East Anchorage Book Club with Andrew Gray

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

East Anchorage Book Club with Andrew Gray is a news podcast hosted by Andrew Gray, with 286 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Andrew Gray hosts East Anchorage Book Club with Andrew Gray, a news show with 286 episodes published.

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  Episode #7

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

  Aug 17, 20261h 16mS6

  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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  Episode #6

  Lisa Weissler: author of "Capitol Crude: the Impact of Oil on Alaska Politics"

  Aug 10, 20261h 7mS6

  Send us Fan Mail Lisa Weissler is the author of the 2025 book, Capitol Crude: the Impact of Oil on Alaska Politics . The book was the recipient of a 2025 Alaska Historical Society award for its promotion and understanding of Alaska history. Lisa began working in the Alaska State Capitol in 1981 where she staffed for Rep. Sam Cotten of Juneau. She later worked for Representatives Fred Zaroff of Kodiak, Ethan Berkowitz of Anchorage, and Beth Kertulla of Juneau, and Senator Hollis French of Anchorage. Interspersed between legislative staffing gigs she worked for the Department of Natural Resources, went to law school at the University of Oregon, clerked for Judge Bud Carpeneti , worked for Alaska's Coastal Program in Governor Knowles Administration, and worked for Department of Law in the Oil & Gas Division in Governor Palin 's administration. Finally, in Governor Walker 's Administration, she was tasked with writing a paper on the history of Alaska's oil and gas tax credit system. That paper eventually became the book we are talking about today.

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  Episode #5

  Willie Iġġiaġruk Hensley: key advocate for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), founder of Northwest Arctic Native Association (NANA), & author of "50 Miles from Tomorrow"

  Aug 3, 20261h 11mS6

  Send us Fan Mail Willie Iġġiaġruk Hensley was born in 1941 in Kotzebue, Alaska, and was raised to live the traditional way that his Iñupiaq ancestors had lived for thousands of years. As a young adult away at college, his family home in Kotzebue was sold for a bottle of whiskey and then bulldozed. This lit a fire in him to fight for Alaska Native land claims, and Willie was instrumental in the creation and passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. The story of ANCSA is front and center in Hensley’s 2008 book, Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People . The year the book came out it was a New York Times Editor’s Choice. Willie was a founder of NANA Regional Corporation , where he served as a director for 20 years and concluded his career there as president. He also was a founder of Maniilaq , the regional non-profit representing the Tribes in the Kotzebue region. He was essential in the formation of the Alaska Federation of Natives where he has served as executive director, president, and co-chair. He spent 10 years in the Alaska legislature, serving in both in the House and the Senate. He served as manager of federal government relations in DC for the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company . Willie is currently the chair and a founding member of the First Alaskans Institute. He and his wife Abbe Hensley live in Anchorage.

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  Episode #4

  Matt Schultz: former Democratic Candidate for Alaska's US House Seat

  Jul 27, 202658 minS6

  Send us Fan Mail Reverend Matt Schultz is the pastor for First Presbyterian Church in downtown Anchorage. He was the Democratic candidate for Alaska's lone US House seat up until he suspended his campaign on July 17. With his departure, there are still 14 candidates in that US House race, but the incumbent Republican Nick Begich and challenger Independent Bill Hill are the only ones who have raised significant campaign funds. Hill has raised more than $1 million so far and Begich more than $5 million. Schultz had raised less than $900,000 at the time of his withdrawal. Read Matt's editorial in the Anchorage Daily News explaining his exit from the race: "The campaign is over but the mission is not." This is Matt Schultz's third appearance on this podcast. Here are the links to his previous appearances on the podcast. Rabbi Abram Goodstein & Reverend Matthew Schultz: progressive clergy (April 12, 2022) Rev. Matt Schultz: Pastor of Anchorage's First Presbyterian Church on the dangers of Christian Nationalism (Sept. 20, 2024) Listen to Bill Hill's podcast episode: Bill Hill: former superintendent of Bristol Bay Borough School District

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  Episode #3

  Spencer Perry: health economics professor at ISER

  Jul 20, 202642 minS6

  Send us Fan Mail Spencer Perry , PhD, is an assistant professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Before earning his PhD in Economics at Arizona State University in Tempe, he worked for three years at the Federal Reserve. He moved to Anchorage a year ago when he began his job at ISER where he focuses on topics in health and public economics. This episode was recorded on January 30, 2026.

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