The Big Honker Podcast

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Sele Sainristil, the wife of Washington Commanders defensive back Mike Sainristil, for a conversation about family, football, and building a life away from the spotlight of the NFL.

Mike Sainristil was a second-round pick by the Washington Commanders in the 2024 NFL Draft after a standout career at Michigan. He was named MVP of the 2023 Big Ten Championship Game and came up with the game-clinching interception against Alabama that helped Michigan win the National Championship.

Since moving to Washington, D.C., Sele and Mike have started a farm of their own, complete with a collection of farm animals that Sele cares for every day. She explains how the farm grew from its beginnings and why creating a connection to animals, the outdoors, and a simpler way of life has become so important to their family.

Sele also shares what her daily life looks like while raising children, caring for the animals, and supporting her husband through the demands of being a professional athlete. She discusses the importance of keeping her family grounded despite Mike's success on the football field and the challenges and rewards that come with life in an NFL family.

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Ducks Unlimited Senior Waterfowl Scientist Mike Brasher for a deep dive into the recently released duck population numbers and what they mean for waterfowl hunters.

They break down the latest survey results, looking at which duck species are declining, which are increasing, and which populations are holding steady. Mike explains the importance of the habitat that supports North America's duck populations and how conditions on the breeding grounds can impact migration and hunting seasons.

The guys also examine the overall trends in duck populations, what the numbers tell us about the health of waterfowl populations, and what hunters can expect as they head into the upcoming waterfowl season.

Mike shares his insight into what these numbers could mean for duck hunting in the coming season and the future of waterfowl hunting, giving hunters a better understanding of where duck populations are headed and the factors that will shape the years ahead.

In this series, Jeff & Andy dive into a mix of useless facts, myths, forgotten stories, and strange truths.

Jeff gives the list the states with the most and least amount of McDonalds and Andy shares some of the strangest ways famous people have died.

This series is brought to you by the amazing Cedar Run Decoys.

This series highlights the highs and lows of hunting public land across different regions of America — the early mornings, the pressure, the competition, and the grind that comes with earning every bird.

In this episode, Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Clayton Apke from the Quad Cities area to talk about waterfowl hunting on the Mississippi River.

Clayton shares what it takes to find success on one of the country's most famous waterways, including dealing with large crowds of hunters and camping out the night before to secure a quality hunting spot. They discuss the competition for prime locations, the lengths hunters will go to for a good spot, and what makes Mississippi River duck hunting such a unique experience.

The guys also talk about Clayton's dream ducks and dream hunt, along with the species and destinations that remain at the top of his bucket list.

The conversation eventually turns to public land turkey hunting, as Clayton shares his experiences chasing gobblers and the challenges that come with pursuing turkeys on pressured public ground.

This series is brought to you by the great people at Chêne Gear.

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are ready for the opening of a new hunting season, with all the challenges, anticipation, and excitement that come with another fall in the outdoors.

They discuss the recent legislation to come out of Kansas that will limit out of state hunters to morning hunts only on public land and try to talk about it from every angle possible.

The guys look ahead to everything that makes this time of year special, from preparing for hunting season to the traditions, and memories that come with the arrival of fall. They also dive into fantasy football, as another NFL season brings its own brand of competition and trash talk.

And, of course, no conversation would be complete without a little friendly wagering. Jeff and Andy make a bet involving a former Texas Tech Red Raider, adding another layer of rivalry to the upcoming football season.

In this series, Jeff & Andy dive into a mix of useless facts, myths, forgotten stories, and strange truths.

Jeff shares a variety of random facts and Andy lists the deadliest animals in the world.

This series is brought to you by the amazing Cedar Run Decoys.

This series highlights the highs and lows of hunting public land across different regions of America — the early mornings, the pressure, the competition, and the grind that comes with earning every bird.

In this episode, Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Andrew Markart to discuss the unique experience of public land waterfowl hunting in Wisconsin.

Andrew shares stories from years spent chasing ducks across Wisconsin's public waters, including the long boat rides required to reach productive hunting spots and his fondness for canvasbacks. 

The guys also discuss the experience of camping in the marsh, cooking meals outdoors, and embracing the adventure that comes with being away from civilization while chasing migrating waterfowl.

Of course, years of hunting public land come with plenty of mishaps, and Andrew recounts some of the funniest, strangest, and most memorable things that have gone wrong over the years.

This series is brought to you by the great people at Chêne Gear.

Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver are joined by Lake Pickle for a fun, wide-ranging conversation covering turkey hunting, waterfowl hunting, and big-game hunting in Africa.

The guys dive into the latest science surrounding wild turkey populations, the struggles facing turkey numbers across the country, what makes the turkey woods so special, and Lake lists his favorite state to chase gobblers.

The conversation then shifts to waterfowl hunting and the different phases every hunter goes through as they get older. From the early obsession with chasing birds and filling limits to eventually appreciating the people, places, traditions, and experiences that come with a lifetime of hunting, they break down how the pursuit changes over time.

Lake also takes the guys along on his recent African hunting trip, sharing stories from an incredible adventure on the other side of the world. He details some of the wild experiences that came with the trip and what made the hunt such a memorable journey.

In this series, Jeff & Andy dive into a mix of useless facts, myths, forgotten stories, and strange truths.

Jeff looks at the history of Rolex and the remarkable innovations to come from the watch company, and Andy shares some fun facts about the NFL and also tells about a few peculiar things about the human body.

This series is brought to you by the amazing Cedar Run Decoys.

This series highlights the highs and lows of hunting public land across different regions of America — the early mornings, the pressure, the competition, and the grind that comes with earning every bird.

In this episode, Jeff Stanfield takes a trip down memory lane and relives an unforgettable Alaskan hunting trip with his dad, Ron Stanfield, and several close friends.

Jeff tells the story of flying into the Alaskan wilderness by float plane, leaving civilization behind and living completely off the grid for more than a week. He shares what it was like relying on the land for food, eating what they harvested each day, and experiencing a level of isolation and simplicity that is becoming increasingly rare.

He also remembers his first meal after returning to civilization and the stark contrast between life in the wilderness and being back home. But more than anything, Jeff reflects on the friendships, time spent with his dad, and the unforgettable moments from that trip that he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

This series is brought to you by the great people at Chêne Gear.