DENVER (September 25, 2025) – The Michael Waddell Podcast, presented by Spandau Arms and in partnership with Spartan Precision and Folds of Honor, welcomes Travis “T-Bone” Turner, a cornerstone of the Bone Collector Team. Turner shares a deeply personal and inspiring conversation about his life, career, and courageous battle with cancer. The Michael Waddell Podcast is produced by Outdoor Sportsman Group and is available widely on MyOutdoorTV, Outdoor Channel YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and OutdoorChannel.com, to name a few.
This episode reunites longtime friends Michael Waddell and Travis “T-Bone” Turner. The discussion chronicles their shared history, from T-Bone’s early days as a pro-shop owner and archery champion to becoming a beloved co-host of the iconic “Bone Collector” television show. For over two decades, T-Bone has been an integral part of Waddell’s journey in the outdoor industry.
Listeners will hear a candid account of T-Bone’s recent health struggles. He shares the story of his fight against a rare form of cancer, which ultimately led to the amputation of a portion of his right leg. The conversation explores the physical and emotional challenges of his journey, highlighting the immense power of faith, community support, and the bond of friendship that has helped him.
“The stuff we remember about our hunting trips together isn’t really about the deer, but it’s the camps, the talk around the fire, the travel to and from; that’s the things we talk about five, ten, twenty years later. The size of the deer doesn’t define the hunter. Just getting the deer, well, that’s just the cherry on top,” shared Turner.
The duo also discusses the healing power of the outdoors. They reflect on how their shared passion for hunting has provided strength and perspective during life’s most difficult moments. Their open dialogue offers a look at what it means to face adversity with courage and the importance of leaning on one another.
“The power of friendship is real,” shared Waddell. “When T-Bone and I talk on the phone, it’s usually 45 minutes or longer as he’s sharing what’s going on with his family, or just a quick question on equipment turns into a deep dive. That’s the stuff that matters. In the studio, I show my largest buck I’ve taken with a bow, and I’ve purposely not mounted him because I want to remind myself that, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. What matters are the friends and family and faith that surround you day in, day out. Keep those close.”
The Michael Waddell Podcast releases new episodes every other week.
Waddell’s story began in the backwoods of Booger Bottom, Georgia, where he grew up surrounded by nature, family, and a love for the outdoors. A self-proclaimed “rowdy redneck,” his passion for hunting and storytelling led him to win a Realtree turkey-calling contest, which launched his career in the outdoor industry. From guiding and filming hunts to creating hit shows like Realtree Road Trips and Bone Collector, Waddell has become a beloved figure in the outdoor world.
About Outdoor Sportsman Group Publishing: As a premier destination for the most avid outdoors enthusiasts, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s publishing division is widely recognized for its strong special-interest multichannel brands, including Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 10 other leading magazines that reach more than 22 million readers. Outdoor Sportsman Group’s network of websites, including BassFan.com, Outdoorchannel.com, Sportsmanchannel.com and WFN.com, attracts more than 62 million annual unique visitors, and OSG TV produces hundreds of TV episodes of original branded hunting, sport shooting and fishing programming that airs on Outdoor Sportsman Group’s broadcast entities. Visit http://outdoorsg.com for more information.
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