Outdoor Ruhls

Outdoor Ruhls

Join the Ruhl Family as we share our love for all things outdoors. We’ll explore hunting, fishing, cooking, camping, conservation, gardening, photography and more through stories about our families deep history and passion for being outside. You’ll hear from three generations, all with unique perspectives on the past, present, and future.

  1. 5 HRS AGO

    Episode 80: Minecraft

    Mike sits down with Uncle Sim and Poppy to explore the history of the Cornwall iron mines, from their role in early American industry to their impact on the local community. Uncle Sim shares firsthand stories of mining life and explains how iron ore was mined and processed in Lebanon County. The episode wraps with the mine’s closure after Hurricane Agnes and reflections on how it shaped both the region and the Ruhl family.

  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    Episode 79: Love in the Time of Turkey Season

    Episode 79: Love in the Time of Turkey Season In this laid-back spring check-in, the crew gathers to catch up on life, family, and the outdoors during a busy and slightly chaotic time of year. From a full-on Ruhl family reunion back in Pennsylvania to a stretch of rapid-fire podcast recordings, the conversation reflects on recent episodes covering everything from zoos and conservation to Hershey history and Cornwall iron mining. Mike, Caitlin, Mark, and Rachel dive into the realities of spring: mower season vs. turkey season, weddings stacking up on weekends, and the challenges of finding time to get outside. At the center of it all is opening day of turkey season in New Mexico—Mike and Caitlin’s unofficial “Valentine’s Day”—where a close encounter with a stubborn gobbler turns into a memorable (if unsuccessful) hunt. The episode wanders in the best way, touching on gardening plans, Pennsylvania Dutch markets like Roots and Green Dragon, bass fishing updates from Matt, and the anticipation of upcoming family trips—including Cape Charles and dreams of getting the next generation fully hooked on deer camp life. It’s a mix of stories, laughs, and seasonal transitions—less about any one topic and more about the rhythms of family, tradition, and making time for what matters. 🌐 Website: www.outdoorruhls.com 📧 Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @outdoorruhls 📘 Facebook: OutdoorRuhls 🎧 Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

  3. 14 APR

    Episode 78: Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate (The Hershey Story)

    Episode 78: Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate (The Hershey Story) — Show Notes In this episode, the Ruhls are joined by Uncle Sim (94!) in the “Outdoor Ruhls East Studio” for a deep dive into the life and legacy of Milton S. Hershey—one of the most influential Pennsylvania Dutch figures in American history. The conversation traces Hershey’s unlikely path from repeated business failures to building a chocolate empire by perfecting the mass production of milk chocolate, transforming it from a luxury into an everyday treat. Along the way, the crew reflects on the values of perseverance, innovation, and learning from failure. What makes this episode especially personal is the direct connection to the Hershey story through Uncle Sim’s upbringing on a Pennsylvania dairy farm. He shares vivid memories of milking cows by hand, selling milk to the Hershey plant, and the strict quality standards enforced by Hershey inspectors—highlighting how the company shaped the entire regional economy. These firsthand stories bring to life the grit of farm life and the critical role local dairy families played in building the Hershey brand. The episode also explores Hershey’s broader legacy beyond chocolate, including his vision for a company town, the founding of Milton Hershey School, and his lasting philanthropic impact. From trolley systems and amusement parks to orphan care and education, Hershey’s influence still defines the region today. It’s a story of business, community, and generosity—told through family memories and local roots. Follow & Listen:Find more from the Outdoor Ruhls on your favorite platforms—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube—and stay connected on Instagram for clips, updates, and behind-the-scenes content. For recipes, show notes, and more, visit outdoorrulhs.com.

  4. 8 APR

    Episode 77: Spring Ruhls

    Episode 77: Spring Ruhls In this follow-up to the winter farm episode, the Ruhls gather in Quentin, Pennsylvania—joined once again by Uncle Sim—to bring the story into spring. As the thaw sets in, the work ramps up fast. March means one thing above all else: manure. From hand-forking frozen piles into spreaders to racing the mud and broken chains, the crew paints a vivid picture of just how physical and time-sensitive early spring farming really was. From there, the conversation moves into prepping fields—plowing, disking, harrowing, and planting—all powered by teams of horses that were as critical to the operation as any modern tractor. Sim shares detailed, firsthand accounts of life on a 100+ acre farm, including how different horse teams were used for specific jobs, the constant maintenance required to keep them working, and even the challenge of walking them miles to a blacksmith. The episode also dives into crop cycles—corn, oats, potatoes, and wheat—and the massive coordination required to harvest and thresh with neighbors. Stories of threshing crews, Depression-era laborers working for meals, and family cooperation highlight both the hardship and tight-knit community that defined the era. Beyond the work, Spring Ruhls captures the rhythm of life off the clock. From softball games (and the occasional church-league brawl) to Pennsylvania Dutch traditions like pitching quoits, the episode brings out the humor and culture of rural life. Sim also shares some legendary “kid behavior”—from billboard sabotage to late-night “serenading” of newlyweds in exchange for ice cream—offering a glimpse into how farm kids found their fun. The episode wraps with reflections on gardening, canning, and market life, emphasizing how nothing went to waste and everything had a purpose. As always, it’s a story about hard work, family, tradition, and the seasonal rhythms that shaped generations of Ruhls. Links & More Find more episodes, photos, and recipes at:🌐 www.outdoorruhls.com Follow along on Instagram:📸 @outdoorruhls

  5. 1 APR

    Episode 76: The Zookeeper Chronicles

    Episode 76: The Zoo Keeper Chronicles In this episode, Mike sits down with Dale and Denise Snyder—family members and lifelong animal people—for a wide-ranging conversation that blends family history, hard work, and an unexpected journey into the world of zoo keeping. From Dale’s upbringing on a Pennsylvania farm to a 40+ year career working with North American wildlife, the story unfolds as one of passion meeting opportunity in ways no one could have planned. Dale shares how a teaching degree and a summer job at a local park led him into a career caring for animals, eventually rising to a leadership role in a zoo focused on native species. Along the way, he and Denise recount unforgettable experiences—from raising mountain lions and rehabilitating injured otters to transporting crocodiles, alligators, and even a live bison across state lines. Denise adds her own perspective, including her path from certified welder to zoo volunteer and partner in the work, along with her deep appreciation for animals like reindeer and their remarkable adaptations. The conversation also explores the deeper purpose of modern zoos: education, conservation, and creating formative experiences that connect people—especially kids—to wildlife. Whether it’s helping a child overcome fear of snakes, supporting species recovery efforts, or working alongside state and federal agencies, Dale and Denise highlight the critical role zoos play in building the next generation of conservationists. At its core, this episode is about stewardship, family, and finding meaning in caring for the natural world. It’s a reminder that you don’t always have to follow a straight path to make a difference—and that sometimes, the most impactful lives are the ones that grow organically from where you start. Follow & Connect with Outdoor Ruhls: Website: www.outdoorruhls.com Instagram: @outdoorruhls Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform and sharing it with friends and family.

  6. 24 MAR

    Episode 75: Disturbance By Deisgn

    Episode 75: Disturbance by Design This week on the Outdoor Ruhls Podcast, Mike sits down with Karl Malcolm—conservation professional, lifelong outdoorsman, and one of the most compelling recent voices in the conservation space. Recently featured on the MeatEater Podcast, Karl brings a rare blend of deep scientific knowledge, field experience, and thoughtful perspective to a wide-ranging conversation about forests, wildlife, and the role humans play in shaping both. At the heart of this episode is a powerful (and sometimes misunderstood) idea: disturbance is not only natural—it’s necessary. From fire and logging to historic wildlife impacts like passenger pigeons and bison, Karl explains how healthy ecosystems have always been shaped by disruption. The absence of disturbance, especially in eastern forests, has led to declining habitat quality for species like ruffed grouse and American woodcock—and many others that depend on diverse, early successional habitats. Mike and Karl also explore: Karl’s unique career path, from the U.S. Forest Service to his current role as Vice President of Conservation for the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society His research on black bears in Wisconsin and China—and how those experiences shaped his worldview Why “habitat” is almost always the answer when wildlife populations decline The tension between simple conservation messaging and complex ecological realities How hunters—and non-hunters alike—can play a role in improving conservation outcomes This is a thoughtful, big-picture conversation about conservation, one that challenges assumptions and reinforces a core truth: if we want better wildlife outcomes, we have to be willing to engage with the complexity of how ecosystems actually work. Reading List & Influences If you enjoyed this conversation, here are a few works and authors discussed in the episode: A Sand County Almanac — Aldo Leopold The Lorax — Dr. Seuss Wildlife in America — Peter Matthiessen The Search for the Genuine (featuring “Spring Coda”) — Jim Harrison How to Love a Forest — Ethan Tapper Get Involved Want to support the kind of conservation work Karl is leading? Learn more or become a member: https://ruffed.org Listen to Karl’s recent appearance on the MeatEater Podcast:https://www.themeateater.com/listen/meateater As Karl and Mike discuss, conservation works best when more people are invested—whether through time, attention, or direct support. If you care about wildlife, forests, and the future of wild places, this is a great place to start. As always, you can find more from the Outdoor Ruhls Podcast at www.outdoorruhls.com and on Instagram @OutdoorRuhls. Thanks for listening.

  7. 17 MAR

    Episode 74: A Picture's Worth...

    Episode 74: A Picture’s Worth... In this episode, Mike and Caitlin are joined by GT for a conversation about old photographs, the memories they preserve, and the way a single image can instantly carry you back to a different time. What starts with digging through family photos for an Outdoor Ruhls social media project turns into a deeper reflection on family history, outdoor traditions, and the emotions tied to the pictures we keep. Mike shares a photo of himself as a teenager with his friend Dan after what he believes was each of their first Canada geese, a picture that prompted him to reconnect with Dan and relive the story behind it. GT brings a family photo from a California vacation at Convict Lake in the mid-1990s, using it to reflect on family trips, how different people show up in the same photograph, and how pictures can preserve not just faces but the feeling of being together. Caitlin shares a childhood photo from a canoe trip in Sylvania, remembering both the fun of the adventure and the frustration of being badly outfished by another kid in the boat. Mike then shares one of his most meaningful hunting photos: a candid shot of him, his dad, and Pop Grant after he killed his first doe as a 12-year-old in Pennsylvania. The picture captures more than the deer—it preserves a moment of pride, instruction, and connection between generations of family in deer camp. Later, Mike and Caitlin call Memaw and Poppy, and Memaw shares a remarkable old photograph of Aunt Lena’s store in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where Pop Bud learned the baking skills that became part of his legacy. That conversation opens into memories of Pop Bud’s extraordinary baking, the family traditions that came from it, and the way recipes, like photographs, can carry family stories forward. This episode is about much more than photography. It’s about memory, legacy, family, and the small moments that become priceless with time. Some pictures are beautifully composed, some are candid, and some are technically nothing special at all—but the right one can still hold an entire world. Website: https://outdoorruhls.com Email: outdoorruhls@gmail.com Instagram: @Outdoorruhls

  8. 10 MAR

    Episode 73: Camping with Kate

    Episode 73: Camping with Kate Mike and Caitlin kick off the episode by looking back at last week’s conversation with Mountain Hollow Game Calls and celebrating the new “official turkey call” status for the Outdoor Ruhls podcast. From there, they welcome one of their longtime Yellowstone friends, Kate Olsen, for a conversation that feels equal parts reunion, storytelling session, and tribute to the wild, formative years they all spent working in the backcountry. Kate shares how she grew up in central Pennsylvania, rowed in college at St. Lawrence, and drove west to Yellowstone almost immediately after graduation. What followed was a crash course in the realities of fieldwork in the American West: learning how to wear waders, carrying impossibly heavy packs, working with horses and mules, and diving headfirst into remote backcountry fisheries projects with almost no prior camping experience. The conversation revisits those early Yellowstone summers, especially the grueling work on Specimen Creek and Grayling Creek, where long hitches, huge loads, fire-scarred landscapes, and unpredictable conditions turned into some of the most unforgettable experiences of their lives. The episode then shifts into a fun “best, worst, and weirdest” camping conversation. Kate, Mike, and Caitlin swap stories about freezing nights, forgotten sleeping bags, violent storms, collapsing tents, sketchy backcountry moments, and the strange but unforgettable realities of life lived outside for weeks at a time. Along the way, they talk about the little pieces of gear they now consider essential, how their camping styles have changed over the years, and why those hard, messy, hilarious trips remain some of the most meaningful memories they share. At its heart, this episode is about friendship, resilience, and the kind of outdoor experiences that shape who you become. Mike, Caitlin, and Kate reflect on just how deeply those Yellowstone years still connect them—and why even after all the miles, jobs, and years that have passed, it still feels easy to pick up right where they left off. Website: www.outdoorruhls.comEmail: outdoorruhls@gmail.comInstagram: @outdoorruhls

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About

Join the Ruhl Family as we share our love for all things outdoors. We’ll explore hunting, fishing, cooking, camping, conservation, gardening, photography and more through stories about our families deep history and passion for being outside. You’ll hear from three generations, all with unique perspectives on the past, present, and future.

Information

  • Creator
    Outdoor Ruhls
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Outdoor Ruhls

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