The MeatEater Podcast
MeatEater
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 13, 2026 • 43min
Ep. 876: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCXVI
Alex Plachta, MeatEater team member and trivia regular. Randall Williams, longtime outdoorsman and trivia stalwart. They banter through rapid-fire hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking cuts, gear history, woodsmanship, and wildlife lore. Lively rounds, folklore stories, technical tidbits, and a charity-winning finish keep it fast and fun.
May 12, 2026 • 1h 38min
Ep. 875: Grizz Attack, Mountain Lions Rebound, and a $44K Walleye
Sam Forsag, former smokejumper and union leader running in Montana, talks about his firefighting career and what pushed him into politics. Conversation jumps to recent grizzly attacks at national parks. They also cover mountain lions rebounding in the Midwest and a $44K walleye contest controversy in Iowa.
May 11, 2026 • 1h 37min
Ep. 874: How To Start A Bison Ranch
Matt Skoglund, founder of North Bridger Bison and former environmental policy worker, runs a field‑harvested bison operation near Bozeman. He explains leaving law for ranching, private herds’ role in conservation, Yellowstone bison management, and wildlife‑friendly fencing and grazing practices. The conversation covers starting a bison business, field harvest logistics, and reconnecting food with stewardship.
May 7, 2026 • 1h 56min
Ep. 873: Clovis First, Saving The Great Lakes, and the World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing
Brian Lynn, VP of Marketing and Communications at Sportsmen’s Alliance, dives into Washington’s Game Commission controversy. They discuss alleged collusion, deleted records, and legal fights. Conversation also covers Idaho hunting tech bans, saving Great Lakes whitefish, Clovis-first debates, and the world’s largest wildlife crossing.
May 6, 2026 • 54min
Ep. 872: Game On, Wives! MeatEater Trivia CCXV
Katie Finch, longtime spouse of Steven Rinella and familiar voice in the MeatEater community, joins a lively trivia showdown. The group tackles ten rapid-fire rounds on topics from national parks and Carhartt lore to seaweed, coconut crabs, and hunting stats. Fun banter, family stories, and tight tiebreakers keep the energy high throughout.
18 snips
May 4, 2026 • 1h 49min
Ep. 871: Are Birds Actually Dinosaurs?
Steve Brusatte, paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and bestselling author, brings big-picture deep-time storytelling. He explains why modern birds are technically dinosaurs, recounts feathered fossil discoveries and preserved coloration, and discusses fossil rarity, dinosaur survival traits after the asteroid, and how flight and beaks shaped bird evolution.
15 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 1h 33min
Ep. 870: Chimp Wars, Cocaine Hippos, and Steve Destroys Animal Rights People
Katie Lane, a Montana rancher who runs Lane Legacy Beef, shares her work producing and selling grass-fed, direct-to-consumer beef. They cover ranch economics, processing and delivery logistics. Conversation touches on virtual fencing and practical strategies for keeping a cow-calf operation profitable.
Apr 29, 2026 • 48min
Ep. 869: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCXIV
Brody Henderson, a strong trivia panelist and outdoors personality; Janis Putelis, regular trivia panelist known for witty banter; Yanni Chimani, outdoor commentator with a sharp sense of humor. They trade lively banter, tackle rapid-fire hunting, fishing, and wildlife trivia, tease Blood Trails season two, and celebrate a perfect-game conservation moment. High-energy, funny, and fast-paced.
Apr 28, 2026 • 1h 14min
Ep. 868: Clay and Bear’s Alaskan Coast Black Bear Hunt | 12 in '26
Clay Newcomb, outdoor writer, hunter, and filmmaker who favors traditional weapons, and his son Bear Newcomb, a young hunter featured in the film, dive into their Southeast Alaska coastal black bear hunt. They talk boat logistics and shrimping life, Clay’s Osage self-bow and 10-yard limits, rainy gear challenges, stalk tactics and the shot that broke a broadhead. They reflect on transporting meat, primitive skinning tools, and hunting with family.
Apr 27, 2026 • 1h 40min
Ep. 867: Jim Zumbo - An Outdoor Legend at 85
Jim Zumbo, veteran outdoor writer, biologist, TV host and author, reflects on a life spent hunting, writing, and teaching. He recounts early naturalist adventures, landmark hunting stories like the Colorado grizzly and world‑record whitetail, gear and rifle memories, the rise of the cow call, firewood obsession, health setbacks, and his bestselling hunting books.
