For people who are curious about communities on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Join our host, Lacey Squier, for juicy conversations with area residents and all who have a heart-home “up north.” We offer dialogue about what gives northeastern Minnesota the edge, as well as some real talk about the sometimes-sharp edges of living in remote and rural locations.
Lacey Squier is the manager of Boundary Waters Connect and host of the Wilderness Edge Podcast. She has a masters degree in higher education administration, and is proud to bring her background in community development to the communities on the edge of the Wilderness. Beyond her work with Boundary Waters Connect, Lacey teaches classes in the nourishment and humanities program areas at the Ely Folk School.
Brett Ross has been a resident of Ely, Minnesota since 1998, raising his two children and carving out his own niche in the community he loves. He is the former long time Program Director of WELY Radio and currently the owner and operator of Boreal Roots Media, specializing in audio/video production and photography. As an independent filmmaker, Brett won the Independent Spirit award from the Ely Film Festival for his first short film, Adventure School.
Abby Dare is a water colorist, community facilitator, and comedian who co-owns The Meadows Gallery & Studios.
Austin couldn’t be happier to be Ely and NLAA. Austin is currently appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas) and Oklahoma (Ali Hakim) at the Northern Lake Arts Association. Since then Austin’s been all over the U.S. appearing in Jersey Boys, Waitress, A Chorus Line, Avenue Q, 42nd Street, and Footloose. Austin Thanks Lacey and Brett for having him and the team on the show. Follow Austin at @iamaustinanderson on all platforms.
Dovid Adler (he/him), is so excited to be back in Ely for his third summer with NLAA. He appears this season as Cord Elam in Oklahoma and Jesus in JCS. Dovid is a rising senior at Missouri State University studying musical theatre. Thanks to Brett and Lacey for having him on the podcast!
Eric Glasson is an avid sportsman who is “obsessed with all things Boundary Waters, Quetico and backcountry fishing and canoe camping.” He loves to share what he has learned and teach others the glory of backcountry canoe travel, camping and fishing via his YouTube channel FarWater.
Grace Klein is a fiber artist in all senses of the word. She has a degree in Apparel Design from UW Madison, and has experience working as a pattern maker for Wintergreen Northern Wear. She recently received a Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust grant to pursue a sustainable arts project that blended pattern making, apparel design, paper making, and paper weaving.
Jacob Stevens is a member of the Northern Lakes Arts Association's Broadway in the Boundary Waters cast.
Jess Kulik works for Boundary Waters Connect as a communication and admin coordinator, and is getting her Doctorate in Developmental Psychology studying executive functioning and social relationships. She's a former teacher, with a background in special, general, and bilingual education. Jess lives in town with her husband and 2 dogs, and spends her time working on projects with her friends, volunteering, at the gym or walking her dogs with her husband.
Johannah Scarlet (also known as Joh) works in the commercial & film industry and moonlights as an esoteric leader and tarot reader.
Kelsey Lee is the owner of Potluck Kitchenware, a cooking and baking retail store in Ely. Potluck Kitchenware is the presenting sponsor of the Hello Neighbor program of Boundary Waters Connect. Through this sponsorship, Kelsey co-created the annual Chapman Street Block Party and contributes to Hello Neighbor program development. Kelsey has a knack for spotting opportunities, and often collaborates with other businesses and organizations for mutual gain. She loves dreaming up new business ideas, hosting at-home gatherings, and decorating for every season and holiday.
Lucy Soderstrom has led the Ely Folk School since 2021. She is committed to expanding access to unconventional and hands-on educational experiences. Prior to joining the Folk School, she worked in outdoor experiential education and in educational programs for individuals who are incarcerated. Outside of the Folk School, you might find Lucy running outdoors or cooking for friends.
M Baxley is the creative genius behind Bear Witness Media based out of Grand Marais. They also do media work for Paddle & Portage.
Olivia Sauerberg is a 3x member of the Northern Lakes Arts Association's Broadway in the Boundary Waters cast. She lives in New York City, but enjoys having a career that brings her to magical places like Ely, MN.
Stony River an Ely string band featuring Nick Allen, Nick Holtz, Dillon Wilkins, and Zeb Butterfield. Stony River performances showcase their proficiency on the strings as well as the joy of playing side by side. Stony River’s sound is a lively blend of country, soul, and grass; their songs are heartfelt, down-to-earth, and guaranteed to get your heart grooving and your feet moving.