EPISODE 1: Josh Kirchner – How to Become a Hunter When You Didn’t Grow Up Outdoors

 What This Episode Is About

Is it ever too late to learn how to hunt? What if you didn’t grow up outdoors, don’t have a mentor, and have no idea where to begin?

In the debut episode of The Last Easy Mile, I sit down with Josh Kirchner, the self-taught hunter, filmmaker, and writer behind the popular platform Dialed In Hunter, to talk about how he went from being a total rookie to one of the most respected voices in the adult-onset hunting community.

This is not just a conversation about gear or tactics—this is about what it means to step into discomfort, embrace failure, and reconnect with the wild in a world that’s become way too domesticated.

Whether you’re a new hunter, a dad looking for deeper connection with your kids, or just someone seeking meaning in challenge, Josh’s story will resonate—and inspire you to take your own first step.

 Key Topics We Cover

🎯 Starting from Zero:

• Why Josh chose to teach himself hunting in his 20s

• How he picked bear hunting of all things to start with (yes, it’s as wild as it sounds)

• The moment a childhood encounter with a bear changed his perspective forever

📚 Learning Without a Mentor:

• How Josh immersed himself in forums, notes, and backcountry trial-and-error

• Why he started Dialed In Hunter as a blog just to document the learning process

• How a surprise email from Bear Hunting Magazine turned him into a published writer

🎥 Filmmaking & Storytelling:

• How Josh shoots full cinematic films—while packing meat out of remote canyons

• What it’s like to create content alone in the wild (hint: it’s exhausting)

• The emotional moment filming a message to his daughter changed the whole story arc of a hunt

🧠 Hunting Mindset & Mental Toughness:

• Why it’s totally normal to feel like you suck at hunting when you start

• How doing nothing in the woods is part of the magic

• Why trusting the process is everything—even after 28 straight days of failure

• Lessons from the mountains that apply to parenthood, patience, and modern life

🌿 Hunting Ethics, Food, and Family:

• Why Josh eats everything he kills—including mountain lion and black bear

• How he teaches his kids about where food really comes from

• What it feels like to cry after finally taking an animal—because of the meaning behind it

🧗‍♂️ Misconceptions & Common Newbie Mistakes:

• Why a 10-day solo hunt is probably a terrible first idea

• The difference between mountain-fit and city-fit

• Why going home early is usually the biggest regret

🏹 Bowhunting vs. Rifle Hunting:

• What makes bowhunting so brutal (and beautiful)

• Why Josh recommends new hunters start with a rifle—even if bowhunting is the goal

Memorable Quotes from Josh Kirchner

“I wanted new hunters to feel like they could ask me the ‘stupid questions.’ Because I had all those questions. And no one would answer them.”

“It’s not a grocery store run. Hunting is an event. And sometimes, that event ends in an empty cooler. But you still win because you showed up.”

“My daughter thought meat only came from what daddy brings home. If I say, ‘This is deer,’ she’ll eat it. If I say, ‘This is beef,’ she won’t.”

“The mountain doesn’t care about your resume. It’ll humble you every time.”

📹 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube

👉 Click here to watch Episode 1 on YouTube

🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast App

• 🎵 Listen on Spotify

• 🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts

📌 Resources & Mentions

• Josh’s Website/Blog: https://dialedinhunter.com

• Instagram: @dialedinhunter

• YouTube Channel: Dialed In Hunter on YouTube

• Book: Becoming a Backpack Hunter

• Book: Becoming a Bow Hunter

• Film Mentioned: Heart (Idaho Bear Hunt) – Watch on Josh’s YouTube

💬 Final Thoughts

This episode is about more than hunting—it’s about permission.

Permission to start something hard. To suck at it. To learn by doing. And to let nature break you open a little.

If you’re feeling the call to something deeper—whether that’s getting outdoors, learning a skill you’ve always been curious about, or simply finding peace away from the noise—Josh’s story is your nudge.

This is what The Last Easy Mile is all about: the moment where preparation ends and the real journey begins.

About the Host

Josh Farahi is a real estate entrepreneur, father of three, and the creator of The Last Easy Mile—a podcast for men who are tired of sitting on the sidelines. Through conversations about fatherhood, adventure, skill, and grit, Josh helps listeners rediscover aliveness in a domesticated world.