"Croczilla" Director Reveals the Stories Behind the Camera

I recently joined David Rutherford on his podcast to share my journey as a nature filmmaker—from childhood wonder to leading conservation efforts across North America.

In our conversation, I opened up about what sparked my passion for nature filmmaking: a deep love for God's creation and the power of storytelling. We explored how this led me to start XPLORIST, my company dedicated to story-telling and protecting American wild places like the Everglades. I shared some of my most memorable in-the-field moments and discussed how childhood adventure heroes like Steve Irwin and Jeremy Wade shaped my vision for combining exploration with conservation.

One highlight was discussing how veteran and public lands champion Braxton McCoy asked me to lead the Florida chapter of the Sagebrush Institute—a responsibility that connects directly to my mission of protecting our natural heritage. I also got personal about how loss has transformed my art, adding unexpected depth and meaning to my work.

Throughout our talk, we kept returning to a central theme: how exploration stories aren't just entertainment—they're powerful tools for conservation. When people connect emotionally with wild places through storytelling, they become invested in protecting them.

Watch the full interview to hear the complete stories, including behind-the-scenes moments and practical ways you can help protect North America's wild places. David's thoughtful questions really drew out the heart behind the work.