The Cottage Life Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In the final episode of season 4, we ponder two of our favourite summer fantasies: reading and romance. Looking for a book recommendation for your last few weeks at the lake? Michelle sits down with Canadian author Carley Fortune to chat about her two best-selling romance novels that take place in cottage country. Then, to close out the show, we’ll listen to an old editor’s note written by Michelle about her favourite cottage love story of all time. 

Special thanks to:

Carley Fortune, best-selling author

Articles referenced:

“The Summer of Love” by Michelle Kelly (Cottage Life magazine, Early Summer 2018)

Carley’s 2023 summer reading list:

The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen

Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/

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Anyone who has ever done-it-themselves knows the name Holmes. Canadian building legend Mike Holmes, along with his daughter, Sherry, and son, Michael, star in “Holmes on Holmes: Building a Legacy,” a new television series premiering next spring on the Cottage Life channel. Mike and Sherry chat with Michelle about the show and share their best tips when it comes to cottage construction. And what’s a hard day of work without a delicious meal to cap it off? David Zimmer’s essay about outdoor cookery answers the question: are we grilling or barbecuing tonight?

Special thanks to:

Mike Holmes, Canadian builder and television personality

Sherry Holmes, contractor and television personality

To watch Mike Holmes’ extensive back catalogue, check out HomefulTV.com.

Articles referenced:

“A Fiery Debate” by David Zimmer (Cottage Life magazine, Summer 2016)

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/

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This fall, the Cottage Life channel will be airing a fascinating documentary, “Loons: A Cry from the Mist,” all about the mysterious state of the loon population in cottage country. Michelle chats with filmmaker Julia Nunes and Dr. Doug Tozer from Birds Canada about the doc and about what cottagers can do to help the loons thrive. Then, we hear an essay from David Zimmer about one of his favourite sounds of summer. 

Links:

Canadian Lakes Loon Survey by Birds Canada 

Articles referenced:

“An ear for door song,” by David Zimmer (Cottage Life magazine, September/October 1998)

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/

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Ready to play tourist? This week, we’re going on a private on-site tour of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. Michelle speaks with museum Executive Director, Carolyn Hyslop, and Curator, Jeremy Ward, and learns all about the museum’s collection of more than 600 watercraft. We’ll also hear an essay by journalist Paul Rush about dealing with a medical emergency when you are alone at the lake. 

Special thanks to:

Carolyn Hyslop, executive director, Canadian Canoe Museum

Jeremy Ward, curator, Canadian Canoe Museum

Links:

For more information on the Canadian Canoe Museum, visit their website.

You can donate to the new museum here.

Photos referenced:

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Articles referenced:

“In sickness and in health” by Paul Rush (Cottage Life magazine, June 1998)

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking to renovate your cottage but not sure where to start? Interior designer and television personality Jillian Harris joins Michelle to talk about one of her latest passions: cottaging. She shares her experience reviving an old farmhouse in Kelowna, B.C., and offers tips on how to revamp on a budget. One way to add some personality to your space is with collectibles and memorabilia. We’ll listen to an essay by journalist Ellen Vanstone about collecting classic kitsch for a newly built cottage. 

Articles referenced:

“Keeping up with the neighbours” by Ellen Vanstone (Cottage Life magazine, June 1993)

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our very own Cottage Coach, Adam Holman, and his wife, Jennie Holman, are here to chat with you about ticks, including what every cottager should know and what to do if one attaches itself to you. Then, Adam and Jennie debunk some of the biggest tick myths in cottage country. We’ll also hear an essay that will inspire you to go on a hike at the lake, especially now that you have the information you need to protect yourself against ticks.

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every cottager knows having a pet at the lake is a little different than having it in the city. Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith, from Cottage Life’s television show Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet, is here to share what pet owners need to pay special attention to when their furry friend is in the wilderness. Pets may be a big commitment, but nothing is quite as much work as the upkeep required when you own a cottage. Journalist Orland French explores the seemingly never-ending to-do list at even the smallest cabins. And reader Ann Mittag shares a real-life experience that proves the ongoing maintenance is worth it.

Special thanks to:

Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith, Veterinarian, Rocky Rapids Veterinarian Services

Ann Mittag, cottager 

Articles referenced:

“Rotting on the Rideau” by Orland French (Cottage Life magazine, April/May 1992)

Sources:

To watch learn more about the TV show Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet, click here.

Further reading:

For more information on dog safety, read “Doggy first aid for the cottage” (cottagelife.com).

To learn more about blastomycosis, read this article.

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/ 

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We love a good wildlife shot, but nature photography can quickly become dangerous for both humans and animals. In this episode, Michelle chats with Erin Ryan, a biologist and wild animal welfare specialist at the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, about the potential threat of irresponsible wildlife photography practices and easy tips to remember the next time you shoot flora and fauna. Then, journalist Jennifer Kingsley reveals her unexpected suggestion to replace the beaver as Canada’s national animal. 

Special thanks to:

Erin Ryan, Wild Animal Welfare Specialist, BC SPCA

Andy Lamovsek, cottager

Articles referenced:

“Don’t do it for the ’gram” by Caroline Barlott (Cottage Life magazine, May 2022)

“Is the chickadee the most Canadian animal?” by Jennifer Kingsley (“The Great Canadian Creature Feature,” Cottage Life magazine, June/July 2021)

Links:

To enter the Cottage Life Photo Contest: https://cottagelifephotocontest.com/ 

To enter the BC SPCA photo contest: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/bc-spca-wildlife-in-focus

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/ 

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You don’t need a map to get to the cottage, but do you know why? In the premiere episode of Season 3, Liann Bobechko, Deputy Editor of CL, joins Michelle to dig into the science of wayfinding and shares why we shouldn’t always rely on GPS. Equipped with new map-making skills, we revisit an essay about a treasure hunt on Georgian Bay by Giller-Prize nominated Canadian journalist, playwright, and novelist David MacFarlane. Then we kick off a new series featuring readers’ favourite tips and quips to celebrate the 35th anniversary of CL—this week, it’s one way to deal with rude guests at the cottage.

Special thanks to:

Liann Bobechko, Deputy Editor of Cottage Life

Beth Hayhoe, cottager

Articles referenced:

“Off the Map” by Liann Bobechko (Cottage Life magazine, May 2022)

“Buried Treasure” by David Macfarlane (Cottage Life magazine, July/August 1998)

Sources:

Guiseppe Iaria, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Calgary

For more information on Dr. Iaria’s research and to learn to improve your navigation and understand topographical disorientation, visit gettinglost.ca.

Colin Ellard, professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo

For more information on Dr. Ellard, visit https://uwaterloo.ca/psychology/people-profiles/colin-ellard.

For further reading about GPS and its impact on navigation ability by researchers Louise Dahmani and Veronique D. Bohbot out of McGill University, check out this study.

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/CottageLifeMagazine/

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On the last episode of the season, we chat with a true cottage expert—former editor and publisher of Cottage Life, Penny Caldwell. She shares an insider look into working on the magazine for 18 years, what she’s learned from cottagers, and what makes cottaging in Canada so special. Plus, she answers the most common Q&As we get to the magazine. Also, we’ll revisit an essay about the traditions we form while being a kid at the cottage. 

Special thanks to:

Penny Caldwell, former Cottage Life magazine editor, 2000-2015

Articles referenced:

“Some things never change” by Kerry MacGregor (Cottage Life magazine, April/May 1993)

Connect with Cottage Life:

• cottagelife.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/cottagelife/
• Twitter: @cottagelife
• Instagram: @cottagelife
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/cottagelife/
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CottagelifeMagazine/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.