Make Me Smart Make Me Smart: Fat Bear Week Edition
Sep 26, 2025
Ava White, an Alaska Public Media reporter, dives into the exciting world of Fat Bear Week, explaining its importance and introducing fan-favorite contenders. She highlights the challenges facing Alaskans, like declining purchasing power from the Permanent Fund Dividend and federal legislation impacting local communities. The conversation shifts to quirky topics, including the rise of Hamburger Helper sales and the implications of AI in live translation. Ava also shares her recipe for blueberry-infused vodka, blending local culture with current issues.
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Fat Bear Week Origin And Vibe
- Ava White describes Fat Bear Week as a bracket-style, online celebration of Kodiak/Katmai bears feasting on the sockeye salmon run.
- She compares it to March Madness but for fat bears and highlights the ecosystem and salmon abundance behind it.
Favorite Bears: Grazer Vs. Chunk
- Ava shares her favorites in the competition, naming Grazer and Chunk and noting Chunk's broken jaw and resilience.
- Kimberly and Ava discuss Grazer's potential three-peat and the bears' behaviors around fishing and motherhood.
Alaska's Three-Legged Economic Stool
- Alaska's economy is described as a three-legged stool of oil, the federal government, and 'other' (tourism, fisheries).
- The Alaska Permanent Fund pays a PFD from mineral royalties, but the 2025 payout is the lowest in inflation-adjusted terms at $1,000.