Programs

Iditarod teams are contending with warm weather in the thousand-mile race, many choosing to run in the cool of night as much as possible. We'll talk about that in this episode, plus a little about what other sports some mushers have participated in outside of mushing. We have another Dog of the Day -- this time, a trusty leader named JoAnna and, as always, a listener question.

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Denali and the Himalaya have attracted mountaineers since the early 1900s. Many climbers, including Alaskans, got their start on Denali's bitterly cold and windy slopes, then moved on to the Himalaya. This show features Steve Mock with the Denali Rescue Volunteers, the Alex Lowe Foundation, and the Khumbu Climbing Center.

Iditarod mushers took their sled dog teams on an untimed, celebratory fun run from downtown Anchorage on the city’s trails, with hundreds of fans cheering along the way. We hear from mushers and fans – maybe the pitter patter of little dog feet – as well as a joyful bride, a grumpy bear, a curious moose (or three), a former Miss Alaska and her mom, who had a fox on her head, and more!

Reigning Iditarod champ Brent Sass talks about his hectic life in the tiny town of Eureka, his newfound confidence and his mushing philosophy.

There’s only one place you will find JT West on Monday nights—in the ring. Or, more specifically, in a warehouse, turned pro wrestling gym that represents two decades worth of dreams. Once a pro himself, the Arkansas-born West fell in love with the flamboyant sport as a child. But he wasn’t alone. Pro wrestling, the perfect anecdote to the blue-collar lifestyle of its fan base, exploded in popularity in the 70s. 50 years later, the 907 Pro Wrestling Academy emerged in Alaska and amid bruises and broken bones, the school is changing lives for the better.

Iditarod mushers took their sled dog teams on an untimed, celebratory fun run from downtown Anchorage on the city’s trails, with hundreds of fans cheering along the way. We hear from mushers and fans – maybe the pitter patter of little dog feet – as well as a joyful bride, a grumpy bear, a curious moose (or three), a former Miss Alaska and her mom, who had a fox on her head, and more!

A new bill in the legislature aims to bring back a pension system for public employees. On Kodiak Island, a village fights to keep its hydropower system running. Plus, from trail conditions to this year's lineup, everything you need to know for the Iditarod.

That's right, it's Iditarod time, and we're back with another season of Iditapod. In the first episode of our seventh season, host Casey Grove and trail reporters Lex Treinen and Ben Matheson discuss the smallest field in race history and how a quarter of the mushers in the 2023 Iditarod are rookies. We also recap last year's race, talk about the legacy of the late four-time champion Lance Mackey and we even have a Dog of the Day, a spunky little leader named Dusty.

This week on State of Art we're learning about Anchorage Opera's upcoming production of "Missing" and its U.S. premier. The plot centers around the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls and was written by First Nations playwright Marie Clements and Juno award-winning composer Brian Current. The story follows Native Girl, who was murdered and discarded by the roadside, and Ava, a white woman who discovers the girl's body and sets out on a path to find greater empathy and understanding. We're joined by Melody Courage, who plays Native Girl, and Kate Bass, who plays Ava, to find out more.

DNA evidence leads to a suspect in a decades old sexual assault case. Also, what's keeping mushers from entering the Iditarod? (Some say it's economics). And the Anchorage Fire Department assists with the unusual rescue of a sled dog from an ice floe.

Alaska Native leaders rally in DC to support the Willow project. The VA secretary speaks to veterans in Bethel. Plus, get to know the rookie mushers in this year's Iditarod.

The Anchorage Assembly says it's not ready to approve a settlement over a project it never approved. Concentrations of dangerous forever chemicals are higher than previously thought in some Anchorage and Fairbanks lakes. Plus, eyes are on the winner of last year's Iditarod as teams gear up for this year's race.

Lawsuits challenging tribal sovereignty at both the state and federal level could have big implications for the future ability of tribes to exercise authority over tribal citizens and land. The state is suing over a land into trust application and The U.S. Supreme court is reviewing challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA that claim the law is discriminatory. What could these decisions mean for the future of tribal autonomy? We’ll discuss it on this Talk of Alaska.

Sen. Dan Sullivan says the U.S. isn’t sending weapons to Ukraine fast enough and the Anchorage Assembly considers offering parental leave to city employees.

Fur Rondy is upon us again and the Anchorage festival will have plenty of events for Alaskans to choose from. One of the longstanding traditions of the celebration is the Fur Rondy Melodrama. On this week's Hometown Alaska we'll take a look behind the scenes of this year's performance and what it means to be melodramatic.

A look at search and rescue needs as shipping traffic increases in the Arctic. Debate over a Board of Fisheries proposal that could limit a Gulf of Alaska salmon fishery. Plus the life of Elizabeth Kudrin, the great survivor.

This week on State of Art we hear from Matthew Burtner. He’s a composer, musician and sound artist who blends the arts and sciences into works meant to deepen our understanding and connection to the natural world. He is currently an artist in residence at the Anchorage Museum and his most recent album is called “Icefield.” We discuss his unique creative methods, "ecoacoustics" and more.

As the world’s glaciers retreat, so does the outlook for the Alaska tourism sector. But the pace of that retreat is still in human hands.

Congresswoman Mary Peltola made history in 2022 when she won both a special and regular election for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House.