Maine's Still Waters & Strong Minds: The Healing Power of Fly Fishing & the Maine Outdoors

There’s something truly special about life in Maine — where being active and outdoors isn’t a hobby, it’s a way of life.

In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, I sit down with my friend Tom Ackerman, an incredible storyteller, guide, and fly-fishing travel consultant, to talk about what makes the Maine outdoors so restorative and how a life connected to nature brings balance, joy, and adventure.

Tom’s career has spanned decades of helping people discover the beauty of Maine’s rivers, lakes, and coastline — from his years with L.L.Bean, where he taught thousands to fly fish, to hosting outdoor adventures for ESPN with guests like Bobby Knight, Herschel Walker, and Josh Beckett. His deep appreciation for the natural world and his belief that “life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful” shine through in every story.

Together, we explore:

• Why living in Maine makes it so easy to lead an active, outdoor lifestyle — from fly fishing and hunting to hiking, birding, and boating.
• How being outdoors in Maine encourages mindfulness, presence, and connection.
• Tom’s years at L.L.Bean’s Fly Fishing School and the lessons he’s learned on Maine’s rivers and streams.
• His incredible experiences guiding and filming outdoor adventures with world-class athletes and actors.
• Why spending time outside — especially in Maine’s breathtaking natural settings — is more important than ever for adults, families, and kids.

Tom’s stories celebrate everything that makes the Maine outdoor lifestyle so powerful — its authenticity, accessibility, and quiet beauty. Whether you’re casting a fly on one of our many lakes, rivers or streams, hiking the Bold Coast or our majestic mountains, or simply watching the sunrise over Casco Bay, this episode will inspire you to reconnect with the natural world that defines Maine living.

🎣 Connect with Tom Ackerman

• Email: tom@classic-connections.com
• Website: https://classicconnections.blog/

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🌐 Website & Listings: Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
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Transcript

Elise Kiely: [00:00:00] Good morning, Maine. The phrase of the day is the River is the Reward. Welcome to Elegant Maine Living. The way life should be, where we share both current updates on Maine's residential real estate market, including market conditions, trends, and some significant sales and insights into Maine's unique and vibrant lifestyle and communities that make this such an attractive place to live, work, and play.

I am your host, Elise Kiely, senior Vice President and Global Real Estate Advisor with Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty based in Portland, Maine, and in this lifestyle episode of Elegant Maine Living, we are going to explore the art [00:01:00] and joy and serenity of outdoor fly fishing adventures in Maine and beyond.

We're going to take a look at how living in Maine with our rugged coastline lakes and rivers makes access to fly fishing and hunting accessible and inviting. I'm super excited to have with me this morning my friend, my guest, my fly fishing travel consultant and expert Tom Ackerman, who has spent his career connecting people to the outdoors through shared experience from a long career at LL Bean to International Sporting Adventures, including hosting some significant celebrity trips, fishing around the world.

And we're going to share with listeners how they can connect more deeply with the natural world. Tom, good morning and welcome.

Tom Akerman: Uh, good morning, Elise. It's good to be here. 

Elise Kiely: It's so good to see you again. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah, I have to just, I have to say the last time I saw you was in Argentina, Patagonia, [00:02:00] Argentina, at a place called Rio Monzo Lodge and the beautiful Huapi , national Park.

And uh, that's where we spent a week together. You, Neil, and me and along with some other friends, fly fishing for beautiful brown trout rainbow trout brook trout. And, uh, I, I tell folks because I, this is a side of you I've never seen before, Elise. Okay. Wait, 

Elise Kiely: the fishing side or the, this side? This side.

Tom Akerman: This side. And so the business side, because after our time in camp, it just, it drove home to me what I've always believed, and that is that camp is where adults go to become kids. And, uh, I'm sure the walls are still ringing with laughter. And, uh, I have to flip the script here and ask you, because you guys, you and Neil and, and everyone had such a great time.

What was your biggest takeaway from that trip? 

Elise Kiely: Wow, that's a great question, Tom. First, it was an, it was an incredible trip. It is a trip we never would have found on our own. And to be in that rural, rugged part of Argentina right near the Chilean border, I, I would say I was struck by the [00:03:00] serenity and the beauty of the water and how the reflection of the snow Cap mountains was incredible.

And, and we were there in January, in the middle of January. The weather was fantastic, food was incredible, and the guests. It was a small group of us. Right. And I now consider them very dear friends. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. That's usually the way it goes. We start as strangers, we become acquaintances. We translate and transfer into friends, and then we become fishing buddies.

Right? And that sometimes that's a, that's a bond that lasts a lifetime, you know?

Elise Kiely: And time. It doesn't matter. Who catches the biggest fish or what the size was. Although my fish was bigger than Neil's. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. Yeah. It's your story, Elise. I would never, ever, I would never disagree with you on, on a live a broadcast, but No, no.

It, but you know what? That the, the fact is that, um, people go fishing for different reasons. Mm. And some of them are what I call scorekeepers, how many, how big. [00:04:00] Right. Others will say, you know, I really don't, that doesn't really matter to me. In fact, I don't really care if I catch anything. I just love being here.

Some of them really mean that when they say it, but for a lot of people, especially the longer they've been at it, it really comes down to, uh, the social aspect of who else is going be there. Mm-hmm. Uh, because that's, uh, let's face it, we spend a lot more time together than we do alone on the water. And it's, uh, that's, that's an important thing.

But I have to say, so, and this is your question and I'm going steal it, but so how did a kid born and raised in New Jersey. End up in Argentina. Yes. 

Elise Kiely: And you're asking yourself this question. Yes. You were born and raised in New Jersey. Exactly, yes. Right. 

Tom Akerman: And so, um, just maybe to help set the, the stage and provide a little background, um, I, I did grow up in New Jersey back in the seventies and, uh, I was a product of that whole crazy time in, in our country, some of them you, you may remember, uh, most of us were, were that, were there. Don't remember. But I, [00:05:00] I, you know, I first came to Maine in September of 72 and, uh, I was working on a horse farm in upstate New York. And, uh, the summer was winding down and the owner asked me if I would drive his son Joe back to Maine. Uh, Joe was attending North Yarmouth Academy and he wanted me to help him get

settled in and moved into the dorm and get ready for the school year. I said, sure. Okay. That decision changed my life. Okay. Uh, during that time in September, and you know how September is in Maine can be absolutely spectacularly beautiful. It was warm, uh, days, the cool crisp nights. Mm. White puffy clouds, the singularly blue guy, and, um, it's, it's just a glorious time to be in Maine.

Well, I fell in love with Maine. And I just decided right then and there that I wanted to put down some roots. So six months later I came back and, um, and not just the natural beauty and the relaxed, laid back, uh, pace of life, but I also fell in love with the people of Maine. And that, I think that's, [00:06:00] that is what brought me back even more so than the other elements.

Um, but as you know, unless you can produce a five generation pedigree, you are from. Away. Away. Exactly. 

Elise Kiely: Yes. You and I both are. Yeah, exactly. Yes. Our children could be Mainers. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. Maybe, maybe, maybe not. Remember what they said about, just 'cause our cat has kittens in the oven, don't mean we call 'em biscuits.

So, yeah, it's uh, that's a stretch. You're going to have to get a ruling from a, from a five generation Mainer. 

Elise Kiely: Good point, good point. 

Tom Akerman: But, uh, I, I learned that manners are not impressed with where you went to school, what you did for work, how much money you make. Or who your father was. All that stuff didn't matter.

Did you work hard? Keep your word and treat people the way you want to be treated. That's what mattered. And I liked that. I also liked the sense of community. Uh, people really looked out for each other. 

Elise Kiely: Mm-hmm. 

And you could tell that right away. When you came, when you came to visit, that was one of the draws for you to come back, it sounds like.

Tom Akerman: Yep. [00:07:00] Exactly. And it, and it came home, uh, to roost for me a few years later when I was like. I was struggling to make a living in Maine, and I remember losing my job and, um, I said, man, what am I going to do? I remember hearing it was at night and I heard a, a ring on the doorbell and I answered the door and there was nobody there, but there were two bags of groceries sitting on the front porch, and I said.

I like Maine, you know? Wow. That's just, that's, they're just quiet givers, you know, people that are there. Mm-hmm. You don't even know who they are. But I just, I liked knowing that I was surrounded with people like that in a community like that, that people really did, you know, look out for each other. 

Elise Kiely: You know, it's, it's interesting when Tom, when we first decided to move to Maine and our, our journey to Maine started, we were in DC both practicing law, my husband and I.

And I said I would move to Maine for a year, and then I thought I would go back to dc. You know, man plans, God laughs, right? And I thought, I don't know anybody in Maine, and my family's not from Maine. I'll never be invited to a party. I'll never be [00:08:00] included in this community because my narrative of Mainers at the time was proud, very insular, not very welcoming of outsiders.

And I have to tell you, I've never met nicer people. Than I have by being in Maine. And I've lived up and down the east coast. Right. And it's, it's really struck me how genuine and intentional and hospitable right. People in Maine can be. 

Tom Akerman: Yep. That's a fact. Well, you know, and I gotta tell you that in addition, uh, you know, to the.

The culture here, which really attracted me. Obviously I'd be lying if I didn't tell you. I, I've, I've always been passionate about outdoors hunting and fishing, just time in the outdoors. 

Elise Kiely: Even 

growing up in New Jersey, 

Tom Akerman: even New New Jersey, there was a draw there that I can't fully explain, but I know my dad fed it because he took me hunting and fishing when I was just a kid, when I was old enough to tag along with him. But like most parents, he was trying to put bread on the table. He was working long hours and he didn't have the time. 

Elise Kiely: Mm-hmm. 

Tom Akerman: Uh, and so I, I kind of, um, [00:09:00] took it upon myself to learn, dig worms, get on my bike, ride down to the brook to fish and, and I just uh, I fell in love with just spending time in the outdoors. And, uh, it wasn't just hunting and fishing, it was just hiking. It was turning over rocks. It was catching turtles and snakes and frogs and all that stuff. And, uh, you know, but at 21, I, you know, I'm, I'm reading a book, in fact, I, I'll, I'll talk about it later, but it's called The Wild at Heart by John Eldridge.

And, uh, he suggests that that men go through life looking for three things, a battle to fight, a beauty to win and, an adventure. At 21, that's what I was looking for. And I found all three in Maine.

Elise Kiely: Wow. S Tom. That's beautiful. That's really beautiful. 

Tom Akerman: That's just the way it unfolded. And so I had no reason to leave.

Uh, yeah, I fell in love with Maine and with the people. And, and like I said, I eventually found the love of my life. And, uh, we got married, started a family. We had four kids, five [00:10:00] grandkids. And uh, I said, I tell folks, I don't know how it's happened, but I've gone from Rolling Stones to kidney stones in the blink of an eye.

It's been like way too fast to ride. I mean, you know. It's just a, it's a blur, you know? 

Elise Kiely: It does, life happens very quickly. You've gotta stop and pay attention 

Tom Akerman: A a, absolutely. That's absolutely right. 

Elise Kiely: So how did you, so you had this natural love of outdoors, which was really fed in your, in your childhood through your father, and then you saw Maine as an opportunity to really pursue that and to fill that need for you.

How did you find that in Maine? What were, what were some of your first experiences in the outdoors in Maine? 

Tom Akerman: Oh, I think my first. Experience. My first realization was being able to look into the water and see the bottom. I mean, where I grew up, we didn't have a lot of clear lakes mm-hmm. or rivers for that matter.

And I, but I remember going to the Maine coast, catching small stripe bass. Back then we had pretty good runs of schoolies, what they call schoolies, which are small 20 inch stripers. And it was like, my gosh, [00:11:00] this is fun. Uh, I remember catching brook trout and, uh, the occasional brown trout. And I also remember this, uh, incredibly good small mouth bass fishing and, and large mouth bass fishing. And I hunted. Um, you know, like I said, the battle, the battle to fight for me anyhow, was figuring out a way to survive in Maine. Right. And I finally concluded that if you, um, if you, uh, plant a garden, shoot a deer and get some odd jobs, you can cobble together a living and hang around Maine.

Otherwise, you know you're not gonna survive. Yeah. Um, uh, but it was, uh, it was a challenge. It was a real challenge at that point in time. I ended up going to school at at University of Maine and designing my own environmental science major, which at that time didn't exist. 

Elise Kiely: What decade is this, Tom? In the eighties, nineties.

Tom Akerman: The thirties. 

We just got talkies. It was a very exciting time. No, no, no, no, no. Wait a second. Let me rewind now. Yeah, that was in the seventies. In the seventies was the early [00:12:00] seventies. Right, exactly. And, uh. Uh, I remember going and, and, and anything that had an ology, I took, I said, oh, that sounds ent, entomology, ornithology, I theology, that's bugs, birds, fish, you name it.

Geology. 

Elise Kiely: And Maine has such a strong program in, in those areas too. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah, exactly. And so I handpicked all of these majors and I guess I was kind of like a, a, a hack naturalist. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the world that surrounded me mm-hmm. The natural world. And, um, I guess there's a little bit of Thoreau in me, you know, and, um.

Elise Kiely: It's not a bad thing. 

Tom Akerman: No, no. It, it, and I, it, it, you know, and I've come to really appreciate and understand that his attraction to solitude, you know, and places where you can just get away, think and breathe and, uh, and reflect. Because I think in this fast paced world that we live in now, you don't really have time to do that.

No. 

Elise Kiely: And you know, and just, I, I want you to continue your story, Tom, but that is, I think that's the theme of what, one of the reasons I wanted to [00:13:00] bring you on to this to this episode is we are bombarded digitally by headlines, tweets, social media, constant news, constant trauma, and when you are out in a fly fishing stream and you're trying to do that perfect cast, you have to be totally present and all of that goes by the wayside. That's so true, and that's such a gift to have that 

Tom Akerman: It is. It's pure escapism in the best sense of the word. And time stands still. I mean, I can be on a river for four or five, six, even eight hours, and it's just a blink, it's like, wow, where did that go? Because you're totally immersed and, um, captivated with your time on the water. 

Elise Kiely: Yeah. It's a gift. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. And no, it really is. It's a gift. Yeah. That the, and there's so many different elements and aspects, the time in the outdoors, but for me, like I said, the social side was very important.

And I tell folks that most of the meaningful relationships. In my life, a lot of them anyhow, uh, were [00:14:00] formed on a river, okay? Mm-hmm. Or on a lake or somewhere with a fly rod in my hand. And I tell folks in terms of the important relationships in my life, a river runs through it. Yeah. You know, 

Elise Kiely: so true. So true.

So I interrupted your story, Tom. 

Tom Akerman: Well, so I got, so I got this degree in Environmental Science and I got a job with my fisheries, biology, uh, prof who was raising fish down on the Maine coast outside of Arundel, on the Kennebunk River. And, uh. We, it was a closed system, aquaculture operation. It's something I learned about from her and through school and I said, oh, I'd like to be a part of that.

So I took a job. This is back in 74 or 75 after I got my degree, and our goal was to raise pacific salmon and, uh, in a hatchery and then imprint them on a chemical formula. And probably more information than our listeners need, but it's called morphine and you drip it at like parts per million into their tanks where they lived.

Uh, and then when they get, um, about. [00:15:00] A foot long. You release 'em into the ocean and they go out to sea. They grow, and then when they, it comes time to spawn, they come back to their natal river. You set up a drip station with the same chemical you imprinted them on and they come right back into the hatchery where they were hatched as eggs.

It was a perfect plan. They had produced it. Out west and it had been a, uh, a commercial success. 

Elise Kiely: Very sustainable. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. Very sustainable. And it's low cost because the cost of getting a, a salmon to market is really tied to the feed that you have to feed 'em to get 'em up to that, you know, size. Mm-hmm.

Commercial size. So anyhow, so we, we, we, we raised these fish, we imprinted them and we released them and it was just like, you know, we're gonna be rich 'because I got a profit sharing provision in my contract and I'm going, this is great. The next day I pulled into the hatchery. I looked on the corner pool where we had just released about 50,000 salmon and it was just a, a flotilla of Cormoran that were so full of smoltz they [00:16:00] couldn't fly, so they were eating our profits.

I said, so after three years we did get some returns. They came back, they were six to eight pounds, but it was a, it was a technical success, but a commercial failure. So my wife told me, and she was very supportive. Uh, we were kind of newlyweds. We had a new baby. And a, and a gun dog. And she said, I really love you honey, and I want you to work in your field, but do you think you could find a real job?

Because I was bringing home about $115 a week, okay? Mm-hmm. And this was in 70, even in 72, even in Maine, you know, you're still below the poverty line. And so I, I said, well, I'll see about getting a job at LL Bean. So I went to Bean, they were hiring the hunt fish department, and I said, well, I'll take a job here just long enough to get my resume together and find work in my field. Mm-hmm. Well, 18 years later, I was still at LL Bean because it's a wonderful place, great company to work for, and a hard place [00:17:00] to leave. 

Yeah, we're very proud of LL Bean. It's, I think, the brand of Maine and the brand of LL Bean. There's a, there's a strong, uh overlap in those two 

Completely 

Elise Kiely: And good people. Uh, 

Tom Akerman: Wonderful people. And that's one of one of the reasons why I found it very difficult to leave because, uh, um, very similar approach to life and business. You know, treat people as human beings, sell reasonable, a good quality product for reasonable profit and treat people like human beings, and they'll always come back for more.

That's not a bad philosophy to carry through life. 

Elise Kiely: Completely. Yeah, completely. 

And so remind us, what did you do at LL Bean?

Tom Akerman: I started on Labor Day of 1979 and I started in the hunt fish store of the LL bean retail, you know, flagship store there in Freeport. Mm-hmm. I remember them, they handed to me a green apron and a name tag and they pointed to the hunt fish department and that was my training.

But I loved it. I absolutely loved because you know what? I got paid to talk about hunting and fishing, 

Elise Kiely: Which you're so good at. I just can imagine going [00:18:00] into LL Bean and having you be the one to help. The people must have loved you. 

Tom Akerman: Some of them did, but you know, there's a, there's a, there's a snarky element to me too, and I can remember a one time a guy brought a fly rod back in, he laid it on the counter and he said, this rod doesn't cast.

And I said, well, you know, I got pens that can't spell. And he looked at me. I was a, I, look, I said, who said that? That, and I, and I said, here's , here's some advice. I said, invest in practice, not equipment. Okay. And so then we were able to, I, you know, I, I gave them an invitation to the LL Bean Fly Fishing school and the, uh, they do private lessons there as well, right.

Kind of work the sand outta the gears, learn the basics and really enjoy, fully enjoy your time on the water. Yeah. 

Elise Kiely: And you know, that's one of the things, just to interrupt you, Tom Yeah. That I love about LL Bean is they make it the low barrier to entry. It's very inviting to learn an activity like fly fishing, which could be pretty [00:19:00] intimidating if you just went to a store and bought a fly rod and Oh yeah maybe watched a YouTube video. Yeah. It's, you need somebody there watching you. 

Tom Akerman: Right. 

Elise Kiely: Guiding you one-on-one. And I love that about LL Bean, that they make the act outdoors accessible. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. You know, it's funny because I became kind of a corporate evangelist for purpose at LL Bean, you and I talked about mm-hmm.

Assignment, um. What was his name? The The why guy? Simon Sinek. Simon Sinek, right? I said the how is irrelevant until you have a good why, A strong, powerful why. And so I submitted that LL Bean was in business to help people enjoy the outdoors, and we did it through products, service education. Products speak for themselves, quality, fly fishing gear, rods, reels.

Service is, oh, here, let me spool that line for you. I'll even tie a fly on for you. Mm-hmm. It's something we do for the customer. And then the education pieces you go out fishing, you break your fly off, you go, oh no, what? Now? You go back in and they go here. Let me teach you a knot, [00:20:00] or better yet, why don't you think about coming through one of our two, one or two or three day schools to learn fly fishing.

Mm-hmm. Learn the casting, learn the knots, learn how to read the water, all that kind of stuff. And so it's, uh, it's kind of a holistic approach. It's the product service and education. Service is what we do for you. Education is what we empower to do you to do for yourself. 

Elise Kiely: Now, I know you spent some time at the at the fly fishing school.

I know you were in the hunting and fishing section, which I'm sure you did a phenomenal job. And then how did that lead to your being in the fly fishing school? 

Tom Akerman: Well, I, I love, I loved doing the work that I did in product development. I started as a store buyer, which meant a rebuy, and basically it was what for X codes, that's store only merchandise.

Merchandise that you wouldn't see in the catalog or online. Mm-hmm. And um, and I loved doing that, but there were a lot of SKUs or stock keeping units. There were thousands and thousands and thousands of snap swivels and hooks and flies and all that. I love doing it. Um, and [00:21:00] then I got involved in product development, which is, okay, let's develop the best line of fly rods or reels or lines on the market. And so it's a little bit more of, um, design development work, which I, I love doing that as well. And then I had an opportunity to, what I call, hold the reins for the fly fishing school, which I had been a part of, since it started in 83, we brought in, this name may not mean anything to our listeners, but a fellow by the name of Dave Whitlock, who was kind of like the Larry Bird or Michael Jordan of fly fishing.

Mm-hmm. A wonderful guy. He was a market consultant for us and also a product consultant, and he wrote the LL Bean Guide to Fly Fishing. And he was our head instructor at the Bean fly fishing school. So, and he was my mentor, so I got to spend time with him, you know, day in and day out. And, um, so when it came time for me to hold the reins, like I say, with the, for the fly fishing school, I jumped at the opportunity and five years later I, I left with tears because it was [00:22:00] probably the my favorite thing and maybe the most rewarding thing that I did while I was at Bean. 

Wow. 

Yeah. 

Elise Kiely: And do you have some special memories of being at the fly fishing school? 

Tom Akerman: I do. I really, I do. And I'll, I'll share a couple of 'em with you. One of 'em is, I remember we had this little ceremony at the, at the end of a three day school that we did right there in Freeport.

And, um. It was kind of, I call it a drive through learn to fly fish, but it was really, really good and well thought out. The curriculum, the instructors were all topnotch, knowledgeable, friendly, funny, uh, it was just very, something very, very special. If you've ever been involved in organizations, you know, when you've been a part of a peak performing team, you go, wow, and you spend many times, you spend your life trying to recreate that.

Well, the fly fishing schools was one of the few opportunities that I've ever had in my life to be a part of one of those peak performing teams. These guys were all, all stars, 

Elise Kiely: all a game. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. All a And they were wonderful with the clients. And um, I remember at the end of the three day school we did this little [00:23:00] ceremony and we gave out, uh, you know, awards and, and certificates of participation and, and everyone got to share.

And as they were leaving, I was at the back of the room thanking 'em for coming and hope they got something out of it. Some people say, well that was really fun. I had a great time. I'm not sure it's for me, if it's something I'm gonna pursue. But I really enjoyed my time here. But then there were those people that came by and they'd say, that's for me.

I've been looking for that my whole life. And they're off and running. And that's, that was the, that was amazing to me. That, and, and people would come up to me and they would be very emotional and they'd go, you've changed my life. And I go, well, we just, we taught you how to cast a few knots. And they go, no, no, no.

You don't understand. And um, these are the you know, these are the troubled teens, these are the wounded warriors, these are the burnt out executives mm-hmm. That just needed something. And we, we, I call it, there's so many benefits to fly fishing. Um, I, like, I, I warned you, I'm an evangelist when it comes to this.

I can't help myself, but, but it, I [00:24:00] call it, uh, for a lot of people. Uh, besides just being a lot of fun, and, and let's not dismiss the, the used to call 'em barriers to entry because they're real and there is a, what I, um, you talked about the joy and serenity. How about the challenge and frustration? Mm-hmm.

Okay. Because that goes in any, there's a learning curve. In anything that you, 

that you pursue, 

Elise Kiely: anything that's worth doing Yeah. Of course is gonna be a little challenging. 

Right. 

Otherwise it wouldn't be worth doing. And you have that success, 

right? 

When, when you do have that perfect cast, it's something that's, that feels so good because you've done 10,000 casts before then that we're not perfect.

Tom Akerman: Exactly. And you become what I call unconsciously competent, which it goes from, and I don't wanna get in the weeds here, but it goes from unconsciously incompetent. You don't even know you're doing it wrong. To a little bit of instruction. Okay. And then, um, consciously incompetent. Yeah, that's not right to consciously competent.

Okay, stop at two, stop at 10, stop at two, stop at 10, two, unconsciously [00:25:00] competent, where you can carry on a conversation while you're cast and you don't even think about it. 

Elise Kiely: It's just muscle memory.

Tom Akerman: Lots of repetition, understanding the mechanics, the timing, and pretty soon you're casting a fly and it's like golf or anything else, tennis.

I never met a fly fisher that said, well, I've arrived. Okay. It's a con, continuous improvement. You can, there's always something that you can work on in your game, and I think that's,

Elise Kiely: I think that's why you have to be so present. When you're on a river or in a lake, right. That there's, there is a lot to think about.

And if you see that trout and you can do a line of sight to that trout, that's exciting. It is. Yeah. That's, that's, that's just you feel like, oh yeah. That you're one with nature. 

Tom Akerman: Exactly. 

That's exactly right. And then watch the, when you fool him and he comes up and eats it and you realize that, you know, you get to see the eat.

And you say you did your part. They did their part. And it was like, you are, you're not an intruder in this, um, system. You are a participant. Yeah. So, yeah, it's pretty cool. Anyhow, we can wax poetic Yes. And philosophical about fly fishing [00:26:00] all day long. But, but it is just something that I tell folks just, you know, just try it.

You can thank me later. Just try it, you know, 

Elise Kiely: And, and find a way to. To have a, your first experience with a knowledgeable guide so that you can understand the benefits and you really will get the benefits if you go to a place like LL Bean in their outdoor discovery school. And when you go out into nature and you're in a a, a wild river.

Yeah. There, there's something magical about 

that. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. No, and there's no question about it. And I, you know, for new, big newcomers or beginners or that have never done it before, people say, well, what advice would you give them? How would you get 'em started on this lifelong journey? And I said, you know, I, and this is my snark.

Maybe it's my Jersey coming back. I don't know. But I like to say I believe the foundation of brilliance. Is admitting you're stupid. So you come into it saying, you know what? I really don't know anything. You're starting with a blank slate, please help me. And I, I, I tell folks, [00:27:00] uh, find yourself a mentor.

Okay? A guide, a trusted advisor. Just like in real estate or any other, you in finance, you're looking for a trusted advisor. And there's plenty of them out there, uh, whether they're. You know, the fishing guides or somebody that works in a fly shop or something. Somebody that you can go and talk to, not just about tackle, but about how to fish, when, where to go, and all of those type type of things.

Um, and, and then, uh, I use this, uh, formula, which it seems to work for a lot of things, not just fly fishing. I call it I plus I equals P, which is inspiration plus information equals participation. So the inspiration part, go to YouTube, Google it, look at some images, look at some videos of the beautiful places that fly fishing can take you.

Okay. That's the inspiration. Nothing happens without the spark. Mm-hmm. And that's the inspiration. The next piece is the information, and that's the fuel. Okay. Learn how to do a basic cast, learn a couple [00:28:00] of basic knots, very simple knots, and um, you know, so that's the the fuel, the information you have the spark, the fuel, you put 'them together, you have combustion, and you have what I call participation.

Participation. Right. So that, that, that seems to be a formula that works. And like I said, not just in fly fishing, but in lots of different activities. 

Elise Kiely: But, but in life, it's, in life, it is the, it is the story of having a growth mindset, continual learning. And you know, I, I'm sitting here very surprised, Tom.

Based on my background and who I am that I'm sitting here with you and now I consider you a, a good friend. And I never thought I'd be fly fishing. It just was not in the trajectory of how I expected my life to go. Right. And it is such a gift that that is a new hobby activity, joy. Right. That, that I experience and I experience with my husband and we have a, we have a fabulous time going together.

Yeah. And, and. You can start it in your twenties, your thirties, your forties, fifties, sixties, [00:29:00] seventies, eighties. Right. 

Tom Akerman: That's a really good point. And that's a perfect segue. 'cause people say, well, what about your, you know, well, how would you. Uh, characterize your demographics for the people that you guide and take fishing and so forth.

And I said, I'm definitely finding a trend toward more couples. Mm-hmm. Boomers. Okay. Uh, they, they're looking for something. They have the time and the money now to enjoy it. What is it they want to do? Okay, pickleball, sure. You can do a pickleball, you know, you can ski, you can do this. But I find that, um.

That it just seems to connect with a lot of people that time in place. Outdoor places. Mm. Remote places fishing and the time together. It's, it's not physically demanding. Mm-hmm. It's easy on the knees and it's something you can do well. I'm in my seventies and I, I plan to do this until I can't, or I don't want to.

And none of those, neither of those have happened yet. 

Elise Kiely: You know, it's funny, Neil and I, one time Neil and I started this because when we became empty nesters. We sort of looked at each other and said, okay, we've been so focused on baseball, ballet, at children's College, so [00:30:00] forth. What, what new activity can we have together that's ours?

It's not that you're an expert teaching me, or I'm an expert teaching you. That's a different, that dynamic doesn't work well. Right. And Neil said, I, you know, I've been fly fishing once a year for 10 years. I'm not very good at it. And I put my hand up and said, okay, me too. Yeah. And I had no idea I wouldn't even touch a fish when we first started.

Yeah. Like that idea was so Right. Um, intimidating to me and squishy and Yeah. And unattractive. And you know what I've discovered, Tom, is that trout live in beautiful places. Amen. And there's often a spa mm-hmm. Where, where Trout lives. Yeah. And you go, you know, you go on some wonderful adventures together and you don't even have to go away for a weekend or a week.

No. There's so many wonderful places in, right. In Maine and Yeah. 

Tom Akerman: Well that brings us back to Maine and, and I tell folks, you know, we talked a little bit about the fishing we have in Maine, but just the natural beauty that we're surrounded by. People get on jet planes to come here. And experience what we have in our own backyard.

So true. You know, and [00:31:00] you, some people say, well, what are some of your favorite places? My wife and I love to spend time together outdoors. Her favorite places, Rangely. There's something about the Rangely attitude. She just loves it up there. Um, and the other places would be. Not anywhere on the Maine coast, but we love the bold coast down east.

Mm-hmm. We love to hike. Um, there's ano a, a hidden gem for us would be great Wass, great Wass Island. How do you, how do you spell Wass? Great. Was WASS Okay. To us is great. Look 

at you sharing your hidden fishing holes. You, I saw that as 

one of the questions. What are some of your hidden gems? And I was gonna say, well, now at least if I told you they wouldn't be hidden anymore.

But, 

Elise Kiely: but very generous of you here. 

Tom Akerman: I'm just spilling my guts. I can't believe. My wife has said, what are you doing? So we'll have to get there early to get a parking spot now. That's right. But the other place, the other hidden gem is close. We live in the Midcoast area and, uh, we, we, and, and I will tell the listeners that most of these hidden gems we stumbled upon, it [00:32:00] wasn't like we, you know, we researched or anything.

Oh. Go for a drive. We pick up on Amato's and some salt and Vinegar chips and ammie, and we take off and we go, okay, well hey, this looks interesting. Let's go down this road. We have no agenda, no, not even G. And we go, oh my gosh, look at this. And it becomes one of our favorite places. 

Yeah, 

great. Wa that's how we found Great was.

The other one would be Stove's Point. Mm-hmm. Which is a, it's a. A public beach in Harpswell, but nobody goes there because it's so hard to find. Yeah. 

Elise Kiely: They are hidden gems, aren't they? 

Tom Akerman: Oh, they, they are. And me, and I encourage people, go out and find your own , because they're everywhere. Yeah. Just, but I can promise you, they're not in your house.

Elise Kiely: Right. And they're not on your couch and they're not on your TV set. 

Tom Akerman: Yeah. No, exactly. 

Elise Kiely: Or your, or your iPhone. Right. Your iPad. So Tom, let's circle back for a second. We left, you were doing the fly fishing school at LL Bean. I, I want to share with listeners. The next cha, your next career chapter, which was the celebrity curated trips that you did with ESPN.

Can [00:33:00] you, can you talk about how that started? 

Tom Akerman: Uh, sure. E-S-P-N-A, new American Sportsman, ESPN. Um, yeah, that, that's in a lot of ways that just seems like a, uh, a distant memory, almost like a dream, and I have to remind myself, yeah, that this was a chapter in my life and it actually happened, but. Uh, I left LL Bean and I started a travel business of all things, um, hunting and fishing, travel.

And, um, there's a long story behind that. I won't bore you with the details, but it's, it's another serendipity. And, uh, I ended up printing up some cards and, and I, I, I'd been to a number of places and someone, a guide after I left Bean, and I really didn't know what I was gonna do. I went to Nova Scotia to, for some salmon fishing.

It was October. And I did what all good. Mainers do. And I said, when the going gets tough, the tough go fishing. Mm-hmm. That's what I did. I took off and, uh, and I'm bebopping around on the back roads on the Margarie Valley [00:34:00] for, uh, fishing salmon and, uh, the guide looks at me. He's a crusty old Nova Scotian guide.

Named Perry and he says, you know what you'd be good at? I said, Perry, I've been trying to figure that out for 40 years. And he goes, you'd be a good agent, booking agent. I go, what is that? I had no idea what that was. And he told me, I said, oh, yeah. So I came home, I researched it and I printed up some cards and the next thing I know I was in business.

And um, I got a call from ESPN from somebody that I had worked with. We had done a show when I was with LL Bean and Bean sponsored a show called the, um. Something great outdoors with Wayne Pearson. And, uh, uh, and I hosted him for, uh, a Maine coast striper trip. And so, um, he, the, so the producer called me and said, Hey, how would you like to book locations for the, uh, flagship of the ESPN Outdoor Block?

A company called the New American Sportsman. We just bought the rights to it and it's gonna be [00:35:00] hosted by, um. What was the kid's name? Schroeder Rick Schroeder. It's gonna be hosted by Rick Schroer. 

Elise Kiely: Ricky Schroeder. Wow. 

Tom Akerman: Ricky Schroeder. And then the next year it was hosted by Dion Sanders. Wow. And so I said, man, I'd love to book locations for that.

So I went down, I met with all the suits in, in Bristol, and uh, you know, we played that little cat and mouse. I, you can't be too eager. Mm-hmm. When you, you know, when you're at a job, 

Elise Kiely: it's like fishing. You can't be too eager. 

Tom Akerman: Exactly. 

Presentation. Presentation. And so I just. Said, they said, well, how do we know you're the right guy?

And I said, to book the location. I said, well, you don't, but I'm not sure that, um, I want to do this gig 'cause I've got a lot of other stuff going on right now. And so I took it away and they go, so anyhow, we, we ended up striking a deal and I was booking locations for their flagship, their outdoor blocks.

And so basically they bought the rights to the original. American Sportsman, which was hosted by Kurt Gowdy. Mm-hmm. Again, name might not mean to, uh, most to, to mean anything to most folks, but, um, he [00:36:00] was the guy that did all this, the World Series announcing and the Super Bowls and all. He was the sportscaster.

Mm-hmm. The best of the best. So ESPN bought the rights to it. And they relaunched it and they called it the New American Sportsman. And so, uh, book locations, that first year went great. That, um, following year, Dion, who hosted that year went back to playing football for the Falcon. So, so he signed a contract, so now they went looking for a host.

And so, um, I was sending notes out to my buddies that thinking that they would be a good, you know host for that show. And, uh, the, uh, my wife and accountant said, why, why don't you put your name in the hat? And I said, yeah, like, I got a shot at that. And they go, just do it. And I did. And they called me and said, how about coming down for a screen test?

And I said, okay. I had no idea even what that was. 

Yeah. 

And so I had no broadcast background. You know, I'm a, I'm a fishing guide and worked at LL Bean, right. And so, um, I called him back and uh, I [00:37:00] said, Hey, rather than doing the screen test in the green, you know, in the green room or whatever it is, I said, how about I hire a guide on the Connecticut coast and you guys come in with a film crew and you can see me in my native habitat?

And they go, oh, great idea. So we spent two days filming and all these different scenarios and we get back and, um they called and they said, um, Hey, the camera likes you. Why don't you come down? We'll talk. And so they said, well, what? You know, let's talk numbers. And I, I wrote a number on the napkin. I turned around, I slid, and they go, great when can you start? And I went, whoa. And, um, and so next thing I know, I'm jet sitting around the world with the Liam Neeson's and Michael Keaton's, Bobby Knights, Herschel Walkers, and, uh, I felt like Forrest Gump. I'm not sure exactly how I got here, but it was a, it was a great, great gig and it was. Again, stand true to your roots.

Helping people enjoy the outdoors. Outdoors. 

Elise Kiely: And that's, you know, Tom, it, that chapter I know was an exciting chapter for you, and it was wonderful for your [00:38:00] family. It couldn't have happened to a more talented, appropriate, nicer guy than you. I just, I'm thrilled for you that you had that experience and you were kind in Argentina to share a few stories with me about that experience. But maybe you could share one or two stories for our listeners. 'cause they're, they're super fun. 

Tom Akerman: Oh, I, I'd be happy to. One of us is a story about Bobby Knight. Of course he is passed on, but he was, uh, if, if you, if you were a college basketball fan, you would know him as the combative, uh, coach from Indiana.

Um, and, um, I actually had gone to a. Uh, a basketball camp when I was a junior in high school, in New in Pocono, PA, not far from where I grew up in Jersey. And, uh, they brought him in to do a seminar. He was a newly minted NCAA coach from Army. He coached for West Point and uh, he was in his early or mid twenties or so, but he was fiery and he was called for volunteers. None of us moved. So he started throwing us around like ragdolls. I went, holy [00:39:00] moly. He was very, very, and it was kind of scary for us kids. And so, um, fast forward 30 years and I get a call from , who of course was a, um, one of the greatest Celtics to ever play, and a classy, classy guy.

And, um. He had, he and I had developed a friendship and he came up and fish stripers pretty frequently. And he called the night before and said, Hey, can I bring a friend? And I said, of course. I said, I'll pick up a extra sandwich. I've got plenty of gear. So the next morning I pulled in, dragging a boat and I see them sitting on the picnic table and who is it?

But John Havlicek and Coach Knight. So I walk over and I, I look at John, I said, John, good to see you. And he said, Tom, I'd like you to meet coach and I said, no introductions necessary. I said, we've met before. And coach looked at me and cocked his head. He said, we've met. I said, yes. I said, uh, Al for up basketball Camp Pocono, PA 1968.

I said, you may not remember, but I do. You turned me into a [00:40:00] nailbiter and a bed wetter until I was 20 years old. And this is payback 'cause now you're on my court. Get in the boat. And I grabbed him by the scruff in the neck and I put him in the boat. And what developed was a, a, a lifelong friendship and, and a new fishing buddy.

But, uh, that was, that was Coach Knight. And, uh, um, 

Elise Kiely: did he appreciate that and think that was funny? Or did Oh, yeah. Oh yeah. He 

thought it was hilarious. 

Tom Akerman: Uh. Yeah, so, uh, so that was one. And then, uh, Herschel Walker was an amazing guy. I came back after we, we, we did a, a bear hunt in Alaska in a, it was a, a remote flying lodge on Bristol Bay.

And, uh, he and I and the crew showed up and it was just really a, like a, a trapper's cabin. We had to chase the mice and stuff out of it. It was not very fancy, but I do remember that he had the most amazing routine that he did. Even while we were in there, he did a thousand pushups and a thousand situps 

Elise Kiely: at camp.

Tom Akerman: At camp every day. And he also split the wood that nobody else could split. All of those twisted, [00:41:00] gnarly, punky logs. Mm-hmm. That you set off to the side. Okay. He took a, a mall, splitting mall, and he. He took 'em one at a time and he, he worked on 'em until he had 'em split and neatly stacked. And I said, this guy may be the most persistent person I've ever met in my life.

But, uh, he was a really wonderful guy, very humble. And maybe I told, I got home and I told my wife, I said, I, I said, I just spent a week with. Um, Superman. I said I as close to Superman as I, I I'll probably ever come. Um, fascinating guy. And, um, 

Elise Kiely: you know what I, I'm, I'm struck by Tom. In those experiences, you've taken out some pretty big name celebrities, right?

And people really skilled in their craft. Really talented. And when you get out into a remote lodge, fishing, hunting, whatever it is, it's an equalizer. 

Tom Akerman: Exactly. 

Elise Kiely: And it doesn't matter your celebrity status, what films you've been in, what games you've won, trophies, right, the Heisman, whatever. No. Um, all that matters is nature and [00:42:00] your participation in the activity.

Tom Akerman: That's exactly right. And I remember the. The suits from ESPN saying how, you know, 'cause these are all a-list celebrities and they, they said, how do we know that you're not gonna cra or unfold when you get around these A-list celebrities and thinking that I might be starstruck. Mm-hmm. And I said, well, let me just tell you kind of the way I look at life.

I said, God is no respect of persons. He didn't make, you know, winners and losers. I said, um, he made people, and I said, when you peel back the layers and the labels. We're a whole lot more alike than we are different now. These guys may have a special talent to sing, play an instrument, throw a ball, do something, uh, that I don't have, but it doesn't make them any better than me.

Mm. And so I kind of carry that through life and, um, and it just, it sets, like you said, the, it makes for a level playing field and we just enjoy each other's company. 

Elise Kiely: And I am sure they look back on that experience with a smile. Oh yeah. I bet that was a. A terrific experience that they Oh, yeah. That they [00:43:00] could have.

Oh, 

we, 

Tom Akerman: we had a wonderful, I'll tell you one more. Josh Beckett, who many of you remember this was back in the, uh, when was this? It was early 2000, middle 2000. He had just won the, uh, world Series MVP for the Marlins. They beat the Yankees and we invited him. Texas, his home state, he's from Spring, Texas, and we went to a wonderful ranch called the Faith Ranch to hunt for trophy white tails, which is one of his favorite things to do.

And um, I remember when we were, the first night in camp, they had a beautiful lodge pool table, and he challenged me to a game of pool. And I'm not a pool shark, but I somehow beat him. And he got sideways over that. He says, come on, let's go two outta three. I said, nah, it's getting late. I gotta turn in. I'm using, you know the Vegas rules quit while you're ahead.

Right, right. And so the next day they had had set up this, uh, this batting cage and he says, come on, don't you get in there, grab a piece of lumber. And I said, so I get to take some swings against Josh Beckett. This is called getting even. Right. And they're rolling, they're filming this. And I [00:44:00] said, Hey. I said, I said, there's no glory in striking out a geezer.

I said, gimme something I can hit. Will you? My kids and grandkids are watching this, you know, I'm like, 50, right. And, uh, he, yeah, it was funny. 

Elise Kiely: Did you 

charge the mound? Yeah, 

Tom Akerman: I charged the mound. Right. No, no, no. But I mean, there's just, that's funny because, um, you have all of these stories. Some of the best stuff happened.

When the cameras were shut down and put away, you know, it was, and that's, I bet those are, a lot of these are friendships that have last a lifetime, 

you know? 

Elise Kiely: That's wonderful. Yeah. Tom, what a gift. Yeah. What a gift. Yeah. Let's, let's bring it back a little bit to Maine. Yeah. Um, you've had such a, a wonderful career and so if people are thinking about coming to Maine for either the lifestyle or, uh, perhaps the careers bringing them here, or maybe they're just coming for a short visit.

What would you recommend in terms of the outdoors in Maine and how they can connect to nature for fishing or light hunting in Maine? 

Tom Akerman: Well, again, there's just so many opportunities, and I say, [00:45:00] um, if they're, if they're thinking of moving or they're visiting, um, or even if they live here, the best thing to do is, uh, I mean, feel free to contact me.

This is what I do. I spend most of my time on the phone talking about fishing and hunting to people from Maine and away, and, um. I know I, I'm really blessed with an amazing, uh, network of trusted advisors, guys that I, I would trust with my family. Mm-hmm. You know, to, to take fishing and, and hunting for that matter.

Um, I, I, I would, I can't encourage 'em enough to, to check out the LL Bean, uh, outdoor discovery, uh, schools. They've got so many different programs there. They got a whole menu of options and, and it doesn't just have to be. Um, hunting and fishing. I mean, hey, we're in Maine. You can bike, you can canoe, you can sail, you can bird watch.

There are so many different things again that we have in our own backyard, 

Elise Kiely: right? I remember when we were in Argentina, you took a day to go birdwatching. Which I thought was just, I thought was so [00:46:00] elegant. 

Tom Akerman: Oh, it, it was, it was, it was wonderful. I'm a bird nerd. I enjoy birding and I always have, I love to study not just their behavior, but I do the ID and all that.

I think we have about 350 species in Maine. I've seen a lot of them, not all of them, but probably most of them. And, um, each have their own personality and they're, and it, it's just fun because that's a piece of enjoying the outdoors for me is knowing who you're sharing it with. Mm-hmm. And, uh. Uh, yeah, that, that day in Argentina we had fished for three days, which is usually my limit.

I needed to, to kinda tap the brakes and take a day off and then, and then maybe start fishing again the following day. But yeah, I hooked up with a gentleman by the name of Lorenzo Simpson, who turns out was the world's foremost authority on Andean Condors. And it was just like the two of us bebopping around this wonderful provincial park, uh, in, uh.

You know, north of Bariloche. And, uh, he explained to me all the flora and the fauna and the birds, all of that. And then we got to watch a [00:47:00] colony of condors, which was like a life changer for me. You talk about elegance, there's nothing that can compare with the elegance of a bird with an 11 foot wingspan that's just riding these thermals and there's a flock of eight or 10 of 'em overhead.

Elise Kiely: That's 

extraordinary. I mean, how, how can you not be changed by saying something like that? 

Tom Akerman: It was, and that, and people say, you, you did that on a fishing trip? I said, yeah, because for me it's. It's all part of enjoying the outdoors. Yeah. And I tell folks if from to, to have the opportunity to spend a day with this guy, it's like tagging along with David Attenborough.

Mm-hmm. It was just a, a, it was phenomenal. We stayed in touch. He's written a number of books. I have to get 'em translated. I have to get those videos trans, but that's, uh, you know, when you talk about elegance, where do I find elegance in the outdoors? Right. Um. I, I, I, I always defer to my wife who has a elegance detector.

Okay? We can be hiking somewhere, and I'm looking for deer tracks and deer signs, and she go, oh, look, there's a Trillium, oh, a white Trillium, and a red Trillium. Oh, there's some mayflowers there. Oh, look at the lady [00:48:00] slippers. And she has that magnet for elegance and beauty. For me, it may be holding up a, a brook trout, a beautifully colored brook trout.

Each one. Hand painted. Mm-hmm. Each one a hand-painted, original, and masterpiece. Okay. So there's a lot of, I mean, I tell folks, just open your eyes. We're surrounded by beauty and elegance. 

Elise Kiely: I th We're so lucky to live in Maine. We really are. It is. E Even year round, every season there is something elegant and beautiful about Maine.

You just have to open your eyes. Exactly. And it's such a gift when you see it. Well, Tom, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your coming on. I have a few signature questions I want to ask you as, as we wrap up, but I have to say one of the things that I'm so impressed by you is, is the, is the elegance with which you do your hunting and fishing.

It is a conservation mindset. It is a growth mindset. It is recognizing that you are part of the natural world, [00:49:00] and you see beauty when you're outside in that world. And I think that's, that's so attractive. And, and for listeners, I will have Tom's contact information. I'm including a link to Classic Connections and his email and cell phone, if you're willing to share that.

Sure, of course. Um, and I do encourage you to reach out to Tom. He's, he's just a wonderful person and a wonderful guide, not only in fishing and hunting, uh, but the outdoors in general. So, Tom, as we wrap up a few quick signature questions for you. Sure. Um, you've shared with us where you find elegance in Maine and your hidden gems.

What's your favorite fly? 

Tom Akerman: Well right now. Um, and it changes. Um, but I would say for, for saltwater fishing, I can't believe I'm gonna divulge this on. I appreciate it, but it's a, uh, it's a small crab pattern, uh, for stripe bass. Mm-hmm. It's just absolutely, it is to stripe bass fishing, what the wheel was, to transportation.

Wow. It's very, very effective. Of course, knowing how to fish it. Is the real secret. [00:50:00] That's the hard part. And you may have to hire a guide to do, to learn that, but um, yeah, like I love that. Um, and, uh, you know, I mean, as you, it's like saying what's your favorite food? Because it's like, what are you hungry for?

Right. There's so many different, um, I love fishing dry flies on top. Mm-hmm. Poppers, anything that lets you see what I call see the eat. When a fly comes, a fish comes to the surface to eat. It's so exciting. Oh, it's, if that doesn't get you fired up, your wood wet. 

I

Elise Kiely: know. I can't even believe I'm saying that, but that is, that's invigorating.

Okay. Tom, what is your, a favorite book or podcast that you enjoy? 

Tom Akerman: Oh, good question. Um, as I mentioned earlier, wild at Heart, uh, pretty much anything by John Eldridge. Mm-hmm. He gets to like the heart of a man and I just love reading that stuff. Um, and then, uh, on a podcast, I would say the, the Maine Fly Line podcast by good friends, Michael Jones and Sherry Maines.

Uh, they, the. Fabulous job. They've interviewed probably 25 or 30, maybe more what he calls, uh, Maine fly fishing, legends and [00:51:00] luminaries, and they're just wonderful stories and he does such a, a great job of hosting that, that I love listening to him. 

That's terrific. Okay, so one, one talent you wish you had that you don't have.

I wish. I could sing. 

Okay. Now, you know. Okay. I wish I could sing.

Elise Kiely: I think that's a great one. That's mine too, by the way, right? Yeah. Oh yeah. Wasn't that, wouldn't that be wonderful? Right? 

It it, it, you know, a a apart from in the shower. That's 

right. 

I think everyone sounds good in the shower. 

I think. I wouldn't know, but maybe, so Tom, one, one question for you, I think is particularly important in today's environment.

Why is connecting with nature more important than ever now, and why? Especially for children? 

Tom Akerman: Uh, that's a, that's a really good question. First of all, it's fun. Okay. Um, and you know, anyone who spends time in the outdoors, especially with young people, sees that in their [00:52:00] face is in their eyes, the way they light up.

When you explore a title pool or you hear that. Uh, Turkey gobble for the first time. Okay. It's just, it's a rush. It's just something that's, uh, hard to, uh, describe, but also I, I, I'd say time spent in the outdoors can be therapeutic, okay? Whe whether it's a wounded warrior or a troubled teen or burned out exec, it's a place of healing and a place of hope.

Okay? If you read the LL Bean mission now, it reads that LL Bean's corporate purpose is to inspire and enable people to experience the restorative power of being outside. That's a beautiful mission. It's beyond just enjoying the outdoors. It's actually seeing the restorative power and benefit of being outdoors.

I, I have a short story to, to share with you. I see. See this phone? 

Mm-hmm. 

Okay. I guide the fellow that invented this phone. He lives in a metropolitan area and has a beautiful place on the Maine coast. He also has a [00:53:00] beautiful family, including two young kids. I asked him one time, what does kids like to do when they came to Maine?

And he said, oh, you know, climb trees, build forts, explore title pools, normal kids stuff. I said, can I ask you a question? He goes, sure. I said, how much screen time do they get? He said, one hour. I said, an hour a day. He said, no. An hour a week. I, I said, wow. I said, here's the guy that invented this phone and he's telling me his kids only get an hour a week.

And so it made me stop and think about where, what are, where our kids are spending their time right now and their attention and, um. So, uh, it's, it's just, you know, that's just kinda one of the takeaways you, you get when you listen. You spend time with people and you listen and, um, anyhow, I just thought I'd share that with you.

Elise Kiely: You know that, that's a great story, Tom. I, I love that and I think that's one of the reasons that my husband and I decided to stay in Maine, and I know that's a reason talking to people that are moving here is they're looking for something [00:54:00] healthier for their family. Right, and healthier in every way.

And definitely access to the outdoors is a big part of that because it's hard to separate people from their phones at at any age. But when you're outside, you can be present and you can be still. 

Tom Akerman: True, so true. 

Elise Kiely: As we wrap up final thoughts or words of wisdom for our listeners? 

Yeah, that's a good one too.

I, I guess one of my, um, mantras is life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful, so just get out there. As my buddy says, this is a Mainer from up north. He says It ain't rocket surgery. I said, find something that captures your attention, that draws you to the outdoors. It might, like I said, it might not be fly fishing or hunting.

You know, it could be hiking, camping, birding, canoeing, you name it. Um, then take the first step, Google it, check it out on YouTube. Um, check out the Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools. Who knows? It might be the first step in a [00:55:00] lifelong journey that adds meaning and purpose and value to your life. So I just say, go for it.

You won't regret it. 

Tom Akerman: Beautifully said, Tom. Thank you. Thank you for your time this morning. I really appreciate it. You're welcome. Your stories are wonderful. Well, thanks. Your words of wisdom is, is so helpful. I think particularly in today's environment and I. To listeners out there, thank you for listening.

I want to encourage you, again, if you're finding these episodes entertaining or valuable, please hit the follow button. Please feel free to give me some gentle comments, uh, and feedback. I want to encourage you to continue to listening, share it with your friends and family. If you have suggestions on guest you'd like to hear from. I'd be delighted to accommodate that. And please remember, this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. This does not create either an attorney-client relationship or a real estate advisor relationship. I'd be delighted to help you in any way I can. My contact information will also be in the show notes.[00:56:00] 

And in the links below. Thank you for listening, and as always, continue to live elegantly in Maine.