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Diaries of a Lodge Owner
In 2009, sheet metal mechanic, Steve Niedzwiecki, turned his passions into reality using steadfast belief in himself and his vision by investing everything in a once-obscure run-down Canadian fishing lodge.
After ten years, the now-former lodge owner and co-host of The Fish'n Canada Show is here to share stories of inspiration, relationships and the many struggles that turned his monumental gamble into one of the most legendary lodges in the country.
From anglers to entrepreneurs, athletes to conservationists; you never know who is going to stop by the lodge.
Episodes
113 episodes
Episode 112: Finding a Voice in Canadian Fishing
What happens when someone who grew up with a speech impediment suddenly finds themselves co-hosting one of Canada's most iconic fishing shows? Dean Taylor's journey from behind-the-scenes team member to on-air personality for Fish'n Canada reve...
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Episode 112
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1:04:56
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Episode 111: When Things Go Wrong At The Lodge
The wilderness has a way of teaching its toughest lessons at the most inconvenient moments. Steve Niedzwiecki pulls back the curtain on the chaotic realities of running a northern fishing lodge, where Murphy's Law isn't just a saying—it's pract...
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Episode 111
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1:09:55
Episode 110: The Hidden Seasons of Lodge Life
Ever wondered what happens at your favorite fishing lodge when the boats are stored and the last guest drives away? The magic of those perfect summer days on the water doesn't materialize from thin air—it's crafted through months of behind-the-...
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Episode 110
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1:15:04
Episode 109: The Return of Willie?
The legend returns! After mysteriously disappearing, Willie "the Oil Man" has resurfaced at Two Rivers Lodge in northwestern Ontario. This episode reveals his ambitious journey of resurrection—transforming an abandoned fishing resort into a pre...
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Episode 109
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1:09:04
Episode 108: Fishing, Finding Purpose, and Full Circle Moments
Have you ever wondered what life might look like if you actually pursued the thing that makes you leap out of bed in the morning? Jake Monk's journey offers a rare glimpse into what happens when passion meets opportunity and purpose finds its p...
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Episode 108
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1:18:22
Episode 107: Wilderness Luxury: Rick Dolishny's Glamping Revolution
Escape to the edge of wilderness luxury in this eye-opening conversation with Rick Dolishny, who alongside partner Jenn Carr has created Ontario's most innovative glamping experience at Maynooth Station Lodge. Rick shares the fasci...
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Episode 107
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1:01:15
Episode 106: Lessons From a Lifetime Guide
Spend an hour with JP Bushey, and you'll quickly understand why his reputation as one of eastern Georgian Bay's premier fishing guides has spread far beyond Ontario's shores. Unlike those who picked up a rod five years ago after watching a YouT...
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Episode 106
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1:24:34
Episode 105: The Buck Lake Lodge Story
Nestled in the heart of Northern Ontario's wilderness, Buck Lake Lodge stands as a testament to authentic backcountry experiences. Owner John Moffatt welcomes us with stories that span generations, having been born into a trapping family and ne...
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Episode 105
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1:16:07
Episode 104: The Honey Entrepreneur - How Terri Faloney Built Hammer Hives from the Ground Up
Ever wondered what happens when a childhood fascination becomes a thriving business? Meet Terri Faloney, the passionate force behind Hammer Hives, whose journey from curious novice to "bee whisperer" offers a masterclass in following your calli...
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Episode 104
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1:02:17
Episode 103: Hearst Air - Flying Dreams and Northern Memories
Stepping off a float plane into the pristine wilderness of Northern Ontario – tired, dirty, and utterly happy – is the moment Melanie Veilleux lives for. As the owner of Hearst Air, she's witnessed this transformation countless times over nearl...
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Episode 103
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1:36:43
Episode 102: Heat Wave Survival Guide
When the thermometer pushes past 30°C at a wilderness lodge, everything changes. The heat transforms more than just the comfort level—it reshapes the entire rhythm of the north, from fish behavior to guest experiences and staff management.<...
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Episode 102
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54:42
Episode 101: The Art and Value of a Great Guide
Ever wondered what truly separates an ordinary fishing trip from an extraordinary one? It might just be the person sitting next to you in the boat.Great fishing guides transform what could be a simple day on the water into a rich tapest...
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Episode 101
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1:32:00
Episode 100: The Hidden Costs of Lodge Ownership
Ever watched the sun rise over a pristine northern lake and thought, "I could do this for a living"? Before you mortgage your home and cash in your retirement savings, you need to hear the raw, unfiltered truth about what it really takes to run...
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Episode 100
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1:28:09
Episode 99: Lets Do It All Again
Have you ever wondered what it really takes to turn your fishing lodge dream into reality? Willie and Krista Pawlowsky pull back the curtain on their latest adventure - purchasing and launching Two Rivers Lodge in northwestern Ontario in under ...
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Episode 99
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55:57
Episode 98: Honeybee Homesteading - Starting Your Backyard Hive
The sweet golden nectar we call honey might be the most remarkable food on earth—the only substance that truly never expires. Egyptian tombs revealed 5,000-year-old honey still perfectly edible, a testament to nature's most extraordinary preser...
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Episode 98
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1:09:25
Episode 97: A Week In The Life Of Steve
A flame flickers inside the wheel well of a beloved 1992 Ford F-250, threatening to consume it. Just days earlier, another flame—hope for the Toronto Maple Leafs—had burned briefly before being extinguished in yet another Game 7 heartbreak. Suc...
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Episode 97
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1:11:34
Episode 96: How the Best Casting Spots Are Found While Trolling
What makes a three-mile stretch of seemingly uniform weed line suddenly produce fish in one specific spot? Why do nine out of ten strikes happen in the exact same location? These are the questions that separate casual anglers from true fishing ...
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Episode 96
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1:13:58
Episode 95: Steel Wheels and Wild Places - A Train Engineer's Life
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to control thousands of tons of steel, stretching nearly three miles behind you? In this captivating conversation, Willie sits down with Matt Oleski, a train engineer whose decade-long railway career pr...
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Episode 95
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54:38
Episode 94: Weathering Life's Storms
Some of life's greatest lessons emerge from weathering unexpected storms. In this deeply reflective episode, I explore how the literal thunderstorms of Northern Ontario and the metaphorical storms of major life decisions have shaped my journey ...
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Episode 94
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1:03:30
Episode 93: The Art of Shore Lunch
There's something magical about outdoor gatherings—those special moments where food, nature, and companionship blend together to create lasting memories. In this episode, Willie the Oil Man takes us deep into the art of the shore lunch, a belov...
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Episode 93
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1:18:22
Episode 92: Ancestral Healing - One Man's Journey from Illness to Self-Sufficiency
Gary Tibo's life story reads like an adventure through Canada's cultural identity. Raised in the Sudbury Basin with Aboriginal roots—his father a Beothuk native from Newfoundland—Gary grew up hunting with a loaded gun at age ten, bringing fish ...
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Episode 92
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1:32:42
Episode 91: Planning Your Ultimate Canadian Outdoor Experience
From the moment a float plane touches down on a remote lake to the camaraderie of sharing stories around a community dinner table, the outdoor adventures waiting in Canada's wilderness create memories that last a lifetime. In this captivating e...
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Episode 91
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1:24:20
Episode 90: Northern Pike, Missed Opportunities, and TV Drama on Ontario's Upper French
Ever had that perfect fishing moment slip away? Now imagine it happening on international television.When British angler Matt Hayes and German social media star Babs Kijewski arrived at Chaudière Lodge in 2015, Steve Niedzwiecki was det...
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Episode 90
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1:14:29
Episode 89: From Winnipeg to the Tundra - How Lake Trout Changed My Life
Deep within Canada's Arctic territory lies a world most Canadians will never experience - a place where snowmobiles are purchased at the grocery store alongside milk, where polar bears rip steel doors off community freezers to steal walrus meat...
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Episode 89
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1:10:42
Episode 88: A Springtime Guide to Rural Living
As winter's grip begins to loosen and the snow starts melting away, Willie and I find ourselves eagerly anticipating spring's arrival. There's something magical about these seasonal transitions – that feeling of renewal and the rush of exciteme...
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Episode 88
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1:06:09