The Sporting Life Notebook Podcast

Durrell Smith hosted a special episode recapping his recent, highly memorable trip to the Minnesota Boundary Waters, joined by guests Land Tawney (co-chair of American Hunters and Anglers), Katie McKalip (conservation communications expert), Lukas Leaf (Executive Director of Sportsman for the Boundary Waters, who also served as camp chef), and Matt Schultz (Program Manager at SBW). Durrell described the wilderness as one of the most memorable times of his hunting career, providing an unparalleled opportunity to experience wilderness that felt like being in a "theme park... just for nature" and fulfilled a childhood sense of adventure. The trip yielded a true "cast and blast" mixed bag, during which Durrell harvested his first rough grouse in Minnesota, caught smallmouth bass, and foraged for mushrooms. Central to the conversation was the advocacy needed to protect the Boundary Waters—a unique and irreplaceable landscape that is an "objective good" for all Americans—from the threat of the Twin Metals nonferrous copper-nickel mine planned upstream from the watershed. Guests confirmed that organizations are in "defense mode" against potential attempts to overturn the 20-year mineral moratorium issued by the Biden administration in January 2023, urging listeners to raise awareness and call elected officials to secure permanent protection for the watershed. Durrell concluded by announcing he is developing related content, including a video recap on the American Soul, American Soul YouTube channel, writing, and artwork, while also promoting new products and upcoming events, such as an Atlanta photography exhibition on November 1st.

The episode features host Durrell Smith and four guests who joined the trip to advocate for the Minnesota Boundary Waters wilderness: Land Tawney (introduced in the source as Lan Tommy Tony and Lan Tony), the co-chair of American Hunters and Anglers, and Katie McKalip (introduced in the source as Katie Maleb), who works in conservation communications dedicated to elevating stories about opportunities and cherished places held dear by outdoors people. They are joined by the team from Sportsman for the Boundary Waters (SBW): Executive Director Lukas Leaf (introduced in the source as Lucas Leap), who also utilized his past experience as a professional chef to serve as the camp chef for the group, and Program Manager Matt Schultz (introduced in the source as Matthew Schultz), who lives near Ely, Minnesota, close to the Boundary Waters and whose wirehaired pointing griffon, Salmon, helped Durrell get his first grouse in Minnesota.