This episode is our first installment of "Small Business Nerds." It's a series that is brought to you by the Sawyer County/LCO Economic Development Corporation and will feature various businesses from the area. Our first guest is a wonderful baker and cookie artist, Tracy Rasmussen, of Simply Sweets Cookie Company. I enjoyed chatting with her about how she got started, how her business has grown and even got the exact amount of cookie cutters she has! (It's more than you think.) Enjoy today's episode and be sure to check out Tracy's website and social media pages.

With the new year here, the After Hours crew had to get back together to discuss our resolutions...or anti-resolutions that is. We also chatted about how partying on NYE changes the older you get, gave some recommendations and talked about our actual goals for 2023. Enjoy!

I got to have a fireside chat with the new owners of Coop's Pizza, Debbi Houston and Samantha Mittlesdorf! We discussed what it’s like to own a business in the northwoods, their favorite pizzas, the giant fish tank, and how they plan to remain a staple of the Hayward area. Enjoy!

For their full menu, click here.

Everyone is worried about the NFL playoffs right now, but the real sport of America takes place during Birkie Week on Main Street in Hayward, WI. "The Nimrods" are a group of elite individuals that came come together to form a giant ski super team before super teams were even a thing. Many have likened them to the Avengers and action figures are currently in the works. They have a movie coming out on February 17th at The Park and rumor has it that many A-list celebrities will be in town for the premier. I was lucky enough to take the Nimrods away (briefly) from their intense training in order to conduct this interview with them. Enjoy! #nimrodnation

On Tuesday, December 27th a “Charlie Brown-esque” community skating party was held at the Tot Lot in Hayward, WI. The goal of the event was to get people together to enjoy a night of skating, conversation, and to truly embrace the beauty of small town life around the holidays. With an estimated over 100+ people in attendance throughout the evening, it’s fair to say that old fashioned events are still in style.

A Christmas movie featuring both Will Ferrell (Elf) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)? Sign me up.

Spirited is a different take on the classic Charles Dickens’ story of A Christmas Carol. Now there have been over one hundred different variations of A Christmas Carol over the years, so this begs the question; do we really need another version of this classic tale? Certainly. Sure. Why not? Everything is just a remake these days. (Sorry, did I sound too much like your uncle there?) Spirited is worth adding to your Christmas movie watch list and here’s why.

With several streaming platforms out there (Spotify, Apple Music, Prime Music) making listening to any song at any time easier than before, why would anyone in their right mind spend money on a physical copy of music? To have a physical copy of music is rare these days. Many people no longer have enormous CD cases in the passenger seats of their cars. People aren’t rushing out to the stores to get the latest album release; they are just able to download it right away on their phone. Owning a physical copy of an album may seem outdated or impractical to most, but vinyl records have been making a comeback for a reason.

To view the full report conducted by RIAA, click here.

Thanks for listening!

The holiday shopping season is here! While this is an exciting time of year for many, let's not forget about our neighbors that are shop owners. Today's episode is dedicated to those small businesses on Main Street all across America. Enjoy and remember to shop local and shop small.

On Thursday, November 3rd I was honored to be the keynote speaker for the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner. It was an experience that I will remember forever. Here is a rerecorded version of the speech that I hope inspires you to keep pushing towards progress here in the northwoods and to pursue your dreams. Enjoy!

It’s no secret that the state of Wisconsin is home to thousands of bars. Of these bars, some are high class with valet parking and drinks that James Bond would sip on. Others are covered in taxidermy (both well done and terrible) and pride themselves in being that dive bar. Regardless, people love to have a place where they can come together for a big game or to swap stories from the past. Since its inception back in 2021, Louie’s Bar and Bites has become a hometown favorite in the Hayward area. Enjoy!