After some time away, we're back with a new episode of The Code of The West podcast. I’m sharing a personal reflection on this journey—how the Code of The West came to be, the release of the manual, and what lies ahead. It’s been a road filled with lessons, resilience, and growth.

In this episode, I also introduce something I’ve been thinking a lot about: journaling as a tool for clarity and purpose. It’s not just about putting words on paper; it’s about finding yourself in the process.

I’ll catch you up on future collaborations, art projects, and why this work matters more than ever. Let’s keep moving forward together. Thanks for being here.

In this episode, Chris Hunt discusses the state of American manufacturing, drawing insights from his conversation with Pete Roberts, founder of Origin USA. He explores the challenges faced by American manufacturers, the journey of bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., and the importance of competency and self-sufficiency in individuals and the nation, which in many ways are playing out on the East Coast in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Chris reflects on the broader implications of manufacturing loss on identity and purpose, and shares his personal mission to support American-made products.

From being stranded in The Frank Church Wilderness as a teen, to working with Josh Brolin on Outer Range-Heather Rae has lived a very "western" life chasing her dreams and living her own compelling adventure.

In this conversation, Producer Heather Rae Priest shares her journey as a storyteller and filmmaker, reflecting on her roots in Idaho and the impact of her upbringing on her creative pursuits.

Chris and James discuss the importance of mentorship, community, and authentic connections, as well as the challenges and lessons learned from their experiences.

They reflect on the significance of finding purpose after service, the impact of loss, and the value of resilience in navigating life's challenges. In this conversation, Chris and James explore themes of kindness, struggle, and the importance of community.

They discuss the cultural shifts that have led to a perceived increase in laziness and the value of hard work.

The conversation delves into personal stories of overcoming adversity, the significance of teaching and sharing knowledge, and the healing power of storytelling. They emphasize the interconnectedness of humanity and the responsibility to pass down knowledge and values to future generations.

Ultimately, the discussion highlights the importance of pursuing one's dreams and finding purpose in life, while recognizing the privilege of living in a community that values hard work and connection.

#usmc #longlivecowboys #westernlifestyle #rodeo #yellowstone #mentalhealth #grit #mindset

In this conversation, Chris is joined by Kylee Whiting, a rodeo queen and businesswoman. They discuss Kylee's deep roots in the Western lifestyle, her journey into the Western world, and her passion for rodeo and horse training. They also explore the importance of authenticity and education in the Western community, as well as the challenges and commitment required to pursue a professional career in rodeo. Kylee shares her experiences and goals, highlighting the need for love and passion in pursuing one's dreams. The conversation explores the growth of Code of the West on social media and the importance of staying true to oneself. It emphasizes the need to welcome newcomers to the Western industry and the value of mentorship and education. The conversation also touches on the significance of hard work, faith, and the awe-inspiring nature of the West. The code of the West is about living with courage, embracing the camaraderie of the community, and appreciating the beauty and spirituality of the land. In this part of the conversation, Chris and Kylee discuss advice for young people trying to navigate social media and marketing. They emphasize the importance of networking, reaching out to brands for internships or job opportunities, and being a sponge for learning. They also talk about the positive impact of social media in the Western community, including its ability to educate others and spread awareness about the Western lifestyle. They touch on the challenges faced by the Western community, such as the negative perception from organizations like PETA, and the importance of animal welfare versus animal rights. They also discuss the role of social media in sharing authentic stories and fostering camaraderie within the Western community.

WEEK 1 SUMMARY

In the first of his weekly debriefs, Chris Hunt discusses his journey with Code of the West and his transition to running his own media company.

He reflects on the challenges and successes he has experienced and shares his plans for the future. Chris emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the role of social media in building a brand.

He also talks about the podcast and his goal to have guests from diverse backgrounds who exemplify the code of the West. Chris encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and shares his own personal growth throughout this process.

Takeaways

- Starting a business requires focus and a clear understanding of the goals and vision.

- Building a brand involves storytelling and utilizing social media as a platform.

- The podcast will feature guests from diverse backgrounds who embody the code of the West.

- Pursuing dreams and goals requires stepping out of comfort zones and being willing to fail.

- Success is not solely determined by talent or luck, but also by perseverance and dedication.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:12 Building a Media Company and Embracing the Code of the West

09:39 The Power of Storytelling and Social Media in Brand Building

16:16 The Podcast: Guests and Perspectives on the Code of the West

22:15 Stepping Out of Comfort Zones and Embracing Failure

34:46 Success: More Than Talent and Luck

Let's talk about The Rider's Club a bit.

A lot of people on the Instagram page are excited about this idea of having a membership card, which I love that you're excited, but I want to make sure you know what you're getting into.

On top of that, I'm going to need help. My goal has always been to build COTW into a community and as apart of the rider's club, I want to find a way for us to interact with each other and lay the ground work for something that allows you all to build off of it with me.

Well, it has been a little while since you've heard from me on here. There were some reasons for that which I go into in this episode, but suffice it to say A LOT has happened. Good stuff.

With so many new faces on the Instagram I thought it prudent to give a little backstory on the "why" I started Code of The West, and how that has led to the groundswell in following at the end of February and into March of 2024, as well as what to expect as I move forward.

Nicholas Coleman is a second generation Western artist. He and I have known each other through Instagram over the years but we finally sat down and chatted recently. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to me, but it turns out that we share a lot of common ground.

The mission with his work is to, " preserve the fading heritage of the American West," so it's not a big leap to see why the two of us get along so well.

His work, exhibitions and background are awe inspiring and it's best if you take the time to deep dive yourself at his website below.

I had a fantastic time talking with, Nicholas and I think you'll enjoy it as well. We cover our respective feelings about The West, and the importance of storytelling in the modern world among a wide range of other topics

https://www.nicholascolemanart.com/about

You can follow Nicholas on Instagram at https://www.nicholascolemanart.com/about

I'm joined by Scott Lyman of Lyman Livestock today.

I met Scott earlier this summer when I unexpectedly popped up at his families Memorial Day Branding. Very quickly he and his whole family welcomed me in and I spent the weekend documenting the event videoing and taking photos of the happenings.

I hit the record button a little early so we're dropping right into the conversation. We talk about the commonalities between our upbringings despite being from (what would appear to be) two different worlds, and we discuss some of the challenges his family faces, and families like his that are attempting to keep their livelihoods and traditions alive.

I've made some dramatic changes in my lifestyle since we last talked around diet and exercise, and as a result I've gone through a bit of a transformation. Both physically as well as mentally. As a result, things have been shaking loose in my mind-in a good way.

Boy, a lot has happened since the last podcast. It's gonna take a few episodes to cover everything but I wanted to come back to the podcast with a bit of context for where I've been and what I've been up to. The short version is I'm back out on my own, I left BRCC almost a month ago and I'm starting a new chapter, with COTW at the center.

Lots of exciting stuff has been going on in my life, which I can't wait to tell you all about, but for now mum is the word BUT that's a huge reason why I've been a bit awol on here.

We often think of courage as being something associated with big acts, but I think it might be more important to practice it on the daily, with much smaller decisions that actually have more impact than we realize.

Not much to report on, just wanted to touch base and let you know what's been going on in COTW land. Have some details about the rodeo poster I'm doing for Bear Hug Cattle Company.

A lot happened in February in my world. We did the first COTW drop and followed that up with going public at my day job. I needed to take some time to adjust to my new circumstances, and figure out what the space was going to be that I needed to carve out in my life for my new business.

I've been getting a lot of feedback lately on the first five episodes (thanks for that) and one of the things that surprises me is that people respond to how I talk about some of the more complicated aspects of myself. We recently had the chance to have our brains scanned at BRCC and after sitting down and talking with the scientist about the results it confirmed what I had sensed about myself over the years; I'm not much of an artist.

I welcome my first guest to the podcast. Former Army Ranger, PJ, current Black Rifle employee and future Free Range America host, Kevin Reeves. Kevin grew up in the Midwest but has had a career that took him around the world. He talks about growing up jumping horses in Ohio, missed opportunities with Dolphin Quest and how he ended up with careers in two different branches of the Military. I talk about falling three stories through a tree after drinking a bottle of bourbon.

People have a tendency to see people who have "succeeded," or accomplished big tasks as having something unique or special, when in reality its usually just a grind behind the scenes.

This will be the final "This Is Who I Am," episode hopefully for a while. Talking about growing up on the truck is the keystone (to me) that is the root of my personality, code and work ethic. It's why I have never been able to really think of myself as an "artist," but a big reason for who I grew up to be and how I decided to live my life.