Jeff was joined by Michael Parker from the independent oil company Narwhal. They discuss an explosive House Resources Committee hearing that he and his co-worker presented at about some leases they hold in West Harrison Bay on the North Slope, his background and how he got into the oil business, the issues they are having with Shell and the Department of Natural Resources in the West Harrison Bay Unit, why he thinks Shell is not holding up to the terms of their leases, why he believes the area h...
Apr 18, 2024•39 min•Ep 348•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by John-Henry Heckendorn from Ship Creek Group. They discuss his trip to Juneau to ski and attend Folk Fest, his wedding last summer, how his wife, Katie Scovic, is now the campaign manager for Suzanne LaFrance's mayoral campaign, his thoughts on the upcoming Anchorage mayoral run-off, some of the problems facing Anchorage and Alaska, the upcoming legislative races later this year, the ranked choice voting ballot repeal, and the chances Representative Mary Peltola (R - Alaska) ha...
Apr 16, 2024•34 min•Ep 347•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Representative Andrew Gray (D - Anchorage). They discuss the operating budget process in the House, how this session has gone compared to his first session last year, a recent hearing on a bill that aims to ban biological boys from competing against girls in sports, and how an interaction in that hearing between Gray and Riley Gaines went viral on Twitter, the transgender issue and how it has has become part of the culture wars, and an amendment he was able to pass to raise th...
Apr 13, 2024•32 min•Ep 346•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Juneau attorney Joe Geldhof. They discuss what is happening in the Capitol more than halfway through the legislative session, how the Legislature has changed since the 2022 election, many of the problems Alaska is currently facing including energy and infrastructure, how oil prices affect the state budget, their differences of opinion on how to solve Alaska's energy problems, some Alaska political history, and a big case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep 345•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Neil Steininger. They discuss his time as director of the Office of Management and Budget, his time working for a defense contractor in Nevada, why he decided to move back to Alaska, some of the state jobs he had before he became OMD director, working as the OMB director during Covid, the uniqueness of Alaska's budget and revenues, his current perspective now that he's no longer a state employee, and how the session may play out.
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 344•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Keith McGee, Alaska's only professional NASCAR driver. They discuss how Olympians qualify for the PFD but not professional athletes, his time in the military and how they brought him to Alaska in 2005, how he got into racecar driving, how he became a NASCAR driver, what it's like being a professional racecar driver, and the wild story of how we woke up in 2021 with $181 million dollars in his crypto account.
Jan 11, 2024•45 min•Ep 343•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Dr. Jermoe List, an ear, nose, and throat doctor practicing in Anchorage. They discuss his ecent decision to close down his practice after 32 years of being in business, some of the issues healthcare providers are dealing with, how Covid impacted the healthcare industry, growing up in Costa Rica, his dental training in the Soviet Union, and some of the reasons people see ENT doctors.
Jan 03, 2024•49 min•Ep 342•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Mark Begich. They discuss his company, Northern Compass Group, some of the work he is doing with homelessness, his wife Deborah's businesses in the Anchorage airport, his take on building in Anchorage, why he supports a sales tax, why snow plowing has been such a challenge in recent years and his ideas to improve it, the challenges of finding workers, his ideas on solving the homeless crisis, and the upcoming Anchorage mayoral election.
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep 341•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Jacob Hersh. They discuss his first semester of law school at the University of Idaho, the craziness that is happening at many American universities, the war in Gaza, why vaccine rates are down, his uncle John Faulkner's purchase of Must Read Alaska, his time in Juneau last session for the Landmine, some ideas for Jeff's 40th birthday next December, the upcoming legislative session, and the chaos surrounding next year's precedential election.
Dec 25, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep 340•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage Assembly member Anna Brawley Eric Visser, owner of Visser Construction. They discuss a recent Anchorage housing summit, some reasons for the housing crisis in Anchorage, the regulatory barriers to building in Anchorage, the Knik Arm crossing, their ideas for how to improve housing, and the upcoming Anchorage mayoral race.
Dec 16, 2023•2 hr 32 min•Ep 339•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Bethany Marcum and Sarah Hetemi from Americans for Prosperity Alaska. They discuss the mission of Americans for Prosperity, the role they have played in Alaska since 2014, how they each got involved in AFP, what happens in Juneau during the legislative session, Bethany's recent trip to Iowa, the upcoming presidential election, and the lunacy during Covid.
Dec 02, 2023•55 min•Ep 338•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined via Zoom by former NCAA swimmer turned women's activist Riley Gaines. They discuss her upcoming trip to Anchorage to speak at an event hosted by Alaska Family Council, the swimming race she was in with Lia Thomas, a transgender man (biological male), how she and other women had to share a locker room with Thomas, why she decided to speak up for women, some of the backlash she has faces, and her rise to national prominence after she started publicly speaking against transgender wo...
Nov 17, 2023•16 min•Ep 337•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Representative Will Stapp (R - Fairbanks). They discuss an attempt by the Harding Lake Mafia to stop a gold mining project in Fairbanks, how building an in-state gasline would reduce the high cost of energy in Alaska, issues facing Alaska schools, some of his ideas for the next legislative session, and his wife's connection to the late Vic Fischer.
Nov 16, 2023•43 min•Ep 336•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Alaska politico Miles Baker. They talk about his background working in Alaska politics, his time growing up in Alaska, how he ended up attending the United States Naval Academy, his time serving as an officer in the Marines, why he decided to move to Los Angeles after he got out of the Marines, how he got into the music business in LA, and why he ended up moving back to Alaska after being in LA for over a decade.
Nov 12, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep 335•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman. They discuss his upbringing in Alaska, how he was the first member of his family born in the United States, why he decided to switch majors and eventually decide to go to law school, his time practicing as a lawyer in Anchorage, why he decided to apply to be a judge, being appointed during the Covid pandemic, and what it's like being a judge.
Nov 07, 2023•54 min•Ep 334•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Jenna Wright, president and CEO of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). They discuss her recent selection as president and CEO of AEDC, her background working at the Alaska DMV, her time working in telecom, why she came to work at AEDC, the housing problem in Anchorage, how she met her husband, some upcoming projects in Anchorage, and the economic impact the Ted Stevens International Airport has on Anchorage.
Nov 03, 2023•57 min•Ep 333•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom (R - Alaska). They discuss her narrow loss to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska) in the 2002 Republican primary when Murkowski was serving in the Alaska State House, and how she was the appointed to the seat when then-Governor Frank Murkowski appointed Lisa to his U.S. Senate seat, how Juneau functions, some potential ballot initiatives on next year's ballot, and her time serving as lieutenant governor since December.
Oct 26, 2023•46 min•Ep 332•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage politico and podcaster Andrew Halcro. They discuss Jeff's recent appendectomy and Andrew's appendectomy in 1995, a recent letter he received from attorney Kevin Clarkson - Alaska's former disgraced attorney general - on behalf of Art Mathias accusing Halcro of defamation and slander as well as making bizarre demands, how he is dealing with it, the problems facing Anchorage and the state, and some ideas on how things can be turned around.
Oct 22, 2023•2 hr 9 min•Ep 331•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Scott Habberstad from Alaska Airlines. They discuss his 23 year career with Alaska Airlines, what his job entails, his previous career as a pilot, the impact Covid had on the airline industry, some of Alaska Air's new destinations, the big PFD sale they are currently running, Alaska Air's mileage plan, and some of Jeff's issues with bad airlines travelers.
Oct 10, 2023•36 min•Ep 330•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage attorney Christine Williams. They discuss her upbringing in Anchorage with seven siblings, attending UAA and then going to law school in California, how she met her husband at an Alaska Airlines party, the history of Alaska Native Corporations and government contracting advantages, the lawsuit that tried to block ANCs from getting Covid money for tribes, and how the recent Supreme Court decision banning racial preference for college admissions may affect government c...
Oct 08, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep 329•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage mayoral candidate Bill Popp. They discuss how he moved to Anchorage as a kid, some Alaska political history, why he and his wife moved to the Kenai Peninsula, his time serving on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and in the mayor's office, why he came back to lead the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, why he decided to run for mayor, and the major issues facing Anchorage.
Oct 06, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Ep 328•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Rick Green, special assistant to Fish and Game Commissioner Doug-Vincent Lang. They discuss his time on talk radio (where he went by Rick Rydell) why he moved to Alaska from Montana after getting kicked out of high school, his style when he was on the radio, how talk radio has changed over the years, why he decided to go work for Fish and Game, his time working as a hunting and fishing guide in Alaska, different fishing and hunting issues in Alaska, some stories about his time...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep 327•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Anchorage Assembly member Dr. Daniel Volland. They discuss why he became an optometrist, some common problems with the eyes, why he decided to move to Alaska and buy a practice, why he decided to run for the Anchorage Assembly, the complexities of the special election for the new Assembly seat he won, the snow plowing mess that happened last winter, the growing homelessness problem in Anchorage, and his thoughts on making homebuilding easier in Anchorage.
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep 326•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich. They discuss last year's packed special election after Don Young passed way, the main race with fellow Republican Sarah Palin and now-Representative Mary Peltola (D - Alaska), U.S monetary policy, how inflation is affecting working people, next year's presidential election, why he thinks next year's House race for Alaska's sole congressional seat will be different, and other issues currently facing the country.
Sep 16, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep 325•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Jonathan White, a former KTUU reporter and lobbyist who now owns SteamDot. They discuss his background as a reporter, how he came to work for KTUU, his time working as a reporter in Juneau and then D.C., why he came back to Alaska, his time working as a lobbyist, why he started Steam Dot, some of the challenges at his midtown Anchorage location, how the media has changed, and how he knew Sarah Palin before she was governor.
Sep 14, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep 324•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Dr. Greg Harr, one of the owners of Family First Dentistry. They discuss why he decided to become a dentist, how he ended up in Alaska and started working at Family First Dentistry, why some people are hesitant about going to the dentist, the role health insurance plays in dentistry, the different facets of dentistry, how Covid impacted his business, and his advice on how to maintain good dental hygiene.
Sep 09, 2023•47 min•Ep 323•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by lobbyist Paul Fuhs. They talk about his time serving as mayor of Dutch Harbor, his time serving as Commerce commissioner under former Governor Wally Hickel, a trip he took to the Soviet Union in 1990 and how he ended up singing "Back in the U.S.SR." with a Soviet Army band , trips Jeff and Paul have taken to Crimea since the Russian annexation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what that means for Arctic cooperation, how the war in Ukraine will likely end, and the importance...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr•Ep 322•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by former Secretary of the Department of Interior David Bernhardt. They discuss his background working for the Department of Interior in the Bush and Trump administrations, the challenges of federal lands in western states, how former President Donald Trump asked him to lead the Department of Interior, how the government shutdown of in 2019 impacted his job, the time he was made designated survivor during the State of the Union, and how civil servants sometimes undermine the agen...
Sep 03, 2023•35 min•Ep 321•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by Congresswoman Mary Peltola (D - Alaska) and her chief of staff, Anton McParland. They discuss how she briefly occupied the late Don Young's office after she won the special election last summer, her general election win, the drawn out process to elect a Speaker of the House in January, how she helped get ConocoPhillips' Willow project approved, why she thinks she was able to defeat the huge field to become Alaska's sole representative, and what its been like serving in Congres...
Sep 01, 2023•43 min•Ep 320•Transcript available on Metacast Jeff was joined by political consultant Art Hackney. They talk about his history working in Alaska politics, his dad's time serving in the Alaska Legislature, past campaigns he's worked on including the late Ted Stevens and the late Don Young, the cultural shift in politics, Alaska's political history, the inner workings of the Legislature, and the art of reaching voters with campaign messaging.
Aug 16, 2023•2 hr 39 min•Ep 319•Transcript available on Metacast 
