Longfire

Steve Seger

5.0 (1)
Entrepreneurship

Stories worth gathering around. Longfire shares conversations with builders, athletes, outdoorsmen, entrepreneurs, creators, and original people with worlds worth stepping into. The brand helps busy, ambitious people slow down, reconnect, and remember the people, places, and experiences that make the work worthwhile.

5d ago

#38: Rick Wittenbraker - The Brand Lessons Behind YETI and Howler Brothers

Rick Wittenbraker has built a career by following curiosity into rooms he was not necessarily planning to enter. His path has included private equity in Latin America, commodities trading, a medical device startup, YETI’s early growth, angel investing, and more than a decade helping grow Howler Brothers. He joined YETI when eight employees shared one Gmail account, then later joined his friends at Howler Brothers as the company grew from a small team into a distinctive outdoor brand. In this conversation, Rick explains why the best brands know what they are not, why creativity and originality have to be protected as a company grows, and how curiosity can create opportunities that no career plan could predict. We also discuss building work around things you genuinely care about, investing as an extension of learning, creating companies that can outlast their founders, his belief that every business is ultimately a people business, and why he can beat Liam Neeson in a fight (All Credit to Seth MacFarlane for the bit). Subscribe for more stories like Rick's. Chapters: 00:00 Rapid Fire: Liam Neeson, Favorite Brands, and Lonesome Dove 06:16 Rick’s Path From Private Equity to YETI 10:53 From YETI to Howler Brothers Through Friendship 12:49 What Made Early YETI Special 17:49 How YETI Turned Coolers Into a Tribe 19:39 Building a Complete Brand World at Howler Brothers 24:48 Protecting Creativity as the Company Grows 27:58 Why Every Brand Needs a “Not List” 30:49 Finding Work That Overlaps With What You Love 36:08 Investing as an Exercise in Curiosity 46:19 Building a Company That Outlasts Its Founders 51:04 Every Business Is a People Business Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 Howler Brothers: https://howlerbros.com/ Howler Brothers on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howlerbros Rick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wittrick/?hl=en
6d ago

A New Name and a Clearer Mission: Welcome to Longfire

In this short solo episode, Steve explains why Pieces of Impact is becoming Longfire and what the new name represents. Longfire will continue sharing conversations with builders, athletes, outdoorsmen, entrepreneurs, creators, and original people with worlds worth stepping into, but with a clearer mission: to tell stories worth gathering around. The goal is to help busy, ambitious people slow down, reconnect, and remember the people, places, and experiences that make the work worthwhile.
Jul 17

#37: Kate and Brandon Couden: The Real Business Behind a Great Gym

Kate and Brandon Couden are the husband-and-wife team behind CrossFit Grandview in Columbus, Ohio. Brandon started the gym in 2009 after taking over the old Rogue Fitness gym with almost no resources, a small private loan, and only 14 members. Kate brought 13 years of experience at Lifetime Fitness, where she built a foundation in personal training, nutrition, and understanding what strong fitness culture can look like. In this conversation, we talk about building a gym from the ground up, growing from survival mode into a real business, and creating a community that can evolve with people through different seasons of life. We also get into the economics of gym ownership, payroll and equipment costs, buying a building, working together as a couple, making decisions when you disagree, and avoiding burnout in a people-based business. Subscribe for more conversations like this. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger CrossFit Grandview: https://crossfitgrandview.com/ CrossFit Grandview Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossfitgrandview/ 00:00 Building Something That Compounds 02:08 Kate’s Path From Lifetime Fitness to CrossFit Grandview 03:17 Brandon’s Path 05:58 Starting With Almost Nothing and 14 Members 08:38 Early Traction and Getting People Into It 09:55 Moving to Grandview and Building a Bigger Vision 11:48 Nutrition, Childcare, and Keeping Members in the Community 13:41 Barbell, Power Hour, HYROX, and Training for Longevity 18:00 Day-to-Day Ownership and Avoiding Burnout 23:08 Working Together as a Couple 28:34 The Economics of Running a Gym That Lasts 36:23 What They Would Do Differently
Jul 10

#36: Dr. Paul Sereno - The Real-Life Indiana Jones and the Age of Discovery

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist, professor, explorer, artist, author, teacher, and one of the closest things you will find to a real-life Indiana Jones. Dr. Sereno has led expeditions across the world, from the Sahara to South America and now toward the Amazon. We get into AI, de-extinction, lost fossils, the asteroid that changed Earth’s history, whether humans would exist if that asteroid had missed, his course on intelligence in the universe, and why he believes the world is still a playground for the next generation. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@steve_seger2?si=2E2mUXAfOLL9ztyQ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTS... Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger Guest Links Paul Sereno Website: https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulserenoofficial/?hl=en Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro and why I wanted to have Dr. Paul Sereno on 02:02 Dr. Sereno joins the show 06:44 Dr. Safety, black bones, and leading expeditions 11:21 The real-life Indiana Jones comparison 16:15 Why discovery is far from over 24:00 AI, de-extinction, and what people misunderstand 31:59 The Amazon expedition and the next big discovery 37:10 Teaching, science, and the evolution of intelligence 49:19 Lost fossils, repatriation, and preserving history 54:25 Would humans exist if the asteroid missed? 57:49 Naming discoveries, future expeditions, and final wisdom 1:06:54 Where to find Dr. Sereno
Jul 3

#35: Aaron Foss - How to Turn Everyday Problems Into Businesses That Scale

Aaron Foss is a serial entrepreneur who has built five companies, including Nomorobo, the service that has stopped billions of unwanted robocalls and spam texts. Nomorobo was acquired by Applause Group in August 2023. Before that, Aaron participated in Techstars NYC with SideTour, which Groupon acquired in 2013. He has testified before Congress three times and has been featured by outlets including The New York Times, Wired, CNN, CNBC, and Fox News. In this conversation, Aaron explains how to identify problems worth solving, distinguish progress from real traction, and know when to narrow your focus from a wide flashlight into a laser. We also discuss why entrepreneurs should fall in love with the problem instead of chasing trends, how constraints can improve creativity, what he looks for in founders, and why his work with Defy Ventures has become such an important part of his life. Aaron also shares lessons from building and selling companies, along with the books and negotiation tools that helped him along the way. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger Connect with Aaron and explore his work: https://go.aaronfoss.com/linktree Learn more about Defy Ventures: https://www.defyventures.org/ Never Split the Difference Negotiation Cheat Sheet: https://medium.com/yanda/negotiation-cheat-sheet-31c73031956a 00:00 From Tech Kid to Serial Problem Solver 03:41 The Wing Dipper and Learning Through Real Feedback 07:48 Techstars, Focus, and the Road to Nomorobo 14:53 Retiring at 45 to Coach Entrepreneurs 16:19 Start With the Problem, Then Narrow the Beam 21:23 Constraints, Forcing Functions, and Learning by Doing 29:24 Fall in Love With the Problem, Not Your Passion 35:19 Every Interview Is a Pitch, and Experience Beats a Resume 41:30 Defy Ventures and Entrepreneurship After Incarceration 48:18 Progress vs. Traction: The Proof Investors Need 54:43 Mistakes, Book Recommendations, and Founder Green/Flags 01:05:27 Final Wisdom: Keep It Simple
Jun 26

#34: A Sith Lord, a $90K Dog, a Redfish, and a Duck Stamp

In this solo episode of Pieces of Impact, I walk through four unrelated rabbit holes I went down recently: Darth Bane and the Rule of Two in Star Wars, trained protection dogs that can cost around $90,000 or more, a quick oral report on redfish, and the federal duck stamp. The goal here is simple: learn a little, have some fun, and share a few topics I found interesting enough to dig into. Subscribe for more solo episodes and long-form conversations on Pieces of Impact. 00:00 Introduction to the Solo Episode 01:54 Darth Bane and the Rule of Two 07:03 The World of Trained Protection Dogs 10:23 Exploring Redfish: A Deep Dive 15:13 The Federal Duck Stamp: Conservation in Action
Jun 19

#33: Carter Huff: The Story Behind Bogey’s Barn

In this episode, I sit down with Carter Huff, an Army veteran and the man behind Bogey’s Barn. Carter invited me up to his place to record this conversation inside the pole barn he is turning into a home gym, training space, and brand named after his basset hound, Bogey. Bogey of course was a big contributor to this candid discussion. Check out the video version to see him. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=f5abdaf2294c4a35 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger Guest Links Bogey’s Barn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogeys_barn/ Bogey’s Barn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bogeys.barn Bogey’s Barn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568794403157# Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro and why I drove up to Bogey’s Barn 02:03 Carter joins the show inside the barn 02:39 Carter’s background, military path, and return to Ohio 03:36 Bogey, basset hounds, and the story behind the name 04:43 Buying the property and building the barn piece by piece 08:41 Finding the farmhouse and why people connect with the space 14:26 Posting every day and growing Bogey’s Barn authentically 22:08 Marathon prep, hybrid training, and removing excuses 32:00 Bogey’s role, diet, basset hounds, and life at the barn 41:55 Carter’s long-term vision, rapid fire, and final wisdom
Jun 12

#32: Scott Trench: Financial Independence, BiggerPockets, and Building Leverage

In this episode, I sit down with Scott Trench, former CEO of BiggerPockets and host of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, to talk about financial independence, career leverage, house hacking, and the path that took him from early employee to leading one of the biggest real estate education platforms. We get into why financial runway creates better career options, how Scott made himself valuable early at BiggerPockets, what it looked like when the company sold, how he thinks about personal brand and AI, and why financial freedom is about more than just real estate. We also talk about family, kids, wealth, strategy, and the advice he hopes listeners remember. Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact. Join the newsletter: https://substack.com/@steveseger Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Steve_Seger2?si=NcXPNK00GHANUmpR Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-impact/id1851467002 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTSYNvsD96UjUqqCJt?si=fa8d2e2a653f491b Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger Guest Links: Scott's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-trench-53056a22/ BP Money Podcast: https://youtube.com/@biggerpocketsmoney?si=P1_KewEzj67-oYuV Chapter markers00:00 Intro and why Scott’s work matters to Steve 03:33 Scott joins the show 04:00 Life after stepping down as CEO 05:28 Balance, obsession, and CEO stress 07:14 Finding BiggerPockets through financial independence 07:46 Mr. Money Mustache, house hacking, and early FI thinking 10:16 Building financial runway after college 11:39 Making yourself valuable as an early employee 14:10 Choosing equity and upside 16:34 What a company sale looks like from the inside 19:31 Learning from Josh Dorkin and a professional CEO 20:50 Set for Life and what still applies today 22:16 BiggerPockets Money and the next FI problems 25:45 Personal brand as a long-term asset 27:38 AI, original thought, and better financial planning 32:27 Why AI rewards people who understand the full problem 35:02 Wealth, kids, and not imposing your system 38:50 The financial independence car pick 39:05 Common early-career money mistake 39:21 Underrated career skills 39:37 Content formats he is bullish on 40:19 Book recommendations 40:59 House hack, index funds, or business equity 41:17 AI use cases he is excited about 42:08 A day with no responsibilities 42:33 Current workout split 42:56 Final wisdom: what strategy really means 44:02 Where to find Scott

Stories worth gathering around. Longfire shares conversations with builders, athletes, outdoorsmen, entrepreneurs, creators, and original people with worlds worth stepping into. The brand helps busy, ambitious people slow down, reconnect, and remember the people, places, and experiences that make the work worthwhile.

Creator

Steve Seger
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

39
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Steve Seger
Show Website

Longfire