The Steve Austin Show — Wilderness Survival with Bob "Hardcore" Holly PART 1
Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Bob “Hardcore” Holly
Location: Broken Skull Ranch 2.0, Nevada (Steve); Iowa (Bob)
Episode Overview
In this "SAS Classic" episode, Steve Austin reconnects with friend and legendary pro wrestler Bob "Hardcore" Holly for a wide-ranging conversation that delves far beyond wrestling. The heart of the episode focuses on wilderness survival, personal resilience, and adapting to life after the wrestling spotlight. Austin and Holly share tales of the past, insights into their current lives, and candid thoughts on the challenges of both the squared circle and the woods.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Steve’s Life at the Ranch & Setting the Conversation
- Steve reminisces about a recent antelope hunt, riding ATVs through challenging Nevada terrain, assembling a skeet thrower by following instructions (“...so proud of myself...didn’t even have any spare parts left...” [09:00]).
- Talks about enjoying solitude, nature, and escaping the noise of city life.
Introducing Bob "Hardcore" Holly
- Bob’s Book (“The Hardcore Truth: The Bob Holly Story”) gets praise from Steve (“...enjoyed the shit out of it. It’s a great read. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, tells it like it is.” [08:09]).
- Bob’s reclusive and independent nature highlighted: prefers private time, camping, Jeep-building, and being with his wife and dog.
- Transitioning the conversation away from wrestling toward broader life experience: “...It's more just about life and bullshit...just fun to talk about life in general.” [08:56].
Tracking Bob Down & His Life in the Wilderness
- Steve teases how hard it is to get hold of Bob: “God dang. You talking about one of the hardest human beings in the world to get a hold of. Jesus Christ, dude.” [10:11]
- Bob’s response: He spends a lot of time in the woods practicing survival skills, often without phone signal. (“I hide. No, I go in the woods a lot. I practice survival stuff.” [10:29])
Bob's Survivalist Ambitions and Philosophy
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Current Focus: Studying survival skills, making survival videos, and aspiring to compete on the History Channel show “Alone.”
- "My ultimate goal is to get on the 'Alone' show ... because I think I would do well because I have no problem being out the woods by myself anyway." [12:00]
- Motivation centers on challenging himself, not publicity or the prize money.
- Discusses his expertise in botany—identifying edible and medicinal wild plants.
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Skills and Mindset:
- Comfortable with hunting (mainly for practice), foraging, building shelters, and making fire (“I video everything I do.” [12:00]).
- “The biggest thing that gets everybody is they start missing their family...and the starvation starts setting in.” [14:38]
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Bob’s Wife’s Sense of Humor:
- Bob recounts his wife jesting: "'"If you come home because you miss me, you better find somewhere else to go." (paraphrased, both find it funny) [14:43]
- Bob relates wrestlers' experience with being away from home, which helps with the isolation on shows like “Alone.”
Navigation, Tools, and Survival Techniques
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Steve raises navigation struggles:
- "Dude, I had a compass. I can get my direction. But if I don't have a map out there...the compass doesn’t really do me a bit of good..." [16:15]
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Bob’s advice and learning:
- Actively studying compass use with topographical maps:
- “If you have a topographical map...as long as you know where north, south, east, and west is, you should never be able to get lost.” [17:56]
- Describes using simple techniques like placing a stick and a rock shadow to find east/west if no compass is available. [18:30]
- Emphasizes knowing your starting point and the importance of practice.
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On GPS vs. Compass:
- Steve's frustration with GPS units in the wilderness: “...I'm looking at little bitty ass screen...fuck this, we sent it back to Amazon and got our money back.” [21:56]
- Bob prefers compass/map; not allowed to bring GPS to “Alone,” only a satellite phone to “tap out.” [23:09]
Handling Being Lost & Survival Psychology
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Being lost in the wild:
- Steve on the anxiety and heart-racing moments, waiting when unsure if he’s lost. [24:16]
- Bob’s advice:
- “You stay put...if you get lost, you stay put. Because especially like with you, you're with a group of people, they'll come back and look for you.” [26:24]
- Avoids panic, trusts in rescue by staying still.
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On Body Fat & Survival:
- Discusses prepping for starvation: “...the fatter you are, the longer you're gonna survive, obviously.” [27:37]
- Bob’s current weight, prepping by possibly gaining more before going on the show, otherwise relying on foraging, trapping, and fishing.
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Water Sourcing:
- Always boils water to prevent giardia; describes filtering by digging a hole near waterways for clean water. [29:10]
Physical Changes & The Cost of Wrestling
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Training through the years:
- Bob: “I still work out like a crazy bastard...my whole day is revolved around my eating. My metabolism is stupid fast, Steve, it’s like I’m 55 and ... mine has just sped up even more.” [30:48]
- Differences now: less weight lifted due to bad elbows; adapts workouts to pain.
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Injuries:
- Steve and Bob compare injury lists: knees, back, shoulders, rotators, triceps, etc. Bob’s elbows are the worst, but overall feels “pretty good for 55.” [39:24]
- “...my elbows won’t straighten out. But my neck doesn’t bother me that bad...my backs gives me problems...But as far as my body wise, I think I’m okay. I really do.” [41:00]
- Both agree staying active has helped immensely.
Hobbies, Projects & Therapeutic Activities
- Bob’s Jeep Project:
- Bob’s current pride: building a ‘97 Jeep Wrangler with custom upgrades (“Everything’s aftermarket on it...I do all my own bodywork. I paint it. I did all my own paint work. Everything I do to it, I do myself.” [45:02])
- Enjoys the solitude and therapy of auto body and paint work, and learning new skills from others (sandpaper grits, painting techniques, using proper tools).
- Steve relates with wanting to take on a similar project for the experience, but worries about his impatient nature. Bob admits he feels the same and must remind himself to slow down for quality.
Life Journey & Relocation
- Moves and settling in Iowa:
- Born in Glendale, CA; lived in Ventura, CA, Grants Pass, OR, Alabama, and now Iowa.
- Reconnected with his high school sweetheart via Facebook; never looked back.
- Loves Iowa's seasons, small city vibe in Dubuque, and snowmobiling in winter.
- Regularly visits Door County, Wisconsin, which feels like a “second home.” [51:40]
Camping, Hobbies & Mental Health after Wrestling
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Transition to Camping/Outdoors:
- Always been outdoorsy; blue-collar background. “And you know as well as I do when once you're signed...your life belongs to them...when I get more time to do, that’s what I’m gonna do.” [55:38]
- Sees value in hobbies beyond wrestling—a rare quality among many wrestlers he knew.
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Wrestling Life, Burnout & Coping:
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Steve compares being a wrestler to becoming a “zombie,” constantly on the road: “...you just kind of turn into a zombie...from town to town to town, from gym to gym to gym...” [57:43]
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Both discuss the shift in mindset upon retirement and challenges of adapting to “civilian” life.
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Bob’s coping mechanisms:
- “...my outlet was my working out...that was how I kept my sanity.” [60:02]
- Riding motocross, keeping a “figure-it-out-as-you-go” attitude.
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On career highs/lows, injury, and discipline:
- “...you go through every single emotion there is in the wrestling business...My outlet was working out and getting on my dirt bike and riding...I lasted 15 years.” [62:52]
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Avoiding Pitfalls:
- Bob: “I didn’t get into the alcohol, I didn’t get into the cocaine, I didn’t get into anything heavy...” [64:33]
- Struggled only with pain pills post-neck injury, got help and overcame it.
Leaving the Business: Identity & Self-Worth
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Having a backup plan:
- Steve notes many wrestlers lack an exit strategy—Bob always had skills to “fall back on” (welding, mechanics, etc).
- “Work was never an issue for me. It’s like, the whole time I was wrestling, if they let me go...I can have a job today if I wanted...” [67:42]
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Self-worth, ego, and "validation":
- Bob doesn’t need the limelight:
- “I don't need validation from people verifying that I was Hardcore Holly...If I was never on TV again, I'm okay with that.” [67:42]
- Steve presses on the adrenaline rush from wrestling’s highs. Bob agrees it’s addicting, but not essential to his identity.
- “...it is. Because when you walk down that ramp and you hear those people cheering for you or booing you and you get goosebumps...It’s very addicting, but it’s not one of those things where it drives me to make sure I’m relevant.” [70:28][70:48]
- Bob doesn’t need the limelight:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Steve Austin on Bob’s Book:
“He doesn’t really pull any punches, doesn’t really throw anybody under the bus. He tells it like it is, and that’s the kind of person that Bob is.” — Steve Austin [08:09]
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Bob on 'Alone':
“I just want to challenge myself. And it’s not some publicity stunt to get on TV or anything like that. I mean, I’m a legit survivalist. I study it, I practice it.” — Bob Holly [14:40]
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On Getting Lost:
“You stay put...Because if you’re out moving around trying to find your way back, they’ll never find you.” — Bob Holly [26:24]
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Bob on Physical Therapy and Bodywork:
“When I’m out there doing it, I’ll think about it — ‘Pump the brakes, slow down’...To me, it’s therapeutic.” — Bob Holly [50:01]
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On Retirement:
“Walking away was actually easy for me...If I was never on TV again, I’m okay with that. If I was never recognized ever again in my entire life, I’m okay with that.” — Bob Holly [67:42]
Timestamps for Segments
- Personal updates & setting up the episode: 00:13 - 09:10
- Intro to Bob, book praise, hunting conversations: 09:11 - 12:00
- Survival skills, ‘Alone’ ambition, botany & nature: 12:00 - 17:56
- Compass, navigation, and wilderness techniques: 17:56 - 24:16
- Handling being lost, panic, survival wisdom: 24:16 - 27:34
- Bodyweight, food, and water in the wild: 27:34 - 29:17
- Fitness routines, wrestling injuries, aging: 30:23 - 41:00
- Dirt bikes, Jeep building, painting, hobbies: 42:19 - 51:22
- Bob’s life journey, moving to Iowa: 51:22 - 53:44
- Camping, hobbies, adapting after WWE: 55:38 - 62:52
- Wrestling grind, avoiding pitfalls, discipline: 62:52 - 66:07
- Life after wrestling, identity, letting go: 67:42 - 71:37
Summary for First-Time Listeners
This lively, honest episode showcases Steve Austin and Bob Holly both as rugged outsiders and as thoughtful, self-reliant men who survived not just the intense world of professional wrestling, but also the psychological shifts required in life after the spotlight. The discussion offers a rare blend of practical wilderness advice, reflections on physical and mental endurance, and wisdom about finding new meaning beyond fame.
Whether you’re a wrestling fan, aspiring survivalist, or simply interested in hearing two friends talk about resilience and reinventing themselves, this episode combines humor, humility, and hard-won life lessons.
Look out for Part 2, where their deep-dive continues.