Everybody, welcome back to The Covenant Eyes Podcast. It's Karen, and we have a very special guest joining us today. I know you're going to recognize this fella. He was season three of the History Channel's hit show “"Alone"”. He was the winner. It was an unbelievable experience. I know if you watch this show, you're always thinking, how do these people do that? But he also runs a very popular YouTube channel called Fowler's Makery and Mischief. That's a mouthful. But we are really excited to have Zach Fowler joining us today. Zach, welcome to the podcast. Hey, thanks for having me. Yeah. So I know everybody is well familiar with, your experience on "Alone". And we'll dive a little bit into that. But you also have a really popular YouTube channel where you share all sorts of fun adventures. So I definitely want to share with our listeners a little bit about that channel. But for those who might not be terribly familiar with you, I don't know how that could be. Would you mind sharing just a little bit about your background and how you got started with your YouTube channel, and maybe even how you got connected with the show "Alone"? Yeah, I, you know, just kind of. I was moved to Maine, was building boats, kind of living in the woods and, you know, I always liked, inventing and creating things. And, like, every good couch critic is those shows started popping up, like, naked and Afraid. I was like, oh, that's that's cool. I could, you know, they're idiots, you know, like, like, I just I always had my opinion on how they could do better, and, and then, when a loan came on and I said that one too many times, and my wife said, I dare you, you know, and see if you can do better, you know, put your money where your mouth is. So things like that. And, so I, sent a loan, a message, and at that point, I had no YouTube channel. I just, you know, posted little pictures of the creative things we would do in the yard. I had been spending years after purchasing the land out in the woods, like eight years, you know, going and buying old books about survival and things so that I could use the survival tactics to kind of homestead and use the, like traps to catch a primitive trap, to catch the woodchuck that's getting into my garden, things like that, where I go and forage for, wild mushrooms or plants that I could bring back and have kind of a wild garden in my front yard and, and stuff. So just having fun living in the woods and, I applied to the show and, and said, hey, like, I'm, you know, knowing that they're looking for, like, the Village People, they're looking for the, you know, the firemen, the schoolteacher. And I said, what do I have? And I, I just send them a one line message saying, I'm a wooden boat builder that lives in a you're in the woods with a ginger beard and shoot slingshots. And they're, they're like, we'll take you. And and like, three months later, I was on my way to Patagonia for season three of "Alone". It's amazing. I made like one YouTube video before I left because I thought, like, I'm so excited about all this stuff. I'm going to make my first YouTube video about shooting slingshots and practicing for the show, and, I won't be able to tell them about the show yet because it has to be a secret. Right? And, I'll I'll put this out. And when I get back from my adventure, I'll be super famous already from sharing a YouTube video, I already had delusions of grandeur and, And. Yeah, and then I thought for sure I'd be, super famous, like, like that in a drop of a hat, you know? Yeah. And, and I just. Yeah. And then I headed out there on "Alone". That's amazing. So as you were on that show, how did your faith play a role in your time out there? Because obviously all of that isolation and, you know, you really had to use your survival skills. But, talk to us a lot about how your faith really played into that because you are a man of faith. Yeah. Well, going before the show, you know, I was born, raised in a Christian home, but I, you know, kind of gone back and forth between behaving myself and just being a plain old bonehead. And when I went out on the show at that point, I was just kind of doing my own thing, living day to day, believing that, Jesus died for my sins and, that I was, you know, that was about as good as it gets. And, you know, probably could be doing better if I was going to church on Sunday, but, like, I'm not doing too bad. I'm just going to keep going and and and things and, out there, I started crying out to God again because, I mean, I spent 87 days being "Alone" out there before the end, you know, and it's like, so at first it was like, oh, Jesus, give me a fish. I'm hungry. I'm so hungry. Give me something to shoot at. Give me something to eat. These berries there. There's only two berries out here in the woods. It's winter. Time is coming. It was late fall, and. And it was just, you know, it was like raining and cold, and it was, you know, you could see the snow coming down a little bit higher up the hillside and the, mountains there and the glaciers and everything that was up there was like kind of starting to come down and encroach on my territory, knowing that, like any day now, it could end up being just frozen and ice the whole time. And so it was just all basically begging in this dark with. And then as time went on, like after the first 13 days, like my body kind of cleansed from the, the old American diet and and not that I didn't eat all that bad, but I was pretty heavy going into it. And, I, I was just, I ate a Danish and, and a coffee every morning and, you know, pizza for lunch at the gas station and then a really, really healthy dinner that my wife was always cook and fancy, you know, we'd have a wild game or, you know, chickens and stuff from our own yard of really delicious meals and stuff and, you know, out there, like, your body just cleanses and you end up just just flushed out and, and at at after that happened, like my mind, just like after 13 days of cleansing, I was just, like, just so focused. So aware, so, like, just blown away, by it all, I, I had been put in a, like, the dark side of the moon because where they stuck me down there in the southern hemisphere was on the, southern facing slope. So down there, that meant the sun was behind the mountain that I was on the whole time, instead of shining on my location. And because it was so steep, too. And on day 13, I turned and I saw a ray of sunshine for the first time coming through the trees way up on this hillside. And I went up in there, and I stood in the sun, and I just broke down into tears. And I just started really calling on, on the Lord again. I was just like, thank you God. Praise you God. Thank you Jesus, for the son, for your son. And I just like I just started worshiping for the first time in a long time and I was just like completely broken by the situation. And and that he they provided some sun and that he was going to provide for me during this adventure and, and more and more as clarity of mind came and and just cleansing, not just from my body and toxins and things that had built up over the years of, you know, not the best of eating all the time, but like, you know, it's it was like also I cleansed from, you know, the world and just kind of a fast from being part of all of that. You know, there was no no tablets, no phones, no TVs, no video games, no. I mean, there was nothing, you know, to to like, fog your mind, you know, no other people to be in conflict with, you know, except for yourself. You know, there was no situations. And as I cleansed and just sought God for, you know, where I was at, it was like, unreal. And, I as I went through the whole experience, I kept talking to God more and more like the the old songs from, hymns that we would sing. You know, as kids growing up in the church, what came to mind? And like, I could hear them clearly and they just I just kind of be walking up and down the trail, you know, to check on my fish and see if I caught something that day. And I and I just be singing stuff, you know, even even the ones that I sang as a little kid. Like, if the devil doesn't like it, he can sit on attack, you know, like, just didn't entertain myself kind of worshiping God and just, you know, recognizing him for who he is and just like, no distractions. It was amazing. And as the time was drawing longer, you know, I just kept kind of talking to God about it, like, I'm going home and I haven't gone to church on Sunday in a long time. I really love my Sundays. Having a whole two day weekend, like, do what I want to do and drag my heels on Sunday morning, not do much of anything. But Lord, if you're going to do the work in my heart, I'm. I don't want to lose this intimacy and relationship with you, that I've found out here. And, so when I went home, you know, I immediately forgot about all that, because I had won half$1,000,000.87 days over, the wife coach shows up on day 87, and they have her sneak up behind me and, surprise me. And she says, you've out stubborn them all. You can go home. Oh my goodness. And, And I was just like. And then the first thing I said was like, I was like, thank you, Lord, you know? And they put that on there, and I really was I was just so thankful. But just like, you know, I don't know, like anything else, you know, you get you get distracted. Right? I go, I went home and I got busy with like, wow, what am I going to do with half $1 million that I won? And I, I, you know, I and everything else. And I got home and I forgot for a little bit and then God kind of brought it back to my mind and said, you, you, you still want to, hang out, you know, it's like, oh, jeez, you know. Lord. Yeah. Yes, yes, yes, yes. And so I, it kind of, you know, that whole being out there reset me. And I just began in, just really, you know, as much as I had the energy for is probably the best way to say it. Like just going after God, you know, it's like trying to do, you know, Bible time in the morning and things. I didn't get it perfect or anything like that, and we never do. But but I just it's just been since then though, it's been a steady progress of, you know, moving forward. You know. Sure. We trip on our laces at times or fall and fall off the path and have to climb back on to it, you know, but like, you know, just continually seeking God. And it's been so awesome. That is incredible. And I love the fact that, you know, we hear stories all the time of people that have these kind of experiences. They, you know, get some fame and fortune and their lives completely fall apart. But in your journey, you grew closer to the Lord. And while it is a journey and yes, you're right, we do fall down. And of course, we're sinners. And so, you know, we do have to, constantly be, you know, renewing and refreshing our mind with the word of God. I love how God drew you in in that moment, that deep, transformational journey that you were on out in the wilderness. You know, so many people that listen to this podcast are struggling with sexual addiction or pornography. And, you know, they have that feeling of being "Alone" in their battles against those temptations. So how would you encourage those people who are in that wilderness, you know, struggling with their temptations, you know, to draw closer to the Lord in those moments? Yeah. It's just it's really is easy. Or I guess maybe it's not easy. It's simple. Right? It's not easy, but it's definitely simple. Like the Word of God says to seek him first and his kingdom and his righteousness. There really isn't a lot more to it than that. You know, when they asked Jesus like, what was the most important thing? It wasn't like Cohen in, you know, the barbarian like to crush your enemies under your feet and hear the lamentation of their their women. Jesus said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. And that wraps it all up. And to love the Lord your God. You got to know him. It's a relationship. Yes. So we pursue that relationship day in and day out. It doesn't matter. The burden of of sin. He died for that. So the the failure and the falling away, you know, don't live in the guilt. You seek God first. That's the that's the the simple side of it. Right? It's it's as simple as that. Now it's hard to pull. You're up by yourself, up by your bootstraps at times and turn back to him. But it's it's as, it's as simple as just continually saturating yourself in what is right and what is true, which is found in the Bible and in worship and in, in prayer. Because if you're not doing that and you're struggling, then it's a duh, like, why isn't this working? You know, I don't expect to, be able to paddle upstream if I'm in a canoe and, and I don't have the paddle out, like, oh, I'm not making any headway. I'm not. I had this is so frustrating. And I got my paws in the water and I'm like, no, I'm not going anywhere. You know, you got to get the word of God out. And it does the work. You know, it's like it's it's so, refreshing every time, every morning I now I get up, more often than not, like 430, you know,

00 every morning. And it's been like an hour or two and it just gets so built up and so encouraged. I, I feel like, David, I'm ready to go out and slay Goliath. You know, the the lion, you know, is has got nothing on me because, you know, God is in my corner and and I'm just so stoked to be experiencing the day with God and work. You know, it's just what can happen today. Lord, what are we going to do? What are we going to get up to? You know. That's amazing. I love that, and I love that intimate relationship you've developed with the Lord. You know, so many of us are distracted in life. And, you know, unfortunately, we all are probably not brave enough to go out into the wilderness for 87 days and have that interaction and that time away from all of our distractions like our cell phones and the busyness of life. But what are some practical ways that people can take a break from all of those things, so that we can hear from the Lord and spend time in His word, and with him to develop that intimacy. Do you have any, you know, ideas that people can take and put into their own lives? I guess the first thing comes to mind is wisdom. You know, the the word of God. And God is the foundation of of like all of him is wisdom. So if you're going to put in a bunch of garbage and foolishness from Netflix and choose that, like you're going to put junk food and McDonald's into your body, remember that show? That guy was going to, like, survive for like 30 days on McDonald's. And they had to like, they told him he had to actually stop. Like, no wonder you fill yourself with junk food. What's going to come out of you? So it's the same thing, you know, you're going to fill yourself with junk food. You're going to sit down when you're bummed and depressed and eat ice cream and watch Netflix. You're going to end up, a potato, you know? But if you will put the right stuff in, you put the Word of God in, you put the time in. You know, the result is going to be, a stronger, healthier and, and wisdom. Is that the biggest part of that and the wisdom to choose God, the wisdom to choose where you in what you take in and, and, you know, for me, a lot of it, like, like even leveling up the last couple of years has been, reading books by, other Christian authors. So not just the word of God, but, like, you know, Jimmy Dobson and Billy Graham and, like, listening to these guys, audio books of them to, like, just always, you know, just seeking. Where can I find more of God's wisdom? You know, first off, in the Bible, always starting there and then anything else that you hear and comparing that against the Word of God, I will take those back to God's Word and see where biblical principles align with that, to make sure that I'm not taking in the wrong junk and and trying to build some sort of foundation on something outside of Jesus Christ. You don't have to be making it up and like, shut out the whole world and and have nothing else because that would then you'd be, missing out on the greater goal of, being a witness for Jesus and bringing other people into freedom and salvation. And for me, my Bible time is is a I get the word I used to do the daily bread. That's a great starting place for anybody. Yeah, but go further. Like you read the Daily Bread, you read the verse of the day. Now you read that, Proverbs 3538, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. So that's the verse of the day. Let's just pretend. And then you take that verse and you look over in your Bible, in your study notes, you see what that says about it. And then you look in the chain and you see what are the verses say, trust in the Lord with all your heart. And what are those verses say? And what were they saying to that person? Was that, you know, to David, was that to the disciples Jesus saying it to the disciples, what was he confronting them about? And just fall down the rabbit hole and just fall in love with God's Word? It's amazing how deep and how this even reading the same one over and over. Like I went back and I was reading Psalms 23. You know, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want and and like and like thinking about each aspect of that, like he's the shepherd, like I'm a sheep. I don't have to worry about the wolves coming after me because he's my shepherd and I can trust him for that. And I'm like, wow, that's amazing. Like each time my heart just like, jumps for joy with the the different words of life as you, as you read them and they jump off the page to you and you go deeper and deeper. I love that, and that's great wisdom for our listeners. I think those are some really practical steps. Oh, and journaling. Journaling, journaling. Yeah. That's huge. I think, a lot of people forget about your relationship in prayer with God and the Holy Spirit that it's a it's an exchange. So you take don't just take things to him in prayer and say, oh God, this is going so badly. And this is look for the exchange because he has something for you in return. He wants to take those burdens off your shoulder and he wants to give you something better. So if you're struggling with something, you look it up in the Word of God. You see what he tells you you need to be doing, and you exchange your junk that you're holding on to for the good things that he has for you. Let go of those things that have those open hands, receive it and and journal it out. Like, right. Like, oh man, I was reading the Bible there. I was praying about like how to get free, you know, from pornography. And, and God said that my body is a temple and my body being a temple, I know that my body is a temple. And like the Holy Spirit lives in me and I'm not bringing junk into my temple, I'm sweeping this temple out and I'm going to keep it clean, and I'm going to be in there hanging out and talking to the Holy Spirit and seeing what he has in mind for me. And then I'm going to encourage my brother, who's struggling to and I'm going to give him a hug. I'm going to love on him, and I'm going to help him see deliverance and him and his marriage and his wife be blessed by this. And we're just going to just keep that going. Journey to eternity. Good. Oh, I love that. And the nice thing about journaling, too, is that it's a document that or, you know, it's a record that can be passed on to the future generations so they can see your walk with the Lord. You know, we think about, you know, our children and our children's children. Those things can be very sacred to the next generation. To see the journey that you were on and how God has worked in your lives, over the years. So I love that. I love journaling, that's a great recommendation. Yeah. You mentioned this, you know, kind of, walking along, find your brother. And of course, we care deeply about accountability and the role that it plays in our lives. And you're you're channel is really interesting because you have a lot of people that are maybe not Christians, that follow your work because of your time on "Alone" and are just super into survival and, you know, being outdoors and all the wilderness type activities. So you have an opportunity to really share the gospel with people that maybe are unchurched. So talk to us a little bit about accountable while the brotherhood is so important and sisterhood, and then also how you leverage your channel to reach the unchurched and unsaved. Yeah. Accountability. I put the Covenant Eyes on my phone when we got together, and I found out about it, and I did a sponsored thing on it and recommended it to people because I want them to see freedom, too. And, the Bible talks about like, if you, if your hand sins, you cut it off. Well, maybe don't cut it off. Right. I think, that we know that that was kind of talking about, like, you know, remove the option for yourself so that you can have some freedom to grow. Right? And, so removing, everything from your phone that might distract you, that could be dangerous social media, things like that. Great steps. But you can just as easily, at night, open those up or open up the internet and stuff like that. But finding an accountability partner because the Bible also says for us to find somebody to confess to and to, you know, build each other up, that we're not separate stuff, forsake the gathering of the saints. There's a reasoning in there because, you know, two are better than one. Yeah. And, so I, you know, found an accountability partner, you know, after hearing about the app and put it on my phone because I struggled as a young man years ago. And, I don't want I don't want some thing to ever. You never know what's going to hit you. You know what? What if something bad happens and you're like, oh, I'm in possibly stronger than that. That's pride. And you're already on your way towards being available for a new attack of some sort. So, you know, hey, by preemptively, you know, do the smart thing and do something about it. I put it on my phone. It doesn't hurt anything, and it leaves me accountable. And, knowing that, I have an accountability partner and it just makes things so much simpler and, and we don't we don't get together and talk about sad things. We get together and talk about life and beauty instead of, you know, spending all our time praying over like, oh, like, forgive me again. You know, like we're we get to build each other up and encourage each other, you know, and, it's just so, so important that accountability and just in just so that you can grow. Absolutely. Yeah. And then let's talk a little bit too about the, the channel and how you're able to reach people who are. Not yet. Through the work that you're doing. I think it's amazing because, you know, the survival and kind of the, you know, that's kind of a big thing. A lot of people are into that. My husband is super into that. We all have our get our bags, you know, ready to go. And he's, you know, always out in the wilderness doing things. And I love that. But there are so many out there that are into that but don't know Christ. So how are you leveraging your platform and your reach to really share the message of the gospel with others? And when I got back from "Alone" initially, my first thought, like I said, I was still a just. My thoughts were for myself and and things and I, I actually said like, I'm starting a YouTube channel so I could do what I want to do when I want to do it. Like, well, that sounds like, somebody we know in the Bible, like King Solomon. They're like, yeah, yeah. Like, or Saul and like, you know, just like, like, wow, I got the kingdom now. And, you know, it's mine, I did it, I'm doing everything and like. But it's over the years, God has spoke to me about it more and more. And, at first it was just, you know, praying over my meals that just as a testimony that, you know, I recognize, you know, where and who has blessed me with what I have, you know, and, and acknowledging that before man, you know, and and now it's like, I'm just so excited about Jesus and wanting everybody to know him that, like, it wasn't even, like a change that I did intentionally. I just like my goals were are to just minister Christ life to each and every person as I talk to them, whether it's in a YouTube video or it's here in the office. And, you know, it just that's what keeps happening. Like, I just like when I'm sitting there, I'm journaling or something like that, because every time we do an overnight, things like that, I'm just sharing my entire life, you know, and, some people don't like it. Then they, they leave comments. And, other people have speculated that I get more views of I kept my mouth shut. They're like, you're supposed to leave the Bible and and political. It says who? Like, right. Like, you know, like, if you're bleeding, I'm gonna put a Band-Aid on for you, you know? And, you are, you know, hemorrhaging bad. If you don't know Jesus and you're don't know why, your life, you know, is the way it is. So I'm going to do my best to, to point the direction here for you. I love that. So. Well, that's great. And I think that's that's the right attitude to have. It's to, you know, insert your faith where you can and just live the life, you know, on display for everyone to see. I love that. So talk to us a little bit about some of your favorite outdoor adventures you recently did. You bikes are crossed. I, I'm not sure. Oh, that was my idea. Was that the best. 100 mile bike survival challenge? Because for me, I knew that when I was on "Alone", I was surviving. I had a lot of things that I needed, and God, I was like, oh, I could trust him because I've seen him since a little kid. When we didn't have any food, we put our prayers in a box and people knock on the door and be like, we brought food, you know? And that's my parent's testimony of how we trusted God. And that's how I, you know, knew he was real, right? And now and now and that was "Alone". And I'm surviving. And I knew that to survive like I could trust God for it. And he did. And he provided. But the e-bike survival challenge was like, I chose to do something silly, empty out my all my pockets, and I'm going to take a 300 mile e-bike ride with no money, no food, no shelter. Just the stuff that I have on my back, the skills that God has blessed me with. And and as I was going along, like God, just like put things in the path, like I was like, my eyes are getting dirty and I didn't even pray or ask for it. And at that one thing and like, there's glasses on the side of the road and they're broken. But all, all the pieces were there and they stayed on my eyes, you know. And then I found a jacket and it just. And like God brought to my mind that verse of like, hey, when you go. And he sent the disciples out and he's trying to teach them to be stronger and to rely on him. He said, don't even take an extra jacket. And I had brought a jacket so I'd be warm at night. And there's this like extra, extra warm, like jacket that's like almost brand new. The zipper was broke, but it was like, who cares? It was so nice and warm and I was able to be warm at night with that, you know, and, you know, just, you know, I put out funny signs that said, you know, need money for fishing. And people donated. And I was able to buy my first bit of, kit. And it just everywhere I went and bumped into people. I was just like, there's, like, so overwhelmed with how God provided and then just smiling and just happy meeting people. And they. That's like the the outpouring of generosity. It was like unreal. Like I just every at every turn I'd go and try to pay for a slice of pizza and they'd give me a slice of pizza. Oh my god. And so, yeah, it was God that provided the whole way. And so it was. I didn't even care how the video turned out. It was it was a blessing for me to just to spend that time with the Lord and watch him provide. It was awesome. That's cool. Now, how long was that journey? But that took five days. Five days. Okay. Wow. That's incredible. And you probably ran into all sorts of weather and conditions and all weather. It was actually that was another blessing. It just the whole time it was no. Rain or anything. No rain. No, I don't think there was a single sprinkle or nothing. Oh, that's so good. Like everywhere I pulled over, outlets worked and I was able to charge the bike. I found upgrades, I, you know, did the silliest things and and just like it was just, it was like the scripture come to life in just living it and stuff. So it was like, anyone go home. That's amazing. Oh my goodness. Well, where can people connect with you and learn more about what you're doing, your YouTube channel and all the rest? Yeah. So you can find me on Fowler's Maker and Mischief on YouTube. Our, website is the same. And, if you need a Bible and you're listening to this, randomly, we got free Bibles on the website, little, little teeny traveler type Bibles. Feel free, even if you already have one to go grab on to whatever. They are great for a little backpacks, and they have little, in the back. We got these ones printed that have the, little extra things. And if you need to look up verses on anxiety, depression, how to meet Jesus if you haven't already met him before, stuff like that. And, yeah, we keep trying to work on our resources with that and help people to get to know Jesus and, sell fun adventure equipment from the website so that you can get out there and have adventures as well in the outdoors and, and show you how to do it on the YouTube channel. And, yeah. Awesome. Well, we'll definitely put all the links in the show notes. More listeners can take advantage of all of those. And in closing today, Zach, do you have any words of wisdom or encouragement you want to leave our listeners with? As we bring today's episode to a close? I just never give up. Never give up seeking God first because you know it. There's no greater reward. You know, we were literally designed for a relationship with him. And if you don't have that, there's a hole in your life and you're missing out and you just you're going to be constantly trying to wade upstream against the current. And it's just it's going to be difficult. It doesn't mean it's not going to be difficult if you have Jesus in your life there. He says there where are going to have trials. But when we go to him with those burdens and the things that you're struggling with, he will exchange those for life. Now, when you spend time in His Word, you will know more and more what that experiences all about, and you'll be experiencing more and more victory that you can share with your loved ones, your family, your wives, and your marriages can be victorious and, you know, victorious, and your children can be victorious in your children's children. And you can create something that, just goes on and on and ride up into eternity. Oh, I love that. Well, thank you so much for joining us today. And listeners, be sure to check out all the links in the show notes. You're going to love this channel. If you are an outdoorsy kind of person or survival kind of guy or girl. You're going to find lots of great stuff, lots of great content ideas, how to videos, all the rest. So definitely check it out. Thank you so much for joining us today, Zach. Thanks for having me. And to all of our listeners. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Covenant Eyes Podcast. We'll see you next time. God bless. Take care.