We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Tardif and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Lately, I’ve been leaning more into my creative side because I’m naturally curious. While I may not be the one telling the stories on my podcast, I put a lot of thought into the message I’m curating through my guests. I love the creative process because it feels limitless—there are always new directions to explore. As I record each episode, my mind often goes off on tangents, allowing listeners to dive deeper into who my guests are. Whether they have similar backgrounds or completely different perspectives, I love uncovering the motives that drive each person’s story.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If I had to sum up my career so far, I’d call myself a generalist—a true jack of all trades. At 22, I’ve already explored so many different worlds. I’ve worked as a head chef, won a barista competition by creating an octopus in latte art, spent a season doing fieldwork researching snowshoe hares, and now I’m serving as the host of Emerging—Trout Unlimited’s largest podcast. That variety, that curiosity, is what sets me apart.

The easiest part of my journey has been saying “yes.” I’ve always followed my curiosity and embraced new experiences head-on. The hardest part, though, has been not staying in some of those roles longer. I’ve fallen in love with so many of the things I’ve done, but sometimes you have to keep moving. Still, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to meet new people, seek out opportunities, and—most importantly—reach out.

What I want people to know about me is that I’m a true adventurer. That doesn’t always mean traveling the world (though I’d love to), but it does mean showing up with wonder, curiosity, and presence—wherever I am. To me, adventure can be found close to home, in new roles, or simply in getting to know the people around me. I take pride in being a local character with a global spirit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think people may know my baby blue jeep up the Poudre Canyon because it sits in those winding roads quite often so that’s one place that is a must. Besides the hwy 14 ecosystem, I love checking out the Bellevue Watson fish hatchery to feed our local trout. Playing all sorts of yard sports at City Park or the CSU fields. To eat, there are too many choices; my favorites would be The Welsh Rabbit, Persimmon Goods, Babalu’s Cuban Cafe
, Yellow Crunch, or Raska International!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Trout Unlimited, specifically the TU 5 Rivers Program. This organization has given me, and thousands of other students endless opportunities to help us grow into adults.

Website: https://emergingpodcast.podbean.com/

Instagram: @wackyrigs

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-tardif-bb604891/

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KGhwj6cbFEM1yFMj2GdQL?si=4e0fe10d4ebd498e

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