California Clays

Welcome to California Clays, your home for all things competitive shotgun sports.

As an amateur competitor and passionate student of the game, Henning Mathew dives into the world of clay shooting through interviews with some of the best to ever point a shotgun.

He interviews World, National, and State Champions, their coaches, and key figures across the industry.

They explore the techniques, stories, and insights that fuel the sports we all love, from Sporting Clays to FITASC, Helice, Trap, Skeet, and the International disciplines.

If you enjoy learning and celebrating the world of competitive shooting, make sure to Subscribe for new videos and conversations from California and beyond.

Listen on:

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Episodes

20 hours ago

What does it feel like when you are standing on the edge of winning a World Championship?In this clip, David Radulovich talks about the pressure and anxiety he felt as he was closing in on the World FITASC title.It is a great look into the mental side of championship shooting. The targets matter, but so does what is happening inside your head when everything is on the line.David went on to win the World Championship, and this moment became part of that story.Full episode on YouTube: California Clays Podcast#CaliforniaClays #DavidRadulovich #WorldFITASC #FITASC #SportingClays #ClayShooting #ShotgunSports #MentalGame #WorldChampion

3 days ago

Derrick Mein is a Man On A Mission.Fresh off a silver medal at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, a runner-up finish at the National Sporting Clays Championship, a third-place finish at the World English Sporting Championship, and another runner-up finish at the Western Regional, Derrick is proving once again why he is one of the most complete shotgun shooters in the world.In this episode, Derrick joins me to talk about his recent podium streak, the mindset behind competing at the highest level, and what it takes to stay sharp across multiple shotgun disciplines. From Olympic Trap to Sporting Clays, Derrick continues to show that he can compete on any stage.But this conversation is about more than recent results. Derrick has his eyes set on earning the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.We talk about preparation, pressure, switching between disciplines, handling expectations, and what drives him as he continues chasing the next level.#CaliforniaClays #DerrickMein #SportingClays #OlympicTrap #ShotgunSports #ClayShooting #ISSF #TeamUSA #LA2028 #NSCA

Sunday Jun 21, 2026

Grace Corselli has enjoyed success at the highest levels of competitive shooting, earning the title of two-time California State Ladies Champion (2023 and 2025) as well as State Champion in Oklahoma, Utah, and Arizona.She was the Lady Runner-Up at the 2024 NSCA National Championship and has accumulated numerous podium finishes at regional, national, and world championship events throughout her career.Among her most notable accomplishments are those achieved as a student-athlete on the collegiate circuit, where she has earned nine National Championship rings and captured High Overall (HOA) honors at the ACUI National Collegiate Clay Target Championships in 2024 and 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.What I really like about Grace’s story is that her success seems rooted in gratitude. She’s competitive, she’s driven, and she wants to win, but underneath all of that there seems to be a genuine appreciation for the opportunity to shoot, learn, travel, and keep getting better.Hope you enjoy the episode!

Monday Jun 15, 2026

In this episode of The California Clays Podcast, I sit down with Andy Shahidi, one of the youngest shooters making the biggest impact in the Helice and live pigeon shooting world.Andy is a 2-time World Champion in Helice, a World Champion in live pigeon shooting, and the 2026 Helice Nationals HOA Champion, where he won both the overall title and the Junior title.What makes Andy’s story so interesting is not just that he is winning at such a young age. It is how quickly he has become a serious threat against some of the best and most experienced shooters in the game.We talk about how Andy got into shooting, what drew him to Helice, how he trained himself to become competitive, and what he has learned through his biggest wins, losses, and breakthroughs. We also get into the pressure of competing as a young shooter, what separates good shooters from champions, and how he approaches two of the most unforgiving shotgun games in the world.This is a great conversation with a young competitor who is already building a serious resume and still has a long road ahead of him.If you enjoy conversations about sporting clays, Helice, competition, mindset, and the shotgun sports lifestyle, make sure to like, subscribe, and share the podcast.Follow The California Clays Podcast for more conversations with some of the best in the shotgun sports world.

Saturday May 23, 2026

Today I’m joined by Jonny Carter, the host of TGS Outdoors, one of the most recognizable shotgun and shooting lifestyle channels on YouTube.Jonny is a former gunsmith who somehow turned his love of shotguns, shooting culture and storytelling into a career that has taken him all over the world. Through TGS, he has documented everything from beautiful guns and incredible shooting grounds to the people, traditions, and characters that make the shotgun world so unique.In this conversation, I wanted to learn more about Jonny’s background, how he went from gunsmith to YouTuber and what he has learned after spending time with some of the best shooters, coaches, gunmakers, and industry people in the game.This was a fun one, and I think you’re really going to enjoy it.

Saturday May 16, 2026

I sat down with David Radulovich, a former World FITASC and US Open Champion. We discussed David's shooting journey, equipment evolution, and shooting philosophy. David explained how he recently switched guns after 11 years with his Perazzi Hi-Tech setup. He described how the new gun's different weight distribution and thinner rib design better complement his shooting style and ability. The conversation also touched on David's approach to practice and we explored the differences between thinking-based and feeling-based shooting styles.We talk about how developing emotional maturity can help your shooting and what makes FITASC the "most complete shotgun discipline".Hope you enjoy!

Sunday Apr 19, 2026

New episode with Cliff Seibert of Northbrook Sports Club and Sporting Clays Nation.Cliff is not only a competitive shooter, but is deeply involved in one of the premier clubs in the country. He is also one of the voices helping tell the story of our sport through podcasting. We had a fun conversation about shooting, the sport, podcasting, different interview styles, and what keeps people engaged in clay target shooting.This was a good one and I think you guys will enjoy it.

Monday Dec 15, 2025

I recorded this episode on November 17th with Olympian Derrick Mein, fresh off his 2nd place finish at the 2025 U.S. National Sporting Clays Championship.In this episode, we debrief the shoot from Derrick’s perspective, how he evaluated the courses, managed pressure, and talked himself through the event to earn a podium finish at Nationals. We also get inside the mind of Derrick a former Olympian, World and National Champion as he shares how this performance fits into his preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games.If you want insight into an elite-level mindset and competing at the highest level, this one delivers.

Saturday Nov 29, 2025

Today’s episode is a special follow-up with Anthony Matarese Jr., one of the most respected minds in our sport.This time, Anthony reflects on his performance at the 2025 Sporting Clays National Championship, where he did not finish to his expectations. But as you’ll hear, he doesn't make any excuses.Anthony and I talk about how he evaluates his own performance and where his mindset is heading into 2026. Despite not seeing me shoot, I also asked him to coach me through my own tournament experience, he offers me some insights and helps me to think, prepare, and grow as a shooter.

Saturday Nov 22, 2025

Today I’m joined by one of the brightest young stars in the shooting world, Joe Fanizzi. At just 22 years old, Joe has already accomplished what most shooters dream of in a lifetime. He’s the 2021 NSCA National and Tour Champion, 5x NSCA Regional Champion, 2x Jack Links Cup Champion, 4x Diamond Classic Champion, 2x World Championship Silver Medalist. He has also made 14 NSCA Team USA Teams. He also placed 3rd at the 2025 NSCA National Championship. Joe earned his Masterclass designation at 13 years old. Growing up on the range in Florida, Joe has become known not only for his consistency behind the gun, but also for his sportsmanship, leadership and as an ambassador for the sport. He’s now pursuing a degree in Construction Science at Texas A&M, all while continuing to compete at the highest levels.We get into Joe’s unique shooting style, his competitive mindset, and what drives him at the highest level. It’s clear why he stands among the very best.

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