Natural Obsession Podcast

Bruce McMath paints a vivid picture of what we've lost as artificial lighting has erased our view of the stars, and why it matters more than you might think.

When was the last time you truly saw the night sky? Not the dim scattering of stars visible from suburbs, but the breathtaking cosmic vista our ancestors considered as fundamental to human experience as sunrise and sunset. For most Americans today—especially the ...

Reconnecting with the land doesn't mean you have to do it all at once. Dirk Tanner of Tanner Farmstead shares his practical wisdom on finding balance in the homesteading journey.

"I think there's valuable skills that we've lost in today's day and age that our grandparents had," Dirk reflects early in our conversation. His journey from suburban upbringing to homesteader wasn't motivated by...

Welcome to season 2 of Natural Obsession. Join us as we approach it with a sense of urgency but also hopefulness. We are calling this season "Live Slow, Re-wild." It's all about slowing down and restoring the things we've lost. Not just in the outdoors but in ourselves. We will be talking to people who are living this out to varying degrees with knowledge about things like dark skies, homesteading, climbing and ...

What happens when two outdoor guys slow down and start asking bigger questions? In this season finale, TJ and Daniel reflect on the journey so far, sharing key lessons from their guests and their own challenges along the way.

From Alan’s reminder that “we are what we eat,” to Angela’s perspective on how nature makes us confront what matters most, to Danny’s advice to “put the fishing pole down” and be present—recurring themes of int...

Ever wonder why we're so passionate about conserving the land while neglecting our own bodies? In this eye-opening episode, we turn the mirror on ourselves and explore the fascinating connection between our health and our relationship to nature.

We dive into the stark differences between how our grandparents lived—with gardens, canning, and natural food sources—compared to our modern existence of processed foods and c...

Think bats are blind? Think again. In this myth-busting episode, we sit down with wildlife biologist Phillip Jordan to explore the surprising truths about one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures.

With nearly two decades of bat research under his belt, Phillip shares stories from late-night fieldwork, remote caves, and even a volcanic island in Nicaragua—where he studied dozens of bat species ranging from mosquito-hunters to nec...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to help people fall in love with the outdoors? Sam Files, photographer and park interpreter at Pinnacle Mountain State Park, offers a fascinating glimpse into this world through his unique lens.

Growing up glued to Animal Planet and spending his childhood exploring nature, Sam found his calling in park interpretation—connecting visitors with Arkansas's natural wonders. His dual pas...

What happens when you ask yourself "Between now and death, what do you want life to look like?" For Alan and Angela Mahan of Rabbit Ridge Farms, that question sparked a revolution in how they approach farming, community, and food.

In this captivating conversation, we journey from their contrasting childhoods—Angela at the country club and Alan on a dairy farm "sitting on a pile of melons"—to their creat...

In this intriguing conversation the guys talk to Ryan Parker and Katrina Sims about how approximately 98% of Arkansas's native prairies have disappeared, replaced by dense forests and non-native grasses that create "biological deserts" for wildlife. Yet hope remains. "Native seed can sit in the soil for decades, a hundred years or more," explains Parker. "With the right management conditions, if you ru...

When Paul Foshee says a good coon dog "don't run anything but a coon," he's speaking from decades of midnight adventures tracking through Arkansas backwoods with his faithful hounds. The second part of our conversation with Paul delivers pure storytelling gold as he recounts tales that few modern outdoorsmen will ever experience firsthand.

Picture this: Paul and his hunting partner Don tracking their do...

Paul Foshee's weathered hands tell the story of a life richly lived—from barbering, to precisely shaping stone as a mason, to the patient nurturing of pecan trees that now stand as his legacy. Paul represents a generation that built America through versatility and an unyielding work ethic, skills that seem increasingly rare in our technological world.

It's in his pecan operation, started in 1984, where Paul'...

In this eye-opening conversation, Tyler Savage, a biologist from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, takes us on a journey through time and paints a clear picture of what habitat in the Natural State looks like today versus several hundred years ago. Areas that are now a dense sea of trees were once open woodlands and savannas maintained by frequent, low-intensity fires. These fire-dependent ecosystems supported diverse wildlife...

In this captivating conversation, Danny Williams invites us into his journey toward a more natural way of living. His story weaves together childhood memories of playing in creeks and fishing with his father, professional challenges and personal health struggles, and a vision of land stewardship that prioritizes diversity, sustainability, and community.

Danny shares practical wisdom about sheet mulching, tree guilds, and f...

In this bonus content, Daniel and TJ continue their conversation with Danny Williams after the cameras are off.  When three old friends get together and start chatting, there's no telling what will come up!

After tasting some farm-raised pickled quail eggs, the guys talk about the trend to live more naturally and with greater self-reliance. As the conversation meanders, more topics including yard foraging, air pruning, seed sca...

Most of us live with fear lurking beneath the surface, controlling our choices without our awareness. For Danny Williams, it took his daughter's devastating cancer diagnosis – a prognosis with just 5-10% survival odds – to begin the brutal process of confronting this hidden controller. 

This raw, vulnerable conversation explores what he calls "the crucible" – a three-year period that ground away everything h...

Come with us as we talk to our good friend, UK native, and Arkansas waterfall chaser, Gez Rogers. Looking for seclusion, Gez's waterfall journey started in 2018 after he tragically lost his son, Josh. Since then, he has visited over 500 waterfalls in the Natural State alone.

In this episode, Gez shares how you can visit waterfalls yourself, offers advice on hiking with a loyal canine companion, and discusses the healing qualiti...

Sit back and grab a coffee as you get to know hosts Daniel Emison and TJ Virden in this premiere episode of the Natural Obsession Podcast. Listen as they share some of the formative outdoor experiences that shaped their lifelong passions for nature. Through stories that range from heartwarming to hilarious, discover how their appreciation for being outside and for conservation deepened over time. As they chat, they'll explore ...