The Blue Tarp

Latest Episodes:

Season 4, Episode 6: Homesteaders May 27, 2023

Show notes

This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. Today, we’ll hear about people who came to the area to live a remote lifestyle. Whether they came as part of the Homestead Act, other agricultural programs, or simply on their own, they have made the Susitna Valley their home. We invite you to join us as we hear their stories. Whether you’re an oldtimer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone.

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Season 4, Episode 5: Oldtimers May 15, 2023

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This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. So far in this season about arrivals in the Susitna Valley, we have covered the first people to arrive here, whose ancestors are still here, all the way up to people who have recently finished their first winter in the area. There have been many waves of immigration to Alaska, and today we want to take a look at some of the folks who we refer to when we use the term old-timers. Join us as we hear the stories of people who became Alaskans before Alaska became a state. Whether you’re an oldtimer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone.

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Season 4, Episode 4: Just Visiting Part 2 Apr 29, 2023

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This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. In this episode, we’re continuing our exploration of stories from locals who thought they were coming here temporarily, but ended up calling the Valley home. Whether you’re an oldtimer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone.

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Season 4, Episode 3: Just Visiting Part 1 Apr 15, 2023

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This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. As we focus in Season Four about how local residents found their way here, a common trend emerges fairly quickly. Many who call this area home didn’t intend for that to happen when they first arrived. In fact, that story is so common, that we’re going to need two episodes to really dive into it. Today we bring the first of this two-parter that we’re calling “Just Visiting.”

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Season 4, Episode 2: Newcomers Apr 01, 2023

Show notes

This is The Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. Our fourth season is focusing on Northern Valley origin stories, how people found themselves here at various points in history. In episode one, we heard about the first peoples to live in the area. For this episode, we’re switching things around and speaking to folks who moved here very recently and what their first winter here was like.

Whether you’re an old timer or a newcomer, there’s room under the Blue Tarp for everyone.

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Season 4, Episode 1: Susitna Valley Origins Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

This is the Blue Tarp, stories from the Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.
Our fourth season focuses on Susitna Valley origin stories. Everyone who lives here today got here, somehow. To begin this season, we hear about the people who lived here for centuries before the first person of European descent arrived.

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Season 3, Episode 8: The Present and the Future Jun 25, 2022

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This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. This will be our last episode for season three, which has focused on women in aviation. As we wind down this season, we want to take a look at the very recent past, as well as how women are shaping the future of flying in this part of Alaska. Whether you’re an oldtimer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone.

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The Blue Tarp Season 3, Episode 7: Best Moments Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. In our last episode, we heard stories about some of the scariest moments our interviewees experienced in their time within the aviation community. This time, we want to flip that around and hear about the good times–their proudest moments and favorite memories. Whether you’re an oldtimer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone.

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Season 3, Episode 6: Scariest Moments May 28, 2022

Show notes

NOTE: This is an updated version of Episode 6. When initially published, we inadvertently left out part of Robin Spaulding's story. That section, which begins around 17:35, has now been included.
This is The Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. This season has focused on women in aviation. Thus far, we’ve heard stories of triumph, adversity, and everything in between. Today, we’re going to hear about what happens when things go wrong in an airplane. Whether you’re an old timer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone.

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Season 3, Episode 5: Denali Base Camp May 14, 2022

Show notes

This is The Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them. In this season, we’ve been focusing on women in aviation. For this episode, we’re going to focus on a job unique to the area, effectively running a small airport seven thousand feet up North America’s highest mountain. Whether you’re an old-timer or a newcomer, there’s room under the blue tarp for everyone.

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