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

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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

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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

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My guest today is Chad Hufford; Financial planner, founder of Veritas Wealth Management in Anchorage, author of Forging Financial Freedom, and host of The Blue Collar Millionaire Show. Chad is a lifelong Alaskan whose approach to money is shaped by the realities so many of us face in the Last Frontier: high cost of living, seasonal work, opportunity-rich industries, and a lifestyle full of both challenges and rewards.

In this episode, Chad breaks down the real Alaskan money mindset , one rooted in habits, purpose, clarity, and the discipline it takes to build a life you’re proud of. We cover a wide range of topics that apply whether you're barely getting by, earning six figures, or somewhere in between.

We get into:
• Growing up in Alaska and learning money lessons early
• Why living within your means matters more than income
• The “toy culture” in Alaska and the danger of lifestyle creep
• Smart ways to think about (and use) the PFD
• How to plan for snowbird winters without leaving Alaska for good
• College savings, debt, and the order of operations for financial stability
• Budgeting for seasonal work in fishing, construction, and tourism
• How blue-collar Alaskans become millionaires
• Why your physical health directly impacts your long-term financial freedom
• What being a SmartVestor Pro really means and how personalized coaching works
• Fishing vs. investing (yes, the metaphor actually works)

Chad and I dive into the mindset behind money — the behaviors, habits, and decisions that shape your future far more than the size of your paycheck. Whether you're 18 or 80, working the Slope, living in the bush, or raising a family in town, there’s something here for you.

Connect with Chad:

Website: veritasalaska.com
Instagram: @veritas.alaska
Podcast: The Blue Collar Millionaire Show
LinkedIn: Chad Hufford

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In this episode I sit down with Ben Adams, owner and operator of 4T% Ranch in Soldotna, Alaska, to talk about the work, the cost, and the conviction behind one of the wildest modern ranching stories I have ever heard.
Ben grew up poor in Canada with a legally blind father, learned responsibility early, and eventually "fluked" his way into a career as a criminal defense attorney. Years later, he walked away from the courtroom, carved a ranch out of the boreal forest on the central Kenai Peninsula, and has been grinding ever since to raise some of the most nutritionally dense beef in the country. Along the way, his body and spirit have taken a beating from brutal winters, dead calves, broken equipment, borough taxes, skeptical farmers, and the foreboding task it is to build success in the ag industry.

Through it all, Ben’s impenetrable work ethic, his love for cattle, and his belief that food should actually nourish people keep him going. His transparency on social media has turned 4T% Ranch into something like a live action docu series. Building quite the community of those that cheer him on, but not without those that remain skeptical and criticize his unconventional approach to life and ranching.

In this episode we talk about:

• Ben’s childhood in Canada and what it was like to be raised by a legally blind single dad while living in poverty
• How those early years shaped his work ethic and his decision to grind through university and law school
• The SWAT raid that flipped his view of the justice system and pushed him toward criminal defense work
• Going from broke public defender to successful private attorney and multimillionaire, then choosing a harder life anyway
• Why he always saw law as a way to someday become a farmer
• Buying land on the Kenai, building a massive timber frame home from his own trees, and the decision to ranch
• How a few cows turned into hundreds, and why ranching in the central Kenai Peninsula might be the toughest way to raise beef in Alaska
• The insane logistics of feeding and moving cattle when almost everything has to be trucked in or hauled for hours
• Losing money, losing cattle, and nearly breaking himself during long winters and calving seasons
• Why he feeds root crops like potatoes, beets, and carrots, and what the nutritional testing on his beef actually showed
• The lack of real support for agriculture in Alaska, from tax policy to local culture, and the pushback he has felt from some in the ag community
• Buying a USDA plant to keep local processing alive, and why he did it even though it cost him dearly
• The future of farming and food security in the United States as older producers age out and fewer young people step in

Follow 4T% Ranch on Facebook

Order beef from 4T% Ranch
Text: 907-394-5619
He tracks orders by text. Reach out, tell him you heard the podcast, and he will walk you through what cuts are available and how pickup or delivery works.


If this conversation hit home for you, the best way to support the show is to:

• Follow or subscribe to The State I Am In wherever you listen
• Leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
• Share this episode with a friend who cares about Alaska, ranching, or where their food comes from
• Subscribe on YouTube and share a clip on your social media

Thank you for listening and for supporting Alaskan stories.

Keep North, Alaska.

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In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Kontra, 3rd degree black belt, owner of Holdfast Grappling in Homer, AK, and co-owner of Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Anchorage. Jordan shares his journey from early influences in wrestling to becoming a respected instructor and voice in Alaska’s Jiu-Jitsu community.

We explore how Jiu-Jitsu offers real-world self-defense skills, not just for athletes, but for everyday people—including healthcare workers, first responders, and those who routinely work in unpredictable environments. Jordan explains how Jiu-Jitsu teaches control, restraint, awareness, and the ability to stay calm under pressure—critical skills for de-escalation and safety.

Along the way, we discuss:

• The mental and physical benefits of regular training for adults and kids alike
• How community and accountability keep people coming back
• Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for mental health support and emotional grounding
• The importance of durability and longevity over ego
• The discussion between gi and no-gi training
• Alaska’s rapidly growing competition scene in BJJ and MMA
• The We Defy Foundation, which connects veterans to gyms and purpose through training

Jordan emphasizes that no matter your age, background, or fitness level, the mat is a place for growth, resilience, confidence, and human connection. If you’ve ever been curious about Jiu-Jitsu, this conversation is a genuine invitation.

Learn More:

Holdfast Grappling — Homer, AK
www.holdfastgrappling.com

Southside Jiu-Jitsu Academy — Anchorage, AK
www.southsidejiujitsuak.com

Instagram:

@holdfastgrappling

@southsidejiujitsuacademy

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Alaska Day marks the moment the American flag replaced the Russian one in Sitka — a turning point in our state’s story. But over 150 years later, what does that really mean for those of us who call this place home? In this bonus episode, Manny looks back at the handoff between empires, the people who were here long before it, and how Alaska continues to define itself today. From the debate over Indigenous Peoples Day to jokes about “selling Alaska back to Russia,” it’s a reflection on what it means to take pride in where we live, to see it through many perspectives, and to recognize our shared belonging as Alaskans.

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In this episode, Manny reflects on what it means to live and think in the middle — that quiet space between red and blue where real conversation still has a chance.

After watching local elections play out across Alaska, Manny shares how social media and modern politics have made genuine dialogue harder than ever. The algorithm rewards outrage, the headlines crave reactions, and too often we arrive at every conversation already decided. But what if we started differently?

Manny takes listeners on a thoughtful journey through the way online echo chambers shape our beliefs, the value of long-form conversations, and why empathy might be the most radical act left in today’s political climate. He draws on personal stories, Alaskan life, and even baseball rivalries to remind us that loving the “game” — our shared humanity and community — should matter more than loving any single team.

From protecting free speech and condemning hate, to believing in environmental responsibility and economic opportunity, Manny shows that complex beliefs can coexist — and that humility, not hostility, is what leadership really looks like.

If you’ve ever felt caught between extremes or just tired of the noise, this episode invites you to slow down, reflect before reacting, and rediscover the common ground that still exists right here in the state we call home.

Keep North, Alaska.

Shoot me a text, what do you think?