
Captains Collective Fishing Podcast
A fishing podcast dedicated to gathering wisdom, knowledge, and stories from captains and other industry leaders.
Hunter Leavine
Show overview
Captains Collective Fishing Podcast has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 198 episodes. That works out to roughly 190 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 50 min and 1h 6m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language Sports show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 4 days ago, with 19 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Hunter Leavine.
From the publisher
A podcast dedicated to gathering wisdom, knowledge, and stories from captains and other industry leaders. This podcast is brought to you by Skinny Water Culture YETI, Turtlebox Audio, and Florida Fishing Products.
Latest Episodes
View all 198 episodesBack to School: Being Fit for Pursuit with Chase Hancock
Brandon "Eazy" White: Why Aren’t You Chasing It?
Special Hosted Trip: Maine with Travel Creel
Drifter Homosassa Guides Roundtable
Three Percent Podcast: Strength, Brotherhood, and the Outdoor Life
Tyler Sharp: Modern Huntsman and the Tension Within Tradition
Eeland Stribling: Comedy, Fly Fishing, and Better Conversations
Ben Whalley: Stripers, Sobriety, and Feeling Small
Owen Gayler: Living Life & Selling Out

Drifter Fish Club: Year One Recap
A reflection on the first year of Drifter Fish Club. In this episode, we talk through the trips, the lessons learned, and what’s surprised us most along the way. This isn’t a polished recap—it’s a real conversation about what it looks like to build something from the ground up, and what Drifter is starting to become. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joshua Schwartz: Food, Fish, and Travel Creel
In this episode, I sit down with Joshua Schwartz of Travel Creel to talk about redefining fishing travel through food, culture, and intentional experience design. We dive into the idea of “controlling the controllables,” why hospitality matters more than ever, and what it really takes to run trips at a high level. This is a conversation about raising the bar—not just in fishing, but in how we travel, gather, and spend our time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drifter Everglades Guide Roundtable
After a week fishing the backcountry around Everglades City, we sat down with the guide team for a laid-back roundtable conversation about the place, the people, and the stories that make the Everglades special. Joining the conversation are guides Eric Herstedt, Brian Esposito, and Junior Popfinger, who share decades of experience fishing and exploring one of the wildest fisheries left in the United States. We talk about: • What makes the Everglades such a unique place to fish• The lessons learned from decades of exploring the Everglades• Why the ride out each morning feels like stepping into another world• Camp life, wild stories, and the unpredictable nature of fishing trips• The balance between growing the sport and protecting the places we love More than anything, this episode captures the feeling of sitting around camp at the end of a long day on the water — swapping stories, laughing about the week, and reflecting on why wild places like the Everglades matter. This conversation pairs with our full episode with Eric Herstedt and offers a deeper look into the guides, culture, and philosophy behind fishing the Glades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#128 Eric Herstedt: The Small Details That Make Great Anglers
Everglades guide Eric Herstedt joins the podcast during a Drifter Fish Club trip to talk about the small details that make great anglers—from sight fishing strategy and casting mechanics to the mindset guides use to keep learning on the water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soul Fly Charleston: A Gathering Around Fishing, Music & Community
Something good is happening in Charleston on May 16th at the Refinery. The idea is pretty simple. Bring people together around the things that make this community special. Music.Art.Conservation.Good food and good drinks.And a bunch of people who care about water and want to have a good time. Learn more at www.soulflyco.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#127 Woody Platt: Time, Bluegrass, and the Blue Ridge Mountains
In this episode, we talk about crossroads — the moments when something that once felt right starts to shift. We talk about burnout, family, and the importance of paying attention when your priorities begin to change. Woody shares what it was like to build a band from nothing, win a Grammy, tour for more than two decades — and then step away at the right time. Not because things fell apart, but because he wanted something different. At its core, this conversation is about timing, perspective, and what it really means to build a life you love — and have the courage to adjust it when it no longer fits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#126 Andy Prince: From Stages to Skiffs
Andy Prince has spent years touring the world as a professional musician, but some of his most meaningful lessons have come far from the stage. In this conversation, Andy and I talk about what it means to be new at something as an adult—about ego, imposter syndrome, mentorship, jealousy, and the courage it takes to learn in public. We explore the overlap between music, fly fishing, skating, and craft—and why none of them reward bravado for very long. This episode isn’t about becoming the best.It’s about becoming honest—and learning to love the process along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#125 Vaughn Cochran: From Lodges to Life Design
In this episode of the Captains Collective Podcast, I sit down with artist and lodge owner Vaughn Cochran for a thoughtful conversation that moves from destination fishing to life design. We talk about building lodges, creating art, navigating failure, and the small decisions that shape a meaningful life. Vaughn shares perspective from decades of blending creativity, business, and time on the water—and why paying attention matters more than forcing outcomes. This episode isn’t a how-to guide. It’s a reflection on playing the long game and designing a life you actually want to live. To learn more about the show, and to sign up for weekly our weekly newsletter, head to www.captainscollective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Me On The Road: Spring 2026
Every few months, I’ll share where I’m headed, what I’m working on, and where our paths might cross—at festivals, events, and boat ramps. This Spring 2026 edition covers upcoming events and Drifter Fish Club trips, a look at what I’m building behind the scenes, and a short story at the end of "A Fish That Saved A Friendship." If you enjoy this episode, you can read the full written version—along with photo essays, short stories, and other caffeine-induced musings—over on my Substack. Thanks for listening. I’ll see you out there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#124 Arno Matthee: Pioneering Fisheries, Piracy, and a Life of Adventure
Recorded during a Drifter Trip to Los Locos, this episode features a late-night conversation with legendary guide Arno Matthee. We talk about milkfish, giant trevally, pirate encounters, mothership expeditions, and the lessons learned from exploring fisheries with no roadmap. It’s a conversation about curiosity, patience, and why a successful day on the water isn’t about numbers—but about the feeling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#123 George VanDercook and Rudy Babikian: Behind Los Locos
In this episode, we sit down with George and Rudy, founders of Los Locos in Magdalena Bay, to hear the story behind their operation and what it takes to chase striped marlin on fly in one of the wildest fisheries on the planet. Recorded after a fresh seafood dinner at Los Locos HQ, this conversation offers an honest look behind the scenes—how the operation began, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they continue to invest in their community both on and off the water. To see the full photo essay and trip recap video, visit drifterfishclub.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices