Charles Wohlforth

KSKA: Wednesday, May 03 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. For a region with a relatively small population, south central Alaska has a lot of electric utilities and power plants, and that costs you extra money on your bills. On the Next Hometown Alaska, we'll host the heads of our Anchorage power utilities and a business leader to learn about rising power costs and new efforts to fix the problem. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Wednesday April 26 @ 2pm and 8pm. Strangely, the coming of spring and return of light in Alaska doesn't clear the darkness for some people. Suicide statistics get worse this time of year. On the next Hometown Alaska, we'll meet Alaskans who are trying to lift that darkness, and to help the rest learn to protect our friends and loved ones from the terrible mistake of suicide. LISTEN HERE

KSKA: Wednesday, March 22 @ 2 pm and 8 pm. Transportation helps make the city. On the next Hometown Alaska, we'll dream about how we could make our transportation system better to make a better Anchorage. Our guests will include a visiting transportation guru bringing new ideas, and a local transportation leader who knows our own situation. LISTEN NOW

Wednesday, March 08, at 2 and 8p.m. The state budget crisis is hitting public schools, with the loss of 99 teachers expected in Anchorage next year, even if there are no further cuts from the Alaska Legislature. On the next show, we will look at the current situation and how it could change. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Wednesday, March 1 at 2 pm and 8 p.m. Kathleen McCoy hosts two of the state's top economists, to examine the Alaska economy that's firmly in recession. Choices on the state budget deficit could make the recession worse or longer. The economists' work allows us to see how many jobs may be lost, how Alaska's population will change and what the new normal will look like. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Feb. 16, at 2:00 p.m. One of the biggest and best events of the Anchorage winter is a ski race that crosses the whole city, held the same weekend as the Iditarod start. It’s the Tour of Anchorage, and it’s coming up soon, with some of the nation’s best skiers and plenty of regular folks who just want to go the distance. LISTEN NOW

Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 2 and 8p.m. Anchorage health care costs are third highest in the nation. The only one's higher? Fairbanks and Juneau. We'll explore why medical costs are so high and growing so fast from the perspective of doctors. They are frustrated, too. We'll explore the causes they see and the solutions they'd be willing to try. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Feb. 9, at 2:00. Backcountry skiing comes in many varieties. On the next show, we’re looking at two extremes. On one end are the alpine daredevils who look for the hardest, steepest, most dangerous lines. On the other end are the touring skiers exploring our glorious mountain scenery by the most practical means available. These two ways of looking at skiing are for different personalities and different kinds of athletes with different goals, but Anchorage is prime for either option. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Jan. 05, at 2:00 p.m. Biking is year round now, including bike racing. It’s a phenomenon that started here in Alaska and now has spread over the world. Folks are fat bike racing all over the US and in Europe. On our next show, we’re checking in on competition in our region. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Dec. 22, at 2:00 p.m. The national parks and refuges we enjoy today as outdoors people weren’t always destined to be conserved for these purposes. After Alaska became a state, the map was open as to which lands would be owned by Alaska Natives, the state government, or private owners. On the next show, we’ll look back into history, to the 1970s, to find out how it happened, as some lovers of Alaska’s wild places sat down with maps and drew lines that became the largest single conservation action in world history, called ANILCA. LISTEN NOW

It's happening. Marijuana shops are opening all over Anchorage, many in close proximity to each other. We'll check in on this new industry and get a sense of what these businesses will be like to live with and patronize. How is Anchorage changing as marijuana goes mainstream, and can all these businesses really make it? LISTEN NOW

Events in the presidential campaign have caused many women to begin talking publicly about their experiences of sexual harassment. We'll welcome our listeners to share stories of harassment in their own lives, and we'll have guests to give advice on how to handle it when it happens to you. How can we make our community safe and respectful for all? KSKA: Wednesday, Oct 26, at 2 and 8PM LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Wednesday, September 28 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Health care cost more in Alaska than almost anywhere else in the United States and our costs are rising fastest of any state. We'll be joined by the director of the Alaska Division of Insurance and by a UAA economist, both experts in what ails our health care system, to discuss the problem and look for solutions. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, September 22, at 2:00p.m. and Thursday, September 29, at 8:00p.m. Alaska’s rivers are the best path to see the backcountry for non-motorized adventures, traveling in relative comfort and seeing the grandeur of Alaska. Still, cold moving water in remote areas can also be dangerous. Every summer, we hear stories of tragedies and of near misses on Alaska’s rivers and in this episode we'll tackle that topic head-on. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Sept. 08, at 2:00 p.m. The Yukon River, almost 2000 miles long, is a great place to explore in a canoe or raft. On our next show, we’ll be covering river floats from Whitehorse to Dawson City, down to Eagle, onward to Circle, and down to the Dalton Highway Bridge. We’ll also be learning about the Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve, an unusual national park unit that spans more than 100 miles of the river, with the nature and history that’s found there. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, September 01, at 2:00 and Thursday, September 08, at 8:00 p.m. Alaska may not be a huge farming state, but it is full of food, and not only for meat eaters. The woods and beaches are rich in edible plants and fungus that can be delicious and not difficult to find. As we’re going to learn on the next show, many of Alaska’s edible plants are extremely common and preparation is easy. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Aug. 18, at 2:00 p.m. Holly Brooks is one of Alaska’s favorite athletes because she was a regular person, an adult with a job, who became a member of the Olympic team - twice. We spend the entire next hour of Outdoor Explorer talking with Holly, learning about her recent retirement, and a new phase in her life as a counselor and coach. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, Aug. 11, at 2:00 p.m. Charles took a road trip-- or rather a ferry trip-- to Southeast Alaska last month, and while there recorded an edition of Outdoor Explorer on the town of Sitka. This historic community is the best place for an Alaskan to take a vacation without leaving Alaska because the boating and wildlife viewing are incredible. We’ll also get to hear about the area’s surfing scene and science education. LISTEN NOW

KSKA: Thursday, July 07, at 2:00 and Thursday, July 14, at 8:00 p.m. Charles Wohlforth

KSKA: Thursday, June 30, at 2:00 and Thursday, July 07, at 8:00 p.m. Something about human-power, pedals and wheels inspired inventors, and if you spend much time on Alaskan trails, you will see some odd contraptions rolling by. On the next Outdoor Explorer, I’m talking to guys who would like to convert you and everyone to recumbent bikes and unicycles. DOWNLOAD AUDIO