Bear Grease

It's been said that you can't go home again. Brent's putting that theory to the test this week as he returns to a special place, the Saline River. It's a place in Southern Arkansas his family has generations of history, and he's sharing two very similar stories, from two different decades. Can you go home again? That's a question Brent's trying to answer on this episode of MeatEater...

On this special episode of the Bear Grease podcast, we're coming to you live from the MeatEater headquarters in Bozeman, Montana. Host Clay Newcomb is joined by MeatEater’s own Janis Putelis, Mark Kenyon, Ryan Callaghan, Heather Douville, and Brent Reaves. Get to know these illustrious members of the MeatEater team. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to  beargrease@themeat...

One man's trash is another man's treasure. Finders keepers, losers weepers. Both of these phrases describe fortune and misfortune depending on how you view the discarded, lost, or found item. Brent shares a crazy story of a found item from 40 years ago that sat neglected in a box until he found it again and learned its historical significance. A rare duck call whose value can't be m...

On this episode of the Bear grease render, Joe Wilson joins host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker as he shares about his adventure cooking a whole moose in Alaska, and preparations for the annual World Champion Squirrel Cook Off which will be held at the Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale, Arkansas on September 13, 2025. If you’d lik...

Black bears are a native animal to the state of Mississippi. In fact, back in the 1800s all the way to the early 1900s, Mississippi was a sought out destination for black bear hunting. However, due to multiple factors, they were almost pushed to extirpation. In this episode, we are going to learn through hands on experience and a discussion with Mississippi black bear program leader, Anthony Balla...

Nothing will excite a family faster than bringing home a puppy. The emotions often sway back and forth from joy to frustration. When the pup you've brought home is there not just as a pet, but also to serve a purpose, the training journey from kindergarten to college graduate can be long and arduous. Brent's in the thick of it with his Treeing Walker puppy, Jessi. Plot twist, not everyone's h...

In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, Clay Newcomb interviews California native, Ed Vance. Ed shares his incredible story of determination and perseverance from growing up as a suburban kid just dreaming of hunting to moving to the Sierra Nevada’s in rural California, finding and training dogs, building relationships with hunting mentors, and developing a guide service as a successful...

Brent's back for part two of his conversation with Dr. Drew Ricketts. After his Kansas coyote hunt with decoy dogs, he sat down with Kansas State University professor and Kansas Extension Service Wildlife Control Specialist, Dr. Drew Ricketts, to correct Brent on some coyote facts. KSRE Wildlife Management on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCUoT3Oi90S5zDnzgL34iA Fins, Fur, and Feathers...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, Clay Newcomb is joined by Misty Newcomb, Gary Newcomb, Bear Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker, as they discuss all things “witching.” They cover ideomotor movement, the difference between witching and dowsing, electromagnetic hypotheses, and other personal ideas to answer the question, “What makes the sticks move?&rdq...

On this episode of Backwoods University, we are going to learn about one of the most extraordinary, impactful, and bold conversations to ever live. And here's the twist, you probably have never heard of her. Fannye Cook was a Mississippian born into a farming family that grew an early love for the natural world. When the demise of most all of the state's forests and game animals faced seemingly em...

Brent took a trip back to college on this episode! After his Kansas coyote hunt with decoy dogs, he sat down with Kansas State University professor and Kansas Extension Service Wildlife Control Specialist, Dr. Drew Ricketts, to correct Brent on some coyote facts. KSRE Wildlife Management on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoCUoT3Oi90S5zDnzgL34iA Fins, Fur, and Feathers on Spotify: ...

Witching, dowsing, divining. Is it physics, subconscious movement, or straight-up hocus pocus? In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, Clay Newcomb speaks to firsthand observers, a legit water witcher, a university physics professor, and even MeatEater's own Steven Rinella to try to explain one thing: "What makes the sticks move?" Maybe it's legit but just something that can't fit into the sci...

This week, Brent's sharing his passion for baseball with some stories from his childhood. He has a special affinity for America's pastime, but his favorite part of it isn't the players - it's the game itself. The similarities he sees between life and baseball are close. You'll have to listen to see if you agree. Batter up! It's time for MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop  This...

On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, Clay Newcomb welcomes squirrel dog man, Tyler Asbury, as they talk all things squirrel dog: what is a Feist, what makes a good squirrel dog, training for competition vs. pleasure hunting, and what breeds are the best. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com Connect with  Clay  and  MeatEater Clay on&n...

On this episode of Backwoods University we’ll delve into the future of bobwhite quail and their potential as a species. We will hear from quail hunter and landowner, Jimmy Bryan, as he walks us through restoring quail on his family land. Quail Biologist, Dr. James Martin walks us through the many things people can practically do to help quail and help keep them around. Everything from land m...

This week, Brent's searching the archives of his memory for some answers. Were the good ol' days as good as we remember? Were bad days as bad? Do feelings of nostalgia alter facts? Listen in and see if you agree with his conclusions. He's also sharing a listener's story about a stubborn horse named Bob. Saddle up! It's time for MeatEater's This Country Life podcast. Subscribe t...

In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, we are looking into the actual events of the April 12, 1926, one-day Trappers' War in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana where mercenaries hired by Judge Leander Perez mounted a machine gun on a boat and attempted to kill the Islenos trappers on Delacroix Island.  We will also look deeper into the life of Leander Perez while asking why so many corrupt le...

On this episode. we're going behind the scenes of Brent's first ever solo hunt film. He's out in Kansas with his good friend, Jeff Writer, along with Jeff's decoy dogs, hunting coyotes. Brent shares the inside scoop on the challenges that arise in filmed hunts, and how this particular one went. He also learned that what he thought he knew about coyotes may have been quite the opposite. He's talkin...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb travels to Winnebago, Texas and is joined in the Rodeo Time Podcast Studio by "The World's Greatest Bullrider" himself, Dale Brisby.  Dale talks about what it's like to be a cowboy and the romance and nostalgia around it, his experience creating Radiator Ranch and his ranch intern program, and the impact that losing his father had o...

On this episode of Backwoods University we’re going to find out what really happened to the bobwhite quail and the hunting culture that surrounded it. Well known hunter and conservationist, Will Primos, gives us a first-hand account of what quail hunting and quail hunting culture was like during the perceived “glory days” of the 1950s and 1960s. He also shares his experience of w...

It’s creepy crawly season in most places and that means, among other things, that ticks are on the prowl. Aside from staying indoors, there’s really no avoiding these obnoxious little parasites. Brent’s talking about a time 20 years ago when they were at nightmarish levels and so bad, in fact, that he got sick from a bite! With the potential threat of the many diseases and illnes...

In this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, Clay Newcomb introduces the characters of the little known Trappers' War which took place in 1936 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. You’ll meet filmmaker David Dubos, Isleños Trappers' War descents Paul Lagarde and “Wimpy” Seringe, and the unlikely star—the muskrat. Additional content from Louisiana native and political com...

Father's Day is this week, which means it's time for a celebration of family. In this week's episode, Brent invites you to be a part of his own family celebration as it involves every This Country Life listener. Then, he celebrates his father's life by reflecting on some personal journal entries he wrote over the last few months of his father's life. Brent views the connection of his memories and...

In this special episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb, Bear Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by Andrew Maxwell and Jacob Meyers of the Alabama-based Southern Outdoorsman Podcast as they share some of the highs and lows of creating their popular hunting podcast. Clay shows off the Ben Rogers Lee box call gifted to him, and also talks about a new deviou...

Most commonly when folks hear the word “bison” they think of the American West. It is rarely, if ever, recognized that there was once a population of bison in the East. In this episode of Understand The Wild we will take a deep dive into the history of bison East of the Mississippi River. We will learn about them as species, we will gain an understanding of their deep impacts on the co...