The Lookout Podcast

My friend Lina Montopoli joined the show to talk about her fire career starting with a Forest Service District crew and working her way to the Lolo Hotshots. She eventually transitioned off the shot crew working her way through college and finishing school as a Physician Assistance, PA for short. We talked old fire stories, strong work ethic, and how fire can help prepare you for challenges in life outside of fire. Tune in to hear the whole story. Please like and subscribe to support the project

Long time Wildland Firefighter, Hockey player, Family man, and part of the Putt & Pull team my friend Clint Mendenhall joined the show to help promote the 10th annual Missoula Putt & Pull. It is a great fundraiser where all proceeds go to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation supporting firefighters across this great country. The Putt & Pull is a great time for a great cause! This event is open to everyone so come to the Highlander April 18th have one of there great beers and support your Wildland Firefighters!

Angela Loewe joined the podcast to discuss Trolls, Yoopers, Yooperlites, Big Foot, the Great Outdoors and more. Please like and subscribe to support the project.

Back country mule packer and registered dietitian Heidi Brackebusch joined the show to talk back country adventures, wildfire, nutrition, and food tips to fuel your adventure. Giver her a follow @thedeckerdietitian to check out her adventures. Thanks for checking out this episode please like and subscribe to help support the channel.

I was joined by Special Olympics Athlete Hillary, Coach Joan, and Coordinator Lindsey. Hillary has been competing in Special Olympics for 40 years! She has had a great career with many adventures and she is still competing. Joan and Lindsey have been helping with special Olympics and joined the podcast to help promote all the great sporting events and fundraisers Special Olympics Montana does to help support the athletes. They are in need of more support for not only fundraising but volunteers to help make the events happen. Please consider helping the Special Olympics program wherever you live. It is such a great way to give back and get involved in your community. Thanks for tuning in.

I am joined by Rogue to talk about the great charity hockey game between the Forest Service Wildland Firefighters and the City of Missoula/Rural Firefighters. Tune in to hear more about this great event and come out on Saturday Feb. 7th to cheer on your local firefighters and help raise money for charity.

Sam Forstag joined the podcast to talk about why he left Smokejumping to run for Congress. In this episode we explore topics such as the great outdoors, public service, Wildland Firefighting, and politics which normally I avoid. We had a great conversation tune in to hear the full story. please like and subscribe to support the channel. https://samformontana.com

I am joined by Foresters' Ball Chief Push Alden & Publicity Officer Miranda to spread the word about the 107th Foresters' Ball! This is the Best Ball you will ever attend! This years theme is Timber Fallin & Trucks A Haulin. Tune in to hear more about this Great event. Please Like and subscribe to support the channel and to hear more great stories like this.

The Great Patrick McGunagle joined the podcast to discuss his fire career and the path it led him on as well as becoming a National Smokejumper Association board member. We had a great conversation talking shop about fire and our experiences. Tune in to hear the full story. Please like and subscribe to support the project.

I am joined by my dad Keith Barrett, and brothers Kaleb and Zac. My dad shared a story of the time he saved a group of young duck hunters after there boat capsized. We also talked about hunter safety and more. Tune in to hear the full story and please like and subscribe to support the channel.

I was joined by Colton Mora voted the 2nd most Interesting man in Chicago, Motorcycle accident survivor, and avid Outdoorsman. Tune in to hear the whole story. Please like and subscribe to support the channel

It was an honor to have one the living legend Leif Haugen on the show! Leif has 32 years in service as a Lookout and has been keeping watch over our national forests and firefighters. We had a great conversation, tune in to hear the full conversation and please like and subscribe to support the channel.

Flathead Hotshot Superintendent The Great Shawn Borgen! In this episode Borg reflects on his decision to retire after 33 years in firefighting, with 28 years on the Flathead Hotshot crew. - 60th Anniversary: This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the Flathead Hotshot crew, a significant milestone for Borgen who has been present for the 30th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries as well! I hope you enjoy this episode and please like and subscribe to support the channel, thank you for tuning in.

I am joined by Outdoorsman Cody Kuebler. Cody grew up in Northern Illinois fishing, hunting, and recreating. Tune in to hear all about his experiences and our gratitude for family and being together on Thanksgiving.

Kevin Roach joined the podcast to talk about Fire season, family, Big Sky Football, Fitness, and much more. Tune in to hear the full conversation. Please like subscribe and share with a friend.

Host Luke Barrett travels to John Crawfords wood shop to talk with him about Lookouts, Lewis and Clark, the many books he's written, and building lookout towers. To contact John about his books, email him at [email protected]

I am joined by my older brother Kaleb Barrett who is a long time PRCA & PBR Bullfighter and outdoorsman. Tune in to hear all about the great community of rodeo and some of the similarities to Wildland Firefighting.

Zoe Savage returned to the podcast to talk about her Wild Fire progression from working on a district, to Type 1 crew, to a Helitack crew. We also discussed the great Wildland Firefighter fun known as Type 2 fun. Tune in to hear the full episode.

The Wild Fire Legend Bill Miller joined the podcast to talk about his incredible Fire career. Bill became a Smokejumper in his second season. Tune in to hear about his incredible jump career. Rene returned to co host this episode.

It was an honor to have Chief Chad Costa join the podcast via the inter web. Chief talked about the many layers of fire service that work together to Fight Wild Fires. It takes all of us and the best thing we can do is leave our ego at home and remember we are all fighting the same fight and here to help each other. Tune in to hear Chief Costa discuss that topic and more in this incredible episode.

The Incredible Mariel Leslie joined the podcast to talk shop about Public land, Fisheries, Wildland Firefighting, fishing in Belize, and much more! Watch the full episode to hear more.

Sam Vaughn joined me in the Airstream to talk shop about lookout life, wild fire, and much more. Check out the full episode.

Smokejumper Walt Wasser a living legend joined the podcast during the 85th Smokejumper reunion. Walt Wasser is the current record holder for the most fire jumps, 395 fire jumps! That number would have been higher if he wasn't forced into retirement at the age of 57. 57 is the age limit for federal Wildland Firefighters.

I was joined by John Spencer during the 85th Smokejumper Reunion. John was 37 years old in 1998 when he completed Smokejumper rookie training, which goes to show John is built a little tougher than most. John went on to have an incredible jump career completing at least one fire jump from all currently active Smokejumper Bases. Learn more about Johns great story in this episode. Thanks for tuning in.

Living Legend George Cross honored me with his presence to tell his story of World War 2 and Smokejumping. George talked about his experience of parachuting into Normandy the day before the D-Day Invasion. It was truly an honor to sit down with George Cross. Tune in to the podcast to hear more of this Great mans story.

I was joined by the Great Tom Butler. I man who has lived through a lot in his life and was kind enough to stop by the Airstream to share a small piece of his story. Tom was a Smokejumper before he was shipped over to Vietnam where he was a cargo kicker contractor for the CIA.

I was joined by Wildland Firefighter and Campfire Safety educator Brennan Williams. In this episode we discussed Wildland Fire, working with kids, and the great outdoors. Watch this episode to learn more.

I was joined by the Incredible Travis Hall! Travis works for Field & Stream and is a massive proponent of Public Lands. We had a great conversation discussing the importance and value of preserving our Public Lands. Tune in to hear more about this great countries public lands why this is a cause every US citizen should be fighting for.

Late night podcast after the Putt n Pull fundraiser with 3 Legends Benji, Dave, and Laura. We discussed managing large fire and how to do it with no support, how firefighters mind sets change as the career goes on, and family dynamics during fire season.

If you can stop a Train, you can stop a Puck! I am joined by Wildland Firefighter and Glacier Hockey League Goalie, Cousin Roy! On this episode Cousin Roy shared how the train wreck occurred and the recovery process he went through to get back to playing goalie and fighting fire.

The Great CJ joined me in the Airstream to talk about 3 incredible fundraisers for the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. One of those incredible fundraisers is happening Saturday April 26th. Tune in to hear more about these fundraisers and the tremendous impact they have on Wildland Firefighters and their families.

Rene Eustace is entering his 50th season fighting Wild Fires. Rene got his start in fire as a lookout staffing Medicine Point Lookout of the Sula Ranger District and it's been an exciting and fun adventure ever since. Tune in to this episode to hear more about what 50 years in Firefighting is like.

The incredible Grace Schwenk joined me in the Airstream to talk about her first year as a Lookout, running career, writing a book or 2, and much more. Tune in to hear this great podcast with Lookout Grace!

Arnold "Smoke" Elser began outfitting and guiding in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in 1964. Since then, he's taught conservation ethic and the art of horse/mule packing to more than 3,000 students at the University of Montana in Missoula. Elser uses castor oil on his saddles. Smoke was also a Lookout on the Helena National Forest and later on a Smokejumper at the Missoula Smokejumper Base.

I am joined by Foresters' Ball Chief Push Koson & Publicity Officer Katee to spread the word about the 106th Foresters' Ball! This is the Best Ball you will ever attend! This years theme is Tankers Droppin & Crews a Jumpin. Tune in to hear more about this Great event.

I am joined by Brett and Rogue to talk about the great charity hockey game between the Forest Service Wildland Firefighters and the City of Missoula Firefighters. Tune in to hear more about this great event and come out on Friday January 31st to cheer on your local firefighters and help raise money for charity.

Luke Barrett is joined by older brother Kaleb Barrett for a Christmas Special. They discuss what Christmas means to them, family traditions, and the importance of gathering with friends and family sharing a meal. Kaleb Barrett is a long time PRCA & PBR Bullfighter and he also hiked to Ambrose Point Lookout.

I was joined by the Great, Jessie Thomas, who is helping all of us be our best self by individual coaching and sharing her knowledge on her podcast along with social media. In this episode we discuss Jessie's fire career from working on a district to Hotshot, and finishing her fire career as a Smokejumper at the Missoula Smokejumper base. After covering Jessie's fire history we moved onto her current expertise, Health and Wellness. We spoke about a variety of health and wellness topics and only scratched the surface of Jessie's vast knowledge, tune in to hear more!

My brothers Zac and Kaleb Barrett stopped by the Airstream for a Thanksgiving podcast. We talked about Montana living, College track, Rodeo, Surfing, and more.

Cat, Billy and Grace joined me in my 1965 Airstream to talk shop about Lookouts, life as a lookout, adventure, cold weather camping, and much more. Tune in to hear all about it. If you like what your hear please support my channel by subscribing, sharing, and giving this episode a like. Thank you and have a great day!

I''m joined by the Great Randy Salcido on Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).Randy is a Wildland Firefighter, Native American from the Tohono Oʼodham nation, and graduate of the Job Corps program. Randy and I discussed growing up on a reservation, fighting fire, life, leadership, Day of the Dead and much more. Tune into this episode to hear more. Please like, subscribe, follow, and share if you like what you heard. THANK YOU for tuning in.

For this spooky Halloween special I am joined by the Great Rene Eustace. Rene tells a Haunted story about Lookouts, a packer and his pack string, and unexplained disappearances during a long fire season. Taking place on the Bitterroot National Forest long ago on Halloween. (I do not own the rights to the music featured in this podcast).

Host Luke Barrett is joined by Mike Sullivan Wildland Firefighter, Military Veteran, and self improvement pilgrim. We discussed Mike's military time, life in California, journey to Missouri, and the constant quest for self Improvement through Ju Jitsu, retreats, Go Ruck events, books, podcasts, and much more

Host Luke Barrett is joined by Fred Cooper. Fred was a Smokejumper at both North Cascades Smokejumper Base and Redmond Smokejumper Base. After Smokejumping Fred went on to have a long career with the Forest Service. Fred is now retired and co author of the book Smokejumper Experiment. In this episode we discuss his Smokejumping career and what led him to right his book. The book covers the birth of Smokejumping through present day. We discussed the history and a few other pre Smokejumping parachute experiments that are pretty wild. Also discussed was the mystery of DB Cooper and was he in fact a Smokejumper? Tune into this episode and read Freds book to learn more.