#2: Hunting, Hard Things, and the Mindset That Gets You Through Storms | Donnie Vincent

In this episode of Two Percent, Michael sits down with backcountry bow hunter and filmmaker Donnie Vincent to unpack what months in remote wilderness teach you about stress, calm, and competence. Donnie was featured heavily in Michael’s bestselling book, The Comfort Crisis, and now he joins Michael for the first time on mic since the book’s release.

They talk about the ethics and emotional reality of hunting, why sourcing your own food changes your relationship with life, and how modern convenience hijacks the ancient “search” that once made humans thrive. Donnie shares stories from Alaska—about storms, solitude, and the kind of discomfort that forces growth.

The two discuss the importance of building resilience when nothing's certain, staying present in wild places, and how you can get the same benefits of a hunt without ever picking up a bow – all it takes is choosing experiences that are hard and honest.

HOST

Michael Easter

PRODUCERS

Dana Brawer

Joey Fischground

Robbie Hiser

EDITOR

Nick Pomeroy

HEAD OF VIDEO

Maria Paz Mendez Hodes

KALEIDOSCOPE - EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Julia Nutter

Kate Osborn

Mangesh Hattikudur

IHEARTMEDIA - EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Katrina Norvell

Nikki Ettore

THEME MUSIC BY

Heat Manager

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:07:18 - The First Kill & What It Feels Like

00:12:30 - The Ethics of Hunting in a Modern World

00:16:54 - What Hunting Gives You Beyond Meat

00:20:00 - The Frozen Pond Duck Story

00:28:16 - 5 Months Alone Counting Salmon in Alaska

00:33:00 - The 1,000-lb Bear & "Don't Quit Until the Magic Happens"

00:46:17 - "Make Films Like No One Will Watch Them"

00:52:00 - How Authenticity Changed Hunting Culture

01:01:06 - Fantastic Places Are in Your Mind

GET A FREE GUIDE TO EXAMPLES OF MISOGI. GO TO https://www.twopct.com AND ENTER YOUR EMAIL.

I share similar insights around health and wellness here:

https://substack.com/@michaeleaster

https://instagram.com/michael_easter/

https://linkedin.com/in/michael-easter-b208848/

https://facebook.com/easter.michael

https://tiktok.com/@michael_easter6

https://x.com/Michael_Easter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices