Mushing

By First Paw Media | Mushing.comSports Wilderness

Mushing episodes

March 11 Day 4 Iditarod Coverage: Race Standings, Matt Hall Profile, and Expedition Class Discussion
In this Day 4 update of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, teams are settling into the strategic middle portion of the race as many mushers begin taking their mandatory 24-hour rests. Jessie Holmes earns the Alaska Air Transit Spirit of Iditarod Award for being the first musher to reach McGrath. day-4-iditarod
The episode also features an in-depth conversation with musher and biology teacher Jonathan Hayes from Maine. Hayes shares insights from his 30 years of dog mushing, including his participation in the Centennial Serum Run expedition and his work preserving the historic Seppala Siberian sled dog bloodlines. day-4-iditarod
The discussion dives into race strategy, including how mushers plan their run-rest schedules, how trail conditions influence decisions during long-distance races, and how the new Expedition Class may affect the future of the Iditarod. The episode also includes a musher profile of Matt Hall and a historical look back at the 1976 Iditarod race.
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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
51 min
March 10 Iditarod Day 3 Update: Jessie Holmes Leads, First Scratch Reported, and Tough Trail Conditions
In this Day 3 update from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, teams are pushing through challenging terrain across the Alaska Range as leaders approach the race’s early checkpoints. Jessie Holmes currently holds the lead while several mushers rest and prepare for their mandatory 24-hour breaks.
The episode covers the first scratch of the race after rookie musher Jaye Foucher suffered a crash that destroyed much of her sled and equipment near Rainy Pass. The discussion also highlights the impact of heavy snow and difficult trail conditions that are testing mushers, gear, and teams.
Listeners also learn about mandatory gear requirements, the historic checkpoint village of Takotna and its famous pies, and the story of Expedition Class musher Kjell Inge Røkke. The episode wraps with a look back at a memorable moment in Iditarod history and the ongoing evolution of sponsorship and merchandise in the race.
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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
29 min
March 09 Iditarod 54 Day One Update: Leaders Push Past Rainy Pass and Expedition Class Raises Questions
The 2026 Iditarod is officially underway, and the first 24 hours of racing are already shaping the early storylines. Defending champion Jessie Holmes leads the field near mile 188 as teams push through Finger Lake, the Steps, Rainy Pass, and the Gorge on their way toward Rohn. Early reports from the trail indicate strong winds reaching up to 50 miles per hour across the Alaska Range, creating challenging conditions for mushers and their dog teams.
Robert and Michele Forto break down the early race standings, discuss how tightly packed the field remains, and analyze the significance of the first major trail section. They also examine the debut of the new Iditarod Expedition Class, a program allowing non-competitive participants to experience the thousand-mile trail through a pay-to-participate model.
The conversation explores the financial realities facing the Iditarod, including new funding streams and sponsorship challenges. The hosts also profile rookie musher Richie Beattie and share a memorable moment from Iditarod history featuring Joe May’s record-setting 1980 victory.
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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
33 min
March 08 2026 Iditarod Willow Restart: Teams Hit the Trail, Trailgate Stories, and Early Race Strategy
The 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially began from the Willow Restart and the teams are now on the trail heading toward the Alaska Range. In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, Robert and Michele Forto report directly from Willow, Alaska, after spending the afternoon in the staging area speaking with mushers, handlers, and fans before the start of the race.
They share the atmosphere of the restart, including tailgate-style trail cooking for Paige Drobny’s team, conversations with sprint racers Bailey Vitello and Keaton Loebrich about sled design and race strategy, and an interview with rookie musher Jody Potts-Joseph from Eagle Village.
The episode also features insights from the new Expedition Class mushers discussing why they chose to attempt the race and what this category could mean for the future of long-distance dog mushing.
The show concludes with a musher profile of Wade Mars and a historical look back at Libby Riddles’ historic 1985 Iditarod victory during the new “Moment in Mushing History” segment.
With the first miles already behind the teams and early leaders emerging on the tracker, the race has officially begun, and the strategies for the first night on the trail are starting to take shape.
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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
35 min
March 08 The First Iditarod Race: Rod Perry’s Story from the Historic 1973 Trail
What was it really like to race in the very first Iditarod in 1973?
In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, host Robert Forto continues his conversation with Rod Perry, one of the original participants in the inaugural Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Rod shares firsthand stories from the historic race that helped shape Alaska’s most famous sporting event.
Rod describes the atmosphere at the start of the race, when only a small crowd gathered at Tudor Track in Anchorage, long before the Iditarod became a global phenomenon. He explains how mushers assembled their teams from whatever dogs they could find, often borrowing animals or pulling together mismatched teams with little training.
The discussion explores what it was like to race across Alaska in those early days. With few checkpoints, limited supplies, and almost no established infrastructure, mushers relied heavily on wilderness survival skills. Rod also recounts the story of his legendary lead dog, Fat Albert, and how that dog helped carry his team across the state.
The episode also explores how dramatically the race has evolved. Early mushers ran with patched gear, homemade sleds, and minimal nutrition for their dogs, while modern racers compete with specialized equipment, professional training programs, and elite canine athletes.
Rod concludes by describing the emotional moment of reaching Nome after nearly a month on the trail and reflecting on how the first Iditarod helped launch one of the world's most iconic endurance races.
If you are interested in the history of dog mushing, the origins of the Iditarod, or the stories of the pioneers who helped build the sport, this episode offers a rare look into one of the most important chapters in sled dog racing history.
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Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.
Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at [email protected]
Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram
You can contact us here: [email protected]

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
41 min
March 07 The 2026 Iditarod Begins: Ceremonial Start Recap from Anchorage
The 54th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is officially underway, and it all began with the ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage. In this episode of The Burled Arch, hosts Robert and Michele Forto recap the energy, excitement, and controlled chaos of race day as mushers and their teams lined up along 4th Avenue for the traditional start of Alaska’s most famous race.
Michele reports from the scene with interviews from handlers, fans, and even a few young future mushers while sharing what the crowd atmosphere looked like this year. The hosts also discuss the new Expedition Class, highlight a rookie musher to watch, and preview what fans can expect at the Willow restart as the race truly begins.
If you follow the Iditarod or love sled dog racing, this episode gives you an insider’s perspective on the traditions, personalities, and moments that make the ceremonial start such a special part of the race.
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Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.
Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at [email protected]
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You can contact us here: [email protected]

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
42 min
March 07 Stanley Robinson Wins the 2026 Junior Iditarod | Next Generation of Dog Mushing
In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, host Robert Forto speaks with 2026 Junior Iditarod Champion Stanley Robinson of Robinson Racing Kennel in Nenana, Alaska. Stanley discusses what it felt like to cross the finish line of his first Junior Iditarod victory and how his dogs performed in the cold conditions of the 150-mile race.
Stanley comes from a deep mushing family background, with his sister a four-time Junior Iditarod champion and his father an Iditarod veteran. During the conversation, he talks about growing up with sled dogs, running traplines with his team, and managing race dogs alongside traditional working sled dogs.
The episode also explores a remarkable adventure Stanley took with his family traveling from Nenana to Nome along the Iditarod Trail, giving listeners a firsthand look at life on Alaska’s historic mushing routes.
Listeners will hear about Stanley’s race strategy, his lead dog Vicky, and what the future may hold, including a possible run in the Iditarod in the coming years.
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Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.
Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at [email protected]
Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram
You can contact us here: [email protected]

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
31 min
March 06 Iditarod 54 Ceremonial Start Preview: Bib Draw, Top 5 Predictions, and Rookie of the Year Picks
The 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is about to begin, and the excitement is building across Alaska. In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, hosts Robert and Michele Forto preview the upcoming race with a deep look at the ceremonial start in Anchorage, the official restart in Willow, and the full bib draw and starting order for this year’s field of mushers. ceremonial-start
They also share their predictions for the race, including their top five contenders to reach Nome and their Rookie of the Year picks. With past champions like Jessie Holmes, Pete Kaiser, and Ryan Redington in the field, the 2026 race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years.
The episode also introduces a new segment, Memorable Moments in Mushing History, highlighting the story of the first Iditarod in 1973 and the incredible effort that launched the race into the global spotlight.
If you are planning to attend the ceremonial start in Anchorage or the restart in Willow, this episode also includes helpful information about parking, travel logistics, and what fans can expect on race weekend.
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Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.
Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.
Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at [email protected]
Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram
You can contact us here: [email protected]

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
38 min
March 05 Iditarod 54 Banquet, Insider Updates, and Smiles for Miles Initiative
The start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins long before the teams reach the trail. One of the most anticipated events of race week is the Iditarod Mushers Banquet, where fans, sponsors, and mushers gather in Anchorage for an evening that officially launches the Last Great Race on Earth.
In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, hosts Robert and Michele Forto take listeners inside this iconic event. The banquet features the famous bib drawing from a traditional mukluk, meet-and-greet opportunities with mushers, auctions that help support the race, and special tributes to important figures in Iditarod history.
The show also explores updates to the Iditarod Insider platform, including multi-camera livestreams, improved GPS tracking, fan chat features, and SMS alerts that allow followers around the world to stay connected to the race.
Finally, the hosts discuss the newly announced IditaHealth: Smiles for Miles program, a pediatric dental initiative that will bring preventative oral health care and education to children in rural checkpoint communities along the Iditarod Trail. The program highlights how the race continues to support Alaska’s trail communities beyond the competition itself.
Listeners will also hear about new features coming to this year’s Mushing Podcast coverage, including nightly race recaps, historical insights, rulebook discussions, and fan interaction throughout the race.
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Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!
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Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.
Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at [email protected]
Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram
You can contact us here: [email protected]

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
32 min
March 04Iditarod 54 | Kick Off Show
The countdown to the 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has begun, and the Burled Arch podcast returns for another season of nightly race coverage.
In this kickoff episode, hosts Robert and Michele Forto break down everything fans need to know before the ceremonial start. Broadcasting from Willow, Alaska, just miles from the official restart, the show dives into the field of 37 mushers, including defending champion Jessie Holmes, former champions Ryan Redington and Pete Kaiser, and a strong group of rookies entering the race.
The episode also explores a unique storyline this year: the introduction of expedition mushers, participants who travel the trail outside traditional competition while supporting charitable initiatives and contributing to the race purse.
You’ll also learn about the race format, checkpoints, trail conditions, nightly podcast coverage, listener participation, and new features for this year’s show as the team prepares to follow every mile of the nearly 1,000-mile journey to Nome.
If you want a front-row seat to the Last Great Race on Earth, this is where the trail begins.
In this episode:
Introduction to the 2026 Iditarod coverage on the Burled Arch
Race overview: 37 mushers, 14 rookies, and 3 past champions
Defending champion Jessie Holmes returns to defend his title
Late race entry by Pete Kaiser
Spotlight on promising rookie mushers
New expedition musher category and what it means for the race
Trail conditions across Alaska, including heavy snow on parts of the route
Details about the Iditarod banquet and ceremonial start
How listeners can participate with questions, voice messages, and trivia
What to expect from nightly race coverage through the finishers banquet

Support our Work
Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share
Sign up for our Newsletter HERE
Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.
Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.
Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at [email protected]
Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram
You can contact us here: [email protected]

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved
24 min