As he shares his inspiring journey from enlisting in the Marine Corps to finding solace and purpose through service and his adventurous encounters in the wild, Ryan Bauduin.

BOLOTOR Podcast

Ryan Bauduin is a Marine Corps veteran, outdoor enthusiast, and founder of High Point Adventures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping combat veterans find healing and purpose through outdoor experiences. Enlisting pre-9/11, Ryan didn't anticipate combat, but the events of September 11 changed everything, deepening his understanding of the profound reality of military service. Deploying to Babel province in Iraq in 2003, Ryan experienced intense combat during the Second Battle of Fallujah and other significant events. ⁣ After returning home from his military service, Ryan struggled with addiction and the devastating loss of both his parents to cancer within two months in 2011. Feeling disconnected and unfulfilled, he found solace and purpose through a hunting event organized by the Wounded Warrior Regiment, where he connected with fellow veterans and experienced the healing power of nature. This event sparked his interest in photography, eventually leading him to pursue it seriously and transition to a more fulfilling lifestyle centered around homesteading and outdoor photography. ⁣ In 2012, feeling burnt out from his job, Ryan took a leap of faith and quit without a clear plan, except for finding peace through photography. Despite initial skepticism, he pursued his passion, learning photography through YouTube and college courses. An opportunity to film hunts led to four seasons on the Pursuit Channel and eventually to the founding of High Point Adventures. Ryan's nonprofit organization now takes veterans on hunts, providing them with healing experiences in nature. Balancing still photography and filming.