Fred Newman Sound EFX Guy!

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Fred Newman Sound EFX Guy!

Fans of A Prairie Home Companion will enjoy this interview with sound man Fred Newman when Garrison Keillor brought his entourage to the Alaska State Fair in August of 2015. Fred talks about his path as a "sound effects technician" and takes us behind the scenes what it's like working with Garrison and the talented group that accompanies him. 

Check out this fun podcast! 

Fred particularly liked this video that show host, Steve Stripling, created for a local NBC affiliate, KTUU 2, on Christmas Day! IT's no wonder these two hit it off right from the start!

The pic shown is Fred with Steve Stripling, Vic Fisher, Forrmer Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer and Jane Angvik.

Vic Fisher was a co-author of the Alaska State Constitution and his wife, Jane Angvik, has a distinguished career in Alaska politics and State and community service.

Welcome Fur Rondy Arch!

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Welcome Fur Rondy Arch!

Steve Kari, shown with his wife Ella, were among the throngs attending the lighting ceremony of the Fur Rondy Arch that now arches over 4th avenue in downtown Anchorage, AK. Thus, accomplishing a longtime dream of Jim Huettl, President of the Anchorage Mushing District. Steve was one of the engineers who worked on the project.

Check out our interview Jim Huettl and with Fur Rondy Executive Director, Dakotah Fujan about the Arch in the Mushing District!

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From Sourdoughs to Seawolves

We look back at a lively interview from 2011 about the first University of Anchorage basketball team featured in the book From Sourdoughs to Seawolves recorded before an audience at a downtown Irish Pub. Author, Sara Juday, graphic artists, Dave Freeman and Clark Mishler, plus former Mayor, Dan Sullivan join us!

From Sourdoughs to Seawolves

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We celebrate Thanksgiving remembering a longtime tradition, the Great Alaska Shootout and the first University of Alaska Anchorage basketball team - the Sourdoughs. Author Sara Juday shares her experience writing From Sourdoughs to Seawolves about the first UAA sports programs - including a chapter on the Sourdoughs- a team that will go down in infamy. I should know because I was there! 

The World's Craziest Pilot

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The World's Craziest Pilot

According to author Steve Levi, Archie Ferguson was known as the "World's Craziest Pilot". Steve joined us to prove it. 

His book: Archie Ferguson: Alaska’s Crown Prince and Craziest Pilot in the World! You can find it in our Big Alaska Show Book Review section.

Steve is an educator and historian and makes learning history fun! Steve also talks about his other book, Cowboy’s of the Sky:  The Story of Alaska’s Bush Pilots! 

Check out our fun podcast!

Navy SEAL Laddie Shaw

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Navy SEAL Laddie Shaw

Approximately 80,000+ remarkable veterans live in Alaska. Navy SEAL veteran, Laddie Shaw joined us to share his story  (shown here with his wife Linda).

Outdoorsman, rock climber, para-sailing and former Alaska state legislator, Laddie's story reminds us  freedom is not free.

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Alex the Roaster

Meet our Big Alaska Show Blend roaster, Alex with Cold Snap. We were hearing complaints people couldn't get our coffee. They were not satisfied with our explanation we only have a jingle but no coffee. That didn't help. Enter Alex the Roaster to the rescue! He's working on a new, dark, robust blend to be revealed for our 20th anniversary celebration coming up next month.

Alex is also an Army veteran. Great story- great roaster! Check it out this podcast!

[Time Stanp]

BUSH PILOT FOLLIES

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Son of Joe Rychetnik, Steve Rychetnik joins us to talk about his dad's book, Alaska's Sky Follies: The Funny Side of Flying in the Far North. But our interview with Steve reveals a man who was as colorful as the characters he wrote about.

Fortunately, Joe Rychetnik wrote prolifically to leave us a historically rich record of often hilarious Alaska stories - that were probably not that funny at the time! 

Check out our fun podcast!

Barbershop Youth Outreach!

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Today's show features "Men Can Sing", a fun barbershop youth outreach program. Designed to get high school guys interested in their school choral programs, it also highlights the vital importance of our music educators.

A cappella coach, Eddie Martinez, Midnight Board members Steve Kari, Tim Tillman and Ernie Peters join us. Plus, music educators, Rebecca Nelson, Makayla Forbes and Annie Herzog join us. Fun show and reminding us singing barbershop brings out the youth in all of us!

Fun podcast! 

12:40-35:43 Eddie Martinez, Steve Kari, Tim Tillman

36:49-44:07 Rebecca Nelson, Makayla Forbes, Annie Herzog

44:36 - 47:44  Ernie Peters Battle of the Bands Skit

Halloween and Holiday Fun!

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Wayne and Shane Mitchell are serious about Halloween and holiday fun!. 

These twins join us to talk about their award-winning non-profit, TBA, (Training Better Artists Towards a Better Alaska), and their packed Halloween and holiday schedule. Chad Carpenter of Tundra Comics joins the fun to talk about movies with these twins.

Plus, Inappropriate Product Placement Theatuh - testing the improvisational skillset of the Mitchells!

Check out this fun podcast!

Science with Dr. Gordon Snyder!

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Gordon's unique scientific tidbits makes it fun. At the heart of it is water for which Gordon is an expert. Today's show features various interviews over the years. Here he covers his No Fence Wetlands project, hummingbirds, whales, education and a Tall Alaska Tale!

Gordon interviews start at time stamp 5:37 (but the other stuff is fun too!)

Labor Day Show!

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Kick back, forget work!  This gold nugget interview from 2016 features legendary aviator, author and former State of Alaska legislator, Chuck Sassara, whose life is almost unbelievable - certainly his Tall Alaska Tales are! Joining Chuck was former Alaska Magazine Editor, Andy Hall. Btw, check out Chuck's book on our Book Review Section: Chuck Sassara's Alaska: Propellors, Politics and People. And Andy Hall's book, Denali's Howl: the Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America's Wildest Peak.

We also remember a next generation of aviators, Marcus Paine, we lost too early that would have been this week in 2016 at an air show. We brought out an interview from 2012 with Marcus that captures the true Alaskan spirit of aviators who built Alaska.

The Alaska State Fair!

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Where else can you pack the stands to cheer on the largest vegetables?! 

Such are the stories that come out of the Alaska State Fair. Join us for a fun spin around the Fair and meet guests like The Monkees, Mickey Dolenz, Goat judging with Ford, a live show in the tent, a Tall Alaska Tale and more. Did we mention food?!  

Check out our fun podcast!

Alaska's Future, Alaska's Past

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Cutting Edge STEM Education!

The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska https://akchallenger.org is too good an educational program to be a best kept secret! CEO Marnie Olcott joins us to give us an overall view of this innovative educational program located on the Kenai Peninsula. 

Challenger Time Stamp 4:36

Skagway's Scoundrel

With tourism season in full swing, Skagway, AK is a popular stop on the Alaskan cruises. Soapy Smith is a colorful, historical conman that became Skagway's sheriff. In 2008 the great grandson of Soapy Smith, Jeff Smith joined us during Alaska's 50th Anniversary!

Jeff Smith Time Stamp 27:45

Barbershop, Books & Birthdays!

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The Anchorage Midnight Sons Chorus Director, Phil Cheasebro, joined us with a special guest, his mother, Margaret Cheasebro! It was her birthday and we thought it a good idea to celebrate with Uncle Steve's hand trumpet - which was more than a little rusty! Margaret's story is intriguing, plus, she's an author! A perfect fit with our other guest, Lois Simenson aka Lolo Paige, to talk about her new book, Firestorm!

(Phil and Margaret Cheasebro 6:23) (Lolo Paige 24:46)

Check out our fun podcast! 

Alaska Commercial Fishing

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Rick rydell green

The salmon are running and our guest, Rick Rydell Green with the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission, takes us into his world of commercial fishing in Alaska.  Rick updates us on the health of this year's industry, the high and low points and the challenges Alaska and the fishing industry faces this year. Check out our fun podcast!

FIRE!

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Chris Barth

Chris Barth, with the State of Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, takes us behind the scenes to update us on the fire season around the state and to give us a glimpse of his world fighting forest fires (wildfires). For more forest fire information in Alaska visit www.akfireinfo.com.

Since Chris is from Missoula, MO, we knew we had to introduce him to Lois Simenson, aka., Lolo Paige, author of the Blazing Hearts Romance Novels whose stories are based on the wildfire fighting industry and the relationships within it. Lois attended the U of Montana in Missoula and spent part of her career fighting wildfires from which her stories are based.

Check out her books on our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section along with links and interview podcasts. We pulled one of those podcast clips and added it to today's show. Check out the fun podcast!

Barbershop & Friends Around the World

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Timothy Yu

The Anchorage Midnight Sons Chorus belongs to a network called "Barbershop"; an American musical genre that brings people together from all over the world. Like today's guests, Timothy Yu, originally from Hong Kong, now doing research in Alaska for his doctoral dissertation at Florida State.

For Timothy Yu time stamp 3:44 -15:29

And friends from the 2025 International Gold Medal Champions, the Vocal Majority in Dallas, TX, Phil McShan, Eddie Martinez and Marcus Kang!

Phil McShan time stamp 15:30 - 25:28

Marcus Kang time stamp   25:29 - 40:22

Eddie Martinez time stamp 40:23 - 51:48

The Vocal majority chorus

Check out Marcus Kang music video 

Check out this fun Podcast!

Fly Fishing Season!

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Author, educator and fly fisher enthusiast, Joseph Jackson, talks about his book, It's Only Fishing. Check it out his book and interview on our Book Review Section, https://shorturl.at/kqL1D

Plus, we chatted with Mark the Bat Guy about bats and a birder who shared some secrets about Potter Marsh!

Check out today's fun podcast!

Solstice Show 2025

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The longest day deserves special guests, and we have them!

Gavin Struempler, artistic director and founder of Summit Theatre Project joins us to share a new, exciting non-profit coming to Anchorage. 




Author of the Blazing Hearts Romance Series, Lolo Paige, joins us to give us a sneak preview into new book coming out, Firestorm, that deals with what if a wildfire broke out on Anchorage's hillside and a romance that's equally hot! 

Plus, we have a Tall Alaska Tale! 

Check out our fun podcast!

Flyball Champions!

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Holly Evans, founder of the Glacier Shakers Flyball Club, joins us to share her journey from not knowing anything about flyball, to forming a club and going on to win a national championship! Flyball pals of ours and Holly's from Dallas, TX, Cindy Dalton and Michael Borts join us. For more information about the Glacier Shakers visit their website.

Talk about fast, check out this Youtube clip!

https://youtu.be/6CjFOLLsseg

Plus, we pull out a gold nugget interview from 2015 with Maija Dogget with Dogs Gone Wild to add to the fun! 

Check out today's podcast!