In Part Two of this wide-ranging conversation, Manny finishes his conversation with Tyler Johnson for a story that takes an unexpected and unforgettable turn.

After surviving a life-or-death grizzly bear attack, Tyler shares another wild moment from his life in the Alaska wilderness—this time on the remote Aleutian Island of Adak. What began as a demanding caribou hunt with his father turned into an emergency when an injury left them stranded in brutal weather, facing isolation, hard decisions, and the reality of self-rescue in one of the most unforgiving landscapes on earth.

As Tyler recounts navigating exhaustion, fear, and responsibility while helping his injured father survive the night, the story builds into something no one saw coming: a strange and unexplained experience in the skies above Adak that leaves both host and listeners questioning what was really happening out there—especially in light of the island’s military history and real-world geopolitical events unfolding at the same time. Aliens? Chinese Spies? You be the judge.

This episode isn’t just about survival. It’s about trust between father and son, staying calm under pressure, the weight of decision-making in the wilderness, and how these moments shaped Tyler’s purpose moving forward, fueling his mission to help others experience Alaska safely, responsibly, and deeply connected to nature.

It’s raw, funny, unsettling, and uniquely Alaskan—and it sets the stage for what comes next in Tyler’s journey.

Follow Tyler:

Instagram: @grizzlylife907

Facebook: Tyler B Johnson

Shoot me a text, what do you think?

Tyler Johnson grew up in Sterling, Alaska, raised in the outdoors alongside his dad, a longtime game warden. Hunting, fishing, hiking, and navigating wild places weren’t just pastimes — they were normal to life on the Kenai Peninsula.

In this episode, Tyler recounts his sudden encounter with a grizzly bear in August 2024 at Resurrection Pass in gripping detail. What happened in those moments, what went right, what went wrong, and how even preparing for this exact scenario still wasn’t enough. He walks through the decisions made under pressure, the reality of how fast things unfolded, and what survival actually looks like when theory meets real life.

But the story doesn’t end with the attack.

Tyler also opens up about the aftermath — the physical recovery, the emotional weight, and the unexpected wave of national and international attention that followed. We talk about how that experience reshaped his perspective and ultimately led him toward a new mission: developing a device aimed at preventing similar encounters and helping keep both people and wildlife safer in the future.

This is more than a survival story. It’s about preparation, humility, responsibility, and how one moment in the Alaska backcountry became the start of something bigger.

Follow Tyler on social media:

Instagram @grizzlylife907

Facebook @Tyler B Johnson

TikTok @tyler.johnsonak

Shoot me a text, what do you think?

In this episode, Manny sits down with David Bayes, a lifelong Alaskan fisherman, charter captain, and one of the most visible leaders in the movement to reform Alaska’s trawl bycatch system. David grew up in Homer, spent more than two decades working on the water, and now helps lead the statewide conversation through the rapidly growing Stop Alaskan Trawler Bycatch Facebook group.

Manny and David break down what trawling actually is, how it differs from other commercial fishing methods, and why bycatch has become one of the most urgent fisheries issues in Alaska. David explains the staggering scale of what is pulled from Alaska’s waters every year, the loopholes and regulatory structures that allow it, and why many Alaskans initially don’t believe the numbers—until they see the data themselves.

They dive into the impacts on subsistence families, sport fishermen, charter operators, coastal communities, and even trawl crew members who have quietly come forward to say the same thing: something has to change. The conversation also explores the politics of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the role of Alaska’s governor, federal oversight, and the influence of major seafood corporations.

At its core, this episode is about stewardship, transparency, and protecting the future of Alaska’s fisheries. Manny and David discuss what meaningful change could look like, how everyday Alaskans can get involved, and why awareness is the key to shifting policy.

If you care about Alaska’s fish, its communities, or its future, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Join the movement on Facebook:

STOP Alaskan Trawler Bycatch

Shoot me a text, what do you think?