The Silvercore Podcast with Travis Bader

Travis Bader
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The Silvercore Podcast explores the mindset and skills that build capable people. Host Travis Bader speaks with hunters, adventurers, soldiers, athletes, craftsmen, and founders about competence, integrity, and the pursuit of mastery, in the wild and in daily life. Hit follow and step into conversations that sharpen your edge.

  1. Ep. 182: "I Shouldn't Still Be Here" | Sir Drifto on Risk, Adventure & Knowing When to Stop

    MAR 24

    Ep. 182: "I Shouldn't Still Be Here" | Sir Drifto on Risk, Adventure & Knowing When to Stop

    Nathan James, known online as Sir Drifto, holds the world altitude record for the highest electric paramotor flight and has flown hundreds of miles in a vintage open cockpit biplane with his dad. He's also the kind of guy who once tried to fly a paramotor under a bridge and lost his sponsorship in the process. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when the risk-to-reward ratio flips, why real adventure can't be bought through a booking agent, the Camel Trophy / Defender Trophy comeback, growing up on dirt bikes and two-strokes, what every young person should experience at least once, AI and predictive surveillance, and why the simplest eras might have produced the most capable people. Nathan is heading to British Columbia for the Defender Trophy, the successor to the legendary Camel Trophy, and this conversation captures exactly the kind of person they'd want behind the wheel. Silvercore Podcast 182 Nathan James - Sir Drifto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirdrifto/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SirDrifto _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro and the Sir Drifto origin 01:34 Life is short and the risk-to-reward ratio 03:03 When risk stops falling only on you 05:20 Dirt bikes at eight and the berm that changed everything 08:33 Counting birthdays you didn't expect to reach 10:13 Regret as the real balancing act 11:50 Contrived hardship vs. real challenge 14:23 What every young person should experience once 17:36 The Wall-E problem and the softening of capability 22:01 Technology, instant gratification, and lost patience 24:06 Face-to-face connection as the future commodity 27:21 Photoshopping a report card and the sinking jet boat 30:29 The world record electric paramotor flight 40:42 The altitude and would he do it again 42:12 Why winter was the only option 43:22 Flying a Piper Cub cross-country with his dad 47:15 The broken fuel gauge and cornfield contingencies 52:11 The Defender Trophy (Camel Trophy successor) in BC 57:56 Whether it'll be televised 01:00:23 Safety third 01:01:17 Flying a paramotor under a bridge 01:04:12 The helicopter laser incident and federal consequences 01:12:28 AI, facial recognition, and pre-crime prediction 01:16:54 Favorite movies and books 01:22:06 Write down your bucket list and challenge every excuse

    1h 25m
  2. Ep. 181: "The Old Version of Yourself Has to Die" | Josh Botha

    MAR 10

    Ep. 181: "The Old Version of Yourself Has to Die" | Josh Botha

    Josh Botha showed up to his first precision rifle match with a blind-magazine .204 Ruger and no idea what he was doing. A decade later, he's a four-time Team Canada World Championship competitor, senior designer at MDT (Modular Driven Technologies), founder of the BC Precision Rifle League, and the man behind North Star Precision Training. In this episode, Josh shares his journey from South Africa to England to BC, how archery led him into the precision rifle world, what it's really like inside MDT's culture, and the massive news about MDT acquiring Lone Peak Arms. We dig into the mental game of competitive shooting, the NRL Hunter format, wind reading, barriers to entry for new PRS shooters, the role of faith in business and life, and why one person stepping up can change everything. 🎁 This month we're giving away a SAI Mini Red Dot to an active Outpost listener - Silvercore Club members, activate the Outpost in your member portal to enter! 🔗 Connect with Josh: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbotha_/  North Star Precision Training: northstarprecisiontraining@gmail.com and https://www.instagram.com/northstarprecision/ BC Precision Rifle League: https://www.instagram.com/bcprecisionrifle/MDT Sporting Goods: https://www.instagram.com/mdttac21/Optics - https://armament.com/ Ammo - https://www.norma-ammunition.com/ _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ Timestamps: 0:00 Intro & SAI Mini Red Dot Giveaway 1:30 Meet Josh Botha: Competitive Shooter & MDT Designer 2:16 Knocking Over Josh's Rifle at a PRS Match 4:24 Growing Up in South Africa & Moving to England 7:00 Family Moves to Canada: Landing on Canada Day 2006 8:33 BC as the Best of South Africa and England Combined 10:00 From BCIT Mechanical Engineering to "Pretensioneer" 11:55 MDT's People-First Culture and Hiring Philosophy 13:16 MDT's Origin Story: From Rooster33 to Martin's Vision 14:28 MDT Acquires Lone Peak Arms: What It Means 16:50 Passion vs. Career: Drawing the Line 18:48 How Archery Led Josh Into Precision Rifle 21:00 First PRS Match: A .204 Ruger and No Idea 22:00 The BC Sniper Match & Why the PRS Community Is Different 27:00 PRS Attracts "Weird Gear Math Nerds" — And That's Great 28:00 The Mental Game: Almost All of It Is Mental Now 29:13 Conscious Competence to Subconscious Mastery 30:06 Wind Reading: The Great Equalizer 30:50 Barriers to Entry: Cost, Fear & PRS .22 Matches 33:50 Launching North Star Precision Training 37:00 Training Venues & The BC Long Range Problem 38:00 Biggest Mistakes New Precision Rifle Shooters Make 39:27 Dealing with Match Pressure & First-Stage Jitters 41:00 NRL Hunter: The Most Fun Match Format Explained 46:00 Gear vs. Skill: LRF Binos, Tripods & Weight Limits 48:03 MDT's Content & Media Strategy: Becoming a Media Company 52:00 Education as Marketing: Magpul, Glock & MDT 54:50 AI in the Firearms Industry: Spanish & French YouTube Channels 57:37 Suppressors: Will MDT Get In the Game? 59:00 Fighting for Suppressor Legalization in Canada 1:02:49 The Power of One Person to Create Change 1:07:55 Leveraging Mentors & Asking for Help 1:08:46 Faith at MDT: A Quiet But Real Foundation 1:11:05 Josh's Faith Journey & Losing His Mom 1:13:29 A Transformative Six Months: Growth Through Trials 1:16:27 What's Next: 4th World Championship & Rimfire in Lithuania 1:19:00 Building a World Championship Rimfire Rig 1:20:14 Product Design: When "Done" Meets "Perfect" 1:23:21 MDT's Most Popular Products (Magazines & Chamber Flags) 1:24:38 CAPRA: The Canadian Precision Rifle Association Board 1:26:39 Addressing Conflict of Interest Criticism 1:30:28 Growth of PRS in Canada: From 75 Members to National Teams 1:32:12 Where to Find Josh & Final Thoughts

    1h 34m
  3. Ep. 180: The Outpost

    FEB 24

    Ep. 180: The Outpost

    This episode introduces something new inside the Silvercore Club. It’s called The Outpost. A private weekly podcast for members where I share reflections from the field, lessons that stay with me, and thoughts that don’t always fit the format of the public show. In this episode, I explain what The Outpost is and why I created it, and then share one of those private recordings titled Bear With Me. Some experiences change how you see preparedness, responsibility, and awareness. This is one of them. https://www.silvercore.ca/club _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____

    14 min
  4. Ep. 179: Melt Your Face Off Hot Wing Challenge | The Wild Kitchen x Silvercore

    FEB 10

    Ep. 179: Melt Your Face Off Hot Wing Challenge | The Wild Kitchen x Silvercore

    This was supposed to be a hot wing challenge.It turned into something else. We sat down to take on a melt your face off hot wing challenge and ended up in a real conversation about food, marriage, work, ambition, comfort, and the choices that shape a life over time. The heat ramps up fast. Talking becomes harder. Filters disappear. We talk about building something from scratch, walking away from paths that look good on paper, raising kids with intention, food as memory, food as connection, and why comfort has a way of slowly pulling people off course. This episode also introduces The Wild Kitchen Podcast, a show about food, authors, hunters, foragers, and people who still know how to make things with their hands and feed the people they love. Nothing here was planned. Nothing was cleaned up to make it tidy. If you’re into honest conversations, good food, and doing things the hard way on purpose, this one will land. Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-wild-kitchen/id1871562316 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IVrTjpZePPuoKprNkgZx6?si=afb700ee09994cf4 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewildkitchenpodcast/ _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ Timestamps 00:00 We commit to the hot wing challenge01:45 Why the first attempt failed04:10 What The Wild Kitchen is really about07:30 Starting something and sticking with it10:50 Food, memory, and why meals matter14:40 The meals that never leave you18:20 Heat kicks in and thinking gets harder21:45 Comfort food and emotional attachment24:50 Death row meals and what they reveal30:15 What we wanted to be as kids35:05 Leaving the path you were expected to follow39:40 Work that feels honest45:30 Food, family, and presence50:00 Heat level check and regret53:10 Old skills in a modern world58:20 Belief, curiosity, and asking better questions01:03:45 Pushing through discomfort01:07:40 Failure, momentum, and self trust01:12:20 Dealing with criticism01:16:10 Grandparents, food, and inherited habits01:20:40 Preservation, fermentation, and patience01:24:10 Processing animals and community01:28:10 What the future actually looks like01:32:30 Final wing and closing thoughts

    1h 28m
  5. Ep. 178: Why Training Fails Under Stress | Chris Butler on Perception, Video Evidence, and Use of Force

    JAN 27

    Ep. 178: Why Training Fails Under Stress | Chris Butler on Perception, Video Evidence, and Use of Force

    What looks obvious on video often tells the least important part of the story. Chris Butler has spent decades inside high consequence decision making, as a search and rescue technician, a police inspector, a force science instructor, and an expert witness called into hundreds of use of force cases. In this conversation, we dig into how stress bends perception, why traditional training often fails under pressure, and how video evidence can mislead investigators, leaders, and the public. We explore the difference between performance and learning, why mistakes are essential for real skill acquisition, how decision making degrades under stress, and what trainers, coaches, and leaders across any field can learn from force science. This episode is for anyone responsible for training others, leading teams, or forming opinions based on partial information. Key themes and takeaways Why performance during training is not the same as learningHow retention and transfer actually work under stressThe danger of linear, checkbox driven training modelsDecision training vs technique trainingWhy video evidence feels convincing but can be wrongFrame rates, fisheye distortion, and perceptual gapsLeadership responsibility when public emotion is highMoral courage and restraint in the age of instant judgmentWho this episode is for Law enforcement and military trainersCoaches and instructors in any high pressure domainLeaders responsible for public trustCivilians who want better frameworks for evaluating viral footageLinks to Chris Butler’s work Trainer’s Bullpen Podcast - https://www.trainersbullpen.comTrainer’s Bullpen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trainers-bullpen/id1661836359Trainer’s Bullpen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2xxGiZkTlRlNh9NYl4AdGTChris Butler, Force Science Instructor - https://www.forcescience.com/author/chris/Linkedin - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/chris-butler-b330943a_____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ Timestamps 00:00 Pressure bends perception and memory01:10 Meeting Chris Butler before COVID shut everything down03:00 From search and rescue to policing05:10 When training mistakes nearly got people killed07:30 Why personal skill does not equal teaching skill09:45 The failure of linear, technique based training12:10 Why law enforcement training ignores learning science14:20 Performance vs learning explained16:45 Retention and transfer, what actually matters19:20 Why firearms qualification is meaningless22:00 How force on force training changes outcomes24:30 RCMP research and evidence based qualification changes26:40 Decision training vs technique training29:50 Why mistakes are essential for learning33:10 The danger of spoonfeeding solutions36:30 Why training under pressure works39:10 Can this apply outside law enforcement41:40 How experts analyze use of force incidents44:10 Why video never tells the full story46:50 Frame rates, missed actions, and false conclusions49:30 Body cameras distort distance and threat perception52:30 Leadership failure under public pressure55:10 Moral courage and protecting your people57:50 Final thoughts on training, leadership, and restraint

    1h 5m
  6. Ep. 177: SBS Special Forces Veteran on Violence, Awareness, and Self Protection

    JAN 13

    Ep. 177: SBS Special Forces Veteran on Violence, Awareness, and Self Protection

    Violence arrives fast and leaves a long shadow. Former British SBS Special Forces veteran Sonny Smith returns to the Silvercore Podcast for a grounded conversation on awareness, personal safety, and the realities of physical confrontation. Drawing from experience in UK Special Forces, executive protection, surveillance work, and professional bare knuckle boxing, Sonny talks through how people are selected as targets, how situations escalate, and where confidence drifts ahead of capability. We discuss awareness as a practiced discipline, avoidance as a measure of competence, and the responsibility that comes with force. As the conversation deepens, it turns inward. We explore life after high risk work, mental health, identity, and the weight carried once the external danger fades. Sonny speaks openly about his personal experiences with ayahuasca as part of a broader reflection on trauma, accountability, and integration, without instruction or advocacy. This episode is a clear-eyed look at judgment, restraint, and what survival demands, both in moments of danger and across a lifetime. Buy Man Protect Here - https://a.co/d/2C4SVkx Follow Sonny - https://www.instagram.com/sixsightco/ Six Sight Training Wing - https://www.instagram.com/sixsight.co Six Sight Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@SixSight _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ Timestamps 00:00 – Why most people misunderstand violence03:45 – Bare knuckle boxing and reality versus fantasy08:55 – Confidence, competence, and dangerous gaps13:40 – Awareness without paranoia18:25 – How predators actually select targets23:10 – Situational awareness beyond buzzwords28:00 – Subtle cues people miss before violence starts33:15 – Why most self protection training fails38:05 – Avoidance as a trained skill43:20 – When violence becomes unavoidable48:10 – Knives, firearms, and uncomfortable truths54:30 – The psychological cost of physical confrontation Mental Health and Psychedelics 01:00:05 – Life after violence and high risk careers01:04:30 – Trauma, identity, and suppressed damage01:10:15 – Why some people turn to ayahuasca01:16:40 – Expectations versus reality01:22:30 – Integration, responsibility, and accountability01:28:10 – Mental health without shortcuts01:33:40 – What survival actually means long term

    1h 37m
  7. Ep. 176: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?

    12/30/2025

    Ep. 176: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?

    As the year comes to a close, I reached out to a small group of past guests and asked them one question.What do you want to be remembered for?Their answers, and my own, are shared here.This episode is chaptered. Listen straight through, or move to the voices that resonate most with you.Take your time with it. This is the final episode of the Silvercore Podcast for 2025 This Year End project is Silvercore Podcast Ep. 176 ### Thank you to the guests who took part in this project If you’d like to learn more about the people who shared their reflections, you can find them here. Kyle LambViking TacticsWebsite: https://www.vikingtactics.comInstagram (Viking Tactics): https://www.instagram.com/vikingtactics Amie BattamsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amie.flyfish/ Colin DowlerColin keeps a low public profile. His story was first shared here:Silvercore Podcast – https://www.silvercore.ca/podcast/ep-09-now-youre-bleeding-too-bear April VokeyAnchored OutdoorsWebsite: https://anchoredoutdoors.comPodcast: https://www.anchoredoutdoors.com/podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilvokey Jason BuddTantalus Mountain GuidesWebsite: https://tantalusmtnguides.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tantalusmtnguides/ Seb LavoieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/slavccmdr/ Kevin KossowanFrom the WildWebsite: https://www.fromthewild.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinkossowan/ Kelsi SherenPodcast, speaking, and writingWebsite: https://www.kelsisheren.comInstagram Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thekelsisherenperspective/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsie_sheren/ Shaun TaylorThe Collective PodcastWebsite: https://the-collective.caInstagram (podcast): https://www.instagram.com/the_collective_ig/Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/shauntaylors1/ Chance BurrellsThe Collective PodcastWebsite: https://the-collective.cahttps://www.instagram.com/chance_burles Tiffany BaderSilvercore OutdoorsWebsite: https://silvercore.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bader.tiffany/ _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ (00:13) - Intro – What Will Remain (01:38) - Kyle Lamb (08:25) - Amie Battams (11:10) - Colin Dowler (14:13) - April Vokey (17:00) - Jason Budd (19:46) - Seb Lavoie (28:34) - Kevin Kossowan (39:13) - Kelsi Sheren (47:53) - Shaun Taylor (52:55) - Chance Burles (01:01:43) - Tiffany Bader (01:03:48) - Travis Bader – Reflection

    1h 6m
  8. Ep. 175: The Explosives Expert Who Refuses to Live a Small Life

    12/16/2025

    Ep. 175: The Explosives Expert Who Refuses to Live a Small Life

    Matt Barnett grew up dreaming about explosives. At fourteen he blew up his hand, looked death in the face, and kept going. Today he is one of the most fascinating figures in the world of high explosives, working with everything from avalanche control to government agencies and major media productions. This conversation goes far beyond blowing things up. Matt opens up about the accident that reshaped him, the philosophy that guides his life, the power of visualization, raising strong kids, and why danger and purpose are tied together for anyone who wants to live a real life. If you have ever wondered what drives someone to chase a childhood obsession into a career most people would never dare to try, this episode will pull you in. Explosives, chemistry, freedom, leadership, self reliance, personal growth, and the fire it takes to build something meaningful. It is all here. What you will hear in this episode:• How a kid with a chemistry set became an explosives expert• The accident that nearly took Matt’s life and what he learned from it• Why humans are wired to crave controlled danger• The mindset that separates dreamers from builders• Raising kids in a world that fears risk• What freedom, responsibility, and legacy really look like• Why modern society is starving for men who refuse to live small lives If you love conversations about resilience, purpose, freedom, and the people who shape their own world instead of waiting for permission, this one will hit home. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattexplodesstuffWebsite / Leadership Camp: https://www.impresariocamp.com/ _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W  Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors ____ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The spark that starts a life in explosives00:41 Travis welcomes Matt Barnett01:00 Why humans are drawn to things that go boom01:51 Order, chaos, and the intoxication of controlled destruction02:42 Childhood experiments with fireworks and gunpowder04:18 Matt learns to make black powder at seven05:00 The obsession with creating without limits06:07 Chemistry, invention, and the ADHD mind07:27 Growing up with explosive hobbies08:57 Talking openly about dangerous knowledge10:41 Where the line sits between education and harm11:49 Using explosives to make the world safer13:01 Childhood accidents and lessons learned16:04 Matt’s near fatal blast at fourteen17:50 Seeing the reality of destruction up close19:14 How the accident changed his view of war and life20:00 Parents, dynamite, and early experiments22:00 Raising kids around explosives and responsibility24:00 How business in the energetics world really works25:16 The surprising truth about social media and notoriety26:00 What it is like to film explosive content27:32 The camera confidence Matt learned as a kid28:36 What Matt would tell his younger self29:00 Building a business inside a maze of regulation30:15 Travis compares the Canadian system33:00 The cultural divide in how nations regulate freedom36:00 Why local control matters38:06 The challenges of trying to build in Canada40:41 A firearms case that shaped Travis view of the system43:18 Matt’s drive through Canada and observations45:00 Understanding different legal cultures46:27 The origin of Benetti46:44 What impresario means to Matt48:00 Why Matt teaches leadership50:15 When leadership pushes people to leave the status quo51:00 The clients who can afford it, and those who truly need it52:00 What legacy really means53:16 Why his children are his real contribution54:00 Raising kids like frontier families55:56 The human experience is not meant to be safe57:00 Why some of us need risk to feel alive58:00 Matt’s time in the hospital and what it taught him59:37 The turtle that changed everything01:00:20 The power of visualization01:01:20 What Matt sees for his future01:03:00 Why the world still needs wild men01:06:00 Final thoughts on compassion, responsibility, and becoming better humans01:08:45 Closing

    1h 9m
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About

The Silvercore Podcast explores the mindset and skills that build capable people. Host Travis Bader speaks with hunters, adventurers, soldiers, athletes, craftsmen, and founders about competence, integrity, and the pursuit of mastery, in the wild and in daily life. Hit follow and step into conversations that sharpen your edge.

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