This month’s My Yukon Life podcast is finally up! Whew. Spencer Douthit takes us on a bicycle ride up the challenging Dempster Highway. Marsha Cameron from Boreal Mountain Biking also stops by to give us some info on guided bike tours throughout the Yukon, including the Dempster Highway. Even if you’re not a bicyclist, Spencer’s near miss with a bear will get your attention. And if you’re considering driving up the Dempster, you’ll definitely want to have a listen. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-92-bicycling-the-dempster-highway/
May 16
This Month’s My Yukon Life Podcast Now Up!
May 16
Episode 92: Bicycling the Dempster Highway
Welcome to Episode 92; the May 2013 podcast of My Yukon Life podcast radio. On this episode, we explore the remote and challenging Dempster Highway by bicycle.
[This episode is sponsored by Ground Effect Media. No matter where you’re located, Ground Effect Media can create an effective and affordable website for your small to medium business. Visit us at groundeffectmedia.com.]
The Dempster Highway connects the Klondike Highway in the Yukon to the town of Inuvik in the Northwest Territories on the Mackenzie River delta. With its winding dirt and gravel road, steep drop-offs with no railings, bear population, and more than a few 18-wheel trucks that come at you full speed and no wiggle room for mistakes, this isn’t the place for bicyclists who don’t have steel nerves and strong legs for peddling.
Spencer Douthit is one of those people. He, along with two of his friends, did the Dempster last summer on bicycles, travelling from its start outside Dawson and rode all the way to Inuvik.
Spencer shares that adventure with us.
If you’re interested in doing the Dempster or other areas of the Yukon by bicycle but maybe you’d like a guide and some help with the practical considerations such as gear, you’ve got some options. During this episode of My Yukon Life, we also hear from Marsha Cameron, one of the owners of Boréale Mountain Biking in Whitehorse. Boréale specializes in offering a variety of bicycling trips and themes for locals and visitors to the Yukon.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:56 — 18.5MB) | Embed
Apr 04
Capturing One’s Essence in a Photograph
This month’s special guest on My Yukon Life podcast radio, photographer Ruth Borgfjord, tries to capture the essence of those whose portraits she takes. In looking at her photos, it seems to me she does exactly that. Find out how she does it: http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-91-yukon-photographer-ruth-borgfjord/
Apr 03
Yukon Photographer Ruth Borgfjord on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio!
It’s up! This month’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio featuring Yukon photographer Ruth Borgfjord is now posted: http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-91-yukon-photographer-ruth-borgfjord/
Apr 03
Episode 91: Yukon Photographer Ruth Borgfjord
Welcome to Episode 91; the April 2013 podcast of My Yukon Life podcast radio. Our special guest on this episode is a woman who’s originally from Romania. It was there that Ruth Borgfjord met the love of her life, a Canadian boy, and together they moved to the Yukon. They got good paying, secure government jobs, bought a house, a car.
But for Ruth it wasn’t enough. Her soul needed a creative outlet. A recurring nightmare inspired her to quit her job and take a leap of faith that the Yukon would provide what she needed. And that’s when her life really changed.
Yukon photographer Ruth Borgfjord is our special guest on this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:05 — 18.6MB) | Embed
Apr 02
Awesome Yukon Photos by Ruth Borgfjord
As I continue to edit this month’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio with special guest Ruth Borgfjord, check out her Facebook page to see more of her awesome photos: https://www.facebook.com/RuthBorgfjordPhotography
Apr 01
Photographer Ruth Borgfjord on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
I’ll soon be posting the April episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio which features photographer Ruth Borgfjord. Ruth is originally from Romania and has a wonderful gift for revealing the magic contained within places and people in everyday life. Here’s an image of hers overlooking the Yukon River and the town of Whitehorse.
Mar 12
Mushers Michelle Phillips and Ed Hopkins on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
During this month’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, I chat with Tagish musher Ed Hopkins, fresh off the Yukon Quest trail and with his partner Michelle Phillips shortly before the start of the Iditarod where she is currently in 24th place among 66 original teams (8 of which have since scratched or been withdrawn). Among other things, Ed describes what happened when he fell asleep during the Quest while on the back of his sled. We also discuss how trying to run faster in a race isn’t always better. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-90-mushers-michelle-phillips-ed-hopkins/
Mar 11
Episode 90: Mushers Michelle Phillips & Ed Hopkins
For this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio I was in downtown Anchorage, Alaska on the second of this month for the Ceremonial start of this year’s Iditarod. The next day I was standing beside the chute for the official restart of the race when 66 teams headed for Nome, 1,000 miles away.
Michelle Phillips of Tagish Lake Kennel drew bib number 7, for this, her fourth Iditarod. Michelle, who lives in Tagish, Yukon has been on My Yukon Life podcast radio before. So has her partner and fellow musher Ed Hopkins.
Ed entered this year’s Yukon Quest after having been gone from it the last several years. The Yukon Quest is a thousand miles long. This year it began in Whitehorse, Yukon and finished in Fairbanks, Alaska. Because of its difficulty, just finishing the race is considered a major achievement. It was Ed’s sixth quest, and he placed 11th out of the 26 teams that started it. Six of those teams weren’t able to finish.
For this episode of My Yukon Life, I spoke with Ed immediately following the race.
Also on this episode is Michelle Phillips. A few days before starting her fourth Iditarod, I sat down with Michelle. She’d just won the Yukon Quest 300, beating Aliy Zirkle by only 8 seconds. The closest team behind them was 12 hours back. Michelle Phillips talks about that race, and the upcoming Iditarod.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:56 — 19.9MB) | Embed
Feb 14
Questions for a Yukon Quest Musher?
Tomorrow, provided communications are available, I’ll be speaking with musher Ed Hopkins of Tagish Lake Kennel for the March episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio. After finishing in 11th place in the Yukon Quest yesterday morning, Ed’s enjoying some well deserved rest before leaving Alaska for the Yukon. If you’ve got a question you’d like me to ask him, post it here or email it to me at jennifer (at) myyukonlife (dot) com.
Feb 10
The Guy with the Vintage Motorcyle & Sidecar
Shortly after I moved to Tagish, Yukon (population aprox. 200) I noticed a guy riding around on a vintage German BMW motorcycle with a sidecar. It’s just not the sort of thing you see everyday and it added to the mystique of this small village that sits beside Six Mile River and Tagish Lake. What I didn’t realize is that Jorg has half a dozen of these amazing bikes with sidecars, and many more besides. He truly is one of the “Colorful Five Percent” of the Yukon. Find out more about him on this month’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, with guest host and fellow Tagish resident Patrick Brown: http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-89-jorg-michel-vintage-motorcycle-tours/
Feb 08
This Month’s Episode of My Yukon Life Podcast Radio Now Up!
Delayed no more! This month’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio is now up! I’m excited to announce that for this episode we have Patrick Brown, newly of Tagish, as our guest host. He sits down with fellow Tagish resident Jorg Michel to talk about Jorg’s love for vintage German motorcycles, several of which he brought from Germany and restored, complete with sidecars. Jorg offers these very special bikes for rent to those with an acute sense of adventure who would like to tour the Yukon in a most spectacular way. Have a listen: http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-89-jorg-michel-vintage-motorcycle-tours/
Feb 08
Episode 89: Jorg Michel, Vintage Motorcycle Tours
On this episode, we’re going to meet a man in Tagish who’s originally from Germany. His love of vintage motorcycles not only brought him here but it’s made him a fixture around town.
Patrick Brown, longtime listener of My Yukon Life podcast radio, is now a resident of Tagish, along with his wife. Patrick is our guest host for this episode of My Yukon Life. He talks with Jorg Michel who moved here from Germany and runs a vintage motorcycle touring company, renting out BMW motorcycles (some with sidecars) that he brought from Germany and restored himself.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:17 — 18.0MB) | Embed
Feb 05
Congratulations to Michelle Phillips, Winner of the YQ300!
The reason for the podcast delay is that I’ve been very distracted with doing the media and website updates for Tagish Lake Kennel, run by Michelle Phillips and Ed Hopkins of Tagish, Yukon. Ed is currently racing in the Yukon Quest 1000 Mile International Sled Dog Race, and Michelle just took first place in the Yukon Quest 300 in an exciting head-to-head finish against the legendary Aliy Zirkle.
Congratulations go out to our very own Michelle Phillips for her incredible win! Michelle will soon join Ed in Dawson City, Yukon during his 36-hour mandatory rest before he returns to the trail and heads for the finish line in Fairbanks.
If you’d like to stay updated on their racing adventures, Like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TagishLakeKennel and visit their website at http://www.tagishlakekennel.com/ which I’m updating and expanding.
Feb 03
February’s Podcast Episode Is On the Way!
We have a very special podcast coming up for the month of February and I’m excited to announce that for this episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio we have a guest host! More details forthcoming– and as soon as I’m out of the “editing booth” I’ll post this month’s show in the next day or so. I’ll announce it here and on our blog at http://www.myyukonlife.com/blog/.
Jan 05
January’s Podcast is Now Up!
I finally got the wood pile under control enough that I could return to finishing up this month’s podcast. For your listening pleasure, here’s Elvis Presley, alive and well and living in the Yukon: http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-88-yukon-musician-elvis-presley/
Jan 05
Episode 88: Yukon Musician Elvis Presley
January’s special guest on My Yukon Life podcast radio is none other than Elvis Aaron Presley, currently residing in Ross River, Yukon. Many years ago I happened to be in Dawson City when he was performing at the Snake Pit Bar. The place was packed and the crowd had spilled into the street. I couldn’t even get inside for a beer. So we stood on the sidewalk and listened as his music quieted the crowd and most of the bar fights. I was a little surprised to see more than one woman close her eyes and sway to the beat. The man who legally changed his name to Elvis has a definite following.
Elvis Aaron Presley joins us this episode to talk about his music and share some tunes with us.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:23 — 18.1MB) | Embed
Jan 02
Can You Spread the Word?
While I’m in the editing room working on this month’s podcast with special guest Elvis Presley, currently of Ross River, Yukon, can you spread the word about My Yukon Life? How many half-hour long, free podcasts featuring fascinating Yukon places and personalities are out there? That’s right, we’re the only one. They can listen from our website at http://www.myyukonlife.com/ or on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-yukon-life/id446280722. Let’s see if we can get to 700 likes on My Yukon Life‘s Facebook page. We’re almost there!
Dec 28
Elvis Presley on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
January’s special guest on My Yukon Life podcast radio is none other than Elvis Aaron Presley, currently residing in Ross River, Yukon.
Many years ago I happened to be in Dawson City when he was performing at the Snake Pit Bar. The place was packed and the crowd had spilled into the street. I couldn’t even get inside for a beer. So we stood on the sidewalk and listened as his music quieted the crowd and most of the bar fights. I was a little surprised to see more than one woman close her eyes and sway to the beat. The man who legally changed his name to Elvis has a definite following.
Here’s his song, “My Pink Cadillac.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM9g6nF8k1k&list=UUstTAlGZg0HlqNZZxMURlLA
Dec 04
December’s My Yukon Life Podcast Now Up!
The December podcast of My Yukon Life podcast radio is now up! Our special guest is Yukon author John Firth who shares with us the behind-the-scenes process of his Yukon non-fictional adventure books, including One Mush, about the Jamaican dogsled team. Musher Newton Marshall, the focus of One Mush, also joins us. Hear how his recent ability to read and write has changed his life. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-87-author-john-firth-musher-newton-marshall/
Dec 04
Episode 87: Author John Firth & Musher Newton Marshall
This month’s podcast episode of My Yukon Life features special guest, author John Firth. During our discussion about his book One Mush, John talks about the journey Jamaican sled dog musher Newton Marshall is taking to learn how to read and write. Newton joins us too, and reveals how only recently learning to read and write has already changed his life.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:51 — 19.1MB) | Embed
Dec 03
Author John Firth & Jamaican Musher Newton Marshall on My Yukon Life
This month’s podcast episode of My Yukon Life features special guest, author John Firth. During our discussion about his book One Mush, John talks about the journey Jamaican sled dog musher Newton Marshall is taking to learn how to read and write. Newton joins us too, and reveals how only recently learning to read and write has already changed his life. I’ll post this episode later today, and announce here on our blog when it’s up.
Nov 29
Coming Up on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
Yukon author John Firth has an interesting resume. It includes journalism, prospecting, being a laboratory technician, mining exploration camp expeditor, World Cup X-Country Ski championships public relations director, theatre owner, financial advisor and now full-time writer. John is our special guest for the December episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio. His books include River Time: Racing the Ghosts of the Klondike Gold Rush and One Mush: Jamaica’s Dogsled Team which is about Newton Marshall, a young man from Jamaica who is poised to enter his third Iditarod sled dog race this season. During his visit with us, John will read an excerpt from that book. The podcast will be posted this weekend.
Look for the announcement here on Facebook when it’s up or check our website at http://www.myyukonlife.com/.
Nov 07
Thank You
I’d like to send out a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of My Yukon Life and for your understanding about why I had to make the difficult decision to change this to a monthly podcast from a weekly one. November’s episode marks our 86th show, and I don’t regret having volunteered 20 hours of my time to host and produce each of those shows. In fact, it’s touching to me that a project I began as a way to share my Yukon life with friends and family has hugely expanded. Now I count many folks whom I’ve never met as part of that extended network.
If you think about all the anger, disagreement, and outright wars/violence that occur daily on this planet, here we have a diverse group of listeners from all over the world who can find common ground– an appreciation for the Yukon and the people and places that make up this amazing and unique place.
It’s my hope that the show will continue to grow, and perhaps with that growth we’ll attract enough sponsors that My Yukon Life remains what it is, but that I can dedicate more time to it, and perhaps return to a weekly format.
I don’t do membership drives, I don’t charge for the podcasts, I don’t have annoying ads, but from time to time I do ask that you share My Yukon Life podcasts with those you know. This is a grassroots of a grassroots effort, but it’s the only way I know to grow the show without being obnoxious. So please help me.
I also encourage you to post on our Facebook page and website blog– say hi, or tell us about your own time in the Yukon, or what you’d like to do when you get there. And please keep writing to me with suggestions about the show (jennifer AT myyukonlife DOT com) or let me know what you like about it. If I know that, then I can do more of it.
Mostly, thanks for listening!
Nov 03
Can’t Sleep?
Listen to the latest free, half-hour episodes of My Yukon Life podcast radio: http://www.myyukonlife.com/latest-my-yukon-life-podcasts/
Nov 03
Here’s How You Can Find Your Favorite Episodes
I’d like to welcome everyone who’s recently joined us here at My Yukon Life podcast radio. Check out the podcast page on our website at http://www.myyukonlife.com/ to choose from our growing archive of free, half-hour shows.
I’ve updated the website so you can find podcasts of interest to you. Search by category/topic or by date. We’re also on iTunes: search for My Yukon Life with the moose logo. And please share our podcasts with friends and family!
Nov 03
Episode 86: To Live & Die in the Yukon
The circle of life includes death. As they say, it’s as unavoidable as taxes and discussions about religion or politics.
But in the far north, there are practical considerations. How do you bury a coffin when the ground is frozen, possibly down to bedrock, and it’s minus 40 degrees?
During the 1898 gold rush when the population of Dawson City, Yukon exploded with the influx of prospectors and merchants, this was a significant problem. Even today, the burial process is different in some ways than how it’s handled down south.
For November’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we’ll hear from Chris Thompson of Heritage North Funeral Home in Whitehorse about how the burial process is affected by being north of 60 degrees latitude. We’ll also step back in time and visit Lowe’s Mortuary in Dawson City during the gold rush.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:14 — 18.0MB) | Embed
Nov 02
To Live and Die in the Yukon
The circle of life includes death. As they say, it’s as unavoidable as taxes and discussions about religion or politics.
But in the far north, there are practical considerations. How do you bury a coffin when the ground is frozen, possibly down to bedrock, and it’s minus 40 degrees?
During the 1898 gold rush when the population of Dawson City, Yukon exploded with the influx of prospectors and merchants, this was a significant problem. Even today, the burial process is different in some ways than how it’s handled down south.
For November’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we’ll hear from Chris Thompson of Heritage North Funeral Home in Whitehorse about how the burial process is affected by being north of 60 degrees latitude. We’ll also step back in time and visit Lowe’s Mortuary in Dawson City during the gold rush.
To help stay on top of updates about our podcasts, hover your mouse over the “Liked” button on My Yukon Life’s Facebook page. When the menu appears, select “Show In News Feed” if there’s not a check mark already next to it.
Oct 24
This Week’s Episode of My Yukon Life Podcast Radio is Finally Up!
Join listener Sam Converse from Utah as he peppers me (kindly) with questions about life in the Yukon. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-85-yukon-life-qa-vol-3/
Oct 24
My Yukon Life Will Now be a Monthly Podcast
Owing to the demands of hosting and producing My Yukon Life podcast radio, which entails me volunteering about 20 hours of my time every week, I’ve decided it makes more sense to change it to a monthly podcast. While still keeping the show free for listeners, this will increase my sanity level and give me more time to promote the show. I also ask for your help in spreading the word about My Yukon Life so our audience can grow and I can justify continuing my efforts.
Beginning next week, My Yukon Life podcasts will be posted on the first day of every month. And so instead of a show next Monday, I’ll post a new episode on the 1st, which is Thursday of next week. I hope you understand and will continue being part of My Yukon Life.
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