Tom Rowland Podcast

Sam Root is a content creator in the fishing industry and a key part of the team at Pure Fishing — one of the biggest fishing companies on the planet. We go way back (forums, early DSLR days, the first years of Saltwater Experience), and in this conversation we get into what’s actually changed in fishing media… and what hasn’t. We talk about the death of gatekeeping, why attention spans are getting weird (3 seconds or 3 hours), why polished “commercial-looking” videos often underperform, how AI is already changing photo/video work, and the wild travel stories that remind you fishing is fishing — whether you’re in the Everglades or 30 hours from the nearest runway. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The gatekeeping is gone — and that’s a blessing and a whole new kind of grind. High-end production can actually hurt performance because people can smell an ad in half a second. New product hype sells… until it doesn’t — credibility is what carries the long game. AI is powerful, but the “soulless” stuff gets blocked fast (and I’m with him on that). The Everglades might be the best “short trip” fishing on earth — but the sharks have changed the whole release game. 00:00 Introduction + “Apollo Beach Sam” 02:05 How we first met (forums, early show days) 06:10 Gatekeeping is dead — and what replaced it 10:35 3 seconds vs 3 hours (attention span whiplash) 14:10 How Sam ended up at Pure Fishing (and what he does) 18:15 What actually sells product now (and why “polished” can flop) 23:40 YouTube/shorts vs longform — and how channels get confused 28:55 Travel fishing: Indonesia, Seychelles, Amazon, Argentina 37:40 The “sketchy mothership” story (28 hours back in a storm) 41:30 Weirdest food: sea turtle eggs + coconut crabs 46:10 AI in fishing content (Nano Banana + photo fixes) 52:15 Sharks in the Everglades/Keys — what’s happening? 58:05 Rapid fire: best, worst, strangest, bucket list 01:02:10 Where to find Sam + closing 🔗 Visit Sam Root’s Website – [custom link] 🔗 Connect With Sam Root: Instagram → @scssam (search “Sam Root / ROOT”) 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #SamRoot #PureFishing #FishingContent #SocialMediaMarketing #SaltwaterExperience #EvergladesFishing #GT #FlyFishing #AIEditing

When I started the Tom Rowland Podcast, I never imagined we’d hit this milestone… and definitely not with a lineup like this. To celebrate 1,000 episodes, we put together a best-of conversation reel featuring some of the most impactful guests to ever sit down with me: Bill Dance – The legend himself. We talk about joy, longevity, and why fishing is still fun after a lifetime on the water. Michael Chandler – UFC superstar. Discipline, doubt, and what it really means to bet on yourself when the lights are brightest. Monte Burke – Author of Lords of the Fly. The obsession, history, and culture behind chasing truly giant fish. Michael Waddell – “Bone Collector.” Family, faith, hunting culture, and how to stay grounded when the cameras turn on. Chris Fischer – Founder of OCEARCH. Great white sharks, conservation, and why wild places still matter. These aren’t just highlight clips. They’re the moments that stuck with me long after we stopped recording – the stories, one-liners, and mindset shifts that changed how I think about fishing, work, family, and life. The real Bill Dance behind the bloopers and the TV fame How Michael Chandler turns fear into fuel before he walks into the Octagon Why Monte Burke thinks certain anglers cross the line from “interested” to “obsessed” Michael Waddell’s take on raising kids, building a brand, and still loving the hunt How Chris Fischer and OCEARCH are using science and storytelling to protect the ocean If you’ve listened since the early days: thank you. If you’re new here: this is a great place to start. 🎣 Subscribe for more conversations about fishing, adventure, mindset, and becoming harder to kill in every area of life. 👍 Drop a comment and tell me: Which guest has impacted you the most over 1000 episodes? In this 1000th episode, you’ll hear:

Chris James is a self-taught holistic wellness coach and the creator of A Healthy Alternative, a fasting-based wellness community that’s helped thousands of people lose 100+ pounds, reverse disease symptoms, and feel at home in their body again. A Healthy Alternative+1 In this conversation, we get into how Chris helped his brother lose 100 pounds in just 90 days without loose skin, how his own mysterious infection disappeared when nothing else worked, and why strategic fasting and hydration might be the most underrated tools for getting truly healthy — not just “less sick.” Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: When Chris broke down how his brother went from 420 pounds to losing 100 pounds in 90 days — and what they learned about autophagy, plateaus, and that “shrink week” in a long fast. His story of battling a 10-year infection doctors couldn’t diagnose, trying every pill and test, and finally seeing it disappear when he changed his diet and started water fasting. The way he explains distilled water, hydration, and cellular water — and why so many of us are drinking water but still walking around dehydrated and tired. A Healthy Alternative How extended fasts triggered intense cravings, emotional memories, and even childhood foods — and what that taught him about the emotional side of eating and detox. His vision for wellness centers with fasting support, testing, and gardens—places where normal people can actually succeed with fasting instead of trying to white-knuckle it alone. If you’ve ever wondered: “Is fasting just starving myself?” “Can you really lose 100+ pounds without loose skin?” “What about electrolytes, distilled water, and training while fasted?” “How do I use fasting if I’m not obese but want less inflammation and better performance?” …this episode is going to give you a ton to think about and some very practical starting points. 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations →https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #Fasting #ChrisJames #AHealthyAlternative #WeightLossJourney #NoLooseSkin #Autophagy #Inflammation #HealthTransformation #SaltwaterLegends

What happens when you give an oceanographer a pile of ROFFS® fishing reports, decades of ocean data, and access to Simrad® electronics? You get FishCast® — an AI-powered offshore fishing forecast that can highlight high-probability zones days before you ever leave the dock. In this conversation, Dr. Taylor Shropshire from Fathom Science and I break down how FishCast works on Simrad MFDs, how 3-day, 3-hour forecasts help you plan offshore trips, and why AI should be a tool that makes fishing more fun rather than a shortcut that replaces hard-earned experience. We also talk about ocean models, hurricane prediction, safety, and what better forecasting might mean for anyone who lives and fishes on the coast. If you liked this episode, share it with a friend, rate the show, and stay tuned for more unfiltered conversations.

Joe Simons is the co-founder of Salt Strong, one of the largest fishing communities in America — built from scratch with his brother Luke to teach the world how to fish. Over 600 podcast episodes later, Joe joins me to talk about the journey from startup to acquisition, what it means to stay true to your mission, and how community, content, and faith built something much bigger than a business. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: The early days of Salt Strong — from t-shirts to teaching anglers How Joe and Luke grew to 60,000+ members without investors The inside story behind Salt Strong’s acquisition by Sportsman’s Guide What it takes to stay authentic after a sale Why building community will always beat chasing followers The vision for a Fishing Theme Park and the next five years Lessons from selling a company, leadership, and family legacy 🔗 Visit Salt Strong → https://www.saltstrong.com 📘 Free Resources: 🎁 Saltwater Knot Guide → https://bit.ly/3UnAeIP 🎙️ Tom Rowland Podcast → https://bit.ly/3O4lgn0 📺 Subscribe for More Unfiltered Conversations → https://www.youtube.com/saltwaterexperience?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow the Show: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/saltwater_experience/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@saltwaterexperience Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/tvswe #SaltStrong #FishingPodcast #Entrepreneurship #TomRowlandPodcast #SaltwaterExperience