The Empty Office Podcast

The Second Session of the 34th Alaska State Legislature was adjourned Sine Die on Wednesday, May 20. That’s the official term for adjourning without a future date designated for resumption. While the Second Session officially ended on May 20, the First Special Session began on May 21. Governor Mike Dunleavy called a 30-day special session for lawmakers to consider legislation authorizing tax break...

Below are the show notes for the original episode. We are re-airing this episode in honor of Marshall Lind’s involvement in the creation of Alaska’s Regional Educational Attendance Areas. Senator Tobin sponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the REAAs. SCR 17 is poised to pass the Alaska State Legislature. This week’s The Empty Office Podcast episode features...

This episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with Alaska State Representative Andrew Gray from Anchorage. He was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 2022, representing the UMED District of Anchorage. Rep. Gray is a physician’s assistant by trade. He has a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Baylor College of Medicine. One of the main t...

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a wide-ranging conversation with long-time Alaska State Senator Bill Wielechowski from Anchorage. He currently serves as the chair of the Senate Rules Committee, which makes him the highest-ranking Democrat in state government. The interview with Senator Wielechowski was conducted the day after the Alaska State Senate passed a high-priority bill...

This episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a wide-ranging discussion with retiring state lawmaker Andy Josephson from Anchorage. Josephson has been a member of the Alaska House of Representatives since 2013 and currently serves as a co-chair of the House Finance Committee. Andy Josephson graduated from West High School in Anchorage and holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Whitman Colle...

For this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin and Mike Mason look back on the first three months of the legislative session in Juneau and look forward to the final month. This episode was recorded on Day 86. The legislative session is constitutionally limited to 120 days. That means the session must end by May 19. During this episode, Senator Tobin discusses several of the bills she...

During this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin sits down with Thread CEO Stephanie Berglund. Thread serves as Alaska’s child care resource and referral network. This year, Thread is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The toll-free number to contact Thread is 1-800—278-3723. One of the major points of discussion on the podcast is the annual ROOTS awards, which serve as a recruitment...

On Sunday, March 29, Senator Löki Gale Tobin and Senator Gary Stevens were invited to speak to school district superintendents, principals, and business officials from across Alaska. The educators were visiting Juneau to participate in the Alaska Council of School Administrators' annual legislative fly-in. During her speech, Senator Tobin highlighted Senator Stevens’s work on behalf of public educ...

Today, Senator Tobin welcomes Diane Hirshberg back to The Empty Office Podcast. Hirshberg is the Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research , which is commonly known as ISER. Hirshberg is a Professor of Education Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage and is well known for her work studying the boarding school experience of Alaska Native students. In 2023, Diane Hirshberg co-e...

Senator Tobin and Mike Mason have a lively conversation with a team of representatives from the Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG). The organization was formed in 1974 to protect consumers from businesses taking advantage of them in the name of profit. Today’s guests include: * Indra Arriaga (Executive Director of AKPIRG) * Claire Estelle Lubke (Economic Justice Lead at AKPIRG) * June...

Today’s podcast serves as an update on the work of the Task Force on Education Funding , which was authorized by the compromise education bill (HB 57) that became law on July 1, 2025. Today’s guest is Representative Rebecca Himschoot from Sitka. She serves as a co-chair of the Task Force along with Senator Tobin. Rep. Himschoot is the co-chair of the House Education Committee. Prior to being elect...

Today, Senator Tobin welcomes Zac Clark to The Empty Office Podcast. In 2025, Clark was selected as the Director of Alumni and Community Engagement for the University of Alaska Anchorage. Prior to his new role, Zac Clark was the UAA associate director of Student Life and Leadership. He has worked for UAA for nearly 20 years. During this episode, Senator Tobin and Zac Clark discuss the UAA Legislat...

For this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin is joined by the newly elected Mayor of Fairbanks. Prior to being elected Fairbanks Mayor, Mindy O’Neall served six years on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and was the Executive Director of the Cold Climate Housing Center. O’Neall is originally from Iowa. She moved to Alaska in 2004. O’Neall holds a BA degree from Iowa State Un...

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features an in-depth discussion of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) with Representatives Genevieve Mina and Carolyn Hall from Anchorage. Rep. Mina chairs the Alaska State House Health and Social Services Committee and is a member of the Department of Health’s Advisory Committee for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Rep. Hall is the c...

This week’s edition of The Empty Office Podcast features two physician assistants who are working with Senator Tobin on legislation to allow PAs to provide medical care to the fullest extent of their licensure in Alaska. The goal behind Senate Bill 89 is to increase the capacity of Alaska’s medical care system and reduce unnecessarily strict regulations on physician assistants. Today’s guests are...

Today, Senator Tobin welcomes a returning guest to the podcast. Veteran Alaska Journalist Larry Persily was a guest during season 1, and he’s back for season 4. During this episode, Larry Persily and Senator Tobin discuss the Alaska LNG project, the idea of importing LNG into Alaska, and the current state of newspapers in Alaska. Politicos in Alaska know Larry Persily’s resume. First and foremost,...

This week’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a great conversation between two advocates for public education in Alaska. Senator Löki Gale Tobin and Aleutian Region School District Superintendent Michael Hanley discuss the importance of place-based education and the challenges of educating children and young adults in the nation's westernmost school district. Mike Hanley served as the C...

This episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a great conversation with a well-known economics researcher and professor in Alaska. Gunnar Knapp is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER). He worked at ISER from 1981 to 2016. Knapp received a PhD from Yale University in 1981. He is well known in commercial fishery...

Much like we have done in the past, the new season of The Empty Office Podcast features a discussion with a prominent religious leader in Anchorage. This episode features Rabbi Abram Goodstein from Congregation Beth Shalom in Anchorage, which is the largest Jewish organization in Alaska. Rabbi Goodstein grew up in Anchorage and is a graduate of Service High School. He holds a degree in Religious S...

For the final episode of season 3, Senator Tobin sits down with Representative Rebecca Himschoot from Sitka for an in-depth conversation about education funding and the successful effort to override Governor Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 57 . Rep. Himschoot is the co-chair of the House Education Committee and a retired elementary school teacher. She is a former member of the State Board of Educati...

For this episode of The Empty Office Podcast, Senator Tobin is joined by Juneau Economic Development Council Executive Director Brian Holst. He’s a graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School and Notre Dame University. Brian Holst has a wealth of experience in community and economic development, both in Alaska and internationally. Topics addressed during this episode include the Peace Corps, housing, a...

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a wide-ranging conversation between Senator Tobin and Representative Genevieve Mina from Anchorage about several topics, including healthcare policy, the University of Alaska, and the effort to reinstate a defined benefits pension system for State of Alaska employees. One of the main topics of conversation is legislation sponsored by Senator Tob...

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a great conversation with two-term State Representative Ashley Carrick from Fairbanks. Before being elected to the State House, Ashley Carrick was a longtime legislative staffer. She is a proud graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In 2020, Rep. Carrick received a Master’s Degree in Public Health...

Today’s episode of The Empty Office Podcast features a conversation between Senator Tobin and two-term State Representative Justin Ruffridge from Soldotna. In addition to his duties as a State Representative, Justin Ruffridge is a pharmacist by trade. He owns pharmacies in Soldotna, Juneau, and Girdwood. During today’s podcast, Senator Tobin and Rep. Ruffridge discuss the importance of developing...

In March, to commemorate Women’s History Month, Senator Tobin joined Senator Cathy Giessel and Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson in highlighting notable Alaskan women with speeches on the floor of the Alaska State Senate. This episode of The Empty Office Podcast features the speeches delivered by Senator Tobin during Women’s History Month. On March 6, Senator Tobin stood up to highlight the life of Etheld...