A country artist opens up about healing, hunting roots, and rediscovering purpose far beyond the spotlight.

In this deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Michael Ray to explore the outdoor heritage, family legacy, and hard-earned perspective that shaped his life long before Nashville knew his name. Raised in central Florida’s hardwoods, cypress swamps, and bass lakes, Michael grew up running cable with his grandfather, learning harmony in living rooms, and chasing gobblers, gators, and early-morning largemouths across Lake County.

But after years of nonstop touring, personal loss, and the noise of the entertainment machine, Michael found himself off the road for the first time since he was seventeen—facing the weight he’d carried for decades. Here, he opens up about the spiritual and mental reset that followed, including ayahuasca therapy, reconnecting to faith, and using time in the woods and on the water to rebuild joy, clarity, and direction.

Listeners will hear how stepping away helped him fall back in love with music, how hunting and fishing played a grounding role throughout his life, and what he’s learned about navigating pressure, comparison, and identity in a world driven by algorithms instead of authenticity. Whether you’re a lifelong hunter or a weekend angler, this episode offers a rare, inside look at growth, grit, and finding your compass again.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations.

Presented by: Field & Stream

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Get to know your host, Mary O’Neill Phillips: https://www.countryoutdoors.com 

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From the chaos of addiction to peace on the water—Andrew Greene’s story shows how faith and fishing can save a life.

In this powerful episode of Country Outdoors, host Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with Andrew Greene, Field & Stream’s Andrew Green Fishing host, for an unfiltered conversation about sobriety, redemption, and rediscovering purpose through the outdoors.

Andrew grew up in Tennessee dreaming of life on the water, flipping through Field & Stream magazines and chasing bass long before social media glamorized it. But his story took dark turns—addiction, failure, and loss of direction—before faith and fishing brought him back to life. He opens up about the moment that changed everything, the community that helped him stay sober, and how time on the water became both therapy and testimony.

Listeners will hear a raw look at addiction recovery through outdoor purpose, learn how daily discipline and prayer built his foundation for long-term sobriety, and gain insight into how Field & Stream’s rebirth is inspiring a new generation of outdoorsmen.

Whether you’ve battled your own demons or just need a reminder of why time outside heals, this one’s for you.

Presented by: Field & Stream

Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/

Get to know your host, Mary O’Neill Phillips: https://www.countryoutdoors.com 

Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ 

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Country artist Kolby Cooper opens up about family, small-town life, and the outdoor moments that shaped his sound.

This week on the Country Outdoors Podcast, Mary O’Neil Phillips sits down with East Texas native Kolby Cooper, whose story runs deeper than the red dirt roads he grew up on. From learning guitar in his childhood post office home to raising his kids on the same land he once roamed, Kolby shares how family, faith, and time outdoors shaped his life and music.

In this conversation recorded live at Chief’s on Broadway, Kolby opens up about life on a working ranch, his father’s legacy, and how the rhythm of the road and the quiet of bass fishing in farm ponds still keep him grounded. He reflects on losing his dad, learning self-reliance through hard work, and the generational love of music that continues through his own children now singing on stage beside him.

You’ll also hear about his favorite outdoor pastimes, his Texas hunting roots, and why moments spent fishing with his daughter mean more than any hit song. Whether you’re an angler, a hunter, or a country music fan, this episode captures the heart of small-town America and the values that endure when the amps go quiet.

Presented by: Field & Stream

Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/

Get to know your host, Mary O’Neill Phillips: https://www.countryoutdoors.com 

Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ 

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Baseball legend Chipper Jones steps off the field and into the woods to share his lifelong love of the outdoors.

In the first-ever Field & Stream production of the Country Outdoors Podcast, hosts Mary and Mitch welcome MLB Hall of Famer Chipper Jones — a man as at home in a deer stand as he ever was at third base.

Chipper opens up about growing up in an outdoor family in Florida, the story of his first buck — a 3-inch spike taken with a 20-gauge shotgun, and how hunting and conservation keep him grounded today. He also reflects on his career in baseball, his life as a coach and father, and why he’s an unapologetic, transparent outdoorsman who believes time outside builds character like nothing else.

Whether you know him for his swing or his stories from the stand, this is Chipper Jones like you’ve never heard him before — candid, passionate, and proudly country at heart.

Topics Covered:

Presented by: Field & Stream

Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/

Get to know your host, Mary O’Neill Phillips: https://www.countryoutdoors.com 

Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ 

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‪@TylerBooth is as country as they get. Born and raised in Eastern Kentucky he unapologetically lives and breaths the blue collar lifestyle, that plays such a key influence in the music he makes and why we love him! This podcast was Tyler’s first, which meant never before told stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From skinning Turtles to career highs and career lows, we even see a more vulnerable side as he opens up to @maryoneillofficial about his faith and love of Jesus.

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This week on the Country Outdoors Podcast, Mary is joined by the amazing singer, songwriter, father and avid sportsman  @drakewhiteofficial  Drake and Mary met in Australia in 2016 and have been friends for years, connecting over a love of the outdoors, music and God. In lure of his film premiere 'Hunts the healing' Drakes discusses his stroke and the impact that hunting and faith had on him, in the darkest time of his life. How both of those things resulted in him walking and playing music again, whilst attempting to chase after a monster Buck on his home property. A Buck he notoriously called 'Stoker'. Drakes film 'Hunts the Healing' a play on his popular hit 'Hurts the Healing' airs this summer and is a blend of documentary and drama, telling the captivating story that led to him walking again.

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This week on the Country Outdoors Podcast, Mary is joined by singer-songwriter  @DylanSchneider  . Dylan shares his story about moving to Nashville as a teenager and the success he’s seen after being embraced by the country music community. They discussed how Nashville is a 10 year town and what overnight success actually means.Mary shares for the first time, how Dylan and her actually met at a party in 2016 with a ton of artists who have now gone on to have major success.Dylan talks about getting into hunting and what inspired him to give it a try. He shares his passion for fishing and stories growing up as a young boy in the outdoors.Grab your favorite drink and kick your feet up for this heartfelt episode!

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This week on the Country Outdoors Podcast, Mary is joined by singer-songwriter Naomi Johnson, who opens up about her remarkable journey—from growing up off-grid, surviving a cult, and busking for gas money, to her time in Runaway June and the near-death experience that changed everything.

The two dive into motherhood, Naomi’s evolution as an artist, how jiu jitsu and rural life in Utah have shaped her outlook, and the stories behind her bold new music. Naomi reflects on walking away from the industry mold to create work that’s rooted in truth, heritage, and healing.

Plus: conspiracy theories, dolphin-assisted births, AI privacy fears, and navigating parenthood in the modern world.

It's unfiltered, unforgettable, and full of moments that'll leave you laughing, thinking, and maybe even tearing up. Hit play—you don’t want to miss this one.

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John Morgan joins Mary on this week’s episode of the Country Outdoors Podcast! Fresh off his first No. 1 with Jason Aldean, John shares the story behind “Friends Like That” and what it’s like chasing success in Nashville while staying grounded in his North Carolina roots. He talks about growing up turkey hunting, running dogs for raccoons and bears, and foraging ginseng in the Smokies before falling in love with whitetail and bowhunting later in life.

The two dive into the grind of life on the road, how John balances music and fatherhood, his first sold-out show at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and his recent deer hunting and ice fishing trips in Minnesota. From saddle hunting stories and missed shots to backpacking the Appalachian Trail and dreaming of a Wyoming elk hunt—this one’s got it all.

Stream John’s debut album Carolina Blue wherever you listen to music and follow him on the road as he headlines his first fall tour!

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This week on the Country Outdoors Podcast, Mary is joined by country music hitmaker and outdoor enthusiast Dustin Lynch for an unfiltered conversation that covers everything from elk hunting in Montana to his groundbreaking Las Vegas residency at the Wynn.

Dustin has earned 10 No. 1 singles on Country Airplay, including “Stars Like Confetti,” “Thinking ’Bout You,” “Small Town Boy,” “Good Girl,” “Ridin’ Roads,” “Seein’ Red,” “Where It’s At,” “Hell of a Night,” “Mind Reader,” and “Momma’s House.” He was the first country artist to land a residency at the Wynn Las Vegas, is a Grand Ole Opry member inducted by Reba McEntire, and has surpassed 6 billion global streams. With multiple Platinum-certified singles and sold-out tours, his impact spans both the stage and the woods.

Dustin opens up about the evolution of his Tennessee farm, his passion for land management and conservation, and how hunting has become a year-round lifestyle. He shares what it means to introduce family and friends to the outdoors for the first time and reflects on how bowhunting has helped him grow as both a hunter and a person. On the music front, Dustin talks about his high-energy DJ/country hybrid show, his new single "Easy to Love", and what’s inspiring him creatively in this next chapter of his career.

From bow setups and cold mountain mornings to packed-out Vegas nightclubs, this is the ultimate look at the double life of one of country music’s most dynamic artists.

Don’t miss this one—it’s a wild ride from the woods to the strip.

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