In this special episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, Clay Newcomb shares an extended version of the keynote speech he delivered at Pheasant's Forever's Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic on March 8, 2025. He tells the story of his grandfather Lewen Newcomb, a man who lived a life of principle and consistency and a passion for quail hunting that never diminished even when bird populations declined in his region. His love of the outdoors and passion for hunting left a lasting and undeniable impact and is carried on in and through the life of Clay to this day.

If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com

Connect with Clay and MeatEater

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In this special episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, Clay Newcomb shares an extended version of the keynote speech he delivered at Pheasant's Forever's Pheasant Fest &amp; Quail Classic on March 8, 2025. He tells the story of his grandfather Lewen Newcomb, a man who lived a life of principle and consistency and a passion for quail hunting that never diminished even when bird populations declined in his region. His love of the outdoors and passion for hunting left a lasting and undeniable impact and is carried on in and through the life of Clay to this day.
If you have comments on the show, send us a note to <a href="mailto:beargrease@themeateater.com">beargrease@themeateater.com</a>
Connect with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/authors/claynewcomb">Clay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/">MeatEater</a>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterPodcastNetwork">MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube</a>

The Bear Grease Podcast with host Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. He’ll dive in deep with hunters, biologists, anthropologists, and hillbillies to learn about human nature and our ancient connection to the land. Bear Grease explores unique people, topics, and stories that reveal the incredible value of life lived close to the land. Part of the MeatEater Podcast Network.

Bear Grease

Home to the Bear Grease podcast and Bear Grease Render show with Clay Newcomb, and This Country Life with Brent Reaves.

Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. He’ll dive in deep with hunters, biologists, anthropologists, and hillbillies to learn about human nature and our ancient connection to the land. Bear Grease explores unique people, topics, and stories that reveal the incredible value of life lived close to the land. Follow up with the Render discussion show, where Clay interviews experts and brings together a cast of crew members to explore themes within the Bear Grease show.

Brent Reaves is a lifelong outdoorsman whose family roots go back over 150 years in the river bottoms of rural Arkansas. On This Country Life, he's inviting you into his home to teach you everything he knows about hunting, fishing, and the very best parts of country living. To Brent, country living is about living life on your own terms, or as he says, "beating the system." In each episode, Brent's going to tell you a story about a time he did just that, and teach you a country skill you need to know to do the same. So pull up a chair or drop the tailgate, Brent's got a thing or two he can teach you.

Part of the MeatEater Podcast Network.

Home to the Bear Grease podcast and Bear Grease Render show with Clay Newcomb, and This Country Life with Brent Reaves.
Clay Newcomb delivers compelling storytelling through documentary-style episodes exploring the culture, traditions, and history of rural America. He’ll dive in deep with hunters, biologists, anthropologists, and hillbillies to learn about human nature and our ancient connection to the land. Bear Grease explores unique people, topics, and stories that reveal the incredible value of life lived close to the land. Follow up with the Render discussion show, where Clay interviews experts and brings together a cast of crew members to explore themes within the Bear Grease show.
Brent Reaves is a lifelong outdoorsman whose family roots go back over 150 years in the river bottoms of rural Arkansas. On This Country Life, he's inviting you into his home to teach you everything he knows about hunting, fishing, and the very best parts of country living. To Brent, country living is about living life on your own terms, or as he says, "beating the system." In each episode, Brent's going to tell you a story about a time he did just that, and teach you a country skill you need to know to do the same. So pull up a chair or drop the tailgate, Brent's got a thing or two he can teach you.
Part of the MeatEater Podcast Network.

Ep. 306: The Bird Hunter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/431032b7-7238-4d86-a532-b2a4017a97f9/transcript

On this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by Bear Grease featured cousins Caylon and Cody Villines, as well as Waylon Villines. The Villines family has been logging Newton County, Arkansas, for generations, and they’ve got the stories to prove it. Join us as we talk about Ozark heritage, the transition from old-school timbering to the modern era, and the grit it takes to remain a woodsman in the 21st century.

Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas.

If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com

Connect with Clay and MeatEater

Clay on Instagram

MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips

MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube

Shop Bear Grease Merch

On this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh &ldquo;Landbridge&rdquo; Spielmaker are joined by Bear Grease featured cousins Caylon and Cody Villines, as well as Waylon Villines. The Villines family has been logging Newton County, Arkansas, for generations, and they&rsquo;ve got the stories to prove it. Join us as we talk about Ozark heritage, the transition from old-school timbering to the modern era, and the grit it takes to remain a woodsman in the 21st century.
Thank you to our sponsor, <a href="tecovas.com">Tecovas</a>.
If you have comments on the show, send us a note to <a href="mailto:beargrease@themeateater.com">beargrease@themeateater.com</a>
Connect with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/authors/claynewcomb">Clay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/">MeatEater</a>
Clay on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/clay_newcomb">Instagram</a>
MeatEater on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meateater">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StevenRinellaMeatEater/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MeatEaterTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaa0mleeU128Ad5iM1RFIg">Youtube</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterClips">Youtube Clips</a>
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Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://store.themeateater.com/collections/bear-grease-podcast">Bear Grease Merch</a>

Ep. 423: Render - Villines Logging

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7133434a-5848-4cb4-81e1-b3f4017726b2/transcript

In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb visits Newton County, Arkansas, to talk to Cody and Caylon Villines. They're woodsmen, hunters, and the most recent line of generations of loggers cutting hardwood in the Ozarks. They talk about the craft of selective logging, the evolution from horses to heavy equipment, and the quiet code of contentment passed down from their fathers. They also talk about the danger. From freak accidents to lost friends to a moment witnessing a miracle in the woods, this is an honest, deeply personal look at life in one of the country’s deadliest professions.

Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas.

If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com

Connect with Clay and MeatEater

Clay on Instagram

MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips

MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube

Shop Bear Grease Merch

In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb visits Newton County, Arkansas, to talk to Cody and Caylon Villines. They're woodsmen, hunters, and the most recent line of generations of loggers cutting hardwood in the Ozarks. They talk about the craft of selective logging, the evolution from horses to heavy equipment, and the quiet code of contentment passed down from their fathers. They also talk about the danger.&nbsp;From freak accidents to lost friends to a moment witnessing a miracle in the woods, this is an honest, deeply personal look at life in one of the country&rsquo;s deadliest professions.
Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;<a href="tecovas.com">Tecovas</a>.
If you have comments on the show, send us a note to <a href="mailto:beargrease@themeateater.com">beargrease@themeateater.com</a>
Connect with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/authors/claynewcomb">Clay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/">MeatEater</a>
Clay on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/clay_newcomb">Instagram</a>
MeatEater on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meateater">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StevenRinellaMeatEater/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MeatEaterTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaa0mleeU128Ad5iM1RFIg">Youtube</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterClips">Youtube Clips</a>
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Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://store.themeateater.com/collections/bear-grease-podcast">Bear Grease Merch</a>

Ep. 420: American Loggers - Part 1

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d5f0605d-785f-4bf2-85e7-b3ee004479dd/transcript

On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb, Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker, along with Backwoods University Podcast's Lake Pickle in the Tecovas Hot Seat.  Fresh off the release of the CBS Sunday Morning feature with legendary journalist Ted Koppel at Arkansas bear camp, the crew gives context and details of what happened behind-the-scenes. It was an unscripted weekend of uncertain expectations, tough hunting, and a turn-the-table conversation around the campfire leading to a tense moment where a missed shot at a black bear puts the spotlight squarely one particular hunter. The crew shares what the cameras didn’t show and their thoughts and impressions of their time with iconic news man Ted Koppel. Plus, Clay reflects on the black bear that helped inspire his upcoming book American Bear and the deeper history of bear reverence across cultures.

Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas.

If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com

Connect with Clay and MeatEater

Clay on Instagram

MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips

MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube

Shop Bear Grease Merch

On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb, Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker, along with Backwoods University Podcast's Lake Pickle in the Tecovas Hot Seat.&nbsp; Fresh off the release of the CBS Sunday Morning feature with legendary journalist Ted Koppel at Arkansas bear camp, the crew gives context and details of what happened behind-the-scenes. It was an unscripted weekend of uncertain expectations, tough hunting, and a turn-the-table conversation around the campfire leading to a tense moment where a missed shot at a black bear puts the spotlight squarely one particular hunter. The crew shares what the cameras didn&rsquo;t show and their thoughts and impressions of their time with iconic news man Ted Koppel. Plus, Clay reflects on the black bear that helped inspire his upcoming book American Bear and the deeper history of bear reverence across cultures.
Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;<a href="tecovas.com">Tecovas</a>.
If you have comments on the show, send us a note to <a href="mailto:beargrease@themeateater.com">beargrease@themeateater.com</a>
Connect with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/authors/claynewcomb">Clay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/">MeatEater</a>
Clay on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/clay_newcomb">Instagram</a>
MeatEater on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meateater">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StevenRinellaMeatEater/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MeatEaterTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAaa0mleeU128Ad5iM1RFIg">Youtube</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterClips">Youtube Clips</a>
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Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://store.themeateater.com/collections/bear-grease-podcast">Bear Grease Merch</a>

Ep. 418: Render - CBS Sunday Morning Behind-the-Scenes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6374a837-e92d-45a1-9cf5-b3e7000b4a8c/transcript

Ep. 306: The Bird Hunter

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