An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List

By Episodes

Ep. 871: Are Birds Actually Dinosaurs?

May 04, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with paleontologist, evoutionary biologist, and author, Steve Brusatte. Topics discussed: The Story of Birds is out now!; Steve's other best selling books on The Rise and...
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4 books
Ep. 870: Chimp Wars, Cocaine Hippos, and Steve Destroys Animal Rights People

April 30, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: House cat jerky; Seth's baby; Save Tuckertown!; Lane Legacy Beef; how warped Colorado's animal rights folks are; a Ken Burn's-level Philandering...
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0 books
Ep. 868: Clay and Bear’s Alaskan Coast Black Bear Hunt | 12 in '26

April 28, 2026

Clay Newcomb gives behind the scenes details and answers viewer questions about the Alaska boat-based black bear hunt feature in the new film for the MeatEater “12 in ‘26” film series.  Both Clay...
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0 books
Ep. 867: Jim Zumbo - An Outdoor Legend at 85

April 27, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with outdoor legend and veteran outdoor writer Jim Zumbo.  Topics discussed: Playing with insects as a kid; going to school for biology; winning a bet and and getting your...
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7 books
Ep. 866: The Boundary Waters Tragedy, Oklahoma CWD, and Mutilated Paddlefish

April 23, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: A toxic sulfide mine just outside the Boundary Waters Wilderness gets a thumbs up from Senate Republicans; Oklahoma lets loose its pet deer into the...
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0 books
Ep. 864: Is Trawling Destroying Alaska's Fisheries?

April 20, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with David Bayes.  Topics discussed: The Stop Alaska Trawler Bycatch group; the incomprehensible size of trawling nets; pulling up a quarter of a million pounds of fish with...
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1 book
Ep. 862: Moose Hunting in North Dakota, Catfish Regs, and A Bigfoot Family

April 14, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: Randall and Phil's film from BuckFest and The Big Buck Hunter Championship; Jordan Sillar's Blood Trails, Season 2 drops; a Land Access Initiative...
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1 book
Ep. 861: The Defeat of Coronado

April 13, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with author Peter Stark. Topics discussed: Peter's brand new book, The Lost Cities of El Norte: Coronado's Quest, the Unconquered West, and the Birth of American Indian...
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4 books
Announcing: Blood Trails, Season Two

April 12, 2026

Blood Trails is a true crime podcast born in the outdoors--and in Season 2, we're going even deeper. From the grisly killing of a mountain man in Montana to the cold-blooded murder of a deer...
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0 books
Ep. 859: Man-Eating Lions, The Border Wall, and Judas Deer

April 07, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: Bobcat collaring; the Man Eaters of Tsavo by John Banovich; the Monteith Shop fundraiser; building the border wall through Big Bend National Park?;...
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1 book
Ep. 858: The Science and Magic of Hot Dogs

April 06, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with hot dog expert John Carter of Viskase and Randall Williams.  Topics discussed: The history of hot dogs; the science of meat emulsions; characteristics of the perfect hot...
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0 books
Ep. 857: Turkey Season Changes, the Death Valley Super Bloom, and Bad Poachers

April 02, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: The Turkey Week Giveaway Sweepstakes; a giant moray eel; biking and fly fishing; Delta Waterfowl hen houses; more on TSS and tungsten; nibbling on...
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1 book
Ep. 855: Clay's Utah Mountain Lion Hunt | 12 in '26

March 31, 2026

Clay Newcomb answers your questions and breaks down his Utah mountain lion hunt captured in MeatEater's brand new "12 in '26" film series. He hunts with mules and hounds in the mountains, testing...
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1 book
Ep. 854: Dogs That Hunt Humans

March 30, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with former Chief Trainer and handler for the LAPD's K9 Unit Doug Roller. Topics discussed: Getting heavy into falconry; a calling to work with animals; joining the police...
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0 books
Ep. 853: Turkeys Break the Internet, Tungsten Ammo Gets Expensive, and Black Bear Politics Flare

March 26, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: Clay’s “12 in ‘26” Utah mountain lion hunt; the Bear Grease YouTube channel; our Spring Turkey Giveaway; how to pronounce “Neanderthal”; correcting...
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1 book
Ep. 851: The Promise and Controversy of American Prairie

March 23, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with Alison Fox, CEO of American Prairie.  Topics discussed: The history of American Prairie and its aim to create one of the largest land preserves in the country; plains for...
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2 books
Ep. 849: Fur Bans, Gonad Jerky, and Connor “Bass Head” Hellebuyck

March 17, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: Mark Kenyon’s upcoming new podcast; Kimi Werner’s cookbook: Kimi's Kitchen; clarifying what a porterhouse cut is; an interview with Olympic Gold...
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1 book
Ep. 848: How America Almost Lost Its Birds

March 16, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with writer James McCommons. Topics discussed: McCommon's new book, The Feather Wars and the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds; who did and didn't want The Migratory Bird...
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4 books
Ep. 847: Neanderthal Love, Mule Deer Eradication, and Mink Eyelashes

March 12, 2026

Steven Rinella and the MeatEater crew discuss: How Jani hasn't gotten a mountain lion this year, Brody's new tattoo and whether the tattoo industry faces a bleak future, Spencer's 2026 America The...
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2 books
Ep. 845: Can Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Be Saved?

March 09, 2026

Steven Rinella talks with Karl Malcolm of the Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock Society and Brody Henderson. Topics discussed: Forest health issues; less and less access to good ruffed grouse...
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2 books