Brian O'Keefe recounts his five-decade journey as a fly fisherman, photographer, and writer — from early film cameras to modern iPhone photography, and from local rivers to remote saltwater destinations. The episode mixes some of Brians best stories, from guiding Ted Williams in Alaska, to exploring deep in the jungle looking for bass, we go over it all!

Thomas is a good friend of Emerging and the OT manager of the infamous St. Peter’s Fly Shop in Fort Collins, Colorado. In this episode, we talk about shop life and what it’s like being part of a fly shop that plays a major role in its local fishing community. We dig into the day to day rhythm of working in a shop, connecting with anglers of all experience levels, and how a shop becomes more than just a place to buy gear. We also cover Thomas’s 5 Rivers journey and his involvement with the CSU Fly Fishing Club, touching on how both experiences helped shape his path in fly fishing. Destination travel is another key part of the conversation, focusing on fishing new places and how travel influences perspective on the water. From local shop conversations to bigger-picture ideas about fly fishing, this episode keeps things grounded and experience-driven. Tune in to learn more.

Hunter Levine is the host of the highly respected Captains Collective podcast, where he’s spent years sharing stories, lessons, and wisdom from captains and outdoorsmen across the country. Known for his thoughtful interview style and time spent on the road chasing conversations, Hunter has built a show that goes far beyond fishing, focusing on craftsmanship, curiosity, and the people behind the passions. In this episode, we hop on the mics together to talk about our podcasting experiences, swap stories from the road, and highlight some of Hunter’s favorite past guests. If you enjoy behind-the-scenes podcast talk, great storytelling, and conversations that feel genuine and unscripted, this episode is definitely worth a listen.

The Braker Bros are favorite filmmakers in the fly fishing world. Based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, brothers Andrew and Eric Braker have taken the initiative to create films that conserve. Their motto says it all: “Using outdoor storytelling to spark sustainable change.” Every Braker Bros film centers around a compelling story, and many of those stories support causes far bigger than the screen. From AI-powered trout identification to mountain lion conservation, these guys are always pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas. Tune in to hear about their film projects, fishing adventures, film tour experiences, why brown trout are trash, and a whole lot more!

Heather grew up in South Florida fly fishing with her Dad from a very young age. She always knew she wanted to follow a career bringing together more young people in the sport. Throughout her time at Florida State University, Heather worked with fishing lodges and brands which really sparked a desire to find a career in fly fishing, hospitality, and youth education. She even started the 5Rivers club there!  After college, Heather helped found an organization called Fish for Change. F4C empowers young people to become global citizens through experiential education. They host one week international programs focused on cultural exchange and conservation stewardship.  In this Emerging episode, we break down heathers Fish for Change journey, and her best advise to those entering the real world post college!

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit—the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. BTT pursues this mission through science-based conservation, education, and advocacy across Florida, The Bahamas, Belize and Mexico, as well as in coastal states from Texas to Virginia. Learn more at: www.BTT.org.   Our Guest Isabel is originally from Middlebury, Vermont, Isabel grew up in a family of environmentalists and fly anglers spending summers in Twin Bridges, Montana. After graduating with a literary studies degree from the New School in New York, New York, she moved to Sarasota, Florida, to be on the Gulf Coast and take up the arduous task of learning to cast a salt fly rod. Her career in digital marketing and social media management has led her through the worlds of publishing, fine art, museums, and higher education. Through her work at BTT she shares her passion for wildlife conservation through engaging digital storytelling.     BTT FACTS relevant to the podcast:   Spinning fish in the Florida Keys were first reported to BTT by concerned guides in late 2023. BTT and partners jumped into action beginning January 2024 (more info is available here). An economic impact study by BTT shows that flats fishing for bonefish contributes more than $169 million annually to the Bahamian economy. An economic study by BTT shows: $240 million BZE from flats fishing tourism ($120 million USD); this is 6.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), supports 200 + guides in the country, and a further 4000 jobs supported by flats fishing tourism. 

Alec Griswold is a co-owner of Soul Fly Lodge and Executive Director of Elevate Youth Boston. In this podcast Alec talks about his passion for change, and excitement when it comes to sharing what he loves most. Fishing, people, and access to the outdoors is what he strives to protect!   Soul Fly Co Events Music Festivals Permit Fishing Elevate Youth Boston

Captain Frank Praznik is a national treasure. We took a deep dive in to his nuanced past in the fly fishing (and beauty) industry, from founding a fly shop to ruling the hackle market for some not so fishy reasons. Now, Frank is one of Louisiana's finest redfish guides and is poling the flats every day reeling in monster reds.    Listen in to hear all about it!    Redfish on the fly State of the fishery Frank Praznik Captains for Clean Water Founding a Fly Shop Working in the beauty industry Ice fishing Fort collins

Carter Abramson joins Emerging to talk about his path from leading the Five Rivers Club at Colorado State to working in social media and community marketing at Simms Fishing Products. We get into the chaos and charm of college fishing trips, his love for discovery and fishing, and the unexpected moments that pushed him deeper into the industry. Carter breaks down what his job at Simms really looks like—organic marketing, events, community engagement, and the team effort behind the brand’s social presence. He also gives a behind-the-scenes look at Simms’ Grateful Dead partnership, from the San Francisco activation to the upcoming film Mountains of the Moon. We wrap with Carter’s thoughts on the future: balancing passion with a career, the appeal of freelance creative work, and why staying connected to the fishing world still matters most. Simms Fishing Products  Colorado State University College fly fishing trips and stories Guiding and industry entry paths Organic social media strategy in outdoor brands Grateful Dead × Simms collaboration Outdoor content creation Career growth in the fly-fishing industry

Jon “JK” Kłaczkiewicz is the founder of Fish Camp and has over 20 years of experience in high-impact filmmaking and branded content. JK is a passionate and motivated media professional with a proven track record of leading and executing film, commercial, and marketing projects from development to distribution, while managing resources, budgets, crews, and talent.   As a director and producer, he has created dozens of films and campaigns that have won awards, reached millions of viewers, and inspired action. His credits include the critically acclaimed snowboard epic, “The Fourth Phase” for Red Bull Media House, the impact documentary “Tribal Waters” for Patagonia, and the annual signature ski and snowboard film projects for Teton Gravity Research. He loves collaborating with creative professionals, growing strong teams, and tackling a variety of challenges along the way with the goal to tell stories that matter.   In 2018 Jon directed “Beyond The Horizon” winning the Best Film at the Fly Fishing film awards. In this Emerging episode we talk about all of JK's film expirence, and his newest endeavor - FISH CAMP

In this episode of Emerging, we sit down with Bennett Kittleson, a 5 Rivers student whose time with the CU Fly Fishing Club has opened the door to a role with Flylords. Bennett talks about what drew him into the industry, the excitement of capturing authentic fly-fishing moments online, and the places he hopes the sport will take him next. His enthusiasm for community, storytelling, and chasing new water makes this a fun look at someone building a life around the outdoors.  • Flylords internship and social media• CU Boulder Fly Fishing Club • Dry fly fishing• Colorado fly fishing• Outdoor career paths• International fly fishing aspirations

Craig Mathews has done it all - guide, author, conservationist, and one of the most respected names in modern fly fishing. Founder of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone and author of Pheasant Tail Nymph: Simplicity for the Modern Fly Fisher, Craig has built a life around clean waters and honest fly design. In this episode, we dive into his latest book, some of his trout fishing techniques, and many of his past story's from his journey! 

At the 2025 Western Rendezvous, we were joined by Jason Faerman and Lincoln Key from Yakoda Supply, a proud supporter of Trout Unlimited’s 5 Rivers program. Yakoda was fired up to join the podcast and share their story! From Funky P Flies to their signature purple hip packs, Yakoda continues to stand out by doing things differently. Tune in to hear how Yakoda was born, what the name means, and how Jason and Lincoln are inspiring others to give back and keep fly fishing creative, intentional, and just a little bit funky.

Tyler is the current president of the University of Wyoming Fly Fishing Club and a lifelong lover of the great outdoors. His main passion lies in studying and protecting the lands we all cherish and recreate on. In this episode, Tyler walks us through his master’s research on biodegradable fishing products and how they fit into the fly fishing world. From durability and popularity to awareness and adoption, Tyler dove deep to explore whether and how fishing line can or should be changed for the better.

Colby Acuff is one of country music’s most inspiring new voices, breaking through with a style defined by passionate and honest songwriting. He blends his love for the outdoors with the soul of country music—whether it’s fly fishing on a quiet stream or duck hunting at sunrise, Colby’s songs create the perfect soundtrack for anyone who feels at home outside. His latest project, the YouTube series Fin and Feather, takes that connection even further. Traveling across the country, Colby shines a light on guides and natural resources that often go overlooked, celebrating not just the fish or the birds, but the people and places that make the outdoors so meaningful.   Catch Colby on tour HERE Watch Fin and Feather HERE

At the 2025 western rendezvous, around 85 college students went to the Yampa river to plant trees! Listen in to learn about the event, tree planting, and some awesome conservation happening in northern Colorado!

The annual TU Costa 5 Rivers Ambassadors Summit is, simply put, the greatest event a college angler can attend. This past August, eight club leaders from across the country gathered on the Wind River Reservation to celebrate the core values of 5 Rivers: community, conservation, and fly fishing. 5 rivers coordinator, and past Emerging host, Cliff Watson joins in this episode to fill us in on all the details from the 2025 summit, and share some more exciting news for the upcoming semester including merch, rendezvouses, and fundraising opportunities! 

In this episode we sit down with Johann, executive director of the Indifly Foundation. Our conversation explores the incredible people, places, and potential impact that community-driven conservation holds for the world. While Johann’s work spans globally, we focused on the Wind River Reservation project and the TU Costa 5 Rivers Ambassadors Summit.   Please spend some time researching Indifly and consider supporting them at the links below: Indifly   Instagram   More! 

Joe Gugino has been making his way in the fly fishing world for years. From serving on Trout Unlimited’s headwaters board to his time as Costa Sunglasses’ Community & Conservation partnership Manager, Joe’s passion for connection and sustainability runs deep. Now, he's onto his next big chapter with the launch of Agave Co, a mission-driven creative agency he co-founded alongside longtime collaborators Hannah Trotter and Matt Shilling. Together, this all-star team is helping brands in the fishing and outdoor industries align with values that matter—conservation, authenticity, and community. In this episode of Emerging, Joe gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Agave Co.’s work with clients like Colby Acuff, whose new YouTube series Fin and Feather brings storytelling and fly fishing together, and Los Locos, whose Marlin Fly Project redefines conservation-based travel. Tune in for honest reflections, good stories, and some behind the scenes stories of how these projects arise. If you’re heading to Boston and want to hook into some striped bass (or stripaahhs, as Joe would say), he also runs Fish Boston—the #1 striper charter out of Boston Harbor. Whether you are in the city Joe will come pick you up to fish. Whether at the airport, casino, or downtown, Joe's got you covered!

Cheech needs no introduction within the fly fishing community. He's a teacher, fly shop owner, personality, and great dude. We caught up at the Denver Fly Fishing Show and had a great little chat, tune it for his great fishing advise!