MTNTOUGH Podcast w/ Dustin Diefenderfer

Trent Fisher of Born and Raised Outdoors joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a raw conversation on raising kids in the hunting industry, the double-edged sword of technology and AI, and how a devastating flood stripped everything away and rebuilt his purpose. He opens up about work ethic, mental toughness, staying present, and why we must make decisions with eternity in mind. Honest talk on generational responsibility, the power of comm...

Sam Soholt joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to discuss the current state of public lands and hunting in America. From fighting legislation that threatens millions of acres to the mental toughness forged in the wilderness, Sam shares why these wild places are the last true freedom we have. He breaks down the generational responsibility of protecting public lands for our kids and grandkids, the impact of technology and AI on the next gener...

World record ultramarathon runner Zach Bitter joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to break down the insane demands of 250-mile races like Cocodona, the difference between mental toughness in 100-mile vs. multi-day events, and why durability often beats raw speed. He shares how he trains for sub-12-hour 100-milers, the real trade-offs between high-carb and low-carb fueling for endurance, and why pushing human limits requires reframing failur...

Hunting legend Jim Shockey opens up on the MTNTOUGH Podcast about recent devastating losses — friends and family battling cancer — and how it’s sharpened his view on life, gratitude, and living with zero regrets. He reflects on his dad’s influence, the spiritual connection of wilderness solitude, why hunters crave the real over the artificial, and why North American hunting will endure despite technology and...

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MTNTOUGH Director of Product Nate Hill sits down with registered dietitian Kyle Kamp to break down the brand new Fully Guided Nutrition program launching in June. Kyle shares his powerful story of losing 130+ pounds through practical nutritio...

Mark Huelsing (Brand Manager at Exo Mtn Gear and host of Hunt Backcountry Podcast) joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a raw conversation on intentional business, US-made gear, long-term mindset over short-term growth, and why mental toughness separates good hunters from great ones. They dive into the Experience Challenge, death hikes, avoiding rage-content culture, persistence on multi-day hunts, and how to train your mind like your bo...

Ultra-marathon legend Dean Karnazes joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share his incredible journey from quitting his corporate job on his 30th birthday to run 30 miles, to completing 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, and now living in the Greek Blue Zone of Ikaria. Dean opens up about mental toughness, embracing discomfort, the power of community and present-moment living, Greek longevity secrets, and how to stay capable and danger...

Legendary traditional bowhunter Fred Eichler joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share jaw-dropping stories from a lifetime in the wild — including being charged by grizzlies and brown bears, a terrifying political situation in Zimbabwe, and the moment he thought he wouldn’t make it home. He talks about growing up with a Green Beret dad, going all-in on recurve bows, the mental game of true bowhunting, passing the torch to hi...

MTNTOUGH coaches break down the brand new Preseason Prep 3.0 — our most intentional and battle-tested 16-week program ever for backcountry hunters and mountain athletes. Learn how the new hypertrophy → strength → strength endurance phases build serious resilience, smarter energy system training (V2 max, HIT, lactate threshold, zone 2), progressive pack work, and body armor days to keep you healthy. After a full year of testin...

Former Navy SEAL and CrossFit Games legend Josh Bridges joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share his incredible journey from wrestling phenom to BUD/S, elite operator, and top CrossFit athlete. He opens up about fatherhood with a newborn and teenagers, navigating identity after leaving the Teams and pro competition, the power of not quitting, and how he’s adapted his training for long-term strength and capability. Raw stories on g...

MTNTOUGH Coaches Nick Bechtold and Zac Salvat break down the brand new 4-week Murph Prep program coming to the app! They explain the origins of the Murph workout (honoring Navy SEAL Michael Murphy), how the program builds volume safely with smart accessory work to prevent injury, and why it's designed for all levels with beginner, intermediate, and elite tiers. Learn how to use Mini Murph Mondays, targeted push/pull/core days, aero...

Matt Chandler, lead pastor of The Village Church and author of the new book Becoming Like Jesus, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share his powerful story of faith, suffering, and transformation. Diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor in 2009, Matt opens up about the "coil" of life—seasons of epic highs and brutal lows—and how God uses every part of it to form us into the image of Christ. He unpacks the dangers of p...

Clay Newcomb, host of Bear Grease and a leading voice at MeatEater, joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast for a deep conversation on hunting heritage, fatherhood in the outdoors, and preserving wild places. From his roots in rural Arkansas to decades of storytelling through Into High Country and Bear Grease, Clay explores how wild experiences build patience, self-reliance, and problem-solving in the next generation. He addresses the grizzly b...

Jason Matzinger, creator of Into High Country, returns to the MTNTOUGH Podcast to discuss fatherhood in the outdoors, how wild places build self-reliant, problem-solving men, and why hunters are essential to protecting wildlife. From early film days to season 17, Jason shares lessons on patience, conservation, and raising boys who understand the circle of life. He dives deep into the grizzly bear debate, genetic connectivity, polit...

Former Royal Marine commando Tim Howell joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to share his extraordinary journey from guiding clients through Big 5 territory in South Africa at 18, to earning his place in one of the world’s toughest military units, and now pushing the absolute limits as an elite wingsuit BASE jumper and mountain athlete. Tim breaks down how he views and conquers fear, the power of calculated risk versus reckless adrenal...

Donnie Vincent joins the MTNTOUGH Podcast to explore how wild places shape men, build mental toughness, and reconnect us to what truly matters. From fly-in drop camps in Alaska with his dad and now his own daughters, to facing grizzly country, ice-covered cliffs, and the raw reality of no easy button, Donnie shares why experiencing true wilderness is essential for identity, resilience, and purpose. He dives into the power of presen...

Kyle Thompson returns to the MTNTOUGH Podcast with a powerful message on why most men are trapped by fear of the future, regret of the past, and endless 2026 distractions. Founder of Undaunted Life and the Dominion Program, Kyle calls men out of performance identity and into daily discipline, present-moment living, and real foxhole brotherhood. He breaks down how “good things” (sermons, work, events) distract from ultim...

In this powerful MTNTOUGH Podcast episode, host Dustin Defenderfer sits down with Marine Corps combat veteran, pastor, author, and Mighty Oaks Foundation CEO Jeremy Stalnecker. Jeremy shares the raw reality of veteran transition struggles—identity loss after uniform, isolation, moral injury, and skyrocketing suicides—and how Mighty Oaks’ faith-based programs restore purpose through Christ-centered identity, commun...

In this insightful MTNTOUGH Podcast episode, host Dustin Defenderfer sits down with Robb Wolf—former research biochemist, 2x New York Times best-selling author (The Paleo Solution, Wired to Eat), co-founder of LMNT, and leading voice in ancestral health and metabolic performance. Robb shares his journey from powerlifting records and early CrossFit affiliates to pioneering electrolyte science with LMNT, while unpacking why mod...