The Sustainable Angler

EP 94. Washington Just Sold Out the Boundary Waters — 20% of All U.S. National Forest Freshwater — Here's What Anglers Can Do | Land Tawney

America's public lands & waters are under attack — and what can you do about it. In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, Emerger Strategies [https://emergerstrategies.com/] founder and host Rick Crawford sits down with Land Tawney, a 25-year conservation veteran and co-leader of American Hunters and Anglers [https://www.americanhuntersandanglers.org/], to break down the most pressing threats facing hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts today. Land and Rick dive deep into the controversial decision by 50 Republican lawmakers — including South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham [https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/] and Tim Scott [https://www.scott.senate.gov/] — to greenlight a foreign-owned copper-sulfide mine upstream of the Boundary Waters, America's most visited wilderness. "The three million-acre Superior National Forest, which includes the Boundary Waters, contains 20% of all the fresh water in the entire National Forest System at 193 million acres," according to Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters. With copper mines carrying a 100% failure rate for toxic leakage and extracted resources being sold to China, this decision raises serious questions about who our elected officials are truly serving. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why the Boundary Waters mining decision sets a dangerous precedent for the Grand Staircase National Monument * What new oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge mean for wildlife and habitat * How relocating U.S. Forest Service offices to Utah threatens conservation operations * Why the dismantling of federal agencies like NOAA and the U.S. Forest Service puts wildfire response, weather forecasting, and habitat restoration at risk * Concrete steps YOU can take to hold elected officials accountable and protect public lands Whether you're a hunter, angler, or simply someone who values America's wild places, this episode is a must-listen. Your public lands need you now more than ever. 🎙️ Guest: Land Tawney, Co-Leader of American Hunters and Anglers | @AmericanHuntersAnglers 🔗 Take Action: Contact Your Senators. [https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials] 🗳️ Vote for pro-public lands candidates this November in the midterms. Sponsors: This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!) 🎣 Like what you heard?  Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries. For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com [http://www.emergerstrategies.com]. Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 93. Fly Fishing, Music, Art, & Sustainability | Inside Soul Fly Lodge & Soul Fly Charleston with Alec "Griz" Griswold

What happens when a fly fishing lodge co-founder decides the community needs more than just great water and great guides? You get Soul Fly Co. [https://soulflyco.com/] — and an event that might just change how the fly fishing world thinks about gathering. In this episode, host and Emerger Strategies [https://emergerstrategies.com/] founder, Rick Crawford, sits down with Alec "Griz" Griswold, co-founder of Soul Fly Co. and Soul Fly Lodge [https://www.soulflylodge.com/]. Griz, alongside partners Kitri and Kyle Schaefer, is building something genuinely different: live music events designed specifically for the fly fishing community — events that celebrate the culture, protect the resource, and bring people together in a meaningful way. We cover how Griz got into the lodge business, the sustainability steps Soul Fly Lodge has taken on their journey, and a deep dive into Soul Fly Charleston [https://soulflyco.com/events/soul-fly-charleston] — a fly fishing, music, and art event taking place May 16th at The Refinery in Charleston, SC, with proceeds benefiting Charleston Waterkeeper. Emerger Strategies recently partnered with Soul Fly Co. to develop a comprehensive Sustainable Event Plan for Soul Fly Charleston, establishing a framework to measure and improve the event's environmental and community impact — including ambitious goals around zero waste, local sourcing, and community engagement. If you care about the future of fly fishing, the places we fish, and the communities built around them, this episode is for you. In this episode: * How Griz, Kitry, & Kyle built Soul Fly Lodge and why sustainability became a priority * The origin story of Soul Fly Co. and its live music + fly fishing events * How Soul Fly Lodge is measuring and improving its sustainability performance * What goes into a Sustainable Event Plan — and why it matters * Soul Fly Charleston's zero waste and community impact goals * How to support Charleston Waterkeeper by attending May 16th Learn more: soulflyco.com [http://soulflylodge.com] | Follow Soul Fly Co. on Instagram Get tickets to Soul Fly Charleston [https://www.ticketweb.com/event/soul-fly-chs-the-refinery-tickets/14072534]: May 16 · The Refinery · Charleston, SC Sponsors: This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!) 🎣 Like what you heard?  Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries. For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com [http://www.emergerstrategies.com]. Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 92. How B-Corp Certification & Sustainability Data Can Transform Your Fishing Brand | Hazel Horvath of Ecolytics

What does it actually take for a fishing or outdoor brand to become B-Corp certified — and how do you prove your sustainability claims without greenwashing? In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host and Emerger Strategies Founder, Rick Crawford, is joined by Hazel Horvath, Founder and CEO of Ecolytics [https://www.ecolytics.io/], a software platform built to solve one of the biggest challenges facing brands today: sustainability data management. Hazel breaks down how Ecolytics helps companies streamline the B-Corp certification process by organizing and substantiating the data that certifications require — making it easier, faster, and more credible. They also dig into why major retailers are now holding brands accountable for measuring & improving sustainability performance, and what that means for the fishing and outdoor industry. In this episode, you'll learn: * What B-Corp certification really means and why it matters for fishing and outdoor brands * How sustainability data software like Ecolytics helps eliminate greenwashing risk * Why retailers are demanding measurable sustainability metrics from the brands they carry * How anglers can use certifications like 1% for the Planet and B-Corp to make smarter, more values-aligned purchasing decisions * How The Sustainable Angler, Ecolytics, and Emerger Strategies have partnered to help brands pursue B-Corp certification more efficiently Special Offer: If your brand is ready to pursue B-Corp certification, reach out to Rick Crawford directly or mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's Ecolytics subscription. Whether you're a brand trying to back up your sustainability story with real data, or an angler who wants your gear purchases to mean something — this episode is for you. Sponsors: This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!) 🎣 Like what you heard?  Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries. For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com [http://www.emergerstrategies.com]. Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 91. Why Public Lands Advocacy Matters for Anglers and Outdoor Brands | Keith Shattenkirk of Patagonia

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host and Emerger Strategies Founder, Rick Crawford, sits down with Keith Shattenkirk, Program Officer for Healthy Lands & Waters at Patagonia. Keith shares the fascinating story of how he transitioned from a career in finance to working on the frontlines of conservation for one of the most influential outdoor companies in the world. They dive into some of the biggest conservation challenges facing anglers and outdoor enthusiasts today—including ongoing threats to America’s public lands like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. We discuss why these places matter not just for recreation, but also for the small businesses and the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that supports our public lands. The conversation also explores the power of advocacy—why contacting your elected officials about our public lands matters now more than ever—and how the outdoor industry can play a meaningful role in protecting the landscapes and waters that sustain it. Keith also explains why outdoor brands should consider joining The Conservation Alliance, a coalition of companies working together to fund and support grassroots conservation efforts across North America. Finally, Keith shares what gives him hope for the future of our lands, waters, and fisheries—and why anglers are uniquely positioned to be some of the most powerful voices for conservation. Take Action: Visit Patagonia Action Works [https://www.patagonia.com/actionworks/campaigns/] to advocate for our public lands.  If you care about wild fish, public lands, and the future of outdoor recreation, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Sponsors: This episode is brought you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!) 🎣 Like what you heard?  Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries. For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com [http://www.emergerstrategies.com]. Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

EP 90. There’s No Such Thing as a Green Product (Only Greener Ones) | Al Iannuzzi on Sustainable Product Strategy

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host and Emerger Strategies Founder, Rick Crawford, sits down with sustainability pioneer, author, and veteran Al Iannuzzi, to discuss what it really takes to build greener products—and why making improvements is only half the battle. Al, author of Greener Products: The Making & Marketing of Sustainable Brands [https://greenerproducts.biz/], shares insights from decades of experience helping companies design, improve, and market more sustainable products. We explore the three pillars of his work: * The business case for greener products * How to actually make greener products * How to market them with credibility and confidence One of the biggest takeaways? There’s no such thing as a “green” product—only greener ones. Sustainability is about continuous improvement, not perfection. Al explains why the number one thing brands can do today is understand the full lifecycle impact of their products—from raw material extraction and ethical sourcing to end-of-life. For fishing and outdoor brands especially, this lifecycle lens is essential. We also discuss: * Why communicating your sustainability improvements is just as important as making them * How market leaders like Walmart and REI have driven major change by asking brands to measure and improve performance * Why proactive brands need an “emerging issues process” to stay ahead of future regulations * How circular economy thinking is reshaping product design * Why CEOs shouldn’t let the perfect get in the way of the good Al also shares a personal story about how fishing—and the legacy of Jacques Cousteau—inspired his lifelong appreciation for God’s beautiful world and his career in sustainability. If you’re a brand leader, sustainability professional, or outdoor industry executive looking to turn sustainability into a strategic advantage—not just a compliance exercise—this episode is packed with practical wisdom. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to build greener products, communicate your progress effectively, and embrace sustainability as the journey it truly is. Sponsors: This episode is brought you you by: A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging, Emerger Strategies, and Ecolytics (don't forget to mention The Sustainable Angler for a discount off your first year's subscription!) 🎣 Like what you heard?  Subscribe to The Sustainable Angler wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review to help us grow the conversation around sustainable business in the fishing and outdoor industries. For more resources, or to learn how Emerger Strategies can help your brand turn sustainability into a competitive advantage by making it simple, strategic, and profitable, visit www.emergerstrategies.com [http://www.emergerstrategies.com]. Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.