The Storied Outdoors

In this episode, we sit down with Léonce B. Crump Jr., an author, international speaker, and co-founder of Renovation Church in Atlanta. Léonce is not only a devoted pastor and civil rights activist but also an avid outdoorsman, chef, and former NFL player. Before stepping into pastoral ministry, Léonce was a collegiate All-American wrestler, played football at Oklahoma University, and spent time...

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Storied Outdoors ! In this episode, we sit down with Casey—a devoted husband to Jennifer, a proud dad, and an outdoorsman who lives and breathes adventure. From his passion for duck hunting to his experiences in ultra trail running and catching redfish in South Louisiana, Casey exemplifies The Storied Outdoors. Whether he's teaching duck calling, guiding...

Join us for an exciting new episode with Capt. Blake Walters, an avid angler and longtime friend of The Storied Outdoors ! Blake, now launching his own guide service in Fairhope, AL, has been fishing the Gulf Coast since he was a kid, mastering every species across Mobile Bay’s rich waters and surrounding shorelines. With a background in the canoe and kayak industry and experience on the kayak tou...

 In this episode, Courtney Ellis joins us for a chat about bird watching! She is an author, speaker, pastor, and host of “ The Thing With Feathers Podcast .” Courtney is also a birder, encourager, and inspiration-giver based in Orange County, California, where she lives with her husband (also a pastor!) and three children. Together, they serve at the Presbyterian Church of the Master. She holds a...

Our guest this week is Anthony Overton, Professor and Department Chair of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Samford University. Anthony holds a Ph. D. In Marine Estuarine and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and an M.S. in Fisheries Management-Forest Resources from the University of Georgia. He is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman and has been highly publ...

An award-winning documentary-adventure photographer, filmmaker, and conservationist, Navy Veteran Chad Brown is the founder/president of non-profits Soul River, Inc. and Love is King. In addition, Chad’s latest efforts include outdoor adventure travel, threatened wild spaces, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. Through his projects, he connects the public to endangered...

In this episode of  The Storied Outdoors , we're thrilled to welcome Kansas Sartin, the Head Adventurer and Founder of  Pakmule Cargo Carriers . Kansas shares his journey from struggling with the hassles of packing and organizing gear during outdoor trips to creating a game-changing solution for adventurers everywhere. The Origins of Pakmule Cargo Carriers As a passionate outdoorsman, Kansas exper...

Each season of  The Storied Outdoors  is a new chapter, wrapped up and delivered as a gift to our incredible listeners who continue to support this journey. Season after season, your loyalty fuels the adventure, and we’re grateful for every mile we walk together. Since the close of Season 8, we've trekked from global destinations inspired by Indiana Jones himself to the wild peaks of Eastern Europ...

In this season wrap-up of "The Storied Outdoors" podcast, hosts Brad and Bryan take you on a journey through their recent fishing trip, sharing stories and memorable moments from the day. They also revisit the standout episodes from season eight, offering insights and reflections on the diverse range of topics and guests featured. Additionally, Brad and Bryan discuss their latest family...

Rev Gates Shaw, the esteemed retired Pastor of St. Mary's on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church, is a man of multifaceted interests and unwavering commitment. Renowned for his passion for quail hunting and the great outdoors, Rev Shaw's influence extends far beyond his pastoral duties. Despite his retirement from Church work in 2013, he remains deeply engaged in serving his community, serving...

In this episode, Dr. Bryan Gill contemplates what it means to “consider the lilies” in his latest essay. From fly fishing the Cahaba River and standing in awe of how the beautiful Cahaba Lilies thrive through adversity to reminiscing on days of his childhood walking through flower gardens with his Grandaddy, lilies are a constant theme in this essay. What does it mean to “consider the lilies?” Bry...

In this episode on The Storied Outdoors we sit down with Ty Walker, the passionate owner of The Hatchery, where he and his family are on a mission to revitalize land stewardship. Ty shares the remarkable story of transforming a 1930s trout hatchery in Virginia into a beacon of sustainability and spiritual renewal. Fed by pure spring water and nestled in a nutrient-rich Virginia stream, The Hatcher...

In this essay Brad reflects on the experiences and thoughts during his first season of duck hunting. It begins with a contemplation on the spiritual aspect of adventure and the beauty of nature, beginning with  noticing the flight patterns of wood ducks. Brad recounts his initial hesitation and eventual enthusiasm for duck hunting, guided by friends who invited him into the experience. He describe...

This week’s episode is a live recording of Brad and Bryan speaking at a wild game dinner at Brookwood Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. Their pal and former guest of the show, Richie, asked them to speak at this men’s gathering in the spring of 2024. They showed the YouTube film, “Fishing for something bigger than fish,” and then spoke about reflection and intentional storytelling. It was a great...

J. Wayne Fears grew up in the Cumberland Mountains roaming around on a mountain named Tater Knob. His dad was a trapper and an expert woodsman, and his mom was a country schoolteacher. From his dad, he learned to live in the wilds, and from his mom, he obtained a love of the written word. When other kids were playing team sports, J. Wayne was spending days, often alone, trapping, hunting, and fish...

In this episode, we had the opportunity to sit on the tranquil front porch of Robin Taylor. Robin is a staple in the outdoor community of Alabama and creates some of the most striking photography and paintings. Birds were chirping and woodpeckers were rattling as we rocked in our rocking chairs overlooking a quiet pond in front of Robin's house. It was a fantastic conversation and we covered a...

In this episode, we are so excited to share our conversation with Matt McPherson founder of Mathews Archery and McPherson Guitars. Both of these are industry leaders in their respective fields. Matt shares about his drive for excellence in everything he puts his hands to as a way of honoring God. His faith has driven him to do some amazing things as a businessman, but also as someone who strives t...

In this episode, Brad Hill reads an essay written by previous guest, friend of the show, and staple member of the Alabama flyfishing community, Andre Davis. This essay is a look into the passion that so many of us share in this world of flyfishing in the state of Alabama and beyond. We hope you will enjoy this essay, but more than that, we hope it encourages you to find your own adventures and wri...

In this episode we talk to Andre Davis. Andre is an avid outdoorsman who finds peace and restoration in the demonstrative power of God's nature. He is a proud big brother, uncle, son and husband. Andre' has spent a lifetime outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking, building, playing music and teaching. Married to a sixth grade teacher, his household is full of the desire to teach and lead our you...

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Captain Robin Simms, who just received her certification to operate 150 foot vessels. Robin is a longtime friend of the show and vital member of the Alabama flyfishing community. We previously had Robin on the show in a mini episode at the international fly fishing film festival at Cahaba brewery last year. We go into more depth with Robin in this episode a...

Jacob Holsonback, a native of Pace, Florida, is a manager at Innerlight Surf Shop in Pensacola, Florida, overseeing its four locations, including two in Pensacola, one in Gulf Breeze, and one in Destin. In the summer months, Jacob shares his passion for surfing with folks who take part in a surf camp sponsored by the shop. In this episode, we dive into the world of surfing with Jacob Holsonback, a...

In this episode, we talk to David Parham about all of the amazing places in Alabama to find adventure. David grew up in Birmingham, attended college in Tuscaloosa, and currently lives in Huntsville working as an engineer. He grew up climbing and was driven outdoors by finding anywhere he could go climb. Climbing quickly turned him into a camper and as he would go climbing for a weekend and would n...

In this episode, we talk with Sam Bailey about all things fly fishing, and those who helped us to get into the sport along the way. Sam tells us some great stories about working in fly shops with Mr. Craig Haney, and how that led to a love of the sport. He also talks about Southern Culture on the Fly, and the great things that they are doing to contribute to storytelling, flyfishing, and conservat...

Ep 109: Charles Martin & Sons: Alaska Storied And a Conversation About Manhood In this episode, we sit down with former guest and New York Times best selling author, Charles Martin. However, this time we were joined by two of his three sons, Rives and Charlie. Charles, Rives and Charlie all spent some time in Alaska this past year, and we were not short on stories for them to tell. We talked about...

Ben Meadows and George Constantine from Dorsal Outdoors, a crew of lifelong buddies from Alabama who just couldn't put a good story down. These guys are insanely talented at crafting films about the outdoor experience. The people, The places,  and The pursuits . From the time that Ben and George got stranded on an uninhabited island while trying to catch bonefish, Or the time Dan dropped into...