The start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race begins long before the teams reach the trail. One of the most anticipated events of race week is the Iditarod Mushers Banquet, where fans, sponsors, and mushers gather in Anchorage for an evening that officially launches the Last Great Race on Earth.

In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, hosts Robert and Michele Forto take listeners inside this iconic event. The banquet features the famous bib drawing from a traditional mukluk, meet-and-greet opportunities with mushers, auctions that help support the race, and special tributes to important figures in Iditarod history.

The show also explores updates to the Iditarod Insider platform, including multi-camera livestreams, improved GPS tracking, fan chat features, and SMS alerts that allow followers around the world to stay connected to the race.

Finally, the hosts discuss the newly announced IditaHealth: Smiles for Miles program, a pediatric dental initiative that will bring preventative oral health care and education to children in rural checkpoint communities along the Iditarod Trail. The program highlights how the race continues to support Alaska’s trail communities beyond the competition itself.

Listeners will also hear about new features coming to this year’s Mushing Podcast coverage, including nightly race recaps, historical insights, rulebook discussions, and fan interaction throughout the race.

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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, host Michele Forto shares a summary of the 2026 State of Mushing Letter from Robert Forto and the team at Mushing Magazine and the Team and Trail Foundation.

Each year during Iditarod season, this letter reflects on the direction of dog-powered sports and the evolving role of the media that documents it. This year’s message centers on a powerful idea: differentiation.

While many publications are shrinking or shifting entirely online, Mushing Magazine has chosen a different path by deepening its commitment to serious storytelling, field reporting, and preserving the history of the sport.

In this episode, Michele discusses:

1. Why print media still matters in the world of mushing
2. The transition of Mushing Magazine into the Team and Trail Foundation
3. How the sport is adapting to environmental change and shorter snow seasons
4. The rise of dryland disciplines like canicross and bikejoring
5. Why authentic storytelling still requires human journalists and photographers

The State of Mushing letter is both a reflection on the sport’s past and a roadmap for its future, grounded in leadership, endurance, and the traditions that make dog-powered sports unique.

If you care about sled dogs, racing, outdoor leadership, and the culture surrounding mushing, this episode offers an important perspective on where the sport is heading next.

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Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

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You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

In this special series opener, Robert Forto sits down with Iditarod veteran Rod Perry to tell the real story behind the 1973 race. Rod ran in the inaugural Iditarod and shares firsthand insight into the meetings, the skepticism, and the last-minute efforts that made the race possible.

You’ll hear how Joe Redington Sr., Tom Johnson, and others and why they pushed when others walked away, why 1973 was the only year the race could have worked, and how the U.S. Army played a critical role in putting in the original trail.

Rod also breaks down the true history of the Iditarod Trail itself, explaining how multiple historic routes combine to form today’s race.

If you care about Iditarod history, sled dog racing, and the roots of modern mushing, this episode sets the foundation.

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Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.

Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

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You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

Keywords: First Iditarod, 1973 Iditarod, Iditarod history, Joe Redington, Alaska sled dog racing, Dog mushing podcast, Long-distance mushing, Iditarod Trail, Anchorage Alaska, Sled dog race origins, Rod Perry, Anchorage Mushing District, Mushing Magazine, Robert Forto

In this episode of The Dog Driver, Robert Forto and KP welcome back Daniel Bocock, a veteran competitor with extensive experience at the highest levels of dog-powered sports. Daniel reflects on his return to the podcast and shares insights from racing six-dog and four-dog teams at the IFSS World Championships in Spain and Wisconsin.

The conversation covers Daniel’s progression from canicross to elite team racing, working with Eurohounds, Greysters, and Siberian Huskies, and managing a mixed kennel with his partner Anna Marman. Daniel also breaks down the realities of international racing, including airline logistics, customs challenges, equipment transport, and the cost of taking a six-dog team overseas.

This episode offers a candid, experience-based look at what it takes to compete on the world stage in modern mushing.

The Mushing podcast is made possible by Mushing+ subscribers. Learn more about all the benefits of a subscription and subscribe now at mushing.com/mushingplus

Our fans would love to learn more about you. Fill out our Musher Q & A here

Do you have a story idea or a pitch for a podcast? Check it out here

Trail Bytes 2025

Support our Work

Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share

Sign up for our Newsletter HERE

Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.

Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram

You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, host Robert Forto sits down with veteran musher Bridgett Watkins to talk about her powerful new documentary, Without Warning, now streaming on Amazon and other platforms.

Bridget shares the full story behind the film, including a violent moose attack on her dog team, the emotional and physical toll of her first Iditarod attempt, and the mental battle of returning to the trail after being forced to scratch. She opens up about the unbreakable bond between musher and dog team, the unseen role of family and support crews watching trackers from home, and how the mushing community shows up when it matters most.

This episode goes far beyond race results. It’s about survival, leadership, trust, and knowing when to push forward and when to prioritize life. Whether you’re a longtime fan of sled dog racing or new to the sport, this conversation offers rare insight into the realities of long-distance mushing in Alaska.

The Mushing podcast is made possible by Mushing+ subscribers. Learn more about all the benefits of a subscription and subscribe now at mushing.com/mushingplus

Our fans would love to learn more about you. Fill out our Musher Q & A here

Do you have a story idea or a podcast pitch? Check it out here

Trail Bytes 2025

Support our Work

Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share

Sign up for our Newsletter HERE

Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.

Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram

You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

In this episode of The Dog Driver, Robert Forto and KP sit down with Mikki Douglas, one of the most dominant competitors in modern dryland mushing. Fresh off the IFSS World Championships, Mikki shares how she captured three gold medals and a bronze across multiple disciplines, including four-dog rig, bikejoring, scooter, and relay racing.

The conversation explores Mikki’s background in professional motocross and mountain biking, how speed sports shaped her racing mindset, and how she applies exercise physiology principles to dog training. Mikki also discusses building and racing a kennel of Eurohounds, preparing independently in the Pacific Northwest, hosting Iron Paws races, and navigating the realities of life disruptions, including fires, storms, and rebuilding.

This episode is a deep dive into elite performance, resilience, and what it takes to win at the highest level of dryland dog racing.

The Mushing podcast is made possible by Mushing+ subscribers. Learn more about all the benefits of a subscription and subscribe now at mushing.com/mushingplus

Our fans would love to learn more about you. Fill out our Musher Q & A here

Do you have a story idea or a pitch for a podcast? Check it out here

Trail Bytes 2025

Support our Work

Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share

Sign up for our Newsletter HERE

Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.

Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram

You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

Dryland mushing is one of the fastest-growing areas of dog-powered sports, especially in regions with limited winter snow. In this episode of The Dog Driver, we talk with an experienced dryland musher, Leendert Van Dorp, about how teams train, race, and compete at the IFSS Dryland World Championships in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

The conversation covers real-world dryland mushing equipment, including scooters, bikes, canicross, four-dog rigs, and six-dog rigs, as well as kennel size, dog selection, nutrition, and training schedules. We also discuss balancing work, family, and dogs, how dryland racing has expanded over the years, and why more mushers are shifting toward dryland competition.

This episode is a practical, experience-based look at life as a dog driver off snow.

The Mushing podcast is made possible by Mushing+ subscribers. Learn more about all the benefits of a subscription and subscribe now at mushing.com/mushingplus

Our fans would love to learn more about you. Fill out our Musher Q & A here

Do you have a story idea, or pitch a podcast? Check it out here

Trail Bytes 2025

Support our Work

Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!

Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share

Sign up for our Newsletter HERE

Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.

Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram

You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved