Show overview
The Silvercore Podcast with Travis Bader has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 195 episodes. That works out to roughly 270 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 6th season.
Episodes typically run an hour to ninety minutes — most land between 1h 4m and 1h 42m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Sports show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 days ago, with 19 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Travis Bader.
From the publisher
The Silvercore Podcast explores the mindset and skills that build capable people. Host Travis Bader speaks with hunters, adventurers, soldiers, athletes, craftsmen, and founders about competence, integrity, and the pursuit of mastery, in the wild and in daily life. Hit follow and step into conversations that sharpen your edge.
Latest Episodes
View all 195 episodesEp. 195: Dallas Brodie, OneBC Leader: Taxes, Firearms and Crown Land | BC Election 2026
Ep. 194: Jay Nichol: Why Most Hunters Fail Before They Leave the Truck
Ep. 193: Mark Twight: Trained the 300 Cast, Then Walked Off Aquaman
Ep. 192: "I Wanted to Live My Life Armed" | Ian Sim Returns
Ep. 191: The Next Mission: Kyle Lamb on Cancer, Faith, and the Poems He's Never Published
Ep. 190: John Barklow: They Needed a Mountain Warfare Expert. They Picked a Diver.
Ep. 189: Why This Wildlife Artist Hides His Paintings in the Wilderness | Casey Braam
Ep. 188: Why Canada Really Bans Your Guns | Blair Hagen NFA
Ep. 187: The Price of Speaking Up: Fined $29,000 for Walking in the Woods | Jeff Evely
Ep. 186: The Pentagon Just Released 162 UFO Files. A Canadian Forces Insider Read Every One.
Ep. 185: 37 Dead at the Bluebird Cafe: Why Canada Won't Talk About It with Dr. Noah Schwartz
Ep. 184: The Secret Language of Animals: How to Hear What the Wild is Saying About You | George Bumann
Ep. 183: Charged by a Brown Bear at 2 Meters - Torkel Norling on Tracking, Stress & the Never-Quit Mindset
S6 Ep 182Ep. 182: "I Shouldn't Still Be Here" | Sir Drifto on Risk, Adventure & Knowing When to Stop
Nathan James, known online as Sir Drifto, holds the world altitude record for the highest electric paramotor flight and has flown hundreds of miles in a vintage open cockpit biplane with his dad. He's also the kind of guy who once tried to fly a paramotor under a bridge and lost his sponsorship in the process.In this conversation, we talk about what happens when the risk-to-reward ratio flips, why real adventure can't be bought through a booking agent, the Camel Trophy / Defender Trophy comeback, growing up on dirt bikes and two-strokes, what every young person should experience at least once, AI and predictive surveillance, and why the simplest eras might have produced the most capable people.Nathan is heading to British Columbia for the Defender Trophy, the successor to the legendary Camel Trophy, and this conversation captures exactly the kind of person they'd want behind the wheel.Silvercore Podcast 182 Nathan James - Sir DriftoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirdrifto/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SirDrifto_____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____Timestamps:00:00 Intro and the Sir Drifto origin01:34 Life is short and the risk-to-reward ratio03:03 When risk stops falling only on you05:20 Dirt bikes at eight and the berm that changed everything08:33 Counting birthdays you didn't expect to reach10:13 Regret as the real balancing act11:50 Contrived hardship vs. real challenge14:23 What every young person should experience once17:36 The Wall-E problem and the softening of capability22:01 Technology, instant gratification, and lost patience24:06 Face-to-face connection as the future commodity27:21 Photoshopping a report card and the sinking jet boat30:29 The world record electric paramotor flight40:42 The altitude and would he do it again42:12 Why winter was the only option43:22 Flying a Piper Cub cross-country with his dad47:15 The broken fuel gauge and cornfield contingencies52:11 The Defender Trophy (Camel Trophy successor) in BC57:56 Whether it'll be televised01:00:23 Safety third01:01:17 Flying a paramotor under a bridge01:04:12 The helicopter laser incident and federal consequences01:12:28 AI, facial recognition, and pre-crime prediction01:16:54 Favorite movies and books01:22:06 Write down your bucket list and challenge every excuse
S6 Ep 181Ep. 181: "The Old Version of Yourself Has to Die" | Josh Botha
Josh Botha showed up to his first precision rifle match with a blind-magazine .204 Ruger and no idea what he was doing. A decade later, he's a four-time Team Canada World Championship competitor, senior designer at MDT (Modular Driven Technologies), founder of the BC Precision Rifle League, and the man behind North Star Precision Training.In this episode, Josh shares his journey from South Africa to England to BC, how archery led him into the precision rifle world, what it's really like inside MDT's culture, and the massive news about MDT acquiring Lone Peak Arms. We dig into the mental game of competitive shooting, the NRL Hunter format, wind reading, barriers to entry for new PRS shooters, the role of faith in business and life, and why one person stepping up can change everything.🎁 This month we're giving away a SAI Mini Red Dot to an active Outpost listener - Silvercore Club members, activate the Outpost in your member portal to enter!🔗 Connect with Josh:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbotha_/ North Star Precision Training: [email protected] and https://www.instagram.com/northstarprecision/ BC Precision Rifle League: https://www.instagram.com/bcprecisionrifle/MDT Sporting Goods: https://www.instagram.com/mdttac21/Optics - https://armament.com/ Ammo - https://www.norma-ammunition.com/ _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____Timestamps:0:00 Intro & SAI Mini Red Dot Giveaway1:30 Meet Josh Botha: Competitive Shooter & MDT Designer2:16 Knocking Over Josh's Rifle at a PRS Match4:24 Growing Up in South Africa & Moving to England7:00 Family Moves to Canada: Landing on Canada Day 20068:33 BC as the Best of South Africa and England Combined10:00 From BCIT Mechanical Engineering to "Pretensioneer"11:55 MDT's People-First Culture and Hiring Philosophy13:16 MDT's Origin Story: From Rooster33 to Martin's Vision14:28 MDT Acquires Lone Peak Arms: What It Means16:50 Passion vs. Career: Drawing the Line18:48 How Archery Led Josh Into Precision Rifle21:00 First PRS Match: A .204 Ruger and No Idea22:00 The BC Sniper Match & Why the PRS Community Is Different27:00 PRS Attracts "Weird Gear Math Nerds" — And That's Great28:00 The Mental Game: Almost All of It Is Mental Now29:13 Conscious Competence to Subconscious Mastery30:06 Wind Reading: The Great Equalizer30:50 Barriers to Entry: Cost, Fear & PRS .22 Matches33:50 Launching North Star Precision Training37:00 Training Venues & The BC Long Range Problem38:00 Biggest Mistakes New Precision Rifle Shooters Make39:27 Dealing with Match Pressure & First-Stage Jitters41:00 NRL Hunter: The Most Fun Match Format Explained46:00 Gear vs. Skill: LRF Binos, Tripods & Weight Limits48:03 MDT's Content & Media Strategy: Becoming a Media Company52:00 Education as Marketing: Magpul, Glock & MDT54:50 AI in the Firearms Industry: Spanish & French YouTube Channels57:37 Suppressors: Will MDT Get In the Game?59:00 Fighting for Suppressor Legalization in Canada1:02:49 The Power of One Person to Create Change1:07:55 Leveraging Mentors & Asking for Help1:08:46 Faith at MDT: A Quiet But Real Foundation1:11:05 Josh's Faith Journey & Losing His Mom1:13:29 A Transformative Six Months: Growth Through Trials1:16:27 What's Next: 4th World Championship & Rimfire in Lithuania1:19:00 Building a World Championship Rimfire Rig1:20:14 Product Design: When "Done" Meets "Perfect"1:23:21 MDT's Most Popular Products (Magazines & Chamber Flags)1:24:38 CAPRA: The Canadian Precision Rifle Association Board1:26:39 Addressing Conflict of Interest Criticism1:30:28 Growth of PRS in Canada: From 75 Members to National Teams1:32:12 Where to Find Josh & Final Thoughts
S6 Ep 180Ep. 180: The Outpost
This episode introduces something new inside the Silvercore Club.It’s called The Outpost.A private weekly podcast for members where I share reflections from the field, lessons that stay with me, and thoughts that don’t always fit the format of the public show.In this episode, I explain what The Outpost is and why I created it, and then share one of those private recordings titled Bear With Me.Some experiences change how you see preparedness, responsibility, and awareness.This is one of them.https://www.silvercore.ca/club _____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____
S6 Ep 179Ep. 179: Melt Your Face Off Hot Wing Challenge | The Wild Kitchen x Silvercore
This was supposed to be a hot wing challenge.It turned into something else.We sat down to take on a melt your face off hot wing challenge and ended up in a real conversation about food, marriage, work, ambition, comfort, and the choices that shape a life over time.The heat ramps up fast. Talking becomes harder. Filters disappear.We talk about building something from scratch, walking away from paths that look good on paper, raising kids with intention, food as memory, food as connection, and why comfort has a way of slowly pulling people off course.This episode also introduces The Wild Kitchen Podcast, a show about food, authors, hunters, foragers, and people who still know how to make things with their hands and feed the people they love.Nothing here was planned. Nothing was cleaned up to make it tidy.If you’re into honest conversations, good food, and doing things the hard way on purpose, this one will land.Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-wild-kitchen/id1871562316Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IVrTjpZePPuoKprNkgZx6?si=afb700ee09994cf4Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewildkitchenpodcast/_____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____Timestamps00:00 We commit to the hot wing challenge01:45 Why the first attempt failed04:10 What The Wild Kitchen is really about07:30 Starting something and sticking with it10:50 Food, memory, and why meals matter14:40 The meals that never leave you18:20 Heat kicks in and thinking gets harder21:45 Comfort food and emotional attachment24:50 Death row meals and what they reveal30:15 What we wanted to be as kids35:05 Leaving the path you were expected to follow39:40 Work that feels honest45:30 Food, family, and presence50:00 Heat level check and regret53:10 Old skills in a modern world58:20 Belief, curiosity, and asking better questions01:03:45 Pushing through discomfort01:07:40 Failure, momentum, and self trust01:12:20 Dealing with criticism01:16:10 Grandparents, food, and inherited habits01:20:40 Preservation, fermentation, and patience01:24:10 Processing animals and community01:28:10 What the future actually looks like01:32:30 Final wing and closing thoughts
S6 Ep 178Ep. 178: Why Training Fails Under Stress | Chris Butler on Perception, Video Evidence, and Use of Force
What looks obvious on video often tells the least important part of the story.Chris Butler has spent decades inside high consequence decision making, as a search and rescue technician, a police inspector, a force science instructor, and an expert witness called into hundreds of use of force cases. In this conversation, we dig into how stress bends perception, why traditional training often fails under pressure, and how video evidence can mislead investigators, leaders, and the public.We explore the difference between performance and learning, why mistakes are essential for real skill acquisition, how decision making degrades under stress, and what trainers, coaches, and leaders across any field can learn from force science.This episode is for anyone responsible for training others, leading teams, or forming opinions based on partial information.Key themes and takeawaysWhy performance during training is not the same as learningHow retention and transfer actually work under stressThe danger of linear, checkbox driven training modelsDecision training vs technique trainingWhy video evidence feels convincing but can be wrongFrame rates, fisheye distortion, and perceptual gapsLeadership responsibility when public emotion is highMoral courage and restraint in the age of instant judgmentWho this episode is forLaw enforcement and military trainersCoaches and instructors in any high pressure domainLeaders responsible for public trustCivilians who want better frameworks for evaluating viral footageLinks to Chris Butler’s workTrainer’s Bullpen Podcast - https://www.trainersbullpen.comTrainer’s Bullpen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trainers-bullpen/id1661836359Trainer’s Bullpen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2xxGiZkTlRlNh9NYl4AdGTChris Butler, Force Science Instructor - https://www.forcescience.com/author/chris/Linkedin - https://ca.linkedin.com/in/chris-butler-b330943a_____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____Timestamps00:00 Pressure bends perception and memory01:10 Meeting Chris Butler before COVID shut everything down03:00 From search and rescue to policing05:10 When training mistakes nearly got people killed07:30 Why personal skill does not equal teaching skill09:45 The failure of linear, technique based training12:10 Why law enforcement training ignores learning science14:20 Performance vs learning explained16:45 Retention and transfer, what actually matters19:20 Why firearms qualification is meaningless22:00 How force on force training changes outcomes24:30 RCMP research and evidence based qualification changes26:40 Decision training vs technique training29:50 Why mistakes are essential for learning33:10 The danger of spoonfeeding solutions36:30 Why training under pressure works39:10 Can this apply outside law enforcement41:40 How experts analyze use of force incidents44:10 Why video never tells the full story46:50 Frame rates, missed actions, and false conclusions49:30 Body cameras distort distance and threat perception52:30 Leadership failure under public pressure55:10 Moral courage and protecting your people57:50 Final thoughts on training, leadership, and restraint
S6 Ep 177Ep. 177: SBS Special Forces Veteran on Violence, Awareness, and Self Protection
Violence arrives fast and leaves a long shadow.Former British SBS Special Forces veteran Sonny Smith returns to the Silvercore Podcast for a grounded conversation on awareness, personal safety, and the realities of physical confrontation.Drawing from experience in UK Special Forces, executive protection, surveillance work, and professional bare knuckle boxing, Sonny talks through how people are selected as targets, how situations escalate, and where confidence drifts ahead of capability. We discuss awareness as a practiced discipline, avoidance as a measure of competence, and the responsibility that comes with force.As the conversation deepens, it turns inward. We explore life after high risk work, mental health, identity, and the weight carried once the external danger fades. Sonny speaks openly about his personal experiences with ayahuasca as part of a broader reflection on trauma, accountability, and integration, without instruction or advocacy.This episode is a clear-eyed look at judgment, restraint, and what survival demands, both in moments of danger and across a lifetime.Buy Man Protect Here - https://a.co/d/2C4SVkxFollow Sonny - https://www.instagram.com/sixsightco/Six Sight Training Wing - https://www.instagram.com/sixsight.coSix Sight Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@SixSight_____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____Timestamps00:00 – Why most people misunderstand violence03:45 – Bare knuckle boxing and reality versus fantasy08:55 – Confidence, competence, and dangerous gaps13:40 – Awareness without paranoia18:25 – How predators actually select targets23:10 – Situational awareness beyond buzzwords28:00 – Subtle cues people miss before violence starts33:15 – Why most self protection training fails38:05 – Avoidance as a trained skill43:20 – When violence becomes unavoidable48:10 – Knives, firearms, and uncomfortable truths54:30 – The psychological cost of physical confrontationMental Health and Psychedelics01:00:05 – Life after violence and high risk careers01:04:30 – Trauma, identity, and suppressed damage01:10:15 – Why some people turn to ayahuasca01:16:40 – Expectations versus reality01:22:30 – Integration, responsibility, and accountability01:28:10 – Mental health without shortcuts01:33:40 – What survival actually means long term
S6 Ep 176Ep. 176: What Do You Want to Be Remembered For?
As the year comes to a close, I reached out to a small group of past guests and asked them one question.What do you want to be remembered for?Their answers, and my own, are shared here.This episode is chaptered. Listen straight through, or move to the voices that resonate most with you.Take your time with it.This is the final episode of the Silvercore Podcast for 2025 This Year End project is Silvercore Podcast Ep. 176### Thank you to the guests who took part in this projectIf you’d like to learn more about the people who shared their reflections, you can find them here.Kyle LambViking TacticsWebsite: https://www.vikingtactics.comInstagram (Viking Tactics): https://www.instagram.com/vikingtacticsAmie BattamsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amie.flyfish/Colin DowlerColin keeps a low public profile. His story was first shared here:Silvercore Podcast – https://www.silvercore.ca/podcast/ep-09-now-youre-bleeding-too-bearApril VokeyAnchored OutdoorsWebsite: https://anchoredoutdoors.comPodcast: https://www.anchoredoutdoors.com/podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilvokeyJason BuddTantalus Mountain GuidesWebsite: https://tantalusmtnguides.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tantalusmtnguides/Seb LavoieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/slavccmdr/Kevin KossowanFrom the WildWebsite: https://www.fromthewild.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinkossowan/Kelsi SherenPodcast, speaking, and writingWebsite: https://www.kelsisheren.comInstagram Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thekelsisherenperspective/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsie_sheren/Shaun TaylorThe Collective PodcastWebsite: https://the-collective.caInstagram (podcast): https://www.instagram.com/the_collective_ig/Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/shauntaylors1/Chance BurrellsThe Collective PodcastWebsite: https://the-collective.cahttps://www.instagram.com/chance_burlesTiffany BaderSilvercore OutdoorsWebsite: https://silvercore.caInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bader.tiffany/_____Silvercore Club - https://bit.ly/2RiREb4 Online Training - https://bit.ly/3nJKx7U Other Training & Services - https://bit.ly/3vw6kSU Merchandise - https://bit.ly/3ecyvk9 Blog Page - https://bit.ly/3nEHs8W Host Instagram - @Bader.Trav https://www.instagram.com/bader.travSilvercore Instagram - @SilvercoreOutdoors https://www.instagram.com/silvercoreoutdoors____ (00:13) - Intro – What Will Remain (01:38) - Kyle Lamb (08:25) - Amie Battams (11:10) - Colin Dowler (14:13) - April Vokey (17:00) - Jason Budd (19:46) - Seb Lavoie (28:34) - Kevin Kossowan (39:13) - Kelsi Sheren (47:53) - Shaun Taylor (52:55) - Chance Burles (01:01:43) - Tiffany Bader (01:03:48) - Travis Bader – Reflection