The Brewmance Podcast

Meet Slavo. He's changed. One day while walking down the easy path, he decided to challenge himself. After taking the challenge path Slavo grew to like it. Now he hikes rim to rim, goes on long, cold hunts for days, and does 100 bike rides in 90 days. Why? Because fear is a motivator he says. Slavo also created Slavo Salt, the best seasoning you'll ever taste. Check out this episode to hear how our friend Slavo changed his life by taking the challenging path.

Malcolm Alexendr and Ryan Hale drop by to talk about the issue most would rather avoid. Race. Not us. Recently, Mike Russell came across an article that said 'coffee is now racist.' So, we wanted to talk about that. With Rob Hunter, Malcolm, Ryan, and Mike get deep about race in America. How is race different now than in the 1960's? Is American politics exploiting Black people? Weigh in. You'll learn and may open your perspective.

Deep fakes, created by people and/or artificial intelligence, are here and are looking more and more real. At what point will you get fooled? Have we been fooled already? Also, how much is our reality not real? What are we shaped by when we see something online. Mike Russell & Rob Hunter also talk about how hard it is to eat right. Join in.

Elon Musk and several prominent people are urging developers to pause development of artificial intelligence (AI) for six months. Can the US do that if China is already ahead with their AI? Let's grab a beer and dig in. Are you pro-AI or worried about the future? What if AI becomes self-aware enough to want to act for its own survival?

Mike Russell has always been a fan of Disney. Rob Hunter never has been. Until now. After a trip to Disney World with his family, Rob has changed his mind. He finally understands what Mike has been saying. The Brewmance talks about what goes into shifting your perspective and how it broadens your perspective. Rob also received a stem cell therapy. He tells us why he did it. And New Belgian has changed Fat Tire to a different recipe, which is really, really familiar to Mike. Join us..

Mike Russell has long has Faith in a Higher Power. Rob Hunter has not. But, Rob is opening up to the idea. This week on The Brewmance we discuss over a beer. Rob ran into a young man on a skateboard who asked him if he believed in Jesus. The conversation starts there. Join in.

Rob Hunter has been diagnosed with depression twice. First, at 19. Second time at 30. Mike Russell asks Rob about how he's overcome the mental health issue without the use of drugs. Let's get deep, let's get honest. We start the podcast off by talking about our Super Bowl experience and how the game means less each year, but the social aspects mean more. Join us for another honest, open conversation over a Dragoon IPA.

The Super Bowl is here in Phoenix where The Brewmance lives. What is it like? Are people avoiding the lines or embracing them as several thousand people descend on the desert? We also talk about the big golf tournament out here, the Waste Management Open. Join in.

A few years back Mike Russell was attacked, hit in the head with a rock. Since then he's lived in constant pain. But, Mike handles it really, really well. We discuss what it's like. Millions of people live with a TBI and most of the time no one knows. Join in. Cheers.

It's a new year and we won't do new years resolutions. Instead, we are looking to add skills to our lives. What about you? Rob Hunter and Mike Russell, as the Brewmance, also talk about the importance of sleep and how difficult that can be to achieve. Join us.

New Belgium brewing's Fat Tire has introduced many people to craft beers. The beer is 30 years old. And New Belgium says it is time for Fat Tire to change. We think this is a good idea. Mike Russell & Rob Hunter discuss changes they've made in their own lives. Now is a great time to change. Because most people won't. What about plastic surgery? That's a change, right? Yes. Let's discuss it. And what age do you want to live to be? Entrepreneur Dave Asprey says he wants to be 180. That seems way too old to us.

This podcast is loaded with health tips. Tips from Justin Cross and Adam Niall with Earn Your Booze. Earn Your Booze has teamed up with Grand Canyon Brewing to create a Hazy Pale Ale called Dead Hanger Pale Ale. Which is why this is a great conversation. We are men in our 40's who drink. We want to be healthy and still drink. Earn Your Booze gives us some pointers about fitness and eating. Adam tells us it's 80 percent eating but eating right is easier than you think. Also, we have additional content from The GO Show, our outdoor show. Mike Russell & Rob Hunter ask Justin and Adam about the benefits of eating game meat. Join us. Our hope is you may pick up a tip here to think about or use in any way that may help. Cheers.

Damar Hamlin collapsed playing football and Rob Hunter had a very surprising emotional reaction. Mike Russell reacted a different way. We discuss what this means for us and who gets to decide whether football should change? Join us.

Rob Hunter just returned from New York City. NYC is one of Mike Russell's least favorite cities. So we discuss why New York is great and why New York isn't great. Have you been? What do you love? Rob loves the inspiration NYC offers. Join us.

John Gibson used to host The Big Story on the Fox News Channel. Since retirement, he's writing fiction books. His latest is called Death In The Reeds as his main character Mickey Judge gets entangled with stolen antiquities from Iraq. We talk to John about his book, his time at Fox News, and we look back at his career as a television reporter & anchor. Join in on a fun conversation with Mike Russell, Rob Hunter, and John Gibson.

Where is America? How is America feeling after a weird mid-term election? Mike Russell and Rob Hunter weigh in from a non-partisan position. It seems to us that America is very unsure about which direction to go. What do you think? Join in.

Rob Hunter went to Vegas for a weekend with Mrs. Hunter. The trip was much different from the trips to 'Sin City' in his 20s. Mike Russell used to live in Vegas. He talks about his experience living there partying it up. Because Vegas. Now, he's not interested in returning. Maybe that means we have changed. Or Vegas has. What do you think? Let us know.

Mike Russell and Rob Hunter are fresh off a trip to Washington, D.C. They set out on a mission to talk to strangers during their entire trip. The Brewmance shares what they learned. And what they saw. Rampant homelessness right outside the halls of power. And why Mike couldn't wait to get out of our nation's capital. Join us.

Homelessness is on the rise across the country. This motivated Rob Hunter to meet with St. Vincent de Paul to find out more. He talks about what he finds out. Mike Russell volunteers to feed the homeless, so he adds his stories. We also discuss whether or not we give money to people on the side of the road. Join us as we discuss what we can all do to help those most in need.

Mike Russell and Rob Hunter loaded up their cars and headed to the Blue Rooster Hunting ranch for some grocery shopping. Mike harvested three animals. One, a ram, came with danger. A group of rams was backed into a corner staring us down. It could have ended poorly. Hear the story. The Brewmance also talks about the other benefits of sitting around the campfire with a big group of friends. Join in.

Post-pandemic America is weirded out. Mike Russell and Rob Hunter crack open a beer and explain their theory about many, many things just seem off. Things like politics, going out to eat, and general good will. Also, both Mike and Rob have run into government bureaucracies. It took the government a year to process Mike's suppressor applications. Rob is going to have to wait 8 months for his TSA renewal application to be processed and he might not be able to get a pool because of the city of Phoenix. Isn't the government supposed to work for us? The Brewmance also discusses Star Wars plot holes that are popping up. Will this impact the future of the franchise? Join us.

Mike Russell had an interesting experience at a doctor's office. They took four pints of blood out. We'll share why. Rob Hunter has thought a lot about how he spends his time and we have a discussion about the value of it. Time is the great equalizer. Join us!

Rob Hunter finally got COVID. Luckily, his experience wasn't too bad. Was it his strategy? Mike Russell asks him about it. Also, Mike & Rob rode along with the Pinal County, AZ Sheriff's office SWAT team as they executed a high-risk warrant. It opened our eyes to how policing works. Join us for this important conversation.

Green energy is all the conversation on a national stage. Electric cars. Solar. Wind energy. The Brewmance digs deep. Mike Russell is considering buying an electric vehicle because of gas prices. Rob Hunter has solar panels on his home. As good as green energy may sound there are some very big challenges ahead. Dig in with us and let us know what you are thinking. Cheers.

A combo episode. The GO Show and The Brewmance talk about outdoor life. Outdoor life at the sea. What is sea hunting? And why do the National Parks use guilt to make you feel bad about being alive? Join us for this fun conversation.

Los Angeles Dodger Zach McKinstry and his BFF Paul Geha (a former pitcher) join The Brewmance to talk baseball. We discuss Zach's journey to the Big Leagues through both his eyes and Paul's eyes. These two have been friends since they were 15. It's a fun conversation with a player who faces some of the toughest pitchers in baseball in one of the sport's most iconic stadiums. Join us.

New York Times best-selling author Brad Thor joins The Brewmance as his new book, Rising Tiger is out. It's his 21st book in his Scott Harvath series (22nd overall). Mike Russel and Rob Hunter think Harvath needs a vacation. Join us as we chat with Brad about Rising Tiger, his writing process, and the biggest challenges facing the world. It's another fun conversation with Brad as some critics are now calling him the greatest political thriller writer of all time. It's always enlightening to chat with the best at what they do. Cheers.

Rob had a birthday so Mike and he discuss what a good adult birthday is. Also, on the Brewmance, Mike's son is on a club team and he walks us through how expensive that is with the league costs and travel. We are also getting a little worn out about fighting over everything, so it's time to win hearts and minds. Will that ever be possible? Finally, do you value your time? The Brewmance discusses. Join us.

Mike has been working from home...and he doesn't like it. Rob does. But, would love a hybrid. Lady Brewmance has been working from home for 15 years. She loves it. Lots of perspective. That's what The Brewmance is all about. We also talk about changes in social media, how we have to end summer as we know it and go to year round school, and summer BBQ beer etiquette. Join us.

That's the debate we are having on The Brewmance. Mike loves boating. He grew up around boats. Rob loves being on the water in boats, but doesn't like waiting and doesn't like crowds. So he prefers the leisurely boat life. Join the debate. The Brewmance sips on Lake Pleasant Brewing's Pleasantly Hazy IPA named after Lake Pleasant, an actual place you boat in the Arizona desert.

Mike Russell is back from Disney. He breaks down the Rise of The Resistance ride/experience. Mike tells us what to eat in the California parks too. Rob Hunter is wondering if he's in control of his algorithm or if it is influencing his tastes. Unfortunately, we also discuss what happened in both Buffalo and Uvalde and how it might relate to technology. Join in.

Mike Russell heads to Disney for a very specific reason. Isn't Disney under protest? Rob Hunter and Mike wade into those waters wondering if everything has to be political. As part of Mike's trip, he's traveling with people he doesn't know. How can he handle this? Rob has some experience here. They walk through some options on how to keep everyone happy. Mike and Rob also have seen the new Dr. Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. Does it measure up to the rest of the Marvel Universe? Check in with The Brewmance Podcast. Cheers.

Meet Dr. Al. Mike Russell and Rob Hunter met Dr. Al Olszewski at the Arizona, Mexico border a couple months back. Dr. Al used to jump out of Air Force plans to perform trauma surgery. He's currently running for Congress in Montana. We talk with him about how Montana is changing, the great outdoors up there, and Montana craft beer. Join The Brewmance podcast. Cheers.

Meet Julie Swan. She's the Honest Dog Breeder. Mike Russell has welcomed two of her dogs, German Short Hairs, into his home. Mike loves taking them out to the hunting field. It's a sight to see. Mike and Rob Hunter ask her about breeding dogs. What's behind the craft? How does she match dogs to owners? And how does she select which dogs to breed? We also talk about how some people use their dogs as accessories and how dogs tie into human psychology. It's a really fascinating conversation over a drink. Let's go!

Mike Russell has been trying to get Rob Hunter to watch the latest two Spiderman movies for months. Finally, Rob has. Lady Brewmance and he stayed up late one night this week to get them in. Why the delay? The Brewmance discusses. Mike and Rob also wonder what has changed with streaming services following Netflix's announcement that 200,000 people stopped subscribing. Also, how much time do you spend watching sports? Mike watches a lot of baseball. Rob only watches the NBA playoffs and football. It's all about time. Which leads us into talking about toys for adults (not those kind). The Brewmance has very different ideas on what toys are. Join us for conversations over a drink (or two). Cheers.

Critical race theory. Black history. George Floyd. That's what we talk about on this week's podcast. Mike Russell and Rob Hunter welcome back Malcolm Alexandr and Ryan Hale, hosts of the Unfiltered Gems podcast. Malcolm and Ryan share their thoughts about Joe Biden, politics, and so much more as we seek understanding. Understanding that come from conversations like this. This started a few weeks back when Mike said to Rob, I have some questions about race for Ryan and Malcolm. So we grab drinks and dive deep into what so many people avoid, Race. Join us for a thought provoking, fun, and enlightening conversation.

Quarterback Tom Brady says do these five things and you will achieve peak performance as you age. But, Mike Russell has an issue: why doesn't Brady have six pack abs? Rob Hunter and he discuss and weigh in on whether or not it is worth going through all that trouble like Brady. We segue into men's body image issues. Yes, there is pressure to look like a chiseled athlete. And we tried beaver tacos. Rob bought Mike a beaver leg for Christmas. They cooked it up and tried it this past weekend. Join in to hear more about the experience. Cheers.

Rob Hunter has known Bob Pepin for almost 30-years. Bob has opened his own brewery, The Girl's Brewery. So Mike Russell and Rob had to talk to him about that. Bob has named the brewery after his daughters and is going to donate proceeds towards STEM education for young girls. And Bob is one of the most uniquely individual people you'll meet with an infectious laugh. We talk beer. We talk about his daughters. We talk about how he's growing his brewery selling it liquor store by liquor store. Join us for a fun conversation around business and beer. Follow @thegirlsbrewery on Instagram or TheGirlsBrewery.com for more information. Cheers.

This is very raw. Rob Hunter and Mike Russell return to a bar they used to hang out in, Gallagher's. Gallagher's is also the spot where Rob met a friend. This friend just passed away after overdosing. So it was fitting to drink a beer and talk about the new level of understanding both Rob and Mike have about addiction. And most of the illegal drugs come right through Arizona, where we live. So, this one hits close to home. Have you been impacted by addiction? What's so striking about Rob's acquaintance is how full of life he was. We hope you'll join us this week as we seek a little more understanding. Can you relate? Connect with us on our social channels and let us know. Cheers.

Chad is breaking the mold. A long-time friend of The Brewmance, Chad gave up his small business to stay home with his three adopted kids. He walks Mike Russell and Rob Hunter through that conversation ('shooting blanks' is involved. Ha). Chad is also what's called a free range parent, giving his children plenty of space to problem solve, stepping in when he needs to. On Mike's The GO (Get Outdoors) Show Chad is known as 'Camping Chad.' He loves to take his boys out camping. We also talk about Chad's journey into craft beer. It's a well rounded episode that may just alter the way you think about stay-at-home dads. Join us.

Green Mountain Grills continues to tinker. In order to innovate, you must tinker. We ask Jason Baker about that, constant striving to make the grilling experience better for you. Green Mountain Grills does most of their work out of Phoenix. Jason tells us about their culture and how no idea is a bad idea. Everyone who works for a team will love this conversation. This is what a great company does. Mike Russell and Rob Hunter also chat with Jason about grilling and craft beer. Join us as we crack open a beer, open our minds, and converse. Thanks for joining us. Cheers.

We are surrounded by activists. Well, slacktivists or activism online. Is it real? Nope. Because we are honest with you, we are more than annoyed that baseball is on a lockout. That means no spring training. Rob Hunter is ready to boycott the season, Mike Russell tries to talk him off the ledge. And Rob has a knack for talking to strangers. Mike asks him about two recent interactions with a couple of people at a rally we attended. Join us as we sip on Alpine Beer Co's Dankster's Paradise.

Rob's humble bragging this week because he sat on the floor at a recent Phoenix Suns game. The best part was, the seats were a surprise. Mike also admits to being spoiled by having good seats at sporting events. The Brewmance cracks open a beer and talks about gratitude and the value of me time as well. We all need it. Where do you get your me time? What do you use it for? To recharge? Join in.

This week on The Brewmance, Mike Russell and Rob Hunter go deep into politics, the war on drugs, and big Pharma. Mike had an interesting medical experience this week. He explains how one doctor didn't want to give him medication. So he found one that did. This leads to a broader discussion about how Big Pharma fueled modern addictions leading to record overdose deaths. That turns into a discussion about the War On Drugs. Rob loves this topic because the war has been lost and has led to the erosion of your right to be secure in your person, places, and things. We grab Mother Road's Tenth Anniversary Ale, Ten, to have this discussion. Join us.

Dr. Michael Scheeringa is ready to take on the establishment. In this case the establishment says trauma impacts your brain permanently. Dr. Scheeringa says no. His new book, The Trouble with Trauma: The Search to Discover How Beliefs Become Facts, comes out March 1st. This is a perfect discussion to have over a beer on The Brewmance. Mike Russell and Rob Hunter not only ask Dr. Scheeringa about that, we get into the power of your beliefs. Your beliefs are the most important thing in your life, which is why the belief that trauma is permanent could be detrimental. The Brewmance gets personal this episode. Rob talks about his own limiting beliefs and how he is combating those. Mike tells you about his two head surgeries and how that impacts his daily life. The Brewmance drinks beers sent by Mike's older brother, Big Brother Brew Steve. The beer is from Sycamore Brewing (Charlotte, NC). It's called Mountain Candy. Join us for this very enlightening conversation. You'll learn a lot about the power your beliefs have and how you can change them whenever you want...with a little (or a lot of) inner work.

The greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, retires after 22 seasons. This isn't about football. This is about the blueprint Brady left behind for greatness and for going ALL in on yourself. The Brewmance grabs a craft beer and talks about it. Mike Russell & Rob Hunter also talk about the baseball Hall of Fame selections. In short, they are disappointing and ignoring reality to make a fake moral stand. Also, we chat about Whoopi Goldberg after she was suspended by The View because of comments she made about the Holocaust. ABC missed the mark on this learning opportunity. Our beers this week: Mike sips Second Chance Brewing's Clever Hoppier Name. Rob tries Green Flash Brewing's Soul Style IPA. Join us.

So much for those football boycotts. The NFL's ratings are up. Mike Russell and Rob Hunter look back at where the football protests started, with Colin Kaepernick. From there we talk about the weird Parotitic test we put on ourselves and how other boycotts and hashtags have failed. The Brewmance also talks about looking for a way out of COVID. It seems that the politicians and media are looking for the off-ramp. Mike brought Rob some bison chili this week. Bison Mike hunted. Is there a difference eating meat from an animal you watched die? We discuss over a beer. Mike grabs El Cumbre's Project Dank, while Rob sips two. Huss Koffee Kolsch and State 48's Sound of Freedom. Join the conversation.

Mike has been trying to convince Rob to watch Oliver Stone's film about the President Kennedy assassination, JFK. What do we think this many years later? Let's grab a beer and talk about the second gunman on the grassy knoll. Is Rob convinced? Are you? Mike makes his case. Join us over a beer. This week Mike tries Belching Beaver's, Dichotomy, a double IPA. Rob tries two Clown Shoes offerings.

Rob went over to Mike's last weekend. While there The Brewmance decided to take Mike's new drone out. It ended, well paused, when Rob's hand was cut and bloodied. Some people are now openly talking about living to be 150. Is that something you'd want to do? We discuss. The average male gives himself a score of 5.9 on an imaginary attractiveness scale. Really? That low. What would you rate yourself? Our scores are on the podcast. More and more celebrities are getting into the craft beer business. Should we welcome them? Join The Brewmance for open-minded, honest conversations meant to bring people together. This week we drink two different beers. Rob goes with Dogfish Head's Slightly Mighty Low-Cal IPA. Mike goes with a collaboration from Ale Smith Brewing and Alvadaro Street Brewing called Oh So Under. Cheers.

Terry Thompson owns and operates Rickety Cricket Brewing in Kingman, Arizona. He runs it the way he wants. Rickety Cricket's beers and pizza names are fantastic innuendos. Including Aiming Oil, the beer Mike Russell and Rob Hunter drink while chatting with Terry. We chat about dirty names, being yourself, and running a business. Terry also tells us a little about his past being an Arizona State Trooper. Terry served in a part of the state where backup may be 90 minutes away. Imagine that? This is a fun podcast that comes with a warning. If innuendos aren't your thing, this one won't be for you. If you want a few laughs, join in.