PODCAST · society
The Northern Nerd
by Dalton Hessel
Geeking out on all things in the Northwoods.
Episodes
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Travel Tips with Rhonda Martin
Planning a trip can be overwhelming. Whether you're traveling solo or with a group; it can be stressful at times. Rhonda Martin is a traveler herself, but also is a travel planner through her business, Wild Atlas Travels. She's helped Claire and I plan for two trips now (Oregon trip &...
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Jeff Nania: Author & Outdoor Enthusiast
On this latest episode, I was lucky enough to sit down with author, Jeff Nania. Jeff is an award winning writer of the Northern Lakes Mystery Series. I recently read the first book in the series, Figure Eight, and couldn't put it down while on a flight. We shared some coffee and conversation at…
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2025 NFL Draft Talk with The Green Bay Guy
The 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, WI is quickly approaching and I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with The Green Bay Guy about it! In this episode, we talked about what the draft means for the city of Green Bay, what our first round prediction is, what direction we see the Packers going in...
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Mr. Phillip Lindsay: Teacher Talk & Social Media
I had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Phillip Lindsay onto the show to talk about life as a teacher, social media and his famous middle school slang videos, appearing on the TODAY Show, starting his stand up comedy career and everything in between. He's doing great things with his platform and I...
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Brad Heinkel: Lambeau Field Tour Guide
Lambeau Field is one of the most historic fields in all of sports. Many people travel from all over the world just to experience it. Brad Heinkel is one of the lucky people that gets to give tours of it! Brad grew up in Hayward, WI and worked in sales in the television industry for a number of...
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Hayward History with Dick Gillis
Dick Gillis will be turning 95 years old in January of 2025. Needless to say, he's seen some things in his time. He's been a long time Hayward resident and was even on the basketball team when they were officially nicknamed the "Hurricanes." I had a wonderful time sitting down with him to talk...
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After Hours: Get Off My Algorithm
It's been over a year since we got the After Hours crew together, so we decided to give you about an hour and a half episode to give you some ear candy. We catch you up on our life happenings, talk about how social media has changed (hence our episode title), gave you our recommendations (47:45)...
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Paddling the Wisconsin River with Kyle Parker
Many people talk about doing big things one day, but with Kyle Parker, he put his paddle in the water and achieved his goal. What was his goal? Setting the fastest known time while solo canoeing the Wisconsin River. He is now the current record holder because of his efforts. It was great to have...
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Dad Life: A Year of Being a Dad
It's hard to believe that my daughter is already a one-year-old. Throughout this time, I've changed so much as a husband, dad and man. In this episode, I reflect upon everything from finding out my wife was pregnant to my daughter's first birthday. I also answer some of your questions! (26:16)...
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The World From A to Z with Carl Azuz
On this week's episode, Carl Azuz (The World From A to Z) joins us to discuss his news show! His show is geared towards teachers and students in the middle school and high school range. We talked about the importance of students being informed as well as the significance of having civil…
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GOING FOR GOLD: Kenny Bednarek
GOING FOR GOLD: Kenny Bednarek In this episode, I was joined by two-time Olympian, Kenny Bednarek, to talk about the 2024 Paris Olympics as well as share about his connections to Wisconsin. He's from Rice Lake, WI and is very motivated to get gold medals this year. I had a wonderful time talking...
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No Snow? No Problem. 50th Anniversary Birkie Recap
I know I talk a lot about the Birkie this time of year, but I promise that it's for a good reason. The Birkie makes it feel like our small towns in the northwoods are playing host to the Olympics. This year looked different obviously due to the lack of snow, but thanks to innovative minds and the...
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Birkie 2024
Everybody knows that this year's Birkie is going to look different, but let's not have that stop us from making it a wonderful week here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. On today's episode, I share one of my favorite Birkie memories as well as give a few reminders when it comes to the Birkie week...
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S.C.O.P.E. and How They're Helping Get Kids Outdoors
It's never been easier to stay inside. With thousands of movies at your fingertips and video games easily downloadable; one can fall into the trap of leaving their hunting and fishing gear in a bin in the attic. The Sawyer County Outdoor Projects & Education (SCOPE) wants to help get kids…
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10pm Thoughts on the Packers
Yes, this is the life of a new dad with a podcast. You get late night thoughts on the Packers season once the baby is in bed and your wife and mother-in-law are watching The Golden Bachelor wedding. I'm excited about this young Packers team and hope you enjoy listening to my thoughts on what kind...
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2023 Year in Review
2023 was a heck of a year for this nerd! I know it's been a minute since I recorded an episode, but having a child will do that. Thank you for your patience as you awaited a new episode to drop. This episode is dedicated to reviewing 2023 and forecasting what is to come in 2024! My family made…
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Thoughts on the 2023 Packers
Packers training camp officially started today (July 26th) and that's all the more reason to get excited for the upcoming season. Today's episode is dedicated to sharing my thoughts on the strengths of this Packers team, address what my concerns are and share my final record that I think the...
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Student Interviews at the Forest Lodge Library
I recently had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing students of various ages out at the Forest Lodge Library in Cable, WI. Students discussed how their summers were going, what books they've been reading, what they enjoy about the library and MANY other topics. It was a great way to spend a...
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After Hours: Mary Mack
Mary Mack is a comedian that grew up right here in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Mary co-stars as Jesse in the Hulu cartoon Solar Opposites by the creators of Rick and Morty. She’s appeared in Montreal’s Just For Laughs Festival, HBO’s Andy Kaufman Awards, San Francisco’s Sketchfest, and the Dry…
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How to Make the Most of Your Vacation
Travel has never been easier than it is today. With planes, trains and automobiles we can get to where we want to go fairly quickly. The summer is always a great time to take a vacation, but how do you make the most of yours? These vacation days are important to make the most of and today's…
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Year Four Reflections & Advice to First Year Teachers
Year four of teaching is officially in the books and now that I've had a little bit of time to process it, I want to share with you some of my favorite memories. This episode includes various quotes from the classroom, my thoughts on teaching summer school thus far, some of my favorite things…
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What is HFEE and What Do They Do?
The Hayward Foundation for Educational Enrichment (HFEE) is having their annual Lee Bonicatto Memorial Golf Fundraiser outing on May 19th. With that being said, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with HFEE members, Amy Sportel and Salle Beckwith, to discuss what HFEE is and what it is…
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End of the School Year & Quotes from Student Teaching
The end of the school year is always an interesting time of year as a teacher. You're finishing up your curriculum, wrapping up assessments, and have to pack up your classroom. In today's episode, I share my thoughts on my favorite end of the school year activities as well as share quotes from…
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Our 100th Episode!
Wow, we made it to episode 100! When this podcast started back in 2018, I wasn't sure what to expect, but through this podcast I've been able to bottle up some of my favorite conversations with people. It's truly crazy to think that it's been five years since I first hit "record." This episode...
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After Hours: The Gretzky Episode
We've made it to our 99th episode! With that being said, we had to name this episode after the greatest hockey player of all time. Did we talk hockey at all in this episode? Absolutely not, but that's okay. We had the chance to discuss this long winter, why it's important to take vacations during...
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More Than A Game: with Ben Retzlaff of the Marquette Golden Eagles
Ben and I used to work together back in college at UW-Eau Claire at the campus TV station, TV10. We both worked in the sports scene and I got to do color commentary with best friend, Kyle Naber while Ben was a student assistant coach for the Blugolds Men's Basketball team. Since then, Ben has...
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Shamrock Shuffle in Downtown Hayward
The Hayward Business Improvement District (BID) is once again putting on their annual Shamrock Shuffle on March 18th. I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Cindy Swift-Kaner of Riverbrook Bike & Ski and James Netz of James Netz Photography to discuss this year's shuffle! We also talked...
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From Hawaii to San Francisco with Jake McCusker & Erin McDade
Sailing isn't something that's normally talked about in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Plenty of people go out on their pontoons, kayaks and canoes but very few people have ever sailed out in the middle of the ocean. Jake McCusker and Erin McDade recently completed a journey from Hawaii to San...
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Adventure Photography with Jon Kreye
Jon Kreye is an award winning adventure photographer based in Minnesota. Jon and I first met during the 2022 Birkie and I have been wanting to have him on the show for some time now. Jon has stayed in some of the most unique and highly desired rental properties across the country including…
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Small Business Nerds: Studio North
On the latest installment in the series "Small Business Nerds" brought you by the Sawyer County/LCO Economic Development Corporation, I sat down with Ethan and Jenn Zimmerman of Studio North in Hayward, WI. We discussed their small business journey thus far, their vision for the future, their…
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Small Business Nerds: Simply Sweets Cookie Co.
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...
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After Hours: Anti-Resolutions
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!
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For the Foodies: Coop's Pizza
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...
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The Nimrod Giant Ski Race Team
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...
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Community Skating Party Recap
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...
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After the Credits Movie Review: Spirited
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...
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Why People Still Listen to Vinyl Records in 2022
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...
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Don't Forget About Main Street
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.
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My Hope for Hayward
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…
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For the Foodies: Louie's Bar & Bites
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…
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After Hours: The Hootie Line
After a two month hiatus, the "after hours" crew was able to get back together. Summer in a tourist town gets busy for everyone, so we spent the majority of the episode catching up, giving best man speech advice, show recommendations and discussed what "the hootie line" is all about. Enjoy!
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DOVR & Veterans
I had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Dairyland Outdoor Veterans Retreat (DOVR) for a dinner amongst veterans and their families. While there, I was fortunate enough to interview three men that play a significant role in helping veterans. Enjoy! If you'd like to find out more about DOVR,...
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Teacher Talk with Diego Napoles
Diego Napoles (or Mr. Napoles) is a 4th grade teacher out in Southern California. I started following Diego on TikTok this past school year. He was offering many great teacher resources/tips as well as providing stories from his classroom. He's somebody I have been wanting to get on the show for…
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For the Foodies: The Rivers Eatery
The Rivers Eatery doesn’t just make pizza, but they offer a unique dining experience in the northwoods that my wife and I have come to enjoy. In this episode, I will discuss our experience at The Rivers Eatery and why you should make it a dining destination the next time your looking to treat…
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The Story of Selah Mobile Coffee
I had the wonderful opportunity of sitting down with Belle Poppe of Selah Mobile Coffee to discuss what it's been like to run her own small business and the impact that it's made on the Hayward community. She was a fantastic guest to have on the show and I think you'll love to hear what she has…
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After Hours: The Boys Are Back In Town
As the youth of America would say, "it's been a minute." We got the crew back together after taking a handful of months off and it felt good to sit down at The Whistle Punk once again to talk about life in the northwoods. There are a lot exciting things happening in the area this time of year...
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Lessons & Quotes from My Rookie Year of Teaching - Part 1
Your first year of teaching is all about survival. If you make it through your first year; you can do anything. In this latest episode, I take a look back at some of the lessons I learned in my first year of teaching as well as share some quotes from my students. If you're a teacher listening to...
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2nd Grade Greek Life & Tik Tok
A 2nd grade fraternity and sorority? Yeah, they exist in my classroom. They are a far cry from a college frat or sorority (thank the Lord for that) and they have been a great way to build community within my classroom. This is the story of how the Delta Pizza Monster Trucks and the Kappa Rainbow...
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Finding My Faith Again
I debated for a while on whether or not I would start talking more about faith on my podcast. While it's not something I've done a lot of on this platform, I feel as though it's time to dig a little deeper with it. I'm not here to preach a sermon or to tell you that you're going to hell if you...
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Beyond the Baseball Diamond & SCHS
In this week's episode, I discuss some of my favorite memories from baseball throughout my life and why most of them have take place off the field. I also wanted to bring to your attention a young man by the name of Ashton Strand. He's working with the Sawyer County Historical Society on a...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Northern Nerd have?
The Northern Nerd currently has 123 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Northern Nerd about?
Geeking out on all things in the Northwoods.
How often does The Northern Nerd release new episodes?
The Northern Nerd publishes regularly with 123 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Northern Nerd?
You can listen to The Northern Nerd on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Northern Nerd?
The Northern Nerd is created and hosted by Dalton Hessel.
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