AKconvo

Casey speaks with Michael Patterson of the Anchorage Tenants Union. This is a lively debate about the impacts of rent control, rent strikes, landlords and tenants. Mike promotes greater government power in managing housing and land use. Casey discusses unintended consequences, the role of private property and risk.

Casey speaks with Andrew Jensen the managing editor of the Alaska Journal of Commerce about his recent article about homelessness. Andrew discusses what he discovered cleaning up a homeless camp, what he saw and how the situation has evolved in Anchorage. The conversation covers the Alaska budget and economy, factors that lead to homelessness, and potential hurdles to Alaska's future.

Casey talks with legislative staffer, local politico, and undeclared candidate for Alaska House District 6 Elijah Verhagen. The Alaska legislature is the smallest state governing body in the country. Alaskan's, especially those that spend time and effort following politics in Alaska, elevate our state representatives higher than in other states in the country. We discuss what it is like to be a staff member, what actually gets done, and how people get along. We also have a discussion about the infrastructure of political parties, the presence of lobbyists, and how a bill becomes law.

Dr. Brett Watson is an economist and has completed a lot of research into how commercial fisheries benefit Alaskan communities. Dr. Watson discuses how the multiplier effect of commercial fishing and how it differs when a non-resident and a resident catch the fish. Casey and Brett discuss a recent paper The local impact of commercial fisheries of which Dr. Watson was a co-author. The conversation also includes discussions on commercial fishing supply chains and the potential impacts of losing market share.

Ed is back for a second time to talk about how monetary policy works at the national level. Governments have an ability to pull levers to induce investments and expansion but what if this contraction is different? People spend stimulus checks differently based on incomes and this shock to our economy may have the ability to fundamentally change the way businesses operate. Casey and Ed also discuss the collapse of oil, oil markets, and the financial gorilla that is for Alaska even though it is being overshadowed by a global pandemic.

This is a unique episode recorded as a monologue and is going to be used as a framework for future episodes as we all navigate what COVID-19 and the oil price collapse means for our economy and Alaska specifically. This episodes include talks on applying new knowledge to past events, economic decision making for families, and the unmeasured costs on society. Additionally, Casey talks about the reality of oil prices today. The changing supply conditions, and the eventual need to rethink life in Alaska.

Are we getting the results we want in education? What are our desired outcomes? What is the best possible way to spend each additional dollar of education funds? This week Casey speaks with Bob Griffin, Education research fellow with the Alaska Policy Forum. The conversation includes discussion of a mastery based system, the Alaska reads act and the importance of reading by 3rd grade. How to structure education to more effectively reach our desired outcomes is a theme throughout this episode. Also interesting is how Alaska children stack up against other children in the lower 48.

The current ‘fee for service’ billing model of medicine has led to complex, burdensome, and expensive costs of health insurance; short, often ineffective doctor visits, and many hidden costs. It leads not only to frustrated and confused patients, but high rates of physician burn out. This reality has, unfortunately, become our accepted norm.

Casey Talks with Dr. Gayle Hornberger, a family care physician and owner of Midnight Sun Family Medicine in Fairbanks. MSFM is a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice which abandons the traditional ‘pay for service’ model, for a ‘membership-based’ approach that operates outside the red tape of insurance. The DPC model is a newer model that boasts better outcomes, potential cost savings to customers, and a more personal relationship with your family doctor. Casey and Dr. Hornberger discuss how a DPC practice operates, and what you can expect. This episode offers a peek behind the curtain of the medical insurance industry, the business of medicine, and the basics of the DPC model.

Flying is a way of life in Alaska. Alaskan's rely on airplanes for transportation, medical care, and for cargo. Casey talks with Colleen Mondor about the terrible no good year for air carriers in 2019. The conversation begins with an interesting story of early travel in Alaska. Colleen touches on the important turning point crashes in our history and the alarming record of Alaska's largest rural carrier RAVN air group.

Casey talks with the president of the Hoodoo Brewery. Craft breweries in Alaska have really exploded over the last 10-15 years. Casey and Bobby talk about what it takes to learn the business and the supply chain of breweries. Have you ever wondered if Alaska uses its own barely? The craft brew scene also faces a lot of regulations to keep them from becoming bars or places of entertainment. Yoga and beer? I don't think so.