Bear Grease

Flying is always stressful for Brent. He says he likes being in different and remote places, he just doesn't always enjoy the process of getting there. A fear of flying isn't the issue; trusting his possessions to strangers is. You're allowed to carry backpack with a shaving kit and extra change of clothes on the plane with you, but you can't carry a bow and arrow and store it in an overhead...

As Civil War Summer continues, host Clay Newcomb along with Dr. Misty Newcomb and Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker are joined by guests former history teacher Ben Lagrone and host of The End of History podcast J.B. Shreve as they swap stories about Osage orange trees, neighborhood mailbox projects, , bulldozers, and the simple satisfaction of moving dirt. The group then turns their attention to the Em...

Without a doubt, crawfish, or crayfish, are the most well-known, and tastiest crustacean in all of North America- but how much do we really know about them? Where did they come from? How many of them are there? What role do they play in the ecosystem? We’ll all learn by the end of this that these tiny shellfish have more to offer than a what comes out of a boiling pot. Connect with Lake Pick...

This week Brent's sharing two stories where the only thing they have in common is that he's telling them in English. Well, his version of English anyway. The first is from a father son scouting trip with his son, Hunter, when Hunter was six. The follow up tale is from one his father shared with him about a man who was difficult to work with back in the 1980s. While he may have had a reason to be d...

In Part 4 of Bear Grease's Civil War Summer series, Clay Newcomb continues the conversation with JD Huitt and sits down with historian Dr. Brooks Blevins to examine one of the most consequential decisions of the war: Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Following the bloodshed at Antietam—the single deadliest day in American history—the Union president made a bold political, mi...

In this bonus drop of Backwoods University, we have the opportunity to hear from a man named Joshua Lawes, who spent several years in the wild lands of Africa, working in antipoaching teams. As you can imagine, he has some pretty wild and fascinating tales, along with some insight on how conservation works in Africa and how it dippers for North America. Connect with  Lake Pickle and MeatEater...

Whether you call them lessons or just simple observations, Brent thinks there’s no better example of good ones than those presented in “Where the bred Fern Grows”. Come along as he points out a few of the ones that have been the most meaningful to him. It’s time for MeatEater’s “This Country Life” podcast. Thank you to our sponsors,  Case Knives and S...

Bear Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker stage a Bear Grease hostile takeover and head to the river to do some fly fishing without Clay Newcomb. The two talk fly fishing, Bear’s river rafting abandonment, building Bear Grease YouTube Channel content, mule training, and the value of getting outside and simply “moseying” around. Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas ....

Host Clay Newcomb along with Render crew members Dr. Misty Newcomb, Bear Newcomb and Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker unpack Part 3 of the Civil War series with special guest Dr. Brooks Blevins. The conversation explores why people fought in the Civil War, how different generations have remembered the conflict, and what it means to discover your own family's connection to history. Along the way, the c...

In our final chapter of our series with Antonin Scalia, we will be taking a close look at why this man was so loved and respected by everyone that knew- including people that completely disagreed with him. On top of that, we'll learn how hunting, wild game, and the outdoors played a critical role in it. Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram , Facebo...

Settle in for a guided trip to iconic landmarks from Brent’s life. Bridges, trees, and even old homesteads serve as places of importance. Recognition of them sometimes comes after they’re gone but their importance remains the same. As a bonus, Brent’s sharing a couple recordings of his father that are his and fan favorites.  National Champion Loblolly Pin: https://youtu.be/g...

Host Clay Newcomb continues his personal exploration of the Civil War with historian J.D. Huitt of The History Underground YouTube channel. J.D. surprises Clay with historical documentation of his own third-great-grandfather, Thomas Newcomb, a Confederate soldier from southwest Arkansas. As they continue through the history of the war, Clay attempts to answer one of the most challenging questions...

Join us for an eclectic group of facts and memories about fishing bait from Brent's storied upbringing. You'll hear how bait that was purposed for a fish's mouth ended up in his. He's also sharing an impromptu lesson he used to calm his oldest daughter's fear of insects. You may want to try it yourself, but we doubt it. All that and more on this week's episode of "This Country Life"...

Host Clay Newcomb and Render regulars Bear Newcomb, Dr. Misty Newcomb, and Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker are joined by Michael Rosamond of Sun Spot Lights and retired Missouri game warden and Renaissance man Kyle Carrol as they continue their Civil War discussion by examining the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee. The conversation also highlights just how recent Civil War history really is...

Antonin Scalia, whether you agreed or disagreed with him, was inarguably one of the most influential Americans in modern history due to his position as supreme court Justice for almost 30 years. However, in this part 1 of this series we will get the rare opportunity to see this man in way you may have never seen him before. Come along as we journey down to the place where Scalia first found his lo...

Summer is just heating up and Brent's talking about duck hunting. Actually he attended an event in the Rice and Duck Capitol of the World in Stuttgart, Arkansas. He's gonna share how that event, "The Callapalooza", was started and detail his involvement. He's also sharing a listener story about an old tractor that'll warm your heart. All that and more on this week's "This Country Life" p...

In Part 2 of Bear Grease's Civil War series, host Clay Newcomb examines the rise of Abraham Lincoln, the secession of the Southern states, and the complicated legacy of Robert E. Lee. Alongside historian J.D. Hewitt of The History Underground, Clay explores the ideas, personalities, and decisions that pushed the nation toward its bloodiest conflict, and discovers that history's heroes and villains...

With one last trip, Brent's 2026 Turkey Season is over. In this episode, he relates how a statement he made two years ago in New York City has come back around and will more than likely prove him wrong. Then it's an Arkansas wrap up with some sneaky gobblers before ending the season in Pennsylvania for Brent's first hunt in the Keystone State with his friends at Case Knives. We know you'll enjoy t...

Jordan Sillars joins host Clay Newcomb alongside Render crew members Dr. Misty Newcomb, Kristie Spielmaker, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of his hit Blood Trails true crime podcast. Jordan shares stories from the field, lessons learned during production, and advice on the basics of how to avoid foul play in the wilderness. The conversation...

Seeing as this episode releases on Memorial Day, Lake thought it would only be fitting to use it as opportunity to honor our the men and women who served the United States armed forces. This week, we will hear four different stories where wildlife conservation and the U.S military just so happened to overlap in some pretty incredible ways. Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Inst...

It’s hard to imagine an old house without a screen door. And even though they may mostly be a thing of the past, they still hold a significant place in Brent’s memories. A listener’s experience is outlined through his knocking on doors asking for hunting permission. Then Brent shares some observations that detail how the thought of a screen door or even a similar sound of one clo...

Host Clay Newcomb begins a new series on the American Civil War with historian and educator, JD Hewitt, of The History Underground. Clay invites you to go on a journey to ask the question that still divides Americans more than 160 years later: What was the Civil War really about? From slavery and states’ rights to Southern identity, economic power, abolitionists, and the lasting cultural mem...

Brent’s taking a break from turkey tales this week to highlight a listener’s story. There’s a good lesson within the narrative that spoke to Brent and he’s hoping for you to feel the same. A simple story with a simple lesson that can impact generations.  Thank you to our sponsors,  Case Knives and Stor-Mor . Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and&nbsp...

Host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb, Bear Newcomb, Brent Reaves, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker, along with special guest Jason Dean, whose story was featured in episode 451,  Shot in the Back - The Jason Dean Story . Together, the crew reflects on the 1990 hunting accident that nearly took Jason’s life and explores how surviving and a life-threatening event s...

In deep time we know the earth was covered with dinosaurs and ice age megafauna. However, the story gets all the more real and tangible when you narrow it down and dive into a specific region or state. This week we’ll learn about the mammoths, giant aquatic lizards, duck billed dinosaurs, stag moose, caribou, and many other species that used to inhabit Mississippi and other parts of the sout...