Story Board

The Story Board is a ragamuffin group of talented ne’er-do-wells and raconteurs who organize the Mudrooms storytelling nights.

Jeff Smith

Jeff came to Alaska in 2012 for a teaching gig in Tuntutuliak, and moved to Juneau in 2015. He grew up in a place that is round on the outside and hi in the middle, and enjoys crispy pork products and a nice hike here and there. Jeff loves Mudrooms because of the community it creates, and the opportunity it provides Juneauites to connect through shared human experience that our stories showcase.

Kristen Rankin

Kristen was drawn to storytelling from the very first time she heard a story on The Moth podcast. She began learning the craft through an intensive course in Washington, DC and made her Mudrooms debut in 2018 describing a particularly humbling moment on the Appalachian Trail. Kristen works in public health and enjoys improv, theater, and all the hiking. She feels incredibly grateful to have lived on Lingít Aaní for the past few years and hopes for many more.

Khrystl Brouillette

Khrystl came to Alaska in 2018 to attend UAS. As the campus newspaper editor, she quickly became ingrained in the Juneau community. She attended her first Mudrooms in 2019 and was hooked – it became an every-second-Tuesday tradition. After completing her degree and deciding to settle down in Juneau, she joined the Mudroom’s board in 2020. You’ll find Khrystl behind our social media and marketing campaigns – helping spread the community of Mudrooms and welcoming everyone to participate!

Khrystl works for an environmental nonprofit that restores southeast Alaska salmon habitat. In her free time, you can find her playing trombone in the Juneau Big Band, helping run the Juneau Hostel, and letting her dog beg for treats from all the downtown businesses. 

Skylar Bayer

Skylar Bayer moved to Juneau in 2022 and is a marine biologist, a storyteller, and a science communicator. She completed her Ph.D. in the secret sex lives of scallops at the University of Maine which landed her on The Colbert Report in 2013. She’s been a producer for The Story Collider since 2014 and has written and told stories on stage in Maine, Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. She is the co-editor with Gabi Serrato Marks, of an anthology of stories from scientists: Uncharted: how scientists navigate health, research, and bias. She also enjoys Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the gentle art, at Evolution Jiu Jitsu in Juneau.

Summer Koester

Born and raised in Juneau, Summer spent a few years living in Latin America and the Caribbean, but the wilderness and arts community called her back. Now she teaches Spanish to middle school students, freelance writes, and helped found Moon Lit Poets in Juneau. She’s also a member of dance groups the Off-the-Hook Honeys and Daughters of the New Moon Dance. As a kid, Summer found her voice performing on stage in plays and writing songs, and in the last few years, she started writing poetry, nonfiction, and satire. She is excited to help others find their voice and share their stories with Mudrooms!

Taylor Beard

Taylor Beard was born and raised in a ranching family in the far north of Utah; evidence can still be found in her penchant for saying things like ‘ya’ll’ or ‘ howdy.’ Brought to Juneau in 2017 by her husband Ben’s career, she finds the rain perfect for spending days weaving words into tales and is in the process of querying her first novel. Thank the gods! Outside of writing, she & her family enjoy most any activity that can be done in nature, though she can often be found gorging herself on good food, music and companionship.

Ann Marie Elder

Eric Filardi

Ellen Johnston

Volunteers

Mudrooms would like to recognize support from other community members not on our story board.

Previous storyboard members: Alida Bus, Amanda Compton (founder), Pat Race, Marc Wheeler, Clint Farr, Katie Spielberger, Kristen Stouder, Steve Suewing, Pat Roach, Sara Hannan, Tom Cosgrove, Melissa Griffiths, Jim Pfitzer, Jane Hale, David Noon, Rich Moniak. Former volunteers Riley Woodford and Laura Kurt. Former photographers John Hutchins and Colin Shanley.
The Rookery Cafe and Coppa for their generous edible support.
Alaska Robotics for its web support.