The Last Frontier Podcast

Our schools of red and silver salmon fared quite well in Part One of our two part mini D&D series chronicling the life cycle of a salmon. But that's all about to change. The most treacherous part of our journey, the swim upstream, is not for the faint of heart. Join us as we brave the return waters of our natal stream. How many salmon can a brown bear eat? What percentage of salmon make it back home to spawn? And how does the poop cloud fare against an ancient white dragon?! It's the episode that's been universally heralded as a critical hit!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Treat by Midnight Sun Brewing Company

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

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Last Halloween, we introduced another nerd component from our lives to this podcast with our first annual Halloween themed Dungeons & Dragons episode. And while last year was fun in discussing the intersects between Alaska and the fantasmic realms, on today's episode we get out our dice set and play. Join us on this two-part adventure where we play out the life cycle of a school of salmon to see how many, if any, of our redd will survive long enough to spawn. Can fantasy salmon talk? Is it okay for red and silver salmon to mingle? And how effective is a poop cloud as a defense strategy against a harbor seal?! It's the episode you'll listen to in a bourbon barrel!

(There is a slight muffle sound at the beginning of the episode. Apologies for the sound quality. It is gone by the 15 minute mark.)

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Bourbon Blend Reginald Van Horn Barrel Aged Barleywine by Black Spruce Brewing Company

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

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Coming to Alaska for the first time can be a jaw dropping experience. Huge snow capped mountains that shoot straight into the ocean, giant brown bears in front of a waterfall snatching up salmon as they travel upstream, or a dozen humpback whales surfacing at the same time feeding on a school of herring. It's always fun to witness that experience for a traveler, but what about the opposite perspective? On today's episode, friend of the pod Jared joins the program to discuss his experiences growing up in the state of Alaska and the stand out moments of his life when he traveled outside the state. What wildlife outside of Alaska really stood out? What city makes one realize Anchorage wasn't the "big city"? And what part of the country makes an Alaska feel like they are in a whole new world?! It's the episode that'll make you appreciate where you come from!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: German Kölsch by HooDoo Brewing Company

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

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Back in 2012, one of your podcast hosts journeyed to Alaska for the first time to take part in an Outdoor Educator course put on by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He moved to Alaska the following summer. NOLS is an  organization that teaches courses all around the world and they have a base located right here in the Last Frontier. On today's episode, we invite NOLS instructor Liz Rasmussen on the program to discuss her experience working for NOLS. What types of skills does one learn on a NOLS course? Who can sign up to take a course? And what type of French cuisine is made in the backcountry?! It's the episode perfect for listening to while enjoying a lazy river!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Creek Bound Spruced Blonde by Ship Creek Brewing Company

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

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

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As remote as it is, the panhandle of Alaska has an interesting history of border disputes. The most recent iteration of this conflict involved the United States and Canada and on today's episode, we go through the history that settled the land border dispute between these two nations and discuss why the maritime border dispute still exists today. How do you define the western boundary of southeast Alaska? Why did a bunch of Canadian fishing boats blockade an Alaskan state ferry? And what's the next greatest reality TV show idea to involve Alaska?! It's the episode that'll have you enlisting for the next great Salmon Wars!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: High Ridge Double Red by Arkose Brewery

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

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Changing sports team mascots is a favorite annual past time of ours on the Last Frontier Podcast and this year we are delving into the WNBA. Rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have put the WNBA in a new spotlight and we want to add our little northern light to the league. Join us and friend of the pod Jared as we modify the mascots of the 12 WNBA teams to make them Alaskan themed and learn the stories behind the meanings of our choices. What is the tallest building in Alaska? Would you take a shot of whiskey with a human toe in it? And why would someone throw an octopus at a hockey game?! It's the episode you'll vote MVP (Most Valuable Pod)!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Rage City Stout by Ravens Ring Brewing Company

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

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This episode drops in the midst of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France which got us thinking, how many Olympic medal winners called Alaska home at some point in their lives? We've done the research and use our time this episode to go through all the Olympic medalists from the Last Frontier. We recorded this episode before the Olympics began, and so we want to give a special shoutout here to Alev Kelter who won the bronze medal as part of the women's Rugby Sevens Team and Kristen Faulkner who took home the gold medal in the Cycling Road Race! What sport represents a large percentage of these medals? Which athlete was almost derailed by screwdriver sabotage? And why was winning a bronze medal a huge disappointment?! It's the episode we recorded in our Speedos!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: The Ex by Brewerks

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

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

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There are three bear species that reside in North America and Alaska is home to all three of them. The polar bear and black bear are incredible sights to see, but on today's wildlife spotlight episode, we tackle the brown bear! Join us as we delve into what makes the brown bear such a special part of the Last Frontier. What are the three subspecies of the brown bear? How many reside in Alaska? And what type of brown bear gets the most hangry?! It's the episode you'll want to catch a fish after!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Rugie Red by Naptowne Brewing Company

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

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

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Every state in the union has some head scratching legislation and Alaska is no different. On today's episode, we delve into all the weird laws that are on the books in the Last Frontier. Could your child get thrown in jail for building a snowman? Does Juneau have a healthy kangaroo population? And how the heck do you stop moose sex in Fairbanks?! It's the episode you don't want to blast too loud in Fairbanks!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Wind Break Belgian Style Dubbel by Midnight Sun Brewing Company  [https://midnightsunbrewing.com]

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

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

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Antarctica has several nicknames including the research continent, the ice and even Alaska's Alaska. On today's episode, we delve into another part of the globe that is home to the midnight sun. Friend of the pod Zeke Churchill is back on the program to share his experience of spending the austral summer working in Antartica and how it compares and contrasts to the Last Frontier. What does the name Antarctica mean? Why has beer never been brewed on the continent? And why did Zeke wear a suit for his job?! It's the episode that has way too many references to exotic dancers!

Alaskan Beer of the Week: Lakeside Lager by Susitna Brewing Co.  [https://www.susitnabrewing.com]

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

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

Support the show