About Tracker Audio
History
In 2006 Tom Brown Jr's Tracker School (located in Waretown NJ) began in-house production of their onsite class audio recordings. Karl Direske (founder of wildernessFusion; Tom's business manager at the time) worked with Tom to develop the audio recording program with Don Baker providing equipment and production advice and Mike Panella (@wildlifecreativgen / founder of LudlowStudio) as field engineer.
David Ott became the head of production as an independent contractor with Tracker School in 2007, continuing to fine-tune the field recording process and handle the audio post-production and CD manufacturing out of Karl's office in North Salem NY while Tracker School handled accounting. Many folks were vital to the success of this endeavor, including Sara Setzer (then Tracker office manager / www.sarasetzerfeltworks.com), Pamela Averack (coordinator & copywriter), Liz Panke (initial artwork / https://lizpanke.com), Clay Enos (photos for the first covers / https://portfolio.clayenos.com), Denise, Catherine and Mary Pat (assembly and shipping), Nicole (accounting), and Dalton Brand (audio editing & mastering advice).
Editing & mastering for Tom Brown Jr's audiobook version of "Grandfather" also began that year, and production on Tom Brown Jr's audiobook series "Conversations With Grandfather" in November of that year. By March of 2008 David had recorded & delivered the first 8 volumes for Tom with Karl heading the production.
By April 2009 photos were being included with the class audio recordings, and the first forays into videography begun. Stephen Gifford (co-founder of Pretty Damn Sweet) was instrumental in this video work, providing valuable advice on equipment and editing.
In May 2009 the first online broadcast from Tom was presented. About 20 broadcasts were done that year, each around 90 to 120 minutes long, in front of a live studio audience.
By the end of 2009 David had produced over 1,400 hours of class audio recordings for Tom and the Tracker School. Mike Panella did the recording for many of these, with David filling in as needed, but there were also many other folks who helped with the field recordings in subsequent years, including Noah Giddens, Dax McMillan, A.J., Teake, Conrad Simas, Sandor Jozsa, Cadence Shae, Charlie & Meredith Blackwell, Randy Walker, Nancy Klein, Peter Schmolze, Joshua Weaver, Tony Papavasilopoulos & River Brown.
2010 brought much more video production into the mix, including filming for a documentary about Tom Brown Jr produced by Stephen Gifford and David Ott.
In order to streamline planning/recording/production/billing/shipping, David formed Tracker Audio LLC that October and assumed control over all aspects of the onsite Tracker class recordings. Tracker Audio became the consultant/contractor for all of Tracks School's online class productions, with David continuing to handle design, filming, post-production and distribution while working closely with Tom on production and Kelly Williams (Tracker office manager) on scheduling & implementation.
In November 2010 the first full format live online class from Tom named "Beyond the Facade" was held, a 2 day event with 16 hours of class time.
The next 15 years saw the continued development of the online class format, along with recording video versions of onsite classes and producing hybrid onsite/live online classes from remote locations.
In 2020 we began working on audiobooks for other clients, all delivered within the modern submission requirements of ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange). Some projects involved consulting for home recording setups, some were recorded either live onsite or during a series of online meetings, and some were just edited for content flow and final mastering.
We were also helping other clients develop their own online classes or producing video content for website and social media use. These were mainly wilderness education or nature philosophy businesses, but also included a yoga studio, a temp staffing company, real estate agents, a few grief services, and promotional videos for non-profit organizations.
By the end of 2025 Tracker Audio had produced 5,113 hours of audio from the onsite and online classes and produced 340 online events with Tom and the Tracker School, in addition to a few hundred hours of audio & video productions for other clients.
In March of 2026 Tracker Audio stopped doing production work for the Tracker School. Tom Brown jr had passed away in August of 2024, and in 2025 the school was sold to a new owner who wished to take the school in a different direction. We continue to do other projects with some of the school’s current instructors and many former instructors and staff.
Today, Tracker Audio continues producing audio & video content for a variety of organizations and individuals, handling audio restoration projects, and offering consultation on best practices for online classes and educational video presentations. It's an exciting time to be involved in the creation of audio and visual stories, and to have so many great friends and associates to kindly collaborate with. If you think we can bring added value and impact to your project, don’t hesitate to contact us.
About David Ott, executive director at Tracker Audio
David began his career in audio & visual design as a musician, beginning with percussion and the drum set at the age of 9. This would eventually lead to touring around the mid-west, getting some radio airplay, building a recording studio on the southern shore of Lake Erie with a good friend, and making his own drums from natural materials.
The background in recording was the main reason he was asked to be involved with the audio recording program at the Tracker School in 2006. That, and David had already been attending classes there for 7 years at the time and had recently finished an 18 month stint as a caretaker in the Primitive Camp, living semi-primitively in a very comfortable 8’ diameter hole in the ground.
His appreciation for the natural world has been developing since he was a young child playing in the fields and woods of his family’s small 100 acre farm in north-central Ohio. Camping and hunting skills developed into an abiding love and respect for nature. After a brief sojourn to art school and years as a professional musician, his interest returned to the cathedrals of nature and he began studying at Tom Brown jr’s Tracker School in New Jersey where he would eventually become part of their pilot instructor training program. This unique opportunity to practice the skills of survival and embody the philosophy of living with the earth would remain a touchstone for the rest of his life.
He continued studying at the school after his Caretakership concluded while also working in construction management in New York state. His mentor (Karl Direske) in this field became the business manager for Tom Brown jr. and in late 2006 David assumed responsibility for the audio recording and archiving of Tracker School classes. In 2009 he founded Tracker Audio LLC and partnered with Tom Brown jr. to develop Tracker School’s live online classes as well as remote live broadcasts of onsite classes. He continued working closely with Tom as his in-house producer for the next 15 years, spending roughly half of his time in New Jersey, until Tom’s passing in 2024.
David continues to produce online classes regarding primitive skills, nature connection and earth philosophy for Tracker Audio as well as organizations like 4 Elements Earth Education with Rick Berry, Living Connection 1st with Jon Young, Caribbean Earth Skills with Matt & Carmen Corradino, and his own Sit Spot Media project. He teaches seminars on best production practices for informative & impactful online gatherings, drum crafting & drumming, archery, lacto-fermentation and sourdough bread baking. Recently Dave was fortunate to join the teaching staff at the Sun Foundation’s Art & Science in the Woods week-long kids program, teaching primitive skills and awareness practices to children from ages 8-18. His 20 yr. old daughter would also mention his penchant for awful humor and his 18 yr. old son his fondness for debriefing the dumbest things for far too long.
Presenters We Work With
We’re incredibly grateful to have been able to work with so many talented people through the years in the online class format. These folks have really put in the dirt time and share their passion for the skills of our ancestors every time they teach. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you a pretty good idea of who we’ve been working with lately. List is alphabetical in order, not a hierarchy of skill, hair length or bandana coolness factor.
Thomas Agresti, retired public education teacher (24 years) of English, Drama, Study Skills and Life Skills. Began classes at the Tracker School in 1999, completed the Sacred Quest Series of classes with Malcolm Ringwalt, and has studied Iaido and Aikido for the past 14 years as well as the Tibetan practice Dzogchen.
Charlie Blackwell, founder of Soul Touch Healing, former class facilitator for Tom Brown Jr. at his onsite and online classes. Charlie began studying under Tom in 1990 and I know of only a handful of folks that are so well-versed in the teachings of Stalking Wolf’s lineage.
Jorge Brana, founder of Seeds of Pewen, current instructor at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. His knowledge of primitive cooking is legendary, and he has a unique perspective given his service in the Argentine military in the 1970’s and his study of living peacefully with the earth and each other.
Ruth Ann Colby Martin, founder of RACMedge, former caretaker and instructor at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School, certified professional midwife, BA in Outdoor Experiential Education, and a homesteader. One of the highest energy people I know and very fun to teach with.
Carmen Corradino, co-founder of Caribbean Earth Skills, former caretaker and instructor at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. She did her first survival outing at age 16, went on to get a degree in Human Ecology, and brings a gracefulness to both the primitive and spiritual skills seldom seen.
Matt Corradino, co-founder of Caribbean Earth Skills, former caretaker and instructor at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. Matt has extensive experience in survival trips and living with the earth in North America and in the Caribbean, and appeared on season 8 of Alone. He’s got skills!
Sarah Fontaine, co-founder of Living Connection 1st. Wildlife tracker (studied through Shikari Tracker Mentoring and Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School), Interspecies Communicator, and Nature Connection Facilitator. Love how she weaves nature, spirit and neuroscience into the healing journey.
Bill Marple, Marine veteran and tracking instructor, former instructor at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. Bill is also a visiting instructor at many other outdoors schools. He’s one of the best trackers ever mentored by Tom Brown Jr. (my words, not Bill’s. He’d never admit to that.)
Evan Pritchard, founder of the Center for Algonquin Culture. Evan is a former professor of Native American history and ethics. A prolific author, he’s written over 60 books including No Word For Time and Native American Stories of the Sacred. He is a descendant of the Mi’kmaq people.
Shannon Thomas, owner of Open Way Yoga, former caretaker at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School, appeared on season 2, episodes 4 and 7 of Naked & Afraid. She’s an avid gardener of wild things including her two wonderful kids. Or young adults, I should say. Time flies…
Randy Walker, former class facilitator for Tom Brown Jr. at his onsite and online classes. Studied with Tom for three decades and co-authored the book Tom Brown’s Guide To Healing the Earth (2019). Truly an elder of the lineage with a humble nature that is quite inspiring!
Jon Young, co-founder of Living Connection 1st. One of the few mentored by Tom Brown Jr. as Stalking Wolf had mentored Tom. Author of What the Robin Knows and Coyote’s Guide To Connecting With Nature, TED Talks speaker, naturalist and one of the most gifted storytellers I know.
Selected Project History
Audiobooks
Brown jr, Tom. Grandfather. Tracker Publishing, 2007- sound design & final mastering
Brown jr, Tom. Conversations With Grandfather. Tracker Publishing, 2008 - live audience recordings, production & final mastering
Hampton, Chris. Edge Walker. Compel Publishing, 2020 - production assistance & final mastering
Hampton, Chris. Into the Veil. Compel Publishing, 2020 - production assistance & final mastering
Young, Jon. Tracking Our Roots In Nature. Living Connection 1st, 2024 - production assistance & final mastering
Young, Jon. What The Robin Knows. [in planning phase] - recording & production assistance, final mastering
Young, Jon. Tracking Pack 1. Living Connection 1st, 2026 - restoration of original 1999 cassette recordings and re-mastering
Audio projects
Tom Brown jr's Tracker School class recordings, 2006 to 2025
- onsite recording, post-production & final mastering
- 686 class recordings, total running time over 5,100 hours.
Video productions
Tom Brown jr's Tracker School live online classes, 2009-2025
- onsite and/or online recording & production, equipment provision, post-production and delivery to students.
- 340 online productions in total
- Content and class design sole responsibility assumed mid-2024
Young, Jon. 8 Shields Master Class / 2024
- Equipment & best practices consulting, Zoom live meeting production, post-production
- 10 videos, total duration 8 h 33 min
Young, Jon. 10 Foundation Stones of Connective Culture / 2026
- best practices consulting, Riverside interviews production, post-production
- 4 videos, total duration 2 h 50 min.
Other video projects
Burke Real Estate Consultant - various production assistance and commercials
Just In Time Staffing - promotional videos production
4 Elements Earth Education - various social media content (2 minute shorts to 30 minute interviews)
Open Way Yoga - various projects
Tom Brown jr documentary - co-production with Stephen Gifford (main filming 2010-2011); currently on hold
Online productions
Tracker Audio
- planning, production & presenting 2 to 10 hour classes on the philosophy of living with the earth and primitive skills; ongoing
Living Connection 1st
- general live production assistance and planning / 2025 to present; ongoing
Tracker Family Council
- various update videos for social media; ongoing
Zoom Meeting Best Practices seminar
- currently a 3 hour live class
Private online grief services (as a presenter/reverend or as producer) / ordained Sept. 29, 2005 Rose Ministries
Tom Brown jr's Tracker School
- live online classes, 1/2 day to 1 week. Most broadcast from Tracker Audio designed studios, some from onsite in a semi-remote area of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
- 340 online productions in total from 2009-2025.
Earthwalk Northwest
- online class production "Seaweeds - Following the Tides to Health & Nutrition" 2020
- online class production "Herbal Wisdom - Wild Plants for Health & Nutrition" 2020
Kyle Keller, Marine veteran, former caretaker at Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. He’s one of the most giving and appreciative people I know, with an innate wisdom that only comes from having survived, well, so many things, including Tom Brown and the Pine Barrens ticks. Also the Florida heat. Not easy.