Radio Free Palmer

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 disability with Herb Bischoff, a retired psychologist with long ties to the Palmer community. Listen as they discuss the planning of Ptarmigan Commons. Ptarmigan Commons is envisioned as an […]

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. The will discuss many of the challenges that farmers face here in Alaska, including the lack of usable farming land and getting more youth involved with agriculture.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Kelley Shoemake, Executive Director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, and Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer. Listen in as they discuss how the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce and the city of Palmer work with each other to help make Palmer “Alaska At Its Best”. Image Credits: […]

Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, candidate for Alaska’s Governor. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins Jonathan S. Kreiss-Tomkins (born February 7, 1989), also known as JKT, is an American politician who was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 2013 to 2023. As a Democrat, he represented the state’s 35th district,  photo/text credit: Wikipedia

Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Shelley Hughes candidate for Alaska's Governor. Shelley Hughes Shelley Hughes (born January 6, 1958) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Alaska Senate from 2017 to 2025. Hughes represented Palmer and other parts of the southern Mat-Su Borough. She was a member of the Alaska State Representatives from January 18, 2013, […]

Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Tom Begich, candidate for Alaska's Governor. Tom Begich Thomas Scott Begich (born October 31, 1960) is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the Alaska Senate. He represented District J from 2017 to 2023. photo/text credit: Wikipedia

Join host Kenni Psenak as she interviews Edna DeVries, candidate for Alaska’s Governor. Edna DeVries Edna B. DeVries (born July 12, 1941) is an American realtor and politician from Alaska, who has been mayor of the Mat-Su Borough since November 2021. DeVries served in the Alaska State Senate from 1984 to 1988. She has previously served as mayor of Palmer from […]

Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they continue a 3-part discussion on keeping healthy bones. Simple steps can help protect your bones as you age. However, prevention also involves understanding your risk. Talk to your doctor about bone density and strength screenings you may need to help detect changes early and keep […]

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 attorney general and how federal support for the Alaska gas line is going unclaimed. We continue our review on what George Washington had to say about the need […]

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 discussion includes updates on current construction projects in progress all over Palmer Palmer City Manager Kolby Zerkel Photo Credit: Mat-Su Sentinel 

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Fred Becker V, Executive Director of the Mat-Su Food Bank. Fred is the recipient of the 2026 Bert Hall Award. Listen in as he describes his work at the Mat-Su Food Bank. Fred Becker is awarded the 2026 Bert Hall Award Fred Becker was presented this year’s Bert […]

Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the recent city council meeting for July 28th. 2026, on this week’s Mayor's Minutes with host Mike Chmielewski. Mayor Jim Cooper Photo Credit: City of Palmer

Join host Ken Hoffman and his guests Abby and Janice Raisanen of 5 Acres and Beyond Family Farm as they discuss small family farming in Alaska and the upcoming 4H and FFA farm auctions Image and Photo Cedit: 5 Acres & Beyond Family Farm

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 the program sponsors Amy Gorn Interim Senior Program Officer, Healthy Families Health starts with access to basic needs. The Mat-Su Health Foundation supports organizations that ensure people in the Mat-Su […]

This week, Rachel and John take a break from their usual format and bring you interviews with Alaskans attending the Mat-Su Pride festival. Listen to hear how changes in federal policies are affecting people in our community.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest Julie Estey, Chief Strategy Officer for the Matanuska Electric Association, as they discuss rate increases and MEA’s stake in the possible gas pipeline. Julie Estey of MEA Image Credit: David McChesney/Frontiersman

Join host Mike Chmielewski as he interviews author Holly Marie Gittlein as they discuss Holly’ s debut novel ” Spirit Lines: The Great Separation” Holly Marie Gittlein is an award-winning artist, ocean researcher, and author whose work explores the intersection of science, ecology, and human perception. Image Credits: Amazon.com

Director of Finance for the City of Palmer, Gina Davis, joins Mike Chmielewski on Inside the City.

Join host Mike Chmielewski as he interviews author Corina Deiters, as they discuss her debut novel “Marred Mask” Corina Deiters image credit: Goodreads.com

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

Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the recent city council meeting for July 14h. 2026, on this week's Mayor's Minutes with host Mike Chmielewski. Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer Photo credit: City of Palmer

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest from the Palmer Museum of History and Art and the Palmer Arts Council as they discuss Arts in the Garden 2026. Image Credit: Palmer Museum of History and Art

This week, we review Trump's plan to require grants and scientific research to pass his political litmus tests, we discuss the dismantling of Ocean Station Papa, the most sophisticated deep-sea monitoring system off Alaska's coast, and we consider the Constitutional basis for federal funding of science.

Join host Emily Forstner as she interviews Mat-Su School Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani for Inside the District. Together, they discuss the June 3rd. Mat-Su Borough School Board meeting. Mat-Su School Borough Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani Photo Credit: Mat-Su School Borough

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, John Diumenti, Superintendent of the Palmer Municipal Airport, as they discuss several types of aircraft at the airport and provide updates on the Airport Masterplan. Image Credit: Mat-Su Sentinel

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Michelle Church of Moonstone Farm, as they discuss the farm’s history photo credit: Moonstone Farm

Join host Mike Chmielewski with Peter House from Deep Tree as they discuss current cybersecurity threats and international travel dangers. Image Credit: DeepTree

Chuck Kaucic joins host Mike Chmielewski to discuss the upcoming Independence Day Ceremony on July 4th. This special event commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and features patriotic music, public readings of founding documents, and field cannon firings. Photo credit: Mat-Su Sentinel

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guests, Aundra Jackson and Gage Saxton with the Mat-Su MLKjr Foundation, as they discuss the upcoming Juneteenth Celebration in Palmer. image courtesy of Mat-Su MLKjr Foundation

Occupied Alaska is a timely, page-turning tome for those who appreciate high-stakes geopolitical suspense. A piece of speculative fiction rooted in the realities of modern international relations, it explores the fragility of democracy and the chilling possibilities of our shared near-future. Holly A. Bell is an award-winning novelist and amateur voice actress. Following a 17-year business […]

Photo credit: Matanuska Experiment Farm Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Aimee Young, Farm Manager from the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, for the latest updates from on the farm.

Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper discusses the recent city council meeting for June 9th. 2026, on this week’s Mayor's Minutes with host Mike Chmielewski. Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer Photo credit: City of Palmer

Tim Huffman of the Midnight Sun Beekeeping Club joins host Ken Hoffman on this episode of Ag Matters to discuss beekeeping in Alaska. Photo Credit: Midnight Sun Beekeeping Club

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Kelley Shoemake, Executive Director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, as they discuss the 2026 Colony Days celebration. Let's have a parade! The Colony Days Parade will take place Saturday, June 13th, at 11:00am in Downtown Palmer! Be sure to come out and find a great spot […]

Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they continue to discuss vaping dangers and begin a discussion on prostate cancer screening.

This week, we discuss new medicaid rules, new proposed mail-in ballot rules, and new threats to Alaska's tourism industry. We also host two special guests for this week's rendition of “Who Said It?’

Brandi Jo Nyberg joins host Ken Hoffman on this episode of Ag Matters as they discuss the Spring Pop-Up Market at the Mat-Su Community Farmers Market.

Join host Mike Chmielewski with Peter House from Deep Tree as they discuss current cybersecurity threats.

Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they begin a three-part series discussing lung cancer screenings.

This week, we cover Trump's proposed billion-dollar settlement with himself and how his tariffs function as a tax on Alaskans' utility bills. We also review what Thomas Jefferson and George Washington thought about the Murder Act and how their concerns about government power are still relevant today.

Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Kelley Shoemake, Executive Director of the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, as they discuss events the chamber has planned for the near future

Ed Strable from the Mat-Su Ski Club joins host Mike Chmielewski for this week’s Ski report. The report is current until 7:00 am Saturday, the 16th of May.

Nick Thatcher and Bo Myers from Alaska Farm Supply join host Ken Hoffman on this episode of Ag Matters.

Join host Mike Chmielewski as he interviews Dr. Vanessa Serratore from Thrive Veterinary Surgical Services, a new veterinary surgical practice in Palmer, AK.

Join Dr. Jill Valerius and host Lee Henrikson as they continue a multi-part series discussing colon cancer screenings.

This week, we review lessons from recent Army cold climate training in Interior Alaska and discuss how Alaska's location along the Pacific Basin currently affects our energy economy for better and for worse. We also ponder America's 250-year-old grievance against taxation without representation and play “Who Said It?”

Cadence Sellars & Chad Petrie from Mat Su College join host Mike Chmielewski on Valley Edition to discuss the Mat-Su College’s Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Refrigeration & Heating program.

Ed Strable from the Mat-Su Ski Club joins host Mike Chmielewski for this week’s Ski report. The report is current until 7:00 am Saturday, the 9th of May.

Jim Cooper, Mayor of Palmer, joins host Mike Chmielewski on Inside The City to discuss the City of Palmer’s ongoing and future plans.

Emily Forstner talks with Mike Chmielewski about the May 6th. 2026, Mat-Su School Board meeting. The main topic being the District's ongoing budget talks.

Join host Lee Henrikson and her guest, Marlene Munsell, with Wasilla Area Seniors as they discuss WASI and the Meals on Wheels program.