Life on Orcas Island with Edee Kulper

Another Interview with Davina Liberty

A deep dive into Liberty's turbulent early years and what formed her sense of freedom, adventure, and the desire to be who she chooses to be and surround herself with people she trusts. Liberty talks here about biking across Finland, solo horseback riding in Mongolia among horse thieves and threatening bandits, feeling akin to orca whales, writing a series of books for children about a society of mermaids and facing adversity through the help of fantasy creatures (Liberty is an official mermaid, by the way), and a novella she wrote based on a screenplay she wrote that won four film festival awards. Liberty is a captain and naturalist, free diver, wing walker on airplanes, mountaineer, equine therapist, and so much more. She has swum with alligators, octopi, and Norwegian orcas, among hundreds of other adventures.

An Interview with Michael Yeaman

Geophysicist and stone sculptor Michael Yeaman is also the creator and curator of the Orcas Island Film Festival’s Classic Film Series. Films are at 4 PM on Sundays at Orcas Center from January 11 - February 8, 2026. They are free to the public and you can bring any food you'd like to enjoy with you!

An Interview with Robin Lassen

Not only is Robin Lassen one of the warmest, most encouraging human beings you'll ever meet, she's also a tireless go-getter. While her fine art paintings hung in a local gallery and shop, she was zipping across the sky as a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines ~ a new hire at the age of 69. During summers, she trades the quiet life of Orcas Island where she practices challenging musical memorization on her piano for the on-call, around-the-clock role of a dynamic, indefatigable yacht chef and first mate. She also shares experiences as the director of operations of a software development company for 35 years, her passion for being a kidney donor, and why it is imperative to be grateful and optimistic. Robin is the absolute epitome of competence, humility, and joy.

An Interview with Jimmy Mudd

Local legend Jimmy Mudd is known for the “Train Wreck,” a local jam time for any musicians interested, which he hosted every week for decades. I wanted to give an Orcas Island student the opportunity to be an interviewer with me at the radio station, and the school recommended Senior Kairam Bailey, vocalist of a local band called Bonzi. I asked who his ideal guest would be to interview, and the answer was a resounding "Jimmy Mudd!" 

An Interview with Tony and Jenna Moreno

Tony and Jenna brought the Día de los Muertos community celebration of remembrance to the island ~ first at their home, then at the Village Green. The Morenos are Paul Mitchell hairstylists, business owners, parents, and dreamers who live each day with joy, intention, kindness, and ambition.

An Interview with Andy Rivera

Andy is a high school English, literature, Spanish, guitar, drama, history, government, and economics teacher at Orcas Christian School, a repeat pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a 6-language polyglot, a guitarist, Choral Society singer, world traveler, and adventurer in all things human and divine.

An Interview with Davina Liberty

She goes by Liberty, and she lived out her list of hundreds of dreams by the age of 30. She has swum with orca whales in Norway, the only human to have been in a tank with 16-foot Florida alligators with nothing between them and her but a mermaid suit, she's a trained free diver, an equine therapist, a wing walker on small aircraft, a mountaineer, an author of several books, the only female captain in the San Juans, a naturalist, and has lived the life of ten people so far. She is currently practicing Italian every morning and in the middle of her 45th book this year. She writes book reports on Facebook each time she finishes a book. Her new list of dreams is on the horizon...

An Interview with Gordon Koenig

What hasn't Gordon Koenig done? He's a retired air tanker pilot, a band member in Olga Symphony and JP and the OK Rhythm Boys, a former dress store owner and cookie store owner, a ukulele instructor and craftsman (Barn Swallow Ukuleles), and the list goes on.

An Interview with Sara Pelfrey

Sara Pelfrey grew up in a Sufi community and is one of the kindest, least judgmental people you will ever meet. Her education from a young age included a thorough understanding of and respect for other spiritual traditions, and she still considers herself a Muslim today.

An Interview with Tenar Hall

Tenar is one of the few people you will catch a glimpse of out in the sea all year round, even in the cold, winter months. She circumnavigates Orcas Island in a day on her surfski, trains for competitions, and talks about being doggedly persistence over being blessed with a particular skill (though I believe she is an absolute phenom). She's a math lover and instructor, shares her stories of navigating autism, and attributes many of her academic strides to the magic of a gifted teacher in her youth.