PODCAST EP. 184: Behind the Scenes of “Ripples” with Douglas Spale & Erik Petersen

When Douglas Spale, a Black man adopted into a mixed-race family from Nebraska, heard a request for more diverse role models in the upland hunting world during episode #86 of this very podcast, he answered the call. That’s the premise of the recently released Pheasants Forever film “Ripples,” produced by Erik Petersen, father of an adopted Black son who made that original request for more diverse role models in the uplands. Host Bob St.Pierre chats with Spale and Petersen about their personal stories leading up to the film and how their families are now forever connected through a shared love of the uplands, bird dogs, and hunting. Episode Highlights: • Spale’s black Labrador retrievers are featured prominently in the film, so it’s a startling surprise for Bob to learn Spale is picking up an English Setter puppy next month. • Petersen and Spale talk about the portions of their story not seen on camera, the feelings of trepidation making the film, and the feedback they’ve each received since “Ripples” was released to the public on September 1, 2022. Thanks to Thorogood Boots for sponsoring Ripples.