This week on the It’s Alaska Podcast, we sit down with Brad E. Schmitz, an adventurer, educator, and global connector whose journey through Alaska has spanned more than two decades.

Brad grew up in Boise, Idaho and first stepped foot in the Last Great Frontier in May 2000. Since then, he has lived a uniquely Alaskan life—working in summer tourism, spending two winters in Fairbanks, and even serving a summer on the Yukon River with the Louden Tribal Council. For the past 13 years, he has called the Anchorage area home.

A passionate educator, Brad has taught English Language Learners across the globe, including in Alaska, Australia, South Korea, Idaho, and Colorado. In 2017, he founded Alaska English Adventures with a mission to bring international students to Alaska for immersive educational experiences blending English learning with real adventure.

Today, Brad has built edu-partnerships in 25 countries, connecting students and classrooms worldwide with Alaska through his company’s pen pal program, and fostering cultural exchange that spans continents.

Brad is also the visionary behind the upcoming Alaska Hockey All-Star Safari Tour to Nairobi, Kenya in December 2026. During this groundbreaking event, Alaska hockey all-stars will host youth hockey camps in Africa and compete in a tournament against the Kenya Ice Lions—helping make hockey history in one of the most unexpected and inspiring places on earth.

📬 Contact Brad:
1-907-310-5939
Alaskapenpalproject@gmail.com

https://kenyatoiditarod.com/

Join us for a powerful conversation about culture, education, adventure, and the global spirit of Alaska.

Hosted by Brad Erickson Co-Hosted by Blaze Bell
Produced in the Upper 1 Solutions Studios

https://itsalaskapodcast.com/

Global Classrooms & Alaskan Roots: Inside Brad Schmitz’s Story