Diaries of a Lodge Owner

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 p...

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 ex...

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 som...

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...

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...

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 ti...

 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...

 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...

 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 learn...

 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 toget...

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 th...

 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...

 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 s...

 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...

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 pra...

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,...

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,...

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 brea...

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...

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 a...

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...

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!