The HHAUSA Podcast

Those who selflessly served our country during World War II will forever be remembered as part of The Greatest Generation. Without their service and sacrifice, our country and our world would look much different today.  Living in an age of entitlement, the stories shared through our guest and photographer Zach Coco should serve as a reminder of just how good we have it here in the USA and inspire...

Fifteen years ago, Thomas Mlsna knew that he had to change up his strategy if he wanted to start taking world class whitetails. Shooting a 140" deer every fall meant that the chances of having a 160" or 170" around next year were slim to none. While success didn't happen overnight, Thomas would soon begin to realize the fruits of his labor, consistently placing his tag on &quot...

Sam Ubl of Chase Nation joins us on a very special episode of The HHAUSA Podcast to discuss what he says is the most meaningful work of his career. Twenty two Veterans a day take their lives in America. Before I started HHAUSA I was aware of this fact and it weighed heavily on my heart. It was decided early on that we would donate our first 22% each year to other organizations to help combat PTSD....

You meet certain people in this life that change it forever. For me, Tyson Trunkhill is one of those people. Rewind to Thanksgiving 2019 and a post I saw on Facebook of Tyson presenting a refurbished compound bow to a Veteran at his archery shop in Denver Iowa.  The smile on that man's face instantly made me want to be a part of what this Army Veteran was doing and a new friendship was formed...

From its inception, I’ve said that HHAUSA is a mission that God put on my heart to honor our Veterans through the sport of archery. While in no need of validation that a higher power is behind our cause, my connection to David Marks of The Veteran Archery Project can only be described as nothing less than a divine appointment. New to the nonprofit world, David's organization is already transf...

Farmer, NARC, race car driver and business owner, this week's man of the hour has a done a little bit of everything on his way to the pages of Instagram. Join Sitka and HHA Sports Ambassador John Mulligan as he shares his journey from growing up hunting in Kentucky to life as a personality and content creator in the outdoors. A self proclaimed workaholic,  John's short film "Work Mo...

Podcasts like these are exactly why we started HHAUSA. To hear how the sport of archery has turned one Veteran's life around warms the soul and is a stark reminder that there are others across the country in need of this same kind of healing. I haven't met Kyle Wickert face to face...yet. Back in June, through business partner and friend Sam Ubl of Chase Nation, I came to know Kyle in an...

We talk a little hunting on this episode of The HHAUSA Podcast with Derek Dirnberger of The Break. Now in its eighth season on Pursuit Channel, The Break consists of a group of close to 30 staff members from across the country with a passion for hunting and the outdoors. From Midwest whitetails to elk in Colorado to exotics in Africa, there's little ground these guys haven't covered.  Ea...

Born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin, Chad Stillman was introduced to sports and the outdoors at a young age.  Growing up, if you couldn't find him on the soccer or football field, chances are he was in the woods or on the water. Those two passions would lead to a stint as a semi-pro kicker for the Racine Raiders and a cameraman for Bowhunting.com. By 23 years old, he was fresh out a col...

Longtime fan and new HHA Sports partner Gregg Ritz joins The HHAUSA Podcast this week. We discuss a wide range of topics beginning with the excitement and anticipation that comes with another hunting season. Gregg talks about getting the next generation into the sport and the blessing it is for him to take to the field each fall with his daughters. We also touch on the importance of practicing yea...

Bob Barteck has made a career of public service as a firefighter, EMT,  Disaster Medical Assistance Team Leader and in 2021, embracing a new role as Fire Chief in Wausau Wisconsin. Having known him since the mid 90's, I can say firsthand that he has a servant's heart and would give the shirt off his back for anyone in need.  We discuss 9/11 and the impact it had on the country, specifica...

Back in the summer of 2017, I had the pleasure of meeting Rick Devericks at the Department of Defense Warrior Games in Chicago. Watching him compete for Team SOCOM, I witnessed firsthand how beneficial archery was for Rick and others wounded in combat. That trip helped to further my mission for connecting Veterans to the sport and Rick and I became fast friends.  During our discussion, we talk abo...

This week we sit down with Air Force Veteran Kyle Mindiola and have a conversation about the impact that archery has had on his life and how he's using it to pay it forward. A Wisconsin native, Kyle resides just across the river from the Twin Cities and is doing some amazing work getting Veterans and Active Duty Service Members into the sport through the Minnesota based nonprofit, Ardent Arch...

We take a break from our regular guest appearances and catch up with owner of Whiz Bang Media and HHAUSA Podcast producer Logan Chartrand. With 6 of our 8 archery events complete for 2021, Chris gives a state of the union on how those shoots are going and the impact that they are having on the Veteran community in Wisconsin and across the country. We also discuss our shared passion for serving oth...

Founded by US Special Forces Veteran Jim Kniestedt, The Kniestedt Foundation was created to provide outdoor experiences and improve quality of life for our service men and women. Joe Rhodes is the event planner for this great organization but is also a key piece to the ongoing relationships that come out of the trips they put on each year. In this episode, he dives into the history of the foundati...

A big supporter of HHAUSA from Day 1, the team at Danner La Crosse make top notch products, love our Veterans and have a heart for supporting great causes. Don Nelson heads up their Military Division and is a key player in that effort for the highly respected footwear brand. An Air Force Veteran, Don shares his passion for the outdoors, his love for serving the Military and First Responder communi...

On this episode of The HHAUSA Podcast, we wrap up the second part of the discussion with our good friend Al Quackenbush, The SoCal Bowhunter. After surviving the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, Al details how he's using that experience to benefit others, primarily through archery. He also talks of his growing desire to give back and introduce a new audience to the sport.  The guys als...

Pro Staffer and longtime friend of HHA Sports Al Quackenbush, AKA The SoCal Bowhunter, had never met company co-owner Chris Hamm until recently. Making the trip from  California to Wisconsin for Mission 13 of the 2021 HHAUSA Veterans Archery Shoot Tour, Al got to experience his first ever 3D event. He wasn't disappointed and shared a memorable weekend with Chris, members of the Team 22 squad...

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Cordero a couple years back at the Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend.  As a crew member for the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota piloted by the one and only Kyle Busch, Jeff knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful. When he's not at the race track, he takes that same winning attitude to the sport of archery, recently launching...

There are certain people you meet in this life that within minutes, you know that you'll be lifelong friends. Ryan Lonergan is one of those people.  Growing up fatherless in southeastern Wisconsin, Ryan credits his mother for his upbringing and calls her his rock.  After finishing his time in the military, life became more challenging as broken relationships, a battle with alcohol and PTSD wo...

At just 23 years old, Jimmy Giarraputo has already accomplished more than most people twice his age. Well spoken, humble, and wise beyond his years, The Empire State native has a clear vision of where he's going and where he came from. Fresh off of a four year stint in the United States Coast Guard that further transformed him into the man he is today, Giarraputo is bringing that same work et...

Retired US Army Sergeant Scotty Hastings survived a near fatal shooting on patrol in Afghanistan in 2011 but the battle was just beginning. The long road to recovery led him to an introduction to archery, participating and ultimately coaching at the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Finding peace and healing as an archer, he is passionate about helping children and Veterans with disabilities by...

People outside of Wisconsin are always asking how they can help support the cause of HHAUSA even though they live in another state. How about organizing an online fundraiser based around a passion for fitness and a heart for the Veteran and First Responder community? That's exactly what Tyler Geiger decided to do and the results were nothing short of amazing. Listen to his story as he discuss...

After tragically losing his father as a child, David Wootten lived a lost and reckless life of rebellion as a teen and young adult that ultimately led to joining the Army. A career ending injury in Iraq coupled with struggles with PTSD, alcohol and drugs left him on the verge of losing his family and even his life. It wasn't until a pastor introduced David to the sport of archery and to a God...

Logan Chartrand, owner of WhizBang Media and producer of the HHAUSA Podcast takes over the hosting duties from founder Chris Hamm, diving into the origin story behind his nonprofit dedicated to giving back to Veterans and active duty service members through the sport of archery. Chris discusses what led him to become involved with the Honor Flight Network, partnerships with other nonprofits to hel...