Ep. 165: What Are You Really Chasing? Ron Spomer on Ego, Legacy, and the Soul of the Hunt

The Silvercore Podcast with Travis Bader

Content provided by Travis Bader. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Travis Bader or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

17d ago 1:19:01

MP3•Episode home

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.trav
Silvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors

____

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Silvercore Club & Outpost intro
02:00 – Ron Spomer joins, and Travis shares why he’s inspired by him
04:15 – The high school English teacher who changed Ron’s life
06:00 – Discovering writing and the innate drive to be in nature
08:00 – Early childhood, grouse hunting, and connection to the woods
10:00 – “What am I really chasing?” – Beauty, vibration, and truth
13:00 – Finding the tiniest flower: humility and connection
15:00 – Vibrations, radios, and the unseen ways we connect to nature
17:00 – What should people be asking Ron that they never do?
20:00 – “Hunt honest, shoot straight”: ethics, integrity, and legacy
22:00 – Urbanization, habitat loss, and hard truths hunters avoid
25:00 – Modern media, YouTube, and sneaking conservation into ballistics
27:00 – First-time elk hunters and rediscovering awe
30:00 – Self-reliance, sourdough, and the post-COVID outdoor renaissance
33:00 – Surprised to still be alive—and grateful
35:00 – Land stewardship and making old dreams real
37:00 – Type II fun and memorable hardship in the wild
39:00 – Free beauty: the magic of seeing what’s unearned
41:00 – The cost of a career away from home and fighting ego
44:00 – German hunting traditions and communal values
48:00 – Division in the hunting world and how storytelling bridges it
50:00 – Social media negativity, comment sections, and fragile egos
53:00 – Industry rivalry vs. respect: why competition helps
56:00 – Optics innovation and price vs. value
58:00 – The power of narrative branding in optics and firearms
01:02:00 – Storytelling to survive censorship
01:04:00 – Travis on rebranding to Silvercore Outdoors
01:06:00 – Where did all the outdoor heroes go?
01:08:00 – The Rifleman and restoring personal responsibility
01:10:00 – Legacy: Passing on a love for wild places and honest hunting
01:14:00 – Hunters as conservationists—and how to reclaim the role
01:17:00 – Final reflections on legacy, mentorship, and shared joy
01:18:00 – “Where are you taking me moose hunting next?”

166 episodes

#Sports #Outdoor #Travis Bader #Podcasting Education