Austin Holmes just dropped a conversation with Aaron Stonehocker that's equal parts wisdom and real talk. 

Aaron went from loading weapons in the Air Force to becoming the first employee at a major outdoors company, eventually building their entire Western sales division over a decade. Now he’s the founder of Light the Fire Outdoors, a consulting business and podcast network that helps small outdoor brands find their footing while he manages the ultimate full-time gig: being a dad. 

His best stories? Not just the hunt. It’s watching a "good old boy" from Iowa learn to navigate the skeptical "guard levels" of the East Coast. It’s about regaining his identity through programs like 75 Hard and finding mental breakthroughs during 4 a.m. rucks while the rest of the world is asleep. 

Quick gems from the episode: 

→ The 75 Hard Reset: Doing something purely for yourself builds a level of confidence that people can feel when you walk into a room. 

→ Community is the Antidote: We are more "connected" than ever but suffering from chronic loneliness; find a physical community and look up from the phone. 

→ The Grassroots Advantage: You can get four times the output for a fraction of the cost if you focus on the foundational, human side of marketing. 

→ Faith in the Outdoors: Whether it’s through the Bible or the quiet of the woods, taking time to get right with your creator helps you weather any storm. 

Check out Austin's podcast if you want unfiltered conversations about building, growing, and not staying stuck.