Alright, let's be honest for a second.
If you've ever felt like the outdoors wasn't built with you in mind… this episode is for you.
Welcome to Unfiltered Outdoors, where we talk about hunting, conservation, culture, and community without the fake politeness, without the gatekeeping, and without pretending everything is fine.
Today we're throwing out the rulebook.
We're playing games, telling wild stories, calling out nonsense, and saying the quiet parts out loud.
If you love the outdoors but are tired of the stereotypes, the weird looks, and the "you don't look like a hunter" energy… you're in the right place.
Because this is Unfiltered Outdoors by Hunters of Color… and we're not filtering a thing today.
Let's get into it.
Unfiltered Outdoors: Still Black on Thursday! w/Capt Leal Johnson
Capt. Lael Johnson grew up in the Midwest where salmon came in a can. Now his name is on the side of the boat — and he put it there on purpose.
In this episode, we sit down with the captain to talk about what it really means to find yourself on the water. From deep frying catfish vs. halibut (the verdict is in) to getting Superman-launched off a raft in 12-degree weather, Lael doesn't hold back. But underneath the laughs is something real — a man who built his identity in spaces that weren't built for him, and who refuses to shrink to make anyone comfortable.
He talks about putting his name on his boat for the little Black kid stuck in traffic who might look over and need to see it. About how the fish got him to the river, but the river gave him something the fish never could. About shrugging off the weight of being Black in outdoor spaces — not because it goes away, but because you still gotta get out there.
"It's popular for us to talk about it and then it gets old. Well, I'm still Black. That didn't change. Black on Tuesday, probably Black on Thursday."
This one hits different.
27 Apr 2026
Unfiltered Outdoors: Who Told You the Outdoors Wasn't for You? w/ Bianka Martinez
Nobody handed us a seat at the table — so we built our own. In this episode of Unfiltered Outdoors, Tony and Kenny are joined by Hunters of Color's Director of Training and Outdoor Engagement, Bianca, for a conversation that goes straight at the question the outdoor industry has been too comfortable ignoring: who told us we didn't belong out here?
From feeling eyes on you at the crag to being questioned on public land you've every right to be on, to watching Chicago kids who've never seen Lake Michigan — the crew gets real about the moments that hit different when you're the only one who looks like you. They dig into how white counterparts can actually show up without making it worse, why "we don't do this" is a lie we need to stop repeating, and why tokenized marketing isn't fooling anybody.
They also get into the good stuff — failed hunts, beef jerky as essential gear, jean hunting as a lifestyle, mosquitoes being unambiguously racist, and the geology lesson nobody asked for but everyone survived.
This one's honest. It's funny. And it's the conversation the outdoors community needs to be having.
7 Apr 2026
Unfiltered Outdoors: Chad Brown, He Went to the River to Die. Now He Takes Hundreds There to Live.
What does it look like when the outdoors saves your life — and then you spend the rest of it making sure it saves others?
In this episode, we sit down with Chad Brown, founder of Soul River Inc. and Love Is King, award-winning photographer and filmmaker, Navy combat veteran, and one of the most powerful voices in the outdoor and conservation space today. Chad is the only Black person to hold a backcountry guide permit for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and has led over 30 expeditions into the Arctic Circle — many of them with veterans and youth of color who had never set foot in wild spaces before.
But before all of that, Chad was homeless, living out of his truck, and standing on the banks of the Clackamas River in crisis. His path from that moment to testifying before Congress on public lands protection is one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring stories we've had on this podcast.
We also kick things off with a quick debrief from Kenny's recent trip to the Texas border — successful hunts, wild footage, some tense conversations about what it means to eat meat and be in the outdoors, and yes, a late-night animal processing session in a Bucky's parking lot.
This episode covers it all: fly fishing as therapy, outdoor art, Arctic expeditions, advocacy, and what it really means to build something for the people who were never invited to the table.
If you've ever doubted whether nature has the power to change a life — this episode will settle that question.
10 Mar 2026
Unfiltered Outdoors : Alex Troutmen 002
In this episode of Unfiltered Outdoors, we sit down with wildlife biologist, birder, author, photographer, and 2025 Hunters of Color East Ambassador of the Year, Alex Troutman. Alex shares his journey of growing up passionate about wildlife, navigating the outdoors and conservation spaces as a Black man, and building a career in a field where he rarely saw people who looked like him.
This conversation goes beyond hunting and biology. It's about representation, mentorship, public lands, and what it means to help the next generation find belonging in the outdoors. Alex speaks on the power of exposure, the responsibility that comes with being extractive from the land, and why conservation has to be more than just words. He also gets real about the challenges Black folks face outside, from isolation in the field to questions of safety, while reminding us why creating welcoming spaces matters.
It's an honest, thoughtful, and unfiltered conversation about wildlife, hunting, identity, and our obligation to protect both people and the places we love.
16 Feb 2026
You Don't Look Like a Hunter (So We Made a Podcast)
Welcome to Unfiltered Outdoors by Hunters of Color—the show for anyone who loves the outdoors but is tired of the stereotypes, the side-eyes, and the "you don't look like a hunter" energy.
In Episode 1, co-hosts Tony Ary (Development Director) and Kenny X Hamlett (Head of Marketing) set the tone: no fake politeness, no gatekeeping, and no filtering. They break down what Hunters of Color actually is (and isn't), why the work matters for everyone in the outdoor space, and how community-centered mentorship helps with recruitment, retention, and ethical participation.
You'll hear wild stories (yes… a deer in the back of a Kia Optima), honest conversations about fear and assumptions in the woods, and why the outdoors can be a powerful tool for mental health. Plus, they introduce upcoming segments like "What's in the Bag" and tease future guests—from chefs to anglers to brand builders.
If you've ever felt like the outdoors wasn't built with you in mind—this is your spot. Subscribe, pull up, and let's get into it.
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