Keep Your Voice Down

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by Three Rivers Pride Board Secretary Lexi Jacobs, President Chuck Lepinski, and Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Apwisch to preview the third annual Three Rivers Pride Festival.This year's festival will take place Saturday, June 21 in downtown Three Rivers from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include live music, food, and access to over 40 vendors offering a variety of services. The Kittens' Drag Show will cap off the day's festivities at the Riviera Theatre. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. You can pre-order tickets for $15 or buy tickets the day of the show for $20, while supplies last.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Tantrum” by Ozo Bozo. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Watershed Voice launched in 2020 only weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic had much of the country sheltering in place, and a short time before protests, the size and frequency of which the country hadn't seen since the Civil Rights movement, dominated the headlines. It was a tumultuous time in the history of the United States, and quite possibly the worst time to start a new business outside of the Great Depression. Yet somehow, five years later, Watershed Voice is still here.In honor of the news organization's upcoming five-year anniversary, Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by Deborah Haak-Frost to provide an oral history of Watershed's inception and the months and years that followed. Join us as we recall the trying and triumphant times of your favorite award-winning nonprofit news magazine.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Get Dangerous!” by Frank Bentley. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

This week on Keep Your Voice Down Three Rivers singer-songwriter Lucky Fultz joins hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. to discuss his upcoming album "Riverside Drive," which is set to drop on February 28. Fultz details his musical influences and methodology, Tupac gets praise, Drake gets all the smoke, and male vulnerability is celebrated.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Normal” by Lucky Fultz. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Keep Your Voice Down hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. are joined by Watershed Voice Staff Reporter Najifa Farhat to discuss her educational and professional background, the experiences in Bangladesh that propelled her toward a career in journalism, family dynamics, and her interest in climate vulnerabilities.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Till I Die” by ZISO. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Watershed Voice Short Story Contest winners Tereasa Bellew & Sundos Hejazi recently dropped by Keep Your Voice Down to discuss their winning pieces.Sundos, whose short story titled "One Man" won the 17 and under category, lives in Portage where she attends Portage Central High School. Tereasa, a grandmother of five and great grandmother of two, won the 18 and over category with her short story "A New Beginning." She lives in Marcellus, where she does much of her writing under the pen name Teresa Blue.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Knocked Out” by Canon. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

OK, Brittni Huyck was gone for a minute but she's back now, and she has a new story to tell, literature(ly). The local author, hairstylist, and Three Rivers native dropped by Keep Your Voice Down Thursday to promote the fourth (and possibly final) book in her Iron City Heat Series "Someone Like Him."Doug, Alek, and Brit discuss the obstacles she encountered between writing her third and fourth book, why she may be done writing romance novels, how "Someone Like Him" is different from her three previous books, and may be her best work yet."Someone Like Him" officially drops on December 31 but you can pre-order your copy today on Amazon. Brazen Beauty Bar (56964 N. Main St. Suite 4, Three Rivers) will host a launch party for Brittni's new novel on Friday, January 10 from 6-8 p.m. where you can get a signed copy of the book and meet the author.Following Brittni's interview (54:07), Alek and Doug fill listeners in on what's happened in their lives since the last time they recorded an episode, and Doug gives a moving tribute to his late cat Samwell. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Big Leagues” by Vic Sage. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are back (as is Doug's voice) to discuss the upcoming launch of Watershed Voice's new website, the importance of maintaining editorial independence and practicing watchdog journalism, and the news magazine's ongoing need for financial support. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Appassionato” by Noto. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Kalamazoo-based creative Marcel Fable Price drops by Keep Your Voice Down to promote his book "New American Monarch," and perform an excerpt from the title ahead of its October 8 release. Alek, Doug, and Fable also settle the Chicago deep dish versus New York style pizza debate, discover the link between Fable's love of nature and Louis Armstrong, and discuss the myriad of ways one can process trauma and grief. You can pre-order "New American Monarch" on Fable's website, and find anything else Fable related here.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “war in my head” by messwave. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are joined by Watershed Voice staff writer Frank Stanko for his long overdue Keep Your Voice Down debut. The trio discuss Samwise Gamgee and the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, Frank's journey from Michigan to North Dakota and back again, the challenges, rewards, and current state of journalism, and Frank's passion for theatre.Alek also promised a link to that TikTok personality who perfectly melds NPR stylings with the likes of Lil' Jon, so here it is.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Mama Knows” by Gaela Braun. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

In true Watershed Voice fashion the Keep Your Voice Down (wrecking) crew brings the news in this week's episode. Doug and Alek discuss the fourth annual Artist Showcase lineup announcement slated for next week, the Huss Project Farmer's Market that kicks off on Saturday, June 1 (according to Doug's Fitbit), and the official end to Watershed's paywall, making content accessible to all regardless of financial circumstance. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Miami Beach” by Cosmonkey. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Doug and Alek dusted off their mics and got back into the game this week after nearly five months away, explaining where they've been, why it's been so long, and what not to do when it comes to retrieving DoorDash orders or cleaning up dog pee.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Take It to the Top” by Orrin. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears Jr. are joined by Watershed Voice's resident holiday expert Steph Hightree for a very special episode of Keep Your Voice Down. After a brief NewsMatch update, the greatest trio since Garfield, Holland, and Maguire discuss elves on shelves, new and old traditions, the legitimacy of ham, Christmas cats, their favorite holiday films, and more. So grab your egg nog and glorified rice because it's about to get real — festive.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Jingle Bells — 8Bit Version” by Kashido. You can support Keep Your Voice Down and Watershed Voice with a donation here.

Keep Your Voice Down Presents: This interview with Matt Erspamer, a journalist, copy writer, and film and television critic, who also happens to have went to Central Michigan University with hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr.The three CMU journalism school alums discuss a new partnership between Matt and Watershed Voice, the pros and cons of streaming services acting as movie studios, the origin of Matt's passion for cinema, and why only one of them is currently practicing journalism.Keep an eye out for Matt's upcoming film and television reviews on Watershed Voice, and feel free to subscribe to The Normal Newsletter to read all of the reviews Matt doesn't publish here.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Billy Billy” by Yarin Primak. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.Sign-up for our free newsletter to receive award-winning journalism to your inbox Monday through Friday.

On this week's episode of Keep Your Voice Down, Alek and Doug are joined by Washington-based hip hop producer and artist Blake Alford. The Anderson, Indiana native talks about his latest project Domino Effect, and the added effort that went into producing the album's first single, Oxygen, which is set to drop on November 10. The trio also discuss how Blake has evolved as an artist, why community and collaboration are vital to any creative process, and answer the question on everyone's mind, "what kind of music does Alek listen to when playing video games?"You can find Blake (93 Energy) on Instagram, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud, pre-order and pre-save his upcoming single Oxygen on Spotify before its release next month, and support his art with a donation on Venmo at Blake-Alford-2. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “City Stroll” by 93 Energy. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Following a totally planned and not at all unintentional 80-day hiatus, Keep Your Voice Down is back! Alek and Doug return to their respective mics to discuss the 2023 LION Local Journalism Awards in North Carolina, mental health, and Watershed Voice's upcoming NewsMatch fundraising campaign. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “NO CAP" by Yarin Primak. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.Sign-up for our free daily digest email to receive award-winning journalism to your inbox Monday through Friday.

Alek and Doug attempt to recap the magic that was the third annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase, while Alek grapples with the authenticity of certain pop culture references and idioms used by characters in Ginny & Georgia. Would a teen in the 2020s reference Ghost (1990)? How often does Pinky & the Brain (1995) come up? Is Casper the Friendly Ghost on the typical Gen Z-er's radar? We ponder.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Let's Get It” by Captain Joz. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Doug and Alek are, in fact, alive. After a lengthy hiatus the duo return to preview the third annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase (Saturday, July 15, 6 p.m., The Huss Project, Three Rivers), recap all that has happened between the last KYVD episode and this one, including Three Rivers Pride, Alek's first tattoo (shout out to Portfolio Ink and Amber Ward), and how Alek's wife Deborah is the Tom Hagen of Watershed Voice.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Waltz Sentimental” by Amos Ever Hadani. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Andrew George of Three Rivers Pride stops by Keep Your Voice Down to chat about the upcoming and first ever Pride Festival in the City of Three Rivers on Saturday, June 24. Andrew, Alek, and Doug talk about how a Pride flag ban protest and the community support it garnered spurred the creation of Three Rivers Pride Festival, how it all came together in under six months, and details on what to expect at the event.You can make a donation to Three Rivers Pride on GoFundMe, Venmo (@TRPrideFest), and CashApp ($TRPrideFest). If you'd like to donate with cash or check contact Three Rivers Pride at trpridefest@gmail.com. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "I Just Wanna Have Fun" by Flint. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Kim Moffat, executive director of We Are Voters and prolific podcaster (Here's What's Happening, Dawson's Darlings, My America), joins Alek and Doug on Keep Your Voice Down this week to discuss all things voting. We Are Voters is a nonpartisan nonprofit that aims to reimagine civics education, reestablish a healthy dialogue concerning government and politics, and build stronger, more informed voters regardless of political affiliation.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Stranger to None” by Hans Johnson. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

With the recent passing of Dr. John K. Hartman, a professor who impacted Alek and Doug's lives and a great many others, the Keep Your Voice Down hosts decided to honor Hartman with a special episode. Fellow Central Michigan University alums Chad Livengood (Detroit News Politics Editor) and Steve Coon (CMU instructor, Grand Central Magazine advisor) join Alek and Doug to reflect on the life and impact of a truly great journalistic mind, and a loving friend, mentor, husband, and father.Memorial tributes for Dr. Hartman may be made to the charity of the donor's choice: The Ashland City Schools Foundation; the Bowling Green Schools Foundation; the Central Michigan University Journalism Hall of Fame; or The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "Pinwheel" by Leva. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek's childhood friend and standup comedian Rio Riojas stops by Keep Your Voice Down to discuss his recent foray into the world of standup comedy and his upcoming show in Kalamazoo (Wednesday, March 22 at Final Gravity Brewing Company, 8 p.m.). The Bay City native and East Lansing resident tells Doug and Alek about how he got started, how his act has evolved over the last year, his comedic style, how becoming a father has influenced the way he performs onstage, and why you shouldn't bring your kids to see his act.You can find Rio on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Rio accepts donations via PayPal: @drdecide, Venmo: idrdecide or CashApp: $decidersr.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "Bloody Heaven" by Ran Raiten. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Three Rivers Public Library Director Bobbi Schoon returns to Keep Your Voice Down to discuss the library's involvement with the Smithsonian's Spark! Places of Innovation program. Spark! explores the unique combination of places, people, and circumstances that sparks innovation and invention in rural communities. The Three Rivers Library will be hosting its very own exhibit alongside a traveling Smithsonian exhibit that will make its way to the library this summer. Alek, Doug, and Bobbi also discuss Women's History Month, National Reading Month, and the myriad of ways citizens of Three Rivers can engage with the library. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "King of Cups” by Jim Swim. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Local author and hairstylist Brittni Huyck drops by Keep Your Voice Down to talk about her Iron City Heat Series, a trio of what Alek calls "spicy novels" and Doug, an adult, calls romantic novels. The Three Rivers native describes her writing process, what her family, friends, and clients think of her "dirty books," and what their support has meant to her. Brittni also talks about how her life, the people in it, and her experience as a hairstylist have influenced her creative endeavors.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Like That” by Jane & The Boy. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are joined by Portfolio Ink owner and tattoo artist Amber Ward, and Portfolio shop manager Jillian Gardner. The quartet discuss Amber and Jillian's respective upbringings, the interesting routes each took to the world of tattoos and piercings, how their love of art and artistic expression influences most everything they do, and their involvement in and support of Three Rivers Pride.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “How the Story Goes” by Ge Filter Fish. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug welcome poet, community activist, voice actor, author, and Watershed Voice columnist and board member Aundrea Sayrie. The long awaited interview with one of Watershed's founding members doesn't disappoint as Aundrea talks the origin story of Three Rivers Open Mic, her Black History Month series on WSV and why she decided to change the format this year, her ongoing health concerns and how they have changed her outlook on life, and an upcoming book she's written about professional voice acting.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Moon Mother” by Richard Farrell. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

This week on Keep Your Voice Down, Doug and Alek are joined by Jackie Koney, chief operating officer of The Mill at Vicksburg, and friend of the show, Dan Moyle. The quartet discuss the progress of The Mill project and its 110-acre campus being developed for craft brewing, entertainment, tourism and more, right here in Southwest Michigan.You can learn more about The Mill here, and sign up for a tour of the facility once more dates are announced in the coming months here. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Feel Again” by Yarin Primak. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are joined by Watershed Voice's new staff writer and longtime food columnist Beca Welty to discuss her new role, her journey from "Judge Welty's kid" to super mom and super baker to community journalist, and her thoughts on the maddening, yet highly entertaining third season of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime.You can find Beca on Facebook here, and on Instagram @Bluebirdbakery.tr and @bites.with.beca.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Another Round” by Ziv Moran. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug discuss the week that was in Three Rivers, the resurrection of the Three Rivers Commercial-News, the news landscape in St. Joseph County, and what the future may hold for Watershed Voice as a daily news source in this new era of community journalism.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “It's Going Down” by SOURWAH. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

This week's episode of Keep Your Voice Down includes the harrowing tale of a vet visit with three cats, thoughts on Doug and Alek's respective and very different Thanksgiving dinners, an award-winning trip to Austin, #GivingTuesday, and future plans for Watershed Voice.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “No Loss” by Canon. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug discuss all things Austin, as Alek heads to Texas for the Independent News Sustainability Summit and 2022 LION Local Journalism Awards. The pair go over which categories Watershed Voice nominated for, Doug decides which sessions Alek and Deborah will attend at the summit, and Alek talks about being a writing mentor for the Voices of Youth program in Kalamazoo.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Live in the Moment”  by WEARETHEGOOD You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are joined by #MomLife columnist Steph Hightree, and Mark Quinn of Heart 2 Heart Autism Center to discuss the Three Rivers-based center and the services it provides. The quartet also talks about the importance of respite care, the stigma and misconceptions surrounding autism, and coping mechanisms for parents/caregivers of children who have autism and/or other cognitive disorders.The Heart 2 Heart Autism Center is located at 306 S. Lincoln Ave. in Three Rivers, and Mark can be reached at (269) 535-9183 during regular business hours. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Waste Our Time”  by Jane & The Boy You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are joined by "My America" co-hosts Kim Moffat and Dan Moyle to discuss federal student loan debt forgiveness on the heels of President Joe Biden's unveiling of a three-part plan "to address the burden of growing college costs," and "to make the student loan system more manageable for working families."The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "Sleepin on Me" by FVMELESS. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug are joined by rapper, singer, songwriter, producer and engineer poet Mikel James Watkins. Mikel talks fatherhood, mental health peaks and valleys, better understanding the history behind the music he produces, and his upcoming event at Harvey House in Constantine.You can purchase tickets for "Awakening In August" on Eventbrite, while still available. The show begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 27 and is expected to continue until 2 a.m. with more than a dozen acts scheduled to perform. You can find Mikel's music on all major streaming platforms and on his website.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Broken” by Mikel James Watkins. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug return to their respective mics to discuss what went down at the Watershed Voice Artist Showcase last weekend, why Doug wasn't there, and why taking multiple plane rides and attending a handful of summer weddings before your friend's big event isn't conducive to co-hosting. So join us, as Alek unintentionally sets the world record for saying "incredible" the most times in a 40-minute podcast, and Doug waxes poetic about humpback whales.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “UGLY” by Mikel James Watkins. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Kalamazoo recording artist, producer, and songwriter Sherridan Harris returns to Keep Your Voice Down to chat with Doug and Alek ahead of Saturday's Watershed Voice Artist Showcase. The trio discuss Sherridan a.k.a. Sherdizzil's sophomore record "The Vine Album," his growth as an artist and as a performer, rap and hip-hop nerdom, and how this year's showcase will be different from last year's show.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Bet That” by Sherdizzil. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

With Doug on vacation in Beantown, friend of the show Dan Moyle steps in as Alek's cohost for this week's episode with Erin Schultes. Erin is the Democratic candidate for District Two St. Joseph County Commissioner, vice chair of the St. Joseph County, Michigan Democrats, and a member of the Three Rivers Pride Committee. The trio discusses why Erin decided to run for public office, the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the Ban Off Our Bodies protest in Centreville which Erin organized and Dan attended.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “MVP” by Vic Sage. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.Any views or opinions expressed on “Keep Your Voice Down” are those of its hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the podcast's sponsors, Watershed Voice staff or its board of directors.

Local author, Watershed Voice columnist, and limited licensed psychologist Charles Thomas returns to Keep Your Voice Down to discuss mental health options in Southwest Michigan, his book Headcase (The Remix), his daughter's high school graduation party, the genius of Erin Schultes, and Josh Brolin and Al Pacino's avid listenership of KYVD. Doug, Alek, and Charles also break down the lineup for the upcoming Watershed Voice Artist Showcase.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Chilling Injury” by Fasssounds. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug return from yet another involuntary hiatus to chat with Rock Island, Illinois native and Creative Aubrey "Aubs." Barnes. The trio talks about Aubrey's latest published work "it is Written. it is Good.", their hip-hop and rap influences, mental health, education, open mics, rap battles, and antiracism.You can follow Aubrey on Instagram @poeticaubs, learn more about him on his website, and see him perform live at next month's Watershed Voice Artist Showcase. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Confidence” by WEARETHEGOOD. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek was contemplating podcast retirement after technical issues ruined two completed interviews, and forced he and his cohost Doug into a longer than expected hiatus. But don't fret: They're finally back, and mediocre as ever.So join your favorite duo (besides Tina Fey and Amy Poehler), as they catch you up on all that has happened erstwhile in the lives of Doug & Alek. There was of course, Watershed Voice's Birthday Celebration, Alek's birthday party, Doug's dalliance with baseball history, and best laid plans for the second annual Watershed Voice Artist Showcase. Also check out this episode for a one minute teaser about a new podcast called NerdPop Radio, set to premiere May 2.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “The Dark" by WEARETHEGOOD. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Emme Zanotti, the Third Vice Chair of The LGBT and Allies Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist, joined Alek and Doug in early March to discuss her column about the recent barrage of anti-gay and trans legislation adopted in the United States, and her personal journey as a trans woman. Due to mic issues Alek had to be cut out of this interview, and unsurprisingly Doug is ecstatic about it. So what you'll hear instead are a few cut-ins from Doug and Alek for context, and Emme's side of the interview, which is what we all want to hear anyway. You can read Emme's columns "Solidarity, community will counter anti-transgender efforts" and "Pairing Pride with a sense of humility" on Watershed Voice. And you can learn more about transgender issues and how to help right here in Michigan by visiting Stand with Trans.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Blurry” by Curtis Cole. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Aspiring TikTok influencer and Newport News, Virginia native Micah Temple drops by Keep Your Voice Down this week for a chat with hosts Alek Haak-Frost and Doug Sears, Jr. The trio discuss Micah's burgeoning social media presence, the fleeting nature of Tumblr fame, discovering one's people, pop cultural blindspots, and their respective Mount Rushmores of favorite films.You can find Micah on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, and can support his work by following him on all three. Find out more about Micah's Project Big Joy, and help him "spread joy to the world, one smile at a time" by clicking the corresponding link on our website.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Get on Down” by Anthony Vega. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Poet and spoken word artist Madison “Mocha” Hunter drops by Keep Your Voice Down for a chat. Alek, Doug, and Madison discuss the poet's current locale, Memphis, Tennessee, where she is pursuing a Master's degree in creative writing and a certificate in African American literature, and how it compares to her previous stops in Alabama and her hometown Detroit. The trio touch on Afrofuturism, Black history and culture, fathers and their impact on us, the American South, subtle racism and the legacy of Fannie Lou Hammer. Madison also performs her piece “Fannie Lou Hamer: Appropriating Nikki Giovanni's Rosa Parks,” which you can read on Watershed Voice.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Here We Go” by Lightmuzik. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Alek and Doug address the Georgia Bulldog in the room: Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is Super Bowl bound, and they're here for it. After fawning over Stafford and what he meant to Detroit, Doug and Alek discuss rooting for a player after they leave your favorite team, silver linings from the trade that sent Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams and the Lions' ensuing rebuild, and the man standing between Stafford and his first championship, Cincinnati Bengals' sophomore phenom Joe Burrow. The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Mood” by WEARETHEGOOD. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Author Matthew Roberson stops by Keep Your Voice Down to discuss his forthcoming novel “Interim,” set to be released in March, and all things writing. Doug, Alek, and Matt talk process, influence, young writers' dependence on film, television, and video games in lieu of reading literature, and Central Michigan University, where Matt teaches creative writing. Roberson is the author of four novels including “1998.6,” “Impotent,” “List,” and “Interim.” He also edited the collection “Musing the Mosaic: Approaches to Ronald Sukenick” from SUNY Press. His short fiction has appeared in Fourteen Hills, Fiction International, Clackamas Literary Review, Western Humanities Review, Notre Dame Review, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and others.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “DuDa” by Ian Post. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Warning: This episode contains explicit languageMalachi Carter (The Unapologetics (UN) Podcast) drops by Keep Your Voice Down to discuss, well, everything. Doug, Alek, and Malachi talk Season 2 of UN, what to expect in Season 3, Malachi's upcoming MLK Day online event “MLK, CRT, and The Gospel,” the respective greatness of Betty White and Spider-Man: No Way Home, and much more.Malachi's event will be simulcast live on Zoom and Facebook at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, January 17. Solidarity in Diversity: Martin Luther King Celebration 2022 will take place on the same day in downtown Three Rivers at 5 p.m.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Pushing On" by Koliks. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Doug and Alek wanted to discuss all things holidays, and felt it was necessary to bring in an expert, so we called Mrs. Christmas herself, Steph Hightree. These three wise people discuss Steph's lack of egg nog experience, ridiculous Hallmark Christmas movie plots, determining whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not (it certainly is), surviving Elf on the Shelf, and their favorite Christmas songs.Steph will try egg nog for the first time on Saturday, and we'll be sure to share her reaction on Keep Your Voice Down's Facebook page by Monday. So look out for that exciting bit of holiday footage.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "Silent Night" by Aves. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

James Hissong joins Doug and Alek to discuss his firm Grantsmanship Consulting LLC, the ins and outs of grant-making, trying to explain to his kids what exactly it is he does, Sturgis' forthcoming splash pad, and possibilities for the "old" Three Rivers Hospital.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "For a Fistful of Spaghetti" by Sémø. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Former Three Rivers Middle School teacher Russell Ball joins Keep Your Voice Down to talk about his recent resignation after Three Rivers Community Schools staff were asked to remove Pride flags from their classrooms due to an "external challenge." Ball details the events leading up to his exit, what the flag represents to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and why the flags should remain in classrooms not only in Three Rivers but around the world.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is "Antionetta" by BoreÍs. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

At the top of this week's episode Alek and Doug address Monday's troubling news that teachers within the Three Rivers Community Schools system were asked to remove Pride flags in their classrooms in response to an “external challenge” by an unidentified party.   The hosts of Keep Your Voice Down are also joined by Sarah Lee, Director of Marketing Communications at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. The trio discusses Sarah's role at KZCF, her upbringing in Malaysia and how she became deeply rooted in Kalamazoo, the importance of being “equity-minded” when addressing matters of social and racial injustice, the foundation's efforts to support local journalism, and the story behind the formation of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Friend Till the End” by Gabe Price. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Former Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Brian Persky joined Doug and Alek on Keep Your Voice Down this week to discuss downtown Three Rivers, his work with Discover Kalamazoo, the hierarchy of Halloween Candy, and why being a Detroit Lions fan is basically a combat sport.Brian is the Director of Sports Event Development at Discover Kalamazoo, the local convention and visitors bureau for Kalamazoo County. He began at Discover Kalamazoo in December of 2015 as the Sports Sales Manager. Brian leads and manages the development and promotional efforts required to solicit, secure, and host sports-related events that result in increased visitor spending and promotional exposure for the Kalamazoo region. Under his direction, Brian has assisted in bringing the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals, USA Hockey Tier 14U National Championships, a US Quidditch Regional (much to Doug's delight), the 2019 USA Curling National Championships, and many other local, regional, and nationally acclaimed events to the Kalamazoo area. Before he was at Discover Kalamazoo, Brian was the Executive Director at the Three Rivers DDA & Main Street program for two years (2014-2015), and prior to that he was the Planning & Development Coordinator at Downtown Kalamazoo, Inc.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “Bet It Right” by Ollie Joseph. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.

Doug rejoins Alek and the podcast this week to interview Podcaster Dan Moyle (I'm Not In An Abusive Relationship, My America, Antiracism in Action). Doug, Alek, and Dan discuss domestic violence and ways victims AND abusers can get help, his experience as a Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services board member, becoming an antiracist, asking "dumb white guy questions" en route to becoming an ally, and having productive political conversations with those who may have opposing views from yours.You can read Dan's previous interview with Watershed Voice here. If you need help, you can call DASAS at 1.800.828.2023 or visit their website. If you're interested in making a difference in the life of a survivor, you can make a contribution to DASAS here.The show's theme is “Howling at the Moon” by D Fine Us, and this week's outro music is “My Lord” by Yarin Primak. You can support Keep Your Voice Down with a donation here.