Podcast
In Pursuit
Hosted by MeatEater · EN
In Pursuit is your definitive guide to fitness and performance in the wild. Hosted by Rich Froning, four-time CrossFit Games champion and founder of CrossFit Mayhem. This show goes beyond the hunt, diving into what drives us to test our limits in the backcountry and beyond. Each episode features raw, wide-ranging conversations with athletes, hunters, doctors, and thought leaders, from the gym to the lab to the wilderness, connecting the grit of mountain hunting to the pursuit of something deeper: purpose, resilience, and human potential in the wild.
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 46: Spike Camp - Fueling for the Backcountry
1w ago00:35:17Tap to summarizeRich, Scott, and Jeff break down their approach to backcountry nutrition, hydration, caffeine, and camp meals. They share lessons learned from DIY hunts and guided trips, the mistakes they've made, and the simple systems that keep them going when the days get long. From peanut butter sandwiches to freeze-dried meals and everything in between, this episode is packed with practical advice for your next hunt. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 45: Jake Dalton - Olympian Turned Bowhunter
2w ago00:56:34Tap to summarizeThis week on In Pursuit, Rich sits down with two-time Olympian Jake Dalton to talk about life after chasing greatness. Jake spent more than two decades in gymnastics, competing at the highest level and representing Team USA at the Olympic Games. But after retirement, he found himself searching for a new challenge. That search led him to the mountains, where fly fishing, bowhunting, and the pursuit of hard things became the next chapter. The conversation covers everything from the pressure of competing on the world stage to the lessons learned through failure, fatherhood, and finding purpose beyond sport. Jake shares the highs and lows of his first successful mule deer and elk hunts, including the nerves, mistakes, and moments that make bowhunting unforgettable. Rich and Jake also dive into why high performers are drawn to challenge, how the outdoors sharpens the mind, and why the best memories are often built alongside family and friends. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 44: Spike Camp - Preparing New Hunters
3w ago00:36:45Tap to summarizeOn this episode of In Pursuit, Rich Froning recaps the first Mayhem Hunt Prep Camp in Colorado. From a 24-hour mountain bike race in Amarillo straight into 11 days in the mountains, the crew breaks down what it took to build a camp designed around real backcountry preparation. The episode covers mock pack outs, land navigation, reading topo maps, shooting bows and rifles at distance, gear lessons, altitude workouts, glassing, bushwhacking, and the reality of what it takes to get an animal off the mountain. Rich and the crew also share stories from camp, lessons learned from the athletes who came out, and what they would build into next year’s version, including overnight backcountry work and mock hunts. Fitness matters, but being ready in the backcountry takes more than being in shape. This episode is all about preparation, toughness, and learning the skills before the stakes are real. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 43: Jeff Helm - Four Bulls in One Year
Jun 400:47:57Tap to summarizeThis week on In Pursuit, Rich and Angelo sit down with Jeff Helm, a Michigan native turned Texas hunter, guide, entrepreneur, and all-around outdoorsman. Jeff shares how a kid shooting birds out of the backyard bird feeder became a bowhunter who has now taken more than 30 bulls, including four elk in a single season. From DIY backcountry elk hunts to guiding free-range Axis deer in Texas, Jeff breaks down the lessons learned from decades of chasing animals across the country. The conversation goes far beyond hunting. Jeff opens up about fatherhood, raising his son Jake in the outdoors, the value of shared suffering, and why some of life's most important conversations happen on the drive home from a hunt. They also discuss building community through archery, launching Arrowheads Bowhunting Company, and how hunting has a way of revealing what truly matters. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 42: Spike Camp - How to Pace Yourself in the Backcountry
May 2800:46:24Tap to summarizeOn this episode of In Pursuit, Rich is joined by Jeff Dodds and Angelo Dicicco. They sit down for another Spike Camp episode to talk through one of the most overlooked parts of western hunting: pacing yourself. From training and rucking to e-scouting, nutrition, recovery, and knowing when to push versus when to back off, this episode is packed with practical advice for anyone getting ready for hunt season. They break down what it actually feels like to spend long days in the mountains, how fitness impacts decision making in the field, and why being underprepared can ruin a hunt before it ever really starts. The guys also share stories from past hunts, lessons learned the hard way, thoughts on training with your hunting partners, and why the mental side of hunting can be just as challenging as the physical side. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 41: Pete Nelson - The Hidden Benefits of the Sauna
May 2101:03:08Tap to summarizeThis week on In Pursuit with Rich Froning, Rich, Angelo, and Pete Nelson from SISU Sauna get into ultra running, sauna and cold plunge, fasting, faith, youth sports, and the value of having good people around you when things get hard. Pete shares stories from a 75-mile ultra in Joshua Tree. Rich recaps the Mayhem 50-mile relay and the reality of trying to hold it together through the middle of the night. They talk recovery, discipline, competition, raising kids, and the kind of accountability that only comes from being surrounded by people who won’t let you quit. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Introducing: Future Wild
May 2000:01:00Tap to summarizeFuture Wild is a one-on-one interview podcast pairing host, author, and outdoorsman Mark Kenyon and world-class subject matter experts to explore topics relevant to the future of wildlife and wild places, hunting and fishing, and other outdoor pursuits. Future Wild is here to answer the questions being asked by the deeply curious and passionate in the hunting, angling, and outdoor communities. Follow now for the first episode, featuring Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard, dropping on Wednesday, May 27th on the Cal of the Wild podcast feed, soon to be called MeatEater Conservation. Thanks to our sponsor, Conservation First Bank. Follow Future Wild on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon. Connect with Mark Kenyon and MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube ClipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 40: Spike Camp - Axis Deer Hunt
May 1400:54:45Tap to summarizeThis week on In Pursuit, Rich Froning and the crew head to Texas chasing free range axis deer with Perennial Outfitters. What starts with a perfect shot turns into a long track, pouring rain, and a reminder that hunting rarely goes according to plan. The guys talk through the highs, lows, missed opportunities, good laughs, and what keeps them coming back anyway. They get into spot and stalk hunting in Texas, learning from guides, preparing for the mountains, and why time in the field matters. There is plenty of chaos, cactus, bad luck, redemption, and the kind of stories that only happen when you are hunting with your buddies. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 39: Christian Huff - Balancing Family Life and Hunting
May 701:00:50Tap to summarizeChristian Huff joins Rich to talk about faith, hunting, fitness, and what it looks like to pursue something with purpose. They get into Christian’s late start in hunting, his growing love for deer season, the humbling side of bowhunting, and why training for something matters. They also talk about David, discipline, fatherhood, and how the outdoors has a way of pointing you back to what matters most. It’s a fun conversation with plenty of laughs, missed shots, big goals, and a real look at the kind of work that shapes a man. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Ep. 38: Spike Camp - Bulletproof Your Body for the Mountains
Apr 3000:57:42Tap to summarizeJoin Rich Froning and the Mayhem Hunt Crew in a new Spike Camp episode, It's a practical conversation on building a body that can handle the demands of the backcountry. Rich sits down with AJ Wilkerson of 931 Performance Therapy to cover ankle stability, stronger knees, low back health, shoulder durability, and how to train for real world hunting demands. They get into rucking, prehab, single leg strength, eccentric loading, and simple ways to build resilience before season starts. This episode is packed with actionable tools to help you prepare better, move better, and hold up when the load gets heavy. Connect with Rich Froning MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to The MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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