Are you able to share the inspiration behind beginning Unbroken Arrows?
Greg: The concept for a podcast really began about 7 or 8 years in the past. I used to be the principal at Ogallala Excessive Faculty in Western Nebraska and I used to be requested to do the colour commentary for the native radio broadcasts for some away soccer and basketball video games and I loved doing that, from that my thought was {that a} podcast to focus on the world and all the alternatives the world has together with the out of doors actions comparable to looking, fishing, and tenting. Our life actions, working, children in school, children getting married, turning into grandparents and shifting again to Omaha took all of our time. Just a few months after our transfer to Omaha my first spouse Holly’s prognosis with ovarian most cancers, her brief battle with most cancers and her loss of life left me questioning what my life after practically 35 years of marriage (one week brief), elevating our 5 youngsters, and retiring of 30 years of educating, teaching, and administration was going to be. Quick ahead a couple of years, I met Catherine’s mom, Stephanie, and we have been married in June of 2023. Considered one of Stephanie’s and my connections was a love for being lively within the outside. That love for the outside was one thing that Stephanie and her first husband, Tony, instilled of their 5 youngsters, one among which is my co-host Catherine. Catherine and I began turkey looking collectively and over that point I noticed that her information and perception, particularly at her younger age (she was 17 once we first met) was distinctive. It was throughout this time that the podcast concept began to be a thought once more as I noticed that these hunts with Catherine and the deer hunts with my son Alex previous to assembly Stephanie, have been serving to me heal from the loss that I skilled with the loss of life of my spouse Holly. Catherine and her household additionally skilled with the lack of a sibling to leukemia, their father to suicide and for somebody on the skin trying in at each of our households are damaged. Within the fall of 2023 I approached Catherine with the thought of manufacturing a podcast about how looking, fishing, and being lively within the outside has helped us, and by sharing our story possibly we may also help others use the outside to work via their life struggles. She was all in and as we mentioned doable names of the podcast I discussed damaged arrows and it was Catherine that stated, “no, a damaged arrow doesn’t fly and we’re shifting ahead, we’re unbroken arrows.” I believed that she got here up with the proper metaphor that describes our present path in life.
Catherine: Greg introduced the thought to me in 2023 and I used to be instantly on board. I truthfully thought it might be a kind of stuff you say you will do however by no means really undergo with it. After we began making an increasing number of of a plan I began to get excited. It was undoubtedly Greg that began this although so he deserves all of the credit score.
What has looking meant to you and your loved ones?
Greg: For me I hunted rather a lot after I was younger however the period of time I spent looking dwindled in the course of the time frame of my life that included school, work, marriage and elevating a household. As a household we spent much more time on the water, fishing, boating, tubing, wakeboarding, than we spent within the discipline. Through the years I did hunt a couple of occasions with my sons and others a couple of occasions and solely small recreation, primarily pheasant and squirrel, however I feel that my three son’s curiosity in looking got here from their pals extra so than from me and my spouse Holly and daughters by no means actually confirmed an curiosity in looking. Personally, I might think about myself a reactivated hunter as outlined by the R3 motion. I’ve hunted extra prior to now 5 years than I had within the earlier 30 years of my life and I by no means hunted deer or turkey till my late 50’s and early 60’s so I’m studying rather a lot from Catherine every season.
Catherine: Looking has all the time been an enormous a part of my life. My mother and father made an effort to take all of us children from a really younger age. I truthfully couldn’t let you know the primary time I went pheasant looking as a result of it’s one thing I’ve all the time recognized. Yearly on my birthday, I might get to skip college with my dad to go looking; generally, it was deer, goose, duck, or pheasant. After my dad handed away, my brother Aj and I carried on the custom. Looking has all the time been a approach for me to attach with the individuals I like. I like taking individuals on their first hunts or listening to their tales. This love and connection to looking goes past any phrases I may use to clarify it.
Your podcast typically talks about sturdy points within the podcast. How do you’re feeling these points resonate with the listeners?
Greg: I feel that in case you take the time to begin a dialog with anybody you can see out that they may have a private story of life struggles. On our podcast we’re trustworthy about our struggles in life and I feel that resonates with our listeners and hopefully it might probably assist them really feel extra snug to speak to others about their scenario. Abruptly shedding a cherished one by suicide or an aggressive type of most cancers is tough. So is shedding a cherished one which has to undergo years of remedy and care, sure, these are powerful matters to share, for us as effectively. When the mud settles, Catherine and I are simply two those that wish to share how the outside have helped us and we wish to present others the chance to share how out of doors actions have helped their therapeutic course of. Moreover, we wish to share details about the completely different out of doors alternatives which might be accessible to them, wherever they dwell, to assist enhance their bodily and psychological well being.
Catherine: As Greg stated, everybody’s been via one thing. I’ve discovered that most individuals desire a purpose to speak about these points and to listen to that they aren’t alone. It may be an uncomfortable dialog to begin however extraordinarily rewarding. With the ability to share my very own experiences takes among the stress off.
I perceive you could have launched a brand new enterprise and partnered with non-profit basis. Inform us extra about that group and your objectives?
Greg: Catherine’s little sister Rebekah died of leukemia on the age of 10. To honor her Stephanie and Tony began Rebekah’s Legacy Basis. As Stephanie lately shared the story on our podcast (Season 1 episode #34) Tony was the planner and the “face” of the muse and Stephanie was the behind the scenes particular person, along with his loss of life, the muse remained, however its exercise slowed and at a board assembly 2023 there was discuss of dissolving the muse. Quick ahead to March of 2024. The Unbroken Arrows podcast had a sales space at Pheasant’s Endlessly Pheasant Fest and Quail Class held in Sioux Falls. We actually didn’t know what to anticipate however the response that we acquired from those who we visited with that have been in attendance and from those who we interviewed was humbling. It helped us notice that our podcast was one which others may relate to. After that weekend I occurred to see a Rebekah’s Legacy assertion on the kitchen counter and I remembered the dialog I had the 12 months earlier than with Stephanie concerning the chance that the muse could be dissolved. I requested Stephanie if she thought that the muse could possibly be repurposed and its focus to be expanded to honor not solely Rebekah’s legacy, however Tony and Holly’s too. She appreciated the thought, contacted the board members on the time and the method moved ahead. Now often known as the Unbroken and Courageous Basis: A Legacy of Hope and Therapeutic, is planning a fundraising occasion for November. This non-profit group is rooted within the outside and is devoted to serving to youngsters, households, people, and veterans who’re sick or in want of hope. They supply help to these affected by persistent diseases and psychological well being problems, providing them an opportunity to heal and thrive. The Unbroken Arrows podcast will likely be a platform to advertise this basis as we’ll proceed to encourage our listeners to make use of out of doors actions to enhance their bodily and psychological well being.
How can individuals help the work that you’re doing?
Greg: We encourage our listeners to achieve out and share their experiences of how out of doors actions have helped them get via a tricky time of their lives. Folks can contact us via our web site, https://unbrokenarrowspodcast.com/ or ship us an e mail at unbrokenarrows@gmail.com to share their story of therapeutic via the outside. The necessary half to recollect is that we’d ask them to share their story as a part of our podcast, however simply having the chance to put in writing about or discuss with somebody about their story of wrestle will be an necessary step within the therapeutic course of. Personally, I’ve shared this with Catherine and the listeners of the podcast, the conversations that I’ve with those who we’ve got had on our podcast are therapeutic for me. Folks want to appreciate that others are going via occasions of their lives which might be comparable and they don’t seem to be alone in the case of coping with the struggles all of us encounter in life.
Additionally, individuals which might be taken with supporting the work of the Unbroken and Courageous Basis can accomplish that by going to https://www.unbrokenandbravefoundation.org/ to be taught extra concerning the basis and the way they will help it by contributing their time, abilities, or assets.
How can individuals hearken to your podcast?
Greg: Our podcasts will be accessed on our web site, unbrokenarrowspodcast.com in addition to via platforms comparable to iHeart, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
What are the primary themes you cowl in your podcast?
Greg: Our tagline is Therapeutic Via the Hunt and that, partially, refers to Catherine’s and my journey collectively, however in actuality our predominant themes are all issues outside. To begin with we share what we’re doing outside individually, collectively, and as a household. A number of Catherine’s time is spent in preparation for her archery hunts, so we do spend time every month along with her updates. This 12 months she and her boyfriend are getting ready for a pronghorn hunt within the Black Hills. We share our experiences as a result of they’re diversified. We’re lively with looking and fishing, however we additionally play pickleball, we stroll, hike, birdwatch, kayak, and go on UTV/aspect by aspect trails. With a few of these actions we’ve got fairly a bit of information and expertise to share, among the different actions we spotlight we’re simply studying about too. We wish to mannequin to our listeners that we’re actively looking for new methods of turning into extra lively within the outside like we encourage our listeners to do. One other theme of ours is to focus on among the organizations that work with our nation’s veterans and lively navy members. There’s a historical past of navy service in each Catherine’s and my household and I presently have a son serving within the Air Drive and a daughter serving within the Navy. The information comprises many tales of how our veterans and our lively navy wrestle with each bodily and psychological well being challenges. We hope that by elevating the notice of the out of doors actions offered by a few of these non-profit organizations, it might probably assist extra of our veterans and lively navy make connections that may enhance their bodily and psychological well being. Final, however actually not least, we ask our listeners that in the event that they, or somebody they know, is considering of suicide, or in want of disaster intervention, to hunt help by calling the suicide and disaster lifeline by dialing 988, to achieve out and let somebody know that they’re in disaster, don’t endure in silence.
Are you able to share probably the most impactful tales you’ve lined in your podcast?
Greg: It’s exhausting to slim it down to at least one, however I might say that it must be our first visitor, our first interview, which was with Dave Endicott (Season 1 Episode #3). Dave and his spouse Esther bought an 11 acre tract of land alongside a river in northern Minnesota so they might have a spot to camp, however their focus modified. As a substitute, their land is now often known as Camp Christopher, named for Dave’s brother Christopher who died by suicide. Dave and Esther’s story of how they made their land accessible for these which were impacted by suicide and/or psychological well being isses is inspiring and is the kind story that we wish to share on our Unbroken Arrows podcast.
Catherine: I don’t know if I may choose one. Lots of them have shared a lot perception and expertise with us. I’ve actually loved doing the interviews with my household, but it surely has additionally been eye-opening to listen to others’ experiences.
How do you select the topics in your podcasts?
Greg: We share our private out of doors adventures, however we additionally search for company to interview that may present our listeners with quite a lot of methods to be lively within the outside. We’ve got interviewed leaders of golf equipment such because the Massive Sioux Fly Fishing membership that encourage individuals with little or no expertise fly fishing to attend and be taught extra about an exercise which may change into greater than only a passing curiosity. Since we dwell in South Dakota, and I’m initially from Nebraska, we’ve got interviewed representatives from the Recreation, Fish, & Parks from each states concerning the alternatives offered by them for our listeners to benefit from the outside. A few of our podcast matters are informational, and as a former trainer of science, the concepts normally come from questions introduced on by remark. An instance could be season 1, episode #23, The whole lot Elk. My spouse Stephanie, Catherine’s mother, and I have been using the paths within the Black Hills this spring and have been lucky to see some Elk on the paths, however we have been asking one another questions that we weren’t in a position to reply. We have been out having fun with the outside because the podcast encourages others to do, and if we had questions, possibly others would have these similar questions. It was that occasion that led to that episode. We attempt to present quite a lot of matters that relate to the outside ultimately.
What has been your most difficult episode to date and why?
Greg: My interview with Sean Adams of Wings of Valor Lodge (Season 1 Episode #12) was one which was difficult for me to get via. I used to be overcome with quite a lot of feelings in the course of the interview and I don’t assume that I can pinpoint anybody purpose as to why. My son Trey was with me in the course of the interview and we talked about how that was a kind of occasions an individual is ambushed by their feelings. I feel that life experiences, each mine and people of others, generally come into focus and are manifested in peculiar methods.
Catherine: Our very first episode was most likely essentially the most tough for me. Publicly sharing my experiences was new for me. It could actually nonetheless be actually exhausting to speak about all of the ache I’ve skilled and to hearken to Greg discuss his hardships.
Are you able to share a narrative of how your podcast has made a distinction in somebody’s life?
Greg: I can’t say that I’ve had anybody say {that a} story of ours has made a distinction of their lives, however I do know that each Catherine and I’ve been informed by a few of these we had on our podcasts as company and a few which have listened to our podcasts that they recognize that we’re sharing our story and that they recognize that we’re open and trustworthy concerning the occasions in our lives which have introduced us to the place we’re as we speak. I can solely converse for myself however our podcast has made a distinction in my life, and it’s as a result of Catherine stated sure to being my co-host. There are over forty years between us, however I can nonetheless be taught issues from her on the matters we talk about and figuring out among the issues she has been via in her younger life there are occasions in my life, previous and current, that I’m able to work via as a result of I get to listen to issues from her perspective.
What are among the behind-the-scenes challenges that you simply face whereas producing the podcast?
Greg: I might guess that the typical podcast listener does not likely recognize how a lot time goes into producing a podcast and we aren’t one of many “polished” podcasts that one can hearken to. Once you add up the time it takes to coordinate interviews, the time to report the interviews, you then add within the time it takes to edit the recorded interview you start to appreciate why of the thousands and thousands of podcasts which might be created every year solely 44% have lower than 3 episodes. The truth that we’ve got printed a weekly episode since December twenty first of 2023, places us in uncommon firm in accordance with the statistics that I’ve seen. One other problem for us is that Catherine is a full time school scholar and works half time, so it’s tough for our schedules to mesh, however we make it work more often than not. It helps that I’m retired.
Catherine: I might say time might be the largest wrestle. As Greg stated, I’m a school scholar with two part-time jobs. My days are very full, so scheduling one other factor will be tough. Greg does a number of the enhancing and scheduling, which helps, although.
How do you deal with the emotional influence of among the tales you share?
Greg: For me, listening to the tales of others really helps me put the occasions in my life into a greater perspective. We’ve got been in a position to go to with individuals, not simply our company, which were via a lot but have the dedication to proceed to maneuver ahead, in Catherine’s phrases, like an unbroken arrow. We’re all impacted by occasions in our life that make us really feel a variety of feelings, all of us experience via these hills and valleys, however oftentimes is once we hit these valleys that we overlook concerning the others which might be going via the identical or comparable low factors that we’re coping with. Listening to the tales of others may also help us kind via these feelings, particularly once we begin to assume that we’re the one ones feeling that low.
What’s your favourite half about producing Unbroken Arrows?
Greg: The conversations, each with Catherine and with our company. I benefit from the prep work for the interviews and the interview itself. I be taught rather a lot from the individuals we discuss to and Catherine makes me chuckle. She places the previous man in his place generally along with her fast wit and I put her to sleep after I begin speaking about science associated matters with our company. Just a few months again I noticed that although “Therapeutic via the Hunt” is a part of our podcast’s title, the podcast has change into my “Hunt for Therapeutic.” I didn’t know on the time that shifting ahead with producing this podcast was going to assist me as a lot as I hoped that it might assist others.
Catherine: I might agree with Greg. I’ve been informed that I discuss rather a lot, so attending to do it on a podcast has been actually enjoyable. I’ve loved speaking to new individuals and previous pals to share their tales and be taught extra about what retains them shifting.
The place do you see Unbroken Arrows going sooner or later?
Greg: Nice query! I feel all the things runs its course in time and I inform Catherine that it’s my hope that this artistic enterprise of ours helps her along with her future endeavors, so I suppose my hope is that in some unspecified time in the future she takes over the podcast or along with her imaginative and prescient she will information it via a metamorphosis into the following era of multimedia that may come down the highway as it’s only a matter of time that it’s going to. However I’m certain that if and when that occurs I’ll have stepped again from the podcasting world and will likely be discovered someplace exterior, having fun with the outside, and will likely be experiencing its therapeutic powers.
Catherine: Greg all the time says that sooner or later, I’ll take over the podcast and go solo. Whereas I’m not certain if that’s true, I wish to see this proceed sooner or later. I consider there are such a lot of tales left to share and extra individuals to influence.
