The Fall Podcast

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Bryan Lemke of Almond Eye Productions, a seasoned field producer who’s spent years behind the lens capturing hunting stories across the country and around the world. Bryan got his start working alongside Pat Reeve from Driven TV, one of the original high-end storytellers in the outdoor television space. From those early days to building his own production company, Bryan has seen firsthand how the industry has evolved, and what it really takes to tell a compelling story in the field. In this episode, we dive into how Bryan broke into the industry, the reality that hunts never go as planned when a camera is involved, and how storytelling adapts on the fly. We also talk about how client expectations and deliverables have completely changed with the rise of social media and digital platforms. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into filming a hunt beyond the final edit, this episode gives you a real, behind-the-scenes look at the craft. Enjoy.

This week marks the launch of a brand new series on the podcast: Film The Fall, where we sit down with some of the best producers in the game to talk all things filming whitetail hunts. In this series, we dive into the gear they trust, the strategies behind capturing a hunt the right way, and what it really takes to turn a moment in the woods into a powerful story on screen. From close calls to once-in-a-lifetime encounters, we break down real hunts through the eyes of the guys behind the camera. To kick things off, we’re joined by Cody Cooper, a seasoned producer who’s worked with Lee & Tiffany on The Crush TV, Lee Ellis, and the Seek One crew. Cody walks us through his journey in the industry, how he got to where he is today, and what he’s learned along the way. We also take a deep dive into one of the most talked-about hunts in recent memory, Lee Ellis’ spot-and-stalk Kansas buck in the rain. Cody was behind the camera for that hunt, and in this episode, you’ll hear the full story from his perspective , the challenges, the decisions, and what it took to capture it all in the moment. If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into filming a whitetail hunt, this is one you won’t want to miss. Enjoy.

This week’s episode is a powerful conversation with three women who are making serious moves in the hunting industry. From building a business to chasing big game across the country, these women bring different perspectives but share the same passion for the outdoors. We sit down with Kuhle Archery Owner Rhonda Davenport who’s carving her own path in the industry, Corie Kerr a Pennsylvania-based hunter who runs her own production company and works behind the lens as a photographer, and Kaylee Urlacher a Washington state hunter who spends her time chasing deer and elk in the rugged backcountry. We dive into what it’s like being a woman in a male-dominated space, the challenges they’ve faced, the respect they’ve earned, and how the landscape of hunting is evolving.

This week I sit down with Josh Arbogast in the Chilli Buck Lounge for a face-to-face conversation that every Michigan deer hunter needs to hear. Josh has been leading the charge when it comes to pushing for real change in Michigan’s deer herd, and the timing of this episode couldn’t be more important. On April 8th, the Michigan NRC will be holding a meeting and the goal is simple: pack the room with as many Michigan deer hunters as possible and make our voices heard. We break down everything on the table right now—what a potential one-buck rule could look like statewide, moving gun season back, returning muzzleloader season to its original weapon restrictions, and going back to county-wide DMU doe harvest. We also dive into the idea of APR regulations and how shifting and shortening gun season could have a major impact on the future of Michigan whitetails. Josh brings a ton of data and statistics to this conversation numbers that are honestly pretty staggering and will make you think, no matter where you stand on these changes. Whether you’re for it, against it, or somewhere in the middle, this is a conversation you need to hear. More importantly, it’s one you need to act on. Show up. Be heard. The future of Michigan deer hunting depends on it.

This week’s episode is one I won’t forget. Jeremy Schaaf reached out to me back in December with an idea—to build a custom pedestal base for my Iowa buck. What started as a simple message turned into something way bigger. Jeremy designed it, built it by hand, and then drove 13 hours from South Dakota to my house… just to surprise me with it. In a world where a lot of things feel transactional, this was the complete opposite. Jeremy is not only an elite woodworker, but he’s the kind of guy you don’t come across very often anymore—genuine, humble, and as real as it gets. We get into his background, his passion for woodworking, his love for hunting, and what drives him to do things at a different level. This one is about more than just a mount—it’s about people.