Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 5/8-12/2024

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Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival 5/8-12/2024

This premiere Homer birding event, features 22 million birds! Joining us - Festival Coordinator, Melanie Dufor, Homer Visitor Center Manager, Lora Haller and Keynote speaker, renowned birder and author, Ted Floyd. www.kachemakshorebird.org 

 Podcast below (Time stamp: 4:15 - 21:35)


Alaska Moving Images Preservation Association

AMIPA President, Rob Stapleton talks about the archiving historic film/video footage service they provide. He speaks of their fundraiser and the screening of Only Angels Have Wings (1939), featuring Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Rita Hayworth (in her first major role).

Podcast below (Time stamp 22:05 - 32:15)

Mr, Fur Face- Beard and Moustache Competition

Rogaines' enemy! This competition honors hair - the more, the better! Neal Haglund explains the event, the tradition and the categories! 

Podcast below (Time stamp 32:17 - 50:44)

Da Bears! The Legend of Gene Moe!

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The bears are waking up and bear awareness is highly recommended! 

It also means we dig out our interview with Gene Moe whose hand- to-paw encounter with a Kodiak grizzly is legendary!

We also talk to Rick Rydell Green, former hunting/fishing guide and presently the Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Rick's had plenty of close encounters with bears and geeks who study bears!

Check out our podcast!

The 1964 Good Friday Earthquake Part 2

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The 1964 Good Friday Earthquake Part 2

We continue sharing stories from people who were there like Tim Sullivan Sr and broadcast legend, Herb Shaindlin. 

Author/Historian and Seward resident, Doug Capra, talks about Seward's response from the day after and for which they received an "All American City" award. He speaks about his article The Luxury of Forgetting: The town of Seward after the 1964 Good Friday Alaska Earthquake.

Listen to today’s podcast!

To hear Doug Capra's complete interview and to read his article, The Luxury for Forgetting, click here

Photos courtesy of the U.S. Army

The Alaska 1964 Earthquake: Part 1

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Hear first-hand accounts from those that were there! A massive 9.2 earthquake that lasted seemingly an eternity. Mary Dougherty was in JC Penney's and barely escaped with her life! Robert Laurie was a paperboy in Bootlegger's Cove. Don Hartman was in Turnagain. Ken Young was near the Park Strip and Dana Stabenow was in Seldovia. Listen to their stories on our podcast!

 

Credit: Photos from the Earth Science Photographs from the U.S. Geological Survey Library, by Joseph K. McGregor and Carl Abston, U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-21, 1995.  

Iditarod Hall of Fame Broadcaster, Frogsicles and Travel!-

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Iditarod Hall of Fame Broadcaster

Three decades as the MC of the Ceremonial Iditarod Start and well known Anchorage Hall of Fame broadcaster, Dave Stroh joins us to share some broadcast stories!


Frogsicles with our Science Guy!

Frogs freeze solid in the winter and live! 

Our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder explains!

Travel Guru - Alaska Travel Update

Scott McMurren's Travel Showcase has passed but stay current with updated travel information! www.alaska travelgram.com.  

McMurren, Alaska Travel, www.alaskatravelgram.com

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Iditarod Stories, Friends and Fun!

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The best way to celebrate the Ceremonial Start of the Iditarod is with friends! Let the stories flow! Greg Heister, known for his longtime association with the Iditarod and the "Insider" (www.iditarod.com) that covers and shares stories of the Iditarod with the world, takes us behind the scenes to help us appreciate what remarkable athlete mushers are. Then our good friend, Jim Odom, invites us to his Iditarod party of friends - many of whom this is their first Iditarod. And you're invited to an Iditarod party!

Hear our podcast!

Iditarod and Fur Rondy Converge!

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The Iditarod 2024 Teacher, Kate Newmeyer shares Iditarod lessons for her 5th grade - can you say DNA sequencing?!

Then off to the Outhouse Races where we introduce and present the Red Lantern of the Outhouse Races with the Big Alaska Show Fur Trapper Crapper Trophy! Thankfully presented to a visiting team from Seattle - the "Bob Ross Happy Trees" team!

Plus, we have a Tall Alaska Tale! 

Check out our podcast!

25th Anniversary Iditarod Teacher on the Trail

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The Iditarod celebrates its 25th Anniversary of the Teacher on the Trail program. We talk with Jane Holmes, the Director of Education of the Iditarod Trail Committee, and former Teachers on the Trail who have used the Iditarod as an exciting educational tool for many disciplines for their students. 

The Iditarod excites young people and the program is growing. Why? Because it's fun!

Visit the Iditarod and Teacher on the Trail at www.iditarod.com and https://iditarod.com/edu/category/teacher-on-the-trail/

Listen to our podcast! 

Alaska Barbershop Legacy: The Anchorage Midnight Sons!

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President, Tim Tillman, and Past President, Steve Kari, join us to share an update coming into the 2024 season as they are rebuilding after coming out of the pandemic. The Anchorage Midnight Sons have been in existence since 1968! We even have a Tall Alaska Tale!

Check out our podcast!

Polar Bear Jump Off Stories!

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10 years ago Christie jumped at the Polar Bear Jump Off in Seward in memory of Joe Krones' brother, Jimmy. Christie never knew Jimmy or the Krones family. But that's the heart Christie has in the fight against cancer and why she's raised about a quarter million dollars over 21 years of jumps!

Today's show Christie and Joe meet for the first time.

Christie is from Homer and on the rescue team for sea otter and seal pups. 

Joe lives in Oklahoma City and is a Barbershop Quartet International Gold Medalist.

Such diverse lives with one thing in common - the Polar Bear Jump Off and the fight against cancer!

Checkout their podcast!

Alaska Book Review Funl! Richard Chiappone, Steven Levi!

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Our Big Alaska Book Review panel features authors and their books, Richard Chiappone, The Hunger of Crows, and Steven Levi, Bonfire Saloon.

Get these 5 Alaskan authors together and you can't help but have fun and laugh - good books too!

Check out the full podcast or click on the author's name and go to the Book Review Section!

18th Anniversary Show at the Polar Bear Jump Off!

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We celebrate our 18th Anniversary of the Big Alaska Show at the 39th Polar Bear Jump Off in Seward, AK! We play clips from past shows at the Jump.  

We also have our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, talk about the whales that visit Seward’s rich feeding grounds.

Plus, we have a Tall Alaska Tale!

Check out our podcast!

Christmas 2023 Show!

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Hershey Christmas Kisses TV commercial has played consistently for 35 years. Why? We maintain it’s because of our guest, Steven Alvarez, who shares this classic tale!

Hershey Christmas Kisses TV commercial has played consistently for 35 years.

Why? We maintain it’s because of our guest, Steven Alvarez, who shares this classic tale!

Speaking of tales – our Big Alaska Guest Tourists, Pat and Dave Huff from Saginaw, TX try to answer our Tall Alaska Tale (we warned them – we’re eligible to win our own prizes!)

Kurt Riemann from Surreal Studios fingerprints are all over this from his Merry Christmas From Alaska #3 with Hobo Jim’s “Silent Night” to the “Amazing Musical Hands of Mr. Steve Stripling” (which he named!).


Listen to the full podcast and Merry Christmas!

Tuba Christmas, Seward’s Christmas Tree Rootin’, Tootin’ Rotary News!

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Tuba Christmas Director, Neal Haglund, proves just the word “tuba” is funny!

Then Author/historian, Doug Capra, shares a tale of Seward’s iconic Christmas tree shining high above from Bear Mountain with this message of hope: “Look up and shut up!”

Plus, Rootin Tootin Rotary News with Alaska's immediate past Rotary District Governor, Mike Ferris! Rotary does the work. We do the rootin’ tootin’!

Book Reviews: Authors Lolo Paige and Mr. Whitekeys Join Us

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Mr. Whitekeys entertains us with his latest book, The Voyage of the Alaska Union: Adventure, Danger, Scurvy, Romance www.mrwhitekeys.com. Keys' pursuit of this story is much like the journey the men in it who sought their Gold Rush fortunes. Both discovered gold - just not for them, but for our entertainment! Check out our podcast

LoLo Paige, author of the Blazing Hearts Romance Novels, shares how she converted a lack of the Irish luck experience into a luck of the Irish romantic tale in, Irish Thunder.

We also asked Lolo to be our Big Alaska Show Book Reporter at a 20 BOOKS 2023 VEGAS Convention. This is what she sent!

Bluegrass and Barbershop Music for the Holidays

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These musical genres are connected at the hip with harmony, family, food and fun stories! Joining us is Jonathan Buckner from Chosen Road, an award winning gospel bluegrass band from West Virginia, and pastor Tracy Simmons from Christ Community Church Alaska. Plus, part 2 of the continuing saga of mishaps with the Frozen Pipes, the barbershop quartet that inspired audiences to rise from their seats and head for the exits!

Tall Alaska Tales and Thanksgiving Fun!

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Holidays are perfect for friends and family gathering to share stories and laughs - just like you'll hear in this podcast!

"Rootin' Tootin' Rotary News with Mike Ferris, Inappropriate Product Placement Theatuh with Shane and Wayne Mitchell, 

Otter Creek Saloon with Lois Simenson, Chad Carpenter's Tall Alaska Tale, Willie Hensley's "Special", Plus our Big Alaska Show Guest Tourist, Mike Borts, who shares shameless memories with the Frozen Pipes!

Anchorage Whacky Weather-Meteorologist, Jackie Purcell to the Rescue!

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Anchorage's snow fall this week has broken records. We're talking Snow-Maggedon! 

Meteorologist with Anchorage's NBC affiliate KTUU 2, Jackie Purcell, joins us to give us an update and test co-host, Mike Ford and my weather knowledge!




Plus, Christie Bond-Hill, from Homer, is part of a otter sea pup rescue team for the Alaska SeaLife Center. She shares her story and what it's like to help care for these cute little critters!

Saturday, 9:05a-10a AKT, Broadcast 103.7 FM / 750 AM, streamed at www.kfqd.com with podcasts at www.bigalaskashow.com

Photo by Kedar Gadge on Unsplash

Photo by Kedar Gadge on Unsplash

Hibernating Bears (or do they?) and Reflections of an Alaskan Icon, Vic Fischer

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Rick Rydell Green, Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Fish and Game, talks about hibernating bears - or do they?! Always informative and entertaining.




Then, with the passing of the last surviving delegate of the 1955 Alaska State Convention, Vic Fischer, we visit with his wife, Jane Angvik, and author, Charles Wohlforth to share reflections.

Check out our podcast interview with Vic and Charles: "A Farewell and Tribute to Vic Fischer" about Vic's book, To Russia With Love: An Alaskan Journey.