Rebecca Sheir

Rebecca Sheir received her MFA from the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program in May 2006. While in the heartland, Rebecca worked at WSUI, Eastern Iowa's NPR news station, as the producer and co-host of "Weekend America: Iowa Edition," guest host of "Talk of Iowa: Live From the Java House," and local drive-time voice of "All Things Considered." She also designed and taught the undergraduate radio essay/commentary course, "Radio Voices."

Before moving to Iowa, Rebecca lived in New York City, where she received her BA from Columbia University and worked in off-Broadway theater production and casting. Her work has aired on public radio stations across the country. In Anchorage, Alaska, she hosted the award-winning weekend public affairs show, "AK," on the Alaska Public Radio Network. She moved to Boston at the end of May and is working as a producer for "Here & Now," the nationally-distributed, daily news magazine from WBUR and PRI.

The second part of her three-part MFA thesis, a radio documentary titled "Honoring the Body: 'Taharah,'" was awarded a prize at the 2006 Third Coast International Audio Festival.

Not Your Typical Olympics
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics has been held in Fairbanks, Alaska every year since 1961. This year, organizers brought the four day extravaganza of native games, dance, art and culture to Anchorage. Intrigued by the move, Only a Game's Rebecca Sheir had to find out more.

Brush with History
How an Alaskan sailor contributed to Jewish statehood. His name is Jack Johnson, and he served on the crew of the Exodus 1947, a ship that attempted to carry more than 4,500 Holocaust refugees from Europe to what was then Palestine. Quite the adventure ensued, and aided by Captain Jack himself, I tell his story in this radio piece.

ALASKANS CAN PULL ALL-DAYERS IN SUMMER
Day to Day, June 21, 2007 · Thursday is summer solstice — otherwise known as the longest day in the year. The day is even longer for some — in Alaska, summer solstice means virtually 24 hours of daylight. Alaskans traditionally take advantage of their midnight sun by never sleeping.

AFTER THE WHALE HUNT, THE COOKING BEGINS
Weekend Edition Saturday, May 26, 2007 · The Inupiat people of Alaska's North Slope have hunted whales for centuries. After the men hunt, the women of the village cook more than 30 tons of whale meat.