BOLOTOR Podcast Michael Stein

Don Higgins, an avid deer hunter from Central Illinois, grew up with a deep love for the outdoors, inspired by his grandparents' farm. Despite the scarcity of deer during his youth, he shot his first deer at sixteen, igniting a lifelong passion for hunting. Dedicating himself solely to deer hunting, Higgins became an expert archery hunter. Over the decades, he established himself in the field, writing for major hunting magazines and authoring two books on deer hunting. He founded Real World Wildlife Products, a successful wildlife food plot seed company, and expanded his influence through his YouTube channel and the "Chasing Giants" podcast.
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Higgins manages a 160-acre property and oversees a team of consultants who assist clients in optimizing their properties for deer hunting. His strategies focus on creating environments that attract deer during daylight hours, carefully considering terrain, wind direction, and property layout. He prefers to have his venison processed locally, believing it tastes better than what he could make himself. Despite his busy schedule, he continues to raise beef cattle, favoring beef over venison.
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With consulting work that spans numerous states and notable clients, including professional athletes, Higgins has become a respected figure in the hunting community. His business ventures continue to grow, driven by a commitment to quality, innovation, and integrity in the deer hunting industry.

April Vokey is a fly fisher, outdoorswoman, membership coordinator, casting instructor, mother, world-traveler, DIY enthusiast, and master of dirty jokes. Her journey in the fly fishing world has been one of her passion, dedication, and unwavering advocacy for the sport. From a young age, she felt an unbreakable bond with nature and the rush of the river. Even as a toddler, she was engrossed in the pursuit, meticulously assembling her tackle box with an array of lures and baits.
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At 16, you could find her chasing salmon and steelhead in the rivers along the coastline of British Columbia, baitcaster and driver’s license in hand. For her, those experiences weren’t just about the catch, rather a cornerstone of self-discovery and an escape from the challenges of city life. In her late teens, she discovered fly fishing and knew that she had to somehow structure in her life so she could do it every day. Guiding for sturgeon and salmon with a local outfitter was a stepping stone, and at age 24, in 2007, she founded her own company, Fly Gal Ventures, to share her passion as a guide.
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Her passion for fly fishing and the outdoors has since taken her to far-flung corners of the world, all in pursuit of the next adventure. Over the years, She's been humbled by talented anglers and a supportive community who eventually drove her to start Anchored Outdoors, an online membership that has been her most fulfilling venture to date.

Coley Jens is a fascinating blend of adventurous spirit and dedicated environmental stewardship. Originally hailing from Detroit, Michigan, her formative years near Chicago ignited a lifelong passion for wildlife and critters, nurtured by frequent visits to museums and aquariums. A move to Florida in her youth only deepened this love affair with the natural world. After a stint in the military, including service in Afghanistan, Coley returned home to pursue her studies, initially focusing on zoology before pivoting towards microbiology and chemistry. This diverse academic background perfectly aligns with her current role as an environmental specialist, where she inspects hazardous materials such as diesel and oil to ensure environmental safety, even at facilities like jails.
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Despite the allure of a potentially more lucrative social media career, Coley remains steadfast in her dedication to environmental inspections, a role she's been immersed in since November 2016. Her military background, particularly during emergency operations like Hurricane Irma, has equipped her with invaluable skills for handling high-pressure situations. Balancing her professional commitments with her burgeoning social media presence hasn't been easy, but Coley finds solace and joy in her outdoor adventures and wildlife explorations, which she shares with her online audience under a pseudonym. 
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Despite the occasional mishap, Coley's resilience shines through. Whether it's navigating stormy seas or contemplating a career shift towards park services in the Pacific Northwest, she tackles each challenge with unwavering determination.

Alongside her sports career, Alison is a biochemist with a graduate degree. Her biggest challenge was overcoming a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a severe crash, which led her to pursue neuropsychology in grad school. Despite her injuries, she made a strong recovery and continued to excel in cycling, though she ultimately found herself not fully healthy. Alison has openly discussed the difficulties of balancing her professional cycling career with personal well-being. Despite outward success, she faced dark and challenging times internally. Her severe crash resulted in multiple injuries and a TBI, forcing her to reassess her identity beyond just being an athlete. This shift in perspective led her to focus more on her overall health and well-being, emphasizing her roles as a daughter, wife, sister, and scientist.
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Her recovery has been ongoing, involving mental health research, dealing with lingering effects like PTSD and anxiety, and the support of a positive environment and her husband. She stresses the importance of daily self-care and maintaining a balanced life. Her journey of coping with physical and chronic pain from injuries, especially a shattered pelvis. Despite the discomfort, she continued to race, finding solace in the development of more comfortable bike saddles. She highlighted the impact of chronic pain on her outlook on life.
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Currently, Alison is in a great place both professionally and personally, deeply in love with her supportive husband. She enjoys riding her bike and giving back to the cycling community by mentoring and promoting inclusivity, especially for kids and girls. She finds joy in contributing to the sport and being part of the ongoing positive movement in women's sports. Alison views her experiences with both gratitude and a sense of purpose, focusing on how she can use her platform to inspire and support others in the cycling world.

As most freshwater anglers do, Gene Jensen (The Flukemaster) was exposed to bass angling and has been forever hooked. Today, he can be described as an avid bass angler and, at best, that description is an understatement.
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Gene guided on Richmond Mill Lake for five years and it was there he learned he loved to teach people to fish. Today he owns and operates multiple social media channels, to include his YouTube channel, Flukemaster. He has amassed a gargantuan following of 320,000+ subscribers on YouTube and that number grows every day.
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Through social media Gene shares his passion for bass fishing but also teaches others to fish. After all, it his motto: “Teaching the World to Fish”. His passion and ability to teach others has propelled him to become a commonly known name in the recreational fishing world. This is not because of special marketing or advertising, but simply because he provides value to his following. More people are able to enjoy fishing because of Gene Jensen.

Amanda Lynn Mayhew, born and raised in Northern Ontario, grew up surrounded by the great outdoors. Her family was heavily involved in fishing, hunting, and camping, fostering a love for nature in Amanda from a young age. Upon moving to Southern Ontario, she realized that such an outdoor lifestyle wasn't common there, leading her to explore fitness and bodybuilding. Amanda carried her passion for the outdoors into raising her three boys, instilling in them the same appreciation for nature.
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Amanda's transition to media prominence began when her outdoor activities caught public attention, resulting in a TV series pilot in 2016. This initial success blossomed into a 12-episode series on a national network, later rebranded as "That Hunting Girl" on the Sportsman Channel in 2019. Despite her busy career, Amanda maintains a rigorous fitness routine, including daily workouts, Pilates, yoga, and running, emphasizing the importance of staying active, especially as she approaches 50 years old. Amanda openly discusses her struggle with acromioclavicular arthritis in her shoulder, which prevents her from doing push-ups, though she still lifts weights. Known for doing 60-70 push-ups a day previously, she remains dedicated to her fitness regimen.
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Reflecting on her journey, Amanda feels proud and excited for future adventures, including an upcoming fundraising event. She expresses gratitude for her experiences and the support of her family, noting the increasingly adventurous path her life has taken. Amanda is thrilled to participate in Sean Connery's "Dressed to Kilt" fundraising event, representing women in the outdoors in her camo with a bow. Despite her nerves, she looks forward to the opportunity.