Gravel Roads Radio

In this episode of Gravel Roads Radio Outdoors, Lars sits down with Mike Tormanen and Larry Tormanen, two guys who know the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as well as just about anyone. Mike alone has made the trip over 90 times, with Larry logging plenty of miles himself, and together they’ve seen just about everything the BWCA has to offer.

They share how their trips to the Boundary Waters began, how the experience has changed over th...

This one… is not good.

In Ep. 37 we tried to keep up with the slang kids are using these days (rizz, cap, sus, bet, and whatever else made us feel extremely old). Steve gave a quick hockey update, we tossed around some spring break ideas, and Max once again broke out the harmonica—followed by a spirited (and mostly incorrect) attempt to guess what song he was playing.

Ruth made her first comment ever (historic moment), Ron did not ...

This episode has a little bit of everything—classic chaos, unexpected music, and plenty of Minnesota-level nonsense. Max delivers multiple meltdowns, tackling winter frustrations and dipping a toe into politics, and even breaks out the harmonica.

Steve talks about the live cast of the Harry Potter books, the guys check in on the weather (because of course they do), and the crew reviews Obsessed Podcast Episode 68 featuring Ricky Ki...

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 the communities around them. From fro...

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 too in-depth on Ryan’s nachos — fr...

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. He shares unforgettable stories fro...

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, and check in on Polar Bear Rinks....

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 preparation (questionable at best). It mi...

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 Association, with a reminder to get si...

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 — Santa himself called the show. Ma...

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—portage mishaps, perfect sunsets, w...

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 across the U.S.

Dan kicked things off wi...

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 trapping tricks, and that classic sm...

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 there… things get chaotic fast. Ro...

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 share their own hunting tales.

A la...

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 about Highway 494, sunglasses, and cap...

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 flies in the car.

Carl Aho swung by wit...

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 NFL… or the PGA Tour? The crew had s...

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-Cokato Charger fall sports and prev...