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The Sustainable Angler — Business
The Sustainable Angler

The Sustainable Angler podcast is your go-to source for insightful conversations about sustainability, conservation, and the future of fishing. Hosted by sustainability expert Rick Crawford, who is also the founder of the sustainability consultancy, Emerger Strategies, this podcast features interviews with fishing guides, artists, storytellers, scientists, conservationists, and sustainable business pioneers making a positive impact on our planet. Whether you’re a passionate angler, outdoor enthusiast, or business looking to improve your sustainability performance, The Sustainable Angler delivers actionable insights and inspiring stories. Listen now to explore the intersection of fishing, conservation, and sustainable business—because protecting what we love starts with knowledge and action.

A huge thank you to A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, for sponsoring the podcast!

Want to connect your brand with a passionate, sustainability-minded audience? Sponsorship opportunities are available! Partnering with The Sustainable Angler is a powerful way to showcase your commitment to the environment while reaching engaged anglers, outdoor enthusiasts, and industry leaders. Email rcrawford@emergerstrategies.com to learn more!

Latest Episodes:

EP 83. Craig Mathews on Pheasant Tail Simplicity, 1% for the Planet, and Why Giving Back Is Good for Business Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with legendary angler, author, conservation advocate, and 1% for the Planet co-founder Craig Mathews. Craig recently co-authored a new book with Mauro Mazzo and Yvon Chouinard called Pheasant Tail Simplicity — a reflection on the lessons learned from a lifetime of fly fishing, fly tying, and protecting the wild places we love.

Craig shares the inspiring story behind how he and Yvon started 1% for the Planet, and how giving back isn’t just good for the planet — it’s good for business. We also discuss how climate change is impacting Montana, what hunters and anglers can do to advocate for public lands and climate action, and hear some of Craig’s favorite conservation success stories from the field.

If you care about fly fishing, conservation, and building a purpose-driven business, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Special thanks to Craig for leading by example and for all he continues to do to protect what he loves, and thanks for listening!

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 82. Action Alert! Redfish Regulations with Scotty Davis from ASGA Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with Scotty Davis from the American Saltwater Guides Association to discuss critical changes looming over our redfish fishery. South Carolina and Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources is considering lowering the Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) for redfish from 40% to 30%—a move that would forever compromise the health and recovery of this iconic species.

Scotty explains what’s at stake, why keeping the 40% SPR is essential, and how outdated regulations—unchanged for more than 30 years—must finally be addressed to protect redfish for future generations. We also break down what anglers, guides, and conservationists can do to make their voices heard through public comments and direct outreach to legislators.

🚨 Action Alert: Learn more at: The American Saltwater Guides Association website. Make your public comment before 11:59 PM EST on October 1st at Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Get Involved. Don’t let redfish management go backward.

This is more than policy—it’s about protecting the future of our fishery.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 81. Preserving Ancient Forests & Wetlands with National Geographic Photographer Mac Stone Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with National Geographic photographer, and TED speaker, and Executive Director of Naturaland Trust, Mac Stone to talk about the power of imagery in protecting wild places. Mac and I go back to 2008, when we first met working at the A Bar A Ranch in Wyoming, and we trace his journey from field biologist in the Everglades and Francis Beidler National to globally recognized storyteller.

We dive into:

How photography shaped public opinion of the Everglades through his book Everglades: America’s Wetland
Surprising discoveries while working with National Geographic—from unmarked Revolutionary War graves to the ancient secrets of cypress “ghost forests”
The mystery of the ghost orchid’s pollinator and the film Chasing Ghosts
Why protecting ecosystems like the Everglades and Francis Beidler Forest is essential to biodiversity, freshwater health, and our collective history

You’ll also hear how grassroots conservation efforts helped stop a major threat to the largest intact old-growth cypress and tupelo forest on earth. Mac’s stories reveal not only the fragility of these ecosystems, but also the hope and lessons they hold for restoration and protection around the world.

This episode is brought to you by: Emerger Strategies and A New Earth Project -- The Sustainability Initiative of Atlantic Packaging.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 80. How Nature Makes Us Healthier, Happier & Smarter with Dr. Susan Johnson Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host Rick Crawford welcomes Dr. Susan Johnson, founder of Nature at Work, a statewide initiative in South Carolina dedicated to connecting healthier people with healthier places through nature. Rick and Susan explore the healing power of the outdoors—from kayaking the Lowcountry’s salt marshes to research showing how hospital patient outcomes improve when they have views of nature.

Together, they discuss how spending just minutes outside can lower stress, improve heart health, boost focus, and even make us happier and more creative at work. Susan shares how Nature at Work is helping businesses and organizations bring nature into everyday work life through biophilic design, outdoor wellness strategies, and conservation volunteering. This episode highlights why time in nature not only makes us healthier, happier, and smarter—but also inspires us to become better stewards of the environment.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 79. Upcycling Kayaks Into Sunglasses with Dylan Coates and Stephen Vaughan from Hobie Eyewear Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with Dylan Coates and Stephen Vaughan from Hobie Eyewear to talk about one of the most innovative sustainability stories in the fishing industry.

Hobie Eyewear is transforming waste into value by upcycling leftover plastic from Hobie kayak manufacturing into their best-selling Hobie Hull sunglasses. The process is simple but brilliant: grind down kayak manufacturing scraps into pellets, then mold them into durable, floatable sunglass frames. The result? A product anglers love that also keeps plastic out of landfills.

Beyond innovation, Hobie Eyewear is proving that sustainability and business success go hand-in-hand. Their Hull sunglasses are the #1 seller on their site, showing that anglers are demanding more sustainable products. Plus, Hobie gives back by donating a portion of proceeds to the Fish America Foundation and organizing lake cleanups. Even the packaging is designed with more sustainable paper-based materials.

If you’re curious about how brands can turn "squandered corporate assets" into sustainable innovations that resonate with customers, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 78. Monte Burke on Fishing with Legendary Anglers, Conservation & the Power of Storytelling Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with New York Times Best-Selling writer Monte Burke, author of Lords of the Fly and his latest book, Rivers Always Reach the Sea. Monte shares unforgettable stories of fishing with icons like Captain Steve Huff, Lefty Kreh, Andy Mill, and Yvon Chouinard, while reflecting on the deep connection between storytelling, fly fishing, and conservation.

We talk Atlantic Salmon, wild adventures in Patagonia, and how the written word can inspire action to protect the fish and the places we love. If you're passionate about fly fishing, legendary anglers, and using your voice for the planet — you don’t want to miss this one.

Topics Covered:

Behind the scenes of Rivers Always Reach the Sea
Fishing with Captain Steve Huff, Lefty Kreh, Andy Mill and Yvon Chouinard
The plight of Atlantic Salmon
Why storytelling is vital for conservation
Fishing in Patagonia
And more...

This episode is brought to you by: Emerger Strategies and A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 77. The Power of Honest Sustainability Storytelling with Ali Wines Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host Rick Crawford sits down with Ali Wines, founder of Uncommon Ground Communications and former Executive Director of Protect Our Winters Canada, to explore the critical role of storytelling in sustainability and climate communications.

Ali shares her inspiring journey from practicing law to becoming a leading voice in climate action and communications. We discuss how authentic, transparent, and data-driven storytelling helps brands build trust, avoid greenwashing, and connect with a growing community of values-driven anglers and outdoor enthusiasts.

We also touch on emerging green marketing regulations in Canada, and how outdoor brands can leverage storytelling to align with customer values and drive meaningful change.

Whether you're a sustainability professional, marketer, or outdoor industry leader, this episode offers actionable insights on how to communicate your brand’s environmental impact with clarity and confidence.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

Why storytelling is a powerful tool in sustainability communications
How to avoid greenwashing with transparency and data
What new greenwashing regulations in Canada mean for your brand
Why outdoor brands must engage values-driven consumers

This episode is brought to you by: Emerger Strategies and A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 76. Josh "Bones" Murphy — Storytelling to Save the Planet Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with filmmaker, fisheries biologist, and master storyteller Josh “Bones” Murphy. You might recognize his powerful work in Artifishal, Purple Mountains, and The Scale of Hope—films that challenge the status quo and advocate for a deeper connection between people and planet.

We explore how stories help us make sense of the world, Josh’s evolution as a filmmaker at Liars and Thieves, and the inspirations behind his new nonprofit, Land & Sea for All—an organization committed to championing impact storytelling and amplifying individual and community voices to drive meaningful change.

This episode is dedicated to "the great connector" and friend to so many, Jeff Lee.

🎧 Tune in to hear how storytelling can protect wild places, inspire action, and ultimately, help shape a more sustainable and just future.

This episode is brought to you by: Emerger Strategies and A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 75. Bonus Episode: The Rise of Sustainability Regulations – What Brands Need to Know Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

In this special bonus episode of The Sustainable Angler, host Rick Crawford is joined by James Pollack, attorney at Marten Law, to unpack the rapidly evolving world of sustainability regulations. From PFAS restrictions and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws to SEC and California's climate-related disclosures and the crackdown on green marketing claims, this episode offers a high-level overview of the regulatory forces reshaping business.

Whether you're a brand selling into retail, a sustainability professional, or simply trying to keep up with the shifting legal landscape, this episode is your go-to guide for what’s happening now—and what’s coming next.

Tune in to learn:

Why PFAS is becoming the new plastic—and what bans mean for your products
How EPR laws are pushing brands to take ownership of packaging and waste
What California's climate disclosure rules mean for companies of all sizes
How to avoid the legal risks of greenwashing

Stay ahead of the curve. Stay compliant. And most importantly—stay sustainable.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 74. The Rise of Sustainability Regulations: Green Marketing Claims with James Pollack Jun 20, 2025

Show notes

In Part 4 of The Rise of Sustainability Regulations series, host Rick Crawford sits down with environmental lawyer James Pollack of Marten Law to explore one of the most high-stakes topics in sustainability today: green marketing claims.

With regulators, retailers, and consumers cracking down on greenwashing, how can brands in the fishing and outdoor industries talk about their sustainability efforts without getting into legal trouble?

In this episode, we cover:

What counts as greenwashing under U.S. law
How the FTC’s Green Guides can help brands
What retailers expect from supplier marketing claims
Best practices for making credible, compliant, and substantiated sustainability claims

Whether you're a marketing leader, sustainability professional, or business owner, this episode offers critical insights into staying transparent, trustworthy, and competitive in a changing regulatory landscape.

Also, be sure to check out Emerger Strategies’ new Sustainability Sales & Marketing Services help outdoor and fishing brands turn credible sustainability performance into powerful, compliant marketing that drives revenue and builds trust. We translate technical data into clear, compelling messaging that meets retailer requirements and avoids greenwashing. From strategy to storytelling, we make sustainability sell.

🎧 Tune in now and avoid the legal pitfalls of greenwashing—while still telling your brand’s sustainability story with impact.

🎣 Like what you heard?

Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries.

For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com.

Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

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