Welcome to Husky Talk Podcast

A weekly behind the scenes look at the Iditarod and mushing for classrooms around the world.

Erin Montgomery, 2015 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail™ from Iowa and her students host this podcast, designed and created to introduce you to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and give you an essential behind the scenes look at the race. 

Weekly segments of the program include: Iditarod Trivia, Brain Freeze, Sled Dog Trip

Join the the students for their podcasts each week.

Listen via SoundCloud here or click the play buttons under each guest name below.

Episode 33: Matthew Failor (Most Improved Musher)

Listen to Matthew Failor talk with us about his 2018 Iditarod experience and his Most Improved Musher award.

Episode 32: Brian Hickox, 2019 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail

This week’s episode will introduce you to the 2019 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail, Brian Hickox.

Episode 31: Larry Dougherty (Post Race)

Join us as we talk with Larry Dougherty about his 2018 Iditarod experience. Larry entered the Iditarod at the last minute to race Jason Campeau’s dogs after he suffered a concussion in the Yukon Quest.

Episode 30: Debbie Smykalski (Volunteer Cook)

In this episode we talk with a volunteer who cooks food out on the Iditarod trail. Find out what the volunteers eat and how the food gets out on the trail.

Episode 29: Casey Grove (Host of Iditapod Podcast)

Join us in the second half of our season as we talk with the host of the podcast, Iditapod, Casey Grove.

Episode 28: Hannah Mahoney (Jr. Iditarod)

Enjoy an episode with 2017 Jr. Iditarod musher, Hannah Mahoney, as she talks with us about her journey to the Jr. Iditarod.

Episode 27: Stu Nelson (Chief Veterinarian)

Find out how well the dogs of the Iditarod are treated by listening to Stu Nelson, chief veterinarian of the Iditarod.

Episode 26: Terrie Hanke (Eye on the Trail)

Sit back and listen to Terrie tell some amazing stories of her time out on the trail. She also talks with us about how you can read more of her stories on Eye on the Trail, a blog on the Iditarod website. (Photo Credit: Jeff Schultz)

Episode 25: Spencer Pape talks about “Trailbreakers”

Do you ever wonder how the Iditarod trail gets groomed? Listen to this episode as one of the “trailbreakers” talk with us about prepping the Iditarod trail for the dogs and mushers.

Episode 24: Jill Homer

In this episode we talk about different modes of transportation across the Iditarod Trail, biking and running. We talk with the fastest female to bike the Iditarod Trail, Jill Homer. Listen as she talks with us about the Iditarod Trail Invitational.

Episode 23: Jeff King

Episode #23 features 4-time Iditarod champion and Yukon Quest champion, Jeff King. Jeff takes time to talk with us about his many years racing sled dogs.

Episode 22: Tim Muto Talks Drop Bags

Mushers on the Iditarod are allowed to send out drop bags to checkpoints. On this episode, Tim Muto talks to us about what drop bags are, what he will put in his, and how to get the bags ready to be sent out along the trail.

Episode 21: Anna and Kristy Berington

In episode 21 we talk with twin sisters, Anna and Kristy Berington. They talk with us about the importance of training and being prepared to run 1000 miles with their dogs.

Episode 20: Linda Fenton

In our 20th episode we talk with the 2013 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. Listen as she tells us about her experience as the Teacher on the Trail and how she uses the Iditarod as a tool in her classroom.

Episode 19: Libby Riddles

This week’s special guest was the first woman to win the The Last Great Race, the Iditarod. Listen as she talks about that special race in 1985. She also talks with us about being a positive female role model for young girls and boys. Finally, she shares her choices for our Musher Mount Rushmore, an all dog memorial.

Episode 18: Heidi Sloan

This week’s episode features the 2018 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. Listen as she talks with us about her upcoming adventure as the 20th Iditarod Teacher on the Trail.

Episode 17: Finney (Andrea Aufder Heyde)

Are you interested in learning more about the Iditarod Teacher on the Trail program? This is the episode for you. Join us as we talk with Andrea “Finney” Aufder Heyde on this episode of Husky Talk. Finney was the first ever Iditarod Teacher on the Trail. Listen as she talks with us about the program and her experience on the trail.

Episode 16: Jeff Schultz

This week we interview the “Official Photographer” of the Iditarod, Jeff Schultz. Jeff has been taking pictures for the Iditarod for 38 years. He talks with us about what got him interested in photography and what it is like taking pictures out on the trail.

Episode 15: Ed Stielstra and Laura Neese

Listen to our interview with Ed Stielstra and Laura Neese of Nature’s Kennel in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We talk with them about their partnership at Nature’s Kennel, advantages to living in the U.P., being alone on the trail, and much more. Join us for a talk with Ed and Laura.

Episode 14: Jason Campeau

Are you a hard worker? Enjoy this episode of Husky Talk as we interview Jason Campeau and listen to his philosophy of hard work. Jason was the first Canadian to complete the Yukon Quest and Iditarod in the same year.

Episode 13: Matthew Failor

Sit back and listen to Matthew Failor talk Iditarod with us. He shares how Boy Scouts has impacted his life, why he brushes his teeth before Iditarod, eating pizza on the trail, and much more.

Special Episode: The Rookie Meeting with Diane Johnson

Welcome to a special episode of Husky Talk. This episode we talk with the director of the education program for the Iditarod, Diane Johnson. Listen as she talks about the Iditarod Rookie Meeting.

Episode 12: Jon Van Zyle

Relax and listen to Jon Van Zyle talk about how the Iditarod has changed over the years. He also talks with us about his work as the official artist of the Iditarod.

Episode 11: Karen Ramstead

This week we talk with Karen Ramstead, Iditarod veteran and race judge. Listen as she talks with us about what an Iditarod race judge does on the trail and some stories from when she ran the Iditarod.

Episode 10: Al and Tanjala Eischens

This week we have a conversation with long time musher and Iditarod veteran, Al Eischens and his wife, Tanjala. Listen as they talk with us about how they work together in preparing each year for the Iditarod.

Episode 9: Larry Dougherty

Join us as we talk with avid mountain climber and Iditarod finisher Larry Daugherty. Listen as he talks about his attempt to climb the Seven Summits and his experience out on the Iditarod trail.

Episode 8: Greg Heister

Join us as we speak with the executive producer of the Iditarod Insider, and the “voice” of the Iditarod documentaries, Greg Heister.

Episode 7: Becca Moore

Join us as we talk with Becca Moore. Listen as she shares how the Iditarod affects her family.

Episode 6: Meredith Mapes

Join us as we talk with Iditarod rookie, Meredith Mapes. Listen as she tells us about racing the Jr. Iditarod and the qualifications to run the Iditarod.

Episode 5: Maureen Chrysler

Sit down with us as we talk with Maureen Chrysler. Maureen is a long time volunteer with the Iditarod. Listen as she talks with us about drug testing the dogs for the Iditarod “P” Team.

Episode 4: Charley Bejna

Join us as we talk to Charley Bejna live in our studio. Charley speaks about who inspired him to run dogs. He also speaks firsthand about the challenges of having Type I diabetes and being a musher.

Episode 3: Martin Buser

Join us in episode #3 as we talk with Martin Buser about how positivity plays a role in his dog training, his memories of running the Iditarod with his son, and becoming a United States citizen under the “Burled Arch” in Nome.

Episode 2 of Husky Talk features an Iditarod veteran who has finished The Great Race 17 times and has finished in the top 5, five times; Aliy Zirkle. Listen as Aliy shares with us how she trains her dogs, her funniest Iditarod memory, and her goal of winning the Iditarod with a happy, healthy dog team.

Pilot Episode: Danny Seavey

Danny is a 3rd generation musher who first rode on a dog sled when he was 6 months old.  As a child, he started learning about Iditarod and eventually entered races.  Danny is an Iditarod Veteran, the son of Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey, the brother of Champion Dallas Seavey, and the grandson of an Iditarod racer, Dan Seavey.  Mushing plays an important role in Danny’s family life.