Sam Root | Fishing Photographer and Social Media Star | Ep. 1001

Sam Root is a content creator in the fishing industry and a key part of the team at Pure Fishing — one of the biggest fishing companies on the planet. We go way back (forums, early DSLR days, the first years of Saltwater Experience), and in this conversation we get into what’s actually changed in fishing media… and what hasn’t. We talk about the death of gatekeeping, why attention spans are getting weird (3 seconds or 3 hours), why polished “commercial-looking” videos often underperform, how AI is already changing photo/video work, and the wild travel stories that remind you fishing is fishing — whether you’re in the Everglades or 30 hours from the nearest runway. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The gatekeeping is gone — and that’s a blessing and a whole new kind of grind. High-end production can actually hurt performance because people can smell an ad in half a second. New product hype sells… until it doesn’t — credibility is what carries the long game. AI is powerful, but the “soulless” stuff gets blocked fast (and I’m with him on that). The Everglades might be the best “short trip” fishing on earth — but the sharks have changed the whole release game. 00:00 Introduction + “Apollo Beach Sam” 02:05 How we first met (forums, early show days) 06:10 Gatekeeping is dead — and what replaced it 10:35 3 seconds vs 3 hours (attention span whiplash) 14:10 How Sam ended up at Pure Fishing (and what he does) 18:15 What actually sells product now (and why “polished” can flop) 23:40 YouTube/shorts vs longform — and how channels get confused 28:55 Travel fishing: Indonesia, Seychelles, Amazon, Argentina 37:40 The “sketchy mothership” story (28 hours back in a storm) 41:30 Weirdest food: sea turtle eggs + coconut crabs 46:10 AI in fishing content (Nano Banana + photo fixes) 52:15 Sharks in the Everglades/Keys — what’s happening? 58:05 Rapid fire: best, worst, strangest, bucket list 01:02:10 Where to find Sam + closing 🔗 Visit Sam Root’s Website – [custom link] 🔗 Connect With Sam Root: Instagram → @scssam (search “Sam Root / ROOT”) 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #SamRoot #PureFishing #FishingContent #SocialMediaMarketing #SaltwaterExperience #EvergladesFishing #GT #FlyFishing #AIEditing

When I started the Tom Rowland Podcast, I never imagined we’d hit this milestone… and definitely not with a lineup like this. To celebrate 1,000 episodes, we put together a best-of conversation reel featuring some of the most impactful guests to ever sit down with me: Bill Dance – The legend himself. We talk about joy, longevity, and why fishing is still fun after a lifetime on the water. Michael Chandler – UFC superstar. Discipline, doubt, and what it really means to bet on yourself when the lights are brightest. Monte Burke – Author of Lords of the Fly. The obsession, history, and culture behind chasing truly giant fish. Michael Waddell – “Bone Collector.” Family, faith, hunting culture, and how to stay grounded when the cameras turn on. Chris Fischer – Founder of OCEARCH. Great white sharks, conservation, and why wild places still matter. These aren’t just highlight clips. They’re the moments that stuck with me long after we stopped recording – the stories, one-liners, and mindset shifts that changed how I think about fishing, work, family, and life. The real Bill Dance behind the bloopers and the TV fame How Michael Chandler turns fear into fuel before he walks into the Octagon Why Monte Burke thinks certain anglers cross the line from “interested” to “obsessed” Michael Waddell’s take on raising kids, building a brand, and still loving the hunt How Chris Fischer and OCEARCH are using science and storytelling to protect the ocean If you’ve listened since the early days: thank you. If you’re new here: this is a great place to start. 🎣 Subscribe for more conversations about fishing, adventure, mindset, and becoming harder to kill in every area of life. 👍 Drop a comment and tell me: Which guest has impacted you the most over 1000 episodes? In this 1000th episode, you’ll hear:

Chris James is a self-taught holistic wellness coach and the creator of A Healthy Alternative, a fasting-based wellness community that’s helped thousands of people lose 100+ pounds, reverse disease symptoms, and feel at home in their body again. A Healthy Alternative+1 In this conversation, we get into how Chris helped his brother lose 100 pounds in just 90 days without loose skin, how his own mysterious infection disappeared when nothing else worked, and why strategic fasting and hydration might be the most underrated tools for getting truly healthy — not just “less sick.” Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: When Chris broke down how his brother went from 420 pounds to losing 100 pounds in 90 days — and what they learned about autophagy, plateaus, and that “shrink week” in a long fast. His story of battling a 10-year infection doctors couldn’t diagnose, trying every pill and test, and finally seeing it disappear when he changed his diet and started water fasting. The way he explains distilled water, hydration, and cellular water — and why so many of us are drinking water but still walking around dehydrated and tired. A Healthy Alternative How extended fasts triggered intense cravings, emotional memories, and even childhood foods — and what that taught him about the emotional side of eating and detox. His vision for wellness centers with fasting support, testing, and gardens—places where normal people can actually succeed with fasting instead of trying to white-knuckle it alone. If you’ve ever wondered: “Is fasting just starving myself?” “Can you really lose 100+ pounds without loose skin?” “What about electrolytes, distilled water, and training while fasted?” “How do I use fasting if I’m not obese but want less inflammation and better performance?” …this episode is going to give you a ton to think about and some very practical starting points. 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations →https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #Fasting #ChrisJames #AHealthyAlternative #WeightLossJourney #NoLooseSkin #Autophagy #Inflammation #HealthTransformation #SaltwaterLegends

What happens when you give an oceanographer a pile of ROFFS® fishing reports, decades of ocean data, and access to Simrad® electronics? You get FishCast® — an AI-powered offshore fishing forecast that can highlight high-probability zones days before you ever leave the dock. In this conversation, Dr. Taylor Shropshire from Fathom Science and I break down how FishCast works on Simrad MFDs, how 3-day, 3-hour forecasts help you plan offshore trips, and why AI should be a tool that makes fishing more fun rather than a shortcut that replaces hard-earned experience. We also talk about ocean models, hurricane prediction, safety, and what better forecasting might mean for anyone who lives and fishes on the coast. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend, rate the show, and stay tuned for more unfiltered conversations.

Joe Simons is the co-founder of Salt Strong, one of the largest fishing communities in America — built from scratch with his brother Luke to teach the world how to fish. Over 600 podcast episodes later, Joe joins me to talk about the journey from startup to acquisition, what it means to stay true to your mission, and how community, content, and faith built something much bigger than a business. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The early days of Salt Strong — from t-shirts to teaching anglers How Joe and Luke grew to 60,000+ members without investors The inside story behind Salt Strong’s acquisition by Sportsman’s Guide What it takes to stay authentic after a sale Why building community will always beat chasing followers The vision for a Fishing Theme Park and the next five years Lessons from selling a company, leadership, and family legacy 🔗 Visit Salt Strong → https://www.saltstrong.com 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #SaltStrong #FishingPodcast #Entrepreneurship #TomRowlandPodcast #SaltwaterExperience

Dan Dillon is the founder behind Aquaphobix, a heat-applied, non-ablative marine coating that started in swimming pools and is now being tested on fiberglass boats. In this conversation, we dig into the torch-on application, why copper-based bottom paint is still everywhere, and how certifications like Marine Life Safe and Drinking Water Safe translate from pools to marinas and beyond. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: How a pool coating ended up on boats — and why the blowtorch is part of the magic The honest breakdown of copper paints, “ablative” flakes, and microplastics in our water and fish Certifications that actually matter (not greenwashing): marine life and drinking-water safe Real-world cases: SeaWorld exhibits, a 102-year-old public pool, and what marinas care about (hint: sanding revenue) The ROI angle for anglers: fewer haul-outs, better performance, less mess — and where this could go (buoys to cruise ships) Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Dan’s background (pool contractor → Aquaphobix) 03:45 What Aquaphobix is (pneumatic thermal plastic) 06:20 Torch-on application: epoxy, powder, and bond strength 09:55 Why traditional bottom paint leaches (ablative vs. hard) 13:10 Microplastics, copper, and environmental impacts 16:05 Certifications: Marine Life Safe & Drinking Water Safe 20:00 SeaWorld & “Venetian Pool” case — draining into aquifer 24:35 Greenwashing claims vs. what’s actually in the can 28:40 Marina economics: sanding, haul-outs, fees, and ROI 32:30 Performance, fuel burn, and efficiency tradeoffs 36:15 Big-boat use cases (buoys, cruise ships testing & fines) 40:05 Family-owned company, exclusive rights, patent-pending 43:10 The viral video effect and dealing with comments 46:00 What’s next & how to get in touch 🔗 Visit Dan Dillon / Aquaphobix – https://aquaphobix.com 🔗 Connect with Aquas / Aquaphobix: Instagram → @aquasofficial Website → https://aquaphobix.com 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #BoatLife #SaltwaterLegends #BottomPaint #Aquaphobix #Conservation

Captain Scott Moore is a West Coast Florida legend — 50+ years on the water, a conservation bulldog, and the namesake of Manatee County’s finest public boat ramp. He’s guided through countless cycles of boom-and-bust fisheries, fought for preserves, and helped push pivotal policy from the snook/redfish era to today’s water-quality battles. We talk hurricanes and recovery on Anna Maria Island, why mangroves are the best windbreak on earth, the real “groceries” fish need, and how law, science, and local knowledge collide on the water. We also get into gear evolution (from nylon cast nets to braid), guiding as the entertainment business, snook lights, canal aeration, aquaculture at Mote Marine, and why respectful advocacy beats shouting every time. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The community response after four feet of storm surge — and how a true island steps up. Why trimmed mangroves often fare better in storms, and what black mangroves need to survive. “It’s about the groceries”: managing forage and estuaries, not just gamefish. Guiding wisdom: safety, teaching, hospitality — then fish. The net-ban era, law enforcement realities, and what policy actually moves the needle. Practical water quality fixes: septic conversions, canal aeration, turf buffers, and realistic tradeoffs. Honoring legacy: why the county named a boat ramp after Scott — and what that really means. Visit Captain Scott’s home waters — Anna Maria Island, FL Connect with local conservation groups mentioned: Captains For Clean Water Coastal Conservation Association Waterkeepers Florida Free Resources Saltwater Knot Guide — https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP Tom Rowland Podcast — https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversationshttps://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 Follow the Show Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #CaptainScottMoore #AnnaMariaIsland #FloridaFishing #Mangroves #Snook #Conservation #WaterQuality #Hurricanes #MoteMarine #TomRowlandPodcast #SaltwaterLegends

Carey Chen is a world-traveled marine artist and lifelong fisherman who turned a passion for blue water into a career—painting billfish from memory and chasing giants with some of the best crews on earth. Born in Los Angeles to Jamaican parents, raised in Jamaica, and later based in Miami, Carey went from motorcycles and video stores to fishing tournaments across the Caribbean, licensing deals, and live painting at world-class events. In this conversation, we get into how a first sailfish on a kite lit the fuse, why sonar is changing offshore fishing (and why he thinks it’ll soon be on every boat), what it’s like to fish with the Bad Company program, and how a lifetime of travel turned into 3,000+ paintings “stuck in his head.” Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The first sailfish on a kite off Miami—and how one fish can change your life From fisherman to painter: leaving retail, painting live, and getting “discovered” at boat shows Fishing the world with Bad Company: Mag Bay marlin numbers that sound impossible until you see them The sonar debate: why new tech doesn’t replace skill—but rewards crews who master it Big-fish mindset: chasing granders, tagging programs, and letting the big breeders go Seychelles, Cape Verde, Madeira: what “no-pressure” fisheries really feel like Growing up around legends—boxing promoters, Bob Marley, and the value of giving back through art Timestamps 00:00 Intro & who is Carey Chen 01:35 Jamaica → Miami → first sailfish on a kite 05:10 From fisherman to artist: the boat show breakthrough 10:42 Touring the Caribbean tournaments & live painting 15:28 Bad Company stories: Mag Bay marlin madness 21:40 Sonar, strategy, and the “is it cheating?” debate 28:05 Chasing granders: Africa, Cape Verde, Madeira 34:20 Seychelles & the magic of low-pressure fisheries 40:55 Flats talk: triggers, bumpheads, bonefish, Andros 47:10 Art from memory: anatomy, light, and getting it right 52:25 Business today: licensing, dropship, 3,000+ pieces 57:30 Growing up around champions & giving back 1:02:10 Final thoughts on passion → profession 🔗 Visit Carey Chen’s Website – [custom link] 🔗 Connect With Carey: Instagram → @[guest_handle] Website → [guest_website] 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #MarineArt #Billfish #BigGameFishing #Fishing #SaltwaterLegends

Shane Reynolds is an award-winning producer, explorer, and storyteller who’s worked on Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, and Travel Channel shows in more than 65 countries. You might know him as Color Earth on Instagram, where his camera drops reveal the hidden world under piers, bridges, and reefs. In this conversation, we dive into: How a simple 360 camera drop turned into viral content. The wildest behind-the-scenes stories from Nat Geo and Discovery expeditions. Sharks, aggregations, and what’s really happening under Florida’s waters. Survival in the Guyana jungle while filming “Shane Untamed.” 🔗 Visit Shane’s Work – https://www.colorearth.tv/ 🔗 Connect With Shane: Instagram → @colourearthpro YouTube → youtube.com/shanereynolds 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe

At 16, Jordan Thomas lost both legs in a Keys boating accident—and turned it into purpose. He launched the Jordan Thomas Foundation to help kids get the prosthetics and community they need through age 18, and he’s now a top adaptive golfer competing at the US Adaptive Open in Pinehurst. We get into mindset and trauma, why running blades aren’t covered, real talk on water safety, community beats hardware, and pushing policy so access is affordable and durable. Big heart, big mission—tons of practical takeaways. Connect with Jordan Instagram — @jordanthomasfoundation Website — https://www.jordanthomasfoundation.org Free Resources Saltwater Knot Guide — https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP Tom Rowland Podcast — https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversationshttps://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 Follow the Show Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/tvswe