Elevate the Hunt

Faith Johnson's journey into the world of pageantry began in 2016 when she won the prestigious title of Miss Montana's (Outstanding) Teen in her very first attempt. Her story is one of determination, talent, and a heart dedicated to making a difference.  An actress since the age of 4, Faith's love for theater has always been a driving force in her life. She pursued her passion for understanding people by earning a degree in psychology and sociology from Montana State University, maintaining a 3.95gpa. Remarkably, she joined the workforce at the young age of 15, gaining invaluable life experiences early on. 

Her passions extend beyond the stage and academia. She has a deep love for art, a fierce enthusiasm for hunting, and an unwavering commitment to family values. Her Montana roots run deep, and her pride in being a born-and-raised Montanan shines through in her advocacy and actions. Faith's Social Impact Initiative, "W.I.L.D. Life: Wilderness Inheritance, Land and Diversity" is a testament to her dedication to preserving the natural beauty of Montana. Faith is not just a pageant queen; she's a fearless advocate for keeping Montana wild, accessible, and thriving. She’s a girlie girl with a passion for getting her hands dirty, the embodiment of strength and grace, and she’s determined to make a lasting impact on her beloved state.

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• Growing up hunting in Montana.
• Wildness, inheritance, land diversity, stewardship
• Keeping the hunting heritage alive.
• The reality of the hunter's paradox.
• Sharing hunting with the pageant circle. 

Elevate the Hunt also produces For Those Who Serve, a podcast connecting military members with hunting opportunities. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Brittany Boddington's hunting career began after high school when, as a graduation gift, she went on her first safari with her father, taking five trophy animals. She now spends most of the year happily living out of a suitcase in pursuit of exotic animals and exciting adventures. She writes for several notable outdoor publications and was honored as the first woman to ever appear on the cover of Petersons Hunting Magazine. With her father Craig’s help Brittany has discovered a love for the great outdoors and has become a passionate hunter and conservationist. She now devotes her time to She Hunts, a skills camp developing skills and confidence in women beginning their own hunting careers.

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• Handicapped by chivalry.
• Men and women have always hunted together.
• How guys teach wives and daughters to hunt, and lessons they could use.
• The growing demographic of single women who just want to secure their own meat.
• Introducing your daughters to hunting.
• The Death of the Huntress and staying feminine. 

Elevate the Hunt also produces For Those Who Serve, a podcast connecting military members with hunting opportunities. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Since he was a boy running around the woods and water of Southern Ohio, hit songwriter Andrew Scott Wills has been enamored with American history. He spent his summers combing the dirt for arrowheads and visiting historical forts and memorials. As he a teenager he discovered Eckert's "The Frontiersman" and built his first CVA Kentucky long rifle kit. Around the same time he bought a junk guitar for $20 and started songwriting.  Life took him on a whirlwind journey of college, marriage, fatherhood and a career of songwriting on Nashville's Music Row notching Billboard charting singles and hundreds of recordings. He grew tired of his career depending on the unreliable music industry and fickle artists. All the while, the frontier was calling.

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• Why the mountain man culture draws us in.
• Could we make it back then?
• Becoming an American Mountain Man.
• Jack Hinson and his one man war against the Union.
• How to quit your job and go west.
• Making his sound bring back the feeling of 1820s.

Elevate the Hunt also produces For Those Who Serve, a podcast connecting military members with hunting opportunities. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Carrie Bilbao is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Affairs Specialist at the National Interagency Fire Center.  Before diving into her wildland fire management career, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Boise State University.  She has spent 26 years working for the BLM in Boise in wildland fire management as a wildland fire investigator, fire prevention officer, mitigation and education specialist, and public information officer.  Carrie also dabbled in fire suppression operations as a wildland firefighter, engine operator, helitack crewmember, and a type 5 incident commander.

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• The Big Burn of 1910 and its lessons.
• Fire management on public lands.
• Hunting safe around wildfires.
• Gear and prep for staying alive.
• Urban fires and the need for vigilance.
• Finding fire safety info at NICS Predictive Services. 

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram.

Elevate the Hunt also produces For Those Who Serve, a podcast connecting military members with hunting opportunities. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Ethan Yazel is a 4th generation muzzleloading enthusiast, with a familial love of muzzleloading dating back to the 1930s. He’s always had a passion for history and thinks it is important to archive the stories of today's muzzleloaders for future generations.  His platform I Love Muzzleloading hosts a ton of great resources for the beginner or enthusiast, including his own podcast and YouTube Channel.

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• The growing number of hunters and seasons across the country.
• Defining what a muzzleloader is and isn't.
• How to address technology creep.
• How to stay in step with the spirit of primitive weapons. 

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Charles Whitwam is the founder and president of Howl for Wildlife.
Howl For Wildlife provides streamlined tools and resources with regards to issues surrounding wildlife, hunting and/or fishing management.  Howl For Wildlife provides content & education sourced from biologists, partner organizations, and boots on the ground experts/individuals who are directly involved in the sustainable growth and health of wildlife in North America.   Howl For Wildlife provides the public with streamlined access to officials, decision makers and influencers through industry leading technology.

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• Food unites all humans, hunters and nonhunters.
• Taking back the hunting narrative.
• Mobilizing sportsman to action.
• What is your trophy in hunting?
• Giving hunters the tools needed to fight anti-hunting dishonesty. 

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Aaron Schmaus  is a multi-faceted professional with a distinguished background in the military, literature, as an athlete and in videography, and digital marketing. As a dedicated father and husband, he channels his diverse expertise to enrich the experiences of individuals navigating the great outdoors. Through insightful discourse, he sheds light on pivotal issues such as wildlife conservation, veteran welfare, and the intricate interplay between humanity and the natural world. As the esteemed host of The Primitive Republic Podcast, Schmaus delves into a wide spectrum of human experiences, seamlessly transitioning between riveting outdoor narratives and insightful explorations of the human condition. Presently spearheading Wrangled Media, Schmaus's innovative vision revolves around producing compelling digital content tailored for both individuals and businesses.   

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• Passing on hunting as a hunting safety instructor. 
• Finding common ground in morals and ethics.
• Quickest way to ruin a hunting partnership.
• Knowing what it means to be part of a team.
• Ten rules for a good hunting partner.

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Mark Damian Duda is executive director of Responsive Management. Over the past 35 years he has conducted over 1,000 studies on how people relate to the natural world. He is the author of four books on wildlife and outdoor recreation and more than 150 published articles and peer-reviewed papers. He is a certified wildlife biologist and social scientist and holds a masters degree in natural resource policy from Yale University. 

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed:  

• Social science is why it matters for hunters.
• Negotiating a place for wildlife on the landscape.
• How to talk about hunting. (Book link)
• Words Matter, pictures matter, tone matters.
• Animal rights vs animal welfare vs animal dominianism. 
• Communicating Effectively: Ethos, Pathos, Logos
• Hunting’s best arguments.

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Michael Sabbeth is a lawyer, author, and lecturer on ethics and rhetoric. His recent work, The Honorable Hunter: Defending and Advancing Our Hunting Heritage, is a step by step guide on how to develop your own conversations on hunting that will be effective helping non-hunters better understand our passion.   He has been a lecturer at Master Hunter Education programs, is an NRA-certified instructor in shotgun disciplines, a Boy Scout merit badge counselor in the shotgun discipline, consults for the United States Shooting Association on media relations and writes for many prominent hunting and shooting magazines, including Safari Magazine, The Double Gun Journal, Sporting Classics and ClayingShootingUSA.  

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• Hemingway, his writing and discipline and drinking.
• Ethics are everywhere in hunting and not just situational.
• Crafting arguments in response to anti-hunting.
• Virtual signaling and pathological altruism.
• Words matter: trophy hunting.
• Self Policing as hunters.
• Finding legitimacy in hunting. 
• Harvesting vs Killing.

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

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Hannah Downey is the policy director at PERC, leading policy strategy and government affairs efforts to implement key policy reforms based on PERC’s groundbreaking research. She has applied her passion for the outdoors to advance lasting conservation wins since joining PERC in 2015. Hannah has testified before Congress and works closely with policymakers at the federal and state levels on conservation issues, and her work has been featured in media outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The Hill.  Though she grew up in the Midwest, Hannah was lucky enough to spend her summers in Montana and worked as a backpacking guide in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness throughout college. Hannah now calls Bozeman home and fills her spare moments coaching youth mountain biking, serving on the board of the local ski foundation, and enjoying the wonderful outdoors every way she can.

If you enjoy the podcast, I’d really appreciate it if you drop us a review, share it with a friend, or find us on Instagram.

Topics Discussed: 

• Dinner discussions with a politically-opposite spouse.
• How sportsmen's groups help or hinder the cause.
• Incentive programs that encourage conservation practices.
• Opportunities for Sportsmen to invest in conservation.
• Reforming the ESA.
• Upcoming Conservation Issues Sportsmen Need to Know.

You can find more about Everett Headley, your host, at his website or Instagram. 

Intro Music: Jason Shaw- Back to the Woods
Outro Music:  Bumy Goldson- Keep Walking

Support the show