Bailey Vitello has completed three Iditarods (2023–2025), tackling the southern, northern, and the "way northern" routes. By his own words, he still feels like a rookie — he hasn’t run the same trail twice yet. But after a 5th place finish in 2025, and strong performances in both the Kobuk 440 and Kuskokwim 300, he's quickly proving he's a serious contender.

Bailey grew up around sled dogs on the East Coast, and with the support of family and friends, made his way across the U.S. and Canada competing in races of all kinds — even taking a team to Europe. Now based in Nenana, Alaska, Bailey is focused on long-term racing in the Last Frontier and plans to run the Iditarod for years to come. Off the trail, he’s getting ready to marry his fiancée this summer.

0:00 - Intro

9:18 - Interview with Bailey

#Iditarod #BaileyVitello #DogMushing #MushingAlaskaPodcast #MostImproved #SledDogs #MushingAlaska #LivintheDream

Our guest - Libby Riddles made history as the first woman to win the 1,000-mile Iditarod in 1985, racing through brutal conditions and proving her grit on Alaska’s toughest trail. She ran the Iditarod throughout the '80s and returned for one more run in 1995.Before her historic win, she trained and lived in Teller, Alaska, north of Nome on the Seward Peninsula. These days, she spends winters with her small dog team in the hills of the Kenai Peninsula, and in the summer, she shares her stories with cruise ship guests in Alaska’s capital.We had an incredible conversation packed with stories, insight, and wisdom from a true trailblazer. Don't miss this one — tune in and enjoy!#Iditarod #LibbyRiddles #DogMushing #AlaskaPodcast #WomenInHistory #SledDogs #MushingAlaska

For our latest episode, we welcome back Connor McMahon for his second appearance on the show. Based outside of Whitehorse in the Yukon, Connor brings his usual easy-going, down-to-earth energy—so much so that you’d barely know his truck broke down less than two weeks before the Iditarod!

We catch up on what he’s been up to since last year’s race, his road to Nome this year, and all things mushing. You won’t want to miss this one! Join us in cheering Connor on as he heads for the burled arch in Nome, enjoy!

For our latest episode, we welcome back Connor McMahon for his second appearance on the show. Based outside of Whitehorse in the Yukon, Connor brings his usual easy-going, down-to-earth energy—so much so that you’d barely know his truck broke down less than two weeks before the Iditarod!We catch up on what he’s been up to since last year’s race, his road to Nome this year, and all things mushing. You won’t want to miss this one! Join us in cheering Connor on as he heads for the burled arch in Nome, enjoy!Quick Intro - 0:00

Interview - 10:52

#MushingAlaska #Iditarod #ConnorMcMahon #SledDogs #MushingLife #DogMushing #YukonMusher #TrailToNome #Podcast #brothers

Mushing Alaska fans, we’ve got a jam-packed episode coming your way! We kick things off with a rundown of the latest mushing news—weather updates, an Iditarod route change (and the social media buzz around it), plus quick recaps of the Yukon Quest Alaska & Canada and the Kuskokwim 300.But the real treat? We’re joined by none other than Squid Acres Kennel’s Paige Drobny & Cody Strathe! These two have been involved in the long-distance mushing scene for nearly 20 years, running the Yukon Quest almost every year of the 2010s and tackling the Iditarod just weeks later. Cody’s coming off an incredible 2nd place finish in the CB300 and 3rd in the ultra-competitive Kusko 300, and Paige is about to embark on her 10th Iditarod after last year’s 5th place finish!Sean tried to count how many total 1000 mile races Paige has done and it's gotta be about 15? Anyways, these two have been a great representation of excellent dog care, top-tier dog names, and how they keep good vibes on the trail—even in the toughest conditions. We're thankful they could join us during this hectic time of the year, enjoy!Intro - 0:00- Catch up- Weather update - 2:41- Social media discussion - 4:46- Route discussion - 16:20- Yukon Quest - 22:46- Yukon Quest Alaska - 26:16- Yukon Quest Canada - 31:17- Kuskokwim 300 - 34:14- Interview preview - 39:28Interview - 45:33#MushingAlaska #Iditarod #YukonQuest #SledDogs #SquidAcres #MushingLife #DogMushing

Our latest episode is with 2025 Iditarod Rookie - Mike Parker. He has been running renowned musher Jim Lanier's team, but he's no stranger to the sled dog world. With over a decade of experience working with these incredible animals, Mike has been honing his skills and knowledge every step of the way. In 2024, Mike successfully completed the grueling Copper Basin 300, and this year, he's been training hard in tough winter conditions as he prepares for the legendary Iditarod trail. Tune in to hear all about his journey, the challenges he's faced, and he anticipation for the upcoming race, enjoy! Pre interview: Intro - 0:00 Weather - 2:05 Yukon Quest - 16:00 Iditarod update - 18:50 Preview of interview - 22:10 Interview - 31:19

#mushingexpert #iditarodveteran #mushing #alaska #mushingalaska #iditarod2025 #iditarod #brothers #podcast #husky #sendit #pullthehook #fullsend #LFG #badass #alaskanhusky #epicshit #blackhawkexpert #goodvibes #dreambig #adventuretime #livingthedream #sleddogparker #longtimelistener #oglistener

Join us for our next episode as we sit down with Mark Nordman, a legendary figure in the mushing world and the Iditarod. With over 40 years experience, Mark has worn many hats in this iconic race: from dog driver to race organizer to race marshal. His dedication extends beyond the trail; Mark annually visits the remote villages along the Iditarod route, nurturing the crucial bond between these communities and the historic 1000 mile event. Don't miss this insightful conversation as we dive into Mark's journey and the enduring spirit of the Iditarod, enjoy!

0:00 - Intro

38:13 - Interview with Mark

We got a chance to chat with Calvin Daugherty and will get to see him hit the Iditarod trail again the first weekend in March 2025. Calvin was exposed to the sled dog world when his family moved to Alaska about a decade ago and has been hooked ever since. We had a great time chatting with him and are going to be cheering him on this season, enjoy!

2025 Iditarod rookie Keaton Loebrich joins us for our next episode! Keaton moved up here a few years ago and fell in love with sled dogs and the interior. He and his wife got married this summer and live near Fairbanks in a cabin that they built with 21 dogs in their yard. Star Gazers Kennel has sled dogs that are sourced from multiple kennels around Alaska. Keaton ran the Quest 300 twice among other qualifiers. We loved to see how excited he is to be living his dream. Keaton spent 4 years in the Marine Corps and we thank him and all service members for their service on Veteran’s Day, enjoy!

#mushingexpert #iditarodveteran #mushing #alaska #mushingalaska #iditarod2024 #iditarod #brothers #podcast #husky #sendit #pullthehook #fullsend #LFG #badass #alaskanhusky #epicshit #blackhawkexpert #goodvibes #dreambig #adventuretime #livingthedream