The Sustainable Angler

Hosted by Rick Crawford

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100

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Sustainable Angler podcast is your go-to source for insightful conversations about sustainability, conservation, and the future of fishing. Hosted by sustainability expert Rick Crawford , who is also the founder of the sustainability consultancy, Emerger Strategies, this podcast features interviews with fishing guides, artists, storytellers, scientists, conservationists, and sustainable business pioneers making a positive impact on our planet. Whether you're a passionate angler, outdoor enthusiast, or business looking to improve your sustainability performance, The Sustainable Angler delivers actionable insights and inspiring stories. Listen now to explore the intersection of fishing, conservation, and sustainable business —because protecting what we love starts with knowledge and action. A huge thank you to A New Earth Project , the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging , for sponsoring the podcast! Want to connect your brand with a passionate, sustainability-minded audience? Sponsorship opportunities are available! Partnering with The Sustainable Angler is a powerful way to showcase your commitment to the environment while reaching engaged anglers, outdoor enthusiasts, and industry leaders. Email rcrawford@emergerstrategies.com to learn more!

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September 11, 2026Episode 10156 min

EP 101. Inside AFFTA: Advocacy, Sustainability & Public Lands with Lucas Bissett

On this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host Rick Crawford, founder of Emerger Strategies , a sustainability consulting firm serving fishing and outdoor brands sits down with Lucas Bissett, fly fishing guide, conservationist, and Executive Director of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) , joins us to unpack how the organization is moving the fly fishing industry forward through community, advocacy, and education. We talk about AFFTA Confluence , the industry's upcoming gathering in Salt Lake City, and how events like it build connection across the trade. Lucas breaks down AFFTA's advocacy work on pressing issues like tariffs, and the range of education AFFTA offers through in-person events, webinars, and more. We also dig into Save Public Lands , a new sign-on letter aiming to collect one million signatures by September 26 with a clear message to politicians, billionaires, and corporations: hands off our public lands. Finally, we discuss how climate change is reshaping the fly fishing industry and how the AFFTA Sustainability Toolkit gives businesses practical tools to measure and improve their sustainability performance. Adocacy: Sign the Save Public Lands Letter Education: Register for the AFFTA x 1% for the Planet webinar Community: Register for AFFTA Confluence Whether you're an angler, a guide, or run a fly fishing business, this episode connects the dots between advocacy, education, and sustainability in the sport we love. 🎣 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

August 28, 2026Episode 10055 min

How Angler's All Fly Shop Makes Sustainability Profitable with Chris Keeley

Can a fly shop actually make sustainability pay for itself? On this episode of The Sustainable Angler, host Rick Crawford founder of Emerger Strategies , a sustainability consulting firm serving fishing and outdoor brands sits down with Chris Keeley, angler, conservationist, and owner of Angler's All fly shop in Colorado, to find out. Chris shares how Angler's All is turning environmental responsibility into a genuine business advantage — cutting energy, water, and waste costs through solar panels, EV charging stations, composting, and native landscaping. He also breaks down how the shop curates its brand lineup around companies that put their money where their mouth is, prioritizing B Corps and 1% for the Planet members on the shelf. Beyond the bottom line, Chris opens up about why conservation and giving back are core to how Angler's All operates, and closes with practical, actionable advice for any shop owner ready to start their own sustainability journey — no matter the budget or size. Whether you run a fly shop, work in the outdoor industry, or just want to see conservation-minded business done right, this conversation is packed with real-world takeaways. Sponsors: This episode is brought you by: Emerger Strategies, and A New Earth Project, the sustainability initiative of Atlantic Packaging. 🎣 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

August 14, 2026Episode 991 hr 4 min

EP 99. The Best Fly Fishing Is Everywhere: Storytelling & Conservation with Jesse Lance Robbins

What if fly fishing wasn't a sport, but a practice — a way of relating to place, community, and conservation? In this episode, host Rick Crawford — founder of Emerger Strategies , a sustainability consulting firm serving fishing and outdoor brands sits down with angler, writer, and conservationist Jesse Lance Robbins, author of The Best Fly Fishing Is Everywhere: Stories in Celebration of Why We Fish , to unpack how storytelling shapes fly fishing education and river advocacy. Jesse takes us through his winding path in the fly fishing industry — working in a fly shop, guiding, fundraising for Trout Unlimited, and published book author — and how each vantage point reshaped his relationship to the water. We talk about his academic roots in environmental economics and mathematics, including his undergraduate thesis valuing a recreational fishery before and after a dam removal, and how that research foreshadowed a full-circle moment: dam removals on Washington's rivers and on the Kennebec in his home state of Maine. We also get into a few misadventures from his new book — trout bumming in New Zealand, steelheading in the Pacific Northwest, and chasing tarpon in Florida — and how those stories, mentors, and near-failures fueled his transition from industry pro to nonprofit fisheries conservation work. In this episode: Storytelling as a tool for conservation advocacy How place-based relationships deepen motivation to protect rivers Jesse's path from guide and retailer to writer and nonprofit conservation leader Dam removal in Washington and the Kennebec River in Maine — a full-circle story Why fly fishing works better as a practice than a sport Environmental economics, thesis research, and valuing rivers before and after dam removal Misadventures from New Zealand, the Pacific Northwest, and Florida 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

July 24, 2026Episode 9850 min

EP 98. REI's Product Impact Standards: What Brands Need to Know — Brent Kawamura of REI

Brent Kawamura's path to sustainability wasn't a straight line — it started with an Environmental Science degree, wound through LEED-certified building projects, and landed him in Product Sustainability at REI. Along the way, fishing has remained the thread that keeps it all grounded. In this episode, host Rick Crawford — founder of Emerger Strategies , a sustainability consulting firm serving fishing and outdoor brands — sits down with Brent to pull back the curtain on REI's Product Impact Standards and explore why the retail giant is pushing its brand partners to cut their carbon footprint. They dig into how customer demand is reshaping the shelf — with shoppers increasingly seeking out products carrying The Climate Label , Fair Trade certification, and other preferred attributes — and what that shift means for brands trying to keep pace. They also step away from sustainable business and onto the water, talking about the responsibility anglers carry to understand the history of the places we fish, and how the choices we make ripple out to affect those fisheries for the long haul. If your brand is aiming to land a spot on REI's shelves, this episode is a must-listen — packed with insight into what REI is actually looking for from its partners. In this episode: Brent Kawamura's journey from Environmental Science to LEED buildings to REI Product Sustainability REI Impact Report findings What REI's Product Impact Standards require from brand partners Why REI is pushing suppliers to reduce carbon footprint How consumer demand for The Climate Label, Fair Trade, and other preferred attributes is reshaping retail What brands need to know to get their products on REI's shelves An angler's responsibility to understand fishery history and protect the places we fish 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

July 10, 2026Episode 971 hr 11 min

EP 97. Riverhorse Nakadate — Water Lines, Wilderness & a Life Connected by Water

In this episode, host and Emerger Strategies founder Rick Crawford sits down with Riverhorse Nakadate — angler, surfer, writer, musician, adventurer, and a friend. In this conversation, Riverhorse states that "books are magic portals that can take us to far-away places" — and after reading his new book, Water Lines: A Life on Marshes, Rivers, Seas, and in the Rain , you'll understand why. He shares rowdy, hilarious stories from a life spent wandering the salt marshes and coastlines of Texas, Colorado's alpine lakes, the Oregon and California shores, Minnesota's Boundary Waters, the Yucatán mangroves, the Arctic Circle, Africa, and Montana's spring creeks. You'll hear about the five-year journey to getting Water Lines published with Patagonia Books , the Boundary Waters debacle, and how Mexican drug cartels forced local fishermen into illegal long-lining in Texas waters. You'll also discover how music, surfing, fly fishing, and writing help Riverhorse make sense of the world — all of it interconnected by water — and dig into the miracle of wilderness and life, and much more. Hit play and get ready for a story that'll make you want to grab your rod, your journal, or both. Hope you enjoy! 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

June 26, 2026Episode 961 hr 19 min

EP 96. Tier 2 Suppliers, Supply Chain Transparency, and 40 Years of Outdoor Industry Sustainability — with Kevin Myette of Bluesign

Kevin Myette has one of the most storied careers in outdoor industry sustainability — and he's not done yet. In this episode, host and Emerger Strategies founder Rick Crawford sits down with Kevin, who is a 40-year outdoor industry veteran to trace the arc of sustainability from a grassroots conversation at Outdoor Retailer in 2006 all the way to the global frameworks shaping how brands operate today through his work at Bluesign . Kevin was part of the early effort at REI to get competing brands to collaborate on sustainability — a movement that grew into the Sustainability Working Group at the Outdoor Industry Association , then the ECO Index, then the Higg Index, and ultimately the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (now known as Cascale ). He walks us through how that history unfolded and what it means for brands navigating sustainability today. The conversation goes deep on supply chain transparency — specifically why Tier 2 suppliers (the mills and dye houses most brands have never visited) represent the single most impactful stage in a product's lifecycle. Kevin makes the case that if you don't know your supply chain, you don't know your impact. He also drops a truth bomb that might surprise you: apparel made from recycled plastic bottles may actually be worse for the environment than it appears — and how "packaging is the gateway drug for sustainability. At Bluesign, Kevin works to verify chemical and material integrity across value chains — ensuring that what goes into a product is safe, responsibly sourced, and certified Bluesign Approved. And throughout all of it, he makes a compelling argument that the outdoor industry has been using the wrong word all along: this isn't "sustainability." It's business excellence. If you care about what's actually inside the products you make, sell, or buy — this episode is essential listening. Topics covered: Supply chain transparency · Bluesign certification · Tier 2 suppliers and dyeing processes · History of sustainability in the outdoor industry · Outdoor Retailer 2006 · Sustainable Apparel Coalition / Cascale · Higg Index · ECO Index · Recycled polyester greenwashing · Packaging as a sustainability entry point · Business excellence vs. sustainability branding 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

May 29, 2026Episode 951 hr 0 min

EP 95. Fly Fishing, Climate Change & Conservation Storytelling, How AI is Warming Our Waters, & Why the Next Generation Gives Us Hope | Ross Purnell of Fly Fisherman Magazine

In this episode of The Sustainable Angler , Emerger Strategies founder and host Rick Crawford sits down with Ross Purnell, Editor in Chief of Fly Fisherman Magazine , for a wide-ranging conversation that covers the past, present, and future of one of fly fishing's most storied publications — and how conservation storytelling protects the wild places we love. We cover how AI and data centers are contributing to rising water temperatures, exacerbating climate change, and threatening fisheries across the country. Ross breaks down the Boundary Waters controversy, explains why more fly fishing brands are doing more for the resource, and discusses a powerful cultural shift: younger anglers who vote with their wallets by supporting brands that align with their values. Ross also shares the story behind his new film The Shoals — a fishing journey to protect St. Brandon's Atoll — and makes the case for storytelling as a frontline conservation strategy. Plus: why the next generation gives him genuine hope, the story of almost making a film with President Jimmy Carter, and a direct call to get involved in advocacy before it's too late. In this episode: A brief history of Fly Fisherman Magazine How AI is warming our rivers and threatening fisheries The Boundary Waters controversy, explained Fly fishing brands stepping up for conservation Gen Z and millennial anglers voting with their wallets The Shoals — protecting St. Brandon's Atoll through film Storytelling as a conservation tool Almost making a film with President Jimmy Carter Why advocacy and getting involved has never mattered more 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

April 22, 2026Episode 9453 min

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 founder and host Rick Crawford sits down with Land Tawney, a 25-year conservation veteran and co-leader of American Hunters and Anglers , 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 and Tim Scott — 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. 🗳️ 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

April 10, 2026Episode 9357 min

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. — and an event that might just change how the fly fishing world thinks about gathering. In this episode, host and Emerger Strategies founder, Rick Crawford, sits down with Alec "Griz" Griswold, co-founder of Soul Fly Co. and Soul Fly Lodge . 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 — 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 | Follow Soul Fly Co. on Instagram Get tickets to Soul Fly Charleston : 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.

March 25, 2026Episode 9255 min

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 , 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 . Follow us on Instagram @emergerstrategies and @thesustainableangler and stay tuned for more insights from leaders at the intersection of conservation, business, and the outdoors.