Halloween Antics with Shane and Wayne Mitchell!

Training Better Artists (TBA) knows Halloween! The patriarchs, Shane and Wayne Mitchell, join us for Halloween stories and fun!

One of Alaska's most decorated non-profits, TBA specializes in theatrical/performance/educational arts for all ages. From fine Shakespearean performances to vaudeville slapstick, Shane and Wayne do it all, and do it well. And they make it fun, like today's show! Halloween stories, antics and even Inappropriate Product Placement Theatuh! So much fun, it's almost scary!

For more information about TBA, visit www.tbatheatre.org.

Check out the show podcast sans commercials!

Interviews with Cartoonist Chad Carpenter and Alaska Travel Expert Scott McMurren

Chad Carpenter Tundra Comics Celebrate 30 Years!

Inspired by Garfield's creator, Jim Davis, Chad Carpenter set out on his own cartooning path with Tundra Comics.

Decades later with over 10,000 cartoons and punchlines, Chad and Tundra celebrate 30 years with his Anniversary Special Edition of Tundra, including the foreward penned by Jim Davis! Check out Chad's podcast interview!

PFD Travel Deals with Scott McMurren!

Alaska's travel guru, Scott McMurren, joins us to share travel deals that are cheaper than him!

Be sure to sign up for Scott's newsletter at www.alaskatravelgram.com.

Listen to Scott cover a lot specials in and outside Alaska!

Labor Day with Author Lolo Paige!

Our Labor Day Show - who better than hardworking Lolo Paige to join us?! She updates us on her latest book that will eventually grace our Big Alaska Show Book Review section with her other Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series.

https://www.bigalaskashow.com/book-reviews/alaska-spark-the-blazing-hearts-wildfire-series-by-lolo-paige

But it's always fun when Lolo joins us to share her colorful adventures and an insight why her books are immersed in fighting forest fires and romance!

Check out her podcast!

RV and Tent Camping at Kasilof Dock

Alaska's travel expert, Scott McMurren, knows how to pick them. Meet Robert Peterkin and his daughter, Elisabeth, owners of Kasilof Dock. For RVing, dipnetting, fishing and camping enthusiasts, this is the best seat in the house! Plus, it comes with amenities! And at this price, are you kidding me?! See for yourself! (www.kasilofdock.com).

In the meantime, enjoy our podcast interview above with Alaska's travel expert, Scott McMurren, and his guests, Robert and Elisabeth Peterkin!

Interview with Vic Fischer

Vic Fischer’s life story reads like a real-life Forrest Gump, with appearances by Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Eleanor Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Saul Alinsky and many more, together with everyone in the whole history of Alaska from statehood to the present day. A great read by a great Alaskan. (Brian Rogers, Chancellor, University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Co-author, Charles Wohlforth, joins Vic to talk about his book.

Look inside and buy it on Amazon

Hummingbirds and Our Science Guy!

Hummingbirds were never a big thing during my growing up in Alaska. That's changed. Our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, explains why and why he finds them so interesting.

Check out this podcast interview with Gordon. We even have a Tall Alaska Tale!

Gordon shares some cool hummingbird links!

https://youtu.be/RYteKbzJKKI

https://youtu.be/x4rirmOIkRM

https://youtu.be/0vg4Z0_v0b8

https://youtu.be/ms8-PiqOaDs

Book Review 3 Alaskan Authors!

Our illustrious Big Alaska Show Book Panel interview 3 Alaskan authors which you can find more about their books and podcasts on our Big Alaska Show Book Review section.

Click on Elishaba Doerksen (Out of the Wilderness), Richard Chiappone (The Hunger for Crows) and Steven Levi (Bonfire Saloon).

Or listen to the full Saturday morning radio show here

Gold Nugget Saturday! Filmmakers Bill Bacon and Steve Rychetnik

It's Gold Nugget Saturday, where we dig out a gold nugget interview from a past Big Alaska Show.

This interview features Bill Bacon, a filmmaker who worked for Walt Disney 20 years before Walt sent Bill to Alaska when it became a state. Bill specialized in wildlife films where millions saw them.

Then Steve Rychetnik, co-owner of Sprocketheads a film production company, joins me to reflect on Bill's film legacy.

There's pure gold in this podcast!

Memorial Weekend Show: VIPER and Alaska Works!

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!