East Anchorage Book Club with Andrew Gray

Andrew Gray
  • 4.8 (45)
  • Politics
  • Updated Bimonthly

The East Anchorage Book Club is an interview podcast where Alaskan leaders discuss politics and community issues. 

  1. 4d ago

    Jay Brause & Gene Dugan: Anchorage LGBTQ Rights Icons

    Send us Fan Mail Jay Brause and Gene Dugan met at the Alaska Gay Community Center in Anchorage in 1978. In 1979 Jay's father, a Lutheran minister, presided over their holy union at Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle River. In 1994 they attempted to register their marriage and were denied. This led to litigation that ultimately was decided in Jay and Gene's favor in 1996, but Alaska changed its constitution in 1998 to only recognize marriages between a man and a woman.  They were legally married in Portland in 2004, but that marriage was nullified by Oregon shortly afterwards. In 2006, they got married in South Africa; in 2007 in the Yukon Territory; and finally, in 2015 they were legally married in Anchorage.  Jay & Gene were instrumental in the LGBTQ rights movement in Anchorage for decades. Jay was responsible for changing the name of the Gay and Lesbian Center to Identity, the organization he served as the director of for many years. He was a researcher on the 1985 "One In Ten" study of LGB issues in Alaska and the 1989 "Identity Reports" discrimination study.  Gene founded Out North in 1985 which is an award-winning progressive multidisciplinary arts organization that still has a footprint in Alaska.  Jakob Dugan-Brause and Eugene Dugan-Brause (their names today) moved to the UK in 2006. This interview took place via Zoom from their home in Northern Ireland. Listen to previous episode with Jim Obergefell here.

  2. Sep 24

    Lauree Morton: Deputy Director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)

    Send us Fan Mail Lauree Morton is the Deputy Director of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. ANDVSA is a federally funded coalition of all the domestic violence and sexual assault programs in Alaska. Lauree helps facilitate sexual assault response support for the 24 member organizations of the network. She is well known in the state capitol for driving legislative action around sexual assault and domestic violence for over 30 years.  Listen to previous related episodes here: Brenda Stanfill, director of ANDVSARandi Braeger, director of AWAIC Keeley Olson, director of STAR Laura Booch, DV survivor and activistDr. Ingrid Johnson, gender-based violence expert

  3. Sep 17

    Jim Lottsfeldt: Anchorage-based political operative

    Send us Fan Mail Jim Lottsfeldt was born and raised in Anchorage. Known for decades as the go-to campaign mastermind for Republican candidates, in recent years he has become a political guru on the Left. We discuss how that came to be as well as his unwavering support of Matt Schultz for US house, his lack of enthusiasm for Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), and the need for a brave new governor & legislature willing to make bold changes even if they result in losses at the ballot box in future elections.  Listen to podcast interviews mentioned in the show here: Mountain City Church Lead Pastor Ron Hoffmanformer US house candidate Matt Schultzcurrent US house Candidate Bill Hill

  4. Sep 11

    Ed Littlefield: composer of “Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles,” the world's first Lingít language opera

    Send us Fan Mail Ed Littlefield is the composer of  “Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles”—the world’s first Lingít opera premiering tonight at Thunder Mountain Middle School in Juneau.  This opera was born of an idea from Sealaska Heritage Institute President, Dr. Rosita Ḵaaháni Worl, with a libretto by Vera Starbard, orchestrations by Rory Stitt, directed by Madeline Sayet, and translations by X’unei Lance Twitchell. The opera's score is grounded in Tlingit musical and performing arts traditions that our guest has been immersed in since his childhood in Sitka. Ed Littlefield is a freelance percussionist, educator, and composer based out of Seattle, WA. He is Lingít and has released three albums featuring traditional native melodies. Although he has been composing music since his youth, this is his first opera. The show runs from September 11 - 20, 2026 in Juneau. Buy tickets here. Read KTOO's: "Why we are using ‘Lingít’ instead of ‘Tlingit.’

  5. Sep 7

    Congressman Jared Huffman (D-California): author of "No Prophets: the Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism"

    Send us Fan Mail Congressman Jared Huffman represents California's second US congressional district which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Representative Huffman is a Humanist and the only member of Congress to publicly admit that he does not believe in gods.  This episode was recorded in Anchorage while Rep. Huffman was visiting his older brother Tim Huffman who has been living here with his family for decades. An environmental lawyer by training, he is the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. Together with his colleague Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), he founded the Congressional Free Thought Caucus which promotes public policy based on reason, science, and moral values. Today we are discussing Rep. Huffman's recently published book, No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism. Paul Weyrich's 1999 Letter to Conservatives"Uncivil Religion," a website documenting the religious dimensions of Jan. 6my previous podcast episode with Senator Lisa Murkowski

  6. Aug 31

    Lucas Schleusener: CEO of Out in National Security (ONS) on establishing LGBTQ Veterans Day in Anchorage

    Send us Fan Mail Lucas F. Schleusener is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Out in National Security (ONS). Lucas is a writer, educator, and national security strategist whose work examines service, institutional trust, democratic legitimacy, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion in national security institutions. He is a former speech writer for Secretaries of Defense Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, and Ashton Carter. ONS unites a global community to advance LGBTQIA+ inclusion across defense, diplomacy, intelligence, and foreign policy. At the Anchorage Assembly's September 1 meeting, September 20th will be declared LGBTQ Veterans Day as that date this year marks the 15th anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell;" the repeal of that 1993 policy allowed for LGB folks to openly serve in the military.  During today's conversation, you will hear the name, "Obergefell." This refers to the landmark 2015 US Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v Hodges, that legalized same sex marriage across the country and in the military. The lead plaintiff in that case, Jim Obergefell, is a previous guest on this podcast.    Read a history of LGBTQ service in the CIA, here.  Listen to my previous episode with Alaska attorney & LGBTQ rights advocate Cate Shortell, here.

  7. Aug 24

    Jim Duncan: former Speaker of the Alaska State House, former state Senator, & author of, "Making Sausage"

    Send us Fan Mail Jim Duncan is a former Alaska state senator and Speaker of the House. He first moved to Alaska to attend Sheldon Jackson College where he earned his associates degree in 1962. After earning his Bachelor's degree from Illinois State University, he returned to Alaska as a school teacher and originally got involved in politics by serving on the Juneau Assembly. He then served in the legislature for 24 years (12 years in each body) and had over 70 bills pass into law.  We talk about some of his most significant legislation today including his bills to grow the Permanent Fund, establish the Mental Health Trust, and to allow teachers and school employees to go on strike. We also talk about his unsuccessful but valiant effort to establish a single-payer healthcare plan.  What Jim may be most remembered for by history is his losing of his speakership in a dramatic coup that occurred on the House floor in 1981. All of the stories today are covered vividly in Jim's 2024 book, Making Sausage, including the events that led to the coup and what motivated them.  In large part, the Democratic majority that Jim was leading stood in the way of the removal of separate accounting, which was the way that the state was preventing oil companies from using expenses incurred outside of Alaska to reduce their tax burden inside Alaska. So a small group of Democrats broke away from the existing majority led by Duncan and joined the Republican minority establishing a new majority that gave oil companies what they wanted.   After leaving the legislature, Jim served as Commissioner of Administration for Governor Tony Knowles. He then led the Alaska State Employees Association as their director from 2003 - 2017.

  8. Aug 17

    Randi Breager: Executive Director of Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Alaska's largest domestic violence shelter

    Send us Fan Mail Randi Breager is the Executive Director of Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), the largest domestic violence safe shelter in Alaska. The organization provides safe shelter and supportive services to everyone affected by domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs services call the 24-hour crisis & support line at (907) 272-0100.  Randi was born in Anchorage and has spent most of her life here. After earning a master's degree in public administration with a specialization in criminal justice, she worked at AWAIC for five years. She left in 2012 to take on many roles at Alaska's Department of Public Safety (DPS), including as the troopers' statewide domestic violence and sexual assault coordinator. She then served as senior director of programs at Anchorage's youth shelter, Covenant House, before returning to AWAIC where she was named Executive Director in 2024.  Read The New Yorker's profile of Andrew and Tristan Tate here. Watch CBS's "60 Minutes" interview with Mary J. Blige here. Listen to the East Anchorage Book Club Podcast interview with:  Amy Wallace here  Brenda Stanfill here  Laura Booch here  Ingrid Johnson here  Sean Case here. Also check out these other two episodes that are about the same subject matter: Keeley Olson Laura Norton Cruz

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The East Anchorage Book Club is an interview podcast where Alaskan leaders discuss politics and community issues. 

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