Keep Your Voice Down

Former Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Brian Persky joined Doug and Alek on Keep Your Voice Down this week to discuss downtown Three Rivers, his work with Discover Kalamazoo, the hierarchy of Halloween Candy, and why being a Detroit Lions fan is basically a combat sport.

Brian is the Director of Sports Event Development at Discover Kalamazoo, the local convention and visitors bureau for Kalamazoo County. He began at Discover Kalamazoo in December of 2015 as the Sports Sales Manager. Brian leads and manages the development and promotional efforts required to solicit, secure, and host sports-related events that result in increased visitor spending and promotional exposure for the Kalamazoo region.

Under his direction, Brian has assisted in bringing the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals, USA Hockey Tier 14U National Championships, a US Quidditch Regional (much to Doug's delight), the 2019 USA Curling National Championships, and many other local, regional, and nationally acclaimed events to the Kalamazoo area. Before he was at Discover Kalamazoo, Brian was the Executive Director at the Three Rivers DDA & Main Street program for two years (2014-2015), and prior to that he was the Planning & Development Coordinator at Downtown Kalamazoo, Inc.

The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Bet It Right” by Ollie Joseph. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug rejoins Alek and the podcast this week to interview Podcaster Dan Moyle (I'm Not In An Abusive Relationship, My America, Antiracism in Action). Doug, Alek, and Dan discuss domestic violence and ways victims AND abusers can get help, his experience as a Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services board member, becoming an antiracist, asking "dumb white guy questions" en route to becoming an ally, and having productive political conversations with those who may have opposing views from yours.

You can read Dan's previous interview with Watershed Voice here. If you need help, you can call DASAS at 1.800.828.2023 or visit their website. If you're interested in making a difference in the life of a survivor, you can make a contribution to DASAS here.

The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “My Lord” by Yarin Primak. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug and Alek are joined by Layne Deuel (Spartans, Wolverines and Beards Podcast) to discuss the best and WORST of sports cinema. Alek tells all of the stories including how he and his brother Shane used The Waterboy against their sister Kayla, why his Uncle Andy got in trouble for showing Mystery, Alaska to his niece and nephews, and the tragedy that occurred with Alek's VHS copy of Space Jam. Doug finally gets to talk about hockey before absolutely roasting The Natural, while Layne waxes poetic about Little Giants, Dodgeball, and Semi-Pro in an episode that has something for everyone.

The show’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Boom”  by WEARETHEGOOD. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Torrey Brown, a write-in candidate for Three Rivers At-Large City Commissioner, drops by the show to discuss why he's running, the importance of representation and transparency, his vision for a rec center for the city's youth, his upcoming induction into the Three Rivers Athletics Hall of Fame, and more. A technical snafu at the start of this episode left Alek in the driver's seat and Doug on the sidelines but we promise your favorite Keep Your Voice Down host will return next week.

Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is "Ain't Looking Back" by Richard Farrell. You can support the show with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug and Alek discuss Watershed Voice's Fall Member Drive, the importance of local journalism, Halloween in Three Rivers, Alek's forgotten novel he recently picked up again, the legend of Dr. John K. Hartman, and Doug's love for cycling and drop-in hockey.

Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is "A Tender Heart" by The David Roy Collective. You can support the show with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

WARNING:  In this week’s episode, Alek and Doug get personal.

No guest, no headlines, just a pair of college best friends discussing three aspects of their lives that explain who they are, and who they hope to become. So put on your hazmat suit (unless you’re comfortable with vulnerability and intimate conversations, then you’re probably safe with just the tissues), and tune into the Season 3 premiere of Keep Your Voice Down.

Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Kingdom Come” by Theevs. You can support the show with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug and Alek go it alone on the heels of the Watershed Voice Artist Showcase to discuss the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of Alek's first foray into live entertainment, touching on what Alek learned, what he would do differently, and what the future holds for the event.

Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is "Yeah That's Me!" by Frank Bentley. You can support the show with a donation here.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug and Alek are joined by Michigan Advance  Editor-in-Chief Susan J. Demas to discuss her recent column about the current state of affairs as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic, journalistic niceties, the shift in the way journalists operate amid an ultra polarized political climate, access journalism, and the highs and lows of mountain climbing (see what we did there?)

Michigan Advance is a nonprofit news operation that depends on support from people like you to produce high-quality journalism without advertising, subscription fees or paywalls. You can make a donation to Michigan Advance here.

Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "Shield"  by WEARETHEGOOD.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug and Alek join Lisha and Jules on Screen Tea Podcast for a very (very) in-depth discussion about the 2015 Ridley Scott film The Martian.  Listen to Doug fanboy over Screen Tea, his favorite podcast on the planet, and Alek fanboy over Matt Damon, while Lisha and Jules try to bring the rickety vessel that is this episode safely home.

Make sure to give our comrades over at Screen  Tea Podcast a like or follow on Facebook, and subscribe to their show wherever podcasts are streamed. Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and there's no outro music this week because, well, three hours isn't long enough for ya?

Keep Your Voice Down is a podcast featuring fellow Central Michigan University journalism grads and best friends Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Doug and Alek are joined by Three Rivers poet and Watershed Voice Showcase opener Debbie Allen to discuss her upbringing in “old school” Philadelphia, her creative process, using poetry to work through pain and trauma, and the trials and tribulations of being a moderator for Three Rivers, Michigan Area Information.

You can find Debbie’s artist page on Facebook, and her books are available for purchase on Amazon. Keep Your Voice Down’s theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week’s outro music is “Anywhere” by Lightmuzik.

Keep Your Voice Down is a podcast featuring fellow Central Michigan University journalism grads and best friends Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr.

Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast’s sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.