Anietra Hamper, Extreme Trips for Women: Pushing Boundaries and Catching Ancient Fish

Howard Fox [00:00:04]:

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Outdoor Adventure series podcast where we celebrate individuals and families, businesses,

Howard Fox [00:00:12]:

and organizations that seek out and promote the exploration Stewardship, conservation, access, and enjoyment of the outdoors. Anitra Hamfer is our guest on the outdoor adventure series today Anitra is an award-winning travel and outdoor journalist. She specializes in fishing around the world. She is a former television news anchor and investigative journalist. Now Anitra is joining us today to chat about her new venture Reality. Nitra, it is a pleasure to have you back on the Outdoor Venture series podcast. Welcome.

Anietra [00:00:50]:

Thank you. It's a pleasure to be back. This is exciting.

Howard Fox [00:00:54]:

Fantastic. And for our listeners, Anitra was first on our show at it was almost a year ago. Mhmm. I think we met in May up in Casper, Wyoming, and Anitur joined us on the podcast. That episode was July 22, episode 53, now we're gonna provide a backlink to it. But I am excited to have Anitra back because what she's doing right now is not for the faint of heart, and it is so exciting to to kinda hear what you have been up to. First off, how are you doing? Where where are you, by the way?

Anietra [00:01:36]:

Right at this moment, I am in England where I am for the next few months just working remotely and staying with my partner here, and we're doing some projects here as well. So it's nice to be able to split time between the United States and England, and I will be doing some fishing. And yeah, so things are good. When I talked to you a year ago, there was something that I had said to you that someday I would love to host women's fishing trips. And I I remember saying that to you, and at that time, as it has been for a long time, it was a it was a Sunday sort of I really wanna do this. And within that year time, the the right things and the right people have come together to make that happen.

Howard Fox [00:02:20]:

You know, in the coaching realm, we talk about mindset and what you think about you bring about, and you literally just book-ended that process is you you talked about it. You we chatted a little bit about it. And then almost a year later, well here you are, almost ready to see this go live and into fruition and So first off, you know, tell us about the kind of fishing you are doing because this is not a little bass boat in the middle of a little lake out in, you know, Central Indiana, Ohio, Michigan. This is a little different. Tell us about your fishing or angling adventures.

Anietra [00:03:08]:

Well, you know, I think fishing like a lot of hobbies and passions that people have is sort of a a range. You know? So you've got your bass fishing. You've got I mean, I I love fishing for Blue Gil with an old-school lobber just as much as I love fishing for £600 tuna in the Atlantic. So there's there's something for everybody, and that's what I love about it. I have over the years of fish my whole life, but over the years of gravitated towards the really unusual, the big, the the sort of freaky creatures that exist out there, mostly out of curiosity. And I think that's the journalist in me that wants to know what's in that water. And what is that? And then from just an environmental and conservation perspective, I want to know what's there because to be able to show what lives in these waters in different places around the world, connects people to them and makes people care about that these things exist, some of them quite pre a stork, if you will. And it makes them care about protecting them. So there's a lot of layers to why I do what I do, but I tend to gravitate towards the really challenging things, you know, like the things in South America that I have done most recently because they're a challenge. You know, they require strategy and tackle and really thinking through how to catch these different species.

Howard Fox [00:04:45]:

So this past year, you know, for our listeners, Anitra just mentioned going down to South America, Tell us a few examples of the trips you have been on because you're catching and meeting up withholding some fish that for many of us myself included would put a shiver down my spine.

Anietra [00:05:10]:

Well, and that's what makes them exciting. You know, I have had so many conversations with people who don't fish that just cannot help themselves but talk about it when you see these species that you know what is that? It looks like a dinosaur. What is that? It's so big. So from whether it's the wells catfish in Spain that was bigger than me in every direction, caught on the river Ebro or whether it's the Golden Mesir in India at the junction, it's a very sacred junction, and it's the place in the world to catch these fish. So I caught that there. Whether it's cod in Iceland such an iconic fish for that destination or the arapaima in Guyana, which is one of the one of its native habitats to be able to see some of these fish up close as we've talked about before and just be enamored by their beauty and that you get to have this very intimate moment with a species that we would never see. I mean, they look some of them so deep in the water or they're just so you know, their habitats. I'll have them so hidden that humans rarely ever see them, I think that's such a gift. And so For me, it's just a bit a little bit addicting to be able to experience that. And really, you know, fishing is about nature too, right? It's not just about the big catch. I like to talk about you know, fishermen always say, oh, what's your personal best? For me, yes, personal best defines a fish. But for me, personal best is about, like, what's in here too. And connecting with nature in a way that that you get to when you're fishing, all the things that happen between the fish, because let's face it. Some days, you blank. Right? But being able to see butterflies and eagles flying overhead or monkeys in the trees, you know, Aguana is swimming over to your boat. That's that's so special that connects you to nature in a way that is just calming and and it's a moment, you know, you really just get to reflect. So yeah, I mean it's not for everybody, but Even nonanglers, you know let's face it, a story comes up that says, oh, some fish has been found that washed up and nobody knew that that even existed anymore. Whether you fish or don't fish, you can't help you can't help but look at some of these things because they just look weird. in a lot of cases.

Howard Fox [00:07:59]:

You know, growing up and I've shared this on a number of episodes. I have never fished in my life. I I think I may have fished off the side of the dock, caught a blue gill. It doesn't count in my mind. It does not count. It does. I think it does. Alright. Alright. And so you and I are having this conversation last year. This idea gets put out into the universe. How did reality come about in this is actually directed down into Guyana And into this ancient well, the Amazon Delta, right, or the these rivers vary difficult to get to. So how did this how did you get from this idea in the universe to what is soon to be very much a reality?

Anietra [00:08:54]:

Well, for years, I have traveled the world fishing, and all the time when I go places, I'm generally with groups of men, and my experiences have all been incredible. But regardless of that, there was always there's always a period at the beginning of the trip, where I have to prove myself because it's just been very traditionally a male-dominated activity. So while all my trips have worked out well, I just thought, wow, most women are not gonna do that. In fact, there's a new study out by the recreational boating and fishing foundation that talks about why women get into fishing why they stay or why they leave. And one of the reasons they drop out of fishing is because the the the numbers are showing that, like, 1 and 4 active female anglers will not go fishing if they're the only woman. And so I've spent years doing this being the only woman and having to sort of prove myself before everybody's comfortable. And you know, the guys in the group realize, okay, like we aren't going to have to babysit or she can handle herself. And I I feel like these are missed opportunities for women. Mhmm. Women are not gonna go in in put themselves in that situation, nor are they gonna travel the world to do it. Right? They won't do it in their own backyard. So I just, for a long time, have wanted to find the right platform, the right opportunity, the right moment, and to change that, to be some kind of agent of change because I grew up with 2 older brothers. So I've gone through all the guide pledging if you will, And I'm very comfortable around men and fishing in groups and being by myself, you know, maybe for a week on the river bank, and it's okay. But So several opportunities had come in the past that just really didn't they just didn't sit right with me and it just wasn't the right thing to offer. So my partner, Ian, is an international fishing guide and he was already doing trips in India and Nepal. And we talked about going to South America and I shared this idea with him. I said, someday I wanna offer a trip like this. And so we had set out to scout there. You know, we've been there many times. and we wanted to go and specifically scout is this viable for women. It's tough. So when we had gone, it was tough. The journey to get there is tough and but by the time I left and I got all the right ducks in a row and sat and reflected and I thought, this is it. There are so many fantastic fly-fishing trips for women all over the place. A lot of them are they're like weekends and whatnot, but they are very geared toward a different kind of experience. It's maybe sometimes first-timers, whatnot, but they're fly fishing. So there's nothing that exists that is going to What I like to say is as grit-grabbing as this, it is hardcore, you will be challenged, even the best anglers are challenged down there. So, but the payoff is the fact that your level of confidence is going to surge. So I wanted something like this, you know, just the journey to get there is law. If I say long, it's It's really not. But but you don't just drive up and you get in a boat. You know? You're you're flying into Georgetown. You're taking a prop plane an hour and a half. over the jungle that is so vast and dense. It looks like broccoli for an hour a half, and you think, wow. It's been So you're flying into the heart of the rainforest in Guyana on the Essequibo River. And then once you land in your prop plane, then you're gonna get on a boat and the Amerindian native Amerindian guide is going to take us, you know, 2 hours to the lodge. So you are in the heart of the jungle.

Howard Fox [00:13:14]:

Now people say, oh, well -- -- no cell service there. I'm sure.

Anietra [00:13:17]:

No. We get very intermittent occasional system with our large partner that has something set up, but it's it's not it's not reliable, and it's very sparse. Right. So, basically, you're you're mostly off the grid, but we're not camping. It's a it's a lodge, but you you are very much a part of the environments around you. So yes, it's for women who love to fish, who have that that harder outdoor edge who really wanna up their skills because you're going to use light tackle, you're going to use heavy tackle. I mean, some of the catfish there, some of the red tail, and Jao, and La Lao can get up upwards of a 100 to £250. you're gonna have pirana, big black pirana with giant jaws that take off with your line all the time So you're gonna be challenged by tackle, but those are all things that are going to also bring you so much excitement when you pull up. I call almost 30 different species when I was there. Wow. So a multi-species destination, multi tackle. So we wanna offer workshops to so that you level up your game not just for that trip, but going forward. And then from the women's standpoint, you know, the ethos of realty which I and my partner and I start together is because so many people say, wow. I really admire you doing that. And, wow, I wish I could do that. And, oh, I wanna So people just for fear or whatever reasons or excuses they give themselves to not do it, They exist and those things are real. We want to provide an opportunity as people who have been there, people trust, and provide inspiration to say, listen, let us show you how to do this. So if you wanna go and do it on your own, you have the confidence and the skills to do that. And I think that's so important, I feel very passionate about that because I feel like so many women are missing that opportunity.

Howard Fox [00:15:30]:

I love how you've kind of laid out this how this idea came to fruition, and I'm curious is I don't have a TV, so I don't really watch like ESPN 87654, whatever those ESPN numbers are. I know there's these fly fishy. I don't know if there are fly-fish tournaments. There could be, but bass tournaments. You hear about them all the time. You know, there's a lake, a bunch of bass boats going out for this 3 day tournament. They stock the lake, and everybody's doing what they're doing. Are those And so the question that's my mind is who is your ideal client? Because even though I might be comfortable with with my reel, the the the the the tackle, the the boat, this is take this is taking it up not just a notch or 2, but it's taking this is a full on life changing experience. And how do you identify who that individual is who expresses the interest but is ready to say, I'm in.

Anietra [00:16:46]:

That's a great question, and I've explored that for a long time. And working in TV and you with from the business standpoint and coaching recognize when you identify who that audience is, you make that a Who's that person? Who's that avatar? Who is she in this case? And in this case, she is me. She is me. She is the woman who loves to fish and not all women are going to have fish their whole lives, some of them may have just started, but someone who wants to grow their skills who has a little bit of an outdoor edge and has that insatiable appetite for just like really cool things, experiences, taking fishing, taking their life, their confidence, their abilities just up to that next level. The challenge is That's hard. That's scary. That's intimidating to commit to. That's stepping outside of your comfort zone. And it's that it's that little push that I I want to inspire people to do. I had a lady drop me a note. She's very interested, but she was like, I don't think I can do this. It's it's here. You can. And to be fair, it's not for everybody. So I you know, you you also have to know your limits. right, but she is she's the hard outdoors woman who, again, we're not camping I think everybody thinks we're camping and, you know, we're roughing and we're eating grubs, and I don't do any of that. Okay? We have a bed. We have a shower. It's cold. but we have a shower, you know, and you're in a lodge or eating native MR Indian delicious, healthy food, You know? So you're comfortable, but out in the boat, you know, you are in the natural environment. So, yes, you might see an anaconda Is it going to come and eat you? No. You are going to hear howler monkeys in the trees. Are they going to come and attack you? No. It is so you have to recognize your ambitions and limitations, you know, and if there's something that truly freaks you out like anything. Like, we all have our phobias. And you you you recognize, I that's just not for me. That's okay. But there's a lot of other people who do fit that and who want that extra adventure, because it really is just getting there is an adventure, and it's so fun and to be able to look back and say, wow. You know, that wolffish just really took me for a ride. That's one of the reasons we're offering workshops too because we recognize that really high-level anglers, the ones you're talking about that are on the TV shows, they can go to an environment like this and be very frustrated and challenged. So in a lot of times, you have to go several times just to figure out what you need to figure out to make it the best trip possible. So from a time and money standpoint, and frustration. You know, that's what we want to eliminate. Ian's very technically skilled and will be offering workshops on, you know, so you have the best experience the first time. And it's cool. You know, to see like a wolffish, and say, wow, that's badass. Like, there really is, and I did that.

Howard Fox [00:20:22]:

There's just a moment there for people. That's fair. And for our listeners, I'm gonna have a photo of Anita with her pet wolffish. It was her pet for about 30 seconds, and I think she had to give it back. Plus, they are an arapaima, And and and by the way, which I thought was really cool. And is you're holding a fish that It's lineage has been around for 1000000 years. I mean, we our lineage here in the US goes back to you know, the discovery of America. Forget the debate of who did it, but it's it's only a couple 100 years. Whereas these fish, their lineage has been around for 1000000 years, I just think that is like really, really cool.

Anietra [00:21:12]:

It is. And so to be so close to it was just almost overwhelming.

Howard Fox [00:21:18]:

Yeah. So When you have this trip and as you kind of putting it, you know, kinda designing what this experience is gonna be like, This is an amazing experience. Will you wait till everybody gets down to the lodge before the workshops begin, or will you have anything beforehand to help people acclimate to what they can expect once they get down there?

Anietra [00:21:49]:

For sure, and that's a big part of it. We want we are scheduling a day to be in Georgetown just to sort of get your bearings. You'll probably land at midnight coming in from Miami. So we don't wanna, you know, hop you on a prop playing 5 hours later. So To get acclimated for a day, we are providing an opportunity for people who want to rent tackle from us, you know, we are working on that so we can provide that because you, you know, you can't just you might have a rod that will work for something, but because of the diversity of tackle. So we wanna make it accessible. We wanna make, you know, if you wanna rent tackle from us, great. We wanna provide people with sort of a like, a starter kit of some basic lures and things to help you along the way. So it's very much we want to sort of show you the ropes in a really cool environment and an environment that you're just not going to experience anywhere else. And, you know, for we we say we it's really not for beginning anglers in that if you've never fished ever, this is not a good start. It's just not, so we want people to at least have fished before at least know how to handle the rod and reel because some of these fish will will just take it, and we don't want it to take you with it. So -- Right. -- but Yeah. So so we'll do some prep to get just we want people to feel comfortable and excited. And then when we're there, some workshops on, you know, tying rigs and what rigs to use that are going to be the most resistant to breaking off on the rocks and things like that. So people will be very much comfortable along the way.

Howard Fox [00:23:42]:

okay, so your avatar is built around someone who is an experienced angler, has this an 8th sense of adventure, like, what's what's around the bend, and I wanna and I wanna go and find it. You know, I'm thinking about folks that we know in the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and I'm thinking right off the bat like Christine Peterson. I mean, who who won I think in Casper, she won the the push-up contest. Yeah. I didn't even bother answering it because it's like, I know how many I'm not gonna be able to do. So someone like that who is just used to doing some extreme outdoor activities, both hiking, camping, hunting. Mhmm. Lisa Ballard, who's the downhill skier. And I don't know if she hunts and hikes and fishes. But to go down a hill, Like, at the speed she's going down, she's an ideal type athlete that would be into that. So I'm thinking someone who is just totally committed. They perhaps have an athletic background because there's a lot of discipline and stamina in pushing yourself They have to have experience fishing. I'm thinking corp some type of corporate executives. I mean, there's corporate executives out there that are completely they're all in every day. And, ideally, have you fished before? And and so I'm and I'm thinking you need to be on stage talking to the people that are your ideal clients, potentially, ted talks or women up or e women's network places where there's a lot of women who say they're interested in things like this, but in those types of groups, they're types they're committed Yeah. because I think I mean, your ideal outing, you you want 10 you want 5? Do you want 10? Do you want 15 other anglers there with you? What what what's a good size for you? We're looking at 11. 11.

Anietra [00:26:03]:

And so in the lodge, there will be shared rooms. It's just a small lodge -- Right. -- in the middle of the rainforest. So it's it's not a 5 star resort. It's very comfortable, but it's it's basic. So we have to have the shared rooms. So and with eleven people, you're only going to see everybody at at night. Right? Because the boats are gonna have two people and an amorindian guide and off you go. Somebody could be you know, ten miles up the river, somebody else in a lagoons. You know? It's just the is huge. So you won't see anybody except who you're in the boat with. for the whole day. And then by the evening, we can come back and we can share stories over some great food. You know, and I'll say you don't have to be an experienced angler. Well, you don't have to be a hard core angler. You do have to have some experience so you so you don't get as frustrated. But -- Right. -- I'm as interested in the people who are are curious about doing it and have some phishing experience and maybe just need some, like, motivation mentally -- Yeah. -- for the confidence to do it as anybody else. But, yeah, I mean, definitely, the hardcore people, people who love nature, of course -- Right. -- are good. And, you know, if people want to bring come with somebody. I mean, they but this is great for know, if 2 people wanna come together -- Right. -- share a boat, maybe you wanna share a boat, and you know it's great for that. Yeah. You know? And I'm thinking

Howard Fox [00:27:31]:

Again, I'm just kinda brainstormed. This was just where my head goes. I apologize in advance, but I'm thinking who are the who are these these women, these this this ideal client do they do extreme mountain climbing? You know, do they is El Capitan? Oh, that's a data. You know, I've I've done that. ten times, do they hike the 14ers in Colorado, or do they heaven forbid they jump out of a plane? I mean, I will never jump out of him. Have you ever jumped out of a plane? I have not done that. You have not see, Anita, like you're like, that's a shock to me because I thought you definitely would have done that for a story. Or scuba dived, you know, with sharks. And Okay. We can kinda brainstorm to her, you know, whatever you want to. But I just think it's so exciting, and A a question that I'm also curious about, and I love the idea that they're gonna go out for this day of fishing, come back, sit around the campfire, have this great mail and share stories. And what's what was it like out in the middle of the rainforest? Whether it's the early morning. I mean, you and I share our coffee pictures. You know? You've got your nice China, and there's the nice field the animals out in the pasture, and I've got my little cup of coffee here. I was sitting in the backyard, What's what's it like out there in the middle of the rainforest, like in the morning or in the evening when it's, you know, the sun is setting. What's it like out there?

Anietra [00:29:08]:

Oh, it's like it's like a sound machine, and then you kinda forget that it's not a machine. you know, it's the howler monkeys in the trees, the birds, I mean you're fishing, and all times of day, but particularly in the mornings or like as sun is starting to set, macaws are flying in pairs overhead. It is like it's like being in I say it's like being in the hunger games without the risk of death. Right? So it's like, okay, somebody cue the electric blue butterflies, and then you just see these magical creatures floating by you, the river otters, the rainbows all the time. So to be in that environment where it actually takes a minute because we're so I think we've got so many electronics and artificial everything. it's really difficult to go, this is real, this is real in a place like this still exists, and I'm I feel like a guest in Nature's house and that's so special. The mornings and the evenings were beautiful. And then when the sun sets, It is it is darkness. Like, you would love that. I mean, you talk about stars. I felt like I was in a planetarium, but it was real.

Howard Fox [00:30:35]:

Oh, wow. Help us a little bit about the lodge and what and the individual that owns the lodge and what was hit what was this individual, this family that that said, hey, let's put a lodge here. And because I'm curious, I mean, it's just a wonderful destination for the right person, but to to run a business out of this slide, what was it like to what's it like to work with them?

Anietra [00:31:08]:

It's great. It's special. And again, the partners are what make it, having Ian with the technical expertise, the hospitality background, the international angling destination guiding background. And then our partner there who has been affiliated with the country's tourism department 20 years. Okay. And he's very keen on safety. He's very keen on experience. teaching people to walk away not just with a great experience but to learn something about the Amerindian culture, you know, my guide, the last time I was there, had only ever been out of the jungle five times. This whole and he's in his fifties. So our partner on the ground is very committed to having people appreciate, understand, experience part of the culture too, and just really wants to make it a good experience So you really are just you're just a visitor in nature's house for a short period of time. And I should mention that the trip itself is 11 nights, so you'll have 7 full days fishing. And again we've padded a day on each end just to get acclimated and get sorted and then, you know, same thing on the back end.

Howard Fox [00:32:32]:

Okay. As you look back on this trip and beginning to put the pieces in place, you're still out there doing what you love to do, which is fish. and I imagine there's more than one, but is there one moment that you kinda sat back safely and said, oh, wow, I cannot believe I just did this or I'm doing this right now. This You were just blown away. Just given all the experiences you've had as a world traveler, as a as an angler, and countries throughout the world, Is there a moment or 2 you just look back and say, oh, wow.

Anietra [00:33:19]:

Yeah. I I would say 2 specifically. I know we've talked about the wolffish in the arapaima quite a bit. You know, there's other great species like the, you know, the a lot of different catfish and the vampire fish, you know everything's equipped to like kill something and eat it or defend itself from being eaten, right? So everything's on everything else's menu there. So it's fascinating to see all the different species, but I would say to answer your question in particular, the aeroplima because I had to get in the water with it, and it's an obligatory air breather. It's this, it was over a £100. We couldn't accurately weigh it, but definitely over 100. So to catch it was very difficult because they come up every 20 minutes. And if you don't get your you know, you you cast in the right place to get it even attract its attention while you gotta wait 20 minutes. So that's pretty painful. But even to catch that fish, you can't get it in the boat. There's no getting it in the boat, it's bigger than the boat, So what's that phrase and jaws? We're gonna need a bigger boat. Yeah. There's you know, you're not gonna get it in the boat. So you have to you have to sort of steer it down a channel while you're fighting it, and be very mindful that these are also while they are powerful fish and they will knock you out with their armor like scales, they're also very delicate. So we want that's the most important thing. So we fight it all the way down the channel. You know, my guide is paddling me back down the channel. And then once we land it, he gets in and again he's grown up in the jungle. So he gets in with this fish and he's actually calming it down like you might a dog, it was wild to see this, calming it down, I got in the water with it to get a quick photo And I'm just I'm looking at this thing and it scales or this big. Its face looks like something I'd seen in a museum somewhere. And it was almost overwhelming. It was, like, a little bit emotional, I think, which sounds very fufu. But when you have a moment like that to be so close to an animal of that sort of history and that so beautiful. It's magical. So there was that moment. And then the wolffish, I didn't know if anything existed like the I never even heard of a wolf fish. Right? And so I go down there with, oh, we're gonna fish them. So they live in in like channels, right, back channels. And beneath the surface of the murky water are just, I mean, just a matrix of logs and trees and things and some of them that have probably been like that for 100 years, and they live below them, that's where they congregate. So you have to try and get your bait down. Now you can do lures on the top water for them, but we were in this particular case trying to get it down And it was like it was like the jungle version of the the operation game, you know, where you're just trying to get -- Oh, yeah. -- right in there. And then when these things hit your line, when I describe it as a car accident, that's exactly what it is. The impact of that thing hitting your line, the force that comes up through I pulled a muscle. I didn't even catch that one. the shock of your whole body just it's like a car accident. And I thought, like, what happened? Which had happened? I just never knew there was such a thing that could have such force. So the one that I did caught several, but the one that I have that photo of, you know, this whole rain, this rainstorm had happened, and I'm fighting this fish, and it comes up out of the water, and it's just twisting around, and its head is this big with teeth. You know? It it truly looks like it wants to kill you. And then so you're fighting. To be witness to that sort of sheer force from a freshwater fish was so surprising to me, and so now I'm a little bit obsessed with the wolf fish. You know? So I'm thinking, my god. Out of those things, how big do they get? Yeah. So that's my next mission is to see if I can catch a bigger one. But in the photo, you can see, like, It's just huge. Yeah. You know? Oh, you're holding it out. No. It's right there. I could hardly lift it. And So those 2 fish in particular were pretty astounding.

Howard Fox [00:37:56]:

Alright. Very good. I appreciate you sharing that. And just seeing your photos, you know, on the social sites. For me, it's it's amazing. Now I do before we head out, I do have one more curiosity question. Before getting to Guyana, I know you spent some time down in Columbia. and you had a a a chance to catch some other fish that are the are the are the I forget what the how you would say the piece of nightmare that that nightmares are made out of, the piranha. Mhmm. Tell us about the piranha. And by the way, do they really taste like chicken, or they taste like really taste like.

Anietra [00:38:38]:

So there's different types of Parana. In Guyana, I was catching the black piranha , which has a big wide jaw, and it's a much bigger fish -- Mhmm. -- overall. In Colombia, there's the Red Billie Corona, which I hear are they're sort of described as being more aggressive, but they're smaller and they've got a smaller mouth, but they're mighty. I mean, they're just they're fierce too. So I was fishing for the red belly piranha, and in fishing for those, it quite easy. You just make a lot of commotion in the water, and they're there. So so, you know, so by instinct, they go after things that are in distress, like like a fish, in distress or injured animal kind of thing. So when we were there, we are guide booked up some for us, and these were the small ones. They're very bony. So I would equate them more to a chicken leg than chicken. Yeah. So they'll flavor them, and they're a bit crunchy, almost like a like a potato chip -- Okay. -- as well.

Howard Fox [00:39:52]:

Alright. Yeah. Very good. Very good. Alright. So Anitra, before we head out, and and I think in some ways, you've all you've shared a lot of this, the moments, which is a feature of our pie cast where we ask our guests to kinda sit back and think, you know, wow. Guess what I'm get get to do. I can't believe I get to do this, but Is there any other moment that you would like to share with our listeners about the journey you've been on? I mean, you were the, you know, an award winning reporter, investigative journalist, and now you are getting ready to lead experience is down into the the rainforest in Guyana. Any other moment somewhere within that span of a time and experience that you'd like to share?

Anietra [00:40:44]:

Yeah. I think I I would say there was wouldn't be just one in that I my moments come from being able to inspire people. When you when you do something or you say something or you you're a part of something that matters, and then it and then it impacts somebody and then that comes full circle back to you and you find out that you had an influence in somebody's life in some way that was meaningful. that to me is the ultimate moment. So in this realm, in this phase of what I'm doing, being able to offer that inspiration. You know, I wanna find the right women to go on this trip, and I haven't found them yet, but I'm looking for them and I want them to be the right women. But for people who can say wow, I wanna do that. You've inspired me to do that. You've inspired me to consider that because you've done it I like what I see. You've given me the confidence to feel like I can do that too. So when people give me that kind of feedback. That's an ah moment for me because it means something.

Howard Fox [00:42:07]:

Very good. Thank you for that. Any other insights that you'd like to share with our listeners about the work that you're doing. And in some ways, what you just shared is also an insight to go. But, you know, any quote, an article a thought based based on the work you've been doing and what you're passionate about that you'd like to share with our listeners?

Anietra [00:42:33]:

Yeah, when I worked in news for almost 20 years, there was a lot of a lot of bad things that happened in the world and we can't always control those things. And so it's it was hard to it wasn't hard to report on them. It was important to report on them. But to be able to do the work, I do now is a work of passion in fishing and outdoors and being passionate in that way. And so I heard a quote some years ago from somebody and I wish I knew who it came from. And they said, If someone made a movie about your life, would you go and see it? And I think that's so profound it's never left my mind because you think about I've really never stepped outside the box or I've never really challenged myself. So when you think of your own life in those terms, What is it that you haven't done? You know, I say you know do things that take those risks that scare you because that's where you're going to find growth. Be grateful for the things that you do have, but don't miss life, don't miss the moment that you could do something new and exciting for your life.

Howard Fox [00:43:52]:

Very nice. I love that. And we'll see if we can find where that quote came from. So that's the beauty of the Internet and artificial intelligence, and you never know. Yeah. Maybe that's that's how we find it. There you go. Listen. If our listeners would like to learn more about you and your work. Where are the best places for them to go?

Anietra [00:44:14]:

There's a couple of places we would love for people to go on on Facebook we have reel-ality. Follow us on Facebook will be doing a lot of content there. We're building a website that is still under construction, but realty.com will be that web address. I'm also very active on LinkedIn under Anitra hamper, the same with Facebook and Instagram. So whatever way is convenient for people to reach out, if people are interested in in the trips, It's inquiries incuiries@realhyphenality.com. I would love to hear from folks. I hope we we didn't scare anybody. It's to be so exciting, and I really cannot wait to be that conduit for women to do this trip, but then have the confidence from that to just go. Go, you could go do it on your own. So feel confident that you can do that. Fantastic.

Howard Fox [00:45:25]:

Well, we will provide all the backlinks to the website and to the social sites. And I most certainly am in your corner and would hope that some way we can help find some women who are gonna be right for this type of adventure and experience because I just think it's a phenomenal adventure, and I'm a little envious. But I think I need to put a few more line lures in the water before I could attempt a wolffish or an arapaima, but that's that's a whole other story. Listen, Anitra, I really appreciate you taking the time from your your your life, living your best life, out there in a country that I just love in the the UK, and just I love the background of our listeners behind Anita is some fishing poles, some bookcase, some photos, some nice flowers. And what I don't see is her kappa. It's I'm sure it's somewhere around a cup of water. I I was looking at a cup of tea and the nice gin flour China or something like that. But I know god listen. I know time zone wise got up there. Have a great weekend. And, really, I'm very grateful that you were able to take some time today to chat with our audience and really to share that your adventure about reality. So thank you again.

Anietra [00:46:54]:

Thanks, Howard, so much. It's a it's a pleasure. And as always, so I really appreciate you having me back.

Howard Fox [00:47:00]:

Very good. listen, stay on the line. We're gonna do a quick close, and you and I can have a final chat. Okay? Alright, folks. We have just been chatting with Anitra Hamper, award-winning travel and outdoor journalist specializing in fishing around the world. And today, we learned about her newest venture with her partner, and really want you to encourage you if you know anyone who is into extreme sports. loves the the sense of adventure getting out of their comfort zone, way out of their comfort zone. For that matter, They really and they are experienced anglers. We hope that they will check out Anitra's adventure, reality, and just imagine going down in the South America into the jungle and then these these these long trip and but just multiple days of just fishing and and really this experience of being out in nature, but coming face to face with some of the most ancient fish that have been around really forever, the Aeropima, the wolffish, the piranha, and gaining the confidence through this experience of learning how to not only work the equipment but also the experience of landing the fish and just imagine you in the water holding the arapaima or this wolffish. How cool would that be? So you gotta check this out. And if you know anybody that's interested in this, and it's an ideal client for Anitra, do share this episode with them. Now we're gonna provide backlinks to Anitra's website real ality.com as well as to the social sites on LinkedIn Facebook, and Instagram. As for us, you can find us on our website, outdoor adventure series.com. You'll find the links to our episodes also on Facebook and on LinkedIn or wherever you listen to your podcast. Until then go out there, have a phenomenal day. and we will see you on a future episode of the outdoor adventure series podcast. Take care now.