The Last Frontier Podcast

Each state has a collection of symbols that help that state stand out in uniqueness amongst its peers. Alaska is no exception and one might argue that the difference in location, climate and history of the last frontier sets it even more apart than the rest. On today's episode, your hosts delve into the state symbols of Alaska, what they are and the historical context to why they were selected. How did we get this podcast name? What bug bested the mosquito to become Alaska's state insect? And why is the bald eagle good enough for America, but not for Alaska?! It's the episode you'll nominate us for Alaska state podcast!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Leche Robusta Horchata Stout by Midnight Sun Brewing Company [https://midnightsunbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

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Sea otters are a fan favorite of guests visiting Alaska and so we decided to use this beautiful furry creature for our 2nd ever wildlife spotlight episode. Known as the smallest marine mammal we have in Alaska along with being the only marine mammal that does not have blubber to keep itself warm, the sea otter is unique is so many fascinating ways. Join us as we take a deep dive into what makes the sea otter so special. How do sea otters use tools? Should we start reviewing wine on this podcast? And how much would it cost to take a sea otter out to dinner? It's the episode that will have you craving free crab legs!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: WOW! Real Fruit: Peach Smoothie-Style Sour by Black Spruce Brewing Company [https://www.blacksprucebeer.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Alaska has a wide variety of wildlife you don't find many other places in the world. Animal encounters are something any smart adventurer considers when entering the Alaskan wilderness. But how frequent and deadly are animal attacks in the Last Frontier? For this episode, we were very excited to invite on Jeremy Carberry, host of The Teeth podcast in which he interviews survivors of wild animal attacks on each episode, to discuss the topic of animal attacks in the state of Alaska. Where does Alaska rank among the states in animal attack fatalities? What animal should you worry about the most in Alaska? And will we still have a sponsor after this episode's ad read? It's the episode you'll listen to while carrying your bear spray!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: TK-421 Imperial Stout by Seward Brewing Company [https://www.sewardbrewery.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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There is no better way to experience the Alaska wilderness than from the seat of a sea kayak. Clearly, as professional sea kayak guides, we are biased in that opinion, but that doesn't make it untrue. On today's episode, we go in depth on the subject of sea kayaking, its origin and resources available to you the listener if you have any desire to jump in the cockpit of one yourself. We invite friend of the pod Russ on the episode who just took a sea kayak instructor course through the American Canoe Association to share some of his insights as well. How old is the sea kayak? What should you know before you go? And what incredible encounters might you experience if you jump on board? It's the episode that will make you question your career choice!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Mocha Porter by Valdez Brewing [https://valdezbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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A huge landslide occurred just south of Seward, Alaska on May 7, 2022 isolating the small town of Lowell Point which lies at the end of the road system. Unfortunately for your podcast hosts, we both live in that community and were cut off from the rest of Alaska via road access for roughly a month. With all that time in isolation, we thought it would be a good idea to do a deeper dive into the topic of landslides, what causes them and share some examples of prominent landslides that have occurred here in the state of Alaska. How many modes of transportation does it take to get to work? What can cause a 1,700 foot tsunami wave? And where might the next big one take place? It's the episode you'll slide down the mountain for!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Island Ale by Alaskan Brewing Company [https://www.alaskanbeer.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Back to back milestone episodes provides the perfect opportunity to have our 3rd annual State of the Cove address as we bring back the owner of Sunny Cove Kayaking and main sponsor of our podcast Stephanie Millane. Always with a finger on the pulse of Alaska tourism, this is a great episode to hear about the impact the current epidemic has had on Alaska tourism and what is in store locally at Sunny Cove in Stephanie's third year as owner. What recent natural disaster is affecting the summer tourism season? How can you paddle for a purpose? And why is CARES a much better acronym than RACES? It's the episode you'll stand up and applause for!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Nitro Chaga Stout by Denali Brewing Company [https://denalibrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Alaska entered the United States as its 49th state and so we are excited to hit this milestone as we release our 49th episode. For today's episode, your hosts go rapid fire and touch on 49 unique and interesting facts about the Last Frontier state while enjoying a beer from 49th State Brewing Company. Why was the purchase of Alaska so unpopular? What would Manhattan Island look like if it had the population density of Alaska? And how easy is it to type Alaska on a keyboard? It's the milestone episode you don't need to wait till 50 for!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Seward's Folly by 49th State Brewing Company [https://www.49statebrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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There is something quite fascinating in thinking about the great extinct animals of yesteryear. Alaska is special in that it contains some of the most epic wildlife this world has to offer, but go back 20,000 years and what we have today dwarfs in comparison to the giant critters of the last ice age. In today's episode, your hosts delve into the height of the Pleistocene ice age, the critters that roamed the last frontier during that era and how they got there. Why did most of these animals go extinct? How did giant grasslands exist in Alaska during an ice age? And were the Detroit Lions the first lions in America? It's the episode you'll want to clone a woolly mammoth after!  

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Imperial Blonde by Glacier Brewhouse Brewery [https://www.glacierbrewhouse.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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Mount Rushmore was established as a way to commemorate four US presidents who represented the birth, growth, development and preservation of the United States. With Alaska being a late addition to the union and having its own very unique history, your hosts converse on who would be on their Mount Rushmore of Alaska. On today's episode, learn who stands out for Andrew and Danny in Alaskan history as they share their Mount Rushmore of Alaska and what stood about them to earn such a distinction. With only four spots, who makes the final cut? Can you put a non-human on the list? And if you go to Mount Rushmore, but the faces are covered with clouds, were you actually there? It's the episode you'll want to carve out some time for!  

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Irish Stout by King Street Brewing Company [http://www.kingstreetbrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

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The secret is out on Alaska and last year was the biggest summer tourism season on record and it doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. With the increase in the number of visitors, it can be harder to get away from the crowds in some of the more popular areas of the state to visit. However, Alaska is rich with remote lodges that can get you that rich wilderness experience away from the hustle and bustle of tourism traffic. So for our first episode back in Alaska, we invited friends of the pod Arther and Jen Kampmann back on the podcast to talk about their experiences over the past several years working for multiple remote lodges and the pros/cons of not only being a guest at one of these locations, but also an employee. What are the best ways to see this beautiful state? Why are some bald eagles blonde in color? And why the heck is it so cold out?! It's the episode you may need a float plane to access!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Blonde Eagle Ale by 49th State Brewing Company [https://www.49statebrewing.com]

Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]

Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

Support the show