Gravel Roads Radio

Ep. 36 - Nonsense @ Nine - It's not good, but we keep doing it!

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 Kilpela.
They also review ODR Podcast Episode 2 with Nate and Ben Niemela, then jump into a blind ranking of past and present local gas stations—fueling plenty of strong opinions.
To top it all off, Abbi Hillstrom calls in with a meltdown of her own, sending the episode out on a perfectly unhinged note.
Slightly worse than average podcasting… and proud of it.

Ep. 35 - The ODR Podcast - Nate and Ben Niemela

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 frozen hoses and late-night flooding to unforgettable games and characters, this episode is packed with classic outdoor hockey stories.
If you love pond hockey, backyard rinks, or the history behind the game we all grew up playing, this one’s for you.
Presented by Polar Bear Rinks.

Ep. 34 - Nonsense @ Nine - New Year, Same Nonsense

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 — from ingredients to technique to whether they actually deserve the hype. We wrapped it all up with New Year’s resolutions that were ambitious, questionable, and almost certainly doomed. Unplanned, unpolished, and exactly how Nonsense at Nine is supposed to feel.

Ep. 33 - GRR Outdoors - Tony Fratzke - Close Calls in Elk Country: A Bowhunter’s Stories from the West

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 from the field, including hunting with pack llamas, a tense encounter with poachers, a heart-pounding close call with a mountain lion, and plenty of local hunting stories closer to home.
We also dive into the realities of hunting public land, working with landowners, and the respect and responsibility that comes with being a serious bow hunter. Whether you’re an experienced hunter, thinking about heading west for your first elk hunt, or just love a great outdoors story, this one will pull you in and keep you listening.
Great stories. Real experiences. Pure Gravel Roads Radio Outdoors. 🏹🦌

Ep. 32 - Nonsense @ Nine - Blizzard Edition

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. There’s plenty of wandering conversation, some questionable decisions, and the kind of chaos that only happens when you don’t plan a thing.
We also made a bold promise: we’ll be better at podcasting in 2026.No guarantees, but the intention is there.
Unpolished. Unfiltered. Very on-brand.Thanks for riding the gravel roads with us.

Ep. 31 - Nonsense @ Nine - A GRR Christmas Podcast

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 might be our worst episode ever — but it was overflowing with Christmas spirit, laughs, and classic Gravel Roads nonsense.
Hit play, lower your expectations, and enjoy the holiday mess. 🎄🎙️

Ep. 30 - Nonsense @ Nine - Dan the Aquaman’s Birthday Party!

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 signed up for those alumni games. As if that wasn’t enough to get morale up, Carl came through once again and brought food, officially cementing his status as a show MVP.
From there, things spiral—Max melts down over people who treat their pets like family, while Ron has his own meltdown about dry hands (very relatable, very passionate). The crew also dives into outdoor activities, fires off a round of blind rankings, and somehow ends up with Ron shooting a BB gun, because of course he does.
It’s loud, it’s random, it’s very Gravel Roads. Buckle up and enjoy Episode 30.

Ep. 29 - Nonsense @ Nine - Slightly Below Average Effort

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. Max provided his weekly moment of instability with another legendary meltdown, and Ron capped off the randomness by singing a completely fake song that somehow made sense in the moment.
It's loose. It's messy. It’s slightly below average effort at its finest…and exactly what Nonsense @ Nine fans have come to love.

Ep. 28 - GRR Outdoors - Boundary Waters

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, wildlife encounters, and the kind of memories that only come from miles of paddle strokes and campfire nights. The guys even jump into some Boundary Waters trivia, testing each other’s knowledge and adding plenty of laughs along the way.
If you love the outdoors, live for the BWCA, or just enjoy good stories told by people who’ve lived them, this episode is a must-listen.
Grab a cup of camp coffee and enjoy Episode 28 of GRR Outdoors

Ep. 27 - Nonsense @ Nine - The Bob Anderson and Garrett Impola Cast

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 with some camping tidbits, Will delivered another top-tier Yooper Scoop, and Max… well… Max melted down. Again.
Small-town chaos. Big-time stories. One marathon episode.