Episode 82 - When the Mountains Flooded: Andy Buchanan on Loss, Faith, and Appalachia

A mountain sportsman loses everything to floodwaters, and finds purpose, faith, and resilience in the aftermath. In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Country Outdoors Podcast, host Mary O’Neill Phillips sits down with North Carolina mountain native Andy Buchanan, bowhunter, father, and founder of Thorn Broadheads, to share a story that reaches far beyond the hunt. Andy grew up hunting these Appalachian ridges, learning woodsmanship through squirrel hunting, whitetail deer seasons, and a lifelong connection to the land. But when Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, those same mountain creeks turned violent, wiping out his home, his business, and nearly everything he owned in a matter of hours. This conversation isn’t just about disaster, it’s about what comes after. Andy walks listeners through surviving catastrophic flooding, navigating isolation with no communication, and facing the mental and emotional weight that follows losing your livelihood and sense of place. For hunters and anglers who understand the bond between people and landscapes, this episode hits close to home. You’ll hear how faith, family, and the outdoor community carried Andy forward, and how Appalachia’s self-reliant spirit showed up when government help fell short. The episode also explores how Andy balanced rebuilding a life with helping neighbors, managing disaster relief efforts, and slowly bringing his broadhead company back to life ahead of bow season. This is a reminder that the outdoors don’t just shape how we hunt, they shape how we endure, protect one another, and rebuild when everything familiar is gone. Follow the show for more weekly hunting, fishing and country music conversations conversations. Presented by: Field & Stream Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/ Get to know your host, Mary O’Neill Phillips: https://www.countryoutdoors.com              Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices