Longtime Duluth News Tribune columnist and frequent Roadhouse guest Sam Cook chatted with CJ recently. This time, it was about the importance and magic of introducing young people to the outdoors. You can follow Sam's columns here. 

St. Paul-based roots rocker Mary Cutrufello has been in the business for 25 years, on a musical journey from Connecticut to Texas to the Midwest. She stopped by The Roadhouse on her way to a house concert to benefit the Grand Marais Music Collaborative. You can learn more about Mary and her music and schedule here.

Charcoal or gas? Marinate or no? Should you let the meat rest before cutting? These, and many more, questions answered in this chat between CJ and Longhorn Steakhouse 'grill master' Jason Trenkler.

Dudley Riggs is a fifth-generation member of a distinguished show business family. He's worked in many areas of the biz, as everything from an aerialist to a stage director, but is best known as the father of improvisational theater. Dave chatted with Dudley about his recently released memoir, "Flying Funny," from the U of MN Press.  

Minneapolis performance artist Patrick Scully has created and performs a one-man show about the life and times of Walt Whitman. It's called "Leaves of Grass--Illuminated," features Whitman's poetry, and addresses his reality as a gay man in the mid-1880s. Patrick was in town to perform the show, and joined Ann Possis to talk about why he chose Whitman as his subject, what he wants to convey, and much more. You can learn about Patrick and his work here.

Explorers & adventurers Amy and Dave Freeman, who recently spent a year living in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, are back in Cook County for the summer. They stopped by the studio to chat with Dave about what readapting to civilization has been like, what they miss and what they don't, and much more. They're writing a book about their experience, due out this fall from Milkweed Editions.

It's only two months away...the start of the 2017 MN State Fair. And every summer there are fun new foods to try. Dennis Larson, license administration manager for the fair, chatted with Ann Possis about this year's new foods and how they're chosen. The 2017 fair starts Aug. 24. You can find the complete list of new foods here.

 North House instructor Lindy Lind joined CJ during Wooden Boat Show weekend to talk about bushcraft, wilderness survival, and building a bark canoe in six days during the show. You can learn more about Lindy and his work here.

David Cooper is an archaeologist with the National Park Service. When David was posted at Grand Portage National Monument, he was instrumental in building the "Paul LaPlante," a reconstructed version of the 19th-century workboat used in the Great Lakes commercial fishing industry. He's back in Grand Marais this weekend for the North House Wooden Boat Show, where the Mackinaw boat is displayed. He chatted with Dave about why the boat is important, how it came to be, and much more.

One of our favorite guests, Nashville singer-songwriter Jerry Vandiver, made his annual pilgrimage to the north country, this time accompanied by fiddler Josephine Michener. They had six gigs in three days in the county, and we were lucky to get on their busy schedule. Listen for delightful, original music and fun chat. You can learn more about Jerry and his music here.