In this episode of The Storied Outdoors, we welcome Matt Russell, a 70.3 Ironman Champion, professional triathlete, coach, and one of the fastest athletes in Kona Ironman World Championship history. Raised on a New York farm, Matt shares how his upbringing shaped his determination, work ethic, and love for the outdoors.

Matt’s story is more than just about podiums and records—it’s about faith, resilience, and seeing each day as a gift from God. He opens up about the lessons his father taught him about the outdoors and how his childhood on the farm instilled the perseverance required for his Ironman success.

We explore Matt’s journey from a young athlete to becoming a professional triathlete, the drive that fueled his passion, and the challenges he overcame along the way—including a life-threatening bike accident in 2017. Matt shares the inspiring story of his recovery and what it was like to return to the Kona Ironman World Championships after that near-death experience.

Listeners will hear Matt’s thoughts on turning adversity into an asset, the unforgettable experiences he’s had in nature (like spotting a moose during training), and why time spent outdoors creates deeper, more meaningful memories than any theme park visit.

Key Quotes from the Episode:

• "Each day is a gift from God."

• "Everyone has challenging times. You can go down a negative path, or you can turn the experience into an asset for you and for others."

• "Pushing yourself to do new things, you sometimes hit a wall—but you see them as a hurdle."

Join us as we dive into Matt’s incredible story of grit, gratitude, and the transformative power of nature.

Follow Matt on Instagram Here

Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for 20% off online and in-store.

For questions or comments, email thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.

Music Written and recorded by Brad Hill

We’re genuinely blessed to welcome back Wade Blevins, a cherished regular on The Storied Outdoors and a man with stories as vast as the waters he loves to fish. In this episode, Wade opens up about a life-threatening experience that forever etched itself into his journey.

What unfolds is more than a recounting of events—it’s a deep dive into how trials can refine our focus, intensify our purpose, and bring breathtaking clarity to the things that truly matter. With the dawn of this new year, Wade’s story will challenge you to reflect on your own priorities, reminding us all of the value of faith, resilience, and community.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a conversation with Wade without some fishing tales sprinkled in, offering a perfect mix of adventure and wisdom around our digital campfire.

Pull up a chair and join us for one of our most powerful episodes yet. Be ready to laugh, reflect, and walk away encouraged. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and cozy up by the fire for this episode of The Storied Outdoors as Brad Hill reads “Hidden Wonders,” a short story written by Dr. Bryan Gill. “Hidden Wonders” follows the Heatherford’s, a family whose plans were thwarted by an unexpected blizzard that grounded all southbound flights out of New York—including theirs. With limited options, they decide to drop in on their eccentric Uncle Doc for the holidays. While this was not their original plan for Christmas, it might just be the one they needed to restore their children’s fading Christmas spirit. We hope you enjoy this story and have a Merry Christmas!

Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure. We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.

The Christmas Pageant (A Christmas Story) by Dr. Bryan Gill is the story of a sweet family trying to figure out how to navigate the holidays after a tragic accident that took their mother and left their son disabled. After a resurgence of the town’s Christmas Pageant that reunites a town, this family finds a way to redeem their sadness with new Christmas traditions. We hope you enjoy this Christmas episode written by Dr. Bryan Gill and read by Brad Hill. Intro music is also presented by Brad Hill. Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure. We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.

“One Horse Open Sleigh” by Dr. Bryan Gill is inspired by the original lyrics of “Jingle Bells,” that read, “A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride And soon, Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side…” Bryan wrote this story about two little girls and a mahogany Clydesdale that loved nothing more than pulling a shiny red sleigh in the snow. The horse changes the lives of the little girls, but that’s not the only transformation that takes place. Enjoy this story that takes a peek into the fictional life of the iconic Christmas card image of a horse-drawn sleigh. Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure. We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.

The Fox and the Fawn, by Dr. Bryan Gill, is a whimsical story about a little girl and her father’s never-ending love for her. Brad Hill masterfully reads this story and makes the characters come alive. We hope you’ll enjoy this heartwarming Christmas story, The Fox and the Fawn.

Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for a 20% discount online and in-store. They have some amazing apparel and gear to outfit you for your next adventure.

We would love to hear from you, if you have any questions, comments, poems, and or recommendations for us, email us thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com Music written and recorded by Brad Hill.

In this episode Brad and Bryan give a mid-season catch-up and introduce a 5-episode miniseries of Christmas stories that will start today and lead up to Christmas Day.

One of Bryan’s mentors, Calvin Miller once wrote, “Much of Christmas’ beauty is in its sameness. The same traditions. The same meals. The same songs. The same story. Yet each Christmas is a little different.” Just like your favorite Christmas movies and songs are played and replayed each year, we’re replaying four of our past Christmas story episodes as well as a brand new Christmas story for you this season. Play them while you’re driving to see family and friends, while you’re tying flies, or wrapping those last minute presents.

The first story, written by Dr. Bryan Gill and read by Brad Hill, is brand new and entitled “Christmas Jubilee.” It’s a story about a young boy who spends the week of Christmas with his grandparents on Mobile Bay. While he’s there, he casts a net for shrimp, sets traps for crabs, and fishes for speckled trout from his grandparents’ pier. He also finds himself trying to help fix a feud between his Pawpaw and neighbor. He soon finds out that this feud is too big for him to fix by himself and without a Christmas miracle, his Christmas vacation on Mobile Bay as well as his Pawpaw’s friendship with his neighbor might be ruined.

We hope you enjoy this new story and some “sameness” during this Christmas miniseries. And from Brad and Bryan at the Storied Outdoors, Merry Christmas!

Support our effort by preordering a hat HERE

Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for 20% of online and in store.

Questions or comments email thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com we would love to hear from you.

Music Written and recorded by Brad Hill

In this episode, we sit down with Léonce B. Crump Jr., an author, international speaker, and co-founder of Renovation Church in Atlanta. Léonce is not only a devoted pastor and civil rights activist but also an avid outdoorsman, chef, and former NFL player. Before stepping into pastoral ministry, Léonce was a collegiate All-American wrestler, played football at Oklahoma University, and spent time as a professional athlete in the NFL.

I first met Léonce on a pheasant hunt in South Dakota, where he endured my snoring as my roommate. Despite that, we quickly formed a bond while sharing the outdoors. I knew then that I wanted to have him on the podcast to share his unique stories and perspectives on life, faith, and the beauty of creation.

During our conversation, Léonce takes us on a journey through his upbringing in Louisiana, sharing early memories of falling in love with creation. He recounts the awe-inspiring experience of fishing in Scotland and reflects on moments in nature that have caused him to pause and marvel at the glory of God, echoing the words of the Psalmist.

As a pastor, Léonce brings a unique perspective to the outdoors, sharing how specific experiences in creation have brought the Word of God to life for him. And, of course, we couldn’t resist swapping a few wild stories—from near-death adventures to hilarious mishaps, like nearly drowning while swimming to shore in tropical waters.

This episode is a mix of humor, reflection, and inspiration—an invitation to explore how the outdoors shapes our faith and our stories.

Visit www.leoncecrump.com to learn more about Leonce and his work.

Buy Leonce’s Book “The Resilience Factor” Here

Follow Leonce on Instagram Click Here

Visit Redbeardsoutfitter.com and use promo code TSO for 20% of online and in store.

Questions or comments email thestoriedoutdoors@gmail.com we would love to hear from you.

Music Written and recorded by Brad Hill