What happens when a fly fishing lodge co-founder decides the community needs more than just great water and great guides? You get Soul Fly Co. — and an event that might just change how the fly fishing world thinks about gathering.

In this episode, host and Emerger Strategies founder, Rick Crawford, sits down with Alec "Griz" Griswold, co-founder of Soul Fly Co. and Soul Fly Lodge. Griz, alongside partners Kitri and Kyle Schaefer, is building something genuinely different: live music events designed specifically for the fly fishing community — events that celebrate the culture, protect the resource, and bring people together in a meaningful way.

We cover how Griz got into the lodge business, the sustainability steps Soul Fly Lodge has taken on their journey, and a deep dive into Soul Fly Charleston — a fly fishing, music, and art event taking place May 16th at The Refinery in Charleston, SC, with proceeds benefiting Charleston Waterkeeper.

Emerger Strategies recently partnered with Soul Fly Co. to develop a comprehensive Sustainable Event Plan for Soul Fly Charleston, establishing a framework to measure and improve the event's environmental and community impact — including ambitious goals around zero waste, local sourcing, and community engagement.

If you care about the future of fly fishing, the places we fish, and the communities built around them, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• How Griz, Kitry, & Kyle built Soul Fly Lodge and why sustainability became a priority
• The origin story of Soul Fly Co. and its live music + fly fishing events
• How Soul Fly Lodge is measuring and improving its sustainability performance
• What goes into a Sustainable Event Plan — and why it matters
• Soul Fly Charleston's zero waste and community impact goals
• How to support Charleston Waterkeeper by attending May 16th

Learn more: soulflyco.com | Follow Soul Fly Co. on Instagram Get tickets to Soul Fly Charleston: May 16 · The Refinery · Charleston, SC

Sponsors:

This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!)

🎣 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.

What does it actually take for a fishing or outdoor brand to become B-Corp certified — and how do you prove your sustainability claims without greenwashing? In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I am joined by Hazel Horvath, Founder and CEO of Ecolytics, a software platform built to solve one of the biggest challenges facing brands today: sustainability data management.

Hazel breaks down how Ecolytics helps companies streamline the B-Corp certification process by organizing and substantiating the data that certifications require — making it easier, faster, and more credible. We also dig into why major retailers are now holding brands accountable for measuring & improving sustainability performance, and what that means for the fishing and outdoor industry.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What B-Corp certification really means and why it matters for fishing and outdoor brands
• How sustainability data software like Ecolytics helps eliminate greenwashing risk
• Why retailers are demanding measurable sustainability metrics from the brands they carry
• How anglers can use certifications like 1% for the Planet and B-Corp to make smarter, more values-aligned purchasing decisions
• How The Sustainable Angler, Ecolytics, and Emerger Strategies have partnered to help brands pursue B-Corp certification more efficiently

Special Offer: If your brand is ready to pursue B-Corp certification, reach out to me directly or mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's Ecolytics subscription.

Whether you're a brand trying to back up your sustainability story with real data, or an angler who wants your gear purchases to mean something — this episode is for you.

Sponsors:

This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!)

🎣 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.

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, I sit down with Keith Shattenkirk, Program Officer for Healthy Lands & Waters at Patagonia. Keith shares the fascinating story of how he transitioned from a career in finance to working on the frontlines of conservation for one of the most influential outdoor companies in the world.

We dive into some of the biggest conservation challenges facing anglers and outdoor enthusiasts today—including ongoing threats to America’s public lands like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. We discuss why these places matter not just for recreation, but also for the small businesses and the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that supports our public lands.

The conversation also explores the power of advocacy—why contacting your elected officials about our public lands matters now more than ever—and how the outdoor industry can play a meaningful role in protecting the landscapes and waters that sustain it.

Keith also explains why outdoor brands should consider joining The Conservation Alliance, a coalition of companies working together to fund and support grassroots conservation efforts across North America.

Finally, Keith shares what gives him hope for the future of our lands, waters, and fisheries—and why anglers are uniquely positioned to be some of the most powerful voices for conservation.

Take Action: Visit Patagonia Action Works to advocate for our public lands.

If you care about wild fish, public lands, and the future of outdoor recreation, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Sponsors:

This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!)

🎣 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.