RADIO FREE KASLO host RG Morse zeroes in on Remembrance Day (or Veteran's Day for American listeners), and what it means to the girls and boys, men and women of tiny, isolated, Kaslo, British Columbia.  +A moving listening experience from the very heart of Alpine Nirvana.

On today's RADIO FREE KASLO, host RG Morse features the anti-vaccination scene in Trieste, Italy,  shares his opinion of current travel requirements between the US and Canada, puts a shout out for Kaslo's JV Humphries School's  drama program fundraiser, and plays tunes by the likes of Beethoven, Diana Krall, and Sean Rodman — enjoy!

It’s a proven fact that singing  is more fun when we are surrounded by friends, belting it out at the top of our lungs.

Maybe that doesn’t seem like a proven fact, but according to recent research, it actually is. Humans are wired for rhythmic togetherness — from choral singers to musicians, the science is coming in that we bond best when we are making music with each other. 

Why? 

Studies show that choral singing improves our mood, with a decrease in stress, depression and anxiety. These effects are often attributed to the deeper breathing associated with singing, that is also used in meditation. Thes ebenefits are enhanced in a group setting, compared to singing alone. Singing in a group offers us a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves. It helps us feel that we are needed by the larger community. In that light, choral singing programs are beginning to make big strides at senior centers, as a way to improve the quality of life for the older members of our society. 

Beyond these psychological effects, our physical health is also impacted for the better: lower blood pressure, increased blood oxygen saturation, elevated immunity, higher pain threshold, stronger respiratory muscles, and less stuttering. Music-making produces measurable changes in the brain!

People who live in rural communities instinctively get this. Music is woven into the fabric of everyday life from the hollers of Appalachia to the townships of South Africa. While the isolated mountain village of Kaslo is tiny (with a population of fewer than 1,000 souls) it boasts plenty of singers and musicians — and a mighty community choir — Kuimba!

On today's RADIO FREE KASLO, host RG Morse introduces listeners to some of Kuimba's repertoire, featuring choral arrangements of songs ranging from Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," to Thomas Morley's "Now Is the Gentle Season." Enjoy the podcast — then go grab someone, whether in-person or virtually — and sing!

Global warming, the pandemic, wrenching economic and demographic changes have all played havoc with the global ski industry. Against this backdrop, a new backcountry initiative is being proposed for the Goat Range, in British Columbia's Selkirk Mountains. 

The man behind the Zincton project,  Valhalla Pure founder David Harley, refers to his brainchild as "the Tesla of ski resorts," notes that it will be carbon-neutral from Day One, and will provide a much-needed economic boost to the nearby villages of New Denver and Kaslo.

Opponents argue that Zincton would impede crucial wildlife corridors, threaten already-stressed grizzlies and wolverines, and overwhelm existing infrastructure, particularly in New Denver. 

On today's RADIO FREE KASLO, host RG Morse shares an overview of the position of Zincton's advocates and detractors, courtesy of The Narwhal. He also tips his turban to a clever mountain rescue, reminds listeners that not everything on Facebook is vitriolic garbage, and spins a few lively tunes. Enjoy!

Is space "the final frontier"?


Are companies like Space X, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin laudable efforts to further humanity's future prospects? Or are they grotesque displays of massive personal wealth, being squandered by men determined to prove who has the biggest... rocketship?!

Wherever you come down on these questions, spurred by William Shatner (aka Captain James T. Kirk)'s recent space flight (at age 90), this is the subject of today's RADIO FREE KASLO.

Enjoy some inter-galactic radio, beamed to you from the space port in the heart of Alpine Nirvana!

Covid hangs heavily over the upcoming holiday season.  On this episode of RADIO FREE KASLO, host RG Morse debunks Ivermectin as a Covid cure, shares some of the concerns and recommendation of the president of the Canadian Medical Association regarding the pandemic and its impact on healthcare workers, and lets listeners know what British Columbia's Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, has to say about how to safely celebrate Thanksgiving this year.  Toss in some sweet tunes performed by KD Lang, Neil Young, Ian Tyson, and Mary Chapin Carpenter and you've got almost half an hour of informative, enjoyable public radio — straight from the very heart of Alpine Nirvana!

Stuck in the studio with a nasty case of Covid, Radio Free Kaslo host RG Morse plays selections from two of his all-time favourite Canadian albums — songs featuring insightful songwriting, spare arrangements, tunes oozing the sort of atmosphere found only north of the 49th parallel!

On this episode of Radio Free Kaslo, host RG Morse tackles issues ranging from bears in the 'hood to an upcoming "Kids Hike for Climate" — from the start of a new school year to the issue of vaccine passports. Toss in a few tunes and you have the makings of an informative and entertaining half-hour of thought-provoking public radio from the tiny village of Kaslo — aka "Alpine Nirvana." Enjoy!

Radio Free Kaslo host RG Morse refers to his neck of the planetary woods as "Alpine Nirvana" for good reason.

In this episode he takes listeners on an outing to climb Mt. Loki., a striking peaks in British Columbia's rugged Purcell Range.

At over 9.000' tall, Loki towers over all the surrounding peaks, It is to Kaslo what the Matterhorn is to Zermatt.

Whether you're a climber, a hiker, or simply an armchair adventurer, here's a an audio expedition you'll enjoy!

Kaslo (pop. 932) is a tiny mountain village. Argenta, 50 km north of Kaslo, tucked into a mountainside on the NE corner of massive Kootenay Lake boasts more like a hundred or so souls — a collection of colourful, creative, wildly independent characters.

Argenta punches way above its weight class when it comes to producing talented musicians. 

One of them, Tenise Marie, is featured in this episode of Radio Free Kaslo. Tenise chats with about her latest release, "Storm," while host RG Morse spins a few tunes from the album.