Local author, Watershed Voice columnist, and limited licensed psychologist Charles Thomas returns to Keep Your Voice Down to discuss mental health options in Southwest Michigan, his book Headcase (The Remix), his daughter’s high school graduation party, the genius of Erin Schultes, and Josh Brolin and Al Pacino’s avid listenership of KYVD. Doug, Alek, and Charles also break down the lineup for the upcoming Watershed Voice Artist Showcase.
Doug Sears Jr
Alek and Doug return from yet another involuntary hiatus to chat with Rock Island, Illinois native and Creative Aubrey “Aubs.” Barnes. The trio talks about Aubrey’s latest published work “it is Written. it is Good.”, their hip-hop and rap influences, mental health, education, open mics, rap battles, and antiracism.
Alek was contemplating podcast retirement after technical issues ruined two completed interviews, and forced he and his cohost Doug into a longer than expected hiatus. But don’t fret: They’re finally back, and mediocre as ever.
So join your favorite duo (besides Tina Fey and Amy Poehler), as they catch you up on all that has happened erstwhile in the lives of Doug & Alek. There was of course, Watershed Voice’s Birthday Celebration, Alek’s birthday party, Doug’s dalliance with baseball history, and best laid plans for the second annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase. Also check out this episode for a one minute teaser about a new podcast called NerdPop Radio, set to premiere May 2.
Emme Zanotti, the Third Vice Chair of The LGBT and Allies Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist, joined Alek and Doug in early March to discuss her column about the recent barrage of anti-gay and trans legislation adopted in the United States, and her personal journey as a trans woman.
Aspiring TikTok influencer and Newport News, Virginia native Micah Temple drops by Keep Your Voice Down this week for a chat with hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. The trio discuss Micah’s burgeoning social media presence, the fleeting nature of Tumblr fame, discovering one’s people, pop cultural blindspots, and their respective Mount Rushmores of favorite films.
Poet and spoken word artist Madison “Mocha” Hunter drops by Keep Your Voice Down for a chat. Alek, Doug, and Madison discuss the poet’s current locale, Memphis, Tennessee, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in creative writing and a certificate in African American literature, and how it compares to her previous stops in Alabama and her hometown Detroit. The trio touch on Afrofuturism, Black history and culture, fathers and their impact on us, the American South, subtle racism and the legacy of Fannie Lou Hammer. Madison also performs her piece “Fannie Lou Hamer: Appropriating Nikki Giovanni’s Rosa Parks,” which you can read on Watershed Voice.
Alek and Doug address the Georgia Bulldog in the room: Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is Super Bowl bound, and they’re here for it. After fawning over Stafford and what he meant to Detroit, Doug and Alek discuss rooting for a player after they leave your favorite team, silver linings from the trade that sent Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams and the Lions’ ensuing rebuild, and the man standing between Stafford and his first championship, Cincinnati Bengals’ sophomore phenom Joe Burrow.
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.
It was a big year for the guys at Keep Your Voice Down, as Doug Sears, Jr. and Alek Haak-Frost published 34 episodes and interviewed 25 guests in 2021. Here are the five episodes folks listened to most.
Doug and Alek wanted to discuss all things holidays, and felt it was necessary to bring in an expert, so we called Mrs. Christmas herself, Steph Hightree. These three wise people discuss Steph’s lack of egg nog experience, ridiculous Hallmark Christmas movie plots, determining whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not (it certainly is), surviving Elf on the Shelf, and their favorite Christmas songs.
James Hissong joins Doug and Alek to discuss his firm Grantsmanship Consulting LLC, the ins and outs of grant-making, trying to explain to his kids what exactly it is he does, Sturgis’ forthcoming splash pad, and possibilities for the “old” Three Rivers Hospital.
Former Three Rivers Middle School teacher Russell Ball joins Keep Your Voice Down to talk about his recent resignation after Three Rivers Community Schools staff were asked to remove Pride flags from their classrooms due to an “external challenge.” Ball details the events leading up to his exit, what the flag represents to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and why the flags should remain in classrooms not only in Three Rivers but around the world.
At the top of this week’s episode Alek and Doug address Monday’s troubling news that teachers within the Three Rivers Community Schools system were asked to remove Pride flags in their classrooms in response to an “external challenge” by an unidentified party.
The hosts of Keep Your Voice Down are also joined by Sarah Lee, Director of Marketing Communications at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. The trio discusses Sarah’s role at KZCF, her upbringing in Malaysia and how she became deeply rooted in Kalamazoo, the importance of being “equity-minded” when addressing matters of social and racial injustice, the foundation’s efforts to support local journalism, and the story behind the formation of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative.
Former TRDDA 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.
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.
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.
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 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.