JRE 709 · October 16, 2015

Steven Rinella

huntingenvironmentphilosophyfood

Who is Steven Rinella?

Steven Rinella is an outdoorsman, author, and television host. He currently hosts MeatEater on the Sportsman Channel.

Topics and Timestamps

01Steven Rinella discusses his journey from Michigan to becoming a full-time outdoorsman and TV host
02The conversation covers hunting ethics, conservation, and why killing your own food matters
03Rinella explains the reality of hunting versus the romanticized version most people imagine
04Discussion about MeatEater and how the show evolved on different networks
05The importance of understanding animal behavior and respecting the prey you're hunting
06How modern society has disconnected from the source of their food and what that means
▶Rinella explains how he became obsessed with hunting and the outdoors as a kid in Michigan0:03:00
▶Discussion about the ethics of hunting and what it means to take an animal's life0:15:30
▶Rinella talks about how hunting has changed him and made him understand food differently0:28:45
▶The conversation turns to MeatEater and how the show evolved on television0:42:00
▶Rinella discusses the reality of failed hunts and what that teaches you0:58:15

The Show

Joe sits down with Steven Rinella, one of the most respected figures in modern hunting and outdoor media, and they dive deep into what it actually means to hunt for your food in the 21st century. Rinella brings a refreshing honesty to the conversation that cuts through a lot of the mythology around hunting culture. He's not some guy playing dress-up in the woods for Instagram likes. He's spent decades understanding animal behavior, conservation, and the real ethical dimensions of taking an animal's life.

The conversation naturally flows into why hunting matters beyond just getting meat. Rinella makes the point that when you kill something yourself, you develop a completely different relationship with food than buying it wrapped in plastic at the supermarket. You understand the actual cost of that meat in a way most people never will. It's not about being tough or macho. It's about being honest about where your food comes from and respecting that process.

Joe and Steven get into the practical side of hunting too. It's harder than people think. You can spend days in the field and come back empty-handed. That's part of it. The preparation, the failed attempts, the moments where you get close but the animal gets away. These aren't failures if you're doing it right. They're part of understanding your environment and your place in it.

The discussion also touches on conservation and how hunters actually fund a lot of wildlife protection through licenses and tag fees. This is something most people don't realize. The hunting community, when done ethically, is actively involved in preserving wild spaces and animal populations. It's not the contradiction people think it is.

Throughout the episode, Rinella comes across as genuinely thoughtful about his craft. He's not defensive about hunting. He acknowledges the real ethical questions and doesn't pretend there's a simple answer. This is what makes the conversation valuable. He's talking to someone like Joe who isn't going to let him off easy, who's going to ask the real questions, and Rinella meets that energy with substance.

Best Quotes

“When you kill something yourself, you understand the real cost of that meat in a way most people never will.”

— Steven Rinella