This week, we had one of those classic everything-happens episodes. I opened with the story of a missing hunter—why it matters to our whole community and what we can do to help his family find closure. It’s a tough topic, but it’s at the heart of why we look out for one another in the field: awareness, preparedness, and showing up when it counts.

From there, Steve, Cal, and I swapped stories from our own time outside—everything from the biggest deer I’ve ever taken to a candid look at buck fever, even after years of hunting. We dug into the nerves, the rush, and the ways experience shapes your decisions when the moment of truth finally arrives.

I also brought in Sean Conrad, who—along with his twin brother—has landed multiple world-record fish, including a rainbow trout and a burbot. Sean shared hard-won insights on what it actually takes to chase records responsibly, from preparation and verification to the mindset and patience required when you’re fishing at the edge of possibility.

We checked in with the chat, tackled listener feedback, and played a hilarious round of “MeatEater’s Price Is Right.” To cap it off, Steve Powell from North American Diving Dogs joined us, and his work with canine athletes needs to be seen to be believed—an unexpected, high-energy closer that perfectly rounded out a packed episode on hunting, fishing, and outdoor culture.