In this episode, we sit down with Bethel native Alex Poland: A registered Maine Guide, artist, fly-fishing instructor, land steward, and owner of Western Maine Yurts. Alex grew up in the foothills, worked side-by-side with his grandfather in excavation, earned a graduate degree he never used, and built a life that blends creativity, outdoor adventure, and deep Maine roots.

He shares how fly fishing became the passion that changed everything, why Maine holds over 90% of the Lower 48’s wild brook trout, and what really happens during a full day guiding clients on the Androscoggin. We talk yurts, guests roasting their first-ever marshmallow, wildlife encounters, and the old-timer dialects he worries we’re losing.

If you love Maine, wild places, or stories about carving your own path, this episode will be a favorite.