The MeatEater Podcast
Episode 631: "MeatEater Radio Live! A Live Turkey, MeatEater Menu, Reviewing 'The Edge'"
Release Date: November 29, 2024

Introduction

In this special Thanksgiving edition of The MeatEater Podcast, host Randall Williams welcomes his co-hosts Seth Morris and Corey Calkins for a live session from their MeatEater HQ in Bozeman, Montana. The episode promises a diverse range of topics including favorite Thanksgiving recipes, listener submissions, an interview with Steve Klein from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, a migration report by Matt McCormick, a segment on regrettable tattoos, a one-minute fishing challenge, and the MeatEater Movie Club reviewing the 1997 film "The Edge".

Thanksgiving Traditions and Turkey Day Hunting

Randall Williams kicks off the episode by discussing Thanksgiving hunting traditions with Seth Morris and Corey Calkins.

• Matt McCormick shares a new tradition started last year involving a whitetail hunt with friends, highlighting a memorable Thanksgiving morning kill:

  "[03:03] Matt McCormick: This tradition that has happened once."

• Seth Morris talks about an ongoing tradition of mule deer hunting in eastern Montana during Thanksgiving weekend, which he looks forward to continuing with his six-year-old child:

  "[03:40] Seth Morris: Growing up in western Montana, we would always go out to eastern Montana every Thanksgiving weekend and go mule deer hunting."

• Corey Calkins mentions pausing his hunting traditions due to having a young child but plans to revive them in the future:

  "[03:40] Corey Calkins: I can't wait to bring this tradition back to life."

• Randall humorously adds his own family tradition of hunting for bargains during Black Friday sales:

  "[04:01] Randall Williams: We have a Thanksgiving tradition at our house, but it's hunting for bargains, especially when there's a great Black Friday sale."

Special Guest: Brogan the Turkey

The episode features a special live guest, Brogan the Turkey, brought in by Connor Smith from the Meat Eater store in Bozeman.

• Randall Williams introduces Brogan to the audience:

  "[05:34] Randall Williams: Tough. Do some in-store shopping."

• The hosts humorously attempt to get Brogan to gobble, adding a festive touch:

  "[06:32] Randall Williams: Cory, you want to try to get this guy to gobble here for us?"

• Phil jokes about Brogan needing to leave the studio:

  "[08:23] Phil: Well, Corinne was out of the room when I said this, but if anything, if he did decide he needed to relieve himself, I would not be cleaning it up."

MeatEater Menu: Favorite Thanksgiving Dishes

In the MeatEater Menu segment, Randall, Seth, and Corey each present their top three favorite Thanksgiving dishes in a competitive draft format.

• Seth Morris starts with his number one pick:

  "[10:35] Seth Morris: My number one favorite thing on Thanksgiving is stuffing."

• Corey Calkins selects candied yams as his top choice:

  "[10:56] Corey Smith: Candied yams, candy yams."

• Randall Williams opts for classic staples like gravy and turkey:

  "[10:58] Randall Williams: I'm gonna go with gravy. Oh, just heavy brown gravy."

After a spirited debate, Randall's traditional lineup of turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes wins the round, with Phil commending their timeless selection:

"[15:36] Randall Williams: I really screwed up this draft. ... Dr. Randall Williams is the winner. Happy Thanksgiving to me."

Audience Submissions: Festive MeatEater Menu Dishes

Phil introduces unique Thanksgiving recipes submitted by listeners, showcasing creative takes on traditional dishes.

1. Orange Turkey:

   • Cole Barclay presents a twist on orange chicken, featuring fresh navel oranges, marmalade, tamari, and honey, served over Korean sweet potato noodles.

     "[16:45] Matt McCormick: This is orange turkey... Cut it up with Korean sweet potato noodles."

2. Wild Game Perlo:

   • A hearty dish combining duck and turkey organs with wild game sausage, served with Charleston gold rice and vegetables.

     "[17:24] Matt McCormick: Some homemade wild game stock...add cayenne pepper and mushrooms."

3. Grouse Dish:

   • Cooked using recipes from the Meat Eater Wild Game Cookbook, featuring smoked preparations.

     "[18:42] Randall Williams: Reed and Bree Shallow grouse... suggests a great side dish."

4. Black Bear "Thor's Hammer":

   • A dramatic presentation with black bear shank smoked and served on mashed potatoes with smoked onions and gravy, resembling a Halloween dish.

     "[19:13] Matt McCormick: ...smoked like barbecue, served on mashed potatoes with smoked onions and gravy."

Interview: Steve Klein of Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Randall welcomes Steve Klein, president of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC), to discuss conservation efforts in Maryland.

• Steve Klein explains the role of conservation easements in protecting over 60,000 acres across six Maryland counties:

  "[23:56] Seth Morris: We have protected north of 60,000 acres in that six county region."

• He emphasizes the importance of preserving agricultural productivity, scenic value, and water quality buffers essential to the Chesapeake Bay:

  "[24:59] Seth Morris: Conservation easements are basically legal agreements to keep land as it is."

• Steve highlights the innovative use of drone technology for efficient monitoring of large properties:

  "[27:34] Seth Morris: What the drone does is gives us a bird's eye view... helps us see impacts that would have been missed."

The discussion underscores the critical balance between development and conservation, ensuring sustainable land use for future generations.

Migration Report with Matt McCormick

Matt McCormick delivers an insightful migration report, focusing on the impact of an incoming arctic front on waterfowl migration patterns.

• He describes how the arctic front is expected to bring widespread snow and freezing temperatures, accelerating the southward migration:

  "[32:46] Matt McCormick: A powerful arctic front is expected to sweep through all the north country... accelerating the migration southward."

• This weather system will reinforce ice buildup, closing water sources and pushing birds further south into hunting areas:

  "[33:09] Matt McCormick: The combination of fresh snow and hard freezes is a recipe for strong migration days ahead."

• The report encourages waterfowl hunters to capitalize on these conditions for optimal hunting opportunities:

  "[35:13] Matt McCormick: These are the weather fronts we all dream about in the off season."

Tattoos I Regret Segment

In a humorous and candid segment, the hosts share hunting-related tattoos they regret.

• Phil presents his regrettable turkey tattoo, humorously critiquing its ambiguous elements:

  "[36:44] Phil: The tattoo says a puss in the pot will always find more beans. What the does that mean?"

• The discussion covers the artistic details and personal stories behind the tattoos, blending humor with camaraderie:

  "[39:32] Phil: The detail is impeccable."

Overall, the segment highlights the playfulness and personal connections among the hosts.

One Minute Fishing: Contest with Phil

Phil takes on the One Minute Fishing challenge, attempting to catch a fish within one minute to secure a $500 donation to the University of Michigan's fishing team.

• Despite a calm and steady approach, Phil is unable to catch a fish within the time limit:

  "[46:10] Phil: You're not alone. We're in kind of a slump right now."

• The hosts express encouragement and humorously reflect on the challenges of fishing during a slow season:

  "[46:48] Randall Williams: Tough for fishing? This time of year is tough."

MeatEater Movie Club: Reviewing "The Edge" (1997)

In the MeatEater Movie Club segment, Randall reviews the 1997 survival thriller "The Edge", starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.

• Randall Williams provides an in-depth analysis of the film's themes, character dynamics, and symbolic elements:

  "[50:28] Randall Williams: The Edge employs the cliché genre of a classic survival thriller to probe fundamental questions about civilization, knowledge, and human nature."

• He draws parallels between the film and Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", exploring the breakdown of civilized behavior under extreme conditions:

  "[60:36] Randall Williams: The Edge allows for the possibility that there is something more to civilization than mere social pretense."

• The review includes critiques of the film's realism, particularly in hunting and survival tactics, while also praising the performances and cinematography:

  "[62:54] Matt McCormick: I was shocked at how fast they tanned the bear’s hide."

• Notable Quotes from the Review:

  • Randall Williams:

    "[57:57] Randall Williams: Harrison Ford and Dustin Hoffman both turned the role played by Hopkins down."

  • Matt McCormick:

    "[65:23] Matt McCormick: The first, from the time that they wrecked the plane till their first meal was the flesh from the grizzly bear."

• The hosts conclude by sharing their varied opinions, with Phil recommending the film for its classic elements, while Matt offers a more critical perspective:

  "[73:39] Randall Williams: ...that's the highest compliment you can pay a film as a cinemaphile these days."

Conclusion

Randall wraps up the Thanksgiving episode by expressing gratitude to the listeners and wishing everyone a happy holiday filled with food, family, and friends. The episode combines informative segments with light-hearted fun, embodying the spirit of Thanksgiving and the outdoor lifestyle celebrated by The MeatEater community.

"[74:08] Matt McCormick: Yeah, Happy Thanksgiving, folks."

"[74:58] Randall Williams: This podcast is supported by BetterHelp... [continues with advertisement]"

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Seth Morris on Starting a New Hunting Tradition:

  "[03:03] Matt McCormick: One that started recently, meaning last year, just the buddies get together and do like a whitetail hunt of some sort."

• Randall on Favorite Thanksgiving Dish:

  "[10:35] Matt McCormick: My number one favorite thing on Thanksgiving is stuffing."

• Corey on Candied Yams:

  "[10:56] Corey Smith: Candied yams, candy yams... going straight for the throne on that one."

• Connor on Cranberry Sauce:

  "[13:10] Matt McCormick: The best kind is when you just pop the can open... love that stuff."

• Steve Klein on Conservation Easements:

  "[23:56] Seth Morris: We have protected north of 60,000 acres in that six county region."

• Matt McCormick's Migration Insight:

  "[32:46] Matt McCormick: A powerful arctic front is expected to sweep through all the north country... accelerating the migration southward."

• Phil on Regrettable Tattoos:

  "[36:44] Phil: The tattoo says a puss in the pot will always find more beans. What the does that mean?"

• Randall's Film Review Insight:

  "[50:28] Randall Williams: The Edge employs the cliché genre of a classic survival thriller to probe fundamental questions about civilization, knowledge, and human nature."

• Matt's Critique of the Film's Realism:

  "[65:23] Matt McCormick: The first, from the time that they wrecked the plane till their first meal was the flesh from the grizzly bear."

This structured summary provides a comprehensive overview of Episode 631, capturing all key discussions, insights, and humorous exchanges, along with notable quotes for enhanced engagement.