Corey and Kaj Podcast presented by Cedar Run Decoy Company
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down with a variety of guests to discuss waterfowl hunting and how it relates to culture and our guests' unique experience. Enjoy the laughs when our guests bring their expertise and experience to the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio.
Episode #42: The Life of a Great Lakes Boat Captain with Karl Hardesty

Corey Lucas and producer Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Co. studio with Great Lakes boat captain and avid waterfowler Karl Hardesty.
Growing up around the Great Lakes, the sight of a freighter on the horizon of the big lakes is not uncommon. Karl steps us through how he built a career steering these ships around the big freshwaters of Lake Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Superior. They also learn how the ships hide from storms and what they're hauling around.
Karl also shares his cool experiences getting to hunt along side his...
Episode #41: Turkey Tour Hangout, 4SZNS, and Camoretro with Cam Williams and Logan Webster

Corey Lucas and producer Clayton Beaird travel up to northern Michigan with friends Cam Williams of 4SZNS and Logan Webster of Camoretro to chase turkeys, enjoy the northern woods, and talk business.
Cam shares about his upbringing and how he found his way to hunting and the origins of his business 4SZNS. He also shares his story from the first morning here in the woods with Clayton.
Logan talks about old school camo and his purpose behind starting Camoretro and shares his experience in the hunting industry, include some words of wisdom.
Just...
Episode #40: Duck Dynasty, Turkey Hunting, and the Vintage Clothing Industry with Jacob Mayo

Corey Lucas and producer Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio with Jacob Mayo, the owner of General Vintage and cast member of Duck Dynasty The Revival.
The fellas spent the past few days turkey hunting with Jacob in northern Michigan and they discuss the crazy travel logistics that led up to the hunt and the excitement that ensued shortly after Jacob's plane landed.
Jacob talks about his family history and childhood interest and the origin story of General Vintage is revealed through his connection with his grandma and her generous...
Episode #39: Gunfights, Tragedy, and a Warrior's Spirit with Jack Zimmerman

Corey Lucas, Kaj Carlson and producer Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio with combat veteran and motivational speaker Jack Zimmerman.
The guys discuss Jack's upbringing and early days of working in construction and the mindset that led him to enlist in the military.
Jack "steps" us through the lifestyle and rigors of fighting in the desert and a series of tragic events that led to him being seriously wounded. Hearing Jack work through the story of losing his best friend Corporal Brett Land represents the continued impact these events have...
Episode #38: The Law, Conservation, and Life Skills with Chris Tracy

Corey Lucas, Kaj Carlson and producer Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio with lawyer Chris Tracy, partner at the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd.
The guys discuss Chris' idyllic childhood in northern Michigan and how that upbringing not only shaped his work ethic but his passion and interest in the outdoors.
Chris lays out his path to becoming a lawyer at one of the top firms here in Michigan, juggling family and work life, and how the life skills that he built over the years are reflected in how...
Episode #37: Building the "Pinnacle" of Duck Boats with Jordan Erickson

Corey Lucas, Kaj Carlson and producer Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio with Jordan Erickson, founder and co-owner of Pinnacle Boat Co., specializing in custom fishing and duck boats made right here in southwest Michigan.
The guys talked through Jordan's childhood, building the work ethic and necessary experience through various jobs that included working on a golf course, helping his uncle wrench on hot rods, and being introduced to welding in a local fab shop. He carried his interests on to college at Ferris State University and Jordan explained how he was...
Episode #36: A Father and Daughter's Journey in Hunting and Trapshooting with Mike and Ava Larson

Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio with Mike and Ava Larson, a father and daughter that have grown a strong bond through their hunting pursuits and Ava's passion for competitive trap shooting.
Hear about Mike's career in serving through the United Way and the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and how he was able to focus on his true legacy that exists with his relationships within his family.
The conversation transitions to how Ava was introduced to trapshooting and what that interest has grown into. We discuss the d...
Episode #35: Duck Hunting, Outdoor Dream Foundation, and Finding a Purpose with Leroy & Jan Martin

Corey Lucas and podcast producer Clayton Beaird sit down at a Hampton Inn in Raleigh, North Carolina with Leroy and Jan Martin to hear about a lifetime of events filled with purpose.
Leroy and Jan share their stories of adoption, sickness, and literal "crushing" circumstances that have led them to be bold in their faith. We step through their childhood upbringing, hear about the adoption process of their son, the traumatic (but redeeming) events surrounding catastrophic damage to their home and Jan's recent health scare, and wrap-up by discussing Leroy's duck hunting adventures and the Outdoor Dream...
Episode #34: Hurler Syndrome, Hunting, and Turkey Tracks with Mike and Daniel "Squeak" Bosch
Corey Lucas and podcast producer Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run Decoy Co. studio with Mike and Daniel "Squeak" Bosch to learn more about their inspiring story of overcoming extreme physical obstacles to pursue their passion for turkey hunting.
Mike and Daniel share their family's journey of managing an extremely rare genetic disorder, Hurler Syndrome. Despite odds being stacked against Daniel, he and his dad have still been able to experience the outdoors together. We talk in-depth about Turkey Tracks, a unique hunting organization geared towards kids with disabilities.
Fascinating and inspiring conversation...
Episode #33: A Heart for People and Upland Hunting with Pastor Jason Zimmer

Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down in the Cedar Run Lounge with Jason Zimmer lead pastor at North Point Church in Plainwell, Michigan and avid upland hunter.
Jason leads a growing church in southwest Michigan where he never stops seeking God's will and that pursuit carries over to his passion for chasing upland birds throughout the United States . We discuss his life's journey and purpose and he leaves the fellas on The Corey & Kaj Podcast with some much valued words of encouragement. Impactful conversation with a genuinely caring person...
North Point Church website: https...
Episode #32: Jack Waterway and the Spirit Led Life of a Police Officer
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down in the Cedar Run Lounge with Jack Waterway a retired Michigan state police officer and avid waterfowler.
Jack takes us through his life story growing up with humble beginnings in Holland, Michigan to becoming the leader of the drug task force in Allegan, Michigan. We also discuss how a Christ-centered faith has guided him throughout his life.
Tons of interesting information on law enforcements war on drugs on a local level and how Jack was able to successfully balance a career full of risk and time constraints with...
Episode #31: "The Prince of Wildlife" with Chris Stewart
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down in the Cedar Run studio with Chris Stewart, conservationist, avid hunter, and host of the YouTube "Prince of Wildlife" series.
Chris has an interesting story in that he has navigated a life with parents that are well-known and decorated in the wildlife management community. He's taken what he's learned from his younger years, hanging out with all of the different personalities and professionals in the conservation world, to pursue a passion for wildlife education through Learn to Hunt programs, hosting out-of-town hunters, and in his latest venture with The Prince...
Episode #30: Outdoor Writing and "Never Trust a Fart" with Jason Herbert
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down in the Cedar Run studio with Jason Herbert, author, teacher, and newly crowned Cedar Run Decoy Company staff writer.
Jason has an interesting journey into success in the outdoor industry through the tried-and-true method of finding a passion (hunting), getting good at it, and then writing about it... all while pushing past the constraints of modern day education.
We focus much of the discussion on Jason's series of "Never Trust a Fart" books and where he got the inspiration for these hilarious and true stories.
Cedar...
Episode #29: Old School Hunting Clothes and Camoretro with Logan Webster
Corey Lucas and Clayton Beaird sit down in the Cedar Run studio with Logan Webster, the founder and owner of Camoretro.
We talked about his journey that's led him to a passion for preserving iconic hunting clothing, and making it available for others. Logan also shares his waterfowling upbringing and the gratitude he has in how his parents developed his interest in travel and hunting. He also touches on his unique level of experience chicken farming in Arkansas.
It was great having Logan out to the shop and we are excited to follow the story...
Episode #28: The Stuedemann Duck Camp Legacy
Corey Lucas swung through Iowa and Illinois on his way back from waterfowling with buddies in North Dakota to spend time with the Stuedemann family at their duck camp on the Upper Mississippi River. Drake (third generation), Dave (second generation), and Don Stuedemann (first generation) join Corey around the table to unpack the history of their duck camp and what it means to them.
Don lays out the origin of the camp and what it has meant to him and his family. He describes it as the glue that help holds his family together at times. The...
Episode #27: Voyager Dog Food with Dr. Pete and Molly VanVranken
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are back with by Dr. Pete (Philip VanVranken) and Molly VanVranken to discuss Voyager Dog Food Co. Dr. Pete brings his veterinary expertise to the dog food industry, and we cover a suite of questions about dog injuries, pet care, and food selection.
We discuss Voyager Dog Food Company's approach to providing high quality dog food. And in true Corey & Kaj Podcast fashion we go down a rabbit hole into Dr. Pete's National Senior Games competition...
Molly VanVranken talks about the effort she's making to connect with pet owners by tr...
Episode #26: Waterfowling Tradition and Fine Furniture with Drake Stuedemann
Corey Lucas and Clayton Beaird hit the road to the idyllic town of Seneca, Illinois to talk with Drake Stuedemann about the finer things in life... waterfowling tradition and high-end craftsmanship.
We talk about how an interest and passion for woodworking and building things as a young child has led Drake down a path to becoming a custom luxury furniture builder. His story is fascinating in that his family's tradition for waterfowling intertwines all of his life experiences, like how coaching from his grandfather and trudging through muck to retrieve ducks may have led to him being...
Episode #25: Ducks, Turkeys, and Supercars with Heath Hoogerhyde
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down with Heath Hoogerhyde to talk about something seemingly unrelated to waterfowl...supercars. Listen as we connect the two topics as they make up a large part of "Hoogs" life outside of his family.
Hoogs Customs specializes in detailing some of the finest cars in the region and beyond. We discuss how the business grew and talk about some of the highlight cars his crew has worked on.
We cover his chase for the 41+ species of huntable waterfowl in North America, as well as his love for hand-carved decoys.<...
Episode #24: Super Retriever Series, Southern Oak Kennels, and Dog Training with Mike Clements and Wally Schalau
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Mike Clements and Wally Schalau to talk dog training and the Super Retriever Series. These guys are working hard to provide an awesome experience for trainers and their dogs to test their retrieving skills at Brandon Cerecke's (BOSS Shotshells) "duck farm" in White Pigeon, Michigan.
Mike guides us through the background, agenda, and culture of the Super Retriever Series. He also introduces us to the Cerecke (BOSS Shotshells) duck farm, where Mike manages the wildlife habitat and seems to be born to build a duck wonderland there.
W...
Episode #23: Optics & Band Life with Vanguard's Jay Hathaway
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Jay Hathaway from Vanguard to talk about optics. Jay gives us the skinny on the optics industry, and as usual Corey and Kaj take him down a rabbit hole to talk "the band life" and the reputation punk rock bands have to throwdown,
Vanguard's origin story is unique and their dedication to providing quality glass (ie. binoculars, digiscopes, spotting scopes, monoculars), stands, and shooting sticks are definitely worth looking into... no pun intended.
This enjoyable conversation we have with Jay is topped with a "bad band photo"...
Episode #22: What's The Scoop on Dog Food with Dr. Pete and Molly VanVranken
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Dr. Pete (Philip VanVranken) and Molly VanVranken to discuss all things dogs. Dr. Pete talks about how he established the Dickman Road Veterinary Clinic, what motivates him to continue to practice vet medicine, and guides us through a laundry list of questions about hunting dog injuries, pet care, food selection, and some interesting "finds" over the years.
Dr. Pete has also founded a new dog food company, The Scoop (soon to be rebranded as Voyager Dog Food Co.). We talk about how copper additives (chelated coppers or copper sulfate...
Episode #21: Videography and Loaded Timber Waterfowl with Zack Bouzas
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Clayton Beaird and Zack Bouzas after a day filming the new Cedar Run Decoy Company micro-doc here in Michigan. Zack has an incredible talent for captivating an audience through video content and talks us through his methods from pacing videos to mixing audio tracks.
Zack is currently filming for Loaded Timber Waterfowl (www.loadedtimber.com) in Oklahoma and shares his stories from this past season as well as his vision for the future as he's quickly making a name for himself in the waterfowl world.
Follow Zack...
Episode #19: "Wild" Mallard Research with Ben Luukkonen
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down with Michigan State University waterfowl research scientist Ben Luukkonen to discuss new research being conducted on the "movement, survival, habitat selection, and productivity of Great Lakes mallards". This conversation is "wild" as we learn about how game farm mallard genetics may be influencing breeding and survival success.
You're going to want to listen (...and maybe even re-listen) to this podcast to be that guy in the blind that actually knows what's going on, getting it right from the source.
We hope to have Ben back on the podcast...
Episode #20: Talking Turkey with Steve Sharp
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson sit down with recently retired National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) R3 Coordinator and Regional Director Steve Sharp to kickoff the spring turkey season. Steve's stories are always entertaining and we take the opportunity to tap into his wealth of knowledge on the wild turkey.
We dive deep into the history of wild turkey restoration, turkey behavior and biology, Steve's U.S. Royal Slam, and the NWTF's Learn to Hunt (LTH) programs.
You can learn more about the NWTF's Learn to Hunt programs: http://www.minwtf.org/pager3
Find a...
Episode #18: Airlifted, Baptism, Greenheads, ....and NWTF with Zachary Brawley
Corey Lucas, Kaj Carlson, and Clayton Beaird sit down with Zach Brawley to recap his year of adventures. The conversation covers Zach's near death experience, in-depth philosophical discussion on churches, baptisms, and the purpose for what we do... chasing ducks. And yes, we eventually get to talking about the National Wild Turkey Federation Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
As expected, lots of laughs were had with Zach on this kickoff to our Season 2 episodes.
Follow Zach Brawley on Instagram (@snow_storm_93)
*This episode contains explicit language... y'all can thank Zach
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Episode #17: Season 1 Recap with Clayton Beaird
Corey and Kaj are joined in the Cedar Run Decoy Co. studio by friend Clayton Beaird to recap Season 1 of The Corey & Kaj podcast, discuss the plans for Season 2, and share the hunting season highs and lows.
Get ready for Season 2 by listening to this podcast!
Follow Clayton's adventures on Instagram (@cbeaird32)
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Episode #16: Before the Hunt with Adam Kujacznski and Eric Shaeffer
Corey and Kaj are joined at the Cedar Run Cabin by good friends Adam Kujacznski and Eric Shaeffer to discuss Michigan's grouse and woodcock opener, predictions about the next day's hunt, salmon and trout fishing, and other shenanigans.
The boys show no shame in sharing nickname origins, old YouTube videos, learn about "coveys", and discover the worst time to vacation in Florida. Enjoy this laid back bonus episode of the guys sharing a good ol' time!
Follow Adam's adventures on Instagram (@adamkuyo_)
Follow Eric's photography on Instagram (@ejshaeff)
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Episode #15: Waterfowling, Guide Life, and Coyotes with Conner Gough of Great Lakes Guided Outdoors
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are on the road again to northeast Michigan to talk with Conner Gough of Great Lakes Guided Outdoors. We sit down in the "pavilion" to talk about the rigors of the waterfowl guiding lifestyle, what drives Conner's passion for hunting, cover some coyote hunting tips, and discuss why it might be intrusive to look into someone's grocery cart...
Conner has a lot of unique hunting experience for such a young guy, hear about his approach to every hunt and how he values those experience. We get into some pretty in-depth philosophical discussions...
Episode #14: Upland Bird Hunting, MeatEater, and Wild Times in Chicago with Ron Boehme
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are on the road to northern Michigan to sit down with Ron Boehme of The Hunting Dog Podcast and MeatEater fame. We travel back in time with Ron as he describes how life was like in Chicago, how he setup roots in Michigan, and how his name is now synonymous with upland bird hunting.
Ron's bird hunting experience runs deep, from training and breeding bird dogs, to appearances on MeatEater with Steve Rinella and the development of his well-known "The Hunting Dog Podcast" and "Upland Institute".
One sentence describes this e...
Episode #13: American Chesapeake Club with Tom Martin
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are back in the Cedar Run Decoy Company studio, sitting down with Tom Martin from the American Chesapeake Club (Chesapeake Bay Retrievers) to learn about the history, standards, and training of the American Chessie. Hear how these waterfowl retrieving "machines" were bred for one purpose...
We also discussed the upcoming American Chesapeake Club National Show Specialty and the limited edition Cedar Run Decoy Co. ACC NSS Canvasback decoy and Anthony J. Padgett - Red Truck Productions "Vigilant" custom print.
Tom's dogs Leonidas and Nike came along for the trip over...
Episode #12: Brandon Cerecke and Zach Meyer of Boss Shotshells
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson take a road trip to visit with Brandon Cerecke and Zach Meyer to learn about the origin story of BOSS Shotshells. Hear about how three individuals connected to form an iconic brand (BOSS Shotshells) that has set the bar for shotshell quality and customer service.
We cover a lot.... from the impressive new BOSS shop to school board meetings and Rolex watches.
Brandon and Zach's (and Lee Kjos) story is one that is inspiring in that it is founded in hard-work and appreciation for their customers ("family"), so take a...
Episode #11: Hunting Policy, Sandhill Cranes, and MUCC with Nick Green and Shaun McKeon
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined in the Cedar Run Studio by Nick Green and Shaun McKeon of Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), one of the nation's leading statewide conservation organizations. These guys take us behind the scenes on how a grassroots and member driven conservation organization can produce hunting and fishing policies that actually make sense!
We also dive into upland bird hunting, the future of sandhill crane hunting in Michigan, and what makes for interesting waterfowl hunting experiences.
Listen in to hear how Nick and Shaun do what they do (which they d...
Episode #10: Cold Beer & Good Times with Boyd Culver
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined in the Cedar Run Studio by Boyd Culver, founder of Coldbreak, a leader in jockey boxes (he explains what these are...) and homebrewing equipment. Boyd takes us through his journey of building a successful business while pursuing a passion. We also dive deep into our past road trips, out-of-state waterfowl hunts, and development as hunters.
Follow Boyd Culver and Coldbreak on Instagram (@boysculvert and @coldbreakusa), and check out their amazing jockey boxes!
Here's some links to the videos that provided countless laughs on the road trips:
SCHNACKS!!! ht...
Episode #9: Spirit Led Life & Colorado Elk Hunting with Pastor Garrett Prechtl
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined in the Cedar Run Studio by Pastor Garrett Prechtl, Colorado elk hunting guide and pastor at Radiant Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Garrett shares God's message about living a spirit led life, sometimes in hiddenness. He also touches on his elk hunting guide experience and passion for waterfowling .
Follow Garrett Prechtl on Instagram (@garrettprechtl and @themountainathlete), and check out his sermon on hiddenness at https://www.radiant.church/sermon-player-library/suffering-king-week-two
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Episode #8: Back to Our Roots & Trapping with Bill Hawk
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined in the Cedar Run Studio by Bill Hawk an avid predator trapper. Bill shares his extensive knowledge in trapping as well as his past experience as a waterfowl hunting guide. Some sidebars include frog giggin', turkey hunting, and hey buddies.
Follow Bill Hawk on Instagram (@billhawk972), and check out his hilarious posts!
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Episode #7: Turkey and Waterfowl Hunting with Shawn Stahl
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined in the Cedar Run Studio by Shawn Stahl from RNT Calls. Not only is Shawn known as a goose guru, but is also a very accomplished and selfless turkey hunter. We cover the current waterfowl hunting culture, RNT's annual Callapalooza event, and turkey hunting. Enjoy listening to Shawn share his vast experience in goose hunting and calling.
Follow Shawn Stahl on Instagram (@shawnstahl), and check out his new line of Stahl's Kalls at RNTcalls.com
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Episode #6: Story Time with Zach Brawley
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Zach Brawley, a southwest Michigan hunter with a passion for traditional waterfowling and a gift for storytelling! We cover everything from shotguns to albino ferrets. Enjoy the laughs as Zach takes us on his journey through his hunting hijinx.
Follow Zach Brawley on Instagram (@snow_storm_93), and check out his world-renown mullet...
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Episode #5: Goose Hunting and Outdoor Television with Jordan Browne of Michigan Out of Doors TV, and Ryan Bowman and Cole Lyon of Reign Guided Outdoors
Corey Lucas is joined by Jordan Browne, co-host and cameraman on Michigan Out of Doors TV, and Ryan Bowman and Cole Lyon of Reign Guided Outdoors to talk about their recent goose hunt in southwest Michigan and the life of an outdoor/hunting television professional.
Follow Jordan Browne and Michigan Out of Doors TV on Facebook, Instagram (@michiganoutofdoorstv), or check out their website https://www.michiganoutofdoorstv.com/
Follow Ryan Bowman and Cole Lyon from Reign Guided Outdoors on Instagram (@reignguidedoutdoors @fowllifebow @cole78lyon)
February 11th, 2022
Presented by Cedar Run Decoy Co. (www.ce...
Episode #4: Habitat Restoration with Keith Kluting of Black River Habitats
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Keith Kluting, owner of Black River Habitats, to talk about the intricacies of habitat restoration. Learn more about the how-to's, the don't do's, and the want to's of wetland restoration.
Follow Black River Habitats on Facebook or check out their website https://www.blackriverhabitats.com/.
January 26th, 2021
Presented by Cedar Run Decoy Co. (www.cedarrundecoys.com)
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Episode #3: Woodworking and Wild Rice with Nick Zyskowski
Corey Lucas and Kaj Carlson are joined by Nick Zyskowski, owner of Heritage Sporting Products, to talk about shared passions for woodworking, waterfowl, and wild rice restoration. Learn more about Nick's American made firearm displays and his experience working on wild rice restoration throughout Michigan.
Follow Heritage Sporting Products on Instagram (@heritage_sporting_products) and check out their website www.heritagesportingproducts.com
January 13th, 2021
Presented by Cedar Run Decoy Co. (www.cedarrundecoys.com)
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