Boats, Beers and Backroads

Hosted by Jamie Allison
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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.

  1. 4d ago

    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 what really happens when a professional chef takes over your cottage kitchen. Julie shares how moving to Muskoka helped her recognize an opportunity to create something different: a service that brings the restaurant experience directly to cottages, homes and vacation properties. The team arrives prepared, sets up, cooks on-site, serves the meal and handles the cleanup—allowing clients to spend less time worrying about dinner and more time enjoying the lake, their family and their guests. And in cottage country, flexibility is everything. The boat ride runs late. Guests don't come off the dock when expected. The kitchen isn't quite what the pictures suggested. Dinner for six suddenly feels like dinner for ten. Julie explains why being a successful private chef is about much more than knowing how to cook. It's about reading the room, adapting quickly, understanding what the client wants and creating an experience that feels effortless—even when plenty is happening behind the scenes. Jamie and Julie also get into the unique challenge of preparing meals for professional athletes spending time or training in cottage country, where food needs to support their nutritional requirements while still delivering the quality and enjoyment expected from a private chef. Julie also shares why Muskoka has become more than the location of her business. The lakes, nature, quieter pace and sense of community have become part of the lifestyle she wants for herself and her family. Plus, Julie offers some advice for anyone thinking about bringing a private chef into their cottage: decide what kind of experience you actually want, communicate it clearly—and then let the professionals do what they do best. It's a conversation about food, entrepreneurship, cottage life and creating memorable experiences around the table. 🎧 Watch & listen to Julie Levitan of The Muskoka Chef on Boats, Beers & Backroads. 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads 🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen

    Cooking for Cottage Guests & Pro Athletes | The Muskoka Chef Julie Levitan

  2. Sep 22

    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 Boats, Beers & Backroads, Jamie Allison sits down with Robert for a wide-ranging conversation about the unlikely journey that eventually put him in front of television cameras and made Licence to Grill a Canadian food-TV favourite. Robert takes us back to his childhood, his Jamaican food traditions, the influence of his mother and grandmother, and the cooking camp that first sparked something in him. He talks candidly about his father's initial resistance to cooking as a career, spending years working outside the industry, and finally deciding to enrol at George Brown Culinary School. And his first day didn't exactly suggest future celebrity-chef status. 🔥 He set his towel on fire making crêpes. Robert shares how persistence, ambition—and a willingness to think bigger than the opportunities immediately in front of him—eventually led him into professional kitchens and then television. He talks about working with chef Ned Bell, getting an early look behind the scenes of Cook Like a Chef, and learning how television actually worked before ultimately getting his own opportunity with Licence to Grill. But the episode isn't just nostalgia. Robert explains the philosophy that made the show work: take legitimate culinary technique and make it approachable enough that someone standing beside their backyard barbecue could actually use it. We get into charcoal versus gas, controlling heat, creating temperature zones, mise en place, burgers, marinades, dry rubs and why learning to manipulate heat may be the single biggest difference between simply owning a grill and knowing how to use one. And despite three decades in the culinary world, Robert makes one thing clear: He's still learning. The conversation also goes beyond the grill. Robert talks about earning respect as a chef after becoming known as a television personality, treating everyone the same whether they're famous or not, family, philanthropy, Born to Grill, and what he still wants to accomplish. And there's one particularly interesting possibility on the horizon... Robert Rainford wants to get back on television. He's been developing another television concept for years—and Jamie might just be ready to start the letter-writing campaign. From Jamaican family cooking to culinary school, professional kitchens, television fame and whatever comes next, this is the story behind the chef millions came to know simply as The Grillmaster. 🎧 Watch & listen to Robert Rainford on Boats, Beers & Backroads. 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads 🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen Follow Chef Rainford Instagram: @cherobrainford Facebook @RobertRainford

    Robert Rainford on Licence to Grill, Charcoal & What’s Coming Next

  3. Sep 11

    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 and building a music career on her own terms. Growing up in a small town, Jenna developed the connection to nature, independence and rural life that still follows her today—even as she splits her creative world with the big city. Interestingly, music wasn't where her story started. Jenna was already expressing herself through painting, poetry and writing before picking up a guitar during COVID and writing her first song. She talks about the transition from poetry to songwriting, why music gave her the opportunity to connect with a much larger audience, and the feeling of watching people react to something she created. The conversation also gets into the less glamorous side of being an independent artist—from social media and technology to balancing creativity with the business of building a career. Jenna shares what she's learned about letting go of perfectionism, how studying art therapy changed the way she approaches creativity, and why she's learned to value the process rather than constantly chasing the perfect result. She also talks about finding her sound: a mix of nostalgia, country and contemporary pop, and reveals that she's currently developing two different EPs—one country and one pop—with several new country songs already waiting to be released. Plus, Jenna talks about performing everywhere from intimate rooms of around 20 people to stages in front of thousands, why she loves playing with a full band, her dream collaborations with Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan, and why she'd still choose nature, a dive bar and the backroads whenever she can. It's a conversation about taking creative chances, finding your voice and discovering that sometimes your next chapter starts simply by picking up a guitar. 🎧 Watch & listen to Jenna Rose on Boats, Beers & Backroads. 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen 📸 Instagram: @jennarosebc

    Backroads, Dive Bars & Big Dreams with Jenna Rose

  4. Aug 26

    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, host Jamie Allison sits down with the award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer best known as a member of The Roadhammers. Clayton takes us back to his beginnings in northern Alberta — singing in church, entering local contests and eventually spending years on the road playing six nights a week. He also tells the unlikely story of how an audition for what was supposed to be a one-project band turned into 20 years with The Roadhammers. The conversation digs into Clayton's musical DNA: Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Steve Earle, roots rock, country storytelling and loud guitars — and why songs need to have something that cuts a little deeper. Clayton and Jamie also get into today's music industry and whether viral moments and social media can replace the years it takes to develop real musicianship. Clayton shares a great analogy about building a lasting career one brick at a time rather than betting everything on one big moment. There's plenty happening next for Clayton, too. His new solo album Soft Kind of Loud arrives August 28, along with its first single, "I Miss Tom Petty." He also talks about launching Sky Song Records alongside Jason McCoy, Jason Blaine, Dan Davidson and Craig Seneca. And because this is Boats, Beers & Backroads, we eventually get off the stage and head to Moose Lake in Alberta for pontoon boats, lake life and the music Clayton would put on for the perfect Canadian road trip. In this episode: ​Growing up in small-town northern Alberta​Clayton's earliest days performing and writing songs​Years spent touring North America six nights a week​The unlikely audition that led to The Roadhammers​Why the band's different musical personalities worked​20 years of The Roadhammers​The difference between writing for a band and writing for himself​Tom Petty, Steve Earle and the artists who shaped his sound​Why musicianship still matters in the TikTok era​Building a career "one brick at a time"​The realities of today's music business​Launching Sky Song Records​His new solo album Soft Kind of Loud​The story behind "I Miss Tom Petty"​Life on Moose Lake​His ultimate road-trip records​Canadian artists he'd recommend seeing live 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen 🌐 www.claytonbellamy.com 📸 Instagram: @claytonbellamy

    Soft Kind of Loud: Clayton Bellamy’s Next Chapter

  5. Aug 19

    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 waterskiing star Jaimee Bull to talk about a career that started with family summers on Trout Lake in North Bay, Ontario, and eventually took her to the very top of competitive slalom skiing. Jaimee shares how growing up with a short Canadian waterski season actually helped shape her as an athlete, why she believes young athletes shouldn’t specialize too early, and how she balanced elite competition with studying mechanical engineering at university in Louisiana. She also takes us inside the incredible speed and precision of professional slalom skiing — navigating six buoys, shortening ropes and accelerating to roughly 110 km/h as she crosses the wake — and explains why, at the highest level, sometimes the key is getting your brain out of the way and trusting your body to do what it’s trained to do. Jaimee also talks about the special feeling of recently breaking the Canadian national record in Calgary, something she had been chasing for about five years. And for the weekend cottage skier? Jaimee shares one simple technique that could make a big difference the next time you get behind the boat. In this episode: * Growing up waterskiing with her family on Trout Lake * Turning a Canadian summer pastime into a world-class career * Why taking winters away from skiing helped rather than hurt * The case against specializing in one sport too young * Becoming a three-time Open World Champion * Breaking the Canadian national record on home soil * What 110 km/h across the wake actually feels like * The mental game behind championship performances * Balancing engineering school and professional waterskiing * The technique most cottage waterskiers should work on * Why she can still enjoy a pressure-free ski back home * Early-morning skis, pancakes on the dock, mountain biking and bonfires * Her remaining 2026 competitions and what’s still motivating her * Inspiring more young girls to get on the water It’s a conversation about family, Canadian summers, elite performance and what can happen when something you love doing at the lake becomes something you’re among the best in the world at doing. 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen Follow Jaimee on Instagram @jaimee_bull

    From the Cottage to 110 KM/hr: Inside Jaimee Bull’s World

  6. Jul 24

    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 to competing on some of the biggest barbecue stages in North America, Janice shares what it's really like behind the scenes of championship barbecue. She talks about the camaraderie of the BBQ community, how her cooking has evolved over the years, and why she believes mastering the basics will always beat buying the latest gadget. Janice also shares practical tips every backyard pitmaster can use—from why pork shoulder is one of the best meats to learn on, to the one inexpensive tool she says every griller should own. The conversation also explores her passion for food science, experimenting with unusual ingredients, learning from chefs around the world, and why the barbecue community feels more like family than competition. Whether you're firing up the smoker at the cottage, grilling for friends, or dreaming of competing one day, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, and tips you'll want to try on your next cook. 🥩 How SmellaQue became Canada's BBQ Team of the Year five times 🔥 What it's really like competing at world-class barbecue contests 🍖 Why pork shoulder is the perfect meat for beginners 🌡️ The one BBQ tool Janice says everyone should own ⏱️ How modern smokers have changed competition barbecue 🧪 The science behind great barbecue 🥢 Why Janice loves experimenting with unusual cuts and international cuisine 🏆 Winning back-to-back competitions in Idaho 🚚 Life on the competition BBQ circuit 🎯 What's next for SmellaQue, including the American Royal World Series of Barbecue 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen 🌐 www.smellaque.com 📸 Instagram: @janie_smellaque

    5-Time Canadian BBQ Champion Janice Smella on Competition BBQ, Backyard Tips & Cooking Without Limits

  7. Jul 14

    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 performance, and finding her voice through honest indie-folk songwriting. Julia shares how her father helped her land her first restaurant gigs, the musical influence of her family and older brother, and the turning point that came when she started releasing her own music. The conversation dives into the vulnerability of sharing personal songs, the thrill of hearing people sing your lyrics back to you, and why Julia prefers intimate rooms filled with listeners who are actually there for the music. She also opens up about balancing university, work, and a growing music career, the lessons she learned from years of busking, and the artists who continue to shape her songwriting—including Joni Mitchell and Noah Kahan. With plans to record a new EP, Julia is still early in her journey—but she's already spent nearly a decade learning how to connect with an audience one song at a time. 🎶 Growing up in Acton, Ontario 🎸 Playing her first restaurant gigs at 14 🎤 The lessons learned from busking and performing live 📝 Writing vulnerable, personal songs 🎶 The feeling of hearing fans sing her songs back 🏫 Balancing university, work, and music 🎧 The influence of Joni Mitchell and Noah Kahan 🔥 Why intimate, engaged audiences mean the most 🎵 Plans for a new EP and what's coming next Whether you love indie-folk, Canadian singer-songwriters, intimate live music, or simply discovering an artist at the beginning of an exciting journey, this is a great conversation. 📸 Instagram: @juliagoddenmusic🎵 TikTok: Julia Godden @juliagoddenmusic🎧 Stream her music on Spotify and Apple Music 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads🎥 YouTube: Boats, Beers and Backroads🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen

    Julia Godden: Small-Town Roots, Honest Songs & Finding Her Voice

  8. Jul 2

    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 journey into country music, developing her authentic songwriting voice, and why some of the simplest stories often become the songs people connect with most. Karly shares what it was like playing Nashville's famous Whiskey Jam, the Cloverdale Rodeo, how she channels a completely different personality once she steps on stage, and why her newest single "Happy Hour After You" has become the perfect soundtrack for moving on after heartbreak. If you love country music, cottages, summer road trips, and discovering the next generation of artists, this episode belongs on your playlist. Growing up in Vancouver in a sports-focused familyLearning piano, guitar, the sax and songwritingBuilding songs from titles and storiesStage nerves vs. stage confidenceBehind the story of Happy Hour After YouBeaches, hiking and happy hourFollow Boats, Beers & Backroads 📸 Instagram: @boatsbeersandbackroads ▶️ YouTube: Boats Beers & Backroads 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you listen.@karlykryski Website:www.karlykryski.com

    Karly Kryski: The Country Music Star Bringing Happy Hour Back After Heartbreak
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Hosted by Jamie Allison
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hosted by Jamie Allison
  • Show Website
    Boats, Beers and Backroads

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