Shoot me a text, what do you think?

In this episode of The State I Am In, I talk with Dr. Bretwood “Hig” Higman—geologist, lifelong Alaskan, and founder of Ground Truth Alaska—about life, land, and the very real risks facing our coastal communities. 

We explore Hig’s life in Seldovia and his adventures with wife Erin McKittrick, author of A Long Trek Home. Together, they’ve traveled thousands of miles across Alaska by foot and packraft, raising their kids along the way in one of the most remote corners of the state. Their unconventional approach to life and career is not only refreshing—it’s inspiring, and chalk full of lessons about resilience, curiosity, and the land we call home. 

We also dig into something more urgent: the growing threat of landslides in coastal Alaska. Hig explains what’s happening, risk vs consequence, where science and culture collide, and what Alaskans need to know—from potential warning signs to what communities can actually do. 

This is a conversation about living close to the land, understanding the risks, and staying grounded—literally and figuratively—in a rapidly changing Alaska. 

Visit www.groundtruthalaska.org to learn more.