After a month away from the mic, I finally stopped overthinking and just hit record. This episode is an honest campfire talk about feeling stuck, winter slowdowns, too many ideas, and why taking one small step beats waiting for the perfect plan. Sometimes showing up messy is better than not showing up at all.

This episode is about slowing down on purpose.

Not stepping away. Not quitting. Just building things in a way that doesn’t eat every evening, weekend, or season you care about.

Joe reflects on how constant availability quietly became the norm in outdoor businesses and creative work, and how answering everything manually eventually crowds out the very reason people started doing this work in the first place.

Around the campfire, he shares real examples from guides, shop owners, and creators who aren’t burned out because they don’t care, but because everything depends on them being present all the time.

The conversation moves into how simple automations, websites, booking systems, and quiet backend tools can protect time without replacing human connection. Not to scale endlessly. Not to look impressive. Just to give margin back.

Echoes of the Hunt stays where it belongs. A place for stories and reflection. Loyal Lab Designs exists to quietly support the lives behind those stories.

If work has started to crowd out the woods, the weekends, or the people you care about, this episode is an invitation to build differently and protect the season.

https://www.loyallabdesigns.com/

00:00 Introduction to Echoes of the Hunt

00:21 The Need for Change in Work Approach

02:49 Building Systems for Balance

03:30 Protecting Time and Seasons

In this engaging conversation, Durk Lee Stark and Joe Gross explore the journey of reconnecting with hunting, the evolution of the hunting industry, and the importance of authenticity in outdoor business. They discuss innovations in archery and crossbows, the balance between work and personal passion, and the essence of shared experiences in hunting. The dialogue emphasizes continuous learning and adapting to changes in the industry, highlighting the significance of relationships and integrity in business.

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ballista.co

https://www.facebook.com/StarkGrowth

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background

01:49 Journey into Hunting and Industry Experience

04:41 Business Ventures and Product Development

07:12 Innovations in Archery and Target Technology

09:47 Balancing Work and Passion for Hunting

12:37 The Evolution of Content Creation and Marketing

15:18 Reflections on Hunting Experiences and Memories

18:15 Returning to the Hunting Industry

20:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

hunting, archery, crossbows, outdoor business, hunting stories, hunting industry, product development, hunting experiences, hunting passion, outdoor innovations

This conversation provides an overview of recent developments in wildlife management, focusing on hunting regulations in response to public health concerns, particularly tick-borne diseases. It also discusses the ongoing challenges of avian influenza and highlights international debates on hunting policies, emphasizing the importance of public perception in shaping these regulations.

In this episode, I sit down with my cousin Eric for a real conversation about where we’ve both been and how our different paths still meet in the outdoors. Eric brings his background in the military, climbing, hiking, and gunsmithing, and the stories he shares add a whole new layer to what this podcast is becoming. We talk about grit, experience, the lessons the trail hands out, and how time outside shapes the way we move through the world. It’s honest, grounded, and the kind of episode that sets the tone before I start bringing more voices to the fire.

Summary

In this episode of Echoes of the Hunt, the host reflects on their personal journey with hunting, exploring the reasons for drifting away from the passion and the influences that brought them back. The conversation delves into the impact of the hunting industry, the importance of community and stories, and the desire to reconnect with the quiet and simplicity of nature.