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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.
45 Episodes
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Got questions? Send us a text! 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-world experience you can apply immediately. If you're heading into the moun...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 managing elk and deer populations. Richard shares years of hard-earn...
1Got questions? Send us a text! 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 frustration, grit, and a mission to solve a real problem. From early failur...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 of his family’s survival and culture. From growing up hunting in W...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 principles carried over into entrepreneurship. We dive into: • T...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 mountains reshaped his identity, humbled his pride, and ultimately led him i...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 hunting success. We talk about: Why mental toughness is built daily —...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 together than anyone else, and I’ve personally seen him make shots that most hunters simp...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 is a full behind-the-scenes look. We break down years of development, real-world testing across the globe, and the feedback that shaped every detail of these new products. You’ll get an exclusive first look at the Sawtooth Duff...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 for anyone who’s been telling themselves “I’ll start later.” We break down why preparation starts now, how discipline will always outlast motivation, and why the offseason is where successful hunters are truly made. This episo...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 takes it forward into how YOU get better—right now. In this conversation, Dan breaks down exactly what hunters should be doing in the offseason to fill more tags in 2026. From draw strategies and tag planning, to daily discipli...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 films, before the training programs, Dan was just a kid growing up in Washington—hunting with his dad, learning lessons the hard way, and slowly becoming obsessed with elk, the mountains, and the discipline it takes to succeed ...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 Peak Nutrition, the guys shift gears and recap their own hunting seasons — the highs, the lessons learned, and the encounters that shaped them this fall. Dennis walks through a jam-packed few months that included an unfor...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 consistent as a hunter year after year—from physical and mental preparation to decision-making in the mountains. We talk discipline, responsibility, leadership, faith, and why the work you put in long before the season matters more th...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 poles to teepees, titanium stoves to headlamps, Brice and Jeff open up about the multi-year development cycles, product failures, engineering breakthroughs, and the vision that drives PEAX to create gear that isn’t just “me too”—bu...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 through his transition from self-filming hunts to building a podcast that drew tens of thousands of listeners and introduced a new wave of long-form hunting content. We cover the film tour days, his first major break, learn...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 fastest-growing backcountry gear companies. This conversation goes far beyond gear. Brice and Jeff open up about faith, family, grief, risk, entrepreneurship, innovation, and what it takes to build something that lasts. Th...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 the mountain, why most hunters bonk under high-intensity output, how to time slow and fast digesting carbs, and why protein is often misunderstood in the field. He even shares the exact system he used on a 10-day Alaska sheep h...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 bodies. Kyle shares his powerful personal story—growing up with poor eating habits, reaching 270 pounds as a young man, and ultimately transforming his life through small, sustainable nutrition changes. That transformation sp...
Got questions? Send us a text! 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 opportunities in the elk woods to finally sealing his first bow kill on an Idaho antelope with his dad by his side, Tim’s story is one of grit, grace, and growth. We dive into how he rebuilt his confidence, the mental side of archery, and ...
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