Shows
Murder and Mystery in the Last FrontierFTA: The Horrible Misdeeds of Papa Pilgrim
Alaska’s slogan is the “Last Frontier.” To some people, this means Alaska is the Wild West, a place with less law and order where they can live as they choose. The man who called himself Papa Pilgrim believed moving his family to the wilderness of Alaska would offer him the opportunity to do anything he wanted. Papa Pilgrim was the worst kind of hypocrite because he hid his crimes behind his religious zeal. Like a charismatic cult leader, Pilgrim could appear charming and persuasive in public, but there was another side to him, and this was the side h...2025-02-2634 min
Can We Talk?Episode 121: Alaska's Jewish Pioneer DaughterOn August 4, 1869, a Jewish baby girl named Josie became Alaska’s first pioneer daughter. Josephine Rudolph was born in Sitka, Alaska to German immigrants, and returned to Germany when she was 6 years old. Seven decades later, her American birth saved her life when the Nazis came to power.Josie’s story takes us from the muddy frontier town of Sitka to Hitler youth parades in Nazi Germany and finally to postwar New York, where her family tried to find their place. It's a remarkable tale of the survival of one Jewish woman and her family, but it's also pa...2024-12-1624 min
East Anchorage Book Club with Andrew GrayTom Kizzia: author of "Josie's Story: from 19th-century Sitka to her escape from the Holocaust"Send us a textWriter Tom Kizzia's eight-part series on the first white settler girl born in American Alaska concludes today in the Anchorage Daily News. “Josie’s Story" tells the story of the life of Josie Rudolph who was born in Sitka in 1869 to German Jewish parents but moved back to Germany when she was still a child. 69 years later in Nuremberg, it was Josie’s Alaskan birth that saved her from the Nazis.Tom Kizzia had a 25-year career as a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. He is the author...2024-10-2733 min
Dontcha KnowPapa Pilgrim and the Alaskan Hale Family Cult.Welcome my pretties, come in have a seat as we discuss the tragic tale of incest, abuse, spiritual manipulation, and damage to the Wrangell- St. Elias national park.Warning: This episode contains depictions of death, incest, rape, mental/spiritual/physical/emotional abuse Listener discretion is advised.Resources to the last drop:Papa Pilgrim’s Progress: The Dark Tale of an Alaskan Frontiersman (outsideonline.com)Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom Kizzia | Goodreadshttps://www.adn.com/projects/article/hale-clan-details-abuse-hand-their-father-papa-pilgrim/2013/07/12/...2024-06-0242 minEast Anchorage Book Club with Andrew GrayTom Kizzia: author on ghost town McCarthySend us a textAuthor Tom Kizzia is most well-known for his best-selling 2013 book, Pilgrim’s Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier, which was chosen by the New York Times as the best true crime book set in Alaska. Kizzia began his life in our state in the late 70s as a Homer-based journalist at the Homer News. In the early 80s he was hired by the late Howard Weaver to work at the Anchorage Daily News where he started as a crime reporter. In 1983 he visited McCarthy for the first time to...2024-01-0156 min
Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Forum PodcastsA Remembrance of Journalist Howard Weaver (October 15, 1950-December 14, 2023)Howard Weaver, a boy from Muldoon, was probably the most important figure in Alaska journalism. He led the Anchorage Daily News to two Pulitzer prizes—the Gold Medal for Distinguished and Meritorious Public Service, both times. ADN recently went on to win this award for a third time. Only three other newspapers in the 100+ year history of the Pulitzer prizes have earned that honor more often, and the paper’s continuing great work is, in part, a significant reflection of his lasting impact on journalists throughout Alaska today—whether they ever knew him or have even heard of him. At toda...2023-12-172h 18
LogrollWill Storr: The Status GameThis is an interview with Will Storr about his book The Status Game, which was named a book of the year by The Times and was recently championed on Joe Rogan's podcast. Will is my friend and former features editor. We started off talking about how he got into journalism, his early Gonzo-influenced magazine work at Loaded, and how he shifted into becoming an award-winning journalist for broadsheets. We also talked about his other books, including The Science of Storytelling, which is about how and why people tell stories; we talked about when he went undercover...2023-11-021h 13
East Anchorage Book Club with Andrew GrayTom Kizzia: author of "Wake of the Unseen Object"Send us a textHomer-based author Tom Kizzia is most well-known for his best-selling 2013 book Pilgrim’s Wilderness, which was chosen by the New York Times as the best true crime book set in Alaska. Kizzia moved to Homer in the mid-70s where he took over the Homer News. In the early 80s, he was hired by the Anchorage Daily News and while working for that paper he wrote a series of stories under the title, "North Country Journal.” That project required Kizzia to travel to small Alaskan villages off the road system and repo...2023-09-181h 04Murder and Mystery in the Last FrontierMaximum Security Part 2: Bryan PerottiIn 1994, Kristopher Marcy and his friend, Bryan Perotti, managed the unthinkable when they escaped from Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward, Alaska. When Marcy and Perotti first escaped, the police warned the public to be on the lookout for the pair. They considered both inmates dangerous, but they believed Bryan Perotti was the most violent of the two. Since Kristopher Marcy was in prison for stabbing a grandmother 26 times and then raping her as she lay dying, I couldn’t imagine a more violent predator and was curious to learn the details of Bryan Perotti’s young life and the crim...2022-06-2824 min
Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Forum PodcastsOne Writer’s Alaska JourneyAlaskan Author Tom Kizzia2021-11-281h 25
End of The RoadS2 E2 Climbing The Cold Mountain Path: In Conversation With Tom Kizzia, Part TwoIn this episode, Tom Kizzia takes us into the 1983 shootings in McCarthy that killed six of the town’s 22 residents. He focuses on Amy Ashenden, a lesser known victim of the shootings. We continue our conversation with author, Tom Kizzia, discussing his new book titled, Cold Mountain Path: The Ghost Town Decades of McCarthy-Kennecott, Alaska. In his book, Tom preserves the “Lost Years” of 1938-1983, and creates an opportunity to talk about these stories and how they impact the community. In our interview with Tom about his book, two themes emerged: how we approach and process the past (P...2021-11-1220 minEnd of The RoadS2 E1 Ghost Town with Tom KizziaIn our first episode of Season Two we explore the Ghost Town decades of our Kennecott-McCarthy community in remote Alaska by way of an interview with author Tom Kizzia and his new book, Cold Mountain Path: The Ghost Town Decades of McCarthy-Kennecott, Alaska. We discuss ghost towns and what that means as a metaphor, not just about the past but about how we process the past. Along the way we explore the harrowing stories and reflections of Jim Edwards as well as our community's relationship with the Ahtna people and culture that predate the arrival of white...2021-11-0322 min
Talk of AlaskaCold Mountain Path and the stories behind one of Alaska’s most scenic ghost towns
What stories do Alaska’s ghost towns have to tell? In his newest book, longtime Alaska writer Tom Kizzia explores that question in McCarthy, digging into the bygone days of the tiny community nestled into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Cold Mountain Path explores forgotten stories of mining, homesteading and loss. We’ll also discuss the new micropress based out of McCarthy that’s publishing the book.
Listen here:
HOST: Adelyn Baxter
GUESTS:
Tom Kizzia, author, Cold Mountain Path
Jeremy Pataky, publisher, Porphyry Press
LINKS & RESOURCES:
Por...2021-10-0158 min
BLISTER PodcastReviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (July 2021)Cody and Jonathan discuss athletes & mental health; the affordable housing issues facing mountain towns; Pit Viper vs. far-right extremists (??); the ongoing consolidation of outdoor media; and more. TOPICS & TIMES:Cody & Elyse are gonna be parents! (2:30)Athletes & Mental Health (9:32)Pit Viper vs. the Far Right (24:51)Consolidation in Outdoor Media (35:45)Housing shortages in Mountain Towns (50:02)Mark Reaman editorial, CB NewsMt. Crested Butte Weighs ConcernsSki Mountaineering in the Olympics (1:11:14)Media Recommendations (1:16:54)Pilgrim's Wilderness, Tom Kizzia (1:17:26)Natural Born Heroes, Christopher McDougall (1:18:00)Aspen and the American Dream, Jenny Stuber (1:19:32)Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin (1:19:47)The Spy and the Traitor, Ben M...2021-08-021h 31
Thoughts from a Page PodcastJohn Galligan - BAD MOON RISINGJohn and I discuss Bad Moon Rising, the inspiration for Heidi Kick, weaving timely issues into his mysteries, connecting his community in rural Wisconsin with the bigger themes and conflicts in culture, the most challenging part of writing for him, how the pandemic upended his next book’s storyline, and much more.John’s recommended reads are:
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
Pilgrim’s Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom KIzzia
Dirty Kids: Chasing Freedom with America’s Nomads by Chris Urquhart
The Feather...2021-06-2725 min
Futility ClosetA Desperate Winter in Antarctica In 1898 a Belgian ship on a scientific expedition was frozen into the sea off the coast of Antarctica. During the long polar night, its 18 men would confront fear, death, illness, and despair. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe life aboard the Belgica during its long, dark southern winter. We'll also consider a devaluing signature and puzzle over some missing music. Intro: George S. Kaufman was uninterested in Eddie Fisher's dating problems. The Hatter and the March Hare impugn one another's honesty. 2021-06-1433 min
Strange CountryPapa PilgrimPapa Pilgrim brought his giant family to McCarthy, AK to live a simple life, love the lord and escape vice and sin. Or that's what he told the residents who eagerly embraced this new, strange family. What he did in the isolated wilderness was much, much worse. Another gross one for Strange Country fans. Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands. Cite your sources: Kirby, Mark. “Papa Pilgrim's Progress.” Outside Online, 29 July 2019, https://www.outsideonline.com/1928141/papa-pilgrims-progress-dark-tale-alaskan-frontiersman. Kizzia, Tom. Pilgrims Wilderness: a True Story of Faith and Madness on the Ala...2019-08-221h 02
Not In a Creepy WayNIACW 195 The Man From UNCLEGuy Ritchie’s The Man from UNCLE stars Superman, the Lone Ranger, and the next Lora Croft. What’s not to love? It’s the Bond movie Eric has been waiting for: full of action, snappy patter, and good acting. References: Bizarre (TV Series) hosted by John Byner The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (TV series) The Wild Wild West (TV series) Mission: Impossible (TV series) David McCallum Black Sheep Squadron (TV series) The Boss Baby Werner Von Braun - Tom L...2017-04-091h 01
Simply The Best Audiobooks in Newspapers & Magazines, News & Culture to Listen OnlineThe New Yorker, September 12th 2016 (Ariel Levy, Tom Kizzia, Patrick Radden Keefe) Audiobook by Ariel Levy, Tom Kizzia, Patrick Radden KeefeListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttp://hotaudiobook.comTitle: The New Yorker, September 12th 2016 (Ariel Levy, Tom Kizzia, Patrick Radden Keefe)
Author: Ariel Levy, Tom Kizzia, Patrick Radden Keefe
Narrator: Dan Bernard, Christine Marshall
Format: Highlights
Length: 1 hr and 56 mins
Language: English
Release date: 09-07-16
Publisher: The New Yorker
Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes
Genres: Newspapers & Magazines, News & Culture
Publisher's Summary:
In this issue:
COMMENT
"Obama the Conservationist" by Elizabeth Kolbert: Despite Congress's opposition, he has put more acreage under protection than any other President.
DEPT. OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
"The Secret Life of Plants" by Ariel Levy: How...2016-09-081h 56
On the EnvironmentFaith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier: a Conversation with Tom KizziaTom Kizzia's recent book, Pilgrim's Wilderness, details the strange (but true) journey of the self-proclaimed Papa Pilgrim, who established his wife and fifteen children in America's largest national park in south-central Alaska. In this podcast, Kizzia visits with Amy Mount, Yale F&ES '14, about how the Pilgrims touched off one of the most-visible controversies between environmentalists, government officials and local land-rights advocates in a generation.2014-04-2331 min
Access Top-Rated Full Audiobooks in History, The AmericasPilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom KizziaPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/179680 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier Author: Tom Kizzia Narrator: Fred Sanders Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 15 minutes Release date: July 16, 2013 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3.88 of Total 8 Ratings of Narrator: 4.67 of Total 3 Genres: The Americas Publisher's Summary: Into the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness – and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch. When Papa Pilgrim appeared in the Alaska frontier outpost of McCart...2013-07-1610 min
Transform Your Downtime With the Magic of Full AudiobookPilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier Audiobook by Tom KizziaListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 179680
Title: Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier
Author: Tom Kizzia
Narrator: Fred Sanders
Format: Unabridged
Length: 10:15:00
Language: English
Release date: 07-16-13
Publisher: Random House (Audio)
Genres: History, Non-Fiction, North America, Social Science
Summary:
Into the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness – and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch.
When Papa Pilgrim appeared in the Alaska frontier outpost of McCarthy with his wife a...2013-07-1610h 15
Access Top-Rated Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social SciencePilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom KizziaPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/179680to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier
Author: Tom Kizzia
Narrator: Fred Sanders
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hours 15 minutes
Release date: July 16, 2013
Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3.88 of Total 8
Ratings of Narrator: 4.67 of Total 3
Genres: Social Science
Publisher's Summary:
Into the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness – and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch. When Papa Pilgrim appeared in the Alaska frontier outpost of McCarthy with h...2013-07-1610h 15
Access Top-Rated Full Audiobooks in Non-Fiction, Social SciencePilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom KizziaPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/179680 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier Author: Tom Kizzia Narrator: Fred Sanders Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 15 minutes Release date: July 16, 2013 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 3.88 of Total 8 Ratings of Narrator: 4.67 of Total 3 Genres: Social Science Publisher's Summary: Into the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness – and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch. When Papa Pilgrim appeared in the Alaska frontier outpost of McCart...2013-07-1610 minListen to Free Audiobook in Bios & Memoirs, CelebritiesPilgrim's Wilderness by Tom Kizzia | Free AudiobookListen to full audiobooks for free on :https://hotaudiobook.com/freeTitle: Pilgrim's Wilderness
Author: Tom Kizzia
Narrator: Fred Sanders
Format: Unabridged
Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
Language: English
Release date: 07-16-13
Publisher: Random House Audio
Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Criminals
Summary:
Into the Wild meets Helter Skelter in this riveting true story of a modern-day homesteading family in the deepest reaches of the Alaskan wilderness - and of the chilling secrets of its maniacal, spellbinding patriarch.
When Papa Pilgrim appeared in the Alaska frontier outpost of McCarthy with his wife and fifteen children in tow, his new neighbors had little idea...2013-07-1610h 15