In Pursuit

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 48: Spike Camp - The Finale Jul 09, 2026

Show notes

On this final episode of In Pursuit, Rich, Angelo, and Jeff cover everything from Leadville training and endurance nutrition to pack-out strategies, backcountry fitness, and the gear that makes long days in the mountains a little more manageable.

The Mayhem Hunt team shares a big update for the future of In Pursuit. After a year of conversations, the podcast is coming to a close as the team shifts its focus toward more hands-on content. Less talking, more doing. Thank you for being part of the journey. The pursuit continues.

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Ep. 47: David Curtis - Raising the Next Generation of Hunters Jul 02, 2026

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This week on In Pursuit, Rich sits down with longtime friend, hunter, endurance athlete, and Leadville local David Curtis.
From getting lost on his first elk hunt to completing the legendary Leadman series, David shares what keeps him coming back to hard things. The conversation dives into hunting, fatherhood, endurance racing, raising resilient kids, and why some of life's best lessons are learned in the mountains.

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Ep. 46: Spike Camp - Fueling for the Backcountry Jun 25, 2026

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Rich, 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.

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Ep. 45: Jake Dalton - Olympian Turned Bowhunter Jun 18, 2026

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This 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.

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Ep. 44: Spike Camp - Preparing New Hunters Jun 11, 2026

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On 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.

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Ep. 43: Jeff Helm - Four Bulls in One Year Jun 04, 2026

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This 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.

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Ep. 42: Spike Camp - How to Pace Yourself in the Backcountry May 28, 2026

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On 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.

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Ep. 41: Pete Nelson - The Hidden Benefits of the Sauna May 21, 2026

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This 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.

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Ep. 40: Spike Camp - Axis Deer Hunt May 14, 2026

Show notes

This 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.

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Ep. 39: Christian Huff - Balancing Family Life and Hunting May 07, 2026

Show notes

Christian 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.

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