Boats, Beers and Backroads

From growing up in a hockey family in Vancouver to performing on some of Nashville's most iconic stages, Karly Kryski is quickly becoming one of Canada's most exciting emerging country artists. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with Karly to talk about her journey into country music, developing her authentic songwriting voice, and why some of the sim...

What happens when a local guy sees a need in his community and decides to do something about it? In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with Jason MacKenzie, co-founder and organizer of the rapidly growing Honky Tonk Summer Jam, taking place this July 3-4 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds in the heart of Muskoka. What started as a one-night charity concert supporting Andy&#3...

What do you do after helping build one of Canada's most successful restaurant franchises? If you're Nelson Lang, you build a brewery. This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with entrepreneur Nelson Lang, co-founder of Pita Pit and now Managing Partner of Lightcaster Brewery & Tap House. Nelson shares the incredible story of launching Pita Pit in Kingston in...

What happens after a viral moment changes your life? This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with one of Canada's most promising emerging country artists, Lucas Mason. Many first discovered Lucas when he joined country superstar Zach Bryan on stage in a moment that generated more than 15 million views online. But as Lucas explains, the viral moment was only the beginning. In...

What does it take for a kid growing up fishing Ontario waters to compete against the best anglers in the world? On this episode of  Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with  Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cooper Gallant , one of Canada’s fastest-rising professional anglers. Growing up in Bowmanville, Ontario, surrounded by an outdoors family and the incredible fisheries of Lake Ont...

For Cory Johnston , it started in a boat with his father and brother on the lakes around Peterborough, Ontario—one of Canada's most legendary fishing regions. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with one of Canada's top professional anglers to discuss the path from local tournaments in the Kawarthas to competing against the best bass fishermen in the w...

For generations of Canadians, The Tragically Hip became more than a band. They became campfire songs at the cottage. Road trip soundtracks. Hockey arena anthems. And part of the fabric of Canadian life itself. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip for a conversation about music, memory, creativity, and Canada. Paul reflec...

What starts as a backyard passion project can turn into something much bigger. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with Susie Bulloch, founder of Hey Grill Hey, to talk about barbecue, family, entrepreneurship, and building one of the internet’s biggest grilling communities from the ground up. What began in 2015 as a simple recipe blog and love for feeding people has g...

Country music doesn’t get more real than this. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with Gord Bamford —one of Canada’s most successful country artists—for a conversation that goes way beyond the stage. Fresh off the announcement of his upcoming performance at the Grand Ole Opry , Gord shares what this milestone means after 25 years in the industry—and why it mi...

What are people really buying in cottage country right now? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Holly Carroll—#1 best-selling author, luxury realtor, and Managing Director of The Agency Muskoka—to break down what’s actually happening in Ontario’s cottage country market… and why it’s about far more than real estate. From recent rising water levels and shifting...

Fresh off her CMA Ontario nominations for Female Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year —driven by her powerful new single “Half-Hearted” —Angelica Appelman joins Jamie Allison on Boats, Beers & Backroads for a real, unfiltered conversation about finding your voice and betting on yourself. Raised in a musical Italian family and trained in musical theatre, Angelica’s journey did...

From Lake of the Woods to Bassmaster Classic history. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with professional angler Jeff Gustafson , better known in the fishing world as “Gussy.” Jeff made history in 2023 when he became the first Canadian ever to win the Bassmaster Classic , one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional fishing. Growing up on the shores o...

Award-winning craft beer in the heart of Ontario cottage country. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie Allison sits down with Rama Sriharsha , brewmaster at Couchiching Craft Brewing Company in downtown Orillia. What started as a local effort to bring even more energy to the downtown core has grown into one of cottage country’s most respected small-batch breweries — known for un...

Strap in for a ride down the backroads of Canadian country rock. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , host Jamie Allison chats with Jason McCoy , frontman of The Road Hammers and CCMA Hall of Famer. From his early solo roots to building Canada’s most celebrated country-rock trio, Jason shares the real story behind the band’s high-octane sound and long-haul success. They dig into: 🎶 T...

Country artist Jessica Sole joins Jamie to talk songwriting, small towns, and the stories behind her viral hit “Strangers Don’t.” In this fun, heartfelt episode, Jessica shares how growing up surrounded by music and nature in a small-town shaped her artistry. She reflects on how a childhood dream inspired by Avril Lavigne evolved into real success—with hits like “Think of Us” and her new single “S...

What do you get when you mix craft beer, Scandinavian spa vibes, and Muskoka magic? Jamie sits down with Greg Knight , the founder and president of the Muskoka Beer Spa , to explore how this one-of-a-kind destination came to life. From a brewery and pizza shop in a quiet town to a full-blown community hub with live music, beer ice rinks, and cozy cabins with their own keg machines—Greg’s vision is...

In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , host Jamie Allison sits down with Jamie Truax from Tilted Glass Brewing Co. , a rising gem in Clarington, Ontario’s craft beer scene. From seasonal stouts to creative can art, this episode taps into what makes local breweries more than just places to grab a pint—they’re hubs of connection, community, and creativity. Jamie shares how Tilted Glass ha...

From campfires and hot dogs to launching one of Canada's fastest-growing rural lifestyle brands, Alexa Gamache joins Jamie to share the story behind Northern Bronco. Inspired by her small-town roots and a desire to create something meaningful, Alexa opens up about:- Her journey from rural Ontario to becoming a successful entrepreneur- Building a brand rooted in authenticity, resilience, and co...

Bob Izumi is a name every fishing fan knows — and in this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , Jamie sits down with the man behind the rod to hear the full story. From his modest beginnings in southwestern Ontario to building one of the most recognized fishing shows in North America, Bob shares the passion, hustle, and deep love of nature that has fueled a 38-year media career. This isn’t jus...

In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads , host Jamie Allison sits down with David Fraser , the creator of Bunkie Life — a cottage brand born from necessity, family love, and a knack for building tiny things with a big impact. From a simple need for more sleeping space at the family cottage to a nationally recognized appearance on Dragons’ Den , David shares how Bunkie Life grew into a movement...

Boats, Beers & Backroads welcomes legendary pitmaster Ted Reeder —aka Godfather of the Grill —for a flavorful chat on barbecue, balance, and building a life that tastes as good as it looks. From his early kitchen days to heading up one of Ontario’s most talked-about live-fire joints, Ted dives deep into what it means to cook with heart, live with intention, and find joy in the simple act of sh...