This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, I'm excited to introduce to all of you someone whose profound impact changed Ontario's fishing industry forever. This king of Ontario tourism put our fishery on the world stage by building out a massive strategy that included Uniting the four largest Canadian fishing shows as one dream team to collectively promote Ontario tourist operations. With this, he and his team changed the fortunes of outdoor-based...

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, I get to know a wonderful couple with great stories who have united in a common dream. And that dream is giving people an outstanding northern experience. From an amazing facility, together their dream of owning a lodge and making a positive impact on the world is becoming a reality. And I am so excited to share their story with you because I was there. I know how scary and demanding, yet exciting and...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I wanted to take the time to sit with you and talk about another aspect of my lodge business.  In fact, my favorite one. And, in my opinion, the most important factor to creating an absolutely outstanding experience for everyone involved - Jam Night. On this show. I talk about jam nights and how I found the confidence to pull them off their impact on the business, our guests, my staff and family. I talk about the positive...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast,  I'm talking about the single largest and most important cog in my lodge business. And for that matter, possibly every business on the face of the planet, your staff.  On this show, I share my struggles and triumphs, and how I dealt with staffing the lodge in the early years.  As always, I tell some stories from my experiences and hope to help you not make the same mistakes I did. And on the flip side, talk about the...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I am joined by accomplished conservation officer, outstanding family man, and great friend of ours, Doug Poirier. Born in the wilderness of central Ontario, this accomplished conservation officer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, but on the road to life, there can be tough turns. Some stick to the road and some hit the ditch.  This man chose to stick to the road like glue when tragedy struck. He, his family...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I'm solo in the studio to tell a few stories about some of the dirtiest jobs at the fishing lodge. On this show, I get down to the dirty truth. I describe the worst behind-the-scenes jobs at the Lodge, bar none. From the septic tanks to the slop buckets, and the odd pair of poopy pants, I cover it all.  So if you want to hear the jobs that every Lodge owner wants to keep on the down low... Stick with me, cause like a...

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we spend some time with this outstanding lifelong angler, professional guide, and owner and operator of Rising Sun Charters. And when he's not guiding his guests to the fish of a lifetime, he's co-hosting with Brad Sinopoli, one of the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's newest podcasts, The Tackle Box. We get to know this Ottawa man of mystery in a new light and reveal the dirt road he followed to get to...

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, I am so excited to bring to you a wonderful group of guys as we sit around the table and sum up our annual musky fishing trip. For the first time, our group of five has expanded to include two sons and one father.  And it reminded me of one of the most important things in life, spending quality, undistracted time in nature with the ones you love. And it is my pleasure to introduce Brian and his son, Dec...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we sit down with one of our country's finest fly fishermen, whose roots run over 25 years deep in the television industry. But the path he followed from the back rooms of TSN to the forefront of WFN must have seemed like a thousand winding roads. His journey saw him produce and host WFN shows like... Reel Road Trip and Guided, which laid the foundation for where he is today. And it is my pleasure to sit with...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's, Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we tackle a large topic - the health of our ecosystems and shed some light on what's happening in Northern Ontario. When you own a business that revolves around, and literally lives inside an ecosystem,a prudent owner knows it's crucial to protect it. We sell experiences based in nature that revolve around clean water, fresh air, and the stunning beauty of the flora and fauna within. One of my greatest joys...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's, Diaries of a Lodge Owner, I grab the reins and go this one solo. Well folks, with fall briskly marching on, my favourite time of the year is quickly slipping away into winter, once again. And this change in seasons always forces me into a very sad task, closing the cottage until spring. But, as a lodge owner for over a decade, I learned how to become extremely efficient at this task, and I wanted to sit down and talk to you about...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast  Network's, Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we explore one of the most fundamental ingredients used in raising one's vibration, building relationships and creating long-lasting memories and experiences. That ingredient... Music. One of the traits that defines the human species above all others is our passion to make, listen, and enjoy music together, something we've been doing since the beginning of time. It is one of the keys to my success as a...

This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we get into the mind of a man who seized the day and turned his passion into a way of life. With a great story and an outstanding product, I know you will thoroughly enjoy getting to know this titan of the handcrafted musky-bait-making world, the boss man himself, Paul Festerio. On this show, we get to know this kingpin and the passion that drives him to hunt down this toothy lion of the lake. We share some stories and learn...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we enjoy some time at the cottage and sit with one of the longest-standing families to have ever graced the legendary waters of the Upper French River. Since 1963, they have visited one of Canada's finest watersheds, and to this day, the river has always called them back. When I owned the lodge, this Ohio family stayed with me twice, every year for nearly a month, and they were some of my best advocates. We...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, it is my pleasure to introduce you to one of the finest people I have ever met. Our journey began when he came to help me in the kitchen at the lodge, and for five years his integrity and loyalty to me and the business was steadfast and he positively impacted everyone around him. This self-taught pastry chef seized the moment and thrived in the kitchen at the lodge, and he created some of the most outstanding...

 This week on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network's Diaries of a Lodge Owner, we sit with Frank and Chris and get to know the voices behind the Ugly Pike Podcast. We get a glimpse into who they are, their story, and learn a little along the way. On this show, we pick the brains of these two muskie fishing fanatics who are determined to build the single largest database of muskie-angling educational material in the world. And with over 141 podcasts and a website dedicated to chasing...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I opened up with this young, well-studied gentleman, Pat Tryon, as we look within and explore the concept of spirituality, the power of the mind, and the law of attraction. On this episode, I share  some thoughts and real-life stories that shaped my success and altered the way that I think. We discuss the importance of prayer, meditation, reaching stillness, and the power of being in the now. So open your mind and heart...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I sat down with die-hard angler, chef to the stars, and host of the Eating Wild podcast, Chef Antonio Meleca. On this week's show, we dig down to Antonio's roots, find out where he came from, get into the life and mind of a professional chef, and share some incredible fishing stories. So if you love the outdoors, food, and famous people, you don't want to miss getting to know Chef Antonio "Smash" Meleca!

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, Steve finds time during the filming of a Fish'n Canada episode to sit down with co-host Pete Bowman! On this show, Pete shares some incredible stories, we talk bass fishing in-depth, and he shares some of his favourite "Gordyisms". You definitely don't want to miss this!

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I discuss muskie fishing in-depth with one of the most outstanding muskie guides in the province, Pat Tryon. This regular guest of the show and friend of mine has over two decades of muskie fishing experience, and more than half of that as a guide. After thousands of hours on the water hunting down these elusive monsters, he has built, in my opinion, one of the most extensive understandings of these creatures.  On this...

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio's Diaries of a Lodge Owner podcast, I took a walk down memory lane with one of the first muskie guides I brought onto the Chaudiere team, affectionately known as The Legend, Pete Stefanac. On this show, we're going to focus on storytelling from my early days at Chaudiere. Storytelling, whether it be at the lodge, by the fire, or at work on a lunch break, has been a fundamental exercise used since the beginning of time, and one of the key ways to enjoy time...

This week, on The Outdoor Journal Radio Network’s “Diaries of a Lodge Owner”, I shared the airwaves with, the former Captain of the Winnipeg Jets, Maple Leafs alumni, former host of the full contact fishing television show and now Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the National Hockey League - Kris King!  On this show, we talk about everything from hockey to fishing with an amazing guy who is really one of the greatest human beings on the planet!   So from flippin’ sticks to...

This week on The Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network’s “Diaries of a Lodge Owner”, I sat with the most accomplished real estate agent in the land! Specializing in brokering northern tourist operation deals. This giant has bought, operated and sold more of these businesses than anyone in Ontario history, Brian Dykstra! On this show, we’re going to let our imaginations run wild! We all know that anyone who has had the pleasure to experience a fishing lodge in a northern paradise has also...

This week,  on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network’s “Diaries of a Lodge Owner”, I’m sitting down with former Chaudiere lodge, lake Nipissing guide, and great friend of mine, Pat Tryon. On this show, we’re going to get into the mind of an authentic Canadian fishing guide, find out what it takes to make a living on one of the nation’s most notorious bodies of water, and immerse ourselves into the highs and lows of one of our industries most fascinating occupations.  So hold onto your...

On the inaugural episode of Diaries of a Lodge Owner, Steve is joined by a man who he credits with making it all possible, angling hall of famer and Fish'n Canada host Angelo Viola!