In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Mike and Melissa Brown share the story behind Sunrise Deli, the Reed Building, and the many businesses they’ve built together in Hibbing. From entrepreneurship, marriage, and family sacrifice to revitalizing downtown and investing in the future of the Iron Range, the Browns open up about what it really takes to chase big dreams in a small-town community. This conversation is honest, funny, heartfelt, and full of insight for anyone who believes in hard work, local business, and building something meaningful where they call home.

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Mike and Melissa Brown share the story behind Sunrise Deli, the Reed Building, and the many businesses they’ve built together in Hibbing. From entrepreneurship, marriage, and family sacrifice to revitalizing downtown and investing in the future of the Iron Range, the Browns open up about what it really takes to chase big dreams in a small-town community. This conversation is honest, funny, heartfelt, and full of insight for anyone who believes in hard work, local business, and building something meaningful where they call home.

Here’s a slightly shorter version too:

Mike and Melissa Brown join the Iron Range Adventures Podcast to talk about entrepreneurship, marriage, family, and what it means to build something meaningful in Hibbing. From Sunrise Deli and the Reed Building to their vision for revitalizing downtown, this episode is a real and inspiring look at hard work, community, and chasing big dreams on the Iron Range.

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Hibbing builder, family man, and community leader Kendall Cook. As owner of Ingenuity Builders and a board member with Crescendo Orchestra, Kendall shares a life shaped by hard work, craftsmanship, music, faith, family, and deep roots in the Iron Range.

From learning skills at home as a kid, to building his own house and discovering his passion for carpentry, to raising a large family and walking through adoption, Kendall opens up about what it really means to build something that lasts. This conversation dives into perseverance, leadership, legacy, youth music, the realities of running a business, and why choosing family over success on paper may be the most important decision a person can make.

This is an honest, thoughtful episode about grit, sacrifice, love, and the kind of life that leaves a mark far beyond wood and walls.

More Than Coffee: Resilience, Grief, and Building North Haven on the Iron Range

Podcast Description
In this powerful episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Denise and Jeff, the couple behind North Haven Coffee, for a conversation that goes far beyond business.

Together, they share what home means on the Iron Range, how deep loss shaped their marriage, and what resilience really looks like when life does not go the way you planned. From navigating grief, healing, therapy, and hardship to taking a leap into entrepreneurship after a life-changing accident, Denise and Jeff open up with honesty, strength, and heart.

This episode is about love, family, community, and choosing to keep going. It is also about the vision behind North Haven Coffee, a mobile coffee business built to be more than a place to grab a drink. Their hope is to create connection, conversation, and a sense of belonging wherever they go.

If you have ever walked through grief, wondered whether to take a risk, or needed a reminder that healing and joy can exist at the same time, this conversation will stay with you.

In this episode:

• What “home” really means on the Iron Range
• Walking through grief as a couple
• Why therapy matters
• The quiet strength of Iron Range families
• Starting North Haven Coffee after hardship
• Building a business centered on community, not just coffee

If you want, I can also turn this into a YouTube description, a shorter Spotify version, or give you 10 clickable title variations in your Iron Range Adventures style.

What if abandoned mine pits weren’t the end of the story… but the beginning?

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Pete Carroll — environmental engineer, co-creator of Redhead Mountain Bike Park, Minnesota Book Award-winning author of Mindscapes: Reclaiming Minnesota’s Mine Lands, and longtime community volunteer.

Pete grew up on the Marquette Iron Range in Upper Michigan before making his way to Minnesota’s Mesabi Range. With a deep love for the outdoors and a background in environmental engineering, he saw something different when he looked at reclaimed mine lands — not closed sites, but incredible opportunity.

We talk about:

• The 13-year journey behind Redhead Mountain Bike Park
• How mining and recreation can coexist and strengthen each other
• The human stories behind mine land transformation
• Vision, long-term thinking, and the power of journaling
• Why “Sisu” persistence matters when chasing big ideas
• The underrated quality of life on the Iron Range

Pete shares how reclaimed landscapes can inspire renewal — not just environmentally, but economically and culturally. From scuba diving and mountain biking to swimming and disc golf, the Iron Range is quietly becoming a model for how former mining communities can evolve without forgetting their roots.

If you care about community development, outdoor recreation, mining heritage, or simply building a life you love waking up to — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
📚 And don’t forget to pick up Pete’s award-winning book Mindscapes — link in the description.

In this powerful and honest episode of Iron Range Adventures, we sit down with Steve Solkela— the wildly entertaining one-man band, comedian, and performer who has taken his small-town beginnings all the way to international stages, including performances connected to Minnesota and Finland.

Most people see the high-energy entertainer.
The accordion. The punchlines. The laughter.

But in this conversation, Steve shares the deeper story.

We explore:

• 🎵 The evolution of the one-man band and how he incorporates multiple instruments into one unforgettable act
• 🌲 How rural roots and family support shaped his artistic courage
• 💰 The real challenges of self-promotion and financial stability in the entertainment industry
• 🧠 The mental model of resilience required to survive as a performer
• 😂 Why humor isn’t just entertainment — it’s survival

This episode pulls back the curtain on the life of a performer. Steve speaks candidly about success, failure, mental resilience, and what it means to “give it everything,” even when the path isn’t easy.

“Humor is the purpose of life.”
“I am in fact a failure, but I gave it everything.”
“Life’s not easy, but humor helps us survive.”

We also dive into practical advice for aspiring small-town artists chasing big dreams — and the undeniable importance of community support in sustaining local arts.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build a creative career from the Iron Range — this episode is both inspiring and grounding.

Follow Steve Solkela'supcoming shows and support his music and merchandise.
Share this episode to inspire the next generation of small-town creators.
And consider hiring or supporting local performers — because strong communities invest in their artists.

📍 Listen on Spotify
📍 Follow Iron Range Adventures on Facebook

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, Steve sits down with Alicia Dick — Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), organizational consultant, trauma-informed systems thinker, educator, runner, and founder of Be Well Within.

Alicia shares her journey from child protection and healthcare to higher education and community systems work, explaining why real change can’t focus only on individuals — it has to include families, schools, workplaces, and entire communities. They dive into what “trauma-informed” really means, why behavior is rooted in neuroscience, and how small moments of human connection can create powerful change.

The conversation also explores:

• Why change is so hard even when people agree it’s needed
• How burnout impacts educators and communities
• The role of nervous system regulation in leadership and life
• How running and time in nature fuel clarity and resilience
• Why community is the Iron Range’s greatest strength

Alicia also opens up about moving to the Iron Range just before COVID, finding belonging in a new community, building her business without social media, and what it means to truly be “well within.”

This is a thoughtful, honest, and inspiring conversation about leadership, healing, connection, and building healthier systems — together.

In this episode of Iron Range Adventures, host Steve sits down with Steve Bondich, Mayor of Biwabik, for a wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation about leadership, community, and the unique pride of the Iron Range.

Mayor Bondich shares his journey growing up on the Range, lessons learned from a hardworking family, military service, union leadership, and how those experiences shape the way he serves his community today. The conversation dives into what it really means to be a mayor in a small town, why volunteering is so deeply rooted in Iron Range culture, and how even a small amount of involvement can make a big difference.

They also explore Biwabik’s Bavarian roots, the future of economic development, outdoor recreation, housing, and why the city is becoming a destination—connected to Giants Ridge, trails, and year-round adventure. Along the way, Steve opens up about respect, kindness, social media culture, and why community still matters more than ever.

This episode is a reminder that strong towns are built by people who care—and that the Iron Range’s best days are still ahead.

In this episode of the Iron Range Adventures Podcast, host Steve sits down with Joy Ausman, a woman whose life has been shaped by courage, curiosity, and an unbreakable sense of adventure.

Raised in Esko, Minnesota, Joy joined the United States Marine Corps at just 17 years old, navigating the challenges of military life as a woman, a leader, and a mother. Her journey spans service during Desert Storm, raising a family while on active duty, and later pursuing a lifelong dream of serving in the Peace Corps. Along the way, her Finnish heritage and the concept of SISU—strength, resilience, and perseverance—became guiding forces in her life.

Joy shares powerful reflections on overcoming fear, knowing your worth, occupying your space, and doing hard things even when you feel uncertain. From military service to global travel, motherhood, and chasing purpose at every stage of life, this conversation is honest, inspiring, and deeply human.

If you’re searching for motivation to pursue bold goals, navigate change, or simply believe in yourself a little more, this episode is for you.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
🌲 Follow Iron Range Adventures across social platforms

On this episode of the Iron Range Ventures Podcast, we sit down with Jada Makin, founder of Sinsational, an organization dedicated to supporting incarcerated individuals and their families through media, apparel, cosmetics, educational resources, and more.

Jada shares her journey as a biracial entrepreneur, the challenges she’s faced navigating systemic issues in correctional facilities, and how she turned personal experiences into a mission-driven business. From overcoming corruption to empowering others through tailored services, she offers a powerful perspective on resilience, community, and creating meaningful impact.

Tune in to hear her advice for young entrepreneurs, her vision for the future of Sensational, and her thoughts on the importance of second chances.