Memorial Weekend Show: VIPER and Alaska Works!

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We meet young veterans and people helping veterans transition into civilian life through VIPER, Veteran Internships Providing Employment Readiness, and Alaska Works.

These programs provide training in the trades and assistance to help veterans through a major change in their lives to put them on a positive path for their futures.

They are a major weapon to help fight the epidemic of suicide that takes 22 military lives everyday.

Meet America's finest! Listen to the full podcast!

Author Eric Wade: A Life Living in Alaska's Wilderness

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Our Big Alaska Book Club interviews author, Eric Wade, about his books, Cabin and Upstream. Eric and his wife, Doylanne, came to Alaska in the late 70's and for the last 35 years travel over 200 river miles twice per year to live in a remote cabin Eric built.

These books tell the story of those experiences surrounded by Alaska's wildlife, wilderness and solitude from the time as a young couple raising their young family to a time facing the challenges of aging.

Check out our Big Alaska Book Review section for links and to hear the interview podcast with Eric Wade.

Podcast interview with Eric and our Big Alaska Show Book Club panel:

Happy Mother's Day with Moose Mama's!

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We celebrate Mother's Day the Big Alaska Show way! Dana DeBernardi, owner of Moose Mamas, and her assistant, Erica Lapham. Moose Mamas rescues orphaned moose calves, nurtures them to health and then releases them to help populate rural Alaskan areas where the moose populations are thin. Plus, our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster Mike Ferris and co-host, Mike Ford, have has a special Mother's Day message for their mothers!

A fun way to enjoy Mother's Day!

Listen to the podcast now!

VIPER- The Do's and Don'ts

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Today's show deals with transitioning veterans to civilian life. President of VIPER, Kyle Kaiser, and Jason Wall with Alaska Works join us to share their experiences of the do's and don'ts when transitioning from veteran life to civilian. We also discuss the transition after being in combat and returning to life as a civilian.

Listen to our special VIPER edition podcast!

Book Review Show 'n Tell

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Our Big Alaska Show Book Review Panel is back!

This time to review books of other Alaskan authors and their books.

Lolo Paige, Chris Lundgren and Stan Jones feature:

The Operator by Craig Martelle - Amazon link

The Sun is a Compass by Caroline Van Hemert . Find it here on Amazon link, and The Flying North by Jean Potter. You can find it now at Goodreads link or at Amazon link

A fun time was had by all. Listen to our podcast!

Remembering Hobo Jim

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Alaska's Beloved Balladeer, Hobo Jim, passed away last October. But his legacy is forever etched in the Iditarod through his music and his The Iditarod Trail Song, referred to as the Iditarod Anthem. Today's show features broadcast friends Terry Burge, Eddie Parker (Eddie P) and Steve Rychetnik who share Hobo Jim Iditarod memories and reminders why Hobo Jim will be forever in our hearts!

- PLUS -

Close Calls with Mike Ferris

Our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris, is back to share another CLOSE CALL and the true reality show of commercial fishing in Alaska!

Iditarod Time!

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I love getting our iditarod Press Passes and swag! That means Iditarod fun is right around the corner!

Today's show is a prelude to our upcoming Big Alaska Show with the 2022 Iditarod Educators' Conference, March 4, 2022. Director of Education, Jane Holmes, is back to remind us what the conference is about. A major aspect of the education is "Teacher on the Trail". Jane gives us an update on the competition for the 2023 TOT. We also have the 2015 Teacher on the Trail, Erin Montgomery, joining us to talk about her experience and her podcast for her students, Husky Talk. Plus, Iditarod CEO, Rob Urbach, shares some behind the scenes work that goes on working around a Pandemic!

Hi Ho Hi Iditarod Trail!! Tune in!

VIPER Warriors Join to End 22!

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President of VIPER, Kyle Kaiser, joins us again to introduce another veteran, Jason Wall.

As a veteran and Case Manager of Helmets to Hardhats with Alaska Works, Jason knows the war against suicide among our veterans.

Like Kyle, Jason fights it everyday. 

Kyle and Jason have formed a unique team to help veterans transition from the military into civilian life.

Meet two Alaskans making a Big difference in veteran and civilian lives in today's podcast!

Remembering Gary Olson

This podcast is a tribute to our friend, Gary Olson. A frequent guest on the Big Alaska Show from our humble beginnings, Gary Olson was a big man who championed big causes. When we first met Gary he was the Director of the Alaska Moose Federation. His goal was to protect people from hitting moose on the highways and help increase the moose population as a food source in rural Alaska where moose population was thin. And Gary wasn't a hunter.

He championed VIPER to fight the epidemic of suicide in our military veterans. And Gary wasn't a veteran. But it didn't matter. Whether it was the AMF or VIPER, Gary's mission was to save lives and make our lives better. And he did. Gary left us too soon leaving a big hole in our hearts. But he left us with this challenge: to storm the hill to End 22, the suicide epidemic that takes 22 veteran lives everyday. God speed, Gary.

Iditarod Education Update!

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Iditarod Director of Education, Jane Holmes, is back to fill us in on the Iditarod 2022 Educator's Conference, March 1-4, 2022, www.iditarod.com/edu.

Jane also updates us about the 2023 Teacher on the Trail, www.iditarod.com/edu/category/teacher-on-the-trail.

Plus, from our archives we bring back an interview with the 2019 Teacher on the Trail, Brian Hickox, who shares what it's like to be Teacher on the Trail!

Be sure to check out our podcast from August 2021 when we first met Jane. She provides insight to the depth and value the Iditarod brings to education.

OUR Big Alaska Show 15th ANNIVERSARY! 

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Since 2006, the Big Alaska Show has celebrated its humble beginnings, (and I do mean humble!) at the Polar Bear Jump Off in Seward, Alaska, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Each year, we MC'd the Jump at the Harbor. Later that afternoon, we recorded our radio show before a live audience to honor the Top 10 Jumpers having the raised the most money that year. We aired the radio show the following week and created a podcast.

Christie Bond Hill

Meet These Veteran Jumpers

If you want to know what the spirit of Alaska is, meet these Alaskans who gathered on a January weekend to jump into the icy waters of Resurrection Bay and joined together to raise money, spirits and hope in the fight against cancer! These are the hearts of champions!

This podcast is from 2018, the Top Ten Jumper's Awards!

Vern Johnson

The 8 Balls have been jumping every year since 2001! They are known for their simple headgear! Meet a member of the team, Vern Johnson. Joining Vern is Christie Bond Hill who would have been jumping in her 22 jump had she not sustained a back injury preventing her from jumping this year. But that didn't stop Christie from participating. She's Vern's dock buddy!

Lori Nelson

Lori Nelson is jumping with the Hill Corp team. It even includes a Texan who claims if they achieve a certain  donation goal, he'll jump twice. Alaskans know seeing a Texan doused twice in freezing salt water is well worth the donations and for a good cause! Meet Lori Nelson!

Link to her jump page:

https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR/ACTIVEFundraising/CFPCY22WER?px=44030714&pg=personal&fr_id=101249

CHRISTMAS DAY CLASSIC!

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Our special Christmas show, "Merry Christmas From Alaska" Vol 3 by producer/engineer/arranger/narrator Kurt Riemann features Alaskan artists performing Christmas and holiday favorites! Kurt takes us behind the scenes for performances with M.J. Riemann, Robert Clink, Melissa Fischer, Ken Peltier, Michael More, Hobo Jim and MORE! Plus, special appearance with Uncle Steve and the hand trumpet!

NUGGETS!

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Co-host, Mike Ford, and I pull out interviews from our past as we work towards our 15th Anniversary of the Big Alaska Show!

Gene Moe's legendary encounter with a Kodiak bear with only a Buck knife!


Governor Wally Hickel's inspirational interview with Mike Ford! Former Mayor of Seward, David Seward and his remarkable journey! A Tall Alaska Tale and a Tall Alaska Tale outtake! This show is packed!




The Last Run: Barry Matteson

We pay tribute to a beloved Alaskan biking legend. Barry Matteson leaves a legacy of service to the biking community and served with a smile that lit up the room. Biker Patti Bogan and President of ABATE of Alaska, Ken Coston, share stories!

Commercial Fishing Tales with Mike Ferris!

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Our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris, is packed with stories. We collected Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic tales with Mike. The true reality show! (Although we do have a Tall Alaska Tale that may or may not be true -- no matter, we're still eligible to win our own prizes!)

Listen to the full podcast!

Polar Bear Jump Off Update!

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Senior Development Director of the American Cancer Society West Region, Annette Vrolyk and Board Chair for the 2022 Polar Bear Jump Off, Casie Warner, share updates on the event in Seward! Get ready for the best cabin fever reliever in January while supporting the fight against cancer!

Official event website is AlaskaPolarBearJump.org
Facebook page  @AlaskaPBJ

Polar Bear Jumper Christie Bond-Hill shares her Polar Bear Jump Off story!

Veteran's Day 2021

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Jamaal, Jameel, Susan and Ken Clark

Today we remember our veterans featuring Jesse (Iraq). Jamaal Clark (Afghanistan), Ed Koontz (Korea) and Brenda Koontz (Vietnam).

Veterans are truly America's finest!

Hear the full podcast!


Remembering Kathy Carmody - Educator Extraordinaire

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From our archives we reprise a show honoring the late Kathy Carmody. We reflect and remember the impact this Alaskan woman made on our lives and thousands of people around the world!

This show features interviews with notables like Deke Sharon, the Godfather of modern a cappella www.facebook.com/DekeSharon, Mike Mendyke, bass of Dick Van Dyke's quartet the Vantastix www.vantastix.com, and more!

This show reminds us of our favorite teachers who changed our lives!

Listen to our fun podcast!

Alaska Halloween Fun!

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It's howling Halloween fun when the Mitchell brothers and Chad Carpenter show up!

Shane and Wayne Mitchell of Training Better Artists (TBA) www.tbatheatre.org, a popular educational/theatrical organization, and Chad Carpenter, creator of Tundra Comics, Moose the Movie and Sudsy Slim Rides Again, www.tundracomics.com, share Halloween memories, stories, ghost tales and "Inappropriate Product Placement Theatuh!" Designed to raise your spirits, not your blood pressure!

Listen to our fun show sans commercials (well, almost!)

Alaska Authors, Coffee and Book Reviews!

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Book Review Section!

Today's show featured Stan Jones and Mike Gordon. Stan writes mystery fiction. Mike Gordon writes non-fiction but it's a mystery he's survived!

Two authors whose new books you'll find on our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section, http://www.bigalaskashow.com/book-reviews.

Authors, Lolo Paige and Chris Lundgren, joined the fun as our panel of author experts! Good books, good fun on our show this morning!            

Dagnabit! by Mike Gordon

We're fortunate Mike Gordon wrote this book. Not just because his life is colorful and filled with entertaining Alaskan stories that morph over the decades into legend.  We're fortunate because Mike Gordon has kept Ruben Gaines' legacy alive.

A broadcaster, writer, cartoonist, creative storyteller, mentor and close friend to Mike, Ruben Gaines helped define Alaska's character.

Just like his first book, Learning the Ropes, Mike's writing style is comfortable, fun to read and takes you from a Rustic Alaskan Saloon to the 7 tallest peaks in 7 continents. Plus, makes you wish you had met Ruben Gaines! https://www.mikegordonauthor.com/store

Check out the podcast interview!                                                                                                                           

Ghost Light by Stan Jones                                                                                                                                                           

Stan Jones blends Alaska culture, fiction and mystery making it hard to believe it's not non-fiction! Might as well be. As Stan was telling us, "With the help of a demented Alaska Native elder, Chukchi police chief Nathan Active hunts for the killer who left a woman's expertly dismembered body in the ice cellar of an abandoned Inupiat Eskimo fish camp."

There's more good stuff. Read the book! You can find it here on Amazon!

Listen to Stan talk about his book along with authors, Lolo Paige and Chris Lundgren!

Alaska Broadcast Character: Bob Lester  

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Bob Lester Pic.jpg

Alaska has a legacy of colorful broadcast characters. Bob Lester is one of those. A longtime morning drive personality on KWHL 106.5 FM, www.kwhl.com, Bob’s contributions to the community are too many to mention. Toys for Tots is one he’s most proud and he’s creator of the most popular event of the Fur Rendezvous(Fur Rondy)Running of the Reindeer. He started on TV as Kid Fox of the Fox Kid's Club - and then spinning records at the Cattle Company's bar at night - a tale of double lives leads to some interesting stories! Get co-host, Mike Ford and Bob Lester with year’s broadcast history experience together talking Alaska broadcast shop, and you get a fun show!

Archie Ferguson: Alaska’s Crown Prince and Craziest Pilot in the World

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ferguson.jpg

Alaska was built on aviation. Hard to believe when reading the life of Archie Ferguson authored by Steven Levi. How Archie made it through life as an Alaskan bush pilot and dying in bed an older man is mindboggling! Author and historian Steve Levi, is an entertaining story-teller both in print and radio. Listen to our fun podcast interview with Steve.

Visit our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section to find Steve’s book and links!  [http://www.bigalaskashow.com/book-reviews]