Bostin Christopher

This episode of Culture Rich Conversations from Juneau’s Black Awareness Association concludes the February series spotlighting Black artists in Alaska. Host Christina Michelle talks with local painter Jennifer Gross, a southern belle who now creates art while roller-skating in Juneau, Antavia Hamilton, the visionary behind Da Hoo Doo spiritual transformation dolls, and Andrea Antoine, the founder of BBAAD, an artist production company. These dynamic women share their unique insights and the remarkable art they contribute to our community.

Guests:

Jennifer Gross, Painter

Antavia Hamilton, Creator of Da Hoo Doo Magic Dolls

Andrea Antoine, Founder of BBAAD Productions

Christina Michelle hosts the conversation. Culture Rich Conversations airs Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast.

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On this episode:

• The Juneau Piano Series previews two concerts featuring Eduard Zilberkant and the Cynosure Trio
  
  
• The Northwest ADA Center shares info on the Americans with Disabilities Act on its 35th anniversary
  
  
• A Felicidade enters its second residency on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. at The Crystal Saloon
  
  

Bostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

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Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.

This week, host Christina Michelle continues to interview Black artists in Alaska in honor of Black History Month. This episode spotlights Ibn Bailey, a local business owner who shares his journey with art as a form of healing and support in his recovery. Also, Trina Lynch-Jackson, who is carrying on the legacy of her late uncle Charles Buggs and his armature masks. 

Guests:

Christina Michelle hosts the conversation. Culture Rich Conversations airs Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast.

Subscribe to the podcast:

Juneau Afternoon’s Rainy Day Conversations features Alaska State Writer Laureate and three-time Emmy-nominated writer Vera Starbard. Starbard will serve through 2026 and replaces outgoing State Writer Laureate Heather Lende.

Starbard, who is Lingít and Dena’ina, was born in Craig and lived throughout Alaska before settling into her “forever” home on Douglas Island in Juneau with her husband, Joe.

Starbard taught herself to read at age four and knew she wanted to be a writer by kindergarten. In high school, she began reading “how-to” business books. Right out of high school, she started working in journalism as an editor and found work in public relations. She was the editor of First Alaskans magazine. She was working on a novel but wanted to improve her dialogue skills, so she participated in a playwrighting workshop. That work led to her play “Our Voices Will Be Heard” and changed the course of her career. Now a full-time screenwriter, Starbard has worked on “Molly of Denali” and “Alaska Daily” and has many projects in various stages of development.

Host Bostin Christopher talks with Starbard about her plans and ideas for her time as Alaska State Writer Laureate. She speaks about her desire to uplift Alaska Native storytelling and believes everyone has a story to share. She credits her family as her biggest inspiration and most incredible supporter of her work. She also discusses getting those first jobs, the state of native representation in film and television, and teases a novel in the works.

You can find and follow Vera Starbard online via Facebook or at her website: http://www.verastarbard.com.

Bostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

RAINY DAY OVERFLOW
Occasionally, the broadcast lacks enough time to include the full conversation. Below are a few bonus questions with Vera Starbard covering decolonization, the state of native storytelling in books vs films, her thoughts on AI, and her advice for those beginning a writing career.

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Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.

On today’s program:

• “Southeast Clams – Dangerous or Delicious” – Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center researcher and UAS Assistant Professor John Harley previews his Friday Fireside Lecture at the Mendenhall Glacier
  
  
• The first check-in of the year with the Juneau Police Department, with Deputy Chief Krag Campbell providing updates on staffing, bike safety, the ordinance regarding body camera footage, and recent shootings in Juneau.
  
  
• The Juneau Nordic Ski Club is on a mission with its upcoming CommuniSki fundraiser: raise a dollar for every Juneauuite to help offer every kid the opportunity to Ski!
  
  

Bostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

Subscribe to the podcast:

Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.

Juneau Afternoon’s new series, Rainy Day Conversations, features Alaska author Eowyn Ivey. Ivey’s first novel, “The Snow Child,” was a New York Times bestseller and a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

Ivey lives in Alaska with her husband and two daughters. She previously worked as a journalist and for nearly a decade as a bookseller at Fireside Books in Palmer before writing her first novel, “The Snow Child,” in 2013.

Her new novel, “Black Woods, Blue Sky,” tells the story of a single mother, Birdie, and her daughter, Emmaleen. Birdie meets and falls in love with Arthur, a soft-spoken recluse. But soon after moving to his isolated cabin, Birdie and Emmaleen discover Arthur is much more than he appears and hides a secret that is as dangerous as the Alaska wilderness.

Host Bostin Christopher talks with Ivey about this novel being her most personal story yet. She shares about writing into her fears and how, ultimately, the book is about love. She also discusses the nerves on the eve of its launch, her writing process, how she began writing, and her longing for independent books to garner more recognition.

“Black Woods, Blue Sky” is on sale now. Find out more about Eowyn Ivey and her work at http://www.eowynivey.com.

Bostin Christopher hosts the conversation. Juneau Afternoon airs at 3:00 p.m. on KTOO and KAUK with a rebroadcast at 7:00 p.m. Listen online or subscribe to the podcast at ktoo.org/juneauafternoon.

Subscribe to the podcast:

Juneau Afternoon is a production of the KTOO Arts and Culture Team.
Bostin Christopher produced today’s show with help from Erin Tripp.