Bede began her career with KSKA in 1979 as a volunteer and soon became the Morning Edition host in 1980, advancing to operations Manager in 1981, training radio staff and creating on-air and control room policies and procedures. In 1989, Bede was named Program Director, overseeing programming and operations staff, creating KSKA’s on-air schedule, creating programming strategies, co-producing membership drives and radio auctions, and building AKPM’s Leadership Circle. Under Bede’s leadership, KSKA’s audience grew to one of Anchorage’s favorite stations. Bede was awarded the Alaska Broadcasters Association Employee of the Year in 1991, the 2019 Alaska Humanities Forum Governor’s Award for the Humanities Distinguished Service in Community, and a UAA Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2019. Bede has been a Providence Alaska NICU Cuddle Corp volunteer assisting the nurses and holding babies since 2002.