In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, Robert Forto sits down with veteran musher Jody Potts-Joseph, calling in from Eagle, Alaska. With more than 40 years of experience in dog-powered travel and racing, Jody shares her deep connection to mushing as part of Athabascan culture and everyday life along the Yukon River.

Jody reflects on her 2026 Iditarod experience, including the challenges of an unusually difficult training season, extreme weather conditions, and the tough decision to scratch at mile 658 due to illness spreading through her team. Her story offers an honest look at the realities of long-distance racing, where dog health and decision-making matter more than finishing.

They then talk about her upbringing in a subsistence lifestyle, her return to mushing after raising a family, and her plans to come back stronger next season. Jody highlights the importance of leadership within a dog team, including a spotlight on her lead dog Koki, and shares insights into training, resilience, and adapting to adversity.

This episode is a powerful blend of storytelling, culture, and hard-earned lessons from the trail.

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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

What does it take to capture a sled dog team moving at full speed through snow and wilderness? In this episode, we sit down with Keela McCleneghan, a professional photographer behind Sunshine & Photo, to explore the craft of dog sled photography and the realities of working on the trail.

Keela shares how she got started, the gear she relies on in extreme conditions, and how she consistently captures powerful images that tell the story of the connection between musher and dog. From shooting 5,000 images a day to digging foxholes in the snow for the perfect angle, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a side of mushing most people never see.

We also talk about her work in overlanding and vehicle photography, her travel lifestyle, and how she balances art, business, and the demands of working in some of the toughest environments imaginable.

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

There is a moment on the trail when plans stop working. Conditions shift, pressure builds, and every decision carries weight. That is where leadership shows up.

In this episode of the Team & Trail Podcast, we officially introduce the Team & Trail Expedition: Leadership Through Adventure. In March 2027, we will travel the Iditarod Trail from Willow to Nome, not simply as an endurance effort, but as a real-time leadership environment.

This project is built around a central idea. Leadership is not a concept or a checklist. It is something that happens when responsibility and uncertainty meet.

At the core of the expedition is the Leadership Fellowship, designed for college students who want more than theory. Participants will follow the journey, analyze real scenarios, and engage with leadership decisions as they happen. This creates a rare opportunity to observe leadership in conditions where outcomes are not guaranteed.

This episode explains:

• What the expedition is and why it matters
• How the Leadership Fellowship works
• Why real-world leadership experience is different from traditional instruction
• How organizations can get involved as partners

This is not just a single expedition. It is the beginning of something designed to grow, reach more people, and create a lasting model for experiential leadership development.

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