Meet Joe Tardif

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joe Tardif a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joe, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism may come from being a little naive. As someone who strives to advocate for and protect the environment, it genuinely hurts me to focus on the unfortunate events. When sharing stories and trying to inspire others, staying optimistic and genuinely grateful for what we have feels most important to me. Staying informed and understanding history matters deeply, but I truly believe that the best way to spark change and inspire others is through optimism.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Joe Tardif, and I grew up loving the outdoors. From catching frogs to picking flowers, I’ve always felt most at home in nature. Since growing up (only a little bit), I’ve strived to become an advocate for our environment.

I host a podcast sponsored by the TU Costa 5 Rivers program called Emerging. In this role, I thrive because I’m driven by something greater than myself. Without focusing on views or listens, my main goal with Emerging is to showcase the good happening in the fly fishing and conservation world. Our audience includes young adults from all over who love hearing stories that spark curiosity, action, and hope.

Beyond the podcast, I also work in the hospitality industry and travel the world with Travel Creel Hospitality, where I help blend world class fishing with world class hospitality. Each trip is a deep immersion into the local area. Look for updates on my Instagram @wackyrigs and @Travelcreel and tune in for new podcast episodes released every week on all platforms.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Saying yes. Saying yes to things has gotten me really far. Rarely do I turn down an opportunity that comes my way. Even when time gets tight, I’ve found that saying yes allows me to get out there, learn, and explore. It’s something that will forever fulfill me.

2. Curiosity. Without the desire to learn or experience new things, you simply won’t grow. From singing and playing guitar on a porch in the high country of Colorado to cruising through the marshes of Louisiana, my curiosity and drive to explore are always rewarding.

3. Being a good communicator. Without communication, people would be nothing. Something I’ve learned is to always reach out and simply ask. People are much more likely to say yes and help if you can clearly communicate your passions, what you want to do, and where you want to go.

As a college student, I can’t claim to have much wisdom to share, but I can say that these three traits have given me everything so far. They’ve opened doors I never expected, connected me with incredible people, and allowed me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Saying yes has brought adventure, curiosity has kept life exciting, and communication has built relationships that continue to shape who I am becoming.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking for people to partner with, whether that means joining me on a podcast, collaborating on media projects, or coming along on a Travel Creel trip. I’m drawn to those who are genuine, passionate, and love good conversation. If that sounds like you, I’d love to connect. You can reach me by email at [email protected] or follow along with my adventures on Instagram @wackyrigs.

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