The Big Alaska Show

Our guest, author Lois Simenson, shares exciting news about her latest romance novel, Montana Smoke (https://shorturl.at/sV36d) and The Butte Girls' Club (https://shorturl.at/9ylth) , a coming-of-age story about four besties growing up together in the copper mining town of Butte, Montana during the 60s. Kennedy, the Beatles, Russia, the moon landing and frothy Butte Beer, Lois skillfully brings this tale to life as if we're in the Club! You'll find her books and podcasts on our Big Alaska Show Review section!Check out today's fun show podcast!

Natalie Gelman: Mountain Mama TourSong writer, performer, Natalie Gelman, joins us to talk about her Alaska Mountain Mama Tour.Joining Natalie is Josh Fryfogle and Larry Hansen with Make-A-Scene Media promoting the Mountain Mama Tour. Natalie's resume is an impressive montage where experience exceeds her age! Opening for Bon Jovi, performing on stage with well-known pop artists, studying violin and voice from a young age on, performing as an opera soloist at Carnegie Hall, busking in gritty subways of NYC, winning a song writing contest to win a duet with Jean Wyclef, producing albums, and touring around the world including Alaska. That's just the tip of the iceberg!Fun interview!Potter Marsh Conflict!Potter Marsh Refuge Host, John Mattox, reports a Sandhill Crane and Blue wing swallow clash. Spoiler alert: the Sandhill Crane won! Always fun with John to hear about our favorite wetland retreat, Potter Marsh.

Today's show features Alaskans having made a BIG difference to enrich the lives of others. Willie Hensley, an author, state legislator and Alaskan native leader, talks to us about his book:Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People. We remember Gary Olson, founder of the Alaska Moose Federation, to protect people and moose from accidents and dangerous encounters, plus to grow the moose population. His innovative Orphaned Calf Restoration Program took orphan calves, cared for them, and released them into rural areas where the moose population was thin.

We've covered the World Championship Dog Sled Races, the Iditarod and now we're adding another canine-centric competition - flyball! We visited the 20th Anniversary Summer Solstice Flyball Tournament at the Alaska State Fairgrounds. There, we met flyball team members to fill us in.Btw, big thank you to Alaska Dogs Gone Wild (https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaDogsGoneWild) for hosting the event. As co-host, Mike Ford, and I say, "It's more fun to go to someone else's party!"Joining us: Glacier Shakers (https://www.facebook.com/GlacierShakersFlyballClub) founder, Holly Evans, from Washington Engage Flyball Club's founders, Joy Adiletta and Tami Linnerud, AND, from DFW, Cindy Dalton and Mike Borts with the Break Through Flyball Club (https://www.facebook.com/BreakThroughFlyball). Check out our fun, informative flyball podcast. 

What better way to celebrate Father's Day and Solstice (longest day)!Matt Hayes, his dad, Rusty, and mother, Nana, join us! With backgrounds in hunting, fishing and guiding, they have some of the best stories - especially bear encounters!Plus, we honor dads with fun stories, some corny dad jokes and a Father's Day Tall Alaska Tale.

The Arts and Sciences converge on today's show.We caught up with Audubon Alaska's Communications Manager, Lauren Cusimano, at Discovery Day at Potter Marsh talking birds and wetlands. We asked our Science Guy, Dr. Gordon Snyder, to reflect on Lauren's observations and his thoughts about the slow turnout of wildlife so far. To sharpen his music chops, Director of the Anchorage Midnight Sons Chorus, Phil Cheasbro, attends Harmony College Northwest at the U of Puget Sound (https://harmonycollege.net/). Executive Vice President of the Evergreen District Barbershop Harmony Society, Duncan Gilman, fills us in and what takes place there. We even had a Tall Alaska Tale for Duncan!

Like aviators of the past, we ventured into the unknown! We record a segment of our show with an audience! The Midnight Sons Chorus was our house band, audience, did our show opening and commercials. Plus, closed with the Alaska Flag Song. Pure chaos - it was perfect!Time stampWe rounded the show out with interviews with author, Bob Bell, about his three books: Oh No! We're Gonna Die!, Oh No! We're Gonna Die Too! And Outdoor Stupid From Around the World. Found in our Big Alaska Show Book Review Section.https://www.bigalaskashow.com/book-reviews/bob-bell-3-books-review?rq=Bob%20Bell

Aviation built Alaska. Author, Steve Levi, joins us to talk about his book, Cowboys of the Sky: The Story of Alaska's Bush Pilots.Steve's entertaining approach to aviation history makes us forget just how crazy and dangerous it was!Check out the fun podcast!