Iditarod History, Stories and a Tall Alaska Tale

The Iditarod commemorates the 1925 Serum Run to Nome. Author and historian, Steven Levi, joins us to share interesting history stories about that Serum Run that saved Nome.

He also talks more about his book The Human Face of the Alaska Gold Rush,  http://www.bigalaskashow.com/book-reviews/the-human-face-of-the-alaska-gold-rush-by-steve-levi

Co-host, Mike Ford, shares his first broadcast experience in 1980 in Nome. Classic!

[Full Podcast]

Plus, we have a Tall Alaska Tale about Colonel Norman Vaughn!

Link to Tall AK Tale Page

Alaskan Biker Women!

These women return for more biker women talk! They talk trips, events, fashions, tell stories and cut up. Great women’s biker fun!

Listen to the podcast!

Previous Big Alaska Show Alaskan Biker Women podcasts:

May is Motorcycle Awareness Month

Alaska Aviation and Women Bikers

Alaska Book Reviews!

We feature our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section. Author, Marc Cameron, talks about his book Open Carry.

Lolo Paige joins us as well. We featured her book, Alaska Spark, in an interview last year that you can find that podcast and book at:

Big Alaska Show book review - Lola Paige

Lots of good things have happened for Lolo since and she shares that with us in today’s show. Plus, she has a new book coming out soon,

Alaska Inferno. We’ll keep you posted!

 We also include a clip interview with author, Chris Lundgren, whose book, Accidental Adventures Alaska: True Tales of Ordinary People Facing Danger in the Wilderness, you can find with the full interview at:

Book review interview with Chris Lundgren

 Marc Cameron’s book, Open Carry, and podcast interview can be found on our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section.

Visit: The Big Alaska Show Book Review - Open Carry

 Listen to our full show podcast with Marc, Lolo and Chris sans commercials!

Iditarod and Fur Rondy Updates!

Iditarod CEO, Rob Urbach, and Executive Director, John McCleary, update us on the progress of the Iditarod and the Fur Rondy.

The Serum Run of 1925 was creative thinking that saved Nome from a Diphtheria outbreak. The Iditarod honors that event, but this year takes its inspiration from it.

Rob takes us behind the scenes what this Iditarod looks like and the creative thinking to safely pull off another Iditarod.

Executive Director of the Anchorage Fur Rondy, John McCleary, updates us on the progress and the creative ways this year’s Fur Rondy will be different.

 Rob Urbach Interview

www.iditarod.com

 John McCleary Interview

www.furrondy.net

15th Anniversary!

Steve and Mike with 2018 best radio show award

We celebrate our 15th Anniversary the same way we celebrated our first-

in Seward, AK for the 36th Polar Bear Jump for the American Cancer Society.

Covid changed this year’s Jump. But we’re still honoring the ACS of Alaska and our 15th Anniversary playing clips from the past.

We only scratched the surface but it’s a fun show! Seward, AK we look forward to seeing you in 2022!

Kurt and MJ Riemann Unplugged!

For over 40 years Surreal Studios, a recording studio in Anchorage, AK, has been creating and delivering quality work for the Alaska market. Kurt and MJ share experiences from Surreal Studios’ 40 year history.

Last week we aired our Christmas show, hosted by Kurt Riemann featuring Alaskan musicians from Kurt’s Merry Christmas From Alaska series.

The Big Alaska Christmas Show

 This week it’s just them. Kurt and MJ Riemann unplugged. Grab a cup of jo and start your day off the right way!

Here’s Surreal Studios website:

www.surrealstudios.com

Merry Christmas From Alaska 2020!

It’s our Merry Christmas From Alaska special edition of the Big Alaska Show!

Kurt and MJ Riemann

Hosted by Kurt Riemann of Surreal Studios, Kurt takes us behind the scenes of his Merry Christmas From Alaska series that features Alaskan musicians playing Christmas and holiday favorites.

Kurt’s wife, M.J. Riemann, Melissa Fischer, Robert Clink, Hobo Jim, Michael More, Marlene Bateman, and more.

Great way to start your Saturday morning: 9:05a-10a, KFQD 103.7 FM /750 AM, and streamed at www.kfqd.com.

Book Review Section Show

Today’s Big Alaska Show features our Book Review Section. We pulled excerpts from 3 interviews that spotlight remarkable people that made a major impact on Alaska’s history.   

Willie Hensley with a Fifty Miles From Tomorrow

Vic Fischer with To Russia With Love

Steve Levi with Cowboys of the Sky.

Check out today’s show podcast.

 To hear more of the interviews with these authors, visit our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section:

http://www.bigalaskashow.com/book-reviews

Actors Behind the Scenes

Actor/Meteorologist, Robert Forgit, and his acting coach, Mary McCusker, from LA join us! Robert attributes working with Mary key to getting a major role in the movie, “The Frozen Ground”, with Nicholas Cage and John Cusack. Mary came to Alaska to work on the movie “Big Miracle” and fell in love with it. Plus, Mary discusses her new book, Auditioning: What They Say When You Leave the Room. (See Book Review Section) 

Taken in the makeup trailer during the filming of “Big Miracle”, Mary wears this original coat from cast member Ahmao Sweeney's grandmother, an Inupiat native Alaskan. Mary developed a special relationship with the Native Alaskan cast, and as Mary said, “I fell in love with Alaska!”

We recall a longtime Thanksgiving tradition, the Great Alaska Shootout, and revisit the first UAA basketball team, the Sourdoughs!

Sara Juday, author of From Sourdoughs to Seawolves discusses the first University of Alaska Anchorage basketball team.

Listen to the Podcast!

Just for Laughs!

When Chad Carpenter, creator of Tundra Comics, joins us, you know it’s going to be fun!

With the Pandemic, political campaigns, plus last week’s show that dealt with the tragic suicide epidemic in our military- we needed comic relief!

Joining Chad are authors, Stan Jones and Chris Lundgren. Look for their books in our Book Review Section.

Listen to the full podcast!

VIPER: War on Suicide in Our Military!

Founder and president of VIPER, Kyle Kaiser joins us along with Gary Olson to discuss the epidemic afflicting our military.

22 veterans committee suicide every day. VIPER stands for Veteran Internships Providing Employment Readiness, a program that is catching attention nationwide.

Kyle discuss reasons and VIPER’S solutions for ending this suicide tragedy. For more information visit https://vipertransitions.com/

 Hear the full podcast

Halloween Fun!

When Shane and Wayne Mitchell show up, it’s always fun!

They bring their entertaining skills from their non-profit TBA (Training Better Artists) to the Big Alaska Show.

They even tell a scary tale ... BEWARE – only listen if you can handle laughter!

For more about TBA visit www.tbatheatre.org.

Scoundrels, RVs and Commercial Fishing!

Fun show! From our 2008 archives an interview with Jeff Smith, the great grandson of Soapy Smith. A Skagway Robin Hood or was he a scoundrel? Or both?

Alaska’s Gold Rush saw some interesting characters. Soapy Smith was one of them! Jeff tells us about Soapy’s life.

Check out his website at www.soapysmith.net.

 Then we discussed RVs with RV expert, Henry Huizenga. We’re adding an RV element to our show for Alaskans who like to hit the road.

Plus, we get to know our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris! His Kodiak commercial fishing career started when he was 11!

Check out the full podcast!

Forest Fires. Romance and Science Meet!

Forest Fires. Romance and Science Meet!

Our guests, Lolo Paige, author of Alaska Spark, and our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, take us into the world of forest fires.

Lolo and Gordon have spent their educational lives and professional careers around the forest industry.

Their roundtable chat helps us better understand the West Coast fires and other forest phenomena.

We even have a science fair project from Dr. Gordon Snyder!

 Be sure to visit our Book Review Section for Lolo’s book, Alaska Spark.

Alaska Spark book review

 Listen to the full podcast!

The Iditarod 2021 and The Frozen Ground!

Co-host, Mike Ford, will need a strong cup of broadcast brew to keep up with our guests! Actor, Robert Forgit, talks about his role and experience as detective and partner to Nicolas Cage in “The Frozen Ground”! Filmed in Anchorage, Netflix announced this movie as #1 on their hit list reaching 100 million viewers!

Then, Iditarod CEO, Rob Urbach, updates us on the 49th Iditarod in 2021! Planning around a pandemic channels the 1925 Serum Run and the Iditarod Nation!

Iditarod 2020 Summer Raffle information visit www.iditarod.com or call (800) 545-6874 

Download the full podcast sans commercials:

Robert Forgit talks about his part in The Frozen Ground.

Iditarod CEO Rob Urbach gives 2021 Iditarod Update.

From Accidental Adventures to Rotary!

Our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris, cleans up nice when it comes to Rotary!

After all, he is the 2022 Rotary District Governor Elect. He gives us an update what is happening in

Rotary these days reminding us what we can accomplish when working together!

Then author, Chris Lundgren, talks about her book, Accidental Adventures: Alaska--True Tales of Ordinary People Facing Danger in the Wilderness!

Whoa! Talk about situations you don’t want to find yourself in ... Chris talks about them!

Plus, a drive-by with our good buddy, John “Tales of the Tundra” Gailey!

Hear the full podcast sans commercials!

Mike Ferris gives Rotary Update.

www.anchoragesouthrotary.org

Chris Lundgren talks about her book

Accidental Adventures: Alaska--True Tales of Ordinary People Facing Danger in the Wilderness

100 Million Viewers!

Netflix announced the 2013 movie thriller, The Frozen Ground, filmed in Alaska and featuring Nicholas Cage and John Cusack had received #1 billing by reaching 100 million viewers!

 Whoa! That got our attention! So we asked a couple of friends from the cast and crew to join us on the Big Alaska Showa and take us behind the scenes. Ron played an attorney and Rose was with the crew from LA.

Based on a true story about a serial killer in Alaska, John Cusack plays the Robert Hansen, the bad guy, and Nick Cage plays Detective Jack Holcomb, the good guy.  There’s more too it of course.

But save yourself time and listen to our podcast to hear Rose and Ron tell what it’s like to work with John and Nick as well as some other behind the scenes tales!

Download the full podcast sans commercials (well almost!)

Rose Davidson was also in Alaska a year before to work on the movie “Big Miracle” about whales trapped by ice and city of Barrow showed up to save them! She shares some stories as well.

Our Labor Day Show - A Labor of Love!

Good show, peeps! Let’s get to the point. The Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, AK is a major Alaskan tourist attraction AND an important marine research science center. Alaskans love it. So when it came very close to closing its doors, possibly forever due to the pandemic, Alaskans showed up to raise BIG BUCKS to keep the doors open. But they need more and it’s worth it!

Our guests, Dr. Tara Riemer, CEO/President of the Alaska SeaLife Center and our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder tell us why. Plus, they make it informative and fun! These science geeks love research, results and discovery. They know a good deal when they see one. They point out the Alaska SeaLife Center is more than a good deal, it’s a treasure!

Check out the podcast with Tara and Gordon – lots of fun. Plus, we even have a Tall Alaska Tale!

Here’s the full show sans commercials.

Check out the Alaska SeaLife Center’s website and their special matching fundraiser in the month of September!

www.alaskasealife.org

By Land, Sea and Air!

Today’s show featured a wide variety. John “Tales of the Tundra” Gailey gave us a snapshot of Alaska’s tour challenged economy.

But John’s a well-loved guide in Alaska’s tour industry and leading tours bouncing between Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks.

Hear John T. Gailey’s interview podcast:

Dr. Gordon Snyder

Ocean Science with our Science Guy

Our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, gives us a scientific perspective on the latest hurricanes and orca whales.

Be sure to check out his Whales Without Borders facebook site.

Hear Dr. Gordon Snyder’s podcast:

Remembering an Aviation Great

Marcus Paine and Mike Ford

Marcus Paine was a bright star in Alaska’s aviation history. Had he lived in the 1920’s like the Wien Brothers, his name would be mentioned in the same breath.

We admired Marcus because he made aviation exciting sporting a joyful spirit and a warm smile to back it.  Sadly, we lost Marcus in air accident at a Madras, Oregon airshow, August 27, 2016.

We pulled from our archives an interview with Marcus shortly before his appearance at 2012 Arctic Thunder, the 5th largest air show in the world.

Hear Marcus Paine’s podcast: