On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb goes live from the 2025 World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off. He’s joined by event organizer Joe Wilson, “The World’s Greatest Small Game Hunter” Kevin Murphy, social media cooking sensation Audrey Dresselle (@cooking_with_cajun), Brent Reaves, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker. Together, they dive into the festivities of the Cook-Off, swap small game hunting stories, and share their favorite squirrel dishes from the competition.

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

Connect with Clay and MeatEater

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On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb goes live from the 2025 World Champion Squirrel Cook-Off. He&rsquo;s joined by event organizer Joe Wilson, &ldquo;The World&rsquo;s Greatest Small Game Hunter&rdquo; Kevin Murphy, social media cooking sensation Audrey Dresselle (@cooking_with_cajun), Brent Reaves, and Josh &ldquo;Landbridge&rdquo; Spielmaker. Together, they dive into the festivities of the Cook-Off, swap small game hunting stories, and share their favorite squirrel dishes from the competition.
If you have comments on the show, send us a note to&nbsp;<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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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. 372: Render - Live from the Squirrel Cook Off

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8652b7e9-dbe8-4a8c-8563-b368015939d4/transcript

Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by John Donovan, one of the guests featured on the “Struck by Lightning” episode of the Beat Grease Podcast. John elaborates on his experience being struck by lightning while descending from his tree stand just 9 months earlier. It’s an amazing story of a potentially catastrophic moment and how he was able to make a full recovery.

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

Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh &ldquo;Landbridge&rdquo; Spielmaker are joined by John Donovan, one of the guests featured on the &ldquo;Struck by Lightning&rdquo; episode of the Beat Grease Podcast. John elaborates on his experience being struck by lightning while descending from his tree stand just 9 months earlier. It&rsquo;s an amazing story of a potentially catastrophic moment and how he was able to make a full recovery.
Thank you to our sponsor,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.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>
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Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://store.themeateater.com/collections/bear-grease-podcast">Bear Grease Merch</a>

Ep. 492: Render - Lightning in The Hot Seat

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3fbc900f-3565-4d78-ba3d-b4a9016e967b/transcript

Clay Newcomb explores the science, mystery, and raw power of lightning through the firsthand stories of John Donovan, a bear hunter who was struck while sitting in a tree stand, and Spence Spencer, a farmer who was hit while working in his chicken pasture. Both survived, but neither walked away unchanged.

Clay also sits down with weather analyst Joshua Wisel of weather225.com to nerd out on what actually happens when lightning forms, why it can strike miles from a storm, why trees and tall objects are so dangerous, and which common lightning myths are completely wrong.

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

Clay Newcomb explores the science, mystery, and raw power of lightning through the firsthand stories of John Donovan, a bear hunter who was struck while sitting in a tree stand, and Spence Spencer, a farmer who was hit while working in his chicken pasture. Both survived, but neither walked away unchanged.
Clay also sits down with weather analyst Joshua Wisel of weather225.com to nerd out on what actually happens when lightning forms, why it can strike miles from a storm, why trees and tall objects are so dangerous, and which common lightning myths are completely wrong.
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. 489: Struck by Lightning

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7cde204c-9690-4568-ac99-b4a30170b752/transcript

It's the end of Civil War Summer, and things close out in classic Bear Grease fashion as host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker talk history with live venomous snakes in the same room. Returning guest and "Advanced Snake Enthusiast" Brad Birchfield joins in as the crew breaks down the real story behind Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House which, it turns out, wasn't actually a courthouse. Along the way, stories of a rattlesnake that survived 26 months without eating, some wild tales from the Amazon rainforest, and much more.

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

It's the end of Civil War Summer, and things close out in classic Bear Grease fashion as host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker talk history with live venomous snakes in the same room. Returning guest and "Advanced Snake Enthusiast" Brad Birchfield joins in as the crew breaks down the real story behind Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House which, it turns out, wasn't actually a courthouse. Along the way, stories of a rattlesnake that survived 26 months without eating, some wild tales from the Amazon rainforest, and much more.
Thank you to our sponsor, <a href="https://www.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>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeatEaterPodcastNetwork">MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube</a>
Shop&nbsp;<a href="https://store.themeateater.com/collections/bear-grease-podcast">Bear Grease Merch</a>

Ep. 487: Render - Civil War Send Off: Snakes and Surrender

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cfda2fa9-9609-4ee2-9421-b49c015bd227/transcript

Ep. 372: Render - Live from the Squirrel Cook Off

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