Intro
Meet Jesse Males. Fly fishing guide, filmmaker, and adventure photographer. Jesse has spent the last decade chasing wild places and telling their stories. He got his start as a custom fly tier and designer before becoming an international fly fishing guide, and has since turned his lens on the world around him, building a career in independent filmmaking. Whether he's waist-deep in remote waters or behind a camera in the backcountry, Jesse is always in pursuit of something worth capturing. A man of faith, family, and the outdoors. We're proud to welcome him to the Turtlebox family.
Q&A
What is your profession? And did you always know this is what you would end up doing, or was it something you stumbled into?
I've worn many hats in the outdoor industry over the last decade. I started out as a custom fly tier and fly designer, progressed to international fly fishing guide, and for the past four years have focused solely on independent filmmaking and adventure photography.
When you’re not doing your core pursuit, what else do you enjoy doing?
Family, faith, and friends.
How do you incorporate music into your life?
I always have music playing. Always. From a young age I was a big music fan. Live concerts and loud music were some of the first places I really felt alive.
What does “Live Free” mean to you?
For me, Living Free is all about the intentionality behind each phase of life. Sometimes I'm on mountain tops and sometimes I'm in the valleys, focusing on love-motivated actions keeps me grounded and operating above my circumstances. That's where Living Free happens.
Any guilty pleasures?
Bourbon and pipe tobacco at the moment.
What’s your hottest take or most controversial opinion?
No king but Christ. That one has a unique way of upsetting certain types of people.
What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you in the wild/on tour?
I was in the Amazon once, Guyana to be specific, working on a film project when we found ourselves in the vicinity of uncontacted people groups. Knowing they had seen us but we hadn't seen them put a very different vibe on the whole 14-day trip.
Who is your favorite musical artist? Or what are you listening to right now?
Can't choose an ultimate favorite, but right now I'm really into an artist called Petey USA.
Favorite Turtlebox speaker and why? How do you use it?
The Ranger. Hands down the best due to its punch and portability. Always in use on the SUP board, in the backyard, at sporting events, the neighbor's house, family dinners, camping trips, road trips. You name it.
