Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Forum Podcasts
The Speaker's Forum is held each Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Forum topics often address and spur dialogue about a current local community, statewide, national or international issue. Some forums feature a local author and the topic of the author's new book, or a representative of a local non-governmental organization (NGO) describing the organization’s work, programs, and accomplishments.
Episodes
702 episodes
From Snow City to Locally Grown Restaurants A Chat with Successful Entrepreneur Laile Fairbairn
Laile Fairbairn is a West High grad who came back to Anchorage in 1995 after ten years out of state for college and work in advertising. Upon her return, she opened up Snow City Cafe, which celebrated its 28th anniversary th...
Love Beyond Judgment: No Death Penalty for My Grandmother’s Killer - Sarah Gregory
Sarah Gregory is a social justice advocate. After the murder of her grandmother, Sarah spent years navigating grief, addiction, and ultimately recovery. Her journey took a transformative turn when she chose to reach out to and build a re...
Planned Parenthood: The Fight of our Life - Morgan Lim, Alaska State Director, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
Morgan Lim is the Alaska State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. Although Morgan is new to his role, he's not new to Planned Parenthood, having previously been a patient, volunteer, and staff member. He's had the privil...
Gubernatorial Candidates - Former Governor Bill Walker & Former State Senator Shelley Hughes
Bill Walker served as the 11th governor of Alaska from 2014 to 2018. He was born in Fairbanks and raised in Delta Junction and Valdez. Bill grew up building homes with his dad and financed his education by working as a carpenter, laborer...
Biking, Skiing, and Walking the Iditarod Trail in Winter - Lars Danner
Lars Danner is a public criminal defense lawyer who has lived in Alaska since 2000. He is the father of three daughters, including Esme Danner, who is the fellowship's music director. Lars also has a one-year-old grandson with whom he spe...
Alissa Lambert, Program Director, CSS Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services
Alissa Lambert serves as Program Director of Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services at Catholic Social Services, where she leads efforts to welcome and support refugees and other newcomers as they rebuild their lives in Alaska. With...
The Loss of Identity: Remembering Anchorages Premier LGBTQ+ Organization - Phyllis Rhodes, Doug Frank & Gayle Schuh
Gayle Schuh has lived in Alaska since 2003, after retiring from education in Illinois, where she taught middle school physical education and later served as an assistant principal. A desire to connect with the LGBTQ+ community drew Gayle...
Alaska Gubernatorial Candidates - Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Lesil McGuire
Lesil McGuire is a policy strategist and business development executive. She served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006, and then in the Alaska Senate from 2007 through 2016. In the Legislature, she led bipartisan ef...
Holding Police Accountable? Shaping a New Anchorage Public Safety Commission - Felix Rivera, Anna Brawley, & Erin Jackson-Hill
Felix Rivera recently left the Anchorage Assembly after serving three consecutive three-year terms, the maximum allowed by the City Charter. During his time on the Assembly, Felix chaired the Assembly and several of its committees, and w...
Alaska Literacy Program Challenges Facing New Alaskans Seeking Education and Workforce Opportunities - Marisol Vargas and Amy Facklam
Marisol Vargas is the Co-Executive Director of Operations at Alaska Literacy Program, with 16 years of experience supporting English language learners in overcoming barriers and achieving their goals. Originally from Mexico City, she earned a d...
New Chance Ukraine Relief Project - Zori Opanasevych, Executive Director
Zori Opanasevych is the Executive Director of the New Chance United Relief Program in Anchorage and a Ukrainian community leader. She serves communities across Alaska, leading efforts to resettle and support nearly 2,000 Ukrainian refuge...
The SAVE Act, Trumps Executive Order, and Threats to Alaska Voting - Barbara Jones, Attorney and Former Municipal Clerk
Barbara Jones served as Anchorages Municipal Clerk from 2012 to 2023 and was responsible, among her many duties, for conducting fair elections. After retiring as Clerk, Jones served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Suzanne...
Alaska Gubernatorial Candidates - Gregg Brelsford, Meda Dewitt, James Parkin
Gregg Brelsford grew up in Denver. After visiting his parents in Anchorage on a college break the year before, Gregg drove the Alaska Highway in 1972 with his brother Jim to begin a life in Alaska. He earned his B.A. and a Master's in Public Ad...
A Celebration of National Poetry Month - various speakers
John McKay, our beloved Forum facilitator (and a poet in his own right), had the idea of celebrating Poetry Month by having members of the fellowship read inspiring poetry selections, rather than inviting a handful of poets to present their ...
Cyrano's Legacy & The Power of The Arts to Entertain, Enrich, and Transform - Cyranos Theatre Co-founder Sandy Harper
Sandy Harper, with her late husband, actor and director Jerry Harper, co-founded Cyranos in 1987. Five years later, they launched Cyranos Off Center Playhouse as the home of Eccentric Theatre Company, which later became Cyranos Theatre C...
The Plastics Crisis in Alaska and the Circumpolar Arctic: Toxic Threats to Health, Human Rights, and Indigenous Lands From the Petrochemical Industry - Pam Miller, Exec. Dir., Alaska Community Action Against Toxins
Pamela Miller founded Alaska Community Action on Toxics in 1997 and serves as its Executive Director. Pam works passionately for environmental and reproductive justice, health, and human rights, with more than 35 years of research, educa...
Candidate for Governor of Alaska - Matt Claman
Matt Claman first came to Alaska in 1980 to work in a mining camp. After graduating from law school, Matt returned to Alaska to make his home, raise his family, and establish his career. Matt was elected to the Alaska House of Representa...
Candidate for Governor of Alaska - Tom Begich
Tom Begich is a candidate for Governor of Alaska in the 2026 election. Tom served in the Alaska State Senate from 2017 to 2023 and was the Senate Minority Leader from 2019 to 2023. In the past, he served as a staff assistant to two Major...
Contemporary Issues Facing Alaska Native Tribes - Wes Furlong, Senior Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund
Wesley James Furlong is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Native American Rights Fund. Wess practice primarily focuses on protecting Indigenous cultural resources and traditional cultural places and landscapes. Much of this work involves re...
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act - From the Beginning to the Present - Willie Iggiagruk Hensley, Alaska Statesman and Native Elder
Willie Hensley is an Alaska statesman and Native Elder. He was instrumental in the creation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which became law in 1971. He is a co-founder and currently serves as Chair of the First Alaskan...
How Alaska Institute for Justice Serves Legal Needs of Alaskas Immigrants - Anna Taylor, Executive Director, AIJ
Anna Taylor is the Executive Director at the Alaska Institute for Justice. She started working with AIJ as a staff attorney in March 2014 at the Juneau office. In February of 2018, she moved to the Anchorage office. Since joining AIJ, An...
AUUF R.E. Programs for Youth"OWL (Our Whole Lives) Sex Ed for Teens, & More - Jenn Bluntach, AUUFs Director of Religious Exploration
Jenn Bluntach is AUUF's Director of Religious Exploration. Jenn moved to Anchorage with her husband, Ryan, leaving behind their Minnesota roots, when she accepted the DRE position in the Fall of 2024. She has previous experience as an ac...
Candidate for Alaska’s U.S. House Seat - Bill Hill
Bill Hill is a lifelong Alaskan. The son of two teachers, Bill spent nearly 25 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. In 2023, he was named Alaska Superintendent of the Year. A Dena’ina Athabascan, Bill grew up in a small...
Data for Indigenous Justice: Addressing Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons in Alaska - Charlene Aqpik Apok, Exec. Dir., Data for Indigenous Justice
Charlene has served in many spaces as an advocate for Indigenous Womxn, Indigenous Sovereignty, climate justice, and Indigenous rights to health and wellbeing. Charlene is a lifelong learner in both her cultural traditions and decolonizi...
Know Your Rights With I.C.E. - Immigration Attorney Asa Hohman
Asa Hohman earned his law degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Montana and an LL.M. from the University of Washington. Shortly after his admission to the bar, Asa began focusing his practice on immigration and small-business forma...
