Explore every episode of the podcast The YUKON Magazine
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bear encounter that began with a curious canter* | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:37:06 | |
When a bear starts running towards you, that's never a good thing. So began an uncomfortable standoff between three women on a backpacking trip and a grizzly bear. Host Karen McColl debriefs this encounter with Yukon Conservation Officer Dean McLean, who shares his bear safely insights. Take a listen, it could save your life. *This episode first aired in May 2023. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| YQ | comedian Steve McGovern | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:13:44 | |
Local funnyman Steve McGovern takes the “Yukon Questionnaire.” His current "down south" status, living in Vancouver, doesn't hold him back from sharing strong opinions about his northern hometown. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| These old houses: an ode to YXY’s former DPW homes | 28 Mar 2024 | 00:38:13 | |
Writer-producer Mark Koepke takes a deeper dive into Whitehorse’s “heritage homes"—yet another northern legacy of the federal government. It’s a subject that hits very close to home for many Yukoners, including Mark’s family, friends, and neighbours. CREDITS: The Canadian Army Newsreels from The War Amps CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The first great road trip of Greg Karais | 07 Mar 2024 | 00:16:59 | |
A young Greg Karais literally followed a bread crumb trail north and landed in Dawson City, Yukon, where he parlayed his first great road trip into North of Ordinary Media. A conversation with host Karen McColl in late 2023 hints at where Greg and his beloved four-wheeled sidekick will be headed in the coming months as our road-tested podcast correspondent. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| YQ | broadcaster Roch Shannon Fraser | 21 Feb 2024 | 00:16:15 | |
Retired radio broadcaster Roch Shannon Fraser answers the inaugural audio version of our magazine’s long-running Yukon Questionnaire. He knows a prized caribou when he sees one and is among the few who know where the hell Rock River is. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Stalking foxes, talking bears with photojournalist Peter Mather | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:29:16 | |
Photojournalist Peter Mather tours us through the dark streets of Whitehorse to look for urban foxes. Meanwhile, he shares about another project close to his heart: camera trapping the "ice" bears of Klukshu, who stay up late into the fall to feed on the salmon run. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| ((Poetry)) by Peter Jickling: words from Whitehorse’s wintery waterfront | 01 Feb 2024 | 00:16:00 | |
"I haven't had a single poetic thought about the Yukon wilderness since I've been home," says Peter Jickling in his poem, "Overdue Epistemology," which he reads from a balcony during a mid-winter poetry crawl in Whitehorse. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Spring series | new year new podcast | 17 Jan 2024 | 00:21:32 | |
Yes, it's winter, but in this biz we're always planning ahead. Get ready for fresh sounds and approaches because we've made some changes to the podcast that we think you'll like. Meet our new producer, Mark Koepke, who believes the Yukon has an official smell, and Amy Kenny, the adventurous editor of our magazine who, for some crazy reason, signed up for a 700-km paddling race. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Amidst caribou on the Firth River | 17 Jul 2023 | 00:31:37 | |
A paddling trip on the remote, rugged, and beautiful Firth river will always be memorable. Add caribou—a lot of caribou—to the setting and it's like nowhere else on earth. But seeing the majestic porcupine caribou herd involves some hiking, and that's an issue for Chris Carli. He likes whitewater paddling and even whitewater swimming, but he does not like hiking. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Replay: Not another gold-rush tour | 03 Jul 2023 | 00:27:09 | |
Replay*: What do you know about the Klondike Gold Rush? If you've been to Dawson City, you've probably heard about gold seekers and dance-hall girls. But what about the people displaced by greed and colonialism? Parks Canada is widening its lens and asking visitors to consider their own responsibility to reconciliation. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| I got a name: the murder of Krystal Senyk | 19 Jun 2023 | 00:34:54 | |
It's been more than 30 years since Krystal Senyk was shot and killed at her home outside Carcross and Ronald Bax, her accused killer and the estranged husband of a friend, disappeared into the wilderness. In "I got a name," author Eliza Robertson tells Krystal's story, digs into why protection wasn't provided when Krystal asked for it, and shows how prevalent gender-based violence continues to be. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| From Ross River to Red Carpet with Kaska Dena Designs | 05 Jun 2023 | 00:35:00 | |
The runways of Paris and New York are a long way from Ross River, Yukon, where Natasha Peter grew up. But that didn't stop her from making lofty goals of where she wanted to see her handcrafted fashion and jewellery on display. The creator behind Kaska Dena designs says her culture is a key element in her inspiration and success. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Hard Rock Minors: the story of youth band Cows Go Moo* | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:33:31 | |
Cows Go Moo might sound like child's play, but when they hit the stage it's anything but. While other Yukoners struggled to let off steam during the pandemic, six pre-teen musicians cranked their amps to 11, practiced like hell, and honed a set of classic covers and original bangers. Since their debut performance in March 2022, the band has experienced remarkable growth—several inches at least. This is the story of Cows Go Moo, produced by "father of a Cow" Mark Koepke. *This episode first aired in April 2023. This podcast is supported in part by Yukon Government, Department of Tourism and Culture. They’ll show you the Yukon of your dreams. travelyukon.com/better-day CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| A bear encounter that began with a "curious canter" | 22 May 2023 | 00:37:04 | |
When a bear starts running towards you, that's never a good thing. So began an uncomfortable standoff between three women on a backpacking trip and a grizzly bear. Karen debriefs this encounter with Yukon Conservation Officer Dean McLean, who shares his bear safely insights. Take a listen, it could save your life. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Protecting Whitehorse from catastrophic wildfire | 08 May 2023 | 00:32:05 | |
Recent years have seen devastating fires in Albert and B.C. The Whitehorse South Fuel Break is part of a plan to prevent a similar disaster in Whitehorse. It won't stop a fire in its tracks but it will help firefighters respond. Jennifer Sharp and Carl Cibart of Yukon Wildland Fire Management tell us how it works. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Hard rock minors: the story of youth band Cows Go Moo | 24 Apr 2023 | 00:34:41 | |
Cows Go Moo might sound like child's play, but when they hit the stage it's anything but. While other Yukoners struggled to let off steam during the pandemic, six pre-teen musicians cranked their amps to 11, practiced like hell, and honed a set of classic covers and original bangers. Since their debut performance in March 2022, the band has experienced remarkable growth—several inches at least. This is the story of Cows Go Moo, guest produced by "father of a Moo" Mark Koepke. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| When you live at the Arctic Circle and work in hurricane alley | 10 Apr 2023 | 00:32:31 | |
Cathy Brais lives at Eagle Plains, kilometre 370 of the Dempster Highway, just shy of the Arctic Circle. Her job as a highway foreperson often takes her into an infamous stretch of road known as "hurricane alley." What's it like living and working on one of the loneliest stretches of highway in the world? Cathy says a place is what you make it. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| It's Harlequin-romance hot up here | 27 Mar 2023 | 00:23:27 | |
Whitehorse journalist Haley Ritchie was curious why so many romance books are set in the North. What is it about the cold and dark that get the heart beating quicker? She unpacks three novels set in Alaska and Yukon. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Demystifying TikToker Sandwich Dad | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:31:37 | |
What does it take to make a good sandwich and a good video about making a good sandwiches? We ask Yukon-bred (pun intended) TikToker Jonathan Ostrander, AKA Sandwich Dad, and take a deep dive into the synergy created when various combinations of fillings and condiments are slapped between two pieces of bread. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The (river) breakup season | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:33:23 | |
Each spring, northern rivers go from solid ice to flowing water. In the best-case scenario this process goes smoothly, but if ice jams form there could be trouble. That's why Holly Goulding keeps a close eye on conditions year round. The Yukon government hydrologist knows how ice, water, snow, and temperatures combine to create the perfect melt or flood conditions. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| A Chilkat robe is going home | 13 Feb 2023 | 00:28:36 | |
The homecoming of a beautifully woven 19th-century Chilkat robe is cause for celebration and consideration for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation in Atlin, B.C. Why did they have to spend thousands of dollars to repatriate one of their own artefacts? Elder and carver Wayne Carlick explains how they bought the robe and what comes next. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| She will bike (and push) 430 miles | 30 Jan 2023 | 00:35:15 | |
Spending 12 days alone in the wilderness in the depths of winter might seem crazy, but Jessie Gladish keeps going back for more. In previous years, she skied and walked the 430-mile (688-km) Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra between Whitehorse and Dawson City. This year, though, her biggest challenge yet: to complete the race by fat bike. Trail conditions will dictate how much riding she is able to do, versus pushing her bike through the snow as a glorified luggage cart. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The ice swimmers | 16 Jan 2023 | 00:30:06 | |
Cold therapy is all the rage right now. Karen meets up with Valerie, who "dips" regularly in a pool chopped out of lake ice, to get the lowdown on how it works and why she and many others do this. Then, Valerie coaches Karen through her first dip. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| “Whoa, bear!” A close-up on the Yukon’s most famous instructional video | 03 Jul 2024 | 00:22:45 | |
If you spend time in the wilderness, you've probably seen "Staying safe in bear country." Thirty years ago, Tanya Handley bluffed her way into a job that required keeping her cool in the face of a charging bear (and on at least one occasion, bears, plural). The footage and resulting film is still used as an educational resource practically everywhere in the world there are bears. This is a glimpse behind the curtain of how the bear video was made. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Lessons from the Dempster* | 02 Jan 2023 | 00:34:29 | |
Melanie Bennett grew up at Engineer Creek, 200 km up the Dempster Highway, when the road was being built. There were few neighbours of the human variety but the surrounding wilderness was her playground and schoolroom. That upbringing helps her maintain "one foot on the land" in her role as an educator. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Off-grid luxe* | 19 Dec 2022 | 00:36:49 | |
When Manu Keggenhoff moved from Germany to a tiny cabin outside Atlin, B.C., 15 years ago, she didn’t have running water or any of the fancy stuff. Manu, also the art director of YNoO magazine, shares about cabin life, cabin fever, and best of all—outhouses. *This episode first aired in in December 2021. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Yukon drag—more than just a song and dance | 05 Dec 2022 | 00:32:10 | |
For drag performer Andy Pee, there's no better high than sharing their true expression of gender on stage and having it celebrated by a room full of cheering people. Andy, AKA Andyboy, tells us how the scene up here differs from mainstream perceptions about drag. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Exploring the North with Murray Lundberg | 21 Nov 2022 | 00:37:59 | |
Anyone with even a remote interest in Yukon history or travel will, at some point, come across the work of Murray Lundberg and his 4,000-plus page ExploreNorth website. Although a health condition is stealing his memory, his legacy couldn't be clearer. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Climbing Mount Logan (twice!) for science | 07 Nov 2022 | 00:34:22 | |
As an ice-core scientist, Alison Criscitiello studies ancient ice for clues about our climate, at the Canadian Ice Core Lab at the University of Alberta. As a high-altitude mountaineer, she climbs mountains all over the world. In the highest risk, highest reward expedition she has ever planned, the National Geographic Explorer heads to Mount Logan in search of potentially 30,000 year-old ice. As it turns out, summiting Canada's highest peak was only the start of the challenge ahead. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Cruising the Northwest Passage | 24 Oct 2022 | 00:44:34 | |
Yukoners Ashley Cummings and Christian Wright reflect on a mind-blowing 30-day cruise through the Northwest Passage. Both worked as educators on a 400-passenger vessel traversing the Arctic from Nome, Alaska, to Halifax, NS. It was the experience of a lifetime for many reasons. And it was especially meaningful for Ashley, who is Inuk. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Frunking up truck culture | 10 Oct 2022 | 00:36:17 | |
There are only a handful of electric trucks in the Yukon and Greg Karais is the proud owner of one (a Ford-150 Lightning Lariat). It’s objectively nifty but comes with a big price tag. Greg takes Karen for a drive to convince her of its merits. He also spills about his "tow of shame" in Haines Junction.... CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Will electric vehicles blow up the grid? | 26 Sep 2022 | 00:36:10 | |
Yukoners drive a lot so it's no wonder there's a big push to ditch the gas guzzlers and get on the electric vehicle bandwagon. Shane Andre of Yukon’s Energy Solutions Centre answers key questions about EVs and Andrew Hall of Yukon Energy shares how the public utility plans to keep up with increasing demands for clean energy. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Tales of sasquatch part 2: This is who you call | 12 Sep 2022 | 00:38:43 | |
If anyone in the North sees a sasquatch, they know who to call: Red Grossinger. The Canadian Armed Forces veteran has spent his retirement years collecting reports and doing investigations. He walks us through two sasquatch sightings near Whitehorse. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Tales of sasquatch part 1: believing is seeing | 29 Aug 2022 | 00:34:15 | |
Wayne Potoroka, associate editor of Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine, doesn't have strong feelings about sasquatch one way or another, but he is interested in the people who are interested in sasquatch. So, he talked to a bunch of them, including the Yukon's number one sasquatch tracker. As it turns out, there's no shortage of stories—or believers. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Protecting Whitehorse from catastrophic wildfire* | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:29:15 | |
Recent years have seen devastating fires in Albert and B.C. The Whitehorse South Fuel Break is part of a plan to prevent a similar disaster in Whitehorse. It won't stop a fire in its tracks but it will help firefighters respond. Jennifer Sharp and Carl Cibart of Yukon Wildland Fire Management tell us how it works. *This episode first aired in May 2023. Some information may not be up to date. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Not another gold rush tour | 15 Aug 2022 | 00:27:05 | |
What do you know about the Klondike Gold Rush? If you've been to Dawson City, you've probably heard about gold seekers and dance-hall girls. But what about the people displaced by greed and colonialism? Parks Canada is widening its lens and asking visitors to consider their own responsibility to reconciliation. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The secret life of mosquitoes | 01 Aug 2022 | 00:37:40 | |
We've all had a mosquito encounter (or zillions), and yet most of us know little about these irksome critters. Entomologist Dan Peach bares his arms for science and explains why discovering the secret life of mosquitoes keeps drawing him back to bug-infested bogs. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The rise of gravel biking (or whatever you call it) | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:29:36 | |
When Ian Parker and friends started riding (and sometimes carrying) their road bikes in rough and rugged terrain, they pushed the limits of what could be done on skinny tires and unforgiving frames. Then, they discovered this activity had a name: gravel biking. Now, Ian is helping grow the Yukon's mixed-surface biking scene, one flat tire and mud-splattered smile at a time. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The caveman of Dawson City | 04 Jul 2022 | 00:30:04 | |
Bill Donaldson moved into a cave across the Yukon River from Dawson City in the '90s. It's dark and damp—it even floods from time to time—but it's home, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Karen McColl tours the cave and finds out what makes it so homey. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Fort Selkirk, 'where my ancestors lived' | 20 Jun 2022 | 00:26:02 | |
Teri-Lee Isaac wants people to know the history of the Northern Tutchone people. That's why she's offering guided boat tours to Fort Selkirk, a former Hudson's Bay Company trading post and—long before that—a meeting place for inland and coastal peoples. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Wilderness tales part 2 | 06 Jun 2022 | 00:23:23 | |
Dave Bakica has the opposite of a desk job. From wrangling moose to keeping people safe from bears, the Yukon conservation officer has a lot of stories to share after more than 30 years on the job. These are some of his most memorable moments in the field. In part two of two, Dave talks about bizarre lynx behaviour, net-gunning caribou from a helicopter, and a poaching investigation. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Wilderness tales part 1 | 23 May 2022 | 00:30:46 | |
Dave Bakica had the opposite of a desk job. From wrangling moose to snowmobiling across the Arctic and keeping people safe from bears, the Yukon conservation officer has a lot of stories to share after more than 30 years on the job. These are some of his most memorable moments. Episode 1 of 2. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Bear Cave Mountain | 09 May 2022 | 00:35:39 | |
Phil Timpany knows the grizzly bears of Bear Cave Mountain better than anyone, as well as the life-sustaining salmon. The wildlife-viewing guide is also seeing first hand the changes that threaten this remote wilderness enclave, a place sacred to the Vuntut Gwitchin. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Mammoths and giant beavers roamed here | 02 May 2022 | 00:43:07 | |
Camels, short-faced bear, lions. These animals aren't typically associated with the Yukon, but they all lived and died here at some point, leaving their bones as evidence. Paleontologist Grant Zazula tells us what else roamed here and what their ancient fossils reveal about how this part of the world looked not so long ago. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Microdosing on the run | 25 Mar 2022 | 00:28:59 | |
Forget vitamin “IB” to relieve those aches and pains: some athletes are adding cannabis products to their workout regimes. Leyla Weston, an ultra runner who started dabbling recently, shares her experience with micro-dosing. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| ((Radio)) by Junction Arts and Music: a passion project celebrates live music in the North | 07 Jun 2024 | 00:21:09 | |
Haines Junction resident Dieter Gade is passionate about preserving music, which is why he produces the long-running JAM Live! one-hour radio program, featuring beautifully mixed recordings of musical performances in and around the Yukon. This episode ends with a performance from one of Gade's favorite shows, with Bruce and Deb Bergman performing “The Desert” at the Village Bakery in 2014. Additional music clips from freesound.org under Creative Commons 0 license. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Fur-baby fostering | 18 Mar 2022 | 00:33:43 | |
Kylie Campbell-Clarke would have 10 dogs if she could. Instead, she and her husband settled for two dogs, one cat, and the occasional foster-dog. It's a wild ride, but worth all the lost sleep and cleaning up of poop. Kylie also started a Facebook group to help people find their adopted dogs' siblings. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| Kusawa with kids | 04 Mar 2022 | 00:31:23 | |
Camping with young kids takes work and patience. But time and again Jackie Zinger and her husband pack up the fat bikes, skis, or boat, as well as their twins, and head to Kusawa Lake outside of Whitehorse. The vast lake is the family's four-season playground. As soon as the car is unpacked, all the earlier whining is forgotten.... CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| They don't want you to fix it | 25 Feb 2022 | 00:30:41 | |
Just because manufacturers make items hard to repair doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Michelle Clusiau, one of the founders of a repair café in Whitehorse, doesn't let excessive glue or faulty wiring trip her up. She'll inspire you to give your favourite appliance or piece of gear a second life. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||
| The search for children who never came home | 18 Feb 2022 | 00:30:02 | |
This spring, ground penetrating radar will be used to look for unmarked graves at the former site of Choutla in southern Yukon, a residential school for Indigenous students that ran at various times between 1903 and 1969. Adeline Webber hopes the search brings answers and closure for people like her with relatives who died at school, with little explanation. She's leading the group organizing the search at Choutla and other sites in the territory. CONNECT WITH US SHOP ONLINE SHOP IN PERSON | |||