Drew Chicone: The Art and Science of Saltwater Fly Design
Drew Chicone is an expert saltwater fly designer, author, and former tennis pro. In this episode he joins me to talk about how he develops fly patterns, the prized rooster capes he inherited from his father, why he leans on big spawning-style shrimp and gurgler patterns, the crab-fly drop-to-the-bottom presentation for spooky fish, his honest take on permit versus bonefish and snook, and the writing discipline behind his books and step-by-step tying content.
Lunkerdog: Protect the Mullet Run and Fight for Clean Water
Lunkerdog (Jeff Maggio) is a longtime South Florida tarpon guide turned fishing content creator and clean-water advocate. In this episode he joins me to talk about the decline of the Florida mullet run, how the anticipation and thrill he grew up with has faded, why he believes the science foundations are not moving the needle, and his call for real political leadership and a broad coalition — anglers, restaurant owners, developers, and mega-yacht owners alike — to fight for clean water in places like Fort Lauderdale.
World-Class Coaching Is Closer Than You Think (Physical Friday)
In this Physical Friday solo episode, I make the case that right now is the best time in history to get great at almost anything, because modern tools like Zoom and apps such as TrueCoach let you hire the best coach in the world instead of whoever happens to be within driving distance. I walk through my own pursuit of a CrossFit Games qualification at 55, how I ended up coached by four-time CrossFit Games champion Jason Grubb and Olympic weightlifter Sonny Webster, and what it takes to actually get results from remote coaching.
Capt. Jonathan Moss: The Captain's Log, Mosquito Lagoon, and Clean Water
Capt. Jonathan Moss is a Florida fishing guide and the host of Waypoint TV's The Captain's Log. In this episode he joins me to talk about advice for new guides and managing client expectations, the heartbreak of watching Mosquito Lagoon's water quality and seagrass collapse, the damage Hurricane Ian did to the lagoon system, and the work of the Lagoon Waterman Alliance — the angler-, guide-, and scientist-led group backed by Captains for Clean Water that is fighting to keep the fishery healthy for the next generation.
Hunter Smallback: From the Flats to the Wrestling Ring
Hunter Smallback is a Florida-raised lifelong angler, surfer, and former Division I football player who is now training to become a professional wrestler. In this episode he joins me to trace a life built around the outdoors — strapped to the bow of a boat in the Keys as a baby, sneaking onto a golf course to fish the best creek he had ever seen, drifting Mosquito Lagoon for snook — and to explain what it has been like to take bump after bump learning the brutal, athletic craft of pro wrestling.
Zack Bogosian: Pro Hockey, Bow Hunting, and the Details That Transfer
Zack Bogosian is a veteran NHL defenseman and an avid bow hunter and outdoorsman. In this episode he joins me to talk about the path through pro hockey, why he fell in love with bow hunting in Alberta, the relative-age effect that shapes who gets noticed by scouts, and the way the small-detail discipline of elite hockey — positioning, hand placement, listening to systems — carries straight over into archery, breathing, and the focus required in the outdoors.
Chip Michaelove & Taylor Horton: Catching and Filming Great White Sharks
Chip Michaelove runs Outcast Sport Fishing out of Hilton Head, South Carolina, and has become one of the most accomplished great white shark catch-and-release anglers on the East Coast. Taylor Horton of Salt Creek Films is the filmmaker who gets in the water to document it. In this episode they join me to talk about how Chip taught himself to catch great whites, the leader systems and tackle it took, the science partnerships with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and Greg Skomal, and what years of satellite tagging have revealed about where these animals really go.
Coach HP: Mindset, Youth Sports, and Coaching Kids for Life
Coach HP is a Miami-based mindset and baseball coach who works with kids and their parents to turn lessons from sport into lessons for life. In this episode he joins me to tell his own redemption story — from years working clubs in Las Vegas to teaching eight baseball lessons a day in the Miami sun and editing instructional videos until four in the morning — and to lay out how he coaches young athletes and families through the pressure of D1 recruiting, parental involvement, and staying honest about your own flaws.
Capt. Neill Holland: Ocean Aid 360 and the Ghost Fishing Fight
Capt. Neill Holland is a Tampa Bay charter guide and the founder of Ocean Aid 360, a guide-led nonprofit that removes derelict crab and lobster traps and marine debris from Florida's waters. In this episode he joins me to explain ghost fishing, how the Ghost Trap Rodeo cleanup tournaments work, the partnership he built between recreational guides and commercial watermen, the NOAA and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants that funded the expansion from Tampa Bay to the Keys and Indian River Lagoon, and what it takes to turn recovered gear into recycled material instead of more debris.
Dr. Mike Larkin: Shocking Fish Facts and the Hidden Lives of Fish
Dr. Mike Larkin, a fisheries scientist and ichthyologist, returns to reveal the strangest behaviors fish exhibit that most anglers never see, from underwater sounds and sensory systems to how tarpon breathe air and how bonefish find food in shallow water.
Dr. Mike Larkin: The Weird Things Fish Do That You Never See
Dr. Mike Larkin, a fisheries scientist and ichthyologist, returns to reveal the strangest behaviors fish exhibit that most anglers never see, from underwater sounds and sensory systems to how tarpon breathe air and how bonefish find food in shallow water.
Mike Iaconelli: Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Bassmaster Classic champion Mike Iaconelli reflects on leaving a lasting legacy — how his priorities shifted from tournament wins toward family, conservation, and inspiring the next generation of anglers.
Mike Iaconelli: Bassmaster Classic Win, Conservation, and Legacy
Mike Iaconelli, Bassmaster Classic champion, discusses his 2010 victory on Lake Hartwell, the conservation challenges facing the future of fishing, and why family and legacy matter more to him now than wins.
Congressman Rob Whittman | Shark Depredation | Ep. 807
Congressman Rob Whittman discusses legislative efforts to address shark depredation of coastal fisheries.
Tom Rowland: Catching Massive GT on the Other Side of the World
In this solo episode of the Tom Rowland Podcast, host Tom Rowland takes listeners on a fishing adventure to the other side of the world, chasing massive giant trevally across remote Seychelles islands and atolls and breaking down the tactics, gear, and experience of GT fishing.
Justin Adams: A UFC Mindset Coach on Performing Under Pressure
Justin Adams, the UFC mindset coach for Kevin Holland, breaks down the mental game behind elite performance. He shares how fighters prepare psychologically for high-pressure moments and how anglers and competitors in any field can apply the same principles.
Brent Ehrler: Major League Fishing Life and Dieting on the Road
Brent Ehrler is a professional bass fisherman competing at the highest levels of Major League Fishing. He talks about life on tour, the demands of elite competition, and how he manages diet, fitness, and discipline through a relentless travel schedule.
Capt. Nick Castillo: Pharmaceuticals in Bonefish and the Fight for Ocean Health
Captain Nick Castillo joins the Tom Rowland Podcast to discuss the discovery of pharmaceuticals in Florida Keys bonefish, what it reveals about water quality and ocean health, and what guides and anglers can do to protect the flats.
Mike Counihan: Surf Fishing, Killer Whales & NYPD
Mike Counihan brings a rare mix of surf fishing expertise, firsthand killer whale encounters, and NYPD experience to this conversation. He breaks down reading coastal water, what he witnessed about orca hunting behavior, and how law-enforcement discipline transfers to the water.
Bouncer Smith: A Legendary Miami Charter Captain on Bottom Fishing Tactics
Bouncer Smith is a legendary Miami charter captain with decades on the water. He breaks down bottom fishing tactics for snapper and grouper, his approach to bait and rigging, reading depth and current, and the lessons a long charter career taught him.
Jason Grubb: 265 Pounds to CrossFit Games Champion
Jason Grubb is a seven-time CrossFit Games Masters champion who went from 265 pounds and a sedentary lifestyle to one of the fittest athletes in the world. He shares the catalyst, the brutal first 90 days, competition psychology, and the nutrition and recovery work behind the transformation.
Paul Bourcq: Drift Media, Black Rifle Coffee, and Building Outdoor Media
Paul Bourcq returns to the Tom Rowland Podcast to continue his story about building a career in outdoor media, from his early days in the fishing industry to his journey with Black Rifle Coffee Company and Drift Media. He shares lessons on building media companies in the outdoor space, taking calculated career risks, and what makes outdoor content succeed.
Paul Bourcq: From North Carolina Guide to Costa Rica Opportunity
Paul Bourcq started his fly fishing journey on the New River in North Carolina, developing as a fly fisherman while worrying he would end up a fly-fishing beach bum. He joins Tom Rowland to talk about building a guiding business on the New River, the question that changed everything, and how a childhood passion became a professional pursuit that led to Costa Rica.
Kevin Koester: A 3x CrossFit Champion on Mindset and Consistency
Kevin Koester is a three-time CrossFit champion who built his success on mindset, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to the work. He joins Tom Rowland to break down the mental game that separates champions, the consistency problem most athletes never solve, what training at the highest level actually looks like, and how to perform when the pressure is on.