Welcome to the next in the Podcast Showcase series, where we share podcasts with you in the words of the podcasters themselves. This time, we talk to Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier.
Sum up your podcast in three sentences
Alaska is vast and beautiful, but it can also be deadly. Take a road trip and learn about Alaska’s past and present through its violent crime. Get a glimpse of murder and mystery in the Last Frontier.
Who is your ideal listener? Who loves your show?
True crime lovers who are also interested in Alaska and the wilderness.
What made you start this podcast?
This podcast is based on my monthly true crime newsletter. I have also written a book on true crime and mystery in Alaska.
True crime stories provide a good way to explore history, culture, geography, and social issues. In a state as large as Alaska, these factors vary from one region to another.
This podcast covers murders and mysterious disappearances from all regions of Alaska to reveal the unique characteristics of this complex state.
What have you learned about your subject thanks to this podcast?
Alaska is a land rich in natural resources. Gold, copper, oil, salmon, and crab have all drawn people to the 49th state in search of wealth. These economic booms have also brought criminals and desperate dreamers to Alaska.
A 2016 report by the Violence Policy Center ranked Alaska first nationwide as the state with the highest homicide rate per capita of female victims killed by male offenders.
Alaska Native women are the most at-risk group to become victims of violent crimes. Alaska Natives comprise only 20% of the state’s population, but Alaska Native women represent 54% of Alaska’s sexual assault victims. Compared to all other women in the U.S., Alaska Native women are ten times more likely to experience domestic violence.
Alcohol and substance abuse contribute to these staggering statistics. According to the Alaska State Troopers, approximately 37% of all crimes they investigate annually involve alcohol and substance abuse, and drugs and alcohol contribute to 62% of all violent crimes. Alaska Native communities have the highest rates of family violence, suicide, and alcohol abuse in the United States.
Rape in Alaska occurs at three times the national average, and the suicide rate is four times the national average.
Law enforcement is minimal or non-existent in rural Alaska. The three major cities and all the large towns in Alaska support local police departments, but the Alaska State Troopers are responsible for patrolling most of the state. Fewer than 400 troopers patrol a state 1/5 the size of the continental United States, leaving Alaska with one state trooper for every million acres of land.
180,000 Alaskans do not have access to a modern 911 system. Even where the 911 system is operational, residents in many small, remote villages must wait hours if not a day or longer for the troopers to respond to a violent situation.
Due to the remoteness of many rural communities, the lack of roads, rugged terrain, changeable weather conditions, and the high cost of air transportation, response by law enforcement to a critical situation requires time and resources.
In addition to its staggering crime statistics, people disappear in Alaska at twice the national average. Too many have stepped into the woods, never to be seen again. In my podcast, I share stories about murder and mysterious disappearances in the last frontier.
What has your experience of podcasting been? What do you love / hate about the process?
I love the process of podcasting, from writing the script to recording to editing the audio.
The most frustrating issue for me is promotion. I have a good base audience, but I would like to grow it and expand the visibility of the podcast. Unfortunately, I do not have enough time to effectively promote the podcast.
If someone wants to start listening to your podcast, which episode would you recommend they start with? Why?
I would recommend The McCarthy Massacre of 1983. It was my first episode, and while it is not as polished as some of my later episodes, it provides the foundation for my podcast.
Which other podcasts do you love listening to?
Serial, Criminal, Crime Junkie, PodCraft.
If people want to find you online, where can they do so?
- https://robinbarefield.com
- https://murder-in-the-last-frontier.blubrry.net
- https://www.facebook.com/wildernessauthorrobinbarefield/
- https://www.instagram.com/robinbarefield76/
Read the rest of our Podcast Showcases here and find your new listening addiction from among our features.
Find out how to have your podcast showcased in this spot!
Image credit: Alexis Mette