The MeatEater Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Ep. 209: The Deer Nut Feb 24, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks to Jim Heffelfinger, Ryan Callaghan, and Phil Taylor.

Topics discussed: an epidemic of llama losses; Grandpa Half-a-Finger and other stories of loss; does killing big bucks screw up deer genetics?; the difference between blacktail deer and whitetail deer, and where they came from; a whitetail fossil from the Pleistocene; Cowz, Cooze, and Couse; telekinetic levitation; why do deer lose their antlers?; Steve's disappointment with having less-than-average Neanderthal genes; wolf recovery and the Endangered Species Act; trophic cascades and surplus killers; jaguars in America; hunting jackrabbits; and so much more.

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Ep. 208: Dr. Justin Schmidt on Why It Hurts So Bad Feb 17, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks to Dr. Justin Schmidt, Li Schmidt, Corinne Schneider, Ryan Callaghan, and Phil Taylor.

Topics discussed: A quick Chinese love song; developing the Schmidt Pain Index; lying down on an ant hill; camouflage in the animal world; what Steve thought when he got stung by a bullet ant; poisonous defense systems; hitching a ride on a mosquito; how science progresses one coffin at a time; bot flies; having a furry proboscis; hell hath no fury like a horsefly; the big 5 of ants; the relativity of pain; the cold-blooded and nasty cruelty of a tarantula hawk; a good junior high school science project idea; what the hell does aposematic mean, anyway?; and so much more.

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Ep. 207: Bullfighting a Griz Feb 10, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks with Alex Messenger, Corinne Schneider, Phil Taylor, and Janis Putelis.

Topics discussed: The 29th day; even more titillation; walleyes as an easy-to-clean fish; thinking in fathoms and rods; a 600 mile canoe trip; breaking down canoe strokes; bear poppers and spray; group dynamics in the wilderness; an exponential sense of peace; being scared of musk ox; everyone's got a plan until they get punched in the face by a griz; playing ‘possum; doing the trip you're dealt; and more.

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Ep. 206: Hey, Icehole! Feb 03, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks with Spencer Neuharth, Corinne Schneider, Phil Taylor, and Janis Putelis. Topics discussed: fact checking; does hunting half-tame pen-raised critters count as hunting?; oviparous vs. viviparous; do you really lose all that body heat through your head?; measuring turkeys as trophies; getting rich selling taxidermy to big-assed box stores; does gutting an animal really make your farts smell like guts?; Phil catching the second fish of his life; and more.

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Ep. 205: The Cazador and the Coues Jan 27, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks with Kevin Sloan, Anthony Licata, Seth Morris, Ryan Callaghan, Phil Taylor, and Janis Putelis.

Topics discussed: A Viking funeral for a severed finger; pressure washing bear meat out of your sinuses; Anthony's cartel run-in; Steve's almost negligent shittiness at speaking Spanish; where persistence meets movement; Kevin seeing the shine off a deer’s nose; the half-wild dogs of Sonora and the one that stole Steve’s heart; pickles; MeatEater's live tour; and more.

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Ep. 204: It Should Be Difficult to Get Lost Forever Jan 20, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks with Roman Dial, Anthony Licata, and Ryan Callaghan.

Topics discussed: the death of a son; dip-netting salmon; quitting climbing for marriage; playing the long game in child rearing; scaring yourself; being aware of what's dangerous; out dates; deadly snakes; the helplessness of modern humans; getting kicked out of the search for your own son; documentary tv vs. reality tv; the stink in the room you no longer notice; weeping through writing; and more.

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Ep. 203: Thumbs Up or Down on 2019 Jan 13, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks with Whit Fosburgh, Phil Taylor, and Ryan Callaghan.

Topics discussed: Steve's perspective on why Jani isn't a true outdoorsman; Euro-mounting your amputated arm; why is a doornail dead?; New Mexico's stream access laws; S. 47; haggling over the Farm Bill; what CRP fields are; pollinators; testifying before Congress; Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson; migration corridors; fisheries; Steve's kids attending seminars; ethanol as bad for your boat motor; and more.

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Ep. 202: From the Two Kingdoms of Nature Jan 06, 2020

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Steven Rinella talks with JT Van Zandt, Jesse Griffiths, Seth Morris, and Janis Putelis.

Topics discussed: Lola and Stone Age chewing gum; how Texas is the highest of the high and lowest of the low; hunting nilgai; poop piles; how Steve shot the top of a nilgai's heart out and then saw it run off like it was carrying the mail; electro-tenderizing meat using a car battery; fish-spotting abilities; flounder gigging; appreciating silence; when dolphins join your hunt; and more.

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Ep. 201: What Exactly Is the Problem? Dec 30, 2019

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Steven Rinella talks with Kylee Archer, Samantha Bates, Maggie Smith, Tracy Crane, Brody Henderson, Kevin Harlander, and Janis Putelis.

Topics discussed: Brody's elk and trout-infested house is for sale; Kevin's hog-fattening business; Pfeilstorch, which is German for a stork with an arrow stuck in it; crying after butchering; bring the scope to your eye and not the other way around; Cal's bowel movements; how to be a good hunting mentor; hot tips on making jerky; and more.

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Ep. 200: ‘Faced on ‘Nog: The Holiday Special Dec 23, 2019

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Steven Rinella talks with Anthony Licata, Ryan Callaghan, Phil Taylor, Mark Kenyon, Samantha Bates, Corinne Schneider, Ben O'Brien, and Janis Putelis. Topics discussed: Trippin' on nutmeg; cutting corn with Doug Duren; Cal as the ultimate elf; how MeatEater's Whiskey makes the best eggnog in the world; Christmas hunting and fishing traditions; why you should buy Kenyon’s new book, "That Wild Country"; Santa reads a hunting poem; Latvian lead throwing as a way to predict your future; and more.

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