Episode 1
Living in a Postcard, at 65 Below.
Some people think they know what cold is, but unless you’ve been to the arctic you have no idea. Learn just what it’s like to experience deep cold, up close and personal.
This is episode 1 of the 6 part audio series I recorded for a podcast called PEOPLE TALK, produced by my friend Nigel Killick. I had nearly forgotten about this series we did and then while searching “Internet Archive” for something different this popped up. At first I only managed to find 5 of the 6 episodes, but after a much deeper search of the internet’s cellars and a weird smelling dark room to the left of the Lawnmowerman’s secret lair I found them!
Wow, what a wonderful flash from the past!
I hope you enjoy listening.
Our Man In Alaska
Many people fantasize about what life would be like way up in the forests and mountains and tundra of the Alaskan wilderness. But few will ever actually convince themselves to give it a try. If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it in the Greatland take a listen to these short episodes and you will start to get a picture of it.
I was born right in the middle of the Alaskan Frontier on a hot summer day in 1968 and now I’m gonna tell you all about it. Alaska that is, not my actual birth. My mother was rather adamant about keeping that bit private. Over the course of six episodes you will learn about the real life and people of Alaska. Some of the stories are my own experiences. Some as told by friends and family. And some from the early days as told by my pioneer Grandfather who was one of the first civilians to drive up the Alaska/Canada highway in 1946. Most all of the stories are mostly all true, although some names have been changed so I don’t get into any trouble, since most of the old neighbors still remember me, and are very well armed.
Episode 2
Moving my Family to the Wilderness.
In 1996 Basil moved his wife and son from the relative comforts of the American Midwest back to his birth home of Salcha Alaska. Little did his Korean City Girl wife know what was in store for them.
Episode 3
Mosquitoes.
There is a joke in Alaska that the state bird is actually the mosquito. The funniest part of the joke is that we’re not joking when we say that.
Episode 4
Grocery Hunting in the Modern Age.
Hunting is more than just a tradition or past time in Alaska, its part of surviving. In this episode you’ll hear how wilderness survival and technology are sometimes at odds with one another.
Episode 5
The Nanny.
Every kid needs someone to watch over them. Some rich kids get nannies. But me, I had a great big slobbery Saint Bernard.
Episode 6
Brothers on the Frontier.
The year was 1946, the Alaska Canada Highway had just opened to civilian traffic. Joe and Pete Balch had been dreamed of claiming homesteads in the Alaska Territory since they were teens living on their grandfathers homestead in Whapeton North Dakota. Freshly released from the military after the war had ended they decided it was time to head north. This is the story of how they got there.
Why not visit us at www.peopletalk.libsyn.com
(the link no longer works, but I left it here any for the nostalgia)
Why not also visit Basil Sands web site and listen to his great free audio books
at www.basilsands.com (this link does work…it’s where you are now actually)
Buy the Music at magnatune
Music credits:
1st Track Music from Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.
Track: Hagagatan 14
Album: GratisJazz
Artist: Eternal Jazz Project
2nd Track: Magnatune at http://magnatune.com.
Album: Acoustic Earth - Electric Sky
Track: Angel
