Campfire Convos

On this episode of Campfire Convos Podcast, John joins me to talk about his experience with gambling addiction, recovery, and what happened after his years as a competitive athlete. John shares how sports betting grew from occasional wagers into constant gambling, the moment he lost $12,000 in a single day, the financial and relationship consequences, and the support that helped him start rebuildi...

What happens when you trade a stable life in New York City for full-time life on the road in a camper? Outdoor filmmaker and photographer Matt Zefi joins Mitch around a rock-pit fire overlooking Yellowstone to dive into the raw realities of solo travel, high-stakes wildlife photography, and finding genuine community in remote places. In this episode, Matt and Mitch compare their experiences naviga...

When shit hits the fan in the backcountry, is survival about brute force or adaptability? Jacks Genega, founder of Wild Card Wilderness and former survival show contestant, sits down around the campfire following the Pacific Northwest Survival Games to break down the mental fortitude, ancestral skills, and ethical realities required to survive in the wild. In this episode, Jacks and Mitch unpack t...

Is the food on your grocery shelf carrying vital life force or hidden toxicity? Alone Season 9 runner-up and founder of Sacred Cedars Wilderness School, Karie Lee Knoke, sits down around the smokeless pit to unpack how modern pesticides affect human health, the unmeasurable energy carried by wild foods, and what it truly means to live in alignment with nature. In this episode, Karie Lee reveals he...

Can stepping into the woods completely heal deep-seated depression and addiction without a prescription? Kourtney (aka @OutdoorsyKourtney) joins me by the fire to unpack environmental wellness, the dangerous psychological mechanics behind social media algorithms, and how immersing yourself in nature literally saves lives. In this episode, we dive into the massive unseen strain that AI data centers...

What happens when your core ethics as a hunter clash directly with the strict letters of wildlife law? DJ Marconi, a 30-year law enforcement veteran and creator of the outdoor YouTube channel Places and Paths, joins me by the fire to break down high-stakes tracking stories, public land survival, and the realities of building an outdoor audience. In this episode, we tackle a heavy situation involvi...

If you try to build a brand that appeals to every single person on earth, you end up appealing to no one. Caylene, the creator and publisher of Evers and Elk magazine, joins me by the fire to expose the realities of running a local print brand in PA and why modern monetization requires you to be fiercely authentic. In this episode, we dive deep into the creative process, target marketing, and long...

Are invasive plants and devastating wildlife diseases permanently breaking the Pennsylvania wilderness? Recent forestry graduate and musician Caleb joins me by the fire to expose the hidden battles taking place in our ecosystems. Grab a seat for an essential, deep-dive conversation on land conservation, hunting ethics, and the power of creative escapes. Caleb breaks down the silent war between pri...

What happens when you get a surprise tattoo live in the middle of the woods while discussing the deepest mysteries of the universe? Hannah from Rosebud Beauty Lounge joins me by the fire to brand my skin while we dive into everything the elites don't want us to know. Grab a seat for the mind-bending Season 4 Premiere of Campfire Convos. As Hannah applies a blind tattoo design I’ve never seen b...

What is it actually like to step in front of the camera and share your rawest stories next to a flickering fire? For the Season 3 finale, five past guests return to give their unfiltered thoughts on the true experience of doing this show. Grab a seat for a different kind of episode as we look back at the journey of Campfire Convos. From my brother Brady talking about the power of saving these memo...

Do you follow your dreams for yourself, or to help others? Carla returns to the fire to help me break down the "myth" of balance and the terrifying reality of building a legacy that outlives you. [In this video]: Grab a seat for the Season 3 finale with a Campfire Convos veteran. We dive into the "Big Magic" of ideas, why I’m choosing a group win over personal streaming success...

How do you stay married for 33 years and raise three capable men without losing your mind? My mom joins me by the fire for a special Mother's Day episode to share the unfiltered reality of motherhood and her "controversial" parenting advice. [In this video]: Grab a seat for a very special conversation with the person who has known me the longest. We revisit childhood memories of play...

Are we losing the ability to hold ourselves accountable? Dave Bole joins me by the fire to discuss 30 years in PA law enforcement and why "soft" coping mechanisms are holding society back. Grab a seat for a deep dive into the realities of the parole system and the transition into retirement. Dave Bole shares "feel-good" success stories from the field, the "Tom & Jerry&...

Is the education system failing our kids, or are iPads the real problem? Jason Phipps joins me by the fire to discuss 29 years of teaching, owning the Brew Bank, and why everything in life is "figureoutable." Grab a seat for a masterclass in work ethic with Jason Phipps. We dive into his journey from a wrestler to a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony, his Grammy-nominated career directing over 3...

Planning a wedding or raising a young athlete? Bobby Thompson joins me by the fire to expose the "non-negotiables" for your big day and the hard truth about the travel baseball industry. Grab a seat for a deep conversation with my longtime friend and former teammate, Bobby Thompson. We dive into our shared history from the West Lebanon fields to the College World Series, discuss the chal...

On this episode of Campfire Convos, I sit down with Rene from Reform Mind, Body & Spirit—and this one goes deep. We talk about hypnotherapy, past life regression, and whether the next generation is actually going to change the world. Some of this stuff sounds crazy at first… but the more we talked, the more it made you think. If you’ve ever been curious about: – Hypnotherapy – Past lives – Per...

On this episode of Campfire Convos, I sit down with Kara and we talk about learning vs leading, finding your happy place, why small towns suck, and why they can still be such a special place to build something meaningful. We also get into spring in Pennsylvania, skiing vs snowboarding, the value of community, the history of the Saltsburg canal, and why Canal Campout means so much to both of us. If...

Is therapy overrated? Or are we just thinking about it the wrong way? In this episode of Campfire Convos, I’m joined by my buddy Jared for a real, unfiltered conversation recorded during the Canal Campout trial run in Saltsburg, PA. We dive into: Therapy and whether it should be long-term or temporary Mental health, self-awareness, and personal growth Learning how to deal with other people vs fixi...

On this episode of Campfire Convos, I sit down with my buddy Swan and we get into everything from growing up playing sports to the life lessons that come with it. We talk about:Baseball memories growing upPlaying multiple sports (football, golf, track, basketball)The impact of coaches and father figuresMental toughness in sports and lifeWhy team sports shape who you becomeCoaching experiences and...

Season 3 of Campfire Convos is here. In this episode, I sit down with my brother Brady and we talk about becoming dog dads, family, growing up, wedding planning, cruises, camping, and what we’re both looking forward to this year. This one is exactly what Campfire Convos is supposed to be: two brothers sitting around the fire, sharing a drink, getting interrupted by the outdoors, and having a real...

Welcome back to Campfire Convos — this episode is the Season 2 Finale. Season 2 was originally planned to be 22 episodes, but after reflecting and refining, I’m ending the season early so I can build a better, more consistent schedule going forward. Here’s what’s changing:Season 3 begins the first week of MarchAll seasons going forward will be 11 episodesA new episode will drop every week for 11 s...

Welcome back to Campfire Convos. In this episode, I’m joined by my buddy Evan, a professional dog trainer, for a long, honest conversation around the fire. We talk about dog training philosophies, behavior modification, discipline, consistency, and what it really means to bring balance into your life. The conversation expands into faith, personal growth, burnout, health, routine, and slowing down,...

This episode of Campfire Convos is a cold one—literally and figuratively. I’m joined by Trey Tipton, and we sit around the fire to talk honestly about competition, identity after sports, discipline, mental health, faith, and what it means to grow into adulthood after athletics are over. We reflect on rivalries turning into brotherhood, how sports shape who you become, and the hard part of redefini...

Welcome back to Campfire Convos! Today’s episode is special — my dad joins me again for a deep, fun, chaotic, and heartfelt fireside conversation. We talk hunting in the snow, foreign exchange students, raising a family, building strong teams, leadership lessons, holiday meaning, managing people well, supporting your kids, and what retirement might look like. PLUS a ridiculous chair collapse you w...

Welcome back to Campfire Convos! Tonight I’m joined by my longtime friend Erin, and this episode goes everywhere in the best way possible — from health coaching and the broken medical system… to alpacas, ADHD chaos, body positivity, diet myths, friendship stories, and a gaggle of geese mid-episode. All filmed around the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0, powered by your log donations and a very aggressive am...