The Life and Death of Hunter Drew

Why having a Pen Name was a Mistake

When I started writing online, I chose to do so under the pen name “Hunter Drew” as I was writing about topics that I’d deemed “too hot” for my employment (Active Duty Navy) and too controversial for social acceptance.

(Fun Fact: I chose “Hunter Drew” because if our daughter were a boy, that would have been his name, and since she was a girl, it became the perfect one for my writing.)

My focus was on men’s rights, men’s health, sex, marriage, fatherhood, masculinity at large, and how to be a powerful family man; these seem like safe enough topics to discuss, but in today’s day and age, these types of discussions can lead to loss of employment due to accusations of sexism, extremism (I’m not kidding), and social ostracization.

Things weren’t any better when I started writing on Reddit in 2011, and later when I created my blog in 2015.

Obviously, you know me as Zac Small, which means somewhere along the way, Hunter Drew died…

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Being Honest Online is the Key to Longevity

The decision to drop my pen name in 2020 wasn't one I made lightly.

In fact, it was the culmination of years of discussion, soul-searching and careful consideration, brought to a head by the events of COVID.

A man of many identities

I started to feel like I was living a double life, my message was one of authentic living and owning your features and flaws alike, yet here I was, going by a different name, even while I was proud of and embodying my work.

On the one hand, I was a successful Blogger and Podcaster that people knew and respected. But on the other hand, I was always hiding behind this name that wasn't mine. It felt dishonest, and while my closest friends and family understood my “why”, I realized I needed to change.