The Storied Outdoors

When most Alabamians think about Lake Martin as a place to vacation, Emily Johnson thinks of it as home. Growing up on the water and being an artist, Emily naturally gravitated to painting fish. While this was not always her focus, 2020 presented an opportunity to move away from the medical field and pursue a full time career as an artist, an artist who paints fish… and the occasional waterfowl. T...

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and cozy up by the fire for this episode of The Storied Outdoors as co-host, Brad Hill reads “Hidden Wonders,” a short story written by co-host, Bryan Gill. “Hidden Wonders” follows the Heatherford’s, a family whose plans were thwarted by an unexpected blizzard that grounded all southbound flights out of New York—including theirs. With limited options, they decide to dr...

Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” In this essay, Dr. Gill recalls the story of a photography trip he took with his first camera, a Pentax K1000. While this story didn't end the way he had hoped, it was redeemed 25 years later when he had a second chance at photographing a beautiful red fox. Now, when he looks at that fox, he sees much more th...

In this episode we meet Todd Henrikson the Pro cycling director for Athletes In Action. Todd raced competitively for twelve years in the sport that brought him to the World Championships, U.S. U-23 National Team, and two years at the professional level. Yet, during his career there wasn’t a sports chaplain or ministry pouring into pro cyclists. Todd and Tabitha desired to change the tide by launch...

A story of three different experiences woven together by three rivers, this episode Brad shares about how his time on these rivers serve as a reminder to the goodness he has experienced. We all need to practice remembrance for when tough times set in, these experiences of goodness serve as monument to help us remember “It won’t always be this hard.” The story tells  a small portion of his exp...

Andrew  is an award-winning singer-songwriter and author. The second book in his “Wingfeather Saga, North! Or Be Eaten” (2009) won the Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction, and the fourth, “The Warden and the Wolf King” (2014) won World Magazine’s Children’s Book of the Year in August 2015. In 2008, driven by a desire to cultivate a strong Christian arts community, Andrew founded a ministry calle...

In this episode, Bryan and Brad sit down to reflect on their experience together during Ironman Chattanooga. Like many events during 2020, Brad's second Ironman 140.6 to celebrate his 40th year was delayed to 2021. Due to some other circumstances, Brad's family could not attend, opening the door for Bryan to join him for the big day.  They sit down to tell the story of the weekend with Bryan givin...

We wanted to start this season out with a bang and boy did we! In this episode, we sit down with New York Times Bestselling Author, Charles Martin and discuss writing, bow hunting, and how growing up in the outdoors has helped shape Charles' writing into some of the most vivid and compelling stories in bookstores today. Some of the books Charles has written include: The Mountain Between Us , The W...

Welcome to season three of The Storied Outdoors! This episode is a little bit of a hybrid, and not the type of hybrid bass Brad and Bryan caught on the fishing trip down the Tallapoosa River either. This episode is an introduction to season three, a recap of season two, and the retelling of a fishing trip that Brad and Bryan had over the summer with Craig Godwin at East Alabama Fly Fishing . We al...

  We are joined by Richie Fortenberry, Hamilton Borden to reflect together on a planned fishing trip to the Smokey Mountains in the Fall of 2020. It was more of a miss-adventure because so much went wrong.     For more content and pictures from this trip visit www.thestoriedoutdoors.com  If you have questions, comments, guest recommendations, or would just like to connect with...

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” — C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory,...

David Hansen: Author of Art of Pastoring Occasionally, people recommend books to me that make a deep impact on my life and I pass them along to younger men. David Hansen's book The Art of Pastoring is a book that has become a staple in my discussions these young ministers whom I get the privilege of mentoring. In our next episode, we talk to David about ministry burnout, wrestling with our faith,...

A Beautiful Interruption: Essay By Dr. Bryan Gill Read by Brad Hill.                   Sometimes life forces you to slow down. That’s not always a bad thing. In the fall of 2020, Bryan was forced to slow down. But, after a fishing trip, a bald eagle, and a plane ride, he learned a valuable lesson about taking...

Dr Hugh Cheek a daddy and Pediatrician in the Birmingham area joins us for episode 8. We discuss loss, grief, healing, fly fishing, and a host of other topics. We hope you are encountering his story and message of hope amidst hardships. Hugh also shares with us a special piece of writing where he reflects on his journey.  For more information about Dr Hugh and Morgan's Story visit www.seedsan...

The first essay Brad penned for The Storied Outdoors Podcast Nervous Waters is a story of a more current trip on which both Bryan and Brad have now reflected. Lessons in fly-fishing and life made this treasure of a trip in the midst of al that was 2020–one of the most ridiculous years in recent history. For more content visit our website www.thestoriedoutdoors.com Please leave us a review and let...

Brett McCracken, author of The Wisdom Pyramid , has an affinity towards nature. Living just a short drive from many of the most beautiful natural places in the U.S., Brett knows a thing or two about being outside and observing God’s creation. He states, “The heavens declare the glory of God. So get outside and listen!” In this conversation with Brett, we explore how God teaches us when we get outs...

About a year ago, Brad and Bryan went on a fishing trip to Blue Ridge, Ga. On that trip, the idea of The Storied Outdoors podcast was born. Inspired by an audio book by John Gierach that they’d listened to on the trip, Bryan sat down and wrote his reflections about the trip in the form of an essay. Thus was born, “Persistence on the Toccoa,” the first essay written for The Storied Outdoors. Tune i...

Milla Chappell: Pet Photographer and Dog Adoption advocate  Join us  as we share a conversation we had with Milla Chappell, pet photographer and dog adoption advocate. Milla shares how important it was and is for her family to find outdoor spaces whether they were in New York City or in South Alabama. And, of course, we talk a lot about dogs, too! You won’t want to miss this fun and upli...

“No one can teach riding so well as a horse” ― C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy In this episode of The Storied Outdoors entitled, “A Runaway Horse and His Boy,” we hear a story from Brad's childhood. A story recounting a particular event involving a colossal horse named Dan, a wild pursuit, and a vivid picture of a father's love. Join us Monday for a look back into life in Monroeville and an adve...

In this episode of TSO we are privileged to hear from Petty Officer Bart Valle and his experience flying in the middle of Hurricane Harvey. When Hurricane Harvey a Category 4 hurricane made landfall on Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, Bart Valle and the USCG were called into action. Harvey released more precipitation than any other tropical cyclone in U.S. History. Making landfall on three sepa...

Uncharted Territory:  Essay by Dr. Bryan Gill.  In this episode of The Storied Outdoors, Dr. Bryan Gill recalls the painful loss of his father and how God used true friends, hiking in Glacier National Park, and fly fishing in Montana to navigate this new Uncharted Territory of life without his dad. Also, there’s a bear story. Read for you by Brad Hill  Music is written and recorded...

Season 2 introduction: Bryan and Brad reflect on Season One and take some time to look ahead to Season Two giving hints to some guest and stories they are excited to tell. For more content and information about the podcast go to www.thestoriedoutdoors.com Email us at thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and cozy up by the fire for this episode of The Storied Outdoors as co-host, Brad Hill reads “Hidden Wonders,” a short story written by co-host, Bryan Gill. “Hidden Wonders” follows the Heatherford’s, a family whose plans were thwarted by an unexpected blizzard that grounded all southbound flights out of New York—including theirs. With limited options, they decide to dr...

Rick Burgess: Host of Rick and Bubba Radio Show and an avid outdoorsman  In the season finale episode of TSO, Rick Burgess, co-host of the nationally syndicated “Rick and Bubba” radio show and founder of “The Man Church,” describes the incredible healing journey he and his family have been on since the loss of their toddler, Bronner years ago. Rick tells about how God paved the way for his fa...

Essay- Proper Motivation  In this episode of TSO, we hear Brad's story about competing in a 70.3 Ironman Triathlon. Usually, that alone would be an action-packed story, but it doesn't end there. On the same day of the race, Brad boards a plane to New Delhi, India, to take part in mission work through his church hours after crossing the finish line. Reflecting on this series of unusual events,...