As I rounded the intermittent curves of the Texas Hill Country highway, the beautiful spring colors had me in my glory. I log many hours on the roads of rural Texas, largely between hunts and hunting properties. On this off-season day, I was simply hitting a property with the sole purpose of changing out some trail camera cards. From an enjoyment perspective, the trip wasn’t to be a particularly eventful, as I had little time. My chore-filled day meant a quick turnaround trip. Nonetheless, I had a spring in my step. I abruptly realized that, aside from the great scenery, I was smiling. I was intrigued by the animated banter coming from my truck speakers about, among other things, a missed shot at a turkey and the pairing of an everyday sandwich with homemade ceviche. Yeah, you read that right. To be fair, the overall theme revolved around a great weekend of hunting, fishing, and fellowship among friends on the Brazos River. The excitement over the outing, animals, scenery, and life, in general, was palpable. It turns out that I wasn’t only enjoying outdoor content, but my mood and outlook had been shaped for the better. So it goes with the Element podcast.

As a whitetail hunter and outdoor junkie, I listen to a lot of hunting podcasts. Especially while logging windshield time. For sure, there are a ton of good ones out there these days. But for me, this one is unique. Everything about Tyler Jones’ and K.C. Smith’s Element podcast oozes creativity and offers many things that make it enjoyable.

True Outdoorsmen

Tyler and the Buck called “Nameless”

Tyler grew up in East Texas on Lake Fork, one of the premier bass fishing lakes on the planet and, as such, was exposed to hunting and fishing at a young age. In the early days, he most enjoyed fishing (of course) and waterfowl hunting. He, after all, lived in a mecca for such activities. He’s since expanded his outdoor pursuits, adding whitetail hunting, turkey hunting, and fly-fishing, just to name a few. Says Jones, “I’m blessed to have tried many things in the outdoors. If I had to choose though, I’d definitely go with chasing big whitetails”. K.C. likewise thrives in the woods and on the water, but he particularly enjoys elk hunting. In fact, he’s been consistently successful on over the counter bow hunts in the likes of Colorado – no small feat. “K.C. is possibly the most observant person you could meet. His quick mind and assertive reactions paired with his outdoor experience make him a great hunter and fisherman”, says Jones. Both guys are avid fly fishermen and I get the impression they tote their gear about everywhere they go – just in case.

Partners and Production Value

One of the first things I noticed about these co-hosts was their seamless banter. Meeting less than 4 years ago, they converse like lifelong friends. They’ve found a formula that works, leveraging each other’s strong suits. However, it’s what they both bring to the table that comes out loud and clear; their enthusiasm for outdoor adventure and life in general. Whether describing the harvest of a B&C buck, whiffing at a short shot, or fly-fishing for trout, you’ll hear an enthusiastic description of the moment. It’s not scripted, rather raw emotion – not easy to achieve in a voice-only media channel like a podcast. Perhaps one of the best parts of their podcast experience is a sense that, though they are crazy about hunting and fishing, they don’t take themselves too seriously. Therefore, you’ll hear about successes, failures, and follies. The production is structured, yet informal. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear their episodes recorded right from the truck on the way home from an excursion.

Full Days and Creative Vision

There are a few origins of the creativity this bunch offers and when talking with them, you can’t help but wonder how they fit so much in a day. A singer and songwriter, Tyler is the lead singer for Tyler and the Tribe, a well-established band. You would think that alone would dominate one’s time. Like the Element brand, there are many sides to the music, blending country, rock, and folk, just to name a few. Chuckling, Jones says, “I’ve never really been able to describe our genre. We typically embrace diversity in our music and aren’t on a top-40 quest, rather we seek to create music that’s on our heart and fun to make.”

Tyler and K.C. and their Texas Gobblers

Many other podcasts regularly pound home such topics as hang and bang hunting escapades, saddle hunting, and the merits of public-land hunting; all good topics in their own right. These guys, however, offer a healthy variety, describing in detail everything from public and private land hunting adventures to fly-fishing sessions, both planned and impromptu. In addition to their conversations, they host many interesting guests, including well-known and everyday outdoorsmen alike. While doing so, they are skillful at asking good questions, yielding interesting and useful answers for their audience.

Yes, Jones and Smith are creative. But don’t misunderstand. This fist full of dirt duo embraces the hard work associated with the fair chase pursuit of whitetails, elk, and other game with a vengeance. Again, all while providing lively descriptions, laughter, and instruction. For good measure, the Element boys are also adept at capturing their outdoor adventures through quality videography. Their latest endeavor, a video called “Hooked”, vividly documents a recent turkey hunt. The video quality of the hunt itself is matched only by the visual portrayal of the beautiful spring days they encountered – complete with quality footage of nature and critters alike. It pops.

Authenticity and Faith

As mentioned, it’s hard to imagine how these guys fit so much in a day. They are family men, youth mentors, little league coaches, construction workers, event photographers and videographers, musicians, and leaders in their communities. Smith, for example, is, among other things, a youth pastor at his church and flourishes in providing guidance to area youth. As Jones puts it, “I believe it’s a spiritual gift. K.C. truly has a servant’s heart”.

K.C and His Colorado Public Land Archery Bull

Somewhere in there lies a couple of hardcore hunters, fishermen, conservationists, and adventure seekers. The common denominator is their integrity, faith, and Christian walk. “We strive to carry ourselves with integrity in not only what we do with our Element projects, but in all phases of our life. I liken it to witnessing. Do we fail at times? Sure, I know I do. Nonetheless, it’s a goal and important to us”, says Jones.

The Future

Despite all the things these guys embrace in life, the Element project looms large for these guys. When it comes down to it, growing and improving their venture into the future is a major goal. In doing so, they aim to increase the cinematography end of the brand. Arguably, there’s no better way to express outdoor experiences than through video. With Jones’ photography and videography expertise it’s a natural progression. But don’t sleep on Smith’s contributions. Says Jones, “K.C. is really good at production. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with his attention to detail in all he does. He’s very observant”.

They’ve obviously only scratched the surface. If you like great outdoor content in a variety of formats, stay tuned to the Element, including the podcast, films, and blog. Through these channels, you’ll find entertaining outdoor stories and instruction. As the Element Podcast tagline says, “It’s your element, live in it”. These guys certainly do.