Summary
In this podcast episode, the host interviews Jake about his upbringing in the Arctic and his journey to becoming a successful volleyball player at the University of Hawaii. Jake grew up in a small town called Rainbow Lake, which was technically in the Arctic Circle, and his dad was a subsistence hunter. They moved around a lot but mostly stayed in Northern Alberta. Jake's dad was a subsistence hunter, and they ate moose meat all winter long. They would go down to a place closer to Calgary for the summer just to get out of the Arctic. Jake talks about the extreme weather conditions and how they had to shovel snow off the roof and snowboard off the roof into the snow bank. They also talked about the Inuit people and their hunting methods. Jake moved to Nova Scotia when he was 16, where he started surfing in the freezing water.
The context also discusses the natural resources and way of life of Moloka'i, Hawaii. The community has fought to protect their beaches and way of life, rejecting attempts to put up a fancy resort. The speaker had a personal connection to Moloka'i, being "adopted" by a family there and visiting during breaks from university. They played volleyball at the University of Hawaii and almost made it to the Canadian Olympic team. After missing the cut, the speaker returned to Moloka'i and started a non-profit called the Access Deer Institute, which aimed to domesticate axis deer, a local resource that the community values.
The speaker discusses their obsession with access deer, a non-native species of deer in Hawaii. They explain that access deer were brought to Hawaii in 1868 by King Kamemia V from India, and were placed only on the island of Moloka'i. The deer quickly proliferated and began to decimate the upland forests. The speaker argues that hunting access deer is a challenging sport because of the animal's evolutionary adaptations.
The context also discusses the impact of red dirt on the reef systems in Hawaii and the importance of managing them. The loss of significant amounts of reef and fish has led to a downstream effect on food security. The context also highlights the efforts of a team led by Mike and their problem-solving skills to protect Hawaii's livestock during a volcanic eruption.
The podcast discusses the differences between archery and firearms when it comes to hunting and the humane killing of animals. The use of firearms results in an immediate and instantaneous death due to central nervous system death, while archery results in a cardiopulmonary death from hemorrhagic shock. The discussion also covers the process of harvesting animals at night and the level of efficiency required to ensure humane killing. The speaker emphasizes the importance of imperfection in training to avoid injuring animals and the specific skill set required to take shots at night.
The context discusses the long-term role of cortisol in muscle development and the conversion of glycogen stores during the rigor mortis process in animals. The host shares his experience of hunting and eating wild game, particularly axis deer and elk, and how it changed his perspective on food. The context also touches on the unique meat quality of access deer, which is attributed to their low intramuscular fat content and eating habits.
The context discusses the concept of nose-to-tail utilization of the axis deer, which involves using all parts of the animal, including hides, hooves, and awful. The bone broth made from the deer tested high in protein per ounce, which was a statistical anomaly. The nutritional value of the deer is attributed to their level of intelligence in what they eat, which translates to their nutritional profile. The speaker's company, Maui Nui, aims to balance deer populations by encouraging people to eat them.
