Shows / Big Cabbage Radio
Episodes
- Big Cabbage Radio
Home To Roost #71
This week on Home to Roost: Social Security approaches insolvency while Trump offers a $5,000 “dividend” financed more like a forced loan. Meanwhile, Alaska…
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Inside The City: Airport Superintendent John Diumenti
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, John Diumenti, Superintendent of the Palmer Municipal Airport, as they discuss several issues including the FAA and…
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Mayor’s Minutes: Report on the September 8th, 2026 Palmer City Council Meeting.
Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the recent city council meeting for September 8th. 2026, on this week’s Mayor’s Minutes with host Mike Chmielewski…
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Arsenic and Old Lace…Dinner, Drinks, and Murder?
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Martha and Abby Brewster. Two sweet ladies with a taste for murder. Listen in as they discuss the upcoming dinner…
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Page 2 Thu. Sept. 10: The Fair’s Over, Now What?
Wow! That was an amazing three weeks of the State Fair. Well done to all involved! The drone show was extraordinary. We look forward to the Fair next year and…
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Ag Matters: Ellen Vande Visse, Good Earth Garden School.
Join host Ken Hoffman and his guest, Ellen Vande Visse with Good Earth Gardens. Ellen Vande Visse Ellen Vande Visse, MS, somewhere in her shady past, served as…
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Page 2 Wed. Sept. 9: The Alpine Historical Park in Sutton
The Alpine Historical Park in Sutton is a treasure. History is not sealed behind glass. It is out in the weather. There are log buildings, brightly colored…
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Palmer Museum of History and Art: The Redesign
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Dylainie Nathlich, the museum’s Executive Director, and Christine Carpenter with ExhibitAK. Listen as they…
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Home To Roost #69
Trade wars, robot wars, and Blackbeard with broadband. Canadian tariffs come for Alaska, delayed federal ferry money finally docks, and AI agents discover…
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Valley Edition: Dean Williams, Former Commissioner of Corrections in Alaska.
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Dean Williams, who has been deeply involved in corrections in Alaska and Colorado and is now a consultant for the…
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Inside The City: Commander Luke Szipszky With the Palmer Police Department
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Commander Luke Szipszky with the Palmer Police Department
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Real Estate Report: August 26th, 2026
Mike Chmielewski and Scott Blair from My Favorite Realty have their monthly talk about the local real estate market and current trends. Scott Blair Image…
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Mayor’s Minutes: Report on the August 25th, 2026 Palmer City Council Meeting.
Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the recent city council meeting for August 25th. 2026, on this week’s Mayor’s Minutes with host Mike Chmielewski…
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A Conversation with The Chickaloonies!
Join host Emily Forstner and her guests, The Chickaloonies. Listen in and discover what a Chickaloonie is and what this very talented duo is doing. Also…
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Page 2 Fri. Aug. 28- “Alaska Grown’ Started With a Pencil
The Alaska Grown logo began as a sketch with a No. 2 pencil about 30 years ago. Doug Warner drew it at his desk in a small back office at the Alaska Division…
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Page 2 Thu. Aug. 27: Coming Up Soon
The Fair reopens today after its break on Tuesday and Wednesday. One week of the Fair down, and two to go. The Cake concert at the Fair tonight is sold out, as…
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Ag Matters: USDA/FSA Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Chris Dickinson with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. Listen in as they…
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Page 2 Wed. Aug. 26: Create Emoji Characters with the Chickaloonies
The Chickaloonies are trying something new at the State Fair this year. The audience runs the show instead of watching a scripted reading. They build brand-new…
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Home To Roost #67
In this episode, Rachel wonders whether $272 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program money might fail to fully land in Alaska, while John looks…
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Valley Edition: Lonnie McKechnie, Mat-Su Borough Clerk
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Lonnie McKechnie, the Mat-Su Borough Clerk. Listen in as they discuss the upcoming 2026 election. Image Credit…
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Inside The City: John Schirack, Palmer Municipal Golf Course Manager
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, John Schirack, the Manager of the Palmer Municipal Golf Course, as they discuss the ongoing 2026 golf season. At…
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Page 2 Fri. Aug. 14 Two First Days: Bartz Is Back Covering Schools for the District
Guess which longtime Valley newsman has a new job at the Mat-Su Borough School District. Superintendent Randy Trani announced a new position at the August 5…
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Ptarmigan Commons: Building Community
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Michele Girault, Executive Director of Hope Community Resources and Kathy Allely, a local parent of a person with a…
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Page 2 . Aug. 12: The Fish Map App
Your phone could help protect a salmon stream. Freshwater bodies with anadromous fish receive special protections. Anadromous fish are born in streams, go to…
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Ag Matters: Challenges Facing Farmers in Alaska
Join our new fill-in host Todd Bagetis as he welcomes his guests Alaska State Representative Garret Nelson and Andy Schmidt with the National Hay Association…
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Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce News: August 11th. 2026
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Kelley Shoemake, Executive Director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, and Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer…
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Page 2 Tue. Aug 11: The Mat-Su Sentinel Keeps Obituaries Alive
If you didn’t know the Mat-Su Sentinel now publishes obituaries, you’re not alone. You probably didn’t know they cost less than you’d…
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Campaign 2026, Candidate Interviews: Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, running for Alaska Governor.
Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, candidate for Alaska’s Governor. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Jonathan S. Kreiss-Tomkins…
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Home To Roost #66
This week, we review the substantial decline in Alaska’s federal workforce and the planned increase in the U.S. icebreaker fleet. We also play “Who…
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Valley Edition: Steve Kirsch, Public Relations Manager, Alaska Division of Elections
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Steve Kirsch, with the Alaska Division of Elections. Listen in as they discuss the upcoming election season. The…
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Inside The City: Update on the new library.
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Joy Bailey, Library Director, and Seina Bell, Library Services Coordinator, both with the Palmer Public Library, as…
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Page 2 Fri. Aug. 7, Opportunity Is an Open Door: Inside Alaska’s Job Corps Center
Graduates at the Don Young Alaska Job Corps Center in Palmer will walk across the stage next week. They will wear caps and gowns. Pomp and Circumstance will…
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In Summary: August 5th, 2026
Emily Forstner talks with Mike Chmielewski about the August 5th, 2026, Mat-Su School Board meeting. School starts soon! Image Credit: Mat-Su Borough School…
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Internet Weather Report: August 5th, 2026
Join host Mike Chmielewski with Peter House from Deep Tree as they discuss current cybersecurity threats and how much AI is a current threat in the cyber world
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Page 2 Thu. Aug. 6: Things to Do this Weekend
Hold on! Summer is not quite over. There’s still plenty happening in the Greater Palmer MetroPlex to enjoy before the ice and snow get here. How about some…
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Ag Matters: Lekker Coffee and Baking Company
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, David Boortz, owner of Lekker Coffee and Baking Company. Listen in as David discusses his past businesses and his…
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Page 2 Wed. Aug. 5: Matanuska Experiment Farm and 4-H
From the Farm is a monthly show on Big Cabbage Radio. Staff from the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center give an update on farm activities. Farm…
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From The Farm: August 4th, 2026
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Aimee Young, Farm Manager from the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, and Samantha Blumenkonig, 4-H…
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Campaign 2026, Candidate Interviews: Bill Hill running for the U.S. House
Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Bill Hill, candidate for the U.S House from Alaska Bill Hill Photo Credit: wheeldogpac.com
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Campaign 2026, Candidate Interviews: David R. Ambrose II running for the U.S. House
Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews David R. Ambrose II, candidate for the U.S House from Alaska David R. Ambrose II photo credit: elections.alaska.gov
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Campaign 2026, Candidate Interviews: Reece Roberts running for the U.S. Senate
Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Reece Roberts candidate for the U.S Senate from Alaska Reece Roberts Photo Credit: Ballotpedia.org
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Campaign 2026, Candidate Interviews: Heather McElwain running for the U.S. Senate
Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Heather McElwain, candidate for the U.S Senate from Alaska Heather McElwain Photo Credit: elections.alaska.gov
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Campaign 2026, Candidate Interviews: Scott A. Kohlhaas running for the U.S. Senate
Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Scott Kohlhass, candidate for the U.S Senate from Alaska Scott A. Kohlhass Photo Credit: Ballotpedia.org
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Page 2 Mon. Aug. 3: Mat-Su Food Bank Expands Mission to Build Food Security
Fred Becker sees the growing food insecurity in the Mat-Su Valley. He is the executive director of the Mat-Su Food Bank. He is figuring ways for the food bank…
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Your Health: Bone Health #1
Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they begin a 3-part discussion on keeping healthy bones. image credit: cleveland clinic
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Primary Candidate Interviews.
On  Sun. Aug 2 at 5 p.m. we will air interviews with candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S House for the Aug. 18 primary election. The interviews…
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Home To Roost # 65
This week, John and Rachel review how the Department of Justice might be trying to butter up Alaska to improve the confirmation chances of Trump’s nominee for…
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Inside The City: Kolby Zerkel, Palmer City Manager
Palmer’s City Manager Kolby Zerkel joins host Mike Chmielewski on Inside The City to discuss the latest issues affecting the City of Palmer. The…
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Community Health Connections: Amy Gorn, Interim Senior Program Officer, Healthy Families, Mat-Su Health Foundation
Amy Gorn with the Mat-Su Health Foundation joins host Mike Chmielewski to discuss her work with the Healthy Families program and the state-wide Summer Camps…
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Page 2 Tue. July 28: A public and charitable use
What does the term “Public and Charitable” mean? The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, known as DNR, has a statute that allows land to be transferred…
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Your Health: Sunscreen Safety #2
Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they conclude a 2-part discussion on the pros and cons of Sunscreens.
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Page 2 Mon. July 27: Palmer City Finances
City of Palmer Finance Director Gina Davis has worked in the city finance department for over 15 years. She says that the department makes sure that public…
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Radio Book Club: “Occupied Alaska” by Holly A. Bell
David Cheezem, Judy Donegan and Mike Chmielewski discuss the thriller novel Occupied Alaska. It looks at what might happen if China invested in the Alaska…
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Home To Roost #64
Join us this week as we look at the federal connection to increasing rates of congenital syphilis and taxes on hockey gear. We also play Who Said It and read…
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Inside The City: Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer.
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Palmer’s Mayor Jim Cooper. Listen in as the Mayor gives an update on local construction projects and a preview…
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Valley Edition: Taylor Raftery, Executive Director, Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Taylor Raftery, Executive Director of the Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation. Learn about the Foundation’s…
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Page 2 Fri. July 24: Friday Talks at the Mat Su River Park
Check out the Discover Wild Heritage talks on Friday nights at 6 p.m. at the Mat-Su River Park. Tonight Michelle Rogers from the Mat-Su Borough presents Food…
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Page 2 Thu. July 23: Events
Whoo hoo, it’s almost the weekend. Here’s a small dip in the big pool of fun and exciting events happening in the Greater Palmer Metroplex and beyond…
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Wine Walk 2026!
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Dylainie Nathlich of the Palmer Museum of History and Art, as they discuss this year’s Wine Walk. The Palmer…
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Valley Edition: Jeff Smith, Mat-Su Borough’s Solid Waste Division Manager
Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest Jeff Smith, Mat-Su Borough’s Solid Waste Division Manager, as they discuss safe trash disposal at the landfill. Image…