Doug and Alek are joined by former Central Michigan University classmate and friend Eric Dresden to discuss his 2019 cancer diagnosis, what he has in common with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and why he left the field of journalism after serving as Central Michigan Life’s editor-in-chief in college and working for publications like The Arizona Republic, Big Rapids Pioneer, and The Flint Journal.

Doug & Alek are joined by Watershed Voice Columnist and Office Manager Steph Hightree to discuss parenting during a pandemic, how paramount in-school counseling has been for her daughter Cadence, the trials and triumphs of her son Nathan, the joys of camping and her dogged pursuit of a Playstation 5 for her husband in the first of two back-to-back episodes with Ms. #MomLife herself.

Doug and Alek are joined by Pastor Devon Miller of Florence Church of the Brethren Mennonite to discuss what it’s like leading a congregation during a global pandemic, being a religious leader in the 21st century when so many young people have walked away from the church or were never introduced to it in the first place, and restorative justice as it relates to conflict resolution and healing.

Doug and Alek are joined by Lisha and Jules McCurry (Screen Tea Podcast) to discuss mental health and parenting during a pandemic, the pros and cons of working in this environment (Lisha is a mental health professional and Jules recently returned to work after a long hiatus), and three movies they each watched once and will never watch again for whatever reason. If you have strong feelings about Fabergé eggs, bad Boston accents or the church that is cinema this episode is for you.

Doug and Alek are joined by Justine Galbraith, an English teacher who recently penned an op-ed titled ‘I’m a teacher. Why am I considered expendable?’ for Michigan Advance. Galbraith shares the fear, frustration, and anxiety she has experienced as an educator amid a global pandemic, while Alek and Doug serve as a two-man hype team for teachers, listing their favorite fictional educators, and lamenting over the lack of Capri Sun, trail mix, and pizza parties they’ve experienced since reaching adulthood.

General Motors Company, which has been at the forefront of advanced powertrain research, offers just one fully electric vehicle — the Chevy Bolt. No hydrogen-powered vehicles are on the near horizon. Nevertheless, GM pushed the bar higher last month, surprising the auto industry by saying it plans to sell only “zero-emission” light-duty vehicles by 2035. That’s just 14 years, or little more than two new product cycles away.

Doug and Alek are joined by Malachi “A+scribe” Carter(The Unapologetics Podcast) who shares his thoughts on Lady Gaga’s Hunger Games-esque Inauguration outfit, President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s lengthy track record of exploiting Black people for political gain, and why Hamilton is problematic. The trio also gush over the powerful performance and presence of National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, and share the biggest holes in their respective cinematic repertoires.

Doug and Alek are joined by I Can Marvel All Day co-host & Watershed Voice’s self-appointed director of marketing Michael “Hogey” Hogoboom. The trio talks about the Wilmington Insurrection of 1898, Green Day’s 2020 album that Hogey calls “American Idiot Part 2” but “too spicy for radio,” as well as how they plan to observe MLK Day. (Recorded on Saturday, January 16)

WARNING: This episode contains strong language, and what some may consider emotionally difficult material.

In Episode 8 of Keep Your Voice Down, Doug and Alek interview Larry Walton, a Republican candidate for the Michigan State House of Representatives and the 59th District. Walton is one of five candidates vying for the seat in the Republican primary on Tuesday, Aug. 4, while Democratic candidate Amy East is running unopposed.