So We Asked

When Lily Stevens Becker was born, her father had already been in the U.S. Senate for more than a decade. Before the USS Ted Stevens was commissioned in Whittier on Oct. 3, 2026, Lily sat down with Rebecca Palsha to talk about her father, his impact on Alaska and what it was like growing up as the daughter of Ted Stevens.

You win the race. You get an A on a test. You’re employee of the month. Well, now what?  “We live in, you know, a culture that really is about optimization and achievement, and you’re only as good as, you know, your last post, or the size of your house, or, you know, your race result, right?,” Holly Brooks said, during So We Asked. 

Before her son died, he had been out riding his bike in the woods. He was so proud of that mountain bike. He was gifted it after successfully completing a residential drug treatment program. Bruce Snodgrass went riding his bike on a Thursday, and two days later a person out walking their dog found his body next to a grocery store, behind a bank and near a McDonald’s drive-through. 

You know her name. You know her face, at least what it looks like during a Zoom presentation: Dr Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer during the COIVD pandemic.

In this episode of So We Asked, host Rebecca Palsha sits down with metalsmith and jewelry designer Annie Cizak. They dive into the relentless reality of being a working artist, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the therapeutic art of knitting washcloths. Annie shares her hands-on approach to self-reliance in Alaska—from growing 120 pounds of potatoes to raising backyard quail.

From painting iconic murals around town to cooking soup for neighbors in need, Duke Russell shares his journey of unpretentious creativity, the "pay-as-you-go" working-class history of Spenard, and how taking action—whether on canvas or at the community table—gives us all a role in lifting up our community. We have so many questions...So We Asked. 

In this episode of So We Asked, Rebecca Palsha sits down with Clint Johnson, the NTSB Alaska Chief, to discuss his 28-year career investigating aviation crashes in Alaska. From the unique challenges of remote Alaskan geography to the evolution of flight safety and the shift away from simply blaming the pilot, Johnson shares a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes world of air acci...

In this episode of So We Asked, a grieving father shares the devastating loss of his 25-year-old son who died while paddle boarding in Turnagain Arm. He opens up about their deep bond as adventure and business partners, the agonizing timeline of the emergency response, and the heavy burden of coping with sudden loss.

This week on So We Asked, host Rebecca Palsha sits down with Anchor Tracy Sinclare to reveal a side of her that her co-workers know all too well: her deep obsession as an official BTS ARMY member. From discovering the K-pop sensations during the pandemic to traveling to Seoul for concerts, Tracy shares how the band's music, message, and global community bring her pure joy.

In this episode of So We Asked, Rebecca Palsha sits down with a trailblazing Alaska jurist—the first woman to serve on the Alaska Supreme Court—for a candid conversation about finding a career path by following what excites you, the weight of deciding cases that can change lives, and what "procedural fairness" really means in the courtroom.

In this episode of So We Asked , we sit down with an Alaska flower farmer whose dahlia journey began as a family tradition—and became a lifeline through profound grief after losing her son. She shares how “flower farming isn’t gardening,” what it takes to grow (and overwinter) dahlias in Alaska, and why flowers have a real, healing power. From $10 bouquets at the Palmer far...

In this episode of So We Asked, we sit down with an end-of-life doula—sometimes called a death doula, death midwife, or navigator—to unpack what the role really means. From advance directives and bedside vigils to legacy projects, grief support, and even home funerals, she shares how doulas help families navigate death with more calm, connection, and presence.

An unlikely path from Gold's Gym to the WWF ring—after a chance encounter with legends like Randy "Macho Man" Savage and The Undertaker changed everything. Nick Danger shares what wrestling was really like in the '90s: kayfabe rules, backstage politics, big money, big injuries, and the larger-than-life personalities behind the characters. It's a candid, often hilarious look at fame, grit, an...

From a gold mine in Fairbanks to chasing comedy dreams in New York, Lauren Reeves took a fearless leap into the unknown. She shares how a one-way ticket led to unexpected on-camera work, writing for Saturday Night Live, and a career that eventually took her to Los Angeles and reality TV. In a raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation, Lauren opens up about embracing her identity, turning a pandem...

He's been waking up Anchorage for decades — and says they'll have to drag him out. In this episode of So We Asked, Rebecca sits down with local radio legend Bob Lester for a candid conversation about 46 years in the business, from cutting grass at a farm radio station as a 13-year-old to becoming one of Alaska's most familiar voices. Bob opens up about the freedom of not caring what people t...

So We Asked is back with a raw, revealing conversation with Anchorage restaurateur Laile Fairbairn about building a breakfast institution from scratch—and the hard lessons that came with it. She opens up about taking the leap, surviving razor-thin margins, and why creating places where people “go for connection” keeps her coming back for more.

In this episode of So We Asked, Ivy Spohnholz, born-and-raised in Alaska, shares the winding path of two decades in nonprofits to seven years in the Legislature—and why she "jumped off" to become an entrepreneur. Now the new owner of downtown Anchorage's Cabin Fever, Ivy talks about the makers behind Alaska's products—from kelp snacks and chili crisp to beaders, quilters, and ivory car...

A former Alaska TV journalist, David Bernknopf, is turning his Anchorage newsroom years into a novel—and it's part love letter, part culture shock. In this interview, the author of Two Years on Another Planet explains why Alaska felt "like another planet," how the book blends real moments into fictional characters, and what he misses most. Bernknopf also gets candid about the hardest story t...

A former Alaska's News Source reporter takes us inside the front lines of the ICE protests in Minnesota—where community tension, shifting narratives, and raw moments unfold in real time. From being tear-gassed on scene to an unforgettable act of kindness from a local restaurant owner, Samie Solina shares what she saw, what stayed with her, and why local journalism matters more than ever.

We step inside Blue Market—Anchorage’s zero-waste, refill-style grocery store—seven years into its “seven-year stretch.” The owners break down their core mission of sustainability, community, and transparency, and explain how refill shopping really works (yes, you can bring that old plastic container). From rebuilding local food habits to the realities of Alaska suppl...

Step into Alaska Native Plant Month with a conversation that’ll change the way you see what’s growing all around you. Native plant advocate Elizabeth Bluemink breaks down what “native” really means (and why a "weed” is basically a matter of opinion), then shares surprisingly practical ways to bring Alaska’s wild beauty into your own yard. We had questions...so w...

He’d been shot four times. In this raw conversation, MMA fighter and coach Alton “Dreadz” Prince walks us through the moment everything changed at the Gaslight, the shock of watching the video afterward, and the quieter aftermath: nerve pain, PTSD in crowds, and getting back to his kids. Then comes the part you don’t expect—six weeks later, he’s back fighting, c...