Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 780 is my second conversation with Paul Bourcq, this time about the media side of his career. Paul takes us from his early days in the fishing industry through his time at Black Rifle Coffee Company and into founding Drift Media. We get into what it takes to build media companies in the outdoor space, the calculated risks behind his career transitions, and the lessons he has learned about making outdoor content that actually connects.
Listen now: Megaphone · Spotify · YouTube.
Paul Bourcq is a fly fisherman turned outdoor media professional. After starting his career guiding on the New River in North Carolina, he moved into media, working with Black Rifle Coffee Company and founding Drift Media, and he has become a knowledgeable voice on building content and media companies in the outdoor industry.
Paul worked at Black Rifle Coffee Company during a significant chapter of his media career. He shares what that experience taught him about building brand and content at scale in the outdoor and lifestyle space, which informed his later work.
Drift Media is the media venture Paul Bourcq founded as part of his journey building companies in the outdoor space. He talks about the role he played in starting it and what he set out to build in outdoor media.
Paul's path offers a blueprint: start with genuine passion and field experience, take calculated risks on career transitions, and learn the business of building brand and content. He emphasizes that the outdoor media space rewards authenticity and a real understanding of the audience.
Paul argues that successful outdoor content comes from authenticity and a true connection to the activities and audience it serves, rather than chasing trends. He shares insights from his time at Black Rifle Coffee Company and Drift Media on what actually resonates.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 780 with Paul Bourcq is available on Megaphone, Spotify, YouTube, and the Tom Rowland Podcast feed. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I wanted Paul back because the first conversation was about chasing a passion, and this one is about what happens when you turn that into a career on the media side. Paul has been inside real outdoor media operations, including Black Rifle Coffee Company, and he founded his own company in Drift Media. Anyone trying to build a brand or create content in this space can learn from how he made his moves and the risks he took. I wanted listeners to get the practical side of the story.
Press play in the player above to hear it.
Paul talks about his time at Black Rifle Coffee Company and what building brand and content at that scale taught him. Hear it in the episode.
Paul gets into what it actually takes to build a media company in the outdoor industry, from Drift Media to the broader landscape. Listen to that section of the conversation.
Paul is candid about the risks behind his career moves and how he thought through each transition. Press play in the YouTube player above.
Paul shares where he is headed and the lessons he would pass to anyone building content in the outdoor space. Worth hearing in full.
Listen to the full conversation: Megaphone · Spotify · YouTube.
What stays with me from this second talk with Paul is how intentional he has been about each move. He did not stumble into outdoor media. He took calculated risks and learned the business at every step.
For anyone trying to build a brand or a content career in this world, Paul's path is full of practical lessons. This is the business-side companion to his first episode.
Press play in the player above, or grab Episode 780 on Megaphone or Spotify.
Paul Bourcq · Drift Media · Black Rifle Coffee Company · Tom Rowland (host)
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Paul Bourcq is a fly fisherman turned outdoor media professional. After beginning his career guiding on the New River in North Carolina, he moved into the media side of the outdoor industry, working with Black Rifle Coffee Company and founding Drift Media. He is recognized for his insights on building media companies, navigating calculated career transitions, and creating authentic outdoor content that connects with its audience.
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