Take On The Lake

LakeExpo

Lake of the Ozarks is the most fascinating place in Missouri. From entrepreneurs to community leaders to local heroes, we're interviewing people and taking on issues that are shaping the future of the Lake. It could get spicy. We'll also dive into some wild mystery stories along the way... --Produced by LakeExpo--

  1. Broken Guns, Non-Bulletproof Vests, & Missing Flashbangs | Ep 32 - Fixing the Sheriff's Office w/ Chris Edgar

    JAN 19

    Broken Guns, Non-Bulletproof Vests, & Missing Flashbangs | Ep 32 - Fixing the Sheriff's Office w/ Chris Edgar

    When Chris Edgar took office as Camden County Sheriff, he didn’t just inherit a badge — he inherited a mess. Welcome to Season 2 -- aka year two -- of Take On The Lake! We're starting this year off with a bang... specifically, hundreds of missing flashbangs. In his first year on the job, Edgar discovered missing flashbangs, non-functional AR-15s, weak ballistic vests, unsecured firearms, and IT systems so broken the office lost dispatch for an entire week. In this episode, we talk through what he found, what he fixed, and what still keeps him up at night. Topics include: Why hundreds of flashbangs were unaccounted for How deputies were issued rifles they didn’t trust to fire Why some ballistic vests wouldn’t stop a 9mm round Rebuilding firearms security, armories, and inventory systems from scratch The financial reality of running a full jail — and why it’s a losing deal for counties Mental health, burnout, and why suicide is the #1 killer of law enforcement Drug trafficking at scale in Camden County — and what’s changed The real workload behind 18,000+ calls per year with limited road deputies Why visible patrols still matter — and how zoning deputies is reducing crime And by the end of the episode I finally realize who is Chris's doppelganger (a certain heavily memed VP) This is a rare, candid look at what happens when leadership actually audits the system — and starts fixing it. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. (NOTE: Apparently the first version of this was too quiet -- my apologies! New version has been uploaded with better audio balance.)

    56 min
  2. The Man Who Can't Quit Building Things At The Lake | Ep. 20 w/ George Tucker

    12/02/2025

    The Man Who Can't Quit Building Things At The Lake | Ep. 20 w/ George Tucker

    If you’ve lived at or visited Lake of the Ozarks for even five minutes, you’ve eaten at — or boated to — something George Tucker built. Paradise, Tucker’s Shuckers, Frankie & Louie’s, Neon Taco, Malted Monkey… the list goes on. So how does a guy go from buying a worn-out lake bar in 2007 as a new college grad, to becoming one of the Lake's most prolific restauranteurs who is now developing one of the largest entertainment complexes the Lake has ever seen? In this interview, George reveals... How he stupidly (but brilliantly) bought Paradise at age 23 ("I think it was stupidity... but it worked out!") That moment when his bartender fell through the floor and he thought "What have I gotten myself into?" Why Malted Monkey exists (hint: kids throwing rocks at Tucker’s) The scramble to buy Beavers at the Dam at a steal of a price The story behind the name “Neon Taco” Behind-the-scenes of the giant new project by Bagnell Dam and how it was almost built out of bamboo What the Lake still needs to become a year-round community Oasis, trails, airports, housing, and the future of the Strip And why he can't seem to quit buying and building stuff at the Lake (he says he's done after this big one, but I'm not sure he even believes himself). AND… I share the story of the lion that once lived on the Strip. Yes. Real lion. When I first started this podcast, I put George Tucker on my interview list. I knew it was a good idea, and I know you'll agree.

    50 min
  3. Are There Too Many Deer? Hunting, Overpopulation, & Why Missouri Conservation Keeps Missing It | Ep 29 w/ Brady Ford

    11/20/2025

    Are There Too Many Deer? Hunting, Overpopulation, & Why Missouri Conservation Keeps Missing It | Ep 29 w/ Brady Ford

    We go full-send in this episode on hunting. Brady Ford and I talk deer season, big bucks, and the big question a lot of Missouri hunters are asking: Is Missouri Conservation actually helping… or just getting in the way? Guest: Brady Ford — managing broker for the Matt Ford Real Estate Team and a hardcore hunter who’s guided trips for elk, antelope, bear, whitetail and more from Missouri to Idaho to New Zealand. Topics: Growing up hunting the woods around Lake of the Ozarks Guiding black bear hunts in remote Idaho where the nearest gas station is 90 miles away Bowhunting antelope at 75 yards on the windswept plains of Colorado Chasing elk at 13,000 feet in New Mexico (and waking up with one next to you) Free-range red stag and mountain goat in New Zealand Then we get spicy: Why Missouri has so many deer — and what that actually costs us The thousands of deer-related crashes every year and the real-world impact on families Mountain lions, bears, and what happens when we shut down predator seasons Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), feeding bans, and whether the science matches the rules Why rifle season is so short — and so badly timed — for most everyday hunters Youth season timing vs. regular firearms season and how that affects the rut Whether MDC is too focused on “trophy management” and not focused enough on real-life consequences Brady also breaks down: Calling strategies: rattling, grunts, the “wheeze,” and not over-pressuring your stand Food plots in Ozark rock country and why nutrition matters for antler size Buck-to-doe ratios and why “more does” isn’t always better Plus: I reveal the wildest thing I've ever found on my property — two locked bucks who died mid-fight, still tangled together years later. If you love deer hunting, have strong opinions about MDC, or just like hearing stories about chasing animals on mountains you can barely breathe on… don't miss this one.

    1h 11m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Lake of the Ozarks is the most fascinating place in Missouri. From entrepreneurs to community leaders to local heroes, we're interviewing people and taking on issues that are shaping the future of the Lake. It could get spicy. We'll also dive into some wild mystery stories along the way... --Produced by LakeExpo--