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
50 episodes
How to Build a Life Around Freedom and TIME | Cody Rich Of Bridger Watch Co.
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 creatin...
How to Actually Find Big Mule Deer: Brady Miller
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 tal...
24 Years of Work for One Phone Call: SEC Official Jeff Mikus
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 dow...
Why Your Backcountry Cook System SUCKS (And How to Fix It): Chris Neville of Roughridge Stove Co.
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 do...
Turkey Hunting Tips That Actually Work | Calls, Setups & Strategy w/ Dirk Durham (Phelps Game Calls)
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 ta...
Spring Bear Tactics: Chris Young and Joe Elliston
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...
How to Consistently Kill Spring Bears (Real Tactics That Work) with SteepKuntry Outdoors
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...
“You Don’t Lose—You Learn” | The Mindset That Changed Everything for Dark Energy
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.<...
The Real Story Behind Building a Hunting Channel | Samong Yang
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 ...
From Combat Control to Building On Glass | Zach Adams
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 g...
He Missed an Elk at 27 Yards… Then Everything Changed w/ Guy Duplantier
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 growi...
Shrink the Mountain | Brian Barney at Western Hunt Expo
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....
How to Become a Better Shooter for Hunting Season w/ Rodger Holscher
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...
Biggest Gear Launch Ever | New Packs, Duffels & Accessories Revealed
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we pull back the curtain on the largest product launch in Initial Ascent history.If you’ve ever wondered what actually goes into designing premium hunting and backcountry gear, this episode ...
Building Discipline That Lasts with Chris Young
In this solo episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we get real about what it actually takes to fill tags consistently — and it has nothing to do with motivation.With spring seasons right around the corner, this episode is a wake-up call...
Why Most Elk Hunters Aren’t Prepared | Dan Staton (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of our conversation with Dan Staton, and this episode is where things get tactical, practical, and deeply personal.If you haven’t listened to Part 1, go start there. This episode builds directly on Dan’s origin story and ...
The Hard Years That Built ElkShape | Dan Staton’s Story (Part 1)
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, we sit down with Dan Staton, the man behind ElkShape, to unpack the raw, unfiltered story that shaped one of the most respected voices in elk hunting today.Before ElkShape was a brand, before the...
A Conversation on Priorities: When Hunting Season Meets Real Life
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, Dennis and Chris sit down for a real, candid conversation about balancing hunting, family, faith, and the demanding pace of everyday life. After two back-to-back episodes with Kyle Kamp of Valley 2 ...
One Misstep Ends the Goat Hunt | Brian Call
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Brian Call, founder of Gritty Films and one of the most respected voices in western hunting and backcountry preparation.Brian breaks down what it really takes to stay consis...
Inside the Innovation of Backcountry Gear | PEAX EQUIPMENT
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down again with Brice Bishop and Jeff Helm of PEAX Equipment to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to design and build gear trusted by backcountry hunters.From trekking pol...
How "Gritty" Became Gritty | Brian Call
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Brian Call—better known as Gritty—to unpack the early days of hunting films, the rise of his platform, and how he helped shape the modern era of outdoor storytelling. Brian walks th...
The Untold Story of PEAX: Faith, Loss, and Building a Hunting Brand from Nothing
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Brice Bishop and Jeff Helm of PEAX Equipment to unpack one of the most compelling brand journeys in the hunting industry today — from a single pair of trekking poles to one of the f...
Backcountry Fueling That Actually Works (Part 2 with Kyle Kamp of Valley 2 Peak Nutrition)
In Part 2 of our deep-dive with Kyle Kamp, Founder of Valley 2 Peak Nutrition, we get into the gritty, practical, real-world fueling strategies hunters actually need in the backcountry.Kyle breaks down how to build a full day of food on...
You Can’t Out-Hunt a Bad Diet | Kyle Kamp of V2P Nutrition
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, Dennis Stokes sits down with Kyle Kamp, founder of Valley to Peak Nutrition, to break down the fundamentals of nutrition for everyday life and for backcountry hunters who demand more from their bodi...
Faith, Failure, and the First Bow Kill | Tim Tucker on Overcoming Target Panic
In this episode of the Mountain Dude Podcast, we sit down with Tim Tucker — a young hunter, creative, and man of faith — to talk about perseverance, target panic, and finding redemption through archery and family.From missed opportuniti...
