Back At The Lodge

Jim and Michelle have a very special guest on this week's episode, 9-year-old Elsie Braaten joins the table to offer her latest news (it involves a little furry animal) and why she is a die-hard Vikings fan. Jim shares his recent family reunion on the farm and Michelle chats about a half-day retreat coming up in the Twin Cities hosted by Modern Carnivore for those interested in hunting, but unsure of where to begin. Learn more here: https://modcarn.lpages.co/start-my-adventure-8-19-17/ Tickets are $50, but email Michelle at michelle at bulletproofcomm dot com and she can help you out.  Learn more about Michelle at http://bulletproofmediablog.com and Jim at https://sportsmansblog.com 

There is a way to ask an outdoor celeb to be on your podcast - and enticing them with chatting with you for 90 minutes is not it. Listen to Melissa Bachman, host of Winchester Deadly Passion, and Michelle give some "dos and don'ts" when it comes to being a good interviewer - and interviewee.  Learn more about Back at the Lodge Podcast at http://bulletproofmediablog.com  Find Melissa at http://melissabachman.com http://facebook.com/winchesterdeadlypassion and http://instagram.com/melissa_bachman   

Jason Reed of Crosman, Corp and Mia Anstine, blogger/podcaster and western guide, chat with Michelle at the Professional Outdoor Media Association Conference in Shreveport, LA in mid-June.  Jason discusses how he got the gig at Crosman Corp (hint, it takes hard work), who he admires in the outdoor industry and gives a clue to some new things coming down the pipe marketing-wise. Learn more about Crosman at http://crosman.com  Mia dives deep into the mindset of a hunter when outdoors - how we let others affect us - celebrating her almost 1 year anniversary of being on the cover of Field & Stream magazine and how she's going to make sure her podcast continues even after her daughter heads off to college. Listen to Mia and Lea's podcast at https://miaanstine.com/category/podcast/  Learn more this podcast at http://bulletproofmediablog.com 

Michelle spent a quick trip in Seattle area - specifically Mt. Rainier - with her mom and sister for a little hiking and exploring. At the end of the trip, they settled into a hotel room near the Sea-Tec airport (As Michelle's flight was early the following day) to record this podcast and tell tales of the previous 24 hours together. Michelle's mom has a special connection to Mt. Rainier as a kid, but never actually went up it - so this was a unique opportunity for everyone. If you love hiking and haven't considered the Seattle area, listen in and we might change your mind.  Learn more about Michelle and her business at http://bulletproofcomm.com 

Pre- and post race analysis of the South Dakota Kayak Challenge where Michelle paddled 72 river miles in the Missouri River from Yankton, South Dakota to South Sioux City, Iowa - literally touching 3 states along the way. If you are considering a long kayak run like this - listen to Michelle's pre and post game strategies.  Learn more about Michelle and the kayak challenge on her newly designed blog at http://bulletproofmediablog.com  Learn more about the race for next year at http://sdkayakchallenge.com     

Michelle and Jim are at their usual 'haunt' in the 'burbs of St Paul - except the restaurant is undergoing construction - so excuse the air compressor. Jim chats up his English Lab, Mikka, and the struggles of being a new puppy dad - and how his wallet is much lighter since this new family acquisition. Michelle brought a show and tell to the table of Mpowerd LUCI solar inflatable light she's excited to take on the South Dakota Kayak Challenge trip this Memorial Weekend. If she survives the infamous SD wind...and has the energy to travel 70 miles downstream the Missouri River... Finally, Jim is also going on an adventure - a digital fox hunt. This proves Jim is a total nerd. Tune in to learn more!!! Follow Michelle at http://bulletproofmediablog.com and Jim at http://sportsmansblog.com  On Instagram for Michelle @ladysportsman and Jim @Jim7226     

Mark Strand makes the long trek to "Studio B" of Back at the Lodge studios to talk turkey hunting with Jim and Michelle. This is a longer episode than normal for Michelle and Jim, but if you are a turkey hunter, this is a MUST LISTEN as Mark shares so much juicy information from his years of experience in the woods.  Turkey discussion topics include: calling and types of calls - how to suck at calling - decoys to use (and not use), how Mark didn't kill a turkey during a tornado but made a life-long friend, his Minnesota Youth Mentored hunts and his certification for that, and the best excuses turkey hunters have for essentially being a horrible turkey hunter. More details and links to Mark's suggestions in the podcast at http://bulletproofmediablog.com 

Michelle is minus Jim on this one - she heads south to Texas Hill Country to speak with Cole Reid, Exec Director/Manager at Stewards of Wildlife, a nonprofit focused on re-establishing threatened and endangered species herds. Their latest project is called "Rhinos Forever" and its goal is to bring rhinos to Texas to protect them from poaching in Africa. The idea is to create a sustainable breeding herd here to eventually take back to Africa once the poaching 'issue' has been resolved.  Cole also discussed gnome work he's doing with the Smithsonian Institute with the Dama Gazelle, a critically endangered species. Thanks to Stewards and other ranches in Texas, there are roughly 2,000 Dama Gazelles running around in Texas.  If this podcast moves you, Cole and Michelle would greatly appreciate you giving to the Stewards of Wildlife at http://stewardsofwildlife.org/donate 

Jim and Michelle are back together again! How long can they keep this up? We dive into post-SHOT show notes, from Jim's realization the show keeps getting bigger and bigger every year - and the press room smaller and smaller (because there are so many media folks now!) to Michelle's realization she can't do everything.  Plus, Michelle talks Jim into sharing about his new book - which is on Lutefisk and Lefse! Jim's Norwegian background really comes out in this podcast, lol. 

Michelle is on location for the first annual BulletProof Communications Corporate Retreat, which happens to be in Cancun, Mexico this year. Ok, that's really kidding. She happened to take a "girls trip" with her bestie, Cassie, for a few days for sun and fun. But how they got on this trip is a good story in of itself and one you need to hear Cassie tell the tale. Hear the crashing waves along the Cancun beach and Cassie will share the worst thing you can say to a graphic designer and what tattoo of a CITY she would get in exchange for freebies. Oh - and Michelle is seeking wineries for clients. Learn more about Michelle at http://bulletproofmediablog.com 

This past August, the Minnesota DNR held their "Minnesota Angler and Hunter Recruitment and Retention Conference" to share information on best practices to design and deliver recruitment and retention programs. This audio is a compilation of presentations from Mark Norquist of Modern Carnivore, Matt Dunfee who is the Programs Manager for Wildlife Management Institute and joining them is a new hunter, a gentleman who proclaims himself as an "adult-onset hunter" who takes the audience through his journey from learning in a classroom to finally being outside with his mentor, Mark. Quite the story. While this is just the audio, it is full of useful information - no matter if you want to implement something similar in your area, or wondering why some programs are not working at all. Learn more about Modern Carnivore at http://ModCarn.Com Thanks for listening & reviewing!!

When you have a lot of time on your hands, you record a podcast. I'm traveling back from visiting the folks in South Dakota. In this brief episode, I share why you shouldn't start another whitetail show,  a love story - my parents, and I talk about jewelry a lot. 

First attempt at recording audio while in my vehicle. While I realize it isn't the best sound (I will work on that) I felt the message of "doing your own thing, your own way" is of value and you need to be reminded of that! Don't copy others - make your own path and do what you can with the time/space/energy you have right now. Thanks for listening!!!

Gretchen Steele, outdoor writer and hunter, penned an article for "Heartland Outdoors" magazine asking what has the outdoor industry become? She read her piece out loud for us - thank you Gretchen!

It has been a busy, news-filled August for the outdoor industry - Jim and Michelle discuss the fallout of Under Armour's actions, Camp Chef is sold to Vista Outdoors and the fact Jim promises to take Michelle out when he sets his traps this fall. 

Michelle dumps Jim for this week's episode for a chat with hunter extraordinaire, Melissa Bachman, at her home in Minnesota. Joining them is Melissa's best friend and hunting buddy, Pork Chop. They discuss Melissa's fall 2016 hunts, what she is super excited to pick up in Nebraska, and what it truly takes to have your own show on national TV. (Hint, hard work is 99% of it) 

Jim interviews Michelle about her time in Kalispell, Montana this past June for the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) Annual Conference. They discuss how, as a business owner or writer, you need to be present AND participatory at conferences and more. Plus, they discuss new online hunting series "Till Death Do Us Part" and the Recruitment & Retention Conference the MN DNR is hosting in late August. 

wgupxdgm A very special guest joins Jim and Michelle with Jim's daughter Elise joining the table at the Lodge (aka Jim's house) to talk about her recent northwoods vacation with the family, how to navigate an alpine slide, where to find the best rocks along Lake Superior and lastly, her very first turkey hunt with dad this past spring. 

Michelle and Jim travel to St. Paul to the MN Department of Natural Resources offices to have the very first interview with Fish & Wildlife Director, Jim Leach, since he took office on April 18. The duo also chats with Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Mike Kurre and Outreach Chief, Deb Byer. If you had ideas about the DNR office, you need to tune in to this podcast as you'll be pleasantly surprised!

What a special treat for this week's (month's?) podcast! Jim and Michelle chat with Scott Leysath, also known as The Sporting Chef, ON LOCATION at Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul, MN as Scott is helping Outdoor Sportsman Group for their HuntFishFeed event. HFF is touring event put on by Outdoor Sportsman Group to raise awareness of venison donations to feed those less fortunate. Also included in this mix is Jack Hennessy, wild game food blogger for Pioneer Press. Jack shares his most famous recipe, of which neither Jim nor Michelle have ever partaken in...but that will soon change my friends.