Chasing Wild

Discover the magic of Australia as we recount Dean's unforgettable 10-day adventure to the land down under. From the Great Barrier Reef to the Australia Zoo, this episode is perfect for travel enthusiasts and wildlife lovers!Australia captivates travelers with its diverse landscapes, unique wildlife, and vibrant culture. In this episode, Dean shares how his expectations of the trip differed from his experiences and what it meant to him to check off multiple bucket list items. If you're looking to plan a trip to Australia or are curious about what it's really like, this episode is for you! Who was the leading the experience of the crocoseum? Does a crocodile have the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom? Is Australia mostly outback? Tune in now to find out!If you're enjoying the podcast, please be sure to like and subscribe to the channel on YouTube or leave a review on Spotify or Apple Music! Every little step helps us further our mission to bridge the gap between people and nature. Instagram: @chasingwildpod

Jake takes listeners on a full immersion into the Serengeti National Park - his favorite place on the planet. Having lived in Tanzania for three and a half months in 2017, Jake shares everything: what game drives actually feel like ripping through the endless plains at full speed, the unexpected beauty of seeing 100,000 wildebeest stretching as far as the eye can see, and what it/s like to camp in the wild with no fence between you and Africa's most dangerous animals. Dean and Jake also kick things off closer to home - Snake Road in southern Illinois and a coyote hunt at dusk - before diving into the Serengeti's history, the Maasai people, and the Big Five, Little Five and Secret Seven. Closing out with the fan-favorite Music to Moments segment. Key Moments:*Dean's Snake Road adventure in southern Illinois - black rat snakes, waters snakes eagles and more*Jake's coyote tracking story at a nature preserve at dusk*What the Great Migration actually looks like from within the park*The Maasai people and the conflict behind the park's creation*Safari car life - why it feels like a rollercoaster and what's the best part*Nine leopards in 4 days including a mother and a cub in a tree*The hippo pool standoff - 50 hippos lining up to face the car*The Cap Buffalo stare down within 30 feet at dark*A pride of 13 lions walking through camp at night*Blood on the ground - a leopard kill in the center of the tents*A hyena stuck in the garbage can at camp*The Milky Way with zero light pollution*Music to Moments: sunrise, game drive and sunset picks from Jake and DeanMake sure to check us out on Apple and Spotify, rating and reviewing the show if you do! Please also consider liking the video, dropping a comment and subscribing to the channel. We're looking to grow the channel into a community of outdoor enthusiasts ready to Chase Wild.Follow: @chasingwildpod on Instagram

Jake and Dean have special guest, Daniel Stolarek, on the show to talk some skiing, outdoor adventure and answer the question, "what's it like to be a zookeeper?".Jake has been a zookeeper since 2018 and Dean since 2023. Daniel plays the role of the audience, asking Jake and Dean the pressing questions that give insight into the daily life of a zookeeper. You'll also get to hear responses to the most common question that people have on zoos, "are they bad?". This week's "Music to Moments" prompt was to pick 3 songs to listen to while going down a scenic green skiing run in Colorado. Make sure to join in the fun, asking your own questions in the comments below! Please be sure to give us a like and subscribe to the channel. Each subscription helps us grow our community of outdoor enthusiasts. Instagram: @chasingwildpod

Some of the biggest blockbuster films have been heavily inspired by nature. Think back to Jurassic Park, Jaws, Avatar and even Disney films such as The Jungle Book and Lion King. But just how often do artists draw inspiration from or reference the natural world in their art? Well, turns out it happens quite a bit. On this episode, Jake and Dean cover a list of twelve different pieces of pop culture that reference nature. If you're looking to join in the fun and create your own "pop culture profile" follow the template below!Choose 1 per category for each theme:Movie:AdventureWildlifeConservationSong:AdventureWildlifeConservationVideo Game:AdventureWildlifeConservationCelebrity:AdventureWildlifeConservationIf you're enjoying the podcast, make sure to give the video a like, comment and subscribe to the channel. Each and every subscriptions helps us build our community of outdoor enthusiasts. Instagram: @chasingwildpod

Ready to build your very own adventure profile? Here's the layout:Wildlife Team:1. Mammal2. Amphibian3. Reptile4. Bird5. Fish6. Spirit Animal (any of the above classes)Expedition Log:1. Favorite trip you've ever been on2. Top bucket list destination3. Second bucket list destinationConservation Impact:1. The conservation impact that means the most to you (ex: human-wildlife conflict, ecotourism, etc.)Profile Backdrop:An ecosystem that represents your profiles "banner" photoAdventure Song:The song that others would hear when visiting your profileMake sure to like this video and subscribe to the channel. Every subscription helps us grow our community in an effort to fulfill our mission to bridge the gap between people and nature.instagram: @chasingwildpodnture profile? Here's the layout:

Join us for an exciting episode where we bring in Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF), Dave Johnson. When a young conservationist and friend, Katie Adamson, passed away due to cancer, Dave stepped in to create a non-profit organization in her memory. Based in Denver, Colorado, the fund is a community-based organization that travels across the world to help local communities in their efforts to save endangered species. From radio collaring lions in Tanzania to funding and building a new vet hospital in Nepal, the KACF has been to over 24 countries and has helped countless animals in need. Beyond the global expeditions, Dave also works with people in education and entertainment, hosting fundraisers, speaking at zoos and writing children's books to extend their reach. Dave embodies what it means to be a conservationist, but knows that it takes people to save animals and is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his mission. Make sure to like this video and subscribe to the channel. Every subscription helps us grow our community in an effort to fulfill our mission to bridge the gap between people (you) and nature. Be sure to also follow along with Dave and the KACF crew, subscribing to their channels and joining them on their trips across the world. Links down below!instagram: @chasingwildpod KACF instagram: @katieadamsonconservationfundKACF website:https://www.katieadamsonconservationfund.org/

On this episode, we sit down with avid Fly Fisherman, Chase Halter, as he dives into some of his most memorable experiences out on rivers, boats and streams. Chase talks about the differences between fly fishing and conventional fishing, and how each can be better suited for certain fish and certain ecosystems. He also gives a few tips and tricks on how to become an effective fisherman, using tackle and timing to your advantage. During his time on the water, Chase has also learned more about his natural surroundings and has helped form a group that is dedicated to working with Ohio's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to monitor and protect the native species. Monitoring trends and seeing changes in the area, these fishermen serve as a tool for the DNR to get a better understanding of what is going on in the area and how they can best help. Make sure to tune in for a lively episode with some incredible fishing stories, specifically one with a couple of monster muskies. If you're enjoying the guest episodes, make sure to subscribe to the channel and leave a comment! Instagram: @chasingwildpod

In this episode, we sit down with Blake Dudzik, longtime hunter, as him and Dean break down their experiences deer hunting in Illinois and Wisconsin.  A common misconception of hunting is that people often think it is a cruel sport that people do purely for self-satisfaction. While there are many forms of hunting and different hunters with different intents, deer hunting across the United States is typically a sustainable and ethical way to maintain deer populations. Due to the extirpation of natural predators such as wolves and bears in certain states, deer do not have many, if any, natural predators. This causes their numbers to grow exponentially to an amount that their habitat cannot provide for. Without hunting, many of these individuals would die due to starvation or disease, specifically chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and moose and is also known as "zombie deer". CWD is a cruel way for these animals to die and is one of the reasons that hunting of these animals is not only allowed, but encouraged during hunting season. Deer populations are monitored closely and determines how many permits are given and how long hunting seasons can last. A quick death by gun or bow is far more ethical than starving or getting CWD and is why deer hunting IS ethical and supported when in accordance with the seasons and laws. Tune into this weeks episode to learn more from Blake and Dean as Jake takes the backseat to learn from these two longtime hunters. If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure to like the video and subscribe to the channel to help us grow our community!instagram: @chasingwildpod

Unchanged for 340 million years, predating the dinosaurs, this parasitic species has survived 4 major extinctions and dates back to the Paleozoic era. After being introduced to the Great Lakes in the 1800s, this invasive species has been wreaking havoc on native fish populations and is being called, "America's first destructive invasive fish species". These prehistoric fish latch onto the side of other fish, using their sharp, horny teeth to tear away at the flesh to suck its blood and bodily fluid. In its native ranges, the northern and western Atlantic, the host fish are able to withstand the Sea Lamprey latching onto them. In the Great Lakes, the smaller and less adapted fish often die. Each Sea Lamprey kills roughly 40 pounds of fish per year, leading to urgent efforts to manage these populations. Field biologists are doing everything they can to insert barriers that prevent them from moving upstream and use lampricides - a chemical that kills sea lamprey but not other fish - to reduce their numbers. Today, we talk with MSU graduate, Conor O'Kane, as he discusses his experience working with these field biology programs during his Master's Program. As always, make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave a comment. We're looking to build a group of outdoor enthusiasts committed to wildlife, conservation and adventure!Instagram: @chasingwildpod

Monster bass, a 10 pound walleye, 39 inch muskie and 50+ years of fishing experiences! This week we sit-down for our first guest episode with longtime freshwater fisherman and Jake's dad, Bob Johnson, to dive into the world of fishing. Bob's experiences provide listeners with an in depth view of what it looks like to be a passionate angler and how that's allowed him to have some trophy catches over the years. From tips and tricks, to the ethics of keeping your catch and the changes he's seeing with climate change, Bob hits all the important topics on what he's learned over the years to be a responsible, yet effective fisherman. From winning tournaments to being featured on the cover of Midwest Outdoors multiple times and a frequent contributor to the Chicago Sun Time's Fishing Report, Bob's expertise has reached many and we're happy to dive deeper here on the show. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to check out the linked content! We have a few different videos on our channel of some of Bob's fishing experiences. Be sure to also subscribe to the channel and leave him a comment!Instagram: @chasingwildpod