The Northern Nerd: Recent Episodes
Dalton Hessel
Planning a trip can be overwhelming. Whether you're traveling solo or with a group; it can be stressful at times. Rhonda Martin is a traveler herself, but also is a travel planner through her business, Wild Atlas Travels. She's helped Claire and I plan for two trips now (Oregon trip & Norway/Denmark trip) and is very well versed in all sorts of travel. Today on the show she shares some travel tips, stories, and how she can help you plan your next adventure. Enjoy the show and be sure to reach out to her for your future travels!
Instagram: @wildatlastravels
Website: www.wildatlastravels.com
On this latest episode, I was lucky enough to sit down with author, Jeff Nania. Jeff is an award winning writer of the Northern Lakes Mystery Series. I recently read the first book in the series, Figure Eight, and couldn't put it down while on a flight. We shared some coffee and conversation at his table overlooking Spider Lake. We discussed his writings, Northern Waters Environmental School, the outdoors and the importance of having experiences in nature. Enjoy our conversation and be sure to check out Jeff's work!
Order Jeff's Books: Feet Wet Writing
The 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, WI is quickly approaching and I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with The Green Bay Guy about it! In this episode, we talked about what the draft means for the city of Green Bay, what our first round prediction is, what direction we see the Packers going in 2025, the gosh darn wave, and everything else Packers football. Enjoy and be sure to check out The Green Bay Guy at www.thegreenbayguy.com as well as on social media!
Instagram: @thegreenbayguy
FB: The Green Bay Guy
I had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Phillip Lindsay onto the show to talk about life as a teacher, social media and his famous middle school slang videos, appearing on the TODAY Show, starting his stand up comedy career and everything in between. He's doing great things with his platform and I can't wait to see what he does next. Enjoy the episode!
Instagram: @mr_phlindsay_sped
Tik Tok: @mr_lindsay_sped
Lambeau Field is one of the most historic fields in all of sports. Many people travel from all over the world just to experience it. Brad Heinkel is one of the lucky people that gets to give tours of it! Brad grew up in Hayward, WI and worked in sales in the television industry for a number of years before becoming a member of the Packers Tour Guide Team. In this episode, Brad discusses growing up in Hayward as well as what it's like to be a tour guide of Lambeau. We also discussed some of his favorite things about the Packers organization, his favorite Packers memories as well as his outlook on the rest of the 2024-2025 season. Enjoy the show and Go Pack Go!
Dick Gillis will be turning 95 years old in January of 2025. Needless to say, he's seen some things in his time. He's been a long time Hayward resident and was even on the basketball team when they were officially nicknamed the "Hurricanes." I had a wonderful time sitting down with him to talk about his childhood, Hayward history and everything in between. Enjoy!
It's been over a year since we got the After Hours crew together, so we decided to give you about an hour and a half episode to give you some ear candy. We catch you up on our life happenings, talk about how social media has changed (hence our episode title), gave you our recommendations (47:45) and also added some "Midwest Hot Takes". Enjoy the latest episode because who knows when we will get together again! Maybe a Christmas special? Stay tuned!
Many people talk about doing big things one day, but with Kyle Parker, he put his paddle in the water and achieved his goal. What was his goal? Setting the fastest known time while solo canoeing the Wisconsin River. He is now the current record holder because of his efforts. It was great to have him on the show to hear about his training process, what it was like when he was finally going for the record and everything in-between. Enjoy the show!
It's hard to believe that my daughter is already a one-year-old. Throughout this time, I've changed so much as a husband, dad and man. In this episode, I reflect upon everything from finding out my wife was pregnant to my daughter's first birthday. I also answer some of your questions! (26:16) Whether you're going to be a dad or are already a dad, my hope is that you enjoy the show and that you're able to take something away from it.
On this week's episode, Carl Azuz (The World From A to Z) joins us to discuss his news show! His show is geared towards teachers and students in the middle school and high school range. We talked about the importance of students being informed as well as the significance of having civil discussion. He gave great insight into his show as well and may have committed himself to covering the American Birkebeiner in the future? Only time will tell! This episode is full of puns (a Carl staple) and I hope you enjoy listening to it!
Presented by: Wild Atlas Travels
Whether you're traveling in the states or looking for a trip abroad, contact Wild Atlas Travels for all of your travel planning needs.
GOING FOR GOLD: Kenny Bednarek
In this episode, I was joined by two-time Olympian, Kenny Bednarek, to talk about the 2024 Paris Olympics as well as share about his connections to Wisconsin. He's from Rice Lake, WI and is very motivated to get gold medals this year. I had a wonderful time talking with him about how the Paris Olympics will be different from the Tokyo Olympics, why he's a "quiet warrior", and the things he misses about Wisconsin when he's away. Enjoy this episode and best of luck to Kenny in the Olympics!
Today's episode is sponsored by Hansen Family Chiropractic in Hayward, WI. Give them a call at 715-934-3344 to schedule your visit today!
I know I talk a lot about the Birkie this time of year, but I promise that it's for a good reason. The Birkie makes it feel like our small towns in the northwoods are playing host to the Olympics. This year looked different obviously due to the lack of snow, but thanks to innovative minds and the hard work of many people involved from bus drivers to volunteers to The Nimrods that organize the Giant Ski; they pulled it off. Enjoy this Birkie recap episode!
Everybody knows that this year's Birkie is going to look different, but let's not have that stop us from making it a wonderful week here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. On today's episode, I share one of my favorite Birkie memories as well as give a few reminders when it comes to the Birkie week chais. Enjoy!
It's never been easier to stay inside. With thousands of movies at your fingertips and video games easily downloadable; one can fall into the trap of leaving their hunting and fishing gear in a bin in the attic. The Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) wants to help get kids outside. Since starting in 2008, SCOPE's goal has been to keep kids outside and active. I think it's something our community greatly benefits from and I was excited to sit down with Rick Peters, Jordan Felski and DJ Aderman to discuss what SCOPE is all about. Enjoy!
To learn more or to find out how you can help, visit sawyercountyoutdoors.com
Yes, this is the life of a new dad with a podcast. You get late night thoughts on the Packers season once the baby is in bed and your wife and mother-in-law are watching The Golden Bachelor wedding. I'm excited about this young Packers team and hope you enjoy listening to my thoughts on what kind of season they've had, especially Jordan Love. Enjoy and Go Pack Go!
2023 was a heck of a year for this nerd! I know it's been a minute since I recorded an episode, but having a child will do that. Thank you for your patience as you awaited a new episode to drop. This episode is dedicated to reviewing 2023 and forecasting what is to come in 2024! My family made the cover of USA TODAY, I hit over 15k followers on Facebook as well as 10k followers on Instagram. I also hosted a number of community events with some wonderful friends of mine and am looking forward to hosting more this year!
Be sure to subscribe! Thank you!
Packers training camp officially started today (July 26th) and that's all the more reason to get excited for the upcoming season. Today's episode is dedicated to sharing my thoughts on the strengths of this Packers team, address what my concerns are and share my final record that I think the Packers will have this season. Enjoy the show and Go Pack Go!
I recently had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing students of various ages out at the Forest Lodge Library in Cable, WI. Students discussed how their summers were going, what books they've been reading, what they enjoy about the library and MANY other topics. It was a great way to spend a Thursday afternoon and I think you'll enjoy listening to what these kids had to say. Thanks for your support and enjoy the show!
Please consider donating to help their expansion efforts. DONATE NOW
Mary Mack is a comedian that grew up right here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Mary co-stars as Jesse in the Hulu cartoon Solar Opposites by the creators of Rick and Morty. She’s appeared in Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, HBO’s Andy Kaufman Awards, San Francisco’s Sketchfest, and the Dry Bar comedy series. Mack’s television credits include Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, TBS’ Conan, Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Fox’s Golan the Insatiable, and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Last Call with Carson Daly, and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon. She was a great guest to have on the show and if you like what you hear in the episode, be sure to check out her North Star Comedy Hour show happening on July 29th & August 19th at The Park Center in Hayward, WI.
BUY TICKETS: North Star Comedy Hour
For more info, visit www.marymackcomedy.com
Travel has never been easier than it is today. With planes, trains and automobiles we can get to where we want to go fairly quickly. The summer is always a great time to take a vacation, but how do you make the most of yours? These vacation days are important to make the most of and today's episode is dedicated to helping you make the most of your trip. We will talk about food (obviously) time management, events, and leaving yourself open to an adventure. Enjoy!
Year four of teaching is officially in the books and now that I've had a little bit of time to process it, I want to share with you some of my favorite memories. This episode includes various quotes from the classroom, my thoughts on teaching summer school thus far, some of my favorite things about being a teacher and I end the show with some advice to first year teachers. Enjoy the show!
The Hayward Foundation for Educational Enrichment (HFEE) is having their annual Lee Bonicatto Memorial Golf Fundraiser outing on May 19th. With that being said, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with HFEE members, Amy Sportel and Salle Beckwith, to discuss what HFEE is and what it is that they do. Since its inception back in 1994, HFEE has been a vital resource for teachers and the Hayward Community School District. Enjoy our Sunday conversation and if you'd like to donate, consider following the links below.
DONATE: https://www.hfee-wi.org/howtogive
ABOUT HFEE: https://www.hfee-wi.org/about
The end of the school year is always an interesting time of year as a teacher. You're finishing up your curriculum, wrapping up assessments, and have to pack up your classroom. In today's episode, I share my thoughts on my favorite end of the school year activities as well as share quotes from back when I was a student teacher. No matter the grade level, you never know what's going to come out of a student's mouth. Enjoy!
Be sure to subscribe and join the #nerdherd.
Wow, we made it to episode 100! When this podcast started back in 2018, I wasn't sure what to expect, but through this podcast I've been able to bottle up some of my favorite conversations with people. It's truly crazy to think that it's been five years since I first hit "record." This episode takes a look back at how the podcast began, discusses some of my favorite moments, and even gives a little Ted Lasso inspiration for you. Enjoy and thanks for being here.
We've made it to our 99th episode! With that being said, we had to name this episode after the greatest hockey player of all time. Did we talk hockey at all in this episode? Absolutely not, but that's okay. We had the chance to discuss this long winter, why it's important to take vacations during the winter, gave our thoughts on Rodgers, gave a triple-double show recommendation, and went on other tangents. After recording the show, we stepped outside of The Whistle Punk to see the northern lights in action. What a beauty of a night! Enjoy our latest episode and be sure to subscribe.
Ben and I used to work together back in college at UW-Eau Claire at the campus TV station, TV10. We both worked in the sports scene and I got to do color commentary with best friend, Kyle Naber while Ben was a student assistant coach for the Blugolds Men's Basketball team. Since then, Ben has stayed involved in college basketball and is in his second year with the Marquette Golden Eagles as their digital graphics coordinator. Marquette is having an amazing season thus far and with March Madness looming, I thought it would be a great time to have Ben on the podcast to not only catch up a bit, but to also talk about his role with the Marquette Men's Basketball team. This conversation involved plenty of basketball, but also got a little bit deeper when talking about coach philosophies and creating a positive culture within a locker room. Enjoy!
Subscribe to the podcast to stay updated on when we have new episodes released.
The Hayward Business Improvement District (BID) is once again putting on their annual Shamrock Shuffle on March 18th. I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Cindy Swift-Kaner of Riverbrook Bike & Ski and James Netz of James Netz Photography to discuss this year's shuffle! We also talked about what makes Hayward's downtown so great and also what makes Hayward a great place to live/visit. Enjoy!
For more information on the Shamrock Shuffle, follow this link.
Sailing isn't something that's normally talked about in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Plenty of people go out on their pontoons, kayaks and canoes but very few people have ever sailed out in the middle of the ocean. Jake McCusker and Erin McDade recently completed a journey from Hawaii to San Francisco to deliver a boat along with the rest of their crew. While out in the middle of the ocean, they experienced challenges as scary as a fishing hook in the leg to moments of peace while gazing out at the water. Give their story a listen and maybe, just maybe, it'll inspire you to go out on your own adventure. Enjoy!
To view Jake and Erin's adventure via video, check out these links to Youtube videos below.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Jon Kreye is an award winning adventure photographer based in Minnesota. Jon and I first met during the 2022 Birkie and I have been wanting to have him on the show for some time now. Jon has stayed in some of the most unique and highly desired rental properties across the country including shipping container cabins, treehouses, dome homes, private islands, yurts, barn homes, and more. He recently came out with a book, Up North: Getaways of Minnesota and Wisconsin , and is a great person to follow on Instagram. I had a wonderful time talking with him about photography, what some of his favorite adventures have been and what places are on his radar to visit. Enjoy!
Follow his adventures on Instagram @jonkreye
On the latest installment in the series "Small Business Nerds" brought you by the Sawyer County/LCO Economic Development Corporation, I sat down with Ethan and Jenn Zimmerman of Studio North in Hayward, WI. We discussed their small business journey thus far, their vision for the future, their core values and the possibility of Ethan making an 80's movie montage while screen printing. It was a very fun chat with this power couple and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them. Enjoy!
This episode is our first installment of "Small Business Nerds." It's a series that is brought to you by the Sawyer County/LCO Economic Development Corporation and will feature various businesses from the area. Our first guest is a wonderful baker and cookie artist, Tracy Rasmussen, of Simply Sweets Cookie Company. I enjoyed chatting with her about how she got started, how her business has grown and even got the exact amount of cookie cutters she has! (It's more than you think.) Enjoy today's episode and be sure to check out Tracy's website and social media pages.
With the new year here, the After Hours crew had to get back together to discuss our resolutions...or anti-resolutions that is. We also chatted about how partying on NYE changes the older you get, gave some recommendations and talked about our actual goals for 2023. Enjoy!
I got to have a fireside chat with the new owners of Coop's Pizza, Debbi Houston and Samantha Mittlesdorf! We discussed what it’s like to own a business in the northwoods, their favorite pizzas, the giant fish tank, and how they plan to remain a staple of the Hayward area. Enjoy!
For their full menu, click here.
Everyone is worried about the NFL playoffs right now, but the real sport of America takes place during Birkie Week on Main Street in Hayward, WI. "The Nimrods" are a group of elite individuals that came come together to form a giant ski super team before super teams were even a thing. Many have likened them to the Avengers and action figures are currently in the works. They have a movie coming out on February 17th at The Park and rumor has it that many A-list celebrities will be in town for the premier. I was lucky enough to take the Nimrods away (briefly) from their intense training in order to conduct this interview with them. Enjoy! #nimrodnation
On Tuesday, December 27th a “Charlie Brown-esque” community skating party was held at the Tot Lot in Hayward, WI. The goal of the event was to get people together to enjoy a night of skating, conversation, and to truly embrace the beauty of small town life around the holidays. With an estimated over 100+ people in attendance throughout the evening, it’s fair to say that old fashioned events are still in style.
A Christmas movie featuring both Will Ferrell (Elf) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)? Sign me up.
Spiritedis a different take on the classic Charles Dickens’ story of A Christmas Carol. Now there have been over one hundred different variations of A Christmas Carol over the years, so this begs the question; do we really need another version of this classic tale? Certainly. Sure. Why not? Everything is just a remake these days. (Sorry, did I sound too much like your uncle there?) Spirited is worth adding to your Christmas movie watch list and here’s why.
With several streaming platforms out there (Spotify, Apple Music, Prime Music) making listening to any song at any time easier than before, why would anyone in their right mind spend money on a physical copy of music? To have a physical copy of music is rare these days. Many people no longer have enormous CD cases in the passenger seats of their cars. People aren’t rushing out to the stores to get the latest album release; they are just able to download it right away on their phone. Owning a physical copy of an album may seem outdated or impractical to most, but vinyl records have been making a comeback for a reason.
To view the full report conducted by RIAA, click here.
Thanks for listening!
The holiday shopping season is here! While this is an exciting time of year for many, let's not forget about our neighbors that are shop owners. Today's episode is dedicated to those small businesses on Main Street all across America. Enjoy and remember to shop local and shop small.
On Thursday, November 3rd I was honored to be the keynote speaker for the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner. It was an experience that I will remember forever. Here is a rerecorded version of the speech that I hope inspires you to keep pushing towards progress here in the northwoods and to pursue your dreams. Enjoy!
It’s no secret that the state of Wisconsin is home to thousands of bars. Of these bars, some are high class with valet parking and drinks that James Bond would sip on. Others are covered in taxidermy (both well done and terrible) and pride themselves in being that dive bar. Regardless, people love to have a place where they can come together for a big game or to swap stories from the past. Since its inception back in 2021, Louie’s Bar and Bites has become a hometown favorite in the Hayward area. Enjoy!
After a two month hiatus, the "after hours" crew was able to get back together. Summer in a tourist town gets busy for everyone, so we spent the majority of the episode catching up, giving best man speech advice, show recommendations and discussed what "the hootie line" is all about. Enjoy!
I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Dairyland Outdoor Veterans Retreat (DOVR) for a dinner amongst veterans and their families. While there, I was fortunate enough to interview three men that play a significant role in helping veterans. Enjoy!
If you'd like to find out more about DOVR, please visit their website at www.dovr.org
Diego Napoles (or Mr. Napoles) is a 4th grade teacher out in Southern California. I started following Diego on TikTok this past school year. He was offering many great teacher resources/tips as well as providing stories from his classroom. He's somebody I have been wanting to get on the show for a while and it finally worked out! We had a great time discussing the differences between teaching in Wisconsin vs California, why we got into teaching, and we also shared some advice we had for keeping a good work/life balance. He was a wonderful guest to have on the show and I look forward to having him on again. Enjoy!
Diego's Social Media:
TikTok: @mrnapoles
Instagram: @mr_napoles
YouTube: Mr. Napoles
The Rivers Eatery doesn’t just make pizza, but they offer a unique dining experience in the northwoods that my wife and I have come to enjoy. In this episode, I will discuss our experience at The Rivers Eatery and why you should make it a dining destination the next time your looking to treat your tastebuds in the northwoods. Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe!
I had the wonderful opportunity of sitting down with Belle Poppe of Selah Mobile Coffee to discuss what it's been like to run her own small business and the impact that it's made on the Hayward community. She was a fantastic guest to have on the show and I think you'll love to hear what she has to say in regards to starting a small business, some of her favorite memories from her first year and what she is looking forward to doing in the future. Thanks for listening and be sure to subscribe!
As the youth of America would say, "it's been a minute." We got the crew back together after taking a handful of months off and it felt good to sit down at The Whistle Punk once again to talk about life in the northwoods. There are a lot exciting things happening in the area this time of year (including a screening of "Bloodhook" at the Park Center) amongst many other things. We also wanted to give you some recommendations for things to watch, listen to, and read...along with a few rants mixed in. (We can't help ourselves sometimes.)
Enjoy listening to the episode and thank you to Minocqua Winter Park for sponsoring this episode. Visit minocquawinterpark.org for more information on their trails, events and membership information!
Your first year of teaching is all about survival. If you make it through your first year; you can do anything. In this latest episode, I take a look back at some of the lessons I learned in my first year of teaching as well as share some quotes from my students. If you're a teacher listening to this, I hope you're able to connect with it. If you're not, I hope you gain some insight on what it is like to be an elementary school teacher. Enjoy!
A 2nd grade fraternity and sorority? Yeah, they exist in my classroom. They are a far cry from a college frat or sorority (thank the Lord for that) and they have been a great way to build community within my classroom. This is the story of how the Delta Pizza Monster Trucks and the Kappa Rainbow Unicorns came to be and how the power of Tik Tok changed my classroom this year. Enjoy!
I debated for a while on whether or not I would start talking more about faith on my podcast. While it's not something I've done a lot of on this platform, I feel as though it's time to dig a little deeper with it. I'm not here to preach a sermon or to tell you that you're going to hell if you don't get right with the Lord, but I want to offer you some advice on what to do with your faith. As men, we struggle to share our faith or to have connection with God. I hope that through this episode and future episodes to come, that I am able to provide you with different ways to improve your relationship with God and with others. Enjoy the latest episode!
In this week's episode, I discuss some of my favorite memories from baseball throughout my life and why most of them have take place off the field. I also wanted to bring to your attention a young man by the name of Ashton Strand. He's working with the Sawyer County Historical Society on a fundraising project to help save the museum (think "Back to the Future" with the "Save Our Clock Tower"). What he's doing is amazing and I hope you consider helping out. Enjoy the episode!
SCHS GoFundMe: https://bit.ly/3r9DkAU
Years ago, many families came together after the work day to share a meal together. This sit down meal provided a time where stories from the day were shared, updates on how the school day went (“We didn’t learn anything new, Mom.”), and other topics were thrown about the table while mashed potatoes were being passed. It was a time to truly get to know the people around you and your family members. Looking at current social trends, have we glossed over the fact that many people no longer sit down for meals together as a family?In this week's episode, we examine the "death of the dinner table" and what are some key elements to reviving it.
My friends, Beau and Bethany Petersen had me over at their Wisconsin Surf shop to enjoy a night of podcasting in their mobile sauna called Wisconsin Sauna. While we were slow cooking in the sauna, we discussed the Birkie, what the event means to us, and also gave you some Birkie tips! Enjoy!
There's nothing quite like Birkie Week in Hayward, WI. The town's population grows exponentially and there's a buzz that everyone can feel. It's the Super Bowl of the Northwoods. With the big week quickly approaching, I dipped back into my vault to talk about what the Birkie means to me. Enjoy!
The American Birkebeiner is less than a month away and I couldn't be more excited. The atmosphere in the northwoods area this time of year is something I wish I could bottle up and save for a rainy day. With that being said, this year will be a little bit different for me. I won't be just a spectator this year. I will be skiing in the Kortelopet ski race. Coming from a guy who didn't put on skis until this past year, I couldn't be more excited or nervous for my first event. Throughout this training process, I've learned a lot about myself and what I hope to instill into the lives of my second grade students. Enjoy the episode!
We kicked off 2022 by having our friend from the Whistle Punk, Josh Joiner, join the show. It was his first podcast and he rocked it. Josh recently moved to the area from Illinois and we wanted to hear what he loves about living in the northwoods. He also talked about his Chicago Bears, but we let it slide (just this once.) We also gave you some concerts to be on the look out for, some stand up comedy recommendations and a few tips on how to get through these long winters. Enjoy the show!
After almost three years since my solo trip out to California, this episode is dedicated to the solo traveler. Traveling with friends, family and your significant other is beautiful in its own right, but solo trips can be revolutionary as well. Here's a tale from the vault about my trip out to California and the things I learned about myself along the way. Enjoy!
Small town life isn't for everyone. The pace is often a little bit slower and the there's not much for night life besides tucking yourself into a corner booth at the local watering hole. But there's so much more to small town life than there appears. There's beauty in conversations while in line at the grocery store. There's a simplicity found in waving to your neighbors while on a walk down the street. Not every small town is Mayberry, but if one is willing to seek it out, they can find the peace they're searching for.
Enjoy our latest episode.
We all had a favorite teacher growing up. For some of us, it probably doesn't take too long to recall. You remember something funny they did or the way they made you feel while you were in their classroom. We all had a teacher we didn't like as well, but let's not think of them right now. Teachers have an opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of their students and that's just one of the reasons why I chose to go into the profession. It's a difficult position to be in, but very rewarding as well.
Today's podcast is a reflection on my first year of teaching that I wrote halfway through my first year in 2019 along with some added notes now that I am in my third year of teaching. Enjoy!
Merry Malortmas! Let's preface this episode by saying that you're going to want to have a full glass before you start this one. We always enjoy getting together at the end of every year to rehash the events of the year. This year (much like last year) was a doozy and we probably had too much fun recording this one, but who cares?
If you'd like to turn this episode into a drinking game, here are the rules:
1.) Drink every time someone says "GOAT."
2.) Drink every time someone says "Malort."
3.) Drink every time someone mentions "guacamole beer."
Best of luck and The Northern Nerd is not responsible for any injuries that may occur because of participation in this game.
Chris Wolf is one of the co-founders of the legendary Seeley Lumber Camp and is also one of my best friends. I have been meaning to sit down and record an episode with him for the longest time and the opportunity finally presented itself. Enjoy our in-depth dive into Seeley Lumber Camp and also some of our favorite (and not so favorite) Christmas traditions. If anyone wants to start the lights untangling store, we get like 3% of the cut... or something like that. Enjoy the show!
After a brief hiatus, the After Hours crew was able to sit down with a few cold beverages to discuss what we've been up to lately. A lot has happened since July when we last recorded an episode! We also discussed the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, gave out some great recommendations and gave you some not so legit promo codes to use. Also, if anyone is interested in sponsoring our backpacking trip through Europe, just hit up our AOL or MSN Messenger. Enjoy the show!
"The Show" was an iconic morning show on 92.3 WRLS in the northwoods of Wisconsin for over 20 years with my dad, Gary Hessel, and long time radio host, Dick Bender. While I was growing up, I got the wonderful opportunity to join them in the studio on multiple occasions to listen to them crack jokes while conducting "The Show." It has been a dream of mine to get these two back together for a "reunion show" and by golly, we finally made it happen.
Lucia Mauro is a Chicago filmmaker and cancer survivor and she is bringing her film "One Year Later" to the Park Center on Thursday, September 23rd. I had the pleasure of interviewing Lucia to talk about her film and other films she has made. We also discussed her travels and her favorite places to venture to in Italy! This will be her first time in the northwoods and we are so blessed to have her. Enjoy the show!
The Northwoods Humane Society is celebrating their 25th Anniversary with a 1k Dog Walk & Ice Cream Social on September 12th. I had Deanna (NHS) and Vallie from the Ovarian Cancer Symptom Awareness (OCSA) organization over at the house to talk about their wonderful organizations and how they are collaborating to put on this great event and other events in the northwoods. We had a fantastic time in the Northern Nerd studio (my kitchen) and shared many laughs along the way. Enjoy the show!
For more information:
https://www.northwoodshumanesociety.org
https://ovariancancersymptomawareness.org
Bryce Gervais is a professional hockey player and an avid fan of the northwoods. He's played for the MSU Mankato Mavericks, Chicago Wolves (AHL), EHC Olten (SL), and most recently the Heilbronner Falken (DEL 2). In this episode, we talked about growing up in Canada, what it's like to be a professional athlete, life as a new dad, and the wonders of the northwoods. Enjoy our latest episode!
A rainy evening at fishing camp was just what we needed to get this episode recorded. I always wanted to sit down with my dad and brother to recount stories of hunting/fishing and many others throughout our time together. Enjoy our stories, endless movie quotes and laughing at our own jokes.
There's nothing like a good old fashioned family road trip. Dad's always have some memorable lines along the journey and in this episode I share some that were sent in to me by you guys! I also share some of my favorite family road trip memories as well as discuss some events happening soon in the Northwoods! Thanks for listening and Bucks in six!
We know you're probably confused by the title of this episode and so are we, but that's what happens when you take the show on the road and wind up at Darryl and Robin's cabin. This was our first show as guests in someone's house and we had a blast. (Probably too much of a good time.) We discussed the chaos of summer in a tourist town, 4th of July festivities, great summer movies, gave a terrible recap of The Bachelorette, and took a deep dive into brunch. Enjoy this cluster of an episode and you're probably better off listening to it with a cold beverage near by.
Episode Sponsor: Darryl and Robin
I was able to chat with Sam and Adam LaSalle to discuss the wonderful world of timber sports and what fans can expect from the Sawyer County Wood Chop this upcoming weekend. We also chatted about life as a lumberjack/lumberjill and they shared the nerdiest things they own. What a fun couple to have on the show! The Sawyer County Wood Chop is happening in Hayward at the Lumberjack Bowl on Sunday, June 27th from 10am to 4pm. There are world class competitors competing for prize money and there will be music (provided by yours truly), sponsor giveaways, and farmer's market vendors!
If this week was any indication, summer is officially here. In this episode, I discuss the signs of summer that were sent in by members of the "Nerd Herd" and also give recommendations on things to do in the Northwoods. Crank up the AC, crack a cold one, and enjoy our latest episode.
Episode Sponsor: Sublime Subs
No one on this particular episode was safe from roasting as we recorded from my kitchen. The grammar police were in full force as well as many random promo codes which may or may not be legit. (But we're like 99.9% sure they're not legit.) We had special guests, Gary Haack and Taylor Egge on the show along with a rather interesting appearance by Beau Petersen. We discussed vacation plans, the Aaron Rodgers situation, gave our recommendations and went off on site quest tangents like we usually do. Enjoy this latest episode!
Episode Sponsored by: Robin & Darryl (two legit people that we've come to know from nights at The Whistle Punk.)
We've all got cabin fever and it's inherently obvious in our latest episode involving Birkie talk, a weather update, our latest recommendations or "recs", fake ads and our horrible book club stories that we made up. Enjoy our debauchery and we thank you for listening.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the country while living in a van? In my conversation with Mackenzie and Will I was able to get some insight into the "van life." They shared their inspiration behind the switch to this kind of lifestyle as well as how they went about building out their van. Mackenzie and Will discussed some of their highlights of the journey so far and share many pieces of advice as well. Enjoy our conversation as I talked with them from sunny Sedona, Arizona!
Follow their journey on Tik Tok and Instagram: @kenzklem
My high school friends Eddie, Mitch, and David came over to break in The Northern Nerd garage studio. (It sounds fancier than it actually is.) We discussed Birkie, small town bars, shared college stories, and gave you some good local directions to follow. Enjoy our latest episode and you'll probably want to listen to it with a cold brew in your hands.
The band got back together for another "After Hours" episode to discuss the recent happenings in the stock market with GameStop (in which we have 0 expertise), discussed sports, music, movies, fake ads, and even tried out some new bits to kick off the new year! Enjoy the latest episode and here's hoping that Malcolm Gladwell joins us on the next show.
Rebecca and I grew up together and when I found she completed this incredible journey of hiking the Appalachian Trail, I knew that I just had to sit down with her to hear her story. Enjoy recounting this adventure with Rebecca as she tells her story and the lessons she learned along the way. Perhaps you'll be inspired to venture out on your own as well.
I met Ryan and Amy Sportel last year when I had their daughter in my classroom and I knew something was special about these people. They are an avid outdoors family, but are also very community minded as well. They moved to the Hayward area back in June of 2019 and I wanted to know why they left the big city behind to come live in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Enjoy our fireside conversation and know that this may be a shameless plug to get you to come visit Hayward, WI if you haven't already.
P.S. - John Mayer, if you are listening, we weren't kidding about you coming to play at The Park Center. We will see you soon.
We close out 2020 with sitting by the fire at The Whistle Punk with some cold beers and snow falling from the sky. It was a time for reflection on the holidays, the albums that got us through the year, fake ads, beer recommendations, and another "Santa's Dead" rant to end the show. Enjoy!
This isn't a podcast episode where we "Uncle Rico" ourselves and talk about our high school stats and different ways we could've won state. This is the episode dedicated to growing up in a small northern Wisconsin town and all that it implies. I had my good high school buddies (Ed, Mitch, and David) over for some pizza and Angry Minnow brews and we hit record. Enjoy!
We were on location at Beau Petersen's house (which is also a highly ranked VRBO) to sit around the fire and record our latest podcast. Bourbon from 45th Parallel in New Richmond was in our cups and it was a nice addition to the show. Beau has shot photography for thousands of weddings through "Beau Petersen Photography" as well as helped people travel the world with "Superior Travel Planning." He was a great guest to have on the show, a wonderful host to us and we hope to have him on again some time. Enjoy the show!
In this week's episode, I recorded solo as I wanted to extend a message to young creatives. Whether you're just starting out as a writer, photographer, videographer or artist, I really hope you gain inspiration through this podcast episode. As always, thanks for listening.
It's October and it's officially "spooky season." Hear our latest pitch for a scary movie, a discussion on board games we hate the most, a dive into our latest music and show recommendations, and whatever else we came up with down at The Whistle Punk. Enjoy!
In our latest episode, we give you all of the entertainment recommendations you can handle while bouncing around from topic to topic like a drunken squirrel. Enjoy!
I had the pleasure of having Minnesota rapper, Pharaoh, over to The Northern Nerd HQ to talk about his music and the highly anticipated Aki Festival happening at the end of August. Hear some wonderful insight from Pharaoh about what it means to pursue your passions and to hear his story. Enjoy!
Be sure to check out akifest.com for more information on the festival and to purchase your tickets which go on sale August 1st.
After some time away from each other, we were finally able to meet up once again for another After Hours podcast session. We were posted up outside of The Whistle Punk for this one. You'll hear traffic occasionally, but we'd like to think it makes us more genuine to the northwoods. We hope you enjoy our Stone Lake traffic report as well.
(Yes, we are expecting some of you to send us that "Wagon Wheel Dubstep Remix").
Ian Malcolm has once again joined our podcast and I'd like to think that he's pretty much a co-host at this point. He came over to "the studio" (my living room) and we talked about his latest book "Waking Spero" as well as the writing process and zombie geese taking place in the distant future at the haunted McCormick House. Enjoy!
Quarantine has been tough, okay? The crew was able to get together via Zoom to record this latest podcast episode. We give you some great shows to watch, some hot takes and focus on moving hears and not asses. We're not sure what it means either, but it's provocative and gets the people going. Enjoy!
James Tumminia is a producer/actor/director and received a 2019 EMMY nomination for producing the feature documentary "Love, Gilda" that opened the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. I met James through a contest from the NBC show "This Is Us" and we've been friends ever since. It was great to chat with James to discuss what it's like to be a producer/actor/director and I even got him to tell me about his most embarrassing audition story! James was a great guest to have on the show and you'll definitely learn a lot about the entertainment industry through this episode. Enjoy!
Katie Krall was hired by the Cincinnati Reds as a Baseball Operations Analyst in January 2020. In
her role she develops and integrates new tools and technology to improve Baseball Operations
decision making processes, provides comprehensive scouting coverage, and statistical request
support to the front office.
I had the opportunity to talk with Katie about her role with the Reds, what she enjoys most about working in the MLB, and what her future goals are. In a time where baseball is on hold, it was great to talk about life and baseball this past Sunday with Katie. Enjoy!
JT and I have been friends since the days we spent together at Grandma's Too in Hayward. It was great to have him on the phone to talk about what it's like to work for NASA, reminisce on our glory days of working at the go kart track and our favorite Coach Heinrich memories. Enjoy our latest episode!
On most nights, you can probably catch James working at The Lakely in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. CO-VID 19 has gotten in the way of that, but that didn't stop me from bending the ear of my favorite bartender and good friend, James. I'm not going to lie, we covered a lot of topics in this episode, but we hope you learn something along the way and if not, enjoy two friends catching up!
If you know what day of the week it is during quarantine, I'd say you're doing just fine. With all of this free time, I figured I'd call up my college friends from the Murray Hall days at UWEC to catch up for a bit. In this episode, you'll learn about what it takes to be a pilot, what living in a new state during quarantine is like and much more. Enjoy!
Linsi Osland and I went to college together at UWEC, but now she is teaching in Hawaii. In this episode, we discuss her leap of faith to teach in Hawaii, what her first year of teaching has been like, and how to spot a tourist in Hawaii. Enjoy!
Erik Van Vleet is one of my college friends and it's been a while since we've talked, so I figured now more than ever was a great time to catch up. During our conversation, we discussed things we are doing to stay active during quarantine, our UWEC days, things that annoy bartenders and what it was like to sit through "Step Brothers" with his grandma. Enjoy!
Unlikely Sports Heroes Video Link: https://bit.ly/3aFhs5V
Quarantine has provided a unique opportunity for friends to reconnect. It's been a while since I've been able to talk with one of my best friends, Kyle Naber. He lives down in Milwaukee and I got to pick his brain a bit involving the lack of sports, our college days, and what he's doing to stay busy during this time. Enjoy!
After Hours: Episode 5: The Gang Gets Quarantined
Hello Nerds,
We recorded this episode from our own apartments/houses and we hope you enjoy it. During this time of uncertainty in society, we wanted to bring you some laughter at our own expense. Thanks for listening to the show, be kind to one another and wash ya hands!
James' Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2xjN2rq
Ian's Sexy Music Video Recommendation: https://bit.ly/2J8MSpq
After Hours: Episode 4: Post Birkie Buzz with Stu
Birkie week was a whirlwind, but we lived to tell the tale. In this episode, we had a great friend, Stu Neville, join us as a co-host and show guest. We talked about everything from the Birkie to dried mango misfortunes. Enjoy!
80s Birkie Documentary Link: https://bit.ly/2PBcjmX
After Hours: Episode 3 with Chris Mahoney
In this episode, we were joined by our friend, Chris, to talk about beer, life in the northwoods, what the heck "Goldberg" from the Mighty Ducks has been up to, give you our hot takes and our fake ads. Enjoy!
Link to Andy Reid Video as promised: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J43shDi3XU
Episode 23: Stories with my Sister
Last week, I got a chance to sit down with my brother, so it only seemed fitting to sit down with my sister, Alli Parr, for our latest episode. In this episode, we shared A LOT of laughs, but also talked about the life of a small town youth pastor/substitute teacher/waitress and were able to share stories from our childhood. Enjoy!
Intro/Outro Music by Beak Nasty
Episode 22: Brothers
I was able to find time to sit down with my brother while he was home on break from Madison. We were able to talk about what college life is like down in Madison, but this conversation also provided an avenue to talk about our favorite vacations as children. We also "roasted" our parents towards the end of the podcast. It was a fun episode to record and I hope you enjoy it!
Episode Music by Beak Nasty
After Hours: Santa's Dead - The guys got together again for pizza and beer to talk about all things Christmas and much more. We aren't going to say we are "Scrooges" by any means, but we pushed some boundaries. Enjoy!
Throw some good friends together with pizza, beer and hit record. That's essentially what we did on this first episode of "After Hours" and we hope you enjoy our stories, ramblings, and goofiness. Enjoy this podcast with Dalton, James and Ian. Let us know what you think of the show in the comments or if you've got any beef with our Hot Takes.
Spotify Playlist Recommendation from James: https://spoti.fi/2OivSiz
This week, I spill my guts on what the life of a DJ is like. I talk about some of the best parts of DJ gigs and some of the worst parts as well. I also try my hand at a little philosophy, but that might have just been the tacos talking. Enjoy!
We're back! It's been a little while, but I was able to chat with three-time guest, Ian Malcolm, to discuss his latest writings!
The story, Catch Island, is a part of the Contact This! anthology in which all the stories revolve around the idea of first contact with aliens. It's kind of like what would happen if the movie Alien took place on the set of Bachelors in Paradise.
The story, Kyle: Respawned, is part of the Storming Area 51 anthology. This story is about a Kyle and his naruto runner trying to figure out why he keeps coming back to life during the Area 51 invasion. This anthology also includes a story from New York Times Bestselling Author Declan Finn and a story from USA Today Bestselling Author Michael J. Allen.
Enjoy!
The Northern Nerd traveled to the land of Lambeau this past week to experience the Packers Shareholders meeting and Packers Training Camp. During that time, I was able to sit down with one of the best families I know, the Kujawas, and we were able to talk about life in Green Bay, but also why you should never eat airport flounder in London. Enjoy!
Yep, it's just The Northern Nerd and an Abraham Lincoln Cheesehead filled with questions. Enjoy!
Catching up with friends is an absolute must. I invited my good friend, Jacob Stuttgen, up to the northwoods for the day. After playing tour guide for the day, we came back to Northern Nerd HQ to record this here podcast. Enjoy!
Sponsor: The Northern Nerd Online Store www.thenorthernnerd.com/online-store Music: Beak Nasty - Chill Funk Files Vol. 1
Meals bring people together and Nathan Bochler, owner of The Ranch Supper Club, is no stranger to the stories that often accompany food. He shared a few of his stories with me on the podcast as well as shared a few of the nerdiest things that he owns. Enjoy our latest episode!
Sponsor: The Northern Nerd Online Store www.thenorthernnerd.com/online-store Music: Beak Nasty - Chill Funk Files - Vol. 1 - Optical Illusions
Jake came over to the new Northern Nerd HQ to record this podcast and we had a blast talking about his podcast "30 Minute Break with Jake", summer plans, the series finale of Game of Thrones and much more. Enjoy!
Sponsor: The Whistle Punk Music by: Beak Nasty
The Northern Nerd recorded their first back porch podcast with Riley Doughterty this past weekend in Eau Claire and it was a podcast to remember. Special guests appearances were made by landlords while we discussed Riley's upcoming move to Texas as well as romance in today's society. Enjoy!
Sponsor: Hurricane Lawn Care Music by: Beak Nasty - Optical Illusions Album: Chill Funk Files - Vol. 1
Ian Malcolm now holds the title for most guest appearances so far on our show. (A title he doesn't want to give up any time soon.) In this episode, I got a chance to talk with Ian over the phone about his new book "The Land of Unlived Dreams" and how his writing process differed from his first book, "The Draxler Program" (among many other things). Enjoy our latest episode!
Sponsor: Hurricane Lawn Care Music by: Beak Nasty - Optical Illusion Album: Chill Funk Files Vol. 1
The Northern Nerd was able to sit down with world renowned BBQ master, Dave Anderson. Famous Dave shared some valuable insight on the life of an entrepreneur and offered some words of encouragement for those struggling with their purpose. Take a listen and thank you for tuning in!
Show Sponsor: Hurricane Lawn Care Music by: Beak Nasty - "Optical Illusions" Album: Chill Funk Files Vol.1
The Northern Nerd was able to sit down with soon to be graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Sawyer Young. It were able to chat about engineering, what life is like as a student-athlete in college, maintaining your faith in college, and how life is about being able to embrace your awkwardness. Enjoy!
Our sponsor for this week's episode is Parr Enterprises, LLC. With years of snow removal experience, you're going to want to give them a call if this latest snowstorm has got you down. Don't worry about shoveling your driveway, just give Parr Enterprises, LLC a call at 715-558-0946 of find them on Facebook.
The Northern Nerd went back to his college town of Eau Claire to visit some of his buddies to talk about Water Street, life after graduation, and Space Jam 2. (We basically wrote the new script in this episode.) What's your ideal Monstars team look like? Let us know by messaging our page. Enjoy!
Our sponsor for this week's episode is Johnny B's Lakeshore Grill & Pizza. Whether you're staying at Blueberry Hills Resort or just swinging by to try their Italian beef, mouth watering racks of ribs, or their amazing pan pizza; Johnny B's is the place to go. Give Johnny and Trish a call at 715-945-2686 and also visit them on Facebook at Johnny B's Lakeshore Grill & Pizza.
The Northern Nerd spent an evening with the humble local fly fishing guide, Stu Neville. We discussed fishing of course, but also life as an official local, our favorite spots to eat, and Stu shared the story of a unique deer named Vennie (who is not a pet). Enjoy!
Thank you Hurricane Lawn Care for sponsoring this week's episode. Contact Hurricane Lawn Care for all of your mowing, weed whacking, raking, and many outdoor needs at 715-558-8611.
The Northern Nerd was able to sit down with longtime Hayward resident, Mike Hansen. Mike was a wonderful guest to have on the show as we discussed life in the Northwoods, writing, faith, and always chasing that big fish.
Thank you The Whistle Punk of Stone Lake, WI for sponsoring this week's episode. To find out more about "The Punk" visit their Facebook page or go to thewhistlepunk.com.
The Northern Nerd took a trip to Eau Claire to visit local musician and journalist, Parker Reed. Parker's hospitality included a Baja Blast (tough to beat) as we talked about his music career, but also vinyl records and some of his favorite films. Be sure to check out Parker Reed - Music on Facebook and listen to him on Spotify and Youtube.
On a Wednesday morning, I hopped in my car and headed over to the "State of Hockey" to interview one of my great friends from college, Pete Winslow. We got a chance to catch up, talk sports, video games, life after college, and his power soccer team! Check it out.
The Northern Nerd always enjoys sitting down for a cup of coffee. This week, we got a chance to sit down with the busy local entrepreneur, Curtis DeCora, and talk about his latest venture with Boozhoo Coffee. Enjoy!
The Northern Nerd got the chance to sit down with traveler and author, Ian Malcolm, to discuss his time living in Spain as well as his new book, The Draxler Program. We threw in a few pop culture tid bits as well, but you already have come to expect that. Enjoy!
The Northern Nerd hit the road and went out east for the week! In this episode, I talk about the experiences that I had in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and give out some unwanted advice all while running on four hours of sleep. Enjoy!
The Northern Nerd got a chance to sit down with local celebrity and Angry Minnow bartender, James Granbom, to talk about life, music, and the perfect day off in northern Wisconsin.
The Northern Nerd's first ever podcast. I was able to sit down with local pastor Wade Bishop to discuss everything from movie theater pet peeves to ballin' on a budget. Take a listen.