This week’s guest is Rob Seay. This conversation left Justin and I feeling so uplifted and energized! This year Rob was named a 2023 Sober Hero by Recover Alaska. He is the Deputy Director/community liaison for Henning Inc- the non profit organization that oversees the sheltering of over 700 individuals in anchorage Alaska. He also owns two businesses — Northern Alliance Re-Entry and Management Solutions and Northern Alliance Music. Rob is a Father of 4 and a husband for 17 yrs and going strong. In this episode he shares his powerful story of recovery, being of service, and living boldly. 

Extended Bio: Born in Birmingham, AL raised in Portland OR, I’ve lived in Anchorage, AK since 2004. Proud husband of 17 years and father of 3 boys and 1 adult kid I love my family. I grew up playing sports and if not for my athletic background I would have never thought about going to school, let alone graduating. I grew up in a typical broken home where drugs and alcohol were common, various abuses occurred, setting the stage for for a life filled with many traumas to overcome.  Nevertheless my mother instilled values and spiritual disciplines that have molded and shaped me into the person I am today.  With that said, i was not shielded from life ills. I found the allure of the streets-gang culture, street hustle and delinquent activity appealing and my entire adolescent years i spent on probation, in and out of juvenile detention and fueled by drugs and alcohol. Through the care and love of my coaches and extended family I graduated high-school, started collage and managed to stay sober for several years. I was also working at my church running our urban and campus out-reach program. Unfortunately the allure of the streets and substance misuse crept back into my life and eventually i found myself broke busted and disgusted. This would carry off and on until February 3, 2018.  I started working two 12 step programs and by practicing these new principles I have found the fellowship that I crave, my kids have the father that they need and my wife has a life partner that she deserves. I still love sports, working out getting outside, recording music, but I’ve discovered my primary in purpose in life is to be of service to my community especially those who battle the physical, mental and social effects of substance abuse.  There is no greater feeling in world to me than watching another person's “lights turn on”.  I’m truly grateful and thank God everyday for my sobriety and those  who I have the pleasure of being surrounded by everyday.

My goal these days is to “Win The Day” and with God I have faith that I can do this one day at a time. In this season of my life I’ve been doing contract work for the Municipality of Anchorage and as Deputy Director/community liaison for Henning Inc- the non profit organization that oversees the sheltering of over 700 individuals in anchorage Alaska. From emergency sheltering to permanent housing we have created an ecosystem for supportive services by providing assessment, intervention and transitions for each individual that we serve. Our staff is built on peer to peer concepts which meet the person where they are at, and assist them through tools of motivational interviewing, to help decide what is the best path for them.  We employ people with lived experience that may have barriers to typical employment. It has worked amazing.  Our staff not only emphasizes with the clients, they actually are living proof that there is hope. With that said another goal of mine is to work myself out of a job.  I firmly believe that the clients we serve are the future workforce in this response for years to come. 

Recently I’ve launched several businesses-Northern Alliance Re-Entry and Management Solutions and Northern Alliance Music  For the future I eagerly expect good things to happen for the people we serve. For me success is not about mon

This weeks guest is Megan Edge, Director of the ACLU Alaska Prison Project.

Megan is a lifelong Alaskan and proud dog mom. She’s a former journalist, and advocates for solutions that create systemic change to systems that create harm, so we can all be safe, healthy and free.

**We want to provide a trigger warning that this episode does briefly discuss sxual assault and contains explicit language.**

Megan is a passionate activist in Alaska and we were so grateful to hear her perspective. 

Updated stats from Megan: "41% of the prison population is Alaska  Native. 22% of the state population is Alaska Native. And the budget passes at 437 million."

Megan related links:

ACLU Prison Project: https://bit.ly/acluprisonproject

Reading List from Megan:

My summer reading list. Look, I know summer reading lists are supposed to be romantic, but nothing makes me swoon like an informed human.
•“Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibram X. Kendi
•“Dread” by Ai
•“In the Place of Justice: A Story of Punishment and Deliverance” by Wilbert Rideau
•“Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America” by Gilbert King
•“We Do This ‘til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice” by Mariame Kaba
•“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner
•“American Prison: A Reporter’s Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment” by Shane Bauer
•“Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case” by Patricia Hruby Powell, Shadra Strickland 
•“Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History” by Art Spiegelman
•“The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone and the Media” by Brooke Gladstone

What's Up Alaska Pod Links:
https://www.whatsupalaskapod.com/
https://www.instagram.com/whatsupalaskapod/
https://www.facebook.com/whatsupalaskapod

Your hosts - 

Blaze Bell:
https://www.blazebell.com/
https://www.blazebellmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/blazebellbliss/

Justin Williams:
https://www.jwdesignak.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@justineatsalaska
www.instagram.com/justineatsalaska/

Today's Guest is, Jen Motyka! Jen is an Alaskan of 19 years and  Chief Innovation Officer for Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals. She loves the Anchorage community and gives many hours to various nonprofits, including the Chamber of Commerce, Choose Anchorage Leadership Committee, Rotary Club of East Anchorage, American Legion Jack Henry Post 1 and Alaska World Affairs Council. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and student of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Jen enjoys spending free time with friends and family while cooking, camping and exploring Alaska.

Learn more about Jen here:
Alaska Premier Auctions: https://www.alaskapremierauctions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jen.motyka

What's Up Alaska Pod Links:
https://www.whatsupalaskapod.com/
https://www.instagram.com/whatsupalaskapod/
https://www.facebook.com/whatsupalaskapod

Your hosts, 

Blaze Bell:
https://www.blazebell.com/
https://www.blazebellmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/blazebellbliss/

Justin Williams:
https://www.jwdesignak.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@justineatsalaska
www.instagram.com/justineatsalaska/

This weeks guest is Polly Carr! After 9 incredible years as the Executive Director at the Alaska Center, she recently transitioned to the role of Vice-President of Programs at Alaska Humanities Forum. In this episode, we dive into Imposter Syndrome, Vulnerability, and Learning in Leadership.

Learn more about Polly here:
The Alaska Humanities Forum: https://www.akhf.org/
The Alaska Center: https://akcenter.org/

What's Up Alaska Pod Links:
https://www.whatsupalaskapod.com/
https://www.instagram.com/whatsupalaskapod/
https://www.facebook.com/whatsupalaskapod

Your hosts, Blaze Bell & Justin Williams:
https://www.blazebell.com/
https://www.blazebellmusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/blazebellbliss/

https://www.jwdesignak.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@justineatsalaska
www.instagram.com/justineatsalaska/