Iron Range Adventures Podcast

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Mike and Melissa Brown share the story behind Sunrise Deli, the Reed Building, and the many businesses they’ve built together in Hibbing. From entrepreneurship, marriage, and family sacrifice to revitalizing downtown and investing in the future of the Iron Range, the Browns open up about what it really takes to chase big dreams in a small-town...

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Hibbing builder, family man, and community leader Kendall Cook. As owner of Ingenuity Builders and a board member with Crescendo Orchestra, Kendall shares a life shaped by hard work, craftsmanship, music, faith, family, and deep roots in the Iron Range. From learning skills at home as a kid, to building his own house and di...

More Than Coffee: Resilience, Grief, and Building North Haven on the Iron Range Podcast Description In this powerful episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Denise and Jeff, the couple behind North Haven Coffee, for a conversation that goes far beyond business. Together, they share what home means on the Iron Range, how deep loss shaped their marriage, and what resilienc...

What if abandoned mine pits weren’t the end of the story… but the beginning? In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Pete Carroll — environmental engineer, co-creator of Redhead Mountain Bike Park, Minnesota Book Award-winning author of Mindscapes: Reclaiming Minnesota’s Mine Lands , and longtime community volunteer. Pete grew up on the Marquette Iron Range in Up...

From Rural Roots to International Stages: The Journey of Steve Solkela In this powerful and honest episode of Iron Range Adventures , we sit down with Steve Solkela — the wildly entertaining one-man band, comedian, and performer who has taken his small-town beginnings all the way to international stages, including performances connected to Minnesota and Finland. Most people see the high-energy ent...

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Alicia Dick — Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), organizational consultant, trauma-informed systems thinker, educator, runner, and founder of Be Well Within . Alicia shares her journey from child protection and healthcare to higher education and community systems work, explaining why real change can’t focu...

In this episode of Iron Range Adventures , host Steve sits down with Steve Bondich , Mayor of Biwabik , for a wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation about leadership, community, and the unique pride of the Iron Range. Mayor Bondich shares his journey growing up on the Range, lessons learned from a hardworking family, military service, union leadership, and how those experiences shape the way he s...

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, host Steve sits down with Joy Ausman, a woman whose life has been shaped by courage, curiosity, and an unbreakable sense of adventure. Raised in Esko, Minnesota, Joy joined the United States Marine Corps at just 17 years old, navigating the challenges of military life as a woman, a leader, and a mother. Her journey spans service during Desert S...

On this episode of the Iron Range Ventures Podcast , we sit down with Jada Makin , founder of Sinsational , an organization dedicated to supporting incarcerated individuals and their families through media, apparel, cosmetics, educational resources, and more. Jada shares her journey as a biracial entrepreneur, the challenges she’s faced navigating systemic issues in correctional facilities, and ho...

In this episode of Iron Range Adventures , we sit down with Ronnie Rayford Jr. , a wildland firefighter, fire prevention specialist, and community advocate who has spent over a decade working on the front lines of some of the most intense wildfires in the United States. Ronnie shares his journey from growing up in California to building a life on Minnesota’s Iron Range after a simple fishing trip...

In this episode of Iron Range Adventures , we sit down with Kalen , owner of Steel Fitness in Hibbing , for a raw and motivating conversation about work ethic, discipline, family, and building something meaningful in your hometown. Kalen opens the episode with a powerful mindset that sets the tone for the entire conversation. Keep working. Turn your feelings off. Get uncomfortable. Outwork everyon...

In this episode of Iron Range Adventures , we sit down with Cal Wallace , a lifelong Iron Range resident, third-generation miner, steelworker, father of nine, and Minnesota state legislator. Cal describes himself simply as a son of the Iron Range. After nearly three decades working as a steelworker, he shares what the mining industry taught him about solidarity, leadership, hard work, and communit...

In this episode of Iron Range Adventures , we sit down with Sean , CEO and owner of the Red Rock Hotel in Hibbing, Minnesota , for an honest and inspiring conversation about vision, perseverance, and community. We start by celebrating a big milestone — 24 years of marriage — and Sean shares his belief that lasting success, both in life and business, comes from partnership, understanding, and frien...