Take On The Lake

In this episode we hear from Drew and Evan Busen (brothers!), the masterminds behind Lake Escape's escape rooms: one of my absolute favorite things to do at the Lake. They've got something new in store, and it involves axes...

We talk business, fun things to do at the Lake, and the incredible process of creating an escape room.

It’s not his first Big Surf — but it might be his last! David Busch has opened 24 waterparks in his career, and now he’s leading the charge at SuperSplash USA, formerly Big Surf.

We talked about the mad scramble to get a waterpark open, the hilarious horror stories that come with it, and the new changes coming to SuperSplash this year. But most importantly, we dove into David’s bigger mission — running a business that’s intentionally Christian, from how they treat guests to how they raise up their team of ambassadors.

This episode is a ride — and a refreshing one.

*LISTENER NOTE* -- We recorded this episode on-site, in the midst of SuperSplash's scramble to open. AND it was a terribly windy day! So you'll hear equipment running in the background, and the wind whipping the curtains on the cabana where we sat. It's admittedly not the best sound quality, but it's very *real life*. I hope it doesn't bother you too much, and you can enjoy the interview!

In this free-ranging episode, I joined Nadine Kelsay on her show on DAM Radio, and we went for it, on some spicy topics.

We talk about why the Minimum Wage might actually be evil, whether AI is just digital Frankenstein, and yes — we even go there, with robot girlfriends. A fun, fast-paced convo that’ll get your brain cooking, and is guaranteed controversial!

For this episode, we sat down in a barn full of treasures with Cody West, a collector, restorer, and storyteller of old things.

From antique signs to vintage tools, Cody has a gift for seeing value in what most people overlook. We talked about the Davis Baskets sign he and his wife Emily lovingly restored, why old things are worth saving, and what they teach us about life at Lake of the Ozarks — past and present.

There’s a little echo in the audio-quality from the on-site interview, but this one’ll echo in your heart long after it’s over.

Make sure you check out the photos of Cody's barn-full-of-treasures at LakeExpo.com and on our Facebook Page, Facebook.com/TakeOnTheLake.

Marshall Flippo: the world-famous square dance caller carved out a truly Ozarkian niche at Kirkwood Lodge on Lake of the Ozarks.

In this episode, Marshall's son John Flippo shares stories of growing up at the Lake, life with a square-dancing dad, and we talk about how things have changed over the years.

We close out with a rare treat: an original song Marshall recorded in 1980 with the Lee Mace Ozark Opry band. This one’s full of old-school Lake nostalgia.

In this episode, we dive into the awesome kitchen chaos of local legend Chef John Buchanan. From his culinary journey to how he and his wife Sheri opened three Lake-area restaurants in just three years, Chef John shares the secrets to making food truly unforgettable. We break into some of his famous tiramisu (yep — he reveals the secret ingredient), and we absolutely throw lasagna under the bus.

#TakeOnTheLake #ChefJohnBuchanan #LakeOfTheOzarks #Tiramisu #KitchenChaos #Foodies

What’s it really like to police The Strip at Lake of the Ozarks?

We sat down with Lake Ozark Police Chief James Boren to talk about what’s changed at the Lake, summer wild times on the Strip, and hosting a camera crew for Ozark Law. We also dove into issues like police officer pay and body cameras — plus, we talked about his other job: worship leader at a local church!

Take On The Lake is produced by LakeExpo, the leading digital media company and news/events source for Lake of the Ozarks.

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#LakeOfTheOzarks #TakeOnTheLake #JamesBoren #OzarkLaw #PoliceChief #LakeLife

It's hard to get things done in Jefferson City.

But in our interview with freshman State Rep. Jeff Vernetti (R-123), we talked about some surprisingly good progress on important legislative issues that affect all of Missouri as well as Lake of the Ozarks.

Trigger Warning: We put the minimum wage on blast pretty hard. Delicate ears will be offended.

Trevon Dawson, a 17-year-old from Cole Camp, Mo., busted onto the national stage with a killer performance of "Religiously" in his audition on this season of The Voice.

Every single judge wanted him, but only Adam Levine had a spot left on his team. The dude's just 17 but his voice has GRIT.

We got the chance to interview this budding star. We talked about the show (of course), his favorite country artists, where he's landing gigs (spoiler: he's coming to Lake of the Ozarks), writing love songs, his spiritual journey, and how he calmed his nerves for that amazing audition... through prayers and pushups.

It's Take on the Lake, a new podcast produced by LakeExpo.com and hosted by LakeExpo Editor Nathan Bechtold.

We'll be diving into fascinating stories, interviewing intriguing people, and facing controversial issues that are shaping Lake of the Ozarks. In this short intro episode, host Nathan Bechtold explains the "why," and shares his background.