Matt Smythe | Poetry, Place, and the Future of Outdoor Writing | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 513

Matt Smythe is a writer for Free Range American, an outdoor content publication, and he brings a degree in poetry to his work covering hunting, fishing, conservation, and the outdoor lifestyle. His prose carries a distinctive literary quality rooted in his formal training in language and craft. In this conversation, Matt reveals why the best outdoor writing isn't about gear reviews or technique—it's about identity, place, and the relationships that shape us. He discusses how growing up in Arkansas shaped his connection to wild places, the documentary film he made about the changing Florida Keys that was selected for five film festivals, and why there's a hunger for narrative-driven content in an industry saturated with quick-hit how-to guides. This is a conversation for anyone who believes outdoor media can be more than just content—it can be literature.

Why Poetry Training Makes Better Outdoor Writing

Most outdoor writers come from journalism or marketing backgrounds. Matt Smythe came through poetry, and it shows in every sentence he crafts. He explains that his training forces him to think about language in an intentional way—the sound, the rhythm, the cadence of each line. He reads his sentences out loud, listens for the flow, and revises obsessively. But it's not about being flowery or overly poetic. It's about precision. Every word has to earn its place on the page. Matt reveals how this approach separates good writing from writing that's truly crafted, and why attention to language makes prose more engaging and memorable. Hear Matt explain his writing process at 13:15.

Growing Up in Arkansas: Where Hunting and Fishing Are Culture

Matt didn't just grow up around hunting and fishing—he grew up in a place where those activities are woven into the cultural fabric. In Arkansas, there's wild space, abundant water, and a community that values time spent outdoors. His parents encouraged those experiences, and Matt spent significant time in the woods and on the water as a young person. Those formative experiences shaped him profoundly and became the foundation for much of his work. He discusses how a sense of place and belonging to a particular landscape influences his writing, and why he's interested in stories about how places shape people. This isn't nostalgia—it's an exploration of identity rooted in geography. The full story of Matt's Arkansas upbringing starts at 10:50.

The Documentary That Made Five Film Festivals

Matt created a short documentary called "Shallows" about fishing in the Florida Keys, and it was selected for five different film festivals. But this wasn't just a fishing film. Matt wove together the history of the place, the people who have deep connections to it, and the ecological changes happening there. He developed a relationship with a guide who has been in the Keys for decades and has watched the landscape change dramatically. Through interviews and intentional visual storytelling, Matt explored themes of friendship, environmental concern, and a place in transition. He explains how documentary work teaches you to think about symbolism, metaphor, and imagery in ways that actually make you a better writer. The conversation reveals why this project resonated with audiences who might not typically watch outdoor content. Matt discusses the making of "Shallows" starting at 5:40.

The Shift Happening in Outdoor Media

Matt sees a real shift happening in outdoor content, and it's driven by audience hunger. People are saturated with gear reviews and technique videos. What they're actually craving are stories that help them understand who they are and what they care about. Matt argues that the best outdoor writing doesn't just teach you how to fish or hunt—it helps you understand yourself better. Free Range American represents this shift toward narrative-driven, thoughtful content that acknowledges the deeper aspects of human experience. Matt discusses the challenges of producing this kind of work in an industry that often prioritizes quantity over quality, and why platforms that value craft are opening gates for writers doing something different. He reveals what he sees as the future of outdoor media and why there's reason for optimism. The full discussion of outdoor media's evolution starts at 12:03.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I really enjoyed this conversation with Matt Smythe. He's doing something different in outdoor media, and it's refreshing to talk with someone who thinks deeply about craft and language. Matt's background in poetry gives him a unique lens for approaching outdoor writing—he's not just documenting experiences, he's exploring what those experiences mean and why they matter.

What struck me most was Matt's commitment to revision and his belief that every word needs to earn its place on the page. That level of intentionality is rare, and it shows in his work. His documentary "Shallows" sounds like something special, and I appreciate how he's using both film and writing to tell stories about place, identity, and conservation.

If you care about outdoor content that goes deeper than gear and technique, this episode is for you. Matt has a lot to say about the future of outdoor media and why narrative-driven storytelling matters. Listen to the whole thing—it's worth your time.