The Big Alaska Show

The Iditarod commemorates the 1925 Serum Run that saved Nome from an outbreak of diphtheria. Author/Historian/Humorist, Steve Levy, gives us a lesson in history - and makes it fun!  Visit the Big Alaska Show Book Review Section and check out Steve Levy's book about the Gold Rush: https://shorturl.at/9lmoL Teacher on the Trail! The Iditarod Education Outreach is something we champion. The 2019...

Iditarod Teachers on the Trail!  The Iditarod Teacher on the Trail is an excellent educational outreach program featuring educators using the Iditarod in their classroom lessons https://iditarod.com/edu/ . Last year during the TOT 25th Anniversary, some former Teacher's on the Trail joined us. Some of those educators were back for this year's TOT and we had to a chance to catch...

The First Iditarod 1973 Rod Perry was in the first Iditarod in 1973 and shares his account of a very different time! Talk about history, check out our Tall Alaska Tale about Norman Vaughn! The 2nd Annual Fur Trapper Crapper Award! [Lord Trapper Bob, Mike Ford, Beth Helgeson] The outhouse race team that comes in last at the Rondy Outhouse receives the highly coveted Big Alaska Show Fur Trapper...

No snow means a change of plans for the Fur Rondy and the Iditarod. One thing hasn't changed - FUN!  Mike Ford updates us on the revised World Championship Dog Sled Races. We look back at last year's recipient of the Fur Trapper Crapper Award outhouse last place team. And former Tacher on the Trail, Julie Westrich, joins us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fur Rondy Fun! April Powers, Beth Helgeson and Trill Gates join us to talk about the Fur Rondy and get us ready for an action-packed 2025 Rondy! Get your Rondy Guide at www.furrondy.net .  Plus, we have Big Alaska Show Guest Tourists from Minnesota and North Dakota sample and review our Big Alaska Show Blend coffee and then play a Tall Alaska Tale! Big Alaska Show Blend Taste Test! Our Big Al...

Catching up with Lolo Paige and Stan Jones is always a hoot! Today we hear about their upcoming works to add to their books on our Book Review Section. Lolo pens wildfire romance novels and whimsical sidetracks like Cupid's Kerfuffle. Stan writes a series of Nathan Active mysteries and today shares a peek into his upcoming Slab City project. Check out our fun podcast! Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Denali translates to "The Great One". Today's show features two books and their authors with Denali as their subject. Former editor of Alaska Magazine, Andy Hall, talks about his book, Denali's Howl: The Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America's Wildest Peak . Then, Mike Gordon talks about his book, Learning the Ropes: An Alaskan Memoir.    We even have two Tall Alaska Tales in today's sh...

Whew! What a packed show! The Polar Bear Jump Off Awards Ceremony with a live audience! Anchorage Folk Festival headliner, AJ Lee and Blue Summit! Alex the Roaster! Happy Birthday tribute to Alaska's Travel Guru, Scott McMurren! PLUS - we did our show live and the wheels came off! Listen to the full podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AJ Lee & Blue Summit headline the Anchorage Folk Festival. If you like bluegrass, tight harmonies and smokin' hot pickin' - don't miss their performance! Btw, the Anchorage Folk Festival is packed with local music acts. Check out these links to the festival and a taste of AJ Lee & Blue Summit! Plus, hear my interview with AJ Lee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Co-host, Mike Ford, and I get to celebrate going into our 19th season and looking back at just a fraction of the amazing and fun people we've met along the way. And it all started in a liquor closet at the Breeze Inn because there was no electrical outlet for our equipment! We were rushed into a liquor room with a landline, cases of scotch stacked for chairs for our guests, made it on time an...

Dan Sullivan was twice Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska and my close friend since we were 14 years old. He also comes from a lineage that over the generations have served in Alaskan politics and community service. Stories abound! Admittedly, this show was more for my enjoyment! Check out our fun podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This fun interview from June 2016 features Alaska aviation legend, Chuck Sassara, and his book, Chuck Sassara's Alaska: Propellers, Politics and People. Former editor of Alaska Magazine, Andy Hall., joins in. Plus, Chuck told two Tall Alaska Tales. Hint: Elizabeth Taylor and Howard Hughes! Listen to the podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Make this part of your Christmas repertoire! Every Christmas we air this classic! Producer of Merry Christmas From Alaska  series, Kurt Riemann features local Alaskan musicians performing Christmas music. Kurt also takes us behind the scenes giving us insight into the performances and the artists. Check out our podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perry Alexander returns to update us on the recovery of Asheville, NC from Hurricane Helene. Our science guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, joins in with insights and how they apply to us here in Alaska.  Check out these before and after photos: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/03/weather/hurricane-helene-north-carolina-before-after-images-climate/index.html Water Treatment System returns to UNC Ashevil...

Annette Vrolyk with the American Cancer Society and broadcast veteran, John Thiompson, join us to talk about the 40th Anniversary for the Polar Bear Jump Off in Seward. John and Uncle Steve will be MC-ing the January 18th event. Plus, we talked about John's broadcast career and even have a Tall Alaska Tale! Check out our fun podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

Alaska's BIG on our veterans! So big, we believe Veteran's Day deserves an encore! Veteran Jessy Lakin shares a slice of his military experience and now helps veterans through Alaska Warrior Partnership. Check out the full podcast! Board member and sound engineer, Lucy Peckham, fills us in on the 36th Anniversary Anchorage Folk Festival, including headline acts, AJ Lee & Blue Summit and Corey...

Meet Dr. Kevin Paisley, an award winning orthopedic surgeon who performed shoulder surgery on Mike Ford's wife. Mike was so impressed with the personal care before, during and after, we had to have him on! Got shoulder pain? Visit Dr. Kevin Paisley at www.akshoulder.com ! Check this fun podcast out!   Commercial Fishing Chatter Rick Rydell Green, Commissioner of Commercial Fisheries...

Our guests, Perry Alexander and Dr. Gordon Snyder, don't live in Alaska, but their impact has been seen and heard in Alaska. Perry helps us with commercials, videos and other production works. Gordon is our Science Guy and covers all sorts of science about animals, wetlands and our environment. Perry lives just outside Asheville, NC that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene. Perry and Gord...

Our Deadliest Catch Myth Buster, Mike Ferris, joins us to catch up on his commercial fishing exploits. Mike covers some of the finer tricks of the trade that only an over 3 decades old commercial fisher skipper would know. Plus, a special birthday tribute and a Tall Alaska Tale! Check out our fun podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder and the creative driving force behind Pipeline Vocal Project, Lisa Hawkins, joins us to share this trio's inspirational, fun journey in the contemporary a cappella scene.  To follow PVP visit www.pipelinevocalproject.com . Check out this fun podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Once again our Alaska Biker Women join us to share stories and laughs of their riding season and other activities. Not only do they ride for fun, they ride to raise money and awareness.  [pic of pink bike] As you'll hear in this fun podcast, they do so much for their community! A big shoutout to ABATE (Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education- visit www.learntoridealaska.com...

Longtime hunting and fishing enthusiasts, Matt, Rusty and Kay Hayes joined us for a fun hour of outdoor adventure laughs and a hair raising bear encounter that was anything but funny at the time! Check out our fun podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alaska commercial fishing is dangerous! Mike Ferris and son, Curtis Ferris, talk about this year's commercial fishing season! Boat problems and life threatening close calls make for a spirited interview with this crew! I'm a rookie who's been seasick once - that was enough!  Check out our podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lies, lies and more lies! Co-host, Mike Ford, and I tell Tall Alaska Tales as we prepare for our Big Alaska Show Tall Alaska Tale Off. That's where you tell the tale - we're bored with ours! And here's a little spoiler alert ... we'll have prizes! (That we're still eligible to win!) Plus, we threw in a clip from the week before with Chad Carpenter, hence this week our sign was given priority!...

Tundra Comics ( www.tundracomics.com ) creator, Chad Carpenter, joins us to remind us he will be at the Alaska State Fair in his little booth selling his wonderful cartoon wares. We ignored those and went right for the toilet humor! Race to the Outhouse - the board game that becomes a reality series the older you get! Chad's career is closing in on 35 years and going strong - and we're laughing wi...