Mayor Ward sits down with local historian Joan Skilbred to discuss the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic and its impact on Fairbanks, as well as its devastation of a nearby town's population. Nearly 100 years later, many striking comparisons can be made to the COVID-19 pandemic that came onto the world scene in late 2019. Among other things, Joan is a board member with the Pioneer Museum and has a fascination with the history of Fairbanks.

Mayor Ward sits down with Linda Setterberg about helping community members dealing with addiction, mental & behavioral health crises, and life after incarceration. Linda is the Operations Director for The Bridge, a non-profit organization based in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Bridge serves Interior Alaska by providing peer support, reentry case management, supported employment services and outreach to encampments in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Local artist Justin Karella joins Mayor Ward to talk about how he became a master carver (he began with a nail file and a stick), and now has an art gallery at Pioneer Park where he creates one-of-a-kind Fairbanks-inspired artwork for visitors to enjoy. Justin also tells the story of how he taught himself to read, how he auditioned for college by performing Shakespeare, and how he even toured the country with a professional jousting team.

Filmed from the historic Wickersham House at Pioneer Park, Steve Mitchell joins Mayor Ward to discuss the legendary Judge James Wickersham: federal district judge his life and work in Interior Alaska.

Mayor Bryce Ward chats with train conductor Brian Forrest about how the Tanana Valley Railroad influenced travel to and from Fairbanks, and its influence on the gold rush of the early 20th century. Brian is treasurer of the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad and volunteers his time at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Pioneer Park.

In the first episode of the Alaskaland Podcast, Mayor Bryce Ward sits down with Pioneer Park Manager Donnie Hayes to talk about the origins of one of Fairbanks' most beloved parks. What started as a "mid-century barnraising" for the centennial celebration of Alaska's purchase from Russia became a historical landmark, popular tourist destination, and community point of pride. Mayor Ward and Donnie also talk about the future of the park and the Master Plan and process currently ongoing at the Fairbanks North Star Borough.