Alaska Teen Media Institute

The Endemic of Podcast in Place

On April 3, 2020 we released the first episode of Podcast in Place: Youth Stories From Quarantine, our series on life in Alaska during the Covid-19 pandemic. Three years and 70 episodes later, the global health pandemic was declared over by the World Health Organization on May 11, 2023.

So now it's time for Podcast in Place to also come to an end. 

In this final episode, we take a look back on how the Covid-19 pandemic affected life in Alaska; the healthcare system (7:48), school (17:49), mental health (34:23), and whether or not we might be ready for another global pandemic (48:29).

Hosted by Edison Wallace-Moyer.

This episode was written by Quinn White, Madison Knutson, Edison Wallace-Moyer, AJ Schultz, and Ormund Alaois.

Additional reporting from Maria Koop, Roey McCowan, Kendrick Whiteman, Jordan Kehl, and Forrest Rodgers.

Our show's main theme was composed by Devin Shreckengost. Additional music by Ormund Alaois, Tyler Felson, Ahman Greer, and Kendrick Whiteman.

Mentorship and production support from Cody Liska, John Kendall, and Rosey Robards. Special thanks to Julia O'Malley.

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

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including the Dow Jones News Fund Health and Wellness Reporting Summer Workshops Grant.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this podcast are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of our funders.

Singer/Songwriter Ashley Young | Zoom Room #42

Ashley Young is a singer songwriter originally from Yakutat, now based in Anchorage. In the spring she toured with the band Medium Build. Earlier this fall, she went on a tour in the Pacific Northwest with fellow musicians Husse and Zane Penny. 

Ashley stopped by the ATMI studio to sit down with producer Roey McCowan. In their extended conversation, she talks about the role her Indigeneity plays in her music, shares stories from the road, and much more.

Hosted by AJ Yambao.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Click the links to watch Ashley perform her songs "Secrets" "Dancing On The Words" and "Cast Aside."

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

 

Forever Chemicals | Zoom Room #41

In this episode we’re taking a look at how pollutants in drinking water are affecting the health and wellbeing of communities in Alaska. And how these chemicals can stay in a person’s body… forever. 

ATMI senior reporter Chloe Chaobal began her reporting in 2021 after being awarded a youth mini grant from the Alaska Conservation Foundation. The Youth Mini-Grant program aims to support youth-led projects that address conservation issues in Alaska. 

Chloe sought this funding after developing an interest and concern for Alaskans who may have been exposed to these chemicals through their drinking water.

This episode is narrated by Madison Knutson, written by Chloe Chaobal and Madison Knutson. Mentorship and production support from Cody Liska, John Kendall, and Rosey Robards. 

Hosted by Roey McCowan.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman, Ormund Alaois, and Tyler Felson. 

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including the Alaska Conservation Foundation. The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors. ATMI maintains editorial control of this podcast content. 

Thanks to our listeners who contribute to our programs and help us leverage additional funds and grants. 

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

Gruening Middle School and the Earthquake of 2018 | Zoom Room #40

On November 30th, 2018, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Anchorage in South Central Alaska. There were numerous property damages were reported, including Gruening Middle School in Eagle River.

That morning, when ATMI senior producer Daisy Carter was ducking under a desk, she thought of Gruening, where she had attended middle school. She worried that it wasn't able to sustain such a massive earthquake. And to some degree, she was right.

In this episode Daisy explores how the 2018 earthquake affected Gruening Middle School, how the community adjusted, and the school's reopening years later.

Written and produced by Daisy Carter, with mentorship and production support from Cody Liska, John Kendall, and Rosey Robbards.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman.

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including Spirit of Youth and United Way of Anchorage. 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.

Zane Penny On His Debut Album | Zoom Room #39

Zane Penny became a youth producer for ATMI way back in 2019, when he was taking the audio and video production class at King Technical High School. He applied his skills to various video, radio, and podcast projects with ATMI throughout the years, including screening short films he’d directed to our annual youth film showcase.

But in 2020, Zane took up a new passion: music. Now he’s released his debut, full length album of music, titled New Skin.

Prior to the release of New Skin, Zane stopped by the ATMI studios to speak with fellow producer, and former high school classmate, Kendrick Whiteman. He talks about his new album, going on tour with other local musicians, and his love for film.

Hosted by Nico Coltrane.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Click the links to watch Zane performing his songs "Pants" and "Maybe The Moon" in (and outside) our studio.

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

Medium Build | Zoom Room #38

Nick Carpenter has been making music in Alaska under the name Medium Build since 2016. Drawing inspiration from 80s country music and 90s RnB, Medium Build’s songs convey intimate stories drawn from Carpenter’s personal experiences. 

Earlier this summer, Medium Build signed a major label contract with Islands Records. This fall they head out on tour in the lower 48, then it’s off to Europe. 

ATMI producer Maria Koop sat down with Carpenter in our studio for an extended conversation about his music. He talks about what the major label signing means for the future of the band, the impact his religious upbringing has on his songs, and much more.

Hosted by Kendrick Whiteman.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

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

Barbenheimer | Film Club #35

In this special episode we have a double feature: Barbie and Oppenheimer, also known collectively as Barbenheimer. 

Since it was announced that Christopher Nolan’s biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Mattel movie would be released on the same day, a hype began to build. The memes were endless. People made posters combining the two movies. Fans wore all pink to screenings of Barbie, or all black for Oppenheimer. Some vice versa.

Both movies made a killing at the box office. Barbie even broke the record for sales of a movie by a female director. Suffice to say, Barbenheimer is a moviegoing phenomenon.

Hosted by Ormund Alaois.

Roundtable led by Madison Knutson and AJ Schultz.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman.

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

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including The Alaska Community Foundation through the 2022 Healthy Communities: Arts, Culture, Play Grant.

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

Asteroid City | Film Club #34

For this episode we’re talking about Asteroid City, the new film from director Wes Anderson. The story takes place in the 1950’s at a junior stargazing event in the desert. But after an extraterrestrial encounter disrupts an evening festivity, the characters are left to wonder what it all means.

It’s also a play within a television show. But it’s a movie. It’s hard to explain. 

Our ATMI film critics sat down to talk about the movie’s puzzling messages, the stacked A-list cast, visual motifs standard in a Wes Anderson film, and much more. 

Hosted by Kendrick Whiteman.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman.

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

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including The Alaska Community Foundation through the 2022 Healthy Communities: Arts, Culture, Play Grant.

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

Youth Filmmaker Roundtable | Film Club #33

We’re doing something a bit different with this episode. Rather than dish on the latest hit movie, we’re turning the mic over to our own aspiring filmmakers.

ATMI producers Kendrick Whiteman, Daisy Carter, Logan Tyler Smith, and AJ Yambao all sat down to talk about their experiences making and studying films, some of the lessons they’ve learned along the way, the impact they hope their work will have, and much more.

Hosted by Ormund Alaois.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman.

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

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including The Alaska Community Foundation through the 2022 Healthy Communities: Arts, Culture, Play Grant.

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

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse | Film Club #32

For this episode, we’re talking about the new animated movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A sequel to the 2018 chapter Into The Spider-Verse, it picks back up with our hero Miles Morales as he tries to balance life in high school, the expectations of his parents, and his responsibilities being your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

But when fellow Spider-person Gwen Stacy crosses the multiverse to pay him a visit, Miles is thrust into another adventure that takes him out of his dimension and into many others, meeting new heroes and villains along the way.

A few of our ATMI film critics sat down to talk about the movie, how it uses the medium of animation to elevate the story, the growing trend of multiverse storytelling, and much more.

Hosted by Kendrick Whiteman.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman.

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

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including The Alaska Community Foundation through the 2022 Healthy Communities: Arts, Culture, Play Grant.

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