Restless Native

"I see so much dereliction of journalistic duty among reporters. You see these people in DC who have disdain for the hunting and fishing way of life, and it's really sad. I strive to help people get connected to see what this industry does."– Gabriella HoffmanIt takes courage to admit you’re new at something. And today’s guest is someone who doesn’t back down from being new at something she actually speaks about as an authority. Wait, what? Seriously. Gabriella Hoffman has worked her way up to being an active writer in the hunting, fishing, outdoor and firearm spaces, but she’s relatively new to hunting. She’s also a very active political reporter, and I would certainly put the influencer label on her, even though it may not surface how some of you interpret it. In many ways, influencers to me are the new newspaper columnists. People are excited to see new content from them. They have a clear but evolving point of view. And they reach the masses. The idea of an influencer often gets tied to social media, but it can run so much deeper than that.Gabriella, or Gabby as her friends call her, is a great example of that. She is an influencer on many levels, ranging from her articles to her own podcasts, from her social channels to her own network. She’s an interesting person, and she and I got to sit down and chat about her background and hear what she thinks of today’s media landscape. This is another great show from POMA. I’ve got one more of these in the chamber. Unlike the last couple, that person’s last name is not Hoffman.

"I think your luck is created. Your success is directly related to the amount of work you put in."— Nick HoffmanToday’s show is with a fiddle player, pilot, television host, hunter, producer, conservationist, POMA board member and so on and so on.Nick Hoffman is a lot of things. I’d venture to say he and I have become friends over this last year, from meeting up at tradeshows and POMA this summer. I really like the guy. And I love what he’s all about. He’s got a really interesting story and I think Nick has a good heart. In our short friendship together, he seems to be authentically Nick all the time. Camera on, camera off, it just seems like he’s always himself. In fact, when he and I presented together on POMA’s panel, he pulled up a picture of himself where he’d gotten scoped. If you don’t know what I mean, he had shot a rifle and the gun kicked the scope into his eyebrow, and he had blood running down his nose. I thought that showed his personality. That’s a moment many TV show hosts would hide. They’d delete the footage and it’d never be spoken of again. But Nick led into his presentation with that with no shame. You're going to really enjoy this one. So let's get to it.

“Don’t post grip and grin pictures. Especially of predators and iconic African zoo animals. I get it. People say ‘screw you’ and I get hate mail. But you have to understand, if we are going to change the hearts and minds of the people, we can’t go out and say ‘screw you.’ We have to say, there is a great story to be told about your deer. You don’t have to take your broadheads and put the logo out there, and chest bump and high five. Just don’t post those pictures.”— Tom OpreToday’s guest might ruffle some feathers. In fact, he’s been known to piss a few people off. And, he’s not going to apologize for it. Tom Opre is passionate. He loves wildlife, hunters, and the wilderness. And he has a deep understanding of what it means to be a consumer. And a conservationist. What Tom is not is apologetic. He has a matter of fact way of delivering his views and the facts he’s acquired over the years. He’s not here to soft serve anything to you. I like this about Tom, maybe because I see some of that in myself. Another thing you’ll quickly pick up on with Tom is his passion isn’t hard to find. It bubbles high near the surface, as some might say. I met him about 16 months ago right as I quit my job to take GoWild full time. He and I hopped on the phone for what I thought would be a 30 minute conversation. We talked for an hour and a half as I listened to Tom lay out his views of what the industry was getting right, and what it was getting wrong.He has a really vibrant view of the state of conservation, being a steward of the land, and particularly, hunting. I’ve met some people or organizations that seem to think we have decades to figure out hunter recruitment and decline. Tom doesn’t. And as someone who sees a future he wants to change, he’s not an armchair conservationist, either. He’s dedicated himself and his work to putting a foot forward in finding a solution. Wildlife Conservation ProjectShepherds of Wildlife Project

When I was working in the capital, it was heartbreaking to see how agriculture, conservation and environmental issues worked against each other. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, you have opportunities to make an impact for conservation. Don't just be a consumer. Make sure you're giving back. — Brandon ButlerWe have a problem on our hands, in that the volume of hunters is shrinking overall. We pay for conservation through hunting, fishing and firearms dollars. And we have movements attempting to counteract these participant declines with messages about how hunting is conservation. But if a person doesn’t advocate for conservation, can they be a conservationist? How about if they’re not even aware their act of hunting is contributing to conservation?Few people I’ve ever met understand the ins and outs of what it means to be a conservationist and to wrestle with these questions better than today’s guest. I know this from his content I’ve consumed, being his newspaper column, interviews, our previous chats to this show and the show itself. Brandon Butler is one of the sharpest conservation communicators you will meet, and I admire him because while this guy understands the ugly side of the state of things, he doesn’t let that take away from his own enjoyment of the outdoors. I think that says something special about his character, given the state of affairs. Driftwood Outdoors WebsiteRoeslein WebsitePOMA Website

"Today is a milestone. Some of our goals at GoWild have not been met. We missed them. You might call them failures. I call those lessons. Some goals were met sooner than we ever thought possible. I call those risks paying rewards."— Brad LuttrellIf you're at all a weekly listener to Restless Native, you're going to want to check this show out. We have a very important announcement in the beginning. Then we have a bonus show—I (Brad Luttrell) joins Glendon Allwood on the Hunt Domain podcast to talk about GoWild. This is going to look at where we've been, where we are and where we're going. You'll probably learn something you didn't know about me and GoWild in this show.

"As an organization, we don’t care if you have an R or D after your name. If you’re  introducing something that’s going to impact hunting, fishing or trapping, we’re going to fight it.”– Brian Lynn, Vice President of Communications and Marketing , Sportsmen's AllianceIf I told you, you could give me $35, and I would do everything in my power this year to keep your hunting rights from being taken away, would you do it?Probably not. And you probably shouldn’t. While I work in the outdoor industry, I don’t have a whole lot of control over your right to hunt, that is the laws and legislation that decides how often, where and what you can hunt. However, you should take that money and give it to these guys. Today I have Brian and Evan from Sportsmen’s Alliance. They’re going to break down exactly what their organization does, why it matters and give you real life examples of how they’re making a difference. They’re going to paint a picture of the real anti-hunters—the ones who are making a difference. Hint: These aren’t your Instagram keyboard warriors. These are groups with massive funding, support and organization. Brian and Evan are telling an important story, and I’m proud to be a supporter of this organization. For me, saving the future of hunting means a lot of things, but the most important for me as an individual is my right to pursue my own food through adventure and recreation. Now, when this episode is over, I invite you to post on the GoWild app and share what is most important to you. I’m always interested in this answer, because you’d think you’d have a lot of the same answers, but I actually see so much variety when talking to people. So what is it, your family’s heritage? Your kid’s right to hunt? The fact it’s fun? The challenge? Speak up! Log some time for this podcast on GoWild and share your story.Show Links:Colorado State StudySportsmen’s Alliance WebsiteRestless Native is sponsored by GoWildGoWild is the fastest growing social media and activity tracking platform for outdoors enthusiasts.Live track your hikes, scouts, hunts, archery practice and more. Keep a log of all of your photos and stats for your deer, fish, turkeys and whatever else you can think of. Connect with likeminded people and learn from them! Find and share recipes for your wild game. And you can win gear, totally free to you, along the way.Download GoWild Today

"When we look at the outdoor space, we're on the verge of a data revolution. That is, using data to get better at what we do. Hunting and the outdoors is still this experimental thing, it's something your dad taught you. It's a generational transfer. But now, technology is teaching you to be a better outdoorsman."— Zack Grimes, GoWild Cofounder & Chief Analytics OfficerI have spent an insane amount of time in the car with my good friend, cofounder and the Chief Analytics Officer of GoWild lately. Most of you probably know I’m talking about Zack Grimes. We recently decided to put a mic on one of these conversations to talk about something we just launched. I love talking to people who are busting their butt to make a difference on Restless Native, and felt it was important to take a minute to recognize our team at GoWild for launching activity tracking for fishing. This is a phase one project for sure, but it’s a huge milestone for us and really fishing in general. Zack will get into why I think it’s that big of a deal, but overall I’m not aware of anything else like it. We’ve been cranking on this over the last couple of months, and I wanted to get Zack to talk about just where all of this is going. We do have some pretty significant reveals on here, too. We are running full speed to being the best activity tracking platform for the outdoors. I want to not only help you track your story better, I want to help you learn from that data.And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why Zack is here today. The data. Zack’s first interviewRestless Native is brought to you by Obsession Bows.These bows are made specifically for you. They are custom bows that deliver custom experiences. Obsession is the leader in detail, creating bows for hunters by hunters. Field-tested with the relentless need to never settle, the people at Obsession leave the woods and enter the shop with innovation in mind.A bow that performs on its own level and redefines what Smooth, Fast & Deadly truly mean. The Obsessed never rest when it comes to performance and every hand and every tool that touches your bow has it’s specific purpose. A system that works like a well-oiled machine to deliver not only purpose but memories.Visit ObsessionBows.com to build for your dream bow. Use code “GOWILD19” to save 15% off your Obsession Bow.

"Don’t stick with something because it’s easy, or already in motion. If you have a passion, do something with that, and do it now. It will not get easier tomorrow. Tomorrow is unknown, not just because it’s not promised, but because someone else will beat you to it, or you will lose your nerve to try it."— Brad LuttrellRestless Native was founded to look at what it takes to be successful. Most of the time that means interviewing people who have been there, done that. And it’s usually directly related to the outdoor industry. Today, I am going to share a few recent stories, conversations and insights from my own life. It is my hope that this podcast inspires you every week. As a ferocious content consumer myself, I believe the best lessons come from a variety of perspectives from those around us who have been there before. The format of the show is designed to help provide those diverse perspectives. That’s good for the listeners, and it’s been good for me. I’ve learned a ton through this process.  But today, I am going to attempt to be a conduit and pull together a variety of lessons I’ve learned outside of this show, and thoughts I’ve experienced lately. I wanted to share this in a Restless Native because I believe it directly relates back to why I started it, and why I imagine you tune in every week.I hope it helps you find your drive.Restless Native is brought to you by Obsession Bows.These bows are made specifically for you. They are custom bows that deliver custom experiences. Obsession is the leader in detail, creating bows for hunters by hunters. Field-tested with the relentless need to never settle, the people at Obsession leave the woods and enter the shop with innovation in mind.A bow that performs on its own level and redefines what Smooth, Fast & Deadly truly mean. The Obsessed never rest when it comes to performance and every hand and every tool that touches your bow has it’s specific purpose. A system that works like a well-oiled machine to deliver not only purpose but memories.Visit ObsessionBows.com to build for your dream bow. Use code “GOWILD19” to save 15% off your Obsession Bow.

“Rural America’s population has been shrinking and getting older for decades. People are just starting to move back to rural America because they’re getting priced out of urban America. We’re in a transition point right now, as people are either pushed to the edges or out of cities.” — Nicole QualtieriNicole Qualtieri got her start working alongside Janis Putelis and Steven Rinella at MeatEater. She moved on to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. And today, she serves as the Hunt Fish Editor for Gear Junkie. She will challenge how you think, what you do, and what you’ve always done. I was introduced to Nicole after we launched our activity tracking product this year at ATA, and she and I hopped on the phone to talk about it. I think we booked half an hour to chat. What ensued was an hour and a half of amazing conversation around what’s wrong with the hunting industry, how we can fix it, and it wasn’t the same ol’ stuff everyone else is always saying. Nicole has a fresh perspective. She doesn’t care about what you’ve always done or believed. And she’s got a massive platform to let the world know how she thinks. She honestly challenged me a few times in that call, I think even once telling me something was an industry cop out. Show Links:Kuiu storyUniversity of ColoradoFresh AirIt Could Happen HereNicole’s WritingInstagramRestless Native is brought to you by Obsession Bows.These bows are made specifically for you. They are custom bows that deliver custom experiences. Obsession is the leader in detail, creating bows for hunters by hunters. Field-tested with the relentless need to never settle, the people at Obsession leave the woods and enter the shop with innovation in mind.A bow that performs on its own level and redefines what Smooth, Fast & Deadly truly mean. The Obsessed never rest when it comes to performance and every hand and every tool that touches your bow has it’s specific purpose. A system that works like a well-oiled machine to deliver not only purpose but memories.Visit ObsessionBows.com to build for your dream bow. Use code “GOWILD19” to save 15% off your Obsession Bow.

“Hunters, we take from something. We take the animal that lives in this environment. I know life is busy, but often times we forget to give back, whether that is a conservation effort that is animal or environment specific. If this thing is going to continue for the next 50 years, we need to focus on the environment, and take our eyes off the score and antler size if we want to bring more people into hunting.”— Dan JohnsonToday, we’re going to talk about how my guest got into hunting, podcasting, and, a question I have wondered many times, how he lost his finger. Seriously. Dan Johnson was one of the earliest of guys to get into podcasting in the hunting space. You may know that name from Mark Kenyon’s show, Wired to Hunt, where Dan got his start. Or, you may know him from his show and networks, Nine Finger Chronicles and Sportsmen’s Nation, which we’ll dive into throughout this show.GoWild did some advertising with Sportsmen’s Nation in its early days. We looked at a ton of opportunities, but what stood out to me was Dan’s vision for what he was building. And I asked him some pretty hard, direct questions and once, he said “I don’t know, I’ve never done that before.” I actually appreciated that. It takes a straight shooter to admit that. It was honestly probably that point that I decided we’d go with Dan. Today, there’s no advertiser-client relationship. This message is not hashtag sponsored. We’re not bringing you Dan courtesy of Sportsmen’s Nation. I just really like his story, his attitude and him, and wanted to bring it to the audience. Listen to Nine Finger Chronicles or Sportsmen's Nation Parker McDonald's Show Southern GroundRestless Native is brought to you by Obsession Bows.These bows are made specifically for you. They are custom bows that deliver custom experiences. Obsession is the leader in detail, creating bows for hunters by hunters. Field-tested with the relentless need to never settle, the people at Obsession leave the woods and enter the shop with innovation in mind.A bow that performs on its own level and redefines what Smooth, Fast & Deadly truly mean. The Obsessed never rest when it comes to performance and every hand and every tool that touches your bow has it’s specific purpose. A system that works like a well-oiled machine to deliver not only purpose but memories.Visit ObsessionBows.com to build for your dream bow. Use code “GOWILD19” to save 15% off your Obsession Bow.