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Bear Grease

iHeart Podcast Network

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Ep. 428: Render - Black Bear Mitts and Loggers

3/4/2026
On this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, host Clay Newcomb is joined by the OG Render crew—Brent Reaves, Dr. Misty Newcomb, Bear Newcomb, Gary “Believer” Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker. Clay shows off his new bear fur mittens for his upcoming Arctic expedition, and Brent and Bear detail their coin hunting with self bow exploits, along with a deep discussion of the Bear Grease loggers episode featuring Teddy Villines. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:17:15

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Ep. 427: Backwoods University - Parachuting Beavers

3/2/2026
Beavers are an animal that notoriously get a lot of press. However, more often than not, it's negative press. Their damming everything up, they're causing floods, they're a nuisance, and so on- that's what we normally hear when beavers show up in conversation. Well in today's episode of Backwoods university, we're going to look at beavers in a very different light by learning about two stories. One took places back in the 1940s, one is still playing out in present time, and both of them involve beavers being the hero of the story. Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:33:26

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Ep. 426: This Country Life - Bear, Brent, and Coon-Kabobs

2/27/2026
This week's episode discusses a two-hundred-year-old fable about coon hunting in Arkansas and a seemingly impossible task. The lessons are flying around like the monkeys in The Wizard of Oz. Get comfortable and check out what's happening on MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:19:03

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Ep. 425: American Loggers - Part 2: Teddy Villines

2/25/2026
In this episode of the Bear Grease Podcast, host Clay Newcomb sits down with Teddy Villines, father to Cody Villines and uncle to Caylon Villines featured in the last episode. He is a lifelong Ozark logger shaped by generations of hard work, handshake deals, and respect for the land. Teddy shares stories from a life spent in the woods, including close calls, brutal injuries, and a terrifying runaway log-truck wreck that forced him to confront who is truly in control. More than a logging story, this episode is about character, faith, and legacy. What it means to provide for your family, keep your word, and face life’s dangers with humility. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:41:22

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Ep. 424: This Country Life - The Arkansas Traveler

2/20/2026
For the past several weeks, Brent's been hitting the road from Tennessee to Pennsylvania as a goodwill ambassador, and meeting people from all over the eastern half of the country. We get the hunt and sports show stops, but guest lecturing at the University of Tennessee? What were they thinking? Pull up a chair and find out for yourself. It's time for MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:23:26

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Ep. 423: Render - Villines Logging

2/18/2026
On this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb along with Bear Newcomb and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker are joined by Bear Grease featured cousins Caylon and Cody Villines, as well as Waylon Villines. The Villines family has been logging Newton County, Arkansas, for generations, and they’ve got the stories to prove it. Join us as we talk about Ozark heritage, the transition from old-school timbering to the modern era, and the grit it takes to remain a woodsman in the 21st century. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:34:25

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Ep. 421: Backwoods University - Saving Wild Turkeys

2/16/2026
Back in the late 1960s a ground breaking initiative started in the wildlife conservation space that would lead to one of the greatest wildlife wins we have in the entire country. The restoration of the wild Turkey can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of many people across wildlife agencies and conservation organizations this week. We have the privilege of talking to Mr. Benny Herring he was among the first in the state of Mississippi to start the successful Turkey restoration program. Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:39:44

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Ep. 421: This Country Life - Expectations and Reality

2/13/2026
For many of us getting our children and the younger members of our family outdoors is a priority. How we get them outside and what we do once they're there can set the stage for how they view that experience for years to come. Brent's sharing a listener's story along that theme. Brent's also offering his own thoughts how he handled getting his own children outside; what he did right and maybe what he could've done better. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:19:10

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Ep. 420: American Loggers - Part 1

2/11/2026
In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb visits Newton County, Arkansas, to talk to Cody and Caylon Villines. They're woodsmen, hunters, and the most recent line of generations of loggers cutting hardwood in the Ozarks. They talk about the craft of selective logging, the evolution from horses to heavy equipment, and the quiet code of contentment passed down from their fathers. They also talk about the danger. From freak accidents to lost friends to a moment witnessing a miracle in the woods, this is an honest, deeply personal look at life in one of the country’s deadliest professions. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:46:18

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Ep. 419: This Country Life - Squirrel, It's What's for Dinner

2/6/2026
From a listener's story about passing down the appreciation for wild things to Brent's first solo squirrel hunt, this week's This Country Life is sure to be one of your favorites. As a bonus, the recipe of how Brent's mama fried all the squirrels she nor his dad would eat is in here along with the reason why neither one would partake. Get the grease hot! We've got squirrels to fry. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:21:33

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Ep. 418: Render - CBS Sunday Morning Behind-the-Scenes

2/4/2026
On this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb, Josh "Landbridge" Spielmaker, along with Backwoods University Podcast's Lake Pickle in the Tecovas Hot Seat. Fresh off the release of the CBS Sunday Morning feature with legendary journalist Ted Koppel at Arkansas bear camp, the crew gives context and details of what happened behind-the-scenes. It was an unscripted weekend of uncertain expectations, tough hunting, and a turn-the-table conversation around the campfire leading to a tense moment where a missed shot at a black bear puts the spotlight squarely one particular hunter. The crew shares what the cameras didn’t show and their thoughts and impressions of their time with iconic news man Ted Koppel. Plus, Clay reflects on the black bear that helped inspire his upcoming book American Bear and the deeper history of bear reverence across cultures. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:13:26

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Ep. 417: Backwoods University - Lost Stories

2/2/2026
It's officially February. During this month I know a lot of outdoors folks that find themselves wondering what to do. We're here to help! In this episode of Backwoods University, we're going back through some of the fascinating guests we've met along the way so far! From Grizzly specialists to marine biologist- from botanists to beekeepers, we've met a wide spectrum! On this episode we'll here about a bison charging a man, a man charging a grizzly, an age old debate about what kinds of ducks are edible, and here a great conversation story that will set us up for the next episode! Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:31:46

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Ep. 416: This Country Life - Paige's Hunt, Snow, and Bad Boar Coons

1/30/2026
It's no secret that snow and ice can disrupt the lives of people who don't get a lot of it. Brent's no different, and it may affect him more than most. He's snowed in at his studio and talking about a smorgasbord of things today that may or may not go together. You'll just have to listen and see what we mean. It's random stories time on MeatEater's "This Country Life" podcast. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:23:37

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Ep. 415: The Thing About Mule Skinners

1/28/2026
In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, host Clay Newcomb dives deep into the world of mules, mule skinners, and the quiet kind of backcountry wisdom you only earn from miles in the saddle. Alongside legendary Arizona cowboy and Bear Grease Hall of Famer, Warner Glen, and mule trainer and clinician, Ty Evans, Clay explores why serious mountain hunters trust mules over horses, and how their self preservation instinct can be a virtue. They also discuss what these tough, insightful animals can teach us about grit, leadership, and self-control. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:41:30

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Ep. 414: This Country Life - Cold Hunter, Hot Gumbo

1/23/2026
This week Brent's trying his hand at competition gumbo cooking. He and his friends from the Cache Bayou Hound and Mallard Club have entered a gumbo cooking contest. If it was a gumbo eating contest they'd win easily but it's not. Do they have the right stuff to come out on top, you'll have to listen and find out for yourself. He's also sharing a listener story about the perils of extreme cold weather duck hunting that could've ended tragically and almost did. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:23:41

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Ep. 413: Render - Boots, Bucks, and Willard the Mule

1/21/2026
In this episode of the Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb—alongside Bear Newcomb, Dr. Misty Newcomb, and Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker—is joined by Clay’s squirrel-hunting “sensei,” Michael Lanier. The crew covers a wide range of topics, from Clay’s trophy deer “Jimminy Christmas” and his relationship with his Tecovas boots to the pressing question of whether he needs a haircut. The conversation eventually goes full mule when Michael brings his trusty mule, Willard, into the studio, sparking a deeper discussion about the recent Bear Grease Podcast episode on Ty Evans. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:06:32

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Ep. 412: Backwoods University - Mallard Declines

1/19/2026
This episode is a field report. Where we go and interview outdoorsmen, hunters, and anglers from all walks of life to get their opinions on different wildlife related issues. Today, we will be discussing the current hot topic of mallard declines in the lower Mississippi alluvial valley. We will be asking these different hunters about what they have seen through their own experiences duck hunting throughout the years, and what they think could be causing the declines. Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:48:25

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Ep. 411: This Country Life - The Soundtrack of Our Lives

1/16/2026
Brent's talking about music this week and the role it plays in his life. We can all relate to the moment when a song from your past takes you to a remembered place or triggers a memory of people or events. Hearing new songs that describe what you thought was indescribable is another joy altogether. Having the opportunity to spend time with the artists that can do that makes for a great story we think you'll enjoy. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:22:16

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Ep. 410: Ty Evans - Transformative Mulemanship and Free Agency

1/14/2026
In this episode of the Bear Grease podcast, Clay Newcomb interviews Ty Evans, one of the country’s top mule trainers and clinicians. After a broken femur in the arena benched Ty’s rodeo career, he began studying a different approach to training horses and mules than the "Cowboy Way". One based not on brute force, but on trust and understanding how animals actually think. What he discovered taught him that sometimes the solution to problems isn't doing more of the same, but adopting an entirely new way of seeing the world. 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:51:16

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Ep. 409: This Country Life - Who's Helping Who

1/9/2026
Everyone needs help from time to time, and it's human nature to offer to do so. There are many ways to do it and this week, Brent's talking about how a conversation he had years ago with an unknown mentor continues to help him today. He's also issuing a challenge to help an organization that's helping people with disabilities enjoy the outdoors. Hands of a Sportsman non-profit: http://www.handsofasportsman.org/ Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life Merch Shop Bear Grease Merch See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:23:14