MERCER-The Awkwardly Honest Fishing Podcast

I get it. The last thing the world needs is another podcast but it needs this one. Brandon Palaniuk is a former Bass Nation National Champion, he has qualified for 13 Bassmaster Classics, won 6 Bassmaster Tournaments and 2 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. Kyle Vandever is an outdoor videographer & producer that not only shoots the incredible BMP behind-the-scenes series but he is a world traveler. Vandy has literally walked with Silverback gorillas & swam with Humpback Whales. Together they are two of the most positive people on this planet. No matter what they are doing it’s obvious that they both believe in squeezing every ounce of joy out of life. This week they join the podcast to talk about life, struggles, success & their brand new podcast.

I get it. The last thing the world needs is another podcast but it needs this one. Brandon Palaniuk is a former Bass Nation National Champion, he has qualified for 13 Bassmaster Classics, won 6 Bassmaster Tournaments and 2 Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles. Kyle Vandever is an outdoor videographer & producer that not only shoots the incredible BMP behind-the-scenes series but he is a world traveler. Vandy has literally walked with Silverback gorillas & swam with Humpback Whales. Together they are two of the most positive people on this planet. No matter what they are doing it’s obvious that they both believe in squeezing every ounce of joy out of life. This week they join the podcast to talk about life, struggles, success & their brand new podcast.

Denny Brauer has won 17 Bassmaster tournaments, 2 Angler of the Year titles and he is the 1998 Bassmaster Classic Champion. He was the first angler ever featured on the Wheeties Box, he made two appearances on the David Letterman Show and he actually taught Ozzy Osborne how to cast! Although this Bass Fishing Hall of Famer has been away from tour level competition for over a decade, make no mistakes - Denny Brauer Can Still Kick Your bASS! He joins this week’s podcast to talk about all that and so much more.

Matt Herren is a 10-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier, a 5-time FLW Cup qualifier and a former TTBC Champion. But over the last 2 years he has quickly become one of the loudest voices against FFS. However, as this podcast will reveal, Matt has become a conflicted man with a love hate relationship with the newest technology. This week he joins the podcast to discuss his new positive outlook in 2025 and he shares his raw and honest opinion on just about everything else!

Buckle up humpers because this week is another double dose of goodness. First we kick things off with the reigning and defending Bassmaster Classic Champion Justin Hamner. Then we are joined by 30 year industry veteran Rob Newell. Whether it’s been as a writer, a reporter or a photographer for over 3 decades Newell has had a front row seat to some of the most incredible moments in professional fishing. This week he joins the podcast to talk about his new book Egos, Logos & Fishing Prose. This must read tell-all memoir truly takes you behind the curtain as Rob reveals what he feels are the good, the bad and the ugly parts of pro fishing from his view point.

Kevin VanDam is the most accomplished angler in the history of professional bass fishing. KVD is a 7-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year, a 4-time Bassmaster Classic Champion with a record 25 Bassmaster Wins, 4 MLF wins and a FLW Angler of the Year title. All of that adds up to over 7 million in earnings and countless records. However, competitive angling is in his rearview mirror and now KVD is focused on the transition from tournaments to television with the launch of his highly anticipated show The VanDam Experience. But first he joins the podcast to talk about all that and so much more.