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We pay tribute and say goodbye to the last surviving delegate of the Alaska Constitutional Convention, Vic Fischer.
From an interview from 2012, Vic Fischer and co-author, Charles Wohlforth, talk about Vic's book, To Russia With Love: An Alaskan Journey
A great read about a remarkable journey of a man who made a huge impact on Alaska and beyond.
Our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris, shares another commercial fishing close call plus discusses issues facing the fishing industry in Alaska.
Then Mike swaps hats to become good citizen Mike with a Rootin' Tootin' Rotary Update!
Camille Conte
Longtime Alaska broadcasters, Loren Dixon, Mike Ford and Camille Conte, take us behind the scenes what it's like to be a radio on-air personality. From commercial broadcast to Public broadcasting, tales and tricks of the trade are shared along with some good laughs.
Loren Dixon
Original image from Carol M. Highsmith’s America, Library of Congress collection
Marine mammal specialist with NOAA Fisheries, Jill Seymour, joins us to discuss the 5th Annual Belugas Count event, Cook Inlet beluga whales, what makes them unique and their endangered status.
Dr. Gordon Snyder talks about his wetlands project, wetlands benefits and thoughts about belugas. Mike Ford interviews Dr. Carrie Goertz from the Alaska SeaLife Center about belugas.
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International Rotary President and his wife, Gordon and Heather McInally, had just arrived in Anchorage without their luggage (lost somewhere between Brazil and Anchorage) and yet, even before checking into their hotel, stopped by the Big Alaska Show to share the good news about Rotary. Joining them was our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster and Rotarian, Mike Ferris, who acted as their host to the Life on Land Symposium. https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50077/sitepage/life-on-land-2023/life-on-land-alaska-zone-symposium-connecting.
Plus, we cover Moose Marble Madness that involves dropping moose "marbles" from a helicopter onto a target to help raise money for the dictionary project for Anchorage South Rotary and Children's Lunchbox project for Rotary Club for Anchorage Hillside Rotary.
Fun memories featuring Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees, Gary Olson, creator of the Alaska Moose Federation, Jim Barnett, author of Captain Cook in Alaska and the North Pacific, co-host, Mike Ford with on-air talent, Steve Franklin, show they're uniquely unqualified as 4H Goat Judges!
PLUS- Tall Alaska Tales abound!
Mike Ferris
Our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris, has returned SAFELY from another commercial fishing adventure in spite of plenty of dangerous close calls!
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Author, Kim Rich, joins us to share stories about her book, Johnny's Girl, the movie starring Treat Williams as Kim's father, Johnny, and Kim's friendship with Treat.
Johnny’s Girl: A Daughter's Memoir of Growing Up in Alaska's Underworld
Kim Rich's nationally acclaimed memoir of growing up in Alaska’s underworld as the only child of gambler John F. “Johnny” Rich and exotic dancer, Frances “Ginger” Rich. It chronicles Alaska’s mean streets and her parent’s tragic lives that were cut short.
Alaska's largest bird festival takes place May 3-7 in beautiful Homer, AK. Just because you miss it doesn't mean you missed the season. In fact, it's just getting started!
Meet Melanie Dufor, Lara Haller and Kendra Bush who are a wealth of information for birding and Kachemak Bay! www.kachemakshorebird.org.
Check out our interview with them!
Wetlands with Dr. Gordon Snyder
Alaska has more wetland coastline than the entire USA coastline. Our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, explains the value of wetlands and a perfect tie-in to the Kachemak Shorebird Festival!
Listen to our interview with Gordon!
Special Assistance to the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Rick Rydell Green, talks about bears and coming out of hibernation. Rick's years as a hunting/fishing guide, self-avowed wildlife biology geek and longtime broadcaster, makes this interview fun about bear habits coming out of hibernation. He even tolerates our teenage mentality when it comes to certain bear colon habits of "blowing the plug"! Fun, informative interview!
Thanking Our Veterans
Randy Kimpton, president of the Last Frontier Honor Flight, joins us to share what his organization does to honor and thank our military veterans.
This is a continuation from last week's Alaska Earthquake show featuring people in the quake that share their stories. This includes legendary broadcaster, Herb Shaindlin.
For last week's podcast visit 1964 Alaska Earthquake Part 1
We look back on the 1964 Alaska Earthquake featuring stories from those that were there!
We also interview Natalia Ruppert, https://earthquake.alaska.edu/staff-spotlight-natalia-ruppert, senior scientist and project manager of the Alaska Earthquake Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Natalia brings us up to date into today earthquake science.
Senior Scientist and Project Manager, Natalia Ruppert interview podcast.
Alaska biker, Patti Bogan, joins us to talk about her ride starting in May.
Run for the Wall honors our military veterans and Patti has a special mission in mind. She shares that with us.
We also pull out a fun gold nugget interview with a group of Alaska biker women! Many of these women are members of ABATE, Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education!
Commercial fishing in Alaska is dangerous- even if it's just working on construction of a new boat!
Mike was working with his boat builder and while inspecting the boat made a misstep, fell about 5 feet on channel iron! Tail bone, butt and vertebra - black and blue!
Mike considers himself lucky!
Then as the Alaska Rotary District Governor, Mike talks about the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards- a program that helps young people build leadership!
College basketball March Madness is popular in Alaska. We pulled out a gold nugget memory featuring author Sara Juday and her book "From Sourdoughs to Seawolves". She dedicated a chapter to the first University of Alaska Anchorage basketball team, the Sourdoughs, that yours truly and former Anchorage Mayor, Dan Sullivan, were teammates. Recorded at McGinley's Irish Pub downtown Anchorage.
Author Stan Jones reviews a rural Alaska Classic, Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival.
Stan's years living in rural Alaska fueled his interest and respect for the native cultures of Alaska and the tremendous character especially during brutal conditions.
Find his book and podcast interview on our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section!
Dr. Gordon Snyder previously shared the science of dog paws, proper Iditarod dog hydration and the study of yellow snow science - who knew!
This time Gordon talks pink snow science!
Hear today's full show podcast!
The Iditarod has a rich history - and we're talking a gold history! That's why we bring historian and author, Steve Levy, to share tales of the Iditarod and the Alaska Gold Rush going on at the time!
You'll also find his book, "The Human Face of the Alaska Gold Rush: It Was a Righteous Time With Saints And Scoundrels Living Side By Side" on our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section.
Plus, we share a gold nugget memory with an interview with Alaska's Balladeer, Hobo Jim, we did back in 2008.
Hobo Jim 2008
Listen to our interview from 2008 with Hobo Jim!
The 2023 Iditarod!
Meet Sydnie Bahl (bale) who is training for the 2025 Iditarod. Sydnie's that next generation inspired to pursue her dream and carry on the tradition. And she's training under one of the best: retired multi-Iditarod musher, Vern Halter, with his wife and veterinarian, Susan, and the Dream a Dream Kennel team https://dreamsleddogtours.com.
What's it like to get ready to run the Iditarod? Sydnie Bahl tells us!
Plus, we interview Rod Perry, who competed in the very first Iditarod. We even threw in a Tall Alaska Tale about Colonel Norman Vaughn!
This annual cabin fever reliever is uniquely Alaskan and packed with events!
World Championship Dog Sled Races, the Melodrama, Outhouse Races, Mr. Fur Face, Ice Carvers, Fur auctions and much more!
Rondy CEO, John McCleary, takes us inside to what's going on. Christy Hedrick reports on a Rondy favorite, the Melodrama and Neal Hagland talks Mr. Fur Face. We even have a Tall Alaska Tales!
Listen to the full podcast!
Iditarod Educators: Jane Holmes and Juli Westrich
Juli Westrich
Jane Holmes
Iditarod education has gone to the dogs! That's what makes it exciting! Director of Education of the Iditarod Trail Committee, Jane Holmes, introduces the 2023 Teacher on the Trail, Juli Westrich.
Becoming Teacher on the Trail is a HUGE lesson unto itself. Educators go through an extensive vetting process to compete for the highly coveted position. Only one will be chosen. The winner gets an experience of a lifetime immersed in the complete Iditarod experience all the way to the finish line in Nome. Along the way, Juli will blog daily sharing her experience with students from around the world.
To visit the Iditarod education link: https://iditarod.com/edu/
Dog Paw Science and Yellow Snow Trivia
Our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, shares some science about dog paws and yellow snow trivia!
Listen to the full podcast
Lolo Paige fought wildfires. Years later she authored her Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series novels.
Set in Alaska, Lolo's stories revolve around the wildfire industry where men and women work closely as teams to face life-threatening situations. Throw in some sizzling relationships and you have a page turning novel that ends to quickly with readers seeking more. So, Lolo obliges.
She adds Alaska Blaze and a lighthearted comedy Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart you'll find in our Book Review Section
Joe Jackson, talks about his book, It's Only Fishing: Tales of Alaska, fly fishing and young adulthood. You’ll find his book, links and extended podcast in our Book Review Section.
Because fly fishers are so passionate, we asked our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, to join us. He became one of the foremost authorities on water science because of his love for fly fishing. We're not sure if the interview is about Joe's book or fly fishing!
Hear the full podcast!
It means something extra when Kim Carlson has attendst he annual Polar Bear Jump Off in Seward, AK, as she has done for ten years—raising tens of thousands of dollars. She has dedicated her jumps, first to her mother, who was lost to cancer, and subsequently to other victims and their families.
It was a packed house and a packed show of fun! Alaskans and Texans- in the same room! Only on the Big Alaska Show can such a combination co-exist in the same room.
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