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.
Painter Jennifer Gross (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Gross)
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
Andrea Antoine (Courtesy photo)
Antavia Hamilton (Courtesy photo)
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.
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.
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:
Trina Lynch-Jackson (Photo from T. Lynch-Jackson)
Ibn Bailey (Photo from I. Bailey)
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.
Vera Starbard will serve as Alaska State Writer Laureate through 2026. (Photo by Clarise Larson/KTOO)
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.
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.
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.
