Crude Conversations

Introducing Crude's new podcast, lost anchorage, where Crude investigates the mechanisms of crime and violence in Anchorage, Alaska. Through research and interviews with professionals, law enforcement and those affected by crime, we hope to build a better understanding of whether or not Anchorage is, in fact, becoming more dangerous. 

In this episode of lost anchorage, we look at crime in Anchorage from the perspective of a criminologist. Allan Barnes is a professor of justice at the University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center. He's been teaching for over 35 years. His students have gone on to become police officers, lawyers and judges. As a criminologist, Allan focuses on why people commit crime. 

Introducing Crude's new podcast, lost anchorage, where Crude investigates the mechanisms of crime and violence in Anchorage, Alaska. Through research and interviews with professionals, law enforcement and those affected by crime, we hope to build a better understanding of whether or not Anchorage is, in fact, becoming more dangerous. 

In this episode, we look at crime from the perspective of a retired police officer. Aaron Roberts was an officer for the Anchorage Police Department for over 20 years. He patrolled downtown Anchorage, was a detective in robbery, assault, and metro with a focus in narcotics. At the time of his retirement, he was the team lead negotiator and worked closely with SWAT. 

In this episode, Cody has a conversation with Cliff Groh, a former Alaska Revenue Department official and longtime advocate for the Permanent Fund Dividend. Cliff was instrumental in the creation of the PFD in the early 1980s. From 1987 to 1990, he served as special assistant to Hugh Malone, the Commissioner of Revenue in the administration of then-governor of Alaska Steve Cowper. He was also involved in the adoption of legislation that changed Alaska's oil tax system. They talk about how the discovery of the Super-giant Prudhoe Bay oil field in the late 1960s changed Alaska's economy and government and why the two most important questions in Alaska are "What is the Permanent Fund for?" And "how long do you personally plan to live in Alaska?"

In this episode, Cody has a conversation with his uncle, Jay Liska. Jay was the first professional snowboarder from Alaska to get his own pro-model. He also started Boarderline Alaska Snow and Skate with his brother, Scott Liska, and went on to start his own shop, Northern Boarder. They talk about the snowboard scene in the 80s and 90s, and Jay shares some of his most memorable stories from back in the day, including the time he was in a helicopter crash on Mount Spurr and the time he took Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys snowboarding in Thompson Pass.