Patrick Yack, Alaska Public Media

Tuesday is Saint Patrick’s Day, and despite its rich history it’s known by most Americans as a day to drink lots of Irish whiskey and beer. To be fair, Saint Patrick got that reputation by giving Catholics a drinking pass during Lent. “And it provided a sort of nice mid-point break in lent where everyone could go crazy, and I think that’s probably the reason it’s turned into the colossal drinking holiday it is today.” That’s Andrew Schmitt, and he loves all things beer, including beer history. It so happens he also went to Catholic school. Schmitt says it's odd that Saint Patrick is deemed the drinking Saint, especially since there is literally a patron Saint of beer.

Drop by the Alaska Public Media studios at 3877 University Drive, Thursday, 5 to say thanks to APRN's Steve Heimel. We are hosting a special community get-together from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. The long-time Talk of Alaska host, and morning news producer and reporter is leaving Alaska Public Media after many years of dedicated service. Enjoy the fellowship and the many Steve Heimel stories that will be floating around. You won't want to miss it.

Shakespeare Uncovered continues with a second season on Alaska Public Media. Like the first series, the second installment of Shakespeare Uncovered combines history, biography, iconic performances, new analysis and the personal passions of its celebrated hosts – Hugh Bonneville, Kim Cattrall, Joseph Fiennes, Morgan Freeman, David Harewood, and Christopher Plummer – to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare’s greatest plays.

Healing the Warrior's Heart examines the emotional trauma of war through the prism of Native American tradition and ceremony. The program reveals the central role that military service plays in Native life and explores the spiritual traditions that help returning American Indian soldiers reintegrate into society.

EARTH A New Wild takes a fresh look at humankind’s relationship to the planet’s wildest places and most fascinating species. Dr. M. Sanjayan, a leading conservation scientist, takes viewers on a stunning visual journey to explore how humans are inextricably woven into every aspect of the planet’s natural systems.

FRONTLINE and ProPublica investigate the relationship between Firestone and the infamous Liberian warlord Charles Taylor. Based on the inside accounts of Americans who ran the company’s Liberia rubber plantation, and diplomatic cables and court documents, the investigation reveals how Firestone conducted business during the brutal Liberian civil war

Trace the evolution of Italian Americans from the late 19th century to today, with Tony Bennett, David Chase, John Turturro, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Gay Talese and more in February’s special series on Alaska Public Media, The Italian Americans.

Shakespeare Uncovered continues with a second season on PBS, beginning Friday, January 30 at 8:00 pm and continuing the following two successive Fridays. Episode one showcases Midsummer Night's Dream starring Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville.

Discover the true story of the most famous outlaw couple in US history. Though their exploits were romanticized, the Barrow gang was believed responsible for at least 13 murders, including two policemen, as well as robberies and kidnappings. Tuesday, January 19. 8:00 p.m.

This is the epic story of one of the most amazing evolutionary journeys ever taken by a species. Thousands of years ago, as humans began to settle in villages, the wolf emerged from the wild and made the startling leap to “man’s best friend.”

Based on real events, MERCY STREET takes viewers beyond the battlefield and into the lives of a distinctive cast of characters — doctors, nurses, contraband laborers and Southern loyalists — realizing the chaotic world of Union-occupied Alexandria, Virginia, and the Mansion House Hospital in the early years of the Civil War. Premieres Sunday, January 17 at 9:00 p.m.