The Fowl Life

Recorded at Banded Drake Ranch, Chad sits down with Rob Roberts for a quick dive into the technical side of waterfowl shooting. They get into the development of the Raptor choke and load system, how Rob partnered on the ammunition side, and what's important if you want elite pattern performance. This episode covers everything from pattern density and shot string consistency to choke tube maintenan...

Chad sits down with MLB pitcher Justin Wilson at Banded Drake Ranch for a conversation that moves from the mound to the marsh. Justin talks about his career in the big leagues. From the ups, the setbacks, the mentality that kept him there, to what separates guys who last from guys who don’t. He opens up about pressure, preparation, and the work ethic required to stay relevant at the highest level...

Chad sits down with Jeff Tarsi of Nutrien Ag Solutions at Banded Drake Ranch for a thoughtful conversation about farming, conservation, and the full-circle relationship between agriculture and waterfowl. Jeff shares his perspective on sustainability, innovation, and why honesty in business is so important, even if that means saying, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” They talk about generations of...

You wanna talk about the perfect food to take into the blind, eat around a campfire, or serve at your Superbowl party? The Fowl Life Midwest host Joel Kleefisch and TFL’s award-winning chef Ellie Lawton whip up End Game Empanadas. The only place you’ll install these apps is in your stomach! This episode is brought to you by Travel Wisconsin, Campospace, and The Provider Culinary

Recorded at Banded Drake Ranch, Chad sits down with Will Clark for a wide-open duck camp conversation that goes wherever it needs to. They start with food, from wild game, sauces, boudin, to the details that make a meal worth sitting down for, then move into baseball, the Giants, spring training, and what it took for Will to separate himself at the highest level. Will talks openly about work ethic...

Recorded at Banded Drake Ranch, Chad sits down with Will Cain for a conversation shaped by duck camp, time outdoors, and a willingness to speak openly and honestly. Will is host of FOX News Channel’s The Will Cain Show. The guys talk about conviction, work ethic, belief, and what it means to stand firm in your values, especially when it’s easier not to. It’s full of inspiration, passion, and topic...

Why should Wellington grace only the finest restaurants when you can turn your duck camp into a 5-star feast? The Fowl Life Midwest Host Joel Kleefisch, acclaimed Chef Ellie Lawton, and professional butcher Mike Kretschmer show you an easy way to make duck, goose, or venison the centerpiece of your dinner table with a Wild Wellington fit for any flyway in this episode of The Fowl Life, Eat Wild ed...

Chad sits down with Cody Cannon, lead singer and songwriter of Whiskey Myers, in duck camp, for a conversation that stays centered on music and the life around it. They talk about what Cody listens to, where ideas come from, and how songs turn into something real. Touring, playing live, writing, and the rhythm of being on the road all come up. Cody’s thoughtful, funny, and easy to listen to, and t...

Chad’s coming to you solo from Banded Drake Ranch, talking travel, long drives, and the mindset that drives him. Music on the road. Visualization. Working toward something and enjoying the build instead of rushing the payoff. This one is laid back and drifts between stories and thought provokers. This episode is brought to you by CamoSpace, Leer Truck Toppers, Hi Viz Sights, Rob Roberts Custom Gun...

Chad records this solo episode from Banded Drake Ranch and answers fan questions with one goal in mind: helping people become better hunters. He talks openly about how The Fowl Life started, whether he ever thought this would be his life, and the failures and mistakes that forced him to grow. Chad explains what’s going through his head when he’s hunting and filming, why the show became what it is,...

Chad jumps on the mic solo and talks about hunting, gratitude, and why this lifestyle still means so much to him. He gets into some of the best outfitters he’s hunted with, the moments that stick with you after the season ends, and why being able to do this every year is something he never overlooks. It’s a reflective episode about being thankful, staying grounded, and remembering how fortunate we...

Don’t be escared! That food you ate in the lean times is all the rage! Ramen like you’ve never eaten it before! TFL’s Midwest Host and award-winning Chef Ellie Lawton bring you Duck Ramen that will have you migrating to the dinner table. Fast, easy, and tastier than wild rice on timber covered marsh pond! Check it out. This episode is brought to you by Travel Wisconsin, The Provider Culinary, and...

Chad kicks off the 2026 season with a solo episode focused on the birds. The weather’s been strange, birds aren’t always where people expect them to be, and some states are clearly having more success than others. (Where might surprise you.) He shares a waterfowl report from around the country and Canada, and he gets into what separates good hunters from great ones. From patience, to adaptability,...

Chad jumps on the mic solo for a Provider Eat Wild episode that’s all about food. He talks recipes, cooking wild game, getting together with friends, and the different ways people prepare the same animals. From simple meals to some of the recipes found in The Provider cookbook, this one stays centered on good food and the time spent around it. Chad also wraps things up with a few updates from The...

Chad is joined by Gregg Farrell, of Tactacam cameras. They dig into the modern hunting world and how much it’s changed. From fall weather and time outdoors to the rise of trail cameras, new tech, and the ethical questions that come with all of it. They talk about conservation, wildlife management, and the responsibility hunters carry as technology advances. They also get into the connection with n...

Chad sits down with Bo Jackson for a conversation that goes way beyond sports. Bo opens up about his childhood, how he discovered hunting, and the values that carried him through the toughest parts of his life. His mindset from injury, to loss, and everything in between. He talks about shooting a bow in the locker room, hunt camp stories, prayer, raising kids, and the pressure young athletes face...

In Part 2, Chad and Dave Stanley talk about age, time, and what life teaches you when you’ve been doing this for decades. They get personal about fatherhood, being girl dads, and how that changed their priorities and perspective. They touch on one of their biggest inspirations as a person, Les Nesbit, and they talk details of their dream hunts, and the people who shaped them along the way. They sp...

In Part 1, Chad sits down with Dave Stanley to talk about hunting, family, and how much the landscape has changed since they first started doing this together. They touch on the new rules and realities of hunting in Canada, getting youth involved the right way, hunting with family, and what it means to pass on knowledge instead of just chasing birds. Dave also reflects on how his life looks now wi...

Ain’t nothin like giving thanks with a wild game feast. The Fowl Life Midwest Host Joel Kleefisch, award-winning Provider Chef Ellie Lawton, and TFL Contributor Megan Salazar break down a Thanksgiving feast from field to table. Get the flock together, cuz these recipes are anything but for the birds. This episode is brought to you by Travel Wisconsin, Jack Link's Jerky, and Camospace

Chad’s fresh off a trip to Banded Drake Ranch, celebrating the birthday of the man who built it: Matt Roseman. Matt’s story is the kind you hardly hear enough of anymore. It's a true American Dream success. Vision, grit, sweat, and a work ethic that never lets off the gas. What he’s built at Banded Drake Ranch is a gift to the land, the wildlife, and everyone lucky enough to step foot on it. Chad...

In this solo episode, Chad gets real about the importance of protecting the culture and heritage we’ve been handed. He talks about why this lifestyle matters, why it’s worth fighting for, and why each generation has a responsibility to keep it alive for the next. It’s a reminder to get involved, pay attention, and recognize that none of this, the land, the freedom, the lifestyle, is guaranteed. It...

The crew is back at Hunt Camp in Canada with QuickLoad Waterfowl Outfitters, and this time, the talk gets technical. Chad, Brad, Hunter, and Blake sit down after a few unforgettable days in the field to swap stories and break down what really makes a great shotgunner. They cover everything from practice routines to gear setups, eye dominance, and the mindset behind every pull of the trigger. It’s...

Nothing caps a day in the blind like a hearty wild game stew or soup back at camp. Fowl Life Midwest Host Joel Kleefisch and award-winning French Chef Ellie Lawton break down recipes good for the goose or the whole gander. Set down your Benelli and pick up your ladle, cuz, it’s as easy as duck soup! This episode is brought to you by Travel Wisconsin, Camospace, and GATR coolers

Fred Zink is BACK! And he’s bringing perspective that only time, toughness, and miles in the marsh can. Fresh off his healing journey, Fred talks honestly about getting healthy again, slowing down just enough to appreciate the hunt, and the reality of chasing birds in a changing world. From freelancing in Saskatchewan to the pressure from outfitters, to the rise of tech in the field, nothing’s off...

Chad’s back from the field with a solo breakdown straight from a California early-season goose hunt. He talks about the misses, the magic, and the power of a perfect hide in dry rice country. It’s a hunt that proves why scouting, patience, and respect for the birds still matter. You’ll hear how the crew at Merlo Waterfowl and California Waterfowl Association keep the boots on the ground, the blind...