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
57 episodes
Most Men Stop Living Before They Die: Red Beard Outdoors
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 ...
How to Actually Kill Big Mule Deer: Travis Nowotny
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 Now...
The Man Behind Hunting's Best Stories: Luke Dusenbury
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....
Why They Started Filming Their Hunts and Never Stopped: Mtn2Mtn Media
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 grow...
The Battle Every Hunting Father Understands | Kevin Guillen
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, ba...
From American Idol to Backcountry Elk Hunting | Sean Curtis
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 Wyomin...
How Faith, Fatherhood & Discipline Saved a Firefighter | Jared Thomas
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 jo...
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 ...
