and Mental Health with Margi Clifford | Zoom Room #53

Margi Clifford is a body-based psychotherapist who founded the practice Yoga For Mental Health. She and her other practitioners bring together the art of mindful movement and the science of mental health to nurture resilience, awaken potential, and support sustainable well-being. 

She has been doing this work for over twenty years.

ATMI producer Olivia Okeahialam sat down with Margi to talk about her work, how movement-based therapy differs from more common types of therapy, how yoga can impact one’s overall well-being, and much more.

Hosted by Deacon Laurance.

Recorded by Deacon Laurance with production assistance from Quinn White.

Theme music is by Kendrick Whiteman with additional music from Devin Shreckengost.

This Arts, Health and Well-Being in Alaska project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts with funding from Rasmuson Foundation.

The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena'ina people, whose land we work on.

In Other News | January 2026

Our first show of 2026 features interviews with a young Alaskan stop-motion animation filmmaker, the producer of the horror film "Shelby Oaks," and the executive director of the nonprofit organization Alaskans Take a Stand.

Hosts: Kaylee LaTocha and Deacon Laurance

News: Kaylee LaTocha

Events: Max McCambridge

Producer: Quinn White

Board-op: Logan Ehrhart

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on January 3, 2026.

"Shelby Oaks" Producer Asheligh Snead | Film Club #46

Shelby Oaks is a new horror film written and directed by first time feature filmmaker Chris Stuckmann. It tells the story of a woman determined to find her sister who goes missing while investigating a mysterious abandoned town.

It stars Camille Sullivan, Sarah Durn, Brendan Sexton III, and Keith David. It was executive produced by Mike Flanagan, who’s known for directing Stephen King adaptations and other horror films.

Before making the film, writer/director Chris Stuckmann was best known as a YouTube film critic. He utilized his platform and fanbase to crowdfund the production of Shelby Oaks. It combines elements of early YouTube, found footage, true crime documentaries, and narrative filmmaking to tell its story.

The film was produced by our guest, Ashleigh Snead. She has been making independent films for over a decade and is the director of production for Paper Street Pictures, a production company based out of Austin, Texas. She lives here in Anchorage and was kind enough to stop by our studio to speak with ATMI producer Cat Whited about working on Shelby Oaks.

In their conversation, Ashleigh talks about the movie’s journey from a simple pitch to getting theatrical distribution, her love of independent horror films, and other projects she has in the works. They spoke on November 12, 2025.

Host: Deacon Laurance

Theme music is by Kendrick Whiteman with additional music from Devin Shreckengost.

Video and audio production by Kendrick Whiteman and Nathan Pobieglo. Edited by Kaylee LaTocha and Vermillion Reed.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov

The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena'ina people, whose land we work on.

In Other News | December 2025

Our December show is a double-sized end of the year special! 

On Saturday December 6th, we spoke with filmmakers from the Anchorage International Film Festival to talk about their work, two different local theater productions, and the organizers for an alternative music festival in Anchorage.

Playwright Kristen Ritter and actress Danielle Rabinovitch spoke about their play Overland! which tells the story of Blanche Stuart Scott who set out to be the first woman in history to drive across the entire United States. 

Organizers Deven Lind and Robbie Raychel talked about Dog Daze, an alternative music festival happening in Anchorage December 11-14.

Writer/director Chelsea Christer talked about her short film "Out For Delivery," which is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Members of the Alaska Theatre of Youth spoke about their upcoming production of 13, Jr.

Writer/director Richie James Follin talked about his feature film "Crystal Cross," which is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Alaskan filmmaker Emilio Torres spoke about his feature film "The Ladder" which he filmed in Ketchikan. It is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Academy Award-nominated Belgian filmmaker Tom Van Avermaet talked about his short film "Hearts of Stone" which is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Hosts: Kaylee LaTocha, Wren Crockett, Rhys James, Nathan Pobieglo, and Jay St. John

News: Vermillion Reed

Events: Deacon Laurance

Producer: Quinn White

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on December 6th, 2025.

This Arts, Health and Well-Being in Alaska project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts with funding from Rasmuson Foundation. Additional support from Vision Maker Media.

In Other News | November 2025

Our November show features an interview about the intersection of traditional Alaska Native dancing and mental health, an interview with one of the youth filmmakers who had a short film in last year's After School Special, and a preview of another podcast we helped produce with our friends at the Youth Alliance For a Healthier Alaska.

Hosts: Wren Crockett and Jay St. John

Show Producer: Quinn White

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on November 1, 2025.