Indie Alaska

Peter Dunlap-Shohl was living his lifelong dream, as an editorial cartoonist for the Anchorage Daily News. But in 2002, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, he asked himself What else would he be losing besides his craft as an artist? his identity?

Phillip Pryzmont hasn't been to a city in over 4 years. He spends his winters in Nome, Alaska cutting holes in the thick ice in the Norton Sound on the Bering Sea. Each of these holes contains a large crab pot that he regularly checks for Alaska Red King Crab to feed his family and sell to others.

Amelia Simeonoff has been working in traditional healing most of her adult life after taking mentorship with one of Alaska's most prominent Indigenous healers, Grandma Rita. Now she is using the practices of talking circles, drumming, and crafting to help Alaskans heal from trauma, and mental health challenges. This episode was made possible in part by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Alaska, tea connoisseur Jenny Tse takes us on a tour of the world's first geothermal tea farm, hand-rolls a batch of tea leaves, and serves up the freshest cup of hot tea in the heart of winter. Story and video by Jeff Chen. Music by Universal Production Music.