The Mountain Dude Podcast
Welcome to the Mountain Dude Podcast, brought to you by Initial Ascent – where we share stories of grit, determination, and the relentless pursuit of growth. This is a space where backcountry hunting meets the deeper lessons of life – success born from struggle, and the art of carrying heavy loads more comfortably, both physically and metaphorically, through faith and perseverance.
Episodes
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What happens when a man refuses to settle for a life of comfort, routine, and simply going through the motions?
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, Chris Young sits down with Jonathan McCormick of Red Beard Outdoors to discuss faith, family, fitness, hunting, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. Jonathan shares the incredible story of overcoming a life-threatening condition at birth, ...
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What separates hunters who occasionally get lucky from hunters who consistently find and kill mature mule deer year after year?
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, Chris Young and Dennis sit down with Idaho bowhunter Travis Nowotny to dive deep into the mindset, scouting strategies, and stalking tactics that have helped him become one of the most respected mule deer hunters in the West...
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If you've watched hunting films featuring Brady Miller, Brian Call, Nate Simmons, John Gabrio, or projects produced alongside some of the biggest names in western hunting, there's a good chance you've already seen Luke Dusenbury's work.
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast presented by Initial Ascent, Chris Young and Dennis Stokes sit down with one of the most respected storytellers behi...
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On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with the crew behind Mtn2Mtn Media to talk about the passion, purpose, and chaos behind documenting life in the backcountry. From filming hunts with family and friends to building a growing llama packing operation, this episode dives deep into what it really means to pursue adventure while staying grounded in the things that matter most.
...
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What happens when fatherhood, business, fitness, and western hunting all collide?
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, Chris Young sits down with Kevin Guillen from Wilderness Athlete to talk about the deeper side of hunting, balancing family and ambition, and why the wilderness still calls men to do hard things.
Kevin shares his journey from growing up hunting ducks in Californi...
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On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast presented by Initial Ascent, Chris sits down with Sean Curtis for one of the most honest and grounded conversations we’ve had on the show yet.
Sean shares his journey from growing up in Wyoming and teaching himself how to hunt, to playing college baseball, competing on American Idol, and touring as a country musician for nearly a decade before u...
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On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast presented by Initial Ascent, we sit down with firefighter, bowhunter, father, and fitness coach Jared Thomas for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the show.
Jared shares his journey growing up hunting in Oregon, learning discipline from his father, balancing life as a first responder, and why being a present husband and dad matte...
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On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast presented by Initial Ascent, we sit down with Cody Rich, founder of Bridger Watch Company, to talk entrepreneurship, elk hunting, building a company from the ground up, and the journey behind creating a smartwatch designed specifically for hunters.
Cody shares the full backstory behind Bridger Watch, from the original idea while turkey hunting in the ...
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Brady Miller from GOHUNT breaks down what it really takes to become a consistently successful western hunter—and it’s not what most people think.
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with GOHUNT’s Brady Miller to talk mule deer obsession, backcountry suffering, and the mindset required to keep showing up when success doesn’t come easy.
From gro...
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What does it take to spend 24 years chasing one opportunity and be ready when it finally comes?
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Jeff Mikus—a backcountry hunter and SEC college football official—to break down the mindset required to perform at the highest level.
From grinding through decades of officiating to stepping onto the field in front of 10...
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Backcountry hunters know the struggle… piecing together a cook system that actually works when it matters most.
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Chris Neville, co-founder of Roughridge Stove Co., to break down how years of frustration in the backcountry turned into one of the most innovative cook systems built specifically for hunters.
Chris dives into...
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Spring turkey season is here, and if you’ve ever struggled to call in a gobbler, you’re not alone.
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Dirk Durham of Phelps Game Calls to break down real-world turkey hunting tactics that actually work. From beginner fundamentals to advanced strategies, Dirk shares hard-earned lessons from decades of chasing turkeys across t...
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Spring bear season is HERE—and this episode is a full breakdown of how to actually find and kill bears in the backcountry.
We dive deep into early season tactics, including how to locate bears without a snowline, what food sources matter most, and how to adjust your strategy based on the time of year. From glassing techniques to understanding bear behavior, this one is packed with real-wor...
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In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast presented by Initial Ascent, we welcome back Richard Bettencourt from SteepKuntry Outdoors for a deep dive into spring bear hunting in Idaho.
This conversation goes far beyond just hunting. We break down the realities of predator hunting, the misconceptions around bear baiting, and why it remains one of the most effective tools for conservation and ma...
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In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Garrett Aida, founder of Dark Energy, to dive deep into the mindset, struggle, and relentless pursuit behind building one of the toughest power systems in the outdoor industry.
Garrett shares how a need for reliable, bombproof power in the backcountry led him to create Dark Energy from the ground up—starting with nothing but fr...
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On this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Samong Yang of Samong Outdoors to talk about his journey from a kid filming backyard chickens on an iPod Touch to becoming one of the most respected public land hunting creators on YouTube.
Samong shares the powerful story of his family immigrating to the United States after the Secret War in Laos and how hunting has always been part...
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In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Zach Adams, owner and founder of On Glass Adapter, to talk about the journey from elite military service to launching an innovative hunting brand.
Zach shares his path from growing up in Colorado to becoming an Air Force Combat Controller, the mental grit required to make it through selection and pipeline training, and how those same...
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In this powerful episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Guy Duplantier, the voice behind Western Contours Podcast, for one of the most raw and transparent conversations we’ve had around the Mountain Dude table.
From growing up in Inglewood, California during the height of inner-city chaos to discovering bowhunting as a self-taught adult, Guy shares how stepping into the mou...
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Recorded live at the Western Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City, this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast features a powerful, in-person conversation with Brian Barney about what it truly takes to build consistency in the mountains — and in life.
Brian has archery hunted for 21 straight years and consistently punches tags on public land, easy-to-draw units. But this conversation goes deeper than...
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Rodger is officially the first repeat guest on the Mountain Dude Podcast — and there’s no one better to bring back.
In this episode, we dive deep into what it actually takes to become a better marksman in real hunting scenarios. Not just shooting groups at the range — but making ethical, confident shots when it matters most. Roger and I have spent more time on the mountain toge...
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