Gravel Roads Radio

Presented by Polar Bear Rinks This week on The ODR Podcast, we’re joined by Nate and Ben Niemela for a deep dive into local outdoor hockey history. The guys share stories from 30th Street, breaking down what made that rink special. We talk outdoor rinks past and present, how some of the oldest ODRs in the area were built, maintained, and survived Minnesota winters, and why they meant so much to th...

This episode was pure Nonsense at Nine — everything people tune in for, all in one place. We played the hits and then some. Max had a full-blown meltdown, Ron sang not once but twice (a true double feature), and Carl showed up with elite-tier food that instantly rushed the show to an end.  We did a very Minnesota version of blind ranking, somehow spent serious time discussing bananas, and went way...

In this episode of Gravel Roads Radio Outdoors, we sit down with Tony Fratzke, an avid outdoorsman and seasoned bow hunter who’s spent years chasing elk out west in Montana and Idaho. Tony is one of those guests who can flat-out tell a story—and this episode is packed with them. Tony walks us through how he got into hunting, his bow setups, and what it takes to plan and execute western elk hunts....

Recorded on December 28th and finally released now… because, well, that’s how this one went 😄 This episode was completely unplanned. Ryan mostly wanted to go drive around in the snow during the half-blizzard, so naturally we drove to the studio and hit record. It’s just Steve, Max, and Ryan—no agenda, no prep, and zero structure. We talk Christmas, make up and play blind ranking games on the spot...

It’s Christmas chaos on Gravel Roads Radio. Dan the Man called in, sang with the boys, and dropped Diary of a Wimpy Kid facts. Nate Hillstrom from the Decoys Hockey Club joined the show to talk Township Cup action coming up Sunday. Ryan delivered a solid Polar Bear Rinks update, Steve talked a little hockey, and then… things went off the rails. There was singing (bad), effort (minimal), and prepar...

Episode 30 kicks off with Dan the Man coming in hot with Aquaman facts, the Gravel Boys break into a full-on Happy Birthday sing-along for him. The musical vibes keep rolling as Dan jumps in on Christmas carols and Max breaks out the harmonica, setting the tone for an episode that’s equal parts unhinged and unforgettable. We shift gears into LDC Hockey talk, proudly sponsored by the LDC Alumni Ass...

Episode 29 rolled in with absolutely zero preparation… so naturally, it delivered everything you’d expect from a night of pure, unfiltered Gravel Roads chaos. Dan the Man opened the show with whatever thoughts were bouncing around his head, and from there we wandered down every possible detour. We recapped Thanksgiving, debated Black Friday madness, and then — for reasons no one fully understands...

GRR Outdoors – Episode 28: “Boundary Waters Legends” Episode 28 brings three seasoned north-woods storytellers into the studio as Lars Anderson, Davey Halonen, and Mike Koivisto sit down to talk all things Boundary Waters. From wilderness philosophy to the gear they trust, the crew dives deep into what makes the BWCA one of the most iconic places in Minnesota. They swap decades of camping stories—...

Episode 27 set a new GRR record — the longest show in Gravel Roads Radio history — and it was packed from start to finish. Bob Anderson joined in studio with stories from his bike trip to the U.P. and a few legendary tales from 30th Street. Meanwhile, Garrett Impola joined via video for most of the episode to walk us through his cross-country bike adventure and everything he learned grinding acros...

Featuring: Mike "Spike" Halonen  Come hang out with us like we’re sitting on the tailgate — Spike’s got stories about trapping skunks, beaver hauls, and the strange world of fur markets. Whether you hunt, trap, or just love being outside, this episode is full of laughs, practical tips, and honest talk about seasons, gear, and memorable encounters. Stick around for local trivia, behind-the-scenes t...

Episode 25 fires up with Dan the Man dropping some all-timer Culver’s facts and giving the boys a health and wellness check-in. Then we’re joined by Logan Hyrkas, host of The Obsessed Podcast, who dives into hunting stories, why he started his show, and what drives him to chase the things he can’t stop thinking about. Carl Aho swings through with pizza offerings for his favorite fan club, and from...

In the debut of GRR Outdoors, hosts Davey Halonen and Lars Anderson are joined by Mike Koivisto for a deep dive into all things deer hunting. The trio swap stories about how they first got into the woods, share some favorite hunting memories, and break down this year’s hunting season. The crew even drifts west to touch on a few Wyoming land laws and discuss future plans to bring in more guests to...

Dan the Man returned for a festive “Christmas in November,” while Will the Thrill from the Copper Country made his debut to give us the lowdown on Upper Peninsula sports. We caught up on Jack’s new business venture – jackneedsahouse.com, and once again tipped our hats to our sponsor, Dairy Queen of Cokato. Ron showed up wielding an annoying chicken tool, and Max delivered a full-scale meltdown abo...

Presented by Dairy Queen of Cokato – the breakfast spot of choice for farmers and blue-collar early risers. Dan the Man kicked things off with some Thanksgiving talk and stories from his new gig at Hobby Lobby. The crew dove into a heated Mud Lake Decoys vs Knapp Men’s League Hockey preview, debated town vs. country trick-or-treating, and witnessed another classic Max meltdown—this time about flie...

Presented by the Knapp Open Golf Tournament – the official sponsor of Gravel Roads Radio Ep. 21 Presented by the Knapp Open Golf Tournament – the official sponsor of Gravel Roads Radio Ep. 21 Part-Time Jack made his return, and chaos followed. We opened the show battling technical difficulties before diving into the hot debate: with two years and unlimited money and resources, could you make the N...

Sponsored by the Knapp Open Golf Tournament  It’s a packed episode of Gravel Roads Radio! Nate Hillstrom of the Mud Lake Decoys Hockey Club kicks things off, giving us an update on the squad’s 1–1 start. Ryan delivers what might go down in GRR history as the best ad read ever for our official sponsor — the Knapp Open Golf Tournament. Max has a full-on meltdown about morning radio, we recap Dassel-...

Presented by First National Bank of Cokato It’s another wild one from the Gravel Roads crew! Tyler Niemela joins the Chargers Fan Line… kind of. He called in from a bachelor party and mostly talks about his New York trip and Mudlake Decoy hockey instead of football. Dan the Man breaks down Halloween candy rankings, Ryan starts a full-blown petition to bring Taco Bell back to Cokato, and the Keywor...

Special Episode, Presented by Niemela Productions  In this episode, we’re joined by members of the Mud Lake Decoys Hockey Club — General Manager Nate Hillstrom, Head Coach Tyler Niemela, Captain AJ Niemela, and Assistant Captain Luke Niemela. Together, they share insights on the upcoming season, the team’s culture, and the long-standing Decoys vs. Knapp rivalry that defines local hockey pride. Fro...

It’s a full-throttle episode of Gravel Roads Radio! The crew dives deep into Dassel-Cokato Chargers football and the energy of Spirit Week, with a few classic 30th Street stories sprinkled in. Everyone's favorite guest Dan the Man joins to talk inspiration, Harry Potter, and some wild trivia that had everyone laughing. Then Chargers legend Aaron Haataja hops on to break down the team, share memori...

This week on Gravel Roads Radio, we welcomed Grant Haataja of the Knapp Hockey Club to the studio. Grant brought some heat with a hilarious Would You Rather question and shared legendary 30th Street stories that had us all cracking up. We also looked back at other GRR podcasts, reliving some of the highlights while telling even more 30th Street tales. Meanwhile, Jack decided to skip—so naturally,...

Featuring: Davey Halonen, Lars Anderson, Mike Koivisto Hey — come hang with us for a cozy, laugh-out-loud trip back to 30th Street: bunkhouse sleepovers, trampoline launches, stickball scars, hay-bale hustle and midnight adventures fueled by Mountain Dew. This is a warm, messy collection of small-town memories — equal parts nostalgia and “how did we not get hurt?” — perfect for anyone who grew up...

Presented by Polar Bear Rinks - Scoob and Orrin Grangroth join Host Ryan Koivisto, and special guest Mike Koivisto in Episode 1 of the ODR Podcast.  Pull up a stump — this episode feels like a late-night coffee chat at Scoob's rink. We trade tips on flooding, Zamboni hacks, Metrodome boards, and the kind of prank-filled, boot-hockey nights that make small-town winters legendary. Whether you’ve bui...

Today’s episode was packed with small-town energy and plenty of laughs. Calder Anderson and Dan “the Man” Heinonen joined the table while Max melted down about Menards. We raced through 18 holes in 18 minutes, debated bb guns and airsoft guns, and even got Calder’s girlfriend chiming in with a timely comment. Listeners brought the heat with some solid contributions, Sandy Narr got a little spotlig...

We finally found out who Adam was… and had him on the show! Plus, Bum from the Bum and Zilly Show dropped by, Ross Halonen’s redemption call came through, and Calder Hayes Hoover Anderson shared some wild 30th Street stories. We even squeezed in a pizza review, witnessed a classic Max meltdown, and wrapped it all up by realizing we forgot to give out the keyword (don’t worry, next week we will). S...

VIDEO AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/live/hVPRI0OVI_o?si=7rRgokGn2IH4pbDU Pretty much the same as every other episode, but different.  Episode 11 keeps things rolling on the gravel with plenty of listener interaction and community energy. We highlight recent comments from listeners, including a shoutout to Bob Anderson, who chimed in. We also take some time to review the Polar Bear P...