Boats, Beers and Backroads
by Hosted by Jamie Allison
What happens when you mix dockside chats, early morning casts, local brews, and winding backroads?You get real conversations, good laughs, and an unapologetic love for country & cottage life.🎙️ Hosted by Jamie Allison, this isn’t about curated perfection — it’s about the unfiltered joy of weekends away, the kind of stories you share by the fire, and the beauty of slowing down.✨ If you’ve ever paddled at sunrise, grilled on a stormy day, or found your peace on a backroad bike ride… this one’s for you.
Episodes
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Sunny Moody — World Champion BBQ, Healthy Living & Finding Strength Through Fire
What happens when a life-changing diagnosis, a difficult divorce and a backyard smoker lead to becoming a two-time world champion? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Sunny Moody, a two-time World Champion in steak and live-fire cooking, Food Network...
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Jason McCoy: Bringing Canadian Music Together for “We Are One”
Sometimes a song becomes much bigger than the music. On this special episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison welcomes back Canadian country music favourite Jason McCoy to talk about his newly released song, “We Are One” — a powerful collaboration bringing together an incredible group…
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Cooking for Cottage Guests & Pro Athletes | The Muskoka Chef Julie Levitan
What if the best part of dinner at the cottage was not having to cook it? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Julie Levitan, owner of The Muskoka Chef, to talk about building a private-chef business around one of Canada's most iconic cottage destinations—and...
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Robert Rainford on Licence to Grill, Charcoal & What’s Coming Next
Before Robert Rainford became one of Canada's most recognizable celebrity chefs and taught a generation how to get more out of their backyard grill, he was a picky kid growing up in a Jamaican household—and becoming a chef wasn't exactly the career his father had in mind. On this episode of…
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Backroads, Dive Bars & Big Dreams with Jenna Rose
What happens when a painter, poet and bestselling author picks up a guitar during COVID and discovers an entirely new way to tell stories? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with singer-songwriter Jenna Rose for a conversation about creativity, country roots, songwriting...
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Soft Kind of Loud: Clayton Bellamy’s Next Chapter
Clayton Bellamy: The Roadhammers, 20 Years of Music & Getting Back to What Matters From small-town Alberta to stages around the world, Clayton Bellamy has spent decades building a career around great songs, loud guitars and doing things his own way. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads…
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From the Cottage to 110 KM/hr: Inside Jaimee Bull’s World
From Trout Lake to the Top of the World: Jaimee Bull What does it take to go from learning to waterski on a northern Ontario lake to becoming a three-time Open World Champion and five-time Pro Tour Champion? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, host Jamie Allison sits down with Canadian...
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5-Time Canadian BBQ Champion Janice Smella on Competition BBQ, Backyard Tips & Cooking Without Limits
What does it take to become one of Canada's most decorated competitive barbecue teams? This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Janice Smella, head cook of SmellaQue BBQ and a five-time Canadian BBQ Team of the Year. From humble beginnings with a single smoker in 2014…
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Julia Godden: Small-Town Roots, Honest Songs & Finding Her Voice
What happens when a emerging musician from a small Ontario town starts playing restaurant gigs and simply keeps going? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with singer-songwriter Julia Godden to talk about growing up in a small town, building confidence through live...
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Karly Kryski: The Country Music Star Bringing Happy Hour Back After Heartbreak
From growing up in a hockey family in Vancouver to performing on some of Nashville's most iconic stages, Karly Kryski is quickly becoming one of Canada's most exciting emerging country artists. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Karly to talk about her…
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Honky Tonk Summer Jam: Building Muskoka's New Country Music Tradition with Jason MacKenzie
What happens when a local guy sees a need in his community and decides to do something about it?In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with Jason MacKenzie, co-founder and organizer of the rapidly growing Honky Tonk Summer Jam, taking place this July 3-4 at the Bracebridge...
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From Pita Pit to Pints – Building Lightcaster Brewery One Community at a Time
What do you do after helping build one of Canada's most successful restaurant franchises?If you're Nelson Lang, you build a brewery.This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with entrepreneur Nelson Lang, co-founder of Pita Pit and now Managing Partner of Lightcaster Brewery…
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Lucas Mason: From Viral Zach Bryan Moment to Country Music's Next Big Voice
What happens after a viral moment changes your life? This week on Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with one of Canada's most promising emerging country artists, Lucas Mason. Many first discovered Lucas when he joined country superstar Zach Bryan on stage in a moment that generated more...
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How Cooper Gallant Turned a Fishing Obsession into a Dream Career
What does it take for a kid growing up fishing Ontario waters to compete against the best anglers in the world? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cooper Gallant, one of Canada’s fastest-rising professional anglers. Growing up in...
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Cory Johnston on Bass Boats, Family Life, and Big Bass
For Cory Johnston, it started in a boat with his father and brother on the lakes around Peterborough, Ontario—one of Canada's most legendary fishing regions. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with one of Canada's top professional anglers to discuss the path from...
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Paul Langlois on The Tragically Hip, Cottage Country & Smooth Rock Falls
For generations of Canadians, The Tragically Hip became more than a band. They became campfire songs at the cottage. Road trip soundtracks. Hockey arena anthems. And part of the fabric of Canadian life itself. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Paul Langlois...
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Susie Bulloch on Brisket, Business, and Backyard Cooking
What starts as a backyard passion project can turn into something much bigger. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with Susie Bulloch, founder of Hey Grill Hey, to talk about barbecue, family, entrepreneurship, and building one of the internet’s biggest grilling…
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Gord Bamford on Keeping Country Music Simple and Real
Country music doesn’t get more real than this. On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Gord Bamford—one of Canada’s most successful country artists—for a conversation that goes way beyond the stage. Fresh off the announcement of his upcoming performance at the...
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More Than a Cottage: Holly Carroll on Lifestyle, Legacy & Muskoka Living
What are people really buying in cottage country right now? On this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Holly Carroll—#1 best-selling author, luxury realtor, and Managing Director of The Agency Muskoka—to break down what’s actually happening in Ontario’s cottage...
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From Setback to Spotlight: Angelica Appelman’s Rise in Country Music
Fresh off her CMA Ontario nominations for Female Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year—driven by her powerful new single “Half-Hearted”—Angelica Appelman joins Jamie Allison on Boats, Beers & Backroads for a real, unfiltered conversation about finding your voice and betting on...
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Bassmaster Classic Champion Jeff Gustafson Talks Ice Fishing, Tournaments & Life on the Water
From Lake of the Woods to Bassmaster Classic history. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with professional angler Jeff Gustafson, better known in the fishing world as “Gussy.” Jeff made history in 2023 when he became the first Canadian ever to win the Bassmaster...
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Couchiching Craft Brewing: Small Batches, Big Community
Award-winning craft beer in the heart of Ontario cottage country. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Rama Sriharsha, brewmaster at Couchiching Craft Brewing Company in downtown Orillia. What started as a local effort to bring even more energy to the downtown...
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Jason McCoy of The Road Hammers: Till the Wheels Fall Off
Strap in for a ride down the backroads of Canadian country rock. In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, host Jamie Allison chats with Jason McCoy, frontman of The Road Hammers and CCMA Hall of Famer. From his early solo roots to building Canada’s most celebrated country-rock trio, Jason...
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Small Town, Big Sound: Jessica Sole’s Rise in Country Music
Country artist Jessica Sole joins Jamie to talk songwriting, small towns, and the stories behind her viral hit “Strangers Don’t.” In this fun, heartfelt episode, Jessica shares how growing up surrounded by music and nature in a small-town shaped her artistry. She reflects on how a childhood dream...
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Relaxation On Tap: The Story Behind Muskoka Beer Spa
What do you get when you mix craft beer, Scandinavian spa vibes, and Muskoka magic? Jamie sits down with Greg Knight, the founder and president of the Muskoka Beer Spa, to explore how this one-of-a-kind destination came to life. From a brewery and pizza shop in a quiet town to a full-blown...
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Community on Tap: Brewing Local with Jamie Truax of Tilted Glass Brewing
In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, host Jamie Allison sits down with Jamie Truax from Tilted Glass Brewing Co., a rising gem in Clarington, Ontario’s craft beer scene. From seasonal stouts to creative can art, this episode taps into what makes local breweries more than just places to…
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Small Town Grit, Big Time Brand: Alexa Gamache on Building Northern Bronco
From campfires and hot dogs to launching one of Canada's fastest-growing rural lifestyle brands, Alexa Gamache joins Jamie to share the story behind Northern Bronco. Inspired by her small-town roots and a desire to create something meaningful, Alexa opens up about:- Her journey from rural Ontario...
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Beyond the Boat: Bob Izumi on Legends, Lures & Living Well
Bob Izumi is a name every fishing fan knows — and in this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie sits down with the man behind the rod to hear the full story. From his modest beginnings in southwestern Ontario to building one of the most recognized fishing shows in North America, Bob shares…
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Small Space, Big Dreams: The Story Behind Bunkie Life with David Fraser
In this episode of Boats, Beers & Backroads, host Jamie Allison sits down with David Fraser, the creator of Bunkie Life — a cottage brand born from necessity, family love, and a knack for building tiny things with a big impact. From a simple need for more sleeping space at the family cottage to a...
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Ted Reader, BBQ Legend & Cottage Vibes Extraordinaire
Boats, Beers & Backroads welcomes legendary pitmaster Ted Reeder—aka Godfather of the Grill—for a flavorful chat on barbecue, balance, and building a life that tastes as good as it looks. From his early kitchen days to heading up one of Ontario’s most talked-about live-fire joints, Ted dives deep...
About this show
What happens when you mix dockside chats, early morning casts, local brews, and winding backroads?You get real conversations, good laughs, and an unapologetic love for country & cottage life.🎙️ Hosted by Jamie Allison, this isn’t about curated perfection — it’s about the unfiltered joy of weekends away, the kind of stories you share by the fire, and the beauty of slowing down.✨ If you’ve ever paddled at sunrise, grilled on a stormy day, or found your peace on a backroad bike ride… this one’s for you.
Hosted by
Hosted by Jamie Allison