Off the Beaten Path

Cush Arrue and Rob Henson

Join Cush and Breezy as they explore the great outdoors and the Second Amendment with a blend of culture, comedy and conversation. All while Breezy is making beats. 

  1. Smallmouth vs. Largemouth: Best Setup for Tournament Bass Fishing?

    12/30/2025

    Smallmouth vs. Largemouth: Best Setup for Tournament Bass Fishing?

    Send us a text Meet Rhonda Pitts, the Gold Medal-winning tournament angler who discovered that fishing is better than medicine! Rhonda shares the incredible story of how she used the simple act of fishing to recover her health, stop taking Gabapentin, and find a new career. She details her journey from a dark horse competitor who cashed a check in her very first tournament to a seasoned angler finishing 4th on Lake Erie. Plus, get her must-know tips for beginners, including the simple rig that catches fish anywhere, and her secret knot for joining a braid main line to a fluorocarbon leader! Brief Description: Cush and Breezy talk with Arkansas angler Rhonda Pitts about her incredible journey from a childhood boredom to a Team USA Black Bass Gold Medalist. Rhonda discusses the health transformation she experienced simply by getting back outdoors, proving the therapeutic value of fishing. She offers must-have advice for new anglers, emphasizing the low barrier to entry and the importance of patience. She breaks down the difference between fishing for a lazy largemouth and a fighting smallmouth, and shares key technical tips like how to tie the Lefty Cray Knot and why she uses a three-foot leader. Tune in to hear about her ambitious goal of fishing the 2026 Bass Opens and how to sponsor her! Find Rhonda on social media at @RhondaPittsFishing. Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations.  Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode. Support the show

    49 min
  2. Can a New Shooter Win a Competition in Under a Year? (What do you think?)

    12/23/2025

    Can a New Shooter Win a Competition in Under a Year? (What do you think?)

    Send us a text Meet Paige Chan, the newest trailblazer in the shooting sports who went from being 'afraid of guns' to winning a major competition prize in less than a year! Paige, a master's student at Georgia Tech, shares her journey of conquering fear, embracing her dual cultural life, and finding an unexpected boost of confidence in the supportive firearms community. We dive into the unique philosophy of her brand, Tactical Playground, where serious training meets the fun of her bubbly, anime-loving alter ego 🌟. She reveals the mental game changer that instantly improved her accuracy and why she's skipping the dry fire to focus entirely on USPSA competition. Brief Description: Cush and Breezy chat with Paige Chan (Paige Time), a new shooter who is quickly making waves in the competitive scene and co-founder of Tactical Playground. Paige details the decision to learn shooting for self-defense, her experience overcoming initial fear, and the cultural challenge of balancing her traditional upbringing with her passion for firearms. She shares her personal "sparkle moment" in shooting and the empowering feeling of moving from a timid student to a successful instructor. This episode highlights how positive reinforcement and a willingness to learn (rather than gatekeeping) are growing the community, and why focusing on the mental game is the key to conquering difficult targets and improving as a competitive shooter. Follow Paige and the team at @TacticalPlaygroundHQ. Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations.  Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode. Support the show

    43 min
  3. Trauma to Training: How to Master a Firearm After a Violent Incident (Self-Defense)

    12/16/2025

    Trauma to Training: How to Master a Firearm After a Violent Incident (Self-Defense)

    Send us a text Meet Destiny "Des" Holman, founder of Fab Firearms Academy, who turned a random act of gun violence into a mission to empower over 1500 women through training. Des shares the shocking personal story that propelled her from a "passive gun owner" to a dedicated instructor. She dives into the unique challenges of training women who are dealing with past trauma, the crucial role of dry firing, and why well-meaning boyfriends and husbands often "mansplain" their partners out of ever getting comfortable with a firearm. Brief Description: Cush and Breezy welcome Destiny "Des" Holman (Nina De La Flores) of Fab Firearms Academy, the Arkansas-based school that has become a refuge for women seeking self-defense training. Des is candid about the drive-by shooting incident that forced her to take her Second Amendment rights seriously. She details her non-judgmental approach to teaching, including why one student needed seven private lessons just to overcome her anxiety and fire one round. Des also tackles the industry's misconceptions: she explains why dry firing for just ten minutes a day is the key to skill acquisition, how to conceal carry while pregnant safely, and why women do not need to sacrifice their identity or style (like having long nails or wearing non-tactical gear) to be effective shooters. Plus, she shares the story behind her viral "All Purple" charity event and how she's constantly on the road, training women across seven different states. Find Des on social media at @NinaDeLaFlores. Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations.  Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode. Support the show

    55 min
  4. What Equipment Do Beginner Female Shooters Need? (Not what you think!)

    12/09/2025

    What Equipment Do Beginner Female Shooters Need? (Not what you think!)

    Send us a text "Meet Lanny Oakley: a three-time Olympian, World Champion, and identical twin! Lanny shares the unbelievable story of how her twin sister's ultimate sacrifice gave her a spot in the Sochi games, a moment that garnered international attention. But that's just the beginning. We dive into her unique journey from soccer phenom to biathlon Olympian, the secret way her photographic memory gave her a competitive edge, and how she used selling her own artwork on the streets of Europe to fund her Olympic career. Plus, find out how trick shooting off a unicycle made her a better three-gun competitor. If you're looking for proof that hard work, discipline, and a strong community can take you to the highest levels of any sport, this episode is a must-listen." Brief Description: Cush and Breezy are joined by the incredible Lanny Oakley, a three-time Olympian and world champion in multiple shooting disciplines. Lanny opens up about her powerful twin connection, including the surprising sacrifice that enabled her third Olympic appearance, and how their childhood competitiveness fueled their success. She details her life as a biathlon athlete, revealing the sport's origins as a military tactic, and explaining how she leverages her photographic memory for high-level visualization and competition. Lanny offers critical advice for young women venturing into shooting sports: don't buy all the gear—just show up to a match and lean on the supportive community. She also shares how her skill as a bonafide artist helped fund her entire Olympic career. Follow Lanny's courses and journey at @lannyoakley Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations.  Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode. Support the show

    52 min
  5. What’s the Secret to Successful Upland Hunting? (spoiler: It's not the person)

    12/02/2025

    What’s the Secret to Successful Upland Hunting? (spoiler: It's not the person)

    Send us a text Meet Brittany Booth, a lifelong hunter who started on a caribou hunt at age 12 and went on to become an award-winning outdoor writer, media expert, and President of POMA. She opens up about the generational impact of the hunting lifestyle, the "super important" role of her German Shorthair Pointers in upland bird hunting, and the unbelievable experiences that come from networking in the outdoor space. Brittany also tackles the persistent challenge of sexism in gun stores and gives a powerful message on confidence for women entering any male-dominated field. Brief Description: Cush and Breezy sit down with Brittany Booth, a hunting expert and the current President of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA). Brittany shares her journey from growing up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to running her own successful media group. She discusses her first massive hunt in Quebec, the role her family's vintage Winchester 101 shotguns play in upland bird hunting, and why she finds the dog work so fulfilling. She and the hosts discuss the unmatched networking and community value of POMA. Finally, Brittany recounts a recent run-in with a gun store employee who questioned her knowledge, prompting her to share a crucial message for women: be confident, be yourself, and kick ass. Find Brittany at @BoothMediaGroup on all social platforms. Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations.  Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode. Support the show

    52 min
  6. Full Circle to First Hog Hunt: How Networking, POMA, and Taurus Put Two City Boys in the Texas Woods

    11/25/2025

    Full Circle to First Hog Hunt: How Networking, POMA, and Taurus Put Two City Boys in the Texas Woods

    Send us a text "Gun laws are racist." That's the conversation Cush and Breezy are having as they detail their journey over the last year, spanning from SHOT Show to ICAST to the backwoods of Texas. They detail how joining organizations like POMA led to a full-circle moment: an impromptu, life-changing hog hunt hosted by their friend Chan from Taurus. As they travel the country (from Lake Erie walleye fishing to Atlanta meetups), they break down why their agency is intentionally bridging the gap between urban demographics (Black, Latino, Asian) and the outdoor space, challenging a "ten-years-behind" industry to embrace diversity and representation. Brief Description: In this episode of the season featuring just the hosts, Cush and Breezy update listeners on their extensive travel schedule—from Ohio's Lake Erie (walleye fishing) to the massive ICAST fishing convention. They emphasize the power of community, detailing a "full-circle" moment where their connection through the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) led to their first-ever hog hunt in Texas, an experience that reinvigorated their passion for the outdoors. Crucially, the hosts discuss their agency's core mission: to be the exclusive bridge connecting urban and outdoor demographics. They delve into why this focus is not about compliance, but about authentic representation. They explicitly challenge the status quo, discussing the widely held belief that the gun industry is decades behind others, and why they believe historical facts—like the reaction to the Black Panthers arming themselves—prove that gun laws are inherently racist. This is a conversation about business growth, the personal reward of getting back to nature, and the intentional work of making the outdoor and Second Amendment spaces inclusive for all. Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations.  Thanks for listening! Stay tuned in for next weeks episode. Support the show

    41 min

About

Join Cush and Breezy as they explore the great outdoors and the Second Amendment with a blend of culture, comedy and conversation. All while Breezy is making beats.