Brad and Bryan sit down to reflect on their recent meeting with Saddleback Leather founder, Dave Munson — a man whose business acumen is matched only by his humility, generosity, and gospel-driven imagination. Like a modern-day Matt McPherson, Munson builds excellence not for the sake of product alone, but for the sake of people. His priorities run from employees to customers to orphans and single mothers through Saddleback’s nonprofit arm, Love 41.

Their conversation wanders the trail of Munson’s fascinating life — from living in tents and working out of a Toyota Tacoma, to navigating cartel-controlled roads, to trusting God in the face of uncertainty. Along the way, Brad and Bryan marvel at the quality and longevity of Saddleback’s Indiana Jones–inspired leather goods, the kind of items built to last a century and inherit a story of their own.

The episode even detours to Japan, where a colleague shares the gospel with playful clarity, and to the cold southern winter sweeping across the country. But at the heart of the discussion is a simple truth: faith, craftsmanship, and generosity can shape a company into something far more than the sum of its products.

In this episode, Brad and Bryan sit down with leather craftsman and adventurer Dave Munson—founder of Saddleback Leather—to explore the intersection of family, risk, craftsmanship, and faith. Munson’s story is one of unlikely beginnings, from selling bags on eBay during his youth ministry years to building a global leather-goods brand shaped by adventure, hardship, and deep conviction.

They trace the Munson family’s intentional approach to raising resilient kids—complete with tent living, travel mishaps, calculated risk, and a healthy respect for bravery vs. stupidity. Dave reflects on losing millions, run-ins with cartels, and stolen shipments, yet speaks of character formation and God’s providence with surprising joy.

Along the way, he makes a compelling case for Christian entrepreneurship that doesn’t wear a label but shines through excellence, generosity, and faithful storytelling. Together they discuss Martin Luther on craftsmanship, what it means to serve customers like actual people, and the surprising ways the gospel shows up—whether in conversations with Toyota executives or in the story of a beloved dog named Blue.

Rich with humor, vulnerability, travel tales, reflections on parenting and legacy, and a vision for living one’s faith in public, this conversation pushes listeners to see adventure not as escapism but as discipleship, and craftsmanship not as branding but as service.

In this episode of Stoking Embers, Bryan and Brad revisit their recent conversation with Tyler Sharp, Editor-in-Chief and Owner of Modern Huntsman. Recorded during Thanksgiving week 2025, a few days after the original interview, the pause gave time for the conversation to marinate, and just like spaghetti it was better after it sat a while and the ideas, stories, and vision Tyler brought to the table genuinely developed and jumped out.

They unpack the tension and overlap between conservation and the roles of hunters and anglers, wrestling with what it means to “do good” while stewarding the very landscapes, waters, and wildlife we depend on. The discussion widens to explore the creative world as well: the resurgence of print, the future of storytelling, and the surprising influence of AI on culture, creativity, and even the environment through massive data infrastructure.

Throughout the conversation, Bryan and Brad recognize a growing alignment between Modern Huntsman and The Storied Outdoors—two efforts committed to elevating the narrative of outdoor pursuit, craftsmanship, and stewardship.

Finally, they revisit one of the standout moments from Tyler’s interview: an unforgettable encounter with an African lion which was easily one of the all-time great campfire stories ever shared on the show.

Whether you’re a creative, conservationist, hunter, angler, or simply captivated by adventure and good storytelling, this episode offers a thoughtful look at why these pursuits matter and how they shape us.