The Backcountry Manifesto

Grizzly Bears! | Casey Anderson, the Grizzly Guy | Ep. 021

When it comes to grizzly bears, no one gets closer than Casey Anderson. In fact, for 19 years, Casey's best friend WAS a grizzly bear named Brutus, who Casey would regularly wrestle, ride, and use as a teaching tool at the Montana Grizzly Encounter, a grizzly bear rescue he co-founded in his 20s. Today, he took a break from his busy career as a TV personality and conservation content creator to swing by the studio and talk about grizzly bears, the conservation issues they face, what to do in the event of an attack, and how to prevent attacks in grizzly country. We talk about:
Casey's unusual grizzly attack
Bear body language and communication
Bonding with Brutus, the bear
Grizzly conservation
How to stay safe in Grizzly Country
Your questions answered!
Links Mentioned in this Episode
Casey Anderson's Youtube Channel
Casey Anderson's Instagram
Montana Grizzly Encounter
Our Episode with Rudy Noorlander
Our Episode with Aidan Beers
Connect!
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more: https://linktr.ee/Hayden_Sammak
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BackcountryManifesto
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch: https://outyondercompany.com/pages/shop-the-out-yonder-x-backcountry-manifesto-collab
Sponsors
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025

Harriet Tubman: Survivalist, Guide, and Spy | Pulitzer Prize Winner Dr. Edda Fields-Black | Ep. 020

Let's get something out of the way: your social studies teacher sucked and Harriet Tubman was way cooler than whatever you learned in 5th grade.
Dr. Edda Fields-Black, recent recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for her book, Combee, joins us in the studio to talk about the adventures of Tubman, who was not only a spy and underground railroad conductor, but also one of the most badass backcountry guides who ever lived.
From pulling guns on freedomseekers having second thoughts about their escape, to her role as a spy and leader in the Combahee River Raid during the Civil War, we dive into all the cool shit your teacher didn't tell you. In this episode, we talk about: 
How Harriet Tubman smuggled folks to freedom
Navigating the backwoods of Maryland by starlight 
Environmental hazards of the underground railroad 
Harriet Tubman's spy missions for the Union Army
How to retro-fit a passenger vessel into a gun boat
The Combahee river raid
Dr. Fields-Black's 2025 Pulitzer Prize winning book, Combee
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Edda Fields-Black's Pulitzer Prize winning book "Combee"
CONNECT!
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more: https://linktr.ee/Hayden_Sammak
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BackcountryManifesto
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch: https://outyondercompany.com/pages/shop-the-out-yonder-x-backcountry-manifesto-collab
 
SPONSORS Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout. Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025

The Delicate Art of Drugging Mountain Lions | Carnivore Biologist, Dr. Kristin Engebretsen | Ep. 019

Mountain lions roam nearly all corners of the western landscape, from the wildest reaches of the backcountry to our own backyards. They're even present in urban areas -- everyone's heard reports of mountain lions showing up in surprising places, like within Los Angelos city limits.
But how much do we know about these big cats? Do these large carnivores pose relatively little risk to humans and our pets? Is the presence of mountain lions something we should worry about? Could Ricky Bobby really drive with a cougar in the car?
In this episode, Hayden's friend Dr. Kristin Engebretsen drops by the studio to share what she's learned in the field and the lab studying these big cats. We talk about:
The journey of a scientist turned mountain lion expert
The biology and adaptations behind their stealth and strength
How the hell you get a collar on a lion
Using hounds to catch mountain lions
What it's like to dart a mountain lion
Where very heavily medicated mountain lions tend to fall asleep
Handling and studying the predators up close
How mountain lions share the landscape with us—and what that means for their future
Playing with cougar kittens up close
Mountain lion Q&A featuring YOUR questions!
 
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Brown Bears of Katmai, Wolves of Yellowstone | Dr. Aidan Beers | Ep. 018: https://youtu.be/f4EldpL9wnk
 
CONNECT!
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more: https://linktr.ee/Hayden_Sammak
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BackcountryManifesto
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch: https://outyondercompany.com/pages/shop-the-out-yonder-x-backcountry-manifesto-collab
 
SPONSORS Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout. Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
 
Featuring Kristin Engebretsen
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025

The Wolves of Yellowstone and More | Dr. Aidan Beers | Ep. 018

This week on the show, Hayden's friend Dr. Aidan Beers swings by for dinner and a podcast on what two of his favorite things: the wolves of Yellowstone National Park and the brown bears of Katmai, Alaska. They also talk about Aidan's journey to becoming a wildlife biologist and how you can get on a similar path. This podcast is full of interesting conversation and first-hand accounts surrounding large carnivores in some of the most famous areas of their range. Hayden and Aidan chat into the night about:
The Wolves of Yellowstone
Wolf Conservation
The Bears of Katmai National Park
Fat Bear Week
Hazing Giant Predators
Becoming a Biologist
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Six Months In Space | TBM Ep. 001: https://youtu.be/VU2N-N86uVs
The World's Most Brutal Trail Race | TBM Ep. 007: https://youtu.be/wxEpczLjQt8
Grizzly Man Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Man/dp/B01M747C6J
Black Bear Eats Kayak: https://youtu.be/nU5cMZymSr0
CONNECT
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more: https://linktr.ee/Hayden_Sammak
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BackcountryManifesto
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch: https://outyondercompany.com/pages/shop-the-out-yonder-x-backcountry-manifesto-collab
SPONSORS
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our partners at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
CREDITS
Featuring Aidan Beers
Production Assistance by John Stock
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025

El Cap: The First Ascents to the First Free Solo | John Long, Yosemite Rock Climbing Legend | Ep. 017

El Capitan is the most famous face in rock climbing, and it isn't even close. Fifty years ago, three climbers defied the odds, scaling El Capitan in a single day—a feat that redefined what’s possible in rock climbing.
In this special episode, starting at the Yosemite Climbing Museum and ending under the shadow of El Capitan, we sit down with John Long -- one of the legendary trio behind that historic 1975 ascent--to relive the adventure and reflect on El Cap's singular legacy. We climb into:
The bold plan to conquer El Cap in a day, hatched by Jim Bridwell with John Long and Billy Westbay
How Warren Harding’s grueling 1958 ascent set the stage for El Cap’s epic history
The rush of climbing 3,000 feet in 15 hours, fueled by honking horns and camp camaraderie
The evolution of El Cap feats, from Lynn Hill’s free ascent to Alex Honnold’s jaw-dropping free solo
John’s raw reflections on 50 years of climbing, loss, and staring down “the big stone”
Links Mentioned
Stonemasters Pt. 1
Stonemasters Pt. 2
Connect
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch
Our Partners
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
Featuring John Long
Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
Production Assistance by John Stock 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Jacob Knowles' Lobster Tales | Everyone's Favorite Lobster Fisherman Jacob Knowles | Ep. 016

Ever wondered what it’s like to haul lobster pots off the rugged Maine coast? In this episode of The Backcountry Manifesto, we sit down with Jacob Knowles, a fifth-generation lobster fisherman from Maine who’s reeled in a massive online following through his YouTube channel and TikTok videos documenting life on the water.
With the harbor in the background, our conversation dives deep into Jacob’s world. We cover:
The daily grind of a commercial lobster fisherman
The evolution of lobster traps—from wooden classics to modern wire designs
Conservation in action: tail notching, slot limits, and releasing egg-bearing lobsters
Jacob’s journey from boat deck to internet fame, blending tradition with modern storytelling
The challenges and joys of fishing, plus a glimpse at the co-op system that keeps it all running
Hopes for the future: lobster hatcheries, sustainability, and his kids joining the family trade
From the science of soft-shell lobsters to the pride of protecting oversized breeders, Jacob shares stories that connect generations of Mainers to the sea. Whether you’re a seafood lover, a conservation enthusiast, or just curious about life on the water, this episode has something for you.
Links Mentioned
Jacob Knowles on Youtube
Jacob Knowles on Instagram
Jacob Knowles on TikTok
Connect
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch
Our Partners
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
Featuring Jacob Knowles
Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
Production Assistance by John Stock 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Death on Everest Pt. 2: Face to Face with Mallory | Everest Historian Thom Pollard | Ep. 015

Today on the show, we're bringing you Part 2 of our conversation with Mount Everest Historian Thom Pollard. In Part 1, we told you all about the tragedy of the 1924 British expedition, which ultimately culminated in the deaths of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine. Today, we're talking with Thom about his first-hand experience on the 1999 expedition to find their bodies and coming face to face with Mallory himself. This is the story of perhaps the most controversial chapter in the history of the world's tallest mountain. In this episode, you'll hear about:
Thom Pollard's summit of Mount Everest
The 1999 expedition team
Aftermath and Fallout of the 1999 expedition
Search for Irvine's camera
What 75 years on Mount Everest does to a body
Did Thom take a photo of Mallory's face?
Links Mentioned
Everest Mystery Youtube Channel
The Happiness Quotient Podcast
Connect
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch
Our Partners
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
Featuring Thom Pollard
Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
Production Assistance by John Stock 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Death on Everest Pt. 1: George Mallory & Sandy Irvine | Everest Historian Thom Pollard | Ep. 014

Recently, National Geographic explorer Jimmy Chin was credited with the discovery of remains belonging to a climber named Sandy Irvine, a member of the 1924 British expedition that ended in tragedy with not only his death, but that of his partner, George Mallory. This week on the show, Thom Pollard of the popular Everest Mystery Youtube channel joins us to tell the full story of the ill-fated 1924 British expedition on Everest -- one of the most controversial and enigmatic mysteries on the worlds largest mountain. We talk about:
Who are George Mallory and Sandy Irvine?
Controversy over their summit attempt
Sandy Irvine's camera
The routes of Everest
What is the Everest Death Zone?
Early vs. Modern Alpine Gear
Links Mentioned
Everest Mystery Youtube Channel
Connect
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch
Our Partners
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
Featuring Thom Pollard
Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
Production Assistance by John Stock 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Fly Fishing for Beginners! | Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis | Ep. 013

This week, THE Tom Rosenbauer slides into the studio and offers his thoughts on how to get into fly fishing. Spoiler alert: fly fishing is not that hard. If you've ever been curious about how to get started as a fly fisherman, this episode is for you.
Links Mentioned
Orvis Fly Fishing Learning Center
Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast
Connect
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch
Our Partners
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
Featuring Tom Rosenbauer
Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
Production Assistance by John Stock 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

How to Build an Off-Grid Cabin | Matt Brenna of Alaska Cabin Adventures | Ep. 012

This week on The Backcountry Manifesto, we have Matt Brenna of the popular YouTube channel “Alaska Cabin Adventures” in studio to give you a crash course in building an off-grid cabin, from site selection to constructing an outhouse. Specifically, we cover:
Matt's Story from WA to AK
Finding Land on a Budget
Learning to Build
Building Blunders and How to Fix Them
Heating and Electricity Solutions
Sourcing and Managing Water Off-Grid
Outhouses, Composting, and Cabin Comfort
Building and Bathing like Alaskans Do
Why March and September Shine in Alaska
Crafting the Cabin on Wheels
The Bob Ross Effect
Convenience, Meaning, & the Joy of Building
Montana & the Spirit of the West
Music and Creativity: Matt's Journey
Links Mentioned
Alaska Cabin Adventures website
Alaska Cabin Adventures YouTube
Connect
Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch
Our Partners
Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
Featuring Matt Brenna, Alaska Cabin Adventures
Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
Production Assistance by John Stock 
“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA