Our first show of 2026 features interviews with a young Alaskan stop-motion animation filmmaker, the producer of the horror film "Shelby Oaks," and the executive director of the nonprofit organization Alaskans Take a Stand.

Hosts: Kaylee LaTocha and Deacon Laurance

News: Kaylee LaTocha

Events: Max McCambridge

Producer: Quinn White

Board-op: Logan Ehrhart

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on January 3, 2026.

Shelby Oaks is a new horror film written and directed by first time feature filmmaker Chris Stuckmann. It tells the story of a woman determined to find her sister who goes missing while investigating a mysterious abandoned town.

It stars Camille Sullivan, Sarah Durn, Brendan Sexton III, and Keith David. It was executive produced by Mike Flanagan, who’s known for directing Stephen King adaptations and other horror films.

Before making the film, writer/director Chris Stuckmann was best known as a YouTube film critic. He utilized his platform and fanbase to crowdfund the production of Shelby Oaks. It combines elements of early YouTube, found footage, true crime documentaries, and narrative filmmaking to tell its story.

The film was produced by our guest, Ashleigh Snead. She has been making independent films for over a decade and is the director of production for Paper Street Pictures, a production company based out of Austin, Texas. She lives here in Anchorage and was kind enough to stop by our studio to speak with ATMI producer Cat Whited about working on Shelby Oaks.

In their conversation, Ashleigh talks about the movie’s journey from a simple pitch to getting theatrical distribution, her love of independent horror films, and other projects she has in the works. They spoke on November 12, 2025.

Host: Deacon Laurance

Theme music is by Kendrick Whiteman with additional music from Devin Shreckengost.

Video and audio production by Kendrick Whiteman and Nathan Pobieglo. Edited by Kaylee LaTocha and Vermillion Reed.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov

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.

Our December show is a double-sized end of the year special!

On Saturday December 6th, we spoke with filmmakers from the Anchorage International Film Festival to talk about their work, two different local theater productions, and the organizers for an alternative music festival in Anchorage.

Playwright Kristen Ritter and actress Danielle Rabinovitch spoke about their play Overland! which tells the story of Blanche Stuart Scott who set out to be the first woman in history to drive across the entire United States.

Organizers Deven Lind and Robbie Raychel talked about Dog Daze, an alternative music festival happening in Anchorage December 11-14.

Writer/director Chelsea Christer talked about her short film "Out For Delivery," which is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Members of the Alaska Theatre of Youth spoke about their upcoming production of 13, Jr.

Writer/director Richie James Follin talked about his feature film "Crystal Cross," which is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Alaskan filmmaker Emilio Torres spoke about his feature film "The Ladder" which he filmed in Ketchikan. It is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Academy Award-nominated Belgian filmmaker Tom Van Avermaet talked about his short film "Hearts of Stone" which is an official selection of the 2025 Anchorage International Film Festival.

Hosts: Kaylee LaTocha, Wren Crockett, Rhys James, Nathan Pobieglo, and Jay St. John

News: Vermillion Reed

Events: Deacon Laurance

Producer: Quinn White

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on December 6th, 2025.

This Arts, Health and Well-Being in Alaska project is supported, in part, by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts with funding from Rasmuson Foundation. Additional support from Vision Maker Media.

Our November show features an interview about the intersection of traditional Alaska Native dancing and mental health, an interview with one of the youth filmmakers who had a short film in last year's After School Special, and a preview of another podcast we helped produce with our friends at the Youth Alliance For a Healthier Alaska.

Hosts: Wren Crockett and Jay St. John

Show Producer: Quinn White

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on November 1, 2025.

In this episode, we’re talking with local noise punk band Tiny. Members Noah Bemben, Rebel Barnes, Isabel Nassar, and Austen Utterback have been playing music together in different iterations for years. In 2024, Tiny released their debut album Kill on Sight, while they were all still in high school.

ATMI producer Rhys James sat down with all four band members at our studio to talk about their music. They spoke about the origins of the band, their rowdy shows, and what the future of Tiny looks like now that they’re all moving to the Pacific Northwest.

Hosted by Nathan Pobieglo.

Theme music is by Kendrick Whiteman with additional music from Devin Shreckengost.

Video production and editing by Logan Ehrhart, Charlie Groat, Emmanuel Laron, Rhys James, Jordan Kehl and Vermillion Reed. Watch this episode on YouTube.

Special thanks to Mike Dickenson for lending us some extra recording equipment.

This episode of our podcast was made possible with funding from Rasmuson Foundation through the Arts in Education Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

With additional support from the Atwood Foundation, and the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism Fund at the Alaska Community Foundation.

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.

Our August show features interviews with two very different local musicians (Grace C. Elliot and Tiny), plus an interview about the 50th anniversary of the municipality of Anchorage, and a check-in with a former ATMI producer currently reporting for a radio station in rural Alaska.

Hosts: Indigo Schlee and Rhys James

Events: Michael Hunter

Show Producer: Kaylee LaTocha

This episode originally aired on KNBA 903 FM on August 2, 2025.

Grace C. Elliot is an Anchorage-based musician who describes her music as dream pop with influences of blues and jazz. In 2020, she released her debut self-titled album. Earlier this year, she released a new single called "Alive."

She's had a busy summer, playing shows all over the state, including the Forest Fair in Gridwood, a free concert in Town Square Park, and Rock The Hill, an all-ages music festival at Hilltop Ski Area.

ATMI producer Indigo Schlee sat down with Grace in our studio. In their conversation Grace describes her journey in music, the Anchorage music scene, and a health scare in 2020 that informs some of her upcoming songs.

They spoke on July 13, 2025, the day after her show at Town Square Park, which was initially headlined by Vanessa Carlton. Carlton had to cancel days before the event, but it continued on as a free show with additional local acts added to the lineup.

Hosted by Rhys James.

Theme music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

You can also watch this episode in full on YouTube.

This episode of our podcast was made possible with funding from Rasmuson Foundation through the Arts in Education Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

With additional support from the Atwood Foundation, and the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism Fund at the Alaska Community Foundation.

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.

Our July show highlights two all-ages music festivals happening this month. ATMI producer Nathan Pobieglo speaks with members of the band Blackwater Railroad Company about organizing Hatcher Romp, and with members of the Anchorage Concert Association about Rock The Hill.

Plus there's news, events, and music from local musicians who are performing at those festivals.

Hosts: Madison Dooley and Jordan Kehl

News: Ver

Events: Micahel Hunter

Producer: Kaylee LaTocha

This episode originally aired on KNBA 90.3 FM on July 5, 2025.