This week on the show, Hayden's friend Dr. Aidan Beers swings by for dinner and a podcast on what two of his favorite things: the wolves of Yellowstone National Park and the brown bears of Katmai, Alaska. They also talk about Aidan's journey to becoming a wildlife biologist and how you can get on a similar path. This podcast is full of interesting conversation and first-hand accounts surrounding large carnivores in some of the most famous areas of their range. Hayden and Aidan chat into the night about:

• The Wolves of Yellowstone
• Wolf Conservation
• The Bears of Katmai National Park
• Fat Bear Week
• Hazing Giant Predators
• Becoming a Biologist

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Six Months In Space | TBM Ep. 001: https://youtu.be/VU2N-N86uVs

The World's Most Brutal Trail Race | TBM Ep. 007: https://youtu.be/wxEpczLjQt8

Grizzly Man Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Man/dp/B01M747C6J

Black Bear Eats Kayak: https://youtu.be/nU5cMZymSr0

CONNECT

Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more: https://linktr.ee/Hayden_Sammak

Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/BackcountryManifesto

Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch: https://outyondercompany.com/pages/shop-the-out-yonder-x-backcountry-manifesto-collab

SPONSORS

Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.

Special thanks to our partners at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

CREDITS

Featuring Aidan Beers

Production Assistance by John Stock

“Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA Copyright Outdoor Visions Media LLC, 2025

El Capitan is the most famous face in rock climbing, and it isn't even close. Fifty years ago, three climbers defied the odds, scaling El Capitan in a single day—a feat that redefined what’s possible in rock climbing.

In this special episode, starting at the Yosemite Climbing Museum and ending under the shadow of El Capitan, we sit down with John Long -- one of the legendary trio behind that historic 1975 ascent--to relive the adventure and reflect on El Cap's singular legacy. We climb into:

• The bold plan to conquer El Cap in a day, hatched by Jim Bridwell with John Long and Billy Westbay

• How Warren Harding’s grueling 1958 ascent set the stage for El Cap’s epic history

• The rush of climbing 3,000 feet in 15 hours, fueled by honking horns and camp camaraderie

• The evolution of El Cap feats, from Lynn Hill’s free ascent to Alex Honnold’s jaw-dropping free solo

• John’s raw reflections on 50 years of climbing, loss, and staring down “the big stone”

• Stonemasters Pt. 1
• Stonemasters Pt. 2

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring John Long
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Ever wondered what it’s like to haul lobster pots off the rugged Maine coast? In this episode of The Backcountry Manifesto, we sit down with Jacob Knowles, a fifth-generation lobster fisherman from Maine who’s reeled in a massive online following through his YouTube channel and TikTok videos documenting life on the water.

With the harbor in the background, our conversation dives deep into Jacob’s world. We cover:

• The daily grind of a commercial lobster fisherman

• The evolution of lobster traps—from wooden classics to modern wire designs

• Conservation in action: tail notching, slot limits, and releasing egg-bearing lobsters

• Jacob’s journey from boat deck to internet fame, blending tradition with modern storytelling

• The challenges and joys of fishing, plus a glimpse at the co-op system that keeps it all running

• Hopes for the future: lobster hatcheries, sustainability, and his kids joining the family trade

From the science of soft-shell lobsters to the pride of protecting oversized breeders, Jacob shares stories that connect generations of Mainers to the sea. Whether you’re a seafood lover, a conservation enthusiast, or just curious about life on the water, this episode has something for you.

• Jacob Knowles on Youtube
• Jacob Knowles on Instagram
• Jacob Knowles on TikTok

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring Jacob Knowles
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Today on the show, we're bringing you Part 2 of our conversation with Mount Everest Historian Thom Pollard. In Part 1, we told you all about the tragedy of the 1924 British expedition, which ultimately culminated in the deaths of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine. Today, we're talking with Thom about his first-hand experience on the 1999 expedition to find their bodies and coming face to face with Mallory himself. This is the story of perhaps the most controversial chapter in the history of the world's tallest mountain. In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Thom Pollard's summit of Mount Everest
• The 1999 expedition team
• Aftermath and Fallout of the 1999 expedition
• Search for Irvine's camera
• What 75 years on Mount Everest does to a body
• Did Thom take a photo of Mallory's face?

• Everest Mystery Youtube Channel
• The Happiness Quotient Podcast

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring Thom Pollard
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Recently, National Geographic explorer Jimmy Chin was credited with the discovery of remains belonging to a climber named Sandy Irvine, a member of the 1924 British expedition that ended in tragedy with not only his death, but that of his partner, George Mallory. This week on the show, Thom Pollard of the popular Everest Mystery Youtube channel joins us to tell the full story of the ill-fated 1924 British expedition on Everest -- one of the most controversial and enigmatic mysteries on the worlds largest mountain. We talk about:

• Who are George Mallory and Sandy Irvine?
• Controversy over their summit attempt
• Sandy Irvine's camera
• The routes of Everest
• What is the Everest Death Zone?
• Early vs. Modern Alpine Gear

• Everest Mystery Youtube Channel

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring Thom Pollard
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

This week, THE Tom Rosenbauer slides into the studio and offers his thoughts on how to get into fly fishing. Spoiler alert: fly fishing is not that hard. If you've ever been curious about how to get started as a fly fisherman, this episode is for you.

• Orvis Fly Fishing Learning Center
• Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring Tom Rosenbauer
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

This week on The Backcountry Manifesto, we have Matt Brenna of the popular YouTube channel “Alaska Cabin Adventures” in studio to give you a crash course in building an off-grid cabin, from site selection to constructing an outhouse. Specifically, we cover:

• Matt's Story from WA to AK
• Finding Land on a Budget
• Learning to Build
• Building Blunders and How to Fix Them
• Heating and Electricity Solutions
• Sourcing and Managing Water Off-Grid
• Outhouses, Composting, and Cabin Comfort
• Building and Bathing like Alaskans Do
• Why March and September Shine in Alaska
• Crafting the Cabin on Wheels
• The Bob Ross Effect
• Convenience, Meaning, & the Joy of Building
• Montana & the Spirit of the West
• Music and Creativity: Matt's Journey

• Alaska Cabin Adventures website
• Alaska Cabin Adventures YouTube

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring Matt Brenna, Alaska Cabin Adventures
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA

Today on the show, Jamie Leibert, aka Captain Manicorn, is swinging by to talk about his journey from meth addicted felon serving a four year stint in federal prison to a world beating BASE Jumper and accomplished wingsuit flyer, traveling the world and finding new exits across 135 countries and counting.

We talk about:

• Early Life and Challenges
• Criminal Activities and Introduction to Extreme Sports
• Prison and Self-Discovery
• Life After Prison and Personal Growth
• Introduction to Air Sports
• Base Jumping and Wingsuiting
• Success, Addiction, and Discontent
• Relocating to Europe
• Dancing with Death: The Art of Proximity Flying
• Parallels, Perils, and Politics
• Alpine Base Jumping Adventures
• Patagonia and The Future

• Captain Manicorn Youtube
• Captain Manicorn Instagram
• Tobin, The Stonemasters, And Me
• Stonemasters Pt. 2 | TBM Ep. 003

• Catch up with Hayden on IG, TikTok, and more
• Follow TBM on Youtube, IG, and everywhere else
• Get yer limited-run TBM X Out Yonder Co. merch

• Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
• Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.

• Featuring Jamie Leibert aka Captain Manicorn
• Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
• Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
• Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
• Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill
• Production Assistance by John Stock
• “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA