Shawn Ryan Show #237: Steven Rinella – Founder of MeatEater

Release Date: September 18, 2025
Guest: Steven Rinella
Host: Shawn Ryan

Episode Overview

This rich and candid episode features Steven Rinella, renowned outdoorsman, author, and founder of MeatEater, Inc. Shawn Ryan and Steven dive deep into the ethics of hunting, wildlife conservation, indigenous hunting traditions, America’s hunting history, public land policy, balancing wilderness with family, and more. Steven shares riveting, often humorous stories from his global adventures, reflects on raising “gritty” kids, and offers direct insights into the evolving world of hunting and conservation—always maintaining the show’s ethos of unvarnished, real talk.

Key Discussion Points

1. Early Adventures & Extreme Meals

• Indigenous Hunting in South America (03:01 – 07:34)
  Steven recounts life-changing experiences hunting with indigenous tribes in Guyana and Bolivia—including resourceful ammunition hacks and eating monkey meat.

  • "These guys like red howler monkeys... sitting there eating that monkey meat and it was like, I can eat anything, man. I'll eat anything. But eating monkey meat was, yeah, eating monkey meat was a, was a tougher meal." – Steve Rinella (06:20)

• Culinary Extremes (08:27 – 11:59)
  Stories about eating unconventional meats, such as monkey and dog in Vietnam, and the emotional and cultural weight these experiences carried.

  • "I'd get hot, like, hot flushes of guilt, dude. Like, I'd get like a sweaty guiltiness eating that dog." – Steve Rinella (09:39)

2. Indigenous Wisdom and Transferable Skills (12:24 – 14:54)

• The unmatched survival skills of indigenous hunter-gatherers.
• Shared tips learned from local practices, including efficient animal dispatching methods.
  • "They're so good at like a specific set of things in a specific environment... you can't compete." – Steve Rinella (12:29-12:31)
  • "That's something I wish I would have known about a long time ago." (15:33)

3. Public Perception and Pushback (15:50 – 17:23)

• Surprising lack of harassment from animal rights activists despite public hunting persona.
• The resilience of someone whose livelihood is rooted in the outdoors.

4. Introducing Kids to Hunting Ethically (18:19 – 26:15)

• Steven discusses hunter education, youth hunting regulations, and striking the right balance between guidance and accessibility for the next generation.
  • "I like these moves to leave it up to a family to figure out when it's appropriate for their kid to get rolling." – Steve Rinella (20:12)
  • Memories about raising "gritty" kids, encouraging curiosity, and embracing challenge.

5. State of Hunting in America (26:21 – 33:11)

• Hunting participation remains consistent in numbers but not as a percentage of the population.
• Cultural changes post-WWII shaped the American outdoorsman.
• Public misunderstanding around suburban deer overpopulation: it’s more about tolerance for hunters than a genuine lack of hunters.
  • "The suburban deer problem is self made. It's not because there's no interest. It's because people are intolerant of. They don't want like hillbillies and rednecks running around their place." – Steve Rinella (31:34)

6. Adventure Stories: Favorite Places, Wild Encounters (44:09 – 55:01)

• Fondness for hunting in Alaska; recent life-changing month in Tanzania, deeply learning from local trackers (including former poachers turned conservationists).

  • "It changed…I mean, utterly life changing...just the stuff I saw, other ways to live, you know, I was blown away, man." – Steve Rinella (46:26)
  • Trackers' expertise is so advanced their guides “can’t see what they see” (51:19-51:47).

• Reflections on poverty, happiness, and American life.

  • "It's just, they're not even making ends meet and they have such a positive attitude. I think that's cool." – Shawn Ryan (53:07)

7. America’s Hunting History (67:33 – 77:31)

• Deep dive into the impact of market, commercial, and subsistence hunting from “the Boone and Crockett era” through near extinction of bison and beaver.
  • "You just eat it, we just consume it from one end of the country to the other." – Steve Rinella (74:05)
  • The critical role of Theodore Roosevelt and regulatory frameworks like the Lacy Act.

8. Present-Day Conservation & Public Lands (81:39 – 95:56)

• Analysis of the recurring debates about selling public lands, especially in the West.
  • "At the end of the day, American sportsmen want public lands." – Steve Rinella (89:54)
  • Strong bipartisan defense for public access and stewardship.

Memorable Quotes & Insightful Moments

On esoteric meals and cultural shock:

• "I ate a lot of monkey meat, but I didn't try the monkey head. I wasn't offered the monkey head." – Steve Rinella (07:04)
• "I'd get hot flushes of guilt…a sweaty guiltiness eating that dog." – Steve Rinella (09:39)

On indigenous mastery:

• "The stuff they see, you'll never see it. The stuff they hear, you won't hear it." – Steve Rinella (12:29)

On raising kids:

• "I like them to be a little bit gritty...even if my daughter...doesn't go near it, she'll carry some things from those experiences with her." – Steve Rinella (25:23)

On American plenty and neuroses:

• "Technology has landed us at 5—you don't need to try at all, and you're fine. That's where our neuroses come from." – Steve Rinella, referencing Kaczynski’s manifesto (58:36–60:44)

On modern conservation realities:

• "It's not the American style, but it's a way to achieve conservation in that place." – Steve Rinella on African trophy-hunting-based conservation (66:14)

On balancing work and family:

• "When I'm there, I'm there…they see me serve the family...I cook, I clean." – Steve Rinella (135:23)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Monkey hunting and indigenous resourcefulness | 03:01–08:02 | | Eating dog in Vietnam – emotional/cultural insight | 08:27–11:59 | | Indigenous hunter super-skills | 12:24–13:40 | | Early encounters with hunting/family traditions | 35:32–38:08 | | Decline of hunting & changing US demographics | 26:21–33:11 | | Alaska adventures & African hunting transformation | 44:09–47:40 | | History of hunting, Boone and Crockett | 67:33–77:31 | | Public land policy debate | 81:39–95:56 | | Health, wild game, and dietary philosophies | 118:16–126:16 | | Balancing business, family, and mentorship | 133:11–138:19 | | Industry critique (predator relationships, invasives)| 141:41–148:29 |

Notable Quotes (with attribution and timestamps)

• "I'll eat anything, man...but eating monkey meat was a tougher meal."
  — Steven Rinella (06:32)

• "They’re so good at a specific set of things in a specific environment. You can't compete."
  — Steven Rinella (12:29)

• "My two boys share a room, which brings up all amount of bitching...I'm like, you just came for a place...people sleep in grass huts they made for themselves."
  — Steven Rinella (60:44)

• "At the end of the day, American sportsmen want public lands."
  — Steven Rinella (89:54)

• "If I have a physical specialty, like to brag for a minute, I am very good at just walking for a long time."
  — Steven Rinella (118:27)

• "Even if someone came and told me it wasn't good for you, it wouldn't change my perspective...it just feels good because everything we eat, when we're sitting around eating. Everything we eat is like a story."
  — Steven Rinella (123:27, 122:39)

• "It's not the American style, but it's a way to achieve conservation in that place."
  — Steven Rinella (66:14)

• "The ask is: delist and manage as a game animal...they're not going away."
  — Steven Rinella on wolves/grizzlies (143:42–144:18)

Additional Highlights

Hunting Rifles and Calibers (97:52–102:09)

• Steven prefers the .300 Win Mag for versatility; acknowledges technological advancements have changed the game but consistency is key.

Close Calls with Dangerous Game (104:37–111:59)

• Stories of being run over by a wounded moose, “riding” a bear, and narrowly escaping grizzly encounters—with lessons for both humor and safety.

Conservation, Predators, and Industry Critique (141:41–148:28)

• Calls out simplistic, unrealistic narratives about predator management: advocates for pragmatic, science-based approaches towards wolves, grizzlies, and ecological balance.
• Notes the hidden threat posed by non-native plants and habitat loss over invasive animals.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass in honest, unsentimental storytelling about hunting and living close to nature. Steven Rinella shares unconventional wisdom, history, and grounded perspectives on meat, conservation, policy, and mentorship. With gripping anecdotes and nuanced takes, this conversation offers both seasoned outdoorsmen and curious newcomers a deep, engaging look into what it truly means to be a modern hunter, conservationist, and family man.

For the full stories, insights, and more real talk: listen to the episode in its entirety.