When you ask someone to picture Alaska, one of the most iconic images that is sure to pop up is dog mushing, which is a topic Robert Forto knows all about.

Robert currently teaches a course on dog mushing at UAA, has trained thousands of sled dogs professionally since 1994, and has since built a podcasting and speaking business focused on dog mushing and its relationship to strategic leadership.

He is also a UAA alum, graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Afterward, he earned his Master of Science in Sports Management and a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Liberty University.

In this episode, Robert talks about why everyone should try dog mushing at least once, what training sled dogs can teach us about managing people and businesses and shares his own aspirations for racing in the Iditarod.

Anyone can put on a coat, hat and beard and call themselves Santa Claus. But few embody the spirit of Father Christmas as perfectly as professional piloting alumnus Dan Bale. An Alaska bush pilot who has logged more than 20,000 flight hours over the course of his 50-year career, during the winter, he is more affectionately known as Santa Dan.

Now in his 17th year, Santa Dan is available for photos with kids (and even dogs) at the Midtown Mall in Anchorage, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

In this episode, Dan talks about his childhood watching planes take off from the New Orleans airport runway, why you need a strong poker face when playing with children, and recounts a lovely Christmas story that perfectly encapsulates his roles as a pilot and as Santa.

Seawolf Voices is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google Podcasts, Audible and Amazon Music.

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November is American Indian Alaska Native Heritage Month, and in a bit of serendipitous timing, this month is also when business alumnus Jason Hotch, a first-generation university graduate from the Southeast Alaska village of Klukwan, stepped into his new position as director of Native Student Services at UAA.

In this episode, Jason talks about transitioning from working in business to education, resisting the need to rush things unless you absolutely want to, and making education more equitable for everyone.

Seawolf Voices is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google Podcasts, Audible and Amazon Music.

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