Keep Your Voice Down Presents: This interview with Matt Erspamer, a journalist, copy writer, and film and television critic, who also happens to have went to Central Michigan University with hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. The three CMU journalism school alums discuss a new partnership between Matt and Watershed Voice, the pros and cons of streaming services acting as movie studios, the origin of Matt’s passion for cinema, and why only one of them is currently practicing journalism.
Central Michigan University
With the recent passing of Dr. John K. Hartman, a professor who impacted Alek and Doug‘s lives and a great many others, the Keep Your Voice Down hosts decided to honor Hartman with a special episode. Fellow Central Michigan University alums Chad Livengood (Detroit News Politics Editor) and Steve Coon (CMU instructor, Grand Central Magazine advisor) join Alek and Doug to reflect on the life and impact of a truly great journalistic mind, and a loving friend, mentor, husband, and father.
“Central Michigan University has long been known for giving low-income, middle-class and first-generation college students the opportunity to earn a four-year degree and lead a fruitful life. But the Mt. Pleasant university, like many other higher-education institutions across the country, is facing hard times.”
Author Matthew Roberson stops by Keep Your Voice Down to discuss his forthcoming novel “Interim,” set to be released in March, and all things writing. Doug, Alek, and Matt talk process, influence, young writers’ dependence on film, television, and video games in lieu of reading literature, and Central Michigan University where Matt teaches creative writing.
During our Fall Member Drive we’ve introduced or in some cases re-introduced the people who make Watershed Voice what it is, and with just over 36 hours to go Alek figured it was time to re-introduce himself.
It’s often said it takes a village to raise a child but the same can be said about an independent, nonprofit news organization. During our Fall Member Drive we’ll introduce or in some cases re-introduce the people who make Watershed Voice what it is today.
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 and Alek are joined by Watershed Voice columnist, local author & psychotherapist Charles Thomas to discuss Taylor Swift pulling a Prince, Mark Cuban’s decision to temporarily stop playing the National Anthem before Dallas Mavericks games, and coping with mental health issues in the midst of a global pandemic.
Keep Your Voice Down is a podcast featuring fellow Central Michigan University journalism grads and best friends Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr.
Alek, the executive editor of Watershed Voice, and Doug, a Watershed Voice writer and columnist, will discuss a variety of topics including the week’s top stories in St. Joseph County and beyond, as well as pop culture and other general nonsense.