I Went to the Woods

Atlas bar founder James Oliver talks about the motivation behind making a high‑protein, low‑sugar bar with real ingredients, grassroots sales at gyms, a 100‑mile running challenge eating only Atlas bars, and the importance of honesty when marketing. We also discuss the current state of metabolic health in America, craving challenges and information. 

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

Anna Sakawsky is the host of The Coop and editor of Homestead Living Magazine. In this episode she shares her journey from city life, practical tips for gardens, infrastructure, chickens, pest management, and cost-saving strategies.

We also cover food preservation (canning, fermenting, freeze-drying), dealing with failures, choosing starter animals, and what readers can expect from Homestead Living magazine and the podcast.

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

In this episode Kevin Fraley talks about chasing brightly colored “pumpkin” Arctic char above the Arctic Circle. We also discuss his contaminant research along the Dalton Highway, concerns about the proposed Ambler Road, the rollback of the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan, and related impacts on fish, caribou, and local subsistence.

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:


Sagebrush Dry (Alaskan-owned business that sells the best dry bags you can buy.)


Alpine Fit (Premium outdoor layering from another Alaskan-owned business.)


Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Udo Cassee is the owner of Sheldon Air Service in Talkeetna. In this episode we discuss year-round operations including flightseeing tours, ski-plane glacier landings, transporting Denali climbers, bear-viewing trips, and air taxi services. Udo explains his small-group approach, aircraft types (Cessna 185 and radial Beaver), and the legacy of Don Sheldon.

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

Jack Westerheide discusses his path from marketing and consulting to building Scout, a platform for collecting authentic stories and research about hunting and fishing. We also discuss how social media, influencers, and AI reshape trust, gear reviews, industry dynamics, and why capturing real traditions and consumer insights matters for the future of the outdoors.

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

Alaska Wild Project's Daniel Buitrago recounts his brutal moose hunt that featured rain, flooded rivers, broken winches and bridge building. We also discuss plans for an upcoming bison float hunt, filming a feature for Alaska Wild Project, and community events and meetups for the hunting season.

Harrison Gottschling is back to recap his week-long backpack sheep hunt with his 10-year-old son. We discuss managing expectations, the lows of weathered-in tent days, gear choices, and parenting on the trail. 

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

Abby and I recap our blacktail deer season, my recent moose hunt and gear we have liked. 

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

In this episode Lou Tamposi and I discuss Substack, intentional eating, home-cooking tips, farmed seafood, buying directly from small farms, hunting and processing venison, simple recipes and balancing family life, fitness, and food choices. Lou's Substack is Cow-we-doin'. 

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors:

Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood discusses the history and impact of the Roadless Rule, the Tongass National Forest, and how roads and logging affect salmon habitat in Southeast Alaska. We talk about the rule’s origins, lessons learned over 25 years, the need for balanced local economies and recreation, and how collaborative restoration and thoughtful management can protect fish, communities, and sustainable timber uses.

Check out the On Step Alaska website or subscribe on Substack for articles, features and all things Alaska.

Thanks to the sponsors: