The Last Frontier Podcast

This episode begins a three part mini-series where we ask 49 questions split out among three episodes about the 49th state. Who better to answer than pod fan favorite Jared Fink who was born and raised in the bush of the Last Frontier. While most of us might be smarter than a 5th grader (debatable!), see how your Alaska knowledge compares with someone who had airplane engine oil on his wood stove every winter night as a kid. Why is...

On today's episode, we unpack one of the most influential yet misunderstood laws in America...the Jones Act. From shipping costs to national security, we reveal how the Jones Act came to be and its affects on Alaska and beyond. How does the Jones Act benefit Alaska mariners? Why are consumer prices higher due to the Jones Act? And how does the Jones Act keep those Russian spies away from Alaska?! It's the episode you&apos...

This episode drops on the darkest day of the year. And while most people visit Alaska in the summer months to view some of our incredible wildlife, we got to thinking about how these animals survive the winter months once the crowds leave. So join on today's episode as we delve into some incredible winter adaptations our animals of Alaska have that enable them to survive the cold, dark winters of the Last Frontier. What animal...

While your favorite Alaskan bald eagles are excellent fish catchers, hunting in Alaska is something we have yet to experience. For most folks in Alaska, hunting is more than just a sport, it's a way of life that helps keep the freezer full during the cold, dark winter. Join us on today's episode as we invite friend of the pod Greg Haas on the episode to chat about some of his hunting experiences up here in Alaska and how ...

Traditional Thanksgiving dishes have historically been hard to come by in the Last Frontier. And with plenty of the state not living on the road system, Thanksgiving meals often don't look like the ones many of us grew up with. Join us on today's episode as we take a look at several common Thanksgiving food items and discuss what their Alaskan counterpart might be. What could possibly replace a turkey? What type of pie wo...

For centuries, many explorers tempted fate to embark on a mission to find the fabled Northwest Passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans north above Canada and Alaska. We have eye witness testimony that the passage exists as Andrew has returned in one piece to tell his tale. Join us on a journey on today's episode as we highlight the historic significance of the Northwest Passage and delve into Andrew's recent jo...

We continue our Halloween tradition of blending the Last Frontier and Dungeons & Dragons universes. Every good D&D campaign has a good monster to combat and a clever dungeon to navigate. Join us on today's episode as we explore some Alaskan themed monsters and dungeons that would make great additions to the 6th edition of D&D. Why would a glacier make an excellent dungeon? What is the origin of the sled dog? And wh...

While difficult to see the stars during the summer months in the land of the midnight sun, winter stargazing is out of this world in the Last Frontier. Most places in Alaska have very little light pollution where it is easy to get away and enjoy the beautiful night sky. On today's episode, we discuss many of the constellations you can see in the Alaskan sky and some of the mythical stories behind them. How many constellations ...

From indigenous origins to animal migrations to World War II, Alaska and Japan have been linked in a variety of ways going back to early human migration. Andrew and friend of the pod Jared recently visited the great country of Japan and we spend today's episode discussing the commonalities between the country of Japan and the Last Frontier State of Alaska. What is the Kelp Highway Hypothesis? Where was the only land battle on ...

We have some pretty intelligent species up here in Alaska. One of our local researchers, Dan Olsen, has spent a considerable amount of time studying these animals with a specialty on the Killer Whale. Dan joins us on today's episode to delve into the topic of animal intelligence in the Last Frontier. What does a killer whale call sound like? How do things like environment, social structure, and migration affect intelligence? A...

Can you believe that many of the largest animals on the planet don't have teeth?! It's true! Many of our whales consume large amounts of food on a daily basis utilizing a system called filter feeding and on today's episode, we delve into that filter feeding behavior of several whales we see in the waters of the Last Frontier. What tool do humpback whales use? Why is the Alaskan summer an all you can eat buffet? And w...

Shipwreck episode today on the Last Frontier Podcast. A lesser known wreck due to other worldly events at the time, the SS Princess Sophia shipwreck of 1918 is known still as the deadliest shipwreck of the entire west coast of North America. Join us on today's episode as we explore what happened on this fateful final voyage. How did the crew try to use dead reckoning to find their location? What prevented the rescue boats from...

A mode of transportation 4,000 years in the making, the kayak is one of the oldest modes of transportation in the world. As former professional sea kayak guides, this vessel is near and dear to our hearts so please join us on today's episode as we discuss the origin of the kayak and talk through its design, construction, original purpose, and use in modern society. Why was kayak rolling essential for survival? When was kayakin...

While you can do a lot of things in Alaska you can find elsewhere, one fairly unique aspect of Alaska travel is the opportunity to get up close and personal with glacial ice. There is no other place in the country like it and very few places in the world have the breathtaking scenery that comes with adventuring around glaciers. On today's episode, we discuss six different ways to experience the ice when exploring the Last Fron...

Alaska is a great state to visit no matter your age or ability level. There are plenty of options for all including families that visit with young ones. It's not always a cheap flight to Alaska so it's not a bad idea to take advantage of the free lap infant flight for babies under the age of two, but what can you do with them once you are here? Fear not, your trusty bald eagles, one of whom has a one year old daughter him...

How do you write an introduction on one of the most iconic creatures on the planet? The killer whale, also known as the orca, is always a top the wishlist of animals Alaskan visitors hope to see. Join us on today's episode as we just scratch the surface on what makes these animals so special. How many names do they go by? What are the three ecotypes we see in Alaska? And is it terrifying when a marine mammal killer swims under...

Disclaimer: Some content in this episode may not be suitable for the younger listeners.

We finally did it! After five years, we got to check that Explicit Content box. It felt good. On today's program, we were thrilled to have three stand up comedians take a break from their Kenai Peninsula comedy tour and join us to chat about the comedy scene in the Last Frontier. They provide their insights into the comedy culture of Alaska,...

The summer season is finally upon us! How can you tell? Well, the sun is shining longer, animals are making their return, and tourists are entering the landscape. These are all telltale signs that summer is approaching. Join us on today's episode as we delve into some of the major harbingers of the Alaska summer season. Which birds have a claim to the longest migration on the planet? Why do humpback whales leave their warm Haw...

This episode drops when many seasonal employees are beginning their Alaskan summer experience. We had a request from someone coming up for the summer to record an episode providing top tips and advice for people embarking to the Last Frontier for summer employment. Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of the seasonal lifestyle and share how our own experiences shaped us into the beautiful bald eagles we are today. Do you need muc...