Country Outdoors Podcast

Jason Matzinger and Tara Banks join Mary O’Neill Phillips on the Country Outdoors Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation from Bozeman, Montana about grizzly bears, hunting, conservation, wildlife art, outdoor storytelling, and the changing American West. Jason—creator of Into the High Country and the filmmaker behind the upcoming Walking With Grizzlies documentary—shares why the grizzly bear comeback in Montana and the Greater Yellowstone region has become one of the biggest conservation conversations in the West. They discuss bear recovery, increasing human-bear encounters, attack survivors, delisting, management, and the reality of living alongside grizzlies. Wildlife artist and self-taught bowhunter Tara Banks shares how she built a career through art and social media, learned to hunt independently, bowhunted her first whitetail, and turned a shared passion for the outdoors into adventures with Jason—from bear hunting in Montana to hunting ibex, mouflon, and fallow deer in Spain. They also explore the changing character of Bozeman and Jackson Hole, public-land pressure, western hunting, wolf reintroduction, elk herds, AI-generated content, authentic storytelling, documentary filmmaking, and why real experiences still matter. Topics covered: Jason Matzinger, Tara Banks, Country Outdoors Podcast, Mary O’Neill Phillips, grizzly bears, grizzly bear conservation, grizzly bear delisting, Walking With Grizzlies, Into the High Country, Montana hunting, bear attacks, bear management, Yellowstone, Bozeman Montana, Jackson Hole Wyoming, wolf reintroduction, public-land hunting, bowhunting, wildlife art, Spain hunting, outdoor filmmaking, conservation, hunting podcast, outdoor podcast.

Blue Ridge star Johnathon Schaech joins Mary O'Neill on Country Outdoors Podcast for an honest conversation about 12 years of sobriety, leaving Hollywood, faith, fatherhood, and building a new life in Nashville Tennessee. Known for playing Sheriff Justin Wise in Blue Ridge, as well as roles in That Thing You Do!, How to Make an American Quilt, and Houdini and many more! Johnathon shares the unlikely road from blue-collar Maryland to Hollywood—and the personal transformation that led him to choose family, recovery, and purpose over the life he once knew. Jonathan Schaech shares the deeply personal story of the sexual abuse he says he experienced early in his Hollywood career at the hands of director Franco Zeffirelli. He explains how hearing Rose McGowan speak publicly about Harvey Weinstein helped him understand the power dynamics, shame, and trauma surrounding his own experience.Jonathan reflects on finding his voice amid the broader #MeToo-era conversations around abuse, power, and accountability. In a moving exchange, host Mary O’Neill Phillips also shares her own experience as a survivor and the lasting impact it had on her relationship with faith and healing. Together, they have an honest conversation about trauma, sobriety, recovery, faith, and finding the strength to speak the truth and move forward with hope, healing, and family. Johnathon talks about Blue Ridge, what makes the series different, why family-friendly storytelling matters, and why he hopes the show continues. He also shares incredible stories about working with Maya Angelou, realizing he had been talking with Steven Spielberg on the set of How to Make an American Quilt, meeting Brad Pitt early in his career, and working with Tom Hanks. Beyond the screen, this is a conversation about dyslexia, faith, recovery, fatherhood, and becoming more present for the people who matter most. Johnathon reflects on sobriety, helping others through 12-step recovery, and why his move from Los Angeles to Nashville changed the direction of his life. In this episode: 12 years of sobriety and the road to recovery Johnathon Schaech on Blue Ridge and Sheriff Justin Wise Why he hopes Blue Ridge continues Why he left Los Angeles and moved his family to Nashville That Thing You Do!, Tom Hanks, Maya Angelou, Christina Applegate and Steven Spielberg The unexpected Chippendales audition that redirected his life Working on cult-classic Australian comedy movie "Welcome to Woop Woop " Dyslexia, acting, and learning to find your lane, or Vegetable... Fatherhood, faith, purpose, and building a better life Helping others through 12-step recovery and community OUR Partners : Solture Swimwear https://soltureswimwear.com BOG https://www.boghunt.com OnX Hunt https://bit.ly/3UyuOKN Mossy Oak https://store.mossyoak.com Content Advisory: This episode includes candid discussion of trauma, sexual assault, addiction, recovery, and mental health. Viewer discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or drug use, support is available: Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org Narcotics Anonymous: https://na.org Treatment and support: https://FindTreatment.gov U.S. & Canada crisis support: Call or text 988 Subscribe to Country Outdoors for real conversations with actors, musicians, athletes, outdoorsmen, and people living with purpose. Chapters 00:00:00 Johnathon Schaech on sobriety, faith & leaving Hollywood 00:02:24 Welcome Johnathon Schaech to Country Outdoors 00:03:09 How to Make an American Quilt & That Thing You Do! 00:04:36 Maya Angelou, Steven Spielberg & Hollywood stories 00:07:19 Growing up in Maryland & discovering acting 00:09:05 Dyslexia, acting school & finding his path 00:11:23 The Chippendales audition that changed everything 00:13:25 Roy London, Brad Pitt & Hollywood acting class 00:18:00 Fatherhood, family & getting older in Hollywood 00:19:03 Faith, sobriety & leaving Los Angeles for Nashville 00:21:16 Blue Ridge, Sheriff Justin Wise & a new chapter 00:21:43 Finding faith and community in Nashville 00:23:04 Content warning: trauma, faith & survivor support 00:28:06 12 years sober: addiction, healing & recovery 00:32:03 Faith, freedom & seeing life differently 00:35:51 Fatherhood, trauma & breaking generational cycles 00:40:38 Blue Ridge: family-friendly storytelling & Season 2 00:42:45 Blue Ridge fitness, action scenes & Sheriff Justin Wise 00:47:55 Marriage, faith & 12 years of sobriety 00:50:35 Helping others through 12-step recovery 00:54:45 Hollywood, Nashville & family life 00:58:23 Tom Hanks, Australia & career reflections 01:00:32 What Johnathon Schaech wants to be remembered for 01:02:02 Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous & recovery resources 01:02:57 Blue Ridge Season 1 & Season 2 #JohnathonSchaech #BlueRidge #BlueRidgeSeries #SheriffJustinWise #ThatThingYouDo #Sobriety #Recovery #Faith #Hollywood #Nashville #CountryOutdoors #metoo

Jacob Hackworth joins Country Outdoors host, Mary O'Neill to share the story behind writing Bailey Zimmerman’s No. 1 hit, “Rock and A Hard Place,” and his road from southern Missouri to Nashville. Jacob is a country artist and songwriter whose first major-label cut became a No. 1 song with Bailey Zimmerman. In this conversation, he takes us inside the songwriting journey that led to “Rock and A Hard Place,” what it was like hearing the record take off, and why he is now pursuing his own career as a country artist. Before Nashville, publishing deals, and writing hit songs, Jacob was a small-town Missouri kid raised around deer camp. He shares unforgettable stories from his early days deer hunting—his first rifle hunt with his mom, the buck that got away, buying his first Mathews bow after working construction and hauling hay, and the unexpected story behind his first bow kill. We also talk bowhunting, turkey hunting, public-land deer camp traditions, hunting with family, and the outdoor experiences that shaped who he is. Jacob also opens up about singing in church and school choir, posting early music videos, working long shifts building railroad track, learning guitar in hotel rooms, making the move to Nashville with his bandmates, working whatever jobs he could, and falling in love with the craft of songwriting before earning his first major breakthrough. In this episode: Jacob Hackworth on writing Bailey Zimmerman’s “Rock and A Hard Place” How a first major-label cut became his first No. 1 hit The reality of chasing country music and songwriting in Nashville From railroad work to country songwriting Jacob’s artist career and his next chapter in country music Southern Missouri deer camp and growing up in the outdoors His first deer hunt, a rifle malfunction, and the buck that got away Buying his first Mathews bow after hauling hay and working construction The hilarious truth behind his first bow kill Turkey hunting, public-land hunting, family hunting traditions, and conservation If you enjoy country music, Nashville songwriting stories, behind-the-scenes artist conversations, deer hunting, bowhunting, turkey hunting, and outdoor culture, subscribe to Country Outdoors for more conversations with the people shaping country music and the outdoors. Follow Jacob Hackworth: https://www.jacobhackworth.com Subscribe to Country Outdoors for conversations about hunting, fishing, farming, country life, western culture, outdoor adventure, and the people living it. https://linktr.ee/countryoutdoorsofficial Get Country Outdoors merch here! ➡️ https://countryoutdoors.com/shop ---------- OUR Partners : BOG https://www.boghunt.com OnX Hunt https://bit.ly/3UyuOKN Mossy Oak https://store.mossyoak.com Chapters 00:00:00 Jacob Hackworth’s first No. 1 hit 00:00:41 Jacob Hackworth joins Country Outdoors 00:01:56 Growing up in southern Missouri 00:03:52 First deer hunt with his mom 00:07:17 A lesson from the buck that got away 00:09:30 Getting into bowhunting 00:10:34 First bow kill story 00:14:34 Deer hunting ethics and hunter recruitment 00:15:35 Turkey hunting in Nashville 00:16:58 When Jacob Hackworth started songwriting 00:18:29 Singing “God Bless the Broken Road” as a kid 00:21:54 Posting country music covers on Instagram 00:23:19 Working on the railroad and learning guitar 00:24:56 Writing his first country songs 00:27:53 First songwriting advice in Nashville 00:28:30 Moving to Nashville to chase country music 00:30:21 Life as a struggling songwriter in Nashville 00:31:28 Writing “Rock and A Hard Place” for Bailey Zimmerman 00:33:12 The story behind Jacob’s first major-label cut 00:36:00 How “Rock and A Hard Place” became a No. 1 hit #JacobHackworth #BaileyZimmerman #RockAndAHardPlace #CountryMusic #CountrySongwriter #DeerHunting #Bowhunting #Nashville

Brett Maverick and Brayden Pridemore from Farmer Wants a Wife join Mary O'Neill on Country Outdoors to talk life after the show—relationships, farming, hunting, bull riding, concussions, CTE, and neurofeedback. Brett and Brayden share what Farmer Wants a Wife was really like, from intense filming days and life around the cameras to long-distance relationships, family farms, cattle, horses, and what it takes to stay rooted in rural life. They also get into Illinois big bucks, turkey hunting, duck hunting, fishing, bull riding, rodeo injuries, brain health, and Brett’s personal experience with neurofeedback after years of concussions. Plus: music, songwriting, business ventures, and what both guys are building after the show.

Eva Shockey joins Mary O'Neill on Country Outdoors for an honest conversation about becoming the second woman featured on the cover of Field & Stream, women in hunting, bowhunting, motherhood, and building a legacy of her own. Eva reflects on growing up in the Shockey family, finding her path in the outdoor world, learning to hunt on camera, and navigating the pressure of being one of hunting’s most recognizable women. She also shares thoughts on family, faith, travel, marriage, authenticity, and making outdoor life work alongside motherhood. In this episode: • Eva’s Field & Stream milestone • Growing up with Jim and Louise Shockey • Starting to hunt after college • Her first hunt in Africa • Being “the only girl” in hunting • Bowhunting, motherhood, and career • Building an independent path and legacy Follow Eva Shockey: https://evashockey.com Follow Country Outdoors: https://linktr.ee/countryoutdoorsoffi CHAPTERS 00:00 Eva Shockey: Women in Hunting 00:57 Welcome Eva Shockey 01:43 Moving to Franklin, Tennessee 05:11 Growing Up in the Shockey Family 12:47 Wild Game and Outdoor Upbringing 13:45 Starting to Hunt After College 16:54 First Hunt in Africa 18:22 Learning to Hunt on Camera 19:08 Being the Only Girl in Hunting 22:14 Lessons From Jim Shockey 23:10 Creating Her Own Path 27:22 Bowhunting, Motherhood, and Career