Ep. 164. Stoking Embers: Dr. Matt Lewis, Redeye Bass and some regrets
On this episode of The Storied Outdoors, we welcome Dr. Matthew Lewis—fisheries scientist, writer, and one of the leading voices in Southern fly fishing.
Matt takes us deep into the waters of Alabama as we explore his newest book, Alabama’s Best Fly Fishing: Complete Guide to the State's Best Fly Fishing. From childhood adventures in Geneva to his surprising career shift from human genetics to native fish conservation, Matt shares the stories, science, and soul behind Alabama’s most overlooked fisheries.
We talk redeye bass, small-stream magic, the craft of writing a guidebook, and the sacred responsibility of caring for wild places. Whether you're a seasoned angler or someone who simply loves the outdoors, this episode offers a rich look at the waters that shape the South—and the stories waiting in every riffle and bend.
Grab a cup of hot chocolate and cozy up by the fire for this episode of The Storied Outdoors as Brad Hill reads “Hidden Wonders,” a short story written by Dr. Bryan Gill. “Hidden Wonders” follows the Heatherford’s, a family whose plans were thwarted by an unexpected blizzard that grounded all southbound flights out of New York—including theirs. With limited options, they decide to drop in on their eccentric Uncle Doc for the holidays. While this was not their original plan for Christmas, it might just be the one they needed to restore their children’s fading Christmas spirit. We hope you enjoy this story and have a Merry Christmas!Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure. We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.
One of Bryan’s mentors, Calvin Miller once wrote, “Much of Christmas’ beauty is in its sameness. The same traditions. The same meals. The same songs. The same story. Yet each Christmas is a little different.” Just like your favorite Christmas movies and songs are played and replayed each year, we’re replaying four of our past Christmas story episodes as well as a brand new Christmas story for you this season. Play them while you’re driving to see family and friends, while you’re tying flies, or wrapping those last minute presents.
This story, written by Dr. Bryan Gill and read by Brad Hill, is brand new and entitled “Christmas Jubilee.” It’s a story about a young boy who spends the week of Christmas with his grandparents on Mobile Bay. While he’s there, he casts a net for shrimp, sets traps for crabs, and fishes for speckled trout from his grandparents’ pier. He also finds himself trying to help fix a feud between his Pawpaw and neighbor. He soon finds out that this feud is too big for him to fix by himself and without a Christmas miracle, his Christmas vacation on Mobile Bay as well as his Pawpaw’s friendship with his neighbor might be ruined.
We hope you enjoy this new story and some “sameness” during this Christmas miniseries. And from Brad and Bryan at the Storied Outdoors, Merry Christmas!
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Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for 20% of online and in store.
Questions or comments email thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com we would love to hear from you.
Music Written and recorded by Brad Hill
“One Horse Open Sleigh” by Dr. Bryan Gill is inspired by the original lyrics of “Jingle Bells,” that read, “A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride And soon, Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side…” Bryan wrote this story about two little girls and a mahogany Clydesdale that loved nothing more than pulling a shiny red sleigh in the snow. The horse changes the lives of the little girls, but that’s not the only transformation that takes place. Enjoy this story that takes a peek into the fictional life of the iconic Christmas card image of a horse-drawn sleigh. Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure. We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.
The Christmas Pageant (A Christmas Story) by Dr. Bryan Gill is the story of a sweet family trying to figure out how to navigate the holidays after a tragic accident that took their mother and left their son disabled. After a resurgence of the town’s Christmas Pageant that reunites a town, this family finds a way to redeem their sadness with new Christmas traditions. We hope you enjoy this Christmas episode written by Dr. Bryan Gill and read by Brad Hill. Intro music is also presented by Brad Hill.Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure. We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.
The Fox and the Fawn, by Dr. Bryan Gill, is a whimsical story about a little girl and her father’s never-ending love for her. Brad Hill masterfully reads this story and makes the characters come alive. We hope you’ll enjoy this heartwarming Christmas story, The Fox and the Fawn.
Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in-store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure.
We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.
Season 11 Reflections, Christmas Stories, and Adventures | The Storied Outdoors Podcast
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s hard to believe just how full this year has been. In this special episode, Bryan and Brad settle into the regal lodge at Turkey Creek near Jasper, Alabama, surrounded by towering Alabama whitetail bucks and other unforgettable taxidermy, to look back on the highlights of Season 11 of The Storied Outdoors.
From cooking wild game with Jeremiah Doughty of Field to Plate, to epic bear hunts and conservation conversations with Dr. Jenkins of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, to the deeply inspiring story of Dr. Rachael Hagues and the founding of the Girls School in Tanzania, the guys revisit the moments that made this season unforgettable.
With Christmas just around the corner, Bryan and Brad also preview upcoming Christmas week stories, tease future guests still to come this season, and share powerful reflections from their recent mission trips to Central America and the Dominican Republic. Along the way, Brad recounts a harrowing (and humorous) customs experience—navigating the process with the shrewdness of a snake and the innocence of a dove—and both hosts reflect on the lessons learned through travel, service, and time spent abroad.
If you’re new to The Storied Outdoors Podcast, this episode is a perfect place to jump in. We hope these Christmas-week stories invite you into wonder, reflection, and a Merry Christmas.
Finally, thank you. Your continued support—especially through reviews and ratings—means more to us than you know. These small acts make a big difference in helping the podcast grow, and we are deeply grateful.
We’d love to hear from you.📧 Email us: thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com
Bryan and Brad gather around the figurative campfire to reignite the warmth and wonder of their recent conversation with Dr. Rachael Hagues—a remarkable scholar, adventurer, and cherished friend of The Storied Outdoors. In this reflective episode, the guys look back with awe at Rachael’s extraordinary work in Tanzania, where she helped launch a transformative girls’ school that continues to shape lives and empower communities. Her vision, perseverance, and faith-driven courage shine through every part of her story.
They also revisit her spontaneous, grit-filled decision to climb Mount Kilimanjaro—a summit she tackled with little preparation but an abundance of heart. Her journey up Africa’s highest peak becomes a backdrop for deeper reflection on resilience, calling, and the unexpected adventures that shape who we become.
So pull up a chair, lean in, and enjoy this fireside-style debrief as Bryan and Brad reflect on the lessons, inspiration, and laughter shared with an extraordinary woman who continues to make a lasting impact.
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Join us as Dr. Rachel Hagues shares the powerful story behind Tumaini Jipya Girls’ School in Tanzania—nearly twenty years of research, partnership, prayer, and perseverance. From community-led vision to opening day, her journey blends faith, justice, and education. Rachel also reflects on her Kilimanjaro climb and how wilderness moments shape the stories God is writing in our lives.
Ep. 160: Stoking Embers: More Than a Hunt: The Heart and Hospitality of FowlCo Outfitters
The guys sit down to stir up and stoke he embers of the conversation with Josh Teff from FowlCo Outfitters. The level of hospitality they employ at Fowlco is inspiring and a big part of our conversation. We discuss the importance of knowing people's names. Reminisce about guide experiences and how a guide who understands hospitality really enhances your experience.
Episode Show Notes — FowlCo Outfitters: World-Class Waterfowl Hunting & Hospitality
Today on The Storied Outdoors, we welcome the team from FowlCo Outfitters—purveyors of world-class outdoor recreation and hospitality. Based in Oklahoma, FowlCo has become one of the most respected names in waterfowl hunting, blending premier guided experiences with unmatched southern hospitality.
Founders Josh Teff and John David Blagg join us to share how FowlCo grew from a shared passion for the outdoors, a commitment to meaningful relationships, and a deep reverence for the Creator’s handiwork. With more than 100 years of combined guiding experience, the FowlCo staff has crafted an environment where guests don’t just hunt—they feel at home, become part of the family, and take stories with them that last a lifetime.
From crisp sunrise hunts and chef-prepared meals to their lodge’s signature Speakeasy and fire-pit gatherings, FowlCo’s blend of excellence and authenticity has shaped countless unforgettable adventures.
How FowlCo’s philosophy emphasizes connection—to God, nature, and people—and how this vision reshaped their entire outfitting experience.
“Here’s the path, all you have to do is walk down it.” —Josh Teff
Returning guests often feel more like family. Josh and John David share stories of genuine friendships formed through years of hunting together.
“Putting emphasis on people is THE most important thing we can do.”
How chef-inspired meals, lodge design, atmosphere, and intentional spaces—like the Speakeasy and fire-pit—help create “moments” that deepen the experience.
The spiritual and emotional dimension of pursuing wild game, and how awe, gratitude, and wonder shape their personal walk with God.
“I go from wanting to go… to I get to go.”
Unforgettable stories, hard-earned wisdom, and memorable mishaps—including a fully sunk tractor and an icy sprint to flag down a passing boat.
What moments and memories always resurface when the guides sit down together after a long season.
FowlCo is a premier waterfowl outfitter located in Oklahoma, offering guided duck and goose hunts with a focus on hospitality, faith, and unforgettable experiences. From culinary excellence to curated lodge environments, FowlCo has become a destination where guests return year after year—not just to hunt, but to belong.
In This Episode We Discuss: Hunting as Connection, Not Just Bag Limits• Why Relationships Are the Heart of FowlCo• Hospitality as Storytelling• Experiencing the Creator Through the Outdoors• Lessons From a Century of Guiding• The Stories the Crew Tells Around the Fire About FowlCo Outfitters
Stoking Embers | Reflections on Our Conversation with Dr. Chris Jenkins
In this Stoking Embers episode, we look back on our conversation with Dr. Chris Jenkins—conservationist, biologist, hunter, and CEO of The Orianne Society. Our time with Chris lingered long after recording, stirring reflections on the connection between wild landscapes, the creatures that inhabit them, and the stories that shape us.
We talk about the significance of tending to the wild places that form our identity, the beauty in paying attention to the overlooked things of creation, and how spending time outdoors shapes the soul. And yes—we revisit a few of Chris’s epicbear hunting stories from the Appalachian Mountains and the backcountry of Idaho, and what those moments taught us about courage, humility, and wonder.
The Orianne Society — Conservation of reptiles & amphibians:
https://www.oriannesociety.org
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers — Public lands & waters conservation:
https://www.backcountryhunters.org
Snake Talk with Dr. Chris Jenkins (Podcast):
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snake-talk/id1501749931
Stoking Embers is our space to slow down, reflect, and revisit the conversations that continue to shape us—long after the microphones are off.
Learn more about Chris and the work mentioned in this reflection:
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Chris Jenkins—conservationist, biologist, storyteller of the wild, and CEO of The Orianne Society, a nonprofit working to conserve reptiles and amphibians across the Southeast. Chris also serves on the Board of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, where he advocates for protecting wild places and public lands for future generations.
From tracking Eastern Indigo Snakes through longleaf pine forests to bear hunts in the Appalachian backcountry and the rugged mountains of Idaho, Chris shares the stories, landscapes, and defining experiences that have shaped his life’s work.
What We Discuss
* Chris’s childhood influences and the call toward conservation
* The **Nantahala Mountains** and their lasting effect on his identity
* Why reptiles and amphibians matter—and what they tell us about ecosystem health
* Life in the field 150+ days a year and the clarity that comes with immersion
* Reconciling science and wonder, data and awe
* How hunting and biology can coexist in harmony
* Memorable bear hunts, close calls, and lessons learned in the wild
* The responsibility and joy of stewarding wild places
About Our Guest
Dr. Chris Jenkins is the CEO of The Orianne Society and a board member of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. His work focuses on habitat restoration, species conservation, and thoughtful connection to the landscapes that shape our stories.
Learn more about The Orianne Society:
(https://www.oriannesociety.org)
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers:
(https://www.backcountryhunters.org)
Connect with The Storied Outdoors
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Show Notes — Stoking Embers with Jeremiah Doughty
In this episode, we introduce a new format on The Storied Outdoors that we’re calling “Stoking Embers.” The name, sparked during a brainstorm with our friend Hank Hershey, captures what we’ve always aimed to do—find clarity in the stories we tell and the adventures that shape us. These episodes are our chance to slow down, sit with what we heard in the previous conversation, and let the embers of those stories warm us just a little longer.
This week, Bryan and Brad sit down after a rich and mouthwatering conversation with Jeremiah Doughty of From Field to Plate. Jeremiah is a wild game chef, hunter, and storyteller who shared not only his passion for ethical and intentional hunting, but also a long list of recipes that had us hungry before the episode wrapped.
In this Stoking Embers reflection, we talk about:
The recipes and cooking methods Jeremiah shared during the interview
How wild game preparation has shaped our own tables and memories
The connection between food, story, and gratitude
Why taking time to reflect after a good conversation helps the story settle deeper
We also share a few of our own favorite wild game dishes—and would love to hear yours.
We want these Stoking Embers episodes to be conversations with you, not just for you.
What resonated?
What challenged you?
What sparked something deeper?
Send us a message and let us know.
We’re always looking to connect with people whose lives reflect wonder, courage, curiosity, and love for the outdoors.
If someone came to mind, introduce us.
Thanks for listening, and for tending the fire with us.
Keep your eyes open.
Your stories are shaping you.
Let’s pay attention together.
What Stood Out to You? Know Someone With a Story Worth Sharing?
Episode Title: From Field to Plate with Jeremiah Doughty
“The real trophy is the one you put on your plate.”
Show Notes:
In this episode of The Storied Outdoors, we sit down with Jeremiah Doughty—wild game chef, hunter, and founder of From Field to Plate. After developing a beef allergy, Jeremiah turned fully to wild game and discovered more than a new way to feed his family—he found a calling. Through his hands-on schools, writing, and his podcast Tasting Wild, Jeremiah teaches others to harvest, butcher, and cook their own food, reminding us that the true trophy isn’t on the wall—it’s the meal shared at the table.
We talk about:
Jeremiah’s roots in Southern California and how his love for dove hunting sparked a lifelong passion for the outdoors.
The journey from beef allergy to a field-to-table mission.
What it really means when he says, “The real trophy is the one you put on your plate.”
How his 4-day hunting, butchering, and cooking school in South Texas transforms the way people view food and faith.
Lessons from his devotional Game & Grace—how hunting reveals deeper truths about gratitude, stewardship, and grace.
This conversation explores the intersection of faith, food, and the wild. Jeremiah reminds us that honoring the hunt and giving thanks for every harvest can bring us closer to creation—and the Creator.
Connect with Jeremiah Doughty:
Website & Links: linktr.ee/fromfieldtoplate
Instagram: @fromfieldtoplate
Listen & Subscribe:
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Season 11 kicks off with new adventures from Jekyll Island to the White River, a fresh series called Stoking Embers, and big news ahead. Join Brad Hill and Bryan Gill for stories of faith, adventure, and reflection.
In this heartfelt season finale of The Storied Outdoors, Bryan and Brad sit down to reflect on the remarkable guests and memorable essays that made Season Ten so special. From deep conversations to inspiring stories, they revisit the moments that left a lasting impact—and share what they’ve learned along the way.
In classic Storied Outdoors fashion, this episode also takes a few scenic detours. Bryan shares about a recent family trip to Jekyll Island, GA, and a peaceful birding outing with friend Damian Bankhead. The two co-hosts also catch up on life, laughter, and what’s on the horizon for the podcast.
Plus, don’t miss the exciting announcement about the future of The Storied Outdoors, and a quick reminder—only 7 more hat preorders needed to bring the next batch to life!
This episode is both a reflective snapshot of a full season and a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the friendship that fuels the storytelling.
Episode Summary:
In this deeply moving episode, co-host Bryan Gill shares a reflective and emotional story of guiding his teenage son through his first deer hunt. A Father’s Charge is more than just an account of a hunting trip—it's a meditation on legacy, manhood, reverence for life, and the sacred responsibility of fathers to lead with both courage and tenderness.
Set in the quiet, golden light of a frosty Alabama morning, Bryan recounts the moments of anticipation, a whispered prayer, and the irreversible stillness that follows a successful shot. With vivid storytelling and honest emotion, this episode explores the tension and beauty of passing on a tradition that shapes character and invites young men into a deeper awareness of their place in creation.
In This Episode:
The emotional weight of a first hunt
The sacred nature of taking life
How the outdoors can be a space for spiritual formation
What it means to be a father raising a son
Reflections on legacy, reverence, and responsibility
Whether you're a hunter, a parent, or simply someone drawn to stories that matter, this episode offers something meaningful to hold on to.
🔗 Links & Resources:
Website: thestoriedoutdoors.com
Watch on YouTube: The Storied Outdoors Channel
Follow us on Instagram: @thestoriedoutdoors
Legacy, Leadership & the Moose Story – A Conversation with Dr. Jay Wolf
Episode Description:Dr. Jay Wolf served as Pastor of First Baptist Montgomery for nearly 30 years and now continues his Kingdom work as Pastor Emeritus. In this episode of The Storied Outdoors, we sit down with Dr. Wolf to talk about life, legacy, leadership, and a few unforgettable stories—like how the amazing story of his daughter-in-law's healing makes his epic Moose Hunt look like a mouse.
Raised as the son of a cowboy in Texas, Dr. Wolf shares how his roots shaped his faith and calling. From his first deer to his philosophy of family discipleship—“If you hunt with your son, you won’t have to hunt for your sons”—Jay emphasizes the deep importance of relationships and outdoor moments that form lasting bonds.
We also explore his global mission work, his passion for Christ-centered service, and what’s next as he continues supporting ministries like Hope Heals, led by his son and daughter-in-law.
This is a rich, meaningful, and often hilarious conversation with a man who embodies what it means to Fix Your Eyes on Jesus.
🎙️ Topics Covered:
Growing up cowboy-style in Texas
The first deer hunting story
An Epic Moose Story
Family, discipleship, and outdoor ministry
His current mission work and future adventures
🔑 Quote of the Episode:“Relationship is the meat and marrow of life.”