116 episodes

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.

Bear Grease MeatEater

    • Sports
    • 4.9 • 6.1K Ratings

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.

    Ep. 115: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - Squirrel Dogs

    Ep. 115: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - Squirrel Dogs

    A man only gets so many dogs in his life, and picking the right ones is important. Whatever breed of squirrel-treeing, tail-wagging outdoor accomplice you've got your eye on, Brent's gonna tell you the tricks he uses to find the very best pups. On the fence about getting a squirrel dog of your own? Brent's got a couple stories up that might just sway you. 

    Connect with Brent and MeatEater

    MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

    Shop Bear Grease Merch
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 20 min
    Ep. 114: David Crockett - The Early Years (Part 2)

    Ep. 114: David Crockett - The Early Years (Part 2)

    On the last episode, we learned that David Crockett was America's first celebrity and that his identity was founded on being a bear hunter. We learned that there were four Crocketts that America knew: the bear hunter, the soldier, the politician and the martyr at the Alamo. Today, Clay Newcomb will dive into what he believes was the most important part of his life, his childhood in early life. They didn't put this part of his story on television and make cartoons of it to put on lunch boxes, but this period led him to be a soldier, which we're gonna talk about. We'll hear again from Cornell Professor, Robert Morgan and meet the man who's had one of Crockett's first guns, Betsy, in his family since 1803. We might even hear from the “greatest of all time” Michael Jordan. The way forward is complex. The truth is narrow and elusive, but Crockett's influence on American culture is foundational to learning why we are the way we are. We really doubt you’re gonna want to miss this one…

    Connect with Clay and MeatEater

    Clay on Instagram

    MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

    Shop Bear Grease Merch
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 6 min
    Ep. 113: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - Where To Eat On the Road

    Ep. 113: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - Where To Eat On the Road

    This week, Brent gives you the low down on how to field judge a restaurant in parts unknown. He also shares a couple stories about when you ought to just buy the whole role of bologna at the deli counter, why you should be suspicious of even your favorite foods on the menu, and how a young man's bad decisions on a night out don't begin and end with what he chooses to quench his thirst. 

    Connect with Brent and MeatEater

    MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

    Shop Bear Grease Merch
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 22 min
    Ep. 112: Bear Grease [Render] - Three or Four Dogs ’til You’re Dead

    Ep. 112: Bear Grease [Render] - Three or Four Dogs ’til You’re Dead

    On this week’s episode of the Bear Grease Render, Clay Newcomb is joined by a veteran cast of characters: Brent Reaves, of This Country Life fame, Michael Rosmond of Sunspot Lights, Ben Lagrone, and Jonathan Webster. The crew dives right in to talking about America’s First Celebrity, David Crockett, dissecting the impact of Disney’s Crockett revival of the 50’s and its lasting effect on the childhood memories and adult identities of (not just) American men, before backing up to cover topic like good hunting dogs and how you’re closer to death than you realize; how to catch a live coon  by the tail and what ever happened to Hoot. Clay then steers the conversation back to the Highlights of the previous Crockett podcast as well as what’s to come in the next episodes of this series on one of America’s favorite bear hunters, politicians, and folk heroes. And we bet you’ll wanna stick around to hear Brent and Clay pontificate on the fashion, comfort and practicality of the Bib Overall. I really doubt you’re gonna wanna miss this one…

    Connect with Clay and MeatEater

    Clay on Instagram

    MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

    Shop Bear Grease Merch
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 15 min
    Ep. 111: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - Catching Catfish with Trotlines

    Ep. 111: THIS COUNTRY LIFE - Catching Catfish with Trotlines

    This week, Brent gives you the low down on setting trotlines for catfish. As traditional as it is effective, trotline fishing has been around forever because it works! Setting one up is something you can do yourself, and Brent's here to walk you through it. He'll also share a cautionary tale about packing for an expedition, and a sad solution to forgotten taters. As Clay Newcomb might say, you ain't gonna wanna miss this one! 

    Connect with Brent and MeatEater

    MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

    Shop Bear Grease Merch
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 25 min
    Ep. 110: David Crockett - Celebrity (Part 1)

    Ep. 110: David Crockett - Celebrity (Part 1)

    On this episode, Clay Newcomb explores America’s first true celebrity. Built on his identity as a bear hunter, he was world famous during his lifetime and believed it came upon him by accident. All he did was play the part of himself, David Crockett. This Tennessee backwoodsman embodied the narrative of the self-made man and Manifest Destiny that became a national obsession and deeply influenced our culture, even to this day. The Crockett myth and reality are hard to parse, but Clay is joined by R. Scott Williams, author of the new book, “The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee's David Crockett,” as well as by New York Times best-selling author and Bear Grease veteran, Robert Morgan, to help discern fact from legend. One thing’s for sure – we love this guy and we really doubt you’re going to want to miss this one…

    Connect with Clay and MeatEater

    Clay on Instagram

    MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

    Shop Bear Grease Merch
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 53 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
6.1K Ratings

6.1K Ratings

Moshtron ,

Good

Top notch podcast from a top notch podcaster

Hejdjsbuzsnsjskbzjdnxifjns ,

Great stuff

Always great stuff and information but for some reason several of these last episodes have had some kind of glitch where it cuts out parts or replays parts and leaves the ending off.

Kirby Forge ,

Pickles Gap

Love the podcasts and the renders. I listened to meat eater religiously until I found bear grease. I still like M.E. But bear grease brings more to the table. Keep up the good work. In episode 17 you mentioned Pickles Gap. It’s famous for more than taffy and chicken! It now has a knife shop featuring American folders and American hand made. I am a maker and co/owner of Arkansas Knife Shop. Stop by and see us next time you go through Conway.

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