Ep. 165: What Are You Really Chasing? Ron Spomer on Ego, Legacy, and the Soul of the Hunt
Ron Spomer has hunted wild terrain across six continents, tested elite gear, written thousands of articles, and shaped how generations think about the outdoors. But none of that explains the man behind the rifle.In this rare and deeply personal conversation, Travis Bader sits down with the legendary outdoorsman to ask what no one else does: What’s he really been chasing?Ron opens up about the quiet moments that changed him, the ego traps of the industry, and why the biggest threat to hunting today isn’t anti-gun activists, it’s our own disconnection from nature, each other, and ourselves.They dive into legacy, ethics, spiritual frequency, and the kind of beauty that doesn’t need a trophy photo to matter. This episode will change how you see the wilderness, and your place in it.______Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Silvercore Club & Outpost intro02:00 – Ron Spomer joins, and Travis shares why he’s inspired by him04:15 – The high school English teacher who changed Ron’s life06:00 – Discovering writing and the innate drive to be in nature08:00 – Early childhood, grouse hunting, and connection to the woods10:00 – “What am I really chasing?” – Beauty, vibration, and truth13:00 – Finding the tiniest flower: humility and connection15:00 – Vibrations, radios, and the unseen ways we connect to nature17:00 – What should people be asking Ron that they never do?20:00 – “Hunt honest, shoot straight”: ethics, integrity, and legacy22:00 – Urbanization, habitat loss, and hard truths hunters avoid25:00 – Modern media, YouTube, and sneaking conservation into ballistics27:00 – First-time elk hunters and rediscovering awe30:00 – Self-reliance, sourdough, and the post-COVID outdoor renaissance33:00 – Surprised to still be alive—and grateful35:00 – Land stewardship and making old dreams real37:00 – Type II fun and memorable hardship in the wild39:00 – Free beauty: the magic of seeing what’s unearned41:00 – The cost of a career away from home and fighting ego44:00 – German hunting traditions and communal values48:00 – Division in the hunting world and how storytelling bridges it50:00 – Social media negativity, comment sections, and fragile egos53:00 – Industry rivalry vs. respect: why competition helps56:00 – Optics innovation and price vs. value58:00 – The power of narrative branding in optics and firearms01:02:00 – Storytelling to survive censorship01:04:00 – Travis on rebranding to Silvercore Outdoors01:06:00 – Where did all the outdoor heroes go?01:08:00 – The Rifleman and restoring personal responsibility01:10:00 – Legacy: Passing on a love for wild places and honest hunting01:14:00 – Hunters as conservationists—and how to reclaim the role01:17:00 – Final reflections on legacy, mentorship, and shared joy01:18:00 – “Where are you taking me moose hunting next?”
Canada - english