Take On The Lake

If you’ve lived at or visited Lake of the Ozarks for even five minutes, you’ve eaten at — or boated to — something George Tucker built.

Paradise, Tucker’s Shuckers, Frankie & Louie’s, Neon Taco, Malted Monkey… the list goes on.

So how does a guy go from buying a worn-out lake bar in 2007 as a new college grad, to becoming one of the Lake's most prolific restauranteurs who is now developing one of the largest entertainment complexes the Lake has ever seen?

In this interview, George reveals...

How he stupidly (but brilliantly) bought Paradise at age 23 ("I think it was stupidity... but it worked out!")

That moment when his bartender fell through the floor and he thought "What have I gotten myself into?"

Why Malted Monkey exists (hint: kids throwing rocks at Tucker’s)

The scramble to buy Beavers at the Dam at a steal of a price

The story behind the name “Neon Taco”

Behind-the-scenes of the giant new project by Bagnell Dam and how it was almost built out of bamboo

What the Lake still needs to become a year-round community

Oasis, trails, airports, housing, and the future of the Strip

And why he can't seem to quit buying and building stuff at the Lake (he says he's done after this big one, but I'm not sure he even believes himself).

AND… I share the story of the lion that once lived on the Strip. Yes. Real lion.

When I first started this podcast, I put George Tucker on my interview list. I knew it was a good idea, and I know you'll agree.

We go full-send in this episode on hunting. Brady Ford and I talk deer season, big bucks, and the big question a lot of Missouri hunters are asking:

Is Missouri Conservation actually helping… or just getting in the way?

Guest: Brady Ford — managing broker for the Matt Ford Real Estate Team and a hardcore hunter who’s guided trips for elk, antelope, bear, whitetail and more from Missouri to Idaho to New Zealand.

Topics:

Growing up hunting the woods around Lake of the Ozarks

Guiding black bear hunts in remote Idaho where the nearest gas station is 90 miles away

Bowhunting antelope at 75 yards on the windswept plains of Colorado

Chasing elk at 13,000 feet in New Mexico (and waking up with one next to you)

Free-range red stag and mountain goat in New Zealand

Then we get spicy:

Why Missouri has so many deer — and what that actually costs us

The thousands of deer-related crashes every year and the real-world impact on families

Mountain lions, bears, and what happens when we shut down predator seasons

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), feeding bans, and whether the science matches the rules

Why rifle season is so short — and so badly timed — for most everyday hunters

Youth season timing vs. regular firearms season and how that affects the rut

Whether MDC is too focused on “trophy management” and not focused enough on real-life consequences

Brady also breaks down:

Calling strategies: rattling, grunts, the “wheeze,” and not over-pressuring your stand

Food plots in Ozark rock country and why nutrition matters for antler size

Buck-to-doe ratios and why “more does” isn’t always better

Plus: I reveal the wildest thing I've ever found on my property — two locked bucks who died mid-fight, still tangled together years later.

If you love deer hunting, have strong opinions about MDC, or just like hearing stories about chasing animals on mountains you can barely breathe on… don't miss this one.

Hot take: local generosity eats national dysfunction for lunch.

Shana Aubuschon has seen a lot during her time at Share the Harvest Food Pantry. From elderly folks on a fixed income who only take the canned goods (they leave the fresh veggies for the younger families) to food bank hoppers, they serve 600 families every month, right here in Camden County.

Shana took a moment away from a busy time at the food pantry — with seasonal layoffs, holiday surges, and SNAP on pause — to talk about how Share the Harvest works, why local generosity and volunteering makes a world of difference, and how their food pantry rescues a million pounds of groceries a year from local grocery stores: that's food that would have been thrown in the dumpster.

(Note: since recording, SNAP benefits have been reinstated. But the point remains: federal solutions are no way to care for local communities.)

State Rep. Jeff Vernetti (Camden County) is back — and this one gets spicy.

We talk about the stadium subsidy bill (and why he voted no on the Chiefs & Royals stadiums), a huge step toward commercial air service at Lake of the Ozarks, and a push to make it harder to rewrite Missouri’s constitution.

Plus: ADA lawsuit shakedowns, senior pension reform, and fixing the state’s mental-health backlog (county jails are filled with mental health inmates that the state can't handle.)

This is a full-throttle look at Missouri politics and how it actually hits home at the Lake.

Topics:

Chiefs & Royals stadium subsidies

Redistricting and Initiative Petition reform

Paid leave, minimum wage, and Prop A round two

The future of the Osage Beach airport ✈️

Local school policy & open enrollment

Predatory ADA website lawsuits

Pension relief for seniors

Jails, mental health, and county budgets

Growth vs. charm at the Lake

Guest: Rep. Jeff Vernetti (Missouri House, Camden County)

Host: Nathan Bechtold | Take on the Lake (powered by LakeExpo)

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Tucked deep in the history of Lake of the Ozarks is one family name that helped build the place — literally and culturally.

Emily (Blair) Mensendiek is part of that legacy: her family started Blair Cedar, Ozarkland, and Blair’s Landing — some of the most iconic local businesses at the Lake. Now, she’s turned her energy toward something new: the arts.

From orchestral performances to kids’ theater, Emily’s helping champion and grow a creative community at the Lake. In this episode, we talk about the roots of her family’s impact, how she and her husband are carrying it forward through Evergreen, and what a thriving arts scene could mean for the future of the Lake of the Ozarks.

Tucked into a little light-industrial corner of the city of Eldon, just a stone's throw from Lake of the Ozarks, is a wildly niche business with a high-profile, international customer base.

It's called Argosy: they make super-high-end, custom shelving and workstations specifically for audio recording studios. And it's all made right here at the Lake.

Here's one testimonial: "Argosy is the Rolls Royce of studio styling" - Jon Anderson; YES

James Rericha is the new owner/CEO of Argosy... but he's been involved in quite a few other businesses at the Lake too.

In this free-ranging conversation (as per usual), we talk about the Lake's lost manufacturing segment, the perils of private equity takeovers, and what many business-owners at the Lake aren't doing but should be.

This is definitely part-one of a conversation that is to be continued...

www.argosyconsole.com

www.r.vet

#lakeoftheozarks #business #recording #manufacturing #entrepreneurship

Episode thumbnail courtesy Argosy

Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis is a nonprofit manufacturer employing 200+ blind and visually impaired workers. They make Falcon boat horns (yep, the handheld ones you’re legally required to carry on your boat), Dust-Off “canned air,” vinyl/gelcoat repair patches, screen cleaners, emergency kits, and more—right here in Missouri.

We talk mission, products boaters actually use, how they train blind employees for factory work, and the surprisingly awesome sport of beep baseball.

Guests: Kevin Thomas & Steve Kish (LHB Industries)

Learn more: lhbindustries.com

Why LHB exists: tackling ~75% unemployment among blind/visually impaired folks

Products boaters need: Falcon air horns (multi-size, refillable trumpets), vinyl mender & fiberglass patch for quick repairs

Household staples: Dust-Off electronic duster, wipes, HyperClean plant-based screen cleaner

Where to buy: Walmart/Sam’s/Costco (Dust-Off), Walmart.com (horns), Amazon (RapidFix/Tear Mender/Vinyl Mender), Berg’s at the Lake (wipes/cleaner)

Mission reinvestment: mobile vision clinics, SOAR life-skills, Space Camp for blind kids, support for beep baseball

Factory: St. Louis (Maryland Heights), domestic suppliers, adapted lines, high QC

The Lake's outdoor scene is getting a major upgrade with a new project being spearheaded by the Community Foundation of the Lake.

The Magic Dragon Trail System is under construction, and it'll result in 70 miles of trails at the Lake that could some day connect with Missouri's famous Katy Trail.

Behind it all is the Community Foundation of the Lake (CFL). For this episode, CFL President Stacy Pyrtle and I talk about... well, money! The CFL does a LOT more than you probably realize, and she makes a strong pitch for why you ought to open a fund/foundation through them.

We also preview the upcoming Champagne Campaign -- an always-memorable evening of giving (tickets are still available!)

You will learn a lot in this episode, guaranteed. Or your money back...

Here's where to find CFL, learn about starting a fund of your own, and buy tickets to the Champagne Campaign: https://www.communityfoundationofthelake.org/

#lakeoftheozarks #charity #outdoors #hiking #biking #investment

Charlie Kirk and Bill Federer were friends. Charlie would often text him scriptures of encouragement. Bill recently joined Turning Point USA’s education initiative, at Charlie’s behest. In the wake of Charlie’s death, Bill joined me to remember this giant of a man.

In this episode, we talk about Charlie’s life, their friendship, and what hope remains for a country roiled with the effects of an ideology Charlie so passionately battled.

Bill will be visiting the Lake of the Ozarks for the Camden County Republican Club’s Patriot Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 18. Get tickets at ccrclub.com.

Find Bill’s full schedule for his Missouri statewide tour at Liberty Link Missouri PAC’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554055814018

#charliekirk #billfederer #politics #conservatism

Citizens Against Domestic Violence Director Sheree Keely would love if the organization she runs didn't have to exist.

But it does. CADV serves hundreds of people every year in the Lake area who are victims of domestic violence. In this sobering interview, Sheree and Michelle Cook talk about the reality and pervasiveness of domestic violence in our community... and how it hides in plain sight.

We also talk about one of the best charity events of the year: the CADV Brunch.

Episode art: portion of a painting created for CADV by Ivy Zeller, a budding young artist in the Lake community.

#lakeoftheozarks #charity #domesticviolence #cadv