Gravel Roads Radio

Ep. 26 - GRR Outdoors - Mike "Spike" Halonen - Trapping tales

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 small-town charm. It’s casual, real, and made for folks who love gravel roads and late-night campfire stories.

Ep. 25 - Nonsense @ Nine: Culver’s Tales, Meltdowns & The Obsessed Podcast

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. Ron melts down. Max melts down. Nobody is safe.
Ryan delivers a crowd-pleaser with his “Back in My Day” ad read before the guys break down his elite performance between the pipes as a men’s league goalie.
To wrap it all up, Ron sings (yes, really), and the crew delivers some high-quality education on the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Another classic small-town, big-laughs episode of GRR. Buckle up.

Ep. 24 - GRR Outdoors - Deer Season Stories

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 laid-back, storytelling start to a brand-new GRR series — perfect for anyone who loves the sound of crunching leaves, early mornings in the stand, and small-town hunting talk done right.

Ep. 23 - Nonsense @ Nine - Christmas in November & UP Invasion

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 capitalism. The crew circled back to Halloween stories, previewed the upcoming Obsessed Podcast, and teased next week’s taping of the long-awaited Big Brothers episode.
Another perfectly average installment of small-town chaos, laughs, and friendship from the GRR gang.

Ep. 22 - Nonsense @ Nine - Carl Aho Comes Reverse Trick or Treating - Dan Work Life and Thanksgiving

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 with Taco Bell, Brad Johnson walked away with a DQ hat, and we wrapped it all up with a look back at the Dassel-Cokato Chargers fall sports season.
It’s small-town chaos, caffeine, and community pride—just another day on Gravel Roads Radio

Ep. 21 - Nonsense @ Nine - Steve's Meltdown - The Chett and Abbi Hillstrom and Tyler Niemela Cast

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 strong opinions, Ron sang his heart out, and Max went nuclear over every store begging you to join their loyalty programs. Chett and Abbi Hillstrom joined us via phone, Tyler Niemela stopped by to talk Mud Lake Decoys hockey, and somehow we managed to hold it all together — barely.
It’s unpredictable, off-the-rails, and proudly small-town. In other words, classic GRR. We promise next episode will be better… probably.

Ep. 20 - Nonsense @ Nine - The Knapp Open Cast - W Guest Nate Hillstrom of the Mud Lake Decoys Hockey Club

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 preview the upcoming playoffs, and somehow never manage to talk about Apple vs Samsung (you’re welcome). Brad Johnson shows up big in the live chat, we get sidetracked by Olive Garden, and the crew surprises Ryan with some birthday gifts.
It’s small-town chaos at its finest — powered by the Knapp Open Golf Tournament!

Ep. 19 - Nonsense @ Nine -The Taco Bell Cast w Guests Tyler Niemela, and Dan the Man

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 Keyword Game makes its glorious return.
Meanwhile, Max goes off the rails with an all-time meltdown about steak. It’s small-town comedy, chaos, and community all rolled into one.

Ep. 18 - SPECIAL EPISODE - Mud Lake Decoys Hockey Club

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.
From leadership and preparation to small-town passion for the game, this conversation dives into what makes Men's League hockey so special in Minnesota.
 

Ep. 17 - Nonsense @ Nine -The Aaron Haataja and Dan the Man Cast

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 memories, and drop some real small-town wisdom.
Plus — Ryan debuts a hilarious new ad read, and Max has a full-blown meltdown that just might go down as a GRR classic.
🔥 Chargers pride, laughs, and chaos — it’s all here on Episode 17 of Gravel Roads Radio.