On Step Alaska

In this episode I talk with Kyle Wilkinson from The Young Guides Podcast. We discuss the early season trout opportunities outside of Anchorage, then get into fishing methods for fishing trout and salmon along the Parks Highway north of Anchorage. Kyle shares what it's been like to start guiding, effective rigs, the best flies and Western rivers that are on his list. Learn more about your ad choice...

Dylan Tomine is the author of Closer to the Ground, a through-the-seasons look at fishing and foraging in Washington. In this episode we talk about protecting resources, shifting baselines, having difficult conversations, the threats caused by polarization, steelhead and legendary fly fishing authors. Tomine's new book Headwaters is available for pre-order and will be released later in April. Lear...

Robby Denning is a co-owner of Rokslide, the comprehensive hunting website. In this episode we talk about the purpose of Rokslide, filling the needs of hunters, the current state of hunting, turning non-hunters into pro-hunters rather than anti-hunters, the value of conservation groups like RMEF and even a little fishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minnesota resident Dan Platta is the host of the Bookkeeping, Beers and BS podcast. In his show he talks about being successful in business, but he also loves hunting whitetail and ice fishing. In this episode we talk about the balance of getting what you need vs. buying a bunch of stuff. We also talk about new experiences, mentoring others and the balance of being willing to get after it, but als...

Rich Krupa grew up in North Pole Alaska, played college basketball at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, met his wife, and never left. His daughter played at Sitka High School while he was an assistant coach and she went on to play at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In this episode we talk about college basketball in Alaska, the college basketball recruiting scene, the downside of trying to "be...

Rob Casperson is the head coach of the Juneau-Douglas boys basketball team. He grew up in Juneau and played for the team that lost to future NBA player Trajan Langdon's East Anchorage team in the state finals, and was later a teammate of Alaska's next NBA player - Carlos Boozer. In this episode we talk about adapting a system to match players, Alaska's talent pool, recruiting, dramatic finishes an...

Kelly Smith grew up on Prince of Wales Island and played basketball for Thorne Bay and Craig in the mid-1990s. He is now the head coach of the Ketchikan High School girls basketball team which as won the Region V title eight out of the last nine years. In this episode we talk about the transition to coaching girls, building a program and island life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Meta Mesdag is a photographer turned oyster farmer (Salty Lady Seafoods) in Juneau. In this episode we talk about her career transition, the entrepreneurship scene in Southeast Alaska, challenges brought on by Covid and bad weather, the science behind the life cycle and growing conditions or oysters.    

Pete Kaple is the man behind The Skiff Wanderer on Instagram and Youtube. He is an avid angler and budding filmmaker in Texas. In this episode we talk about how the first fish you catch is often the fish you chase for the rest of your life. We also discuss branching out to pursue other species, the skiff live in Alaska vs. the skiff life in Texas and considerations when building a brand. Also, the...

Caleb Jacques runs guided grizzly bear photography adventures in Katmai. In this episode we talk about his family lodge transitioning from a fishing lodge to a photography safari lodge. We discuss bear skills, photography skills and food cravings after being in rural country for extended periods of time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kayhi graduate and entrepreneur Isaiah Navales and I talk about lessons from commercial fishing, favorite ways to eat fish, the value in leaving home and coming back on your own terms, basketball memories and the strength of Alaskan communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ketchikan Mayor Dave Kiffer and I talk Southeast Alaska history from Parnassus Books in downtown Ketchikan. We start off with agriculture and gold rush then move to the great Region V basketball rivalries. If you want to know what life is like in Southeast Alaska, this is a quality glimpse. If you live here, it'll bring back memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode I expand on some of the things I wrote about in my blog post about being on the other end of an entrepreneur's quest to make money. I talk about what used to work on me and why it doesn't anymore. I talk about how Meateater's proliferation has made me lose interest in the brand even though I love the show, how brands exploit the enthusiasm of users and how something as simple...

T.K. Coleman is an entrepreneur with incredible insight about education, entrepreneurship and personal growth. In this episode we talk about developing professional skills, finding space in saturated markets, being a multi-dimensional thinker, how to approach the pursuit of lofty goals and unique opportunities after high school that don't involve college, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

In this episode I talk to the 2018 Ketchikan High School Valedictorian, Largim Zhuta, about leaving a small town on an island in Alaska, to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at Santa Clara University. We talk about what happens when you're surrounded by Valedictorians, paying for college, energy production and storage, and the difference between working on solutions for problems and working o...

Larry Jackson and I talk about winters in Ketchikan and custom home building from the wheelhouse in his custom home. Larry used repurposed wood from around town, rocks from local beaches along with other local inspiration to building his home. He and I talk about the dynamics of designing and building a home, as well as the stress of having a dock during a winter storm, especially a storm took out...

Erika Smith is known in the social media world as AlaskaOutDoorGirl. In this episode we talk about skiing, fishing, the dating scene in Alaska, coping with winter, growing your community and how long we'd last on Alone.    

To close out the year, I found two of the best from dozens of great episodes with great guests. In this episode Outdoor Life writer and Tundra Talk host Tyler Freel and I talk about grizzly bear hunting, processing black bear, archery, protecting public land and how some hunts never get old. This podcast was first released in April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To close out the year, I found two of the best from dozens of great episodes with great guests. In this episode I talk to fellow product of Prince of Wales, Melissa Castle, who took a bison in interior Alaska. We talk about her upbringing in Craig, the best parts of living in Anchorage and the details of her hunt. This episode was released in April. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...

Alaska Fly Fishing Goods owner Brad Elfers joins me to talk all things fly fishing in Alaska. We discuss fishing opportunities in Juneau, dissect the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, fishing with mouse patterns, steelhead flies, regionally effective flies and industry improvements in rods, reels and waders.    

In this episode Abby and I recap our top fishing, hunting and camping moments of the year. We also discuss making moves on mountain goats in the fog, rainbow trout on the Kenai, Wyoming mule deer, boat camping, hunting pressure, hunting strategies and home building. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tongass Talk co-host Adam Krick went from teacher in Alaska to big game guide in Alaska. In this episode we talk about if teaching is like guiding, similarities between hunting Alaska and hunting the Lower 48, how to hunt crowded areas, the benefits of being on the road system and plans for 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Holliday joins me to talk about finding public land to hang your stand back east. We also discuss outdoor entrepreneurs that sound like used-car salesmen, the value of authenticity and maintaining consistency when doing a podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode I recap lessons learned from my caribou, brown bear, elk, mule deer and blacktail deer hunts in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I talk to Geoff and Jessica Jans who own Ketchikan Ever Greens, a hydroponic farm in Ketchikan. We talk about how they got started, why they got started, the benefits of hydroponics and why real fresh garden greens are more healthy than greens picked early to be shipped "fresh". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices