The Origins Foundation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 610 - Pud Howard || From Desert To Paradise Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

There are legends in the Hunter conservationist world, and we are fortunate to be able to meet a few of them. Pud Howard is one of these individuals. Pud (a nickname given to him as a young boy) of Sale, Victoria in Australia grew up in the duck hunting scene and has dedicated his life to ducks, duck hunting, and conservation of ducks in Australia. Pud recounts heart and soul efforts to purchase and restore a block of land from nothing but a desert to a thriving wetland ecosystem that holds waterfowl and takes Robbie on an in-person tour of the property, exploring the Heart Morass and talking about what it means. This is a heartfelt podcast straight from the heart of an individual that has never done a podcast before, and lives everyday on how he can better wetlands for ducks

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

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Lionheart: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/lionheart/

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Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 609 - Jason Wisniewski || To Trap Or Not To Trap Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

One of the most misunderstood actvitiies in sustainable use is trapping - including how trapping has evolved over time to include best management practices to ensure the humane trapping of animals. Robbie is joined by Jason Wisniewski, the current President of Fur Takers of America, to talk about the science and stories behind trapping in the US. From the myths to what’s happening in the trapping world, to what’s happening in the fur taking trade, and beyond.

Get to know the guest: https://www.instagram.com/trentleen/?hl=en

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Africa Maximum Safaris: https://www.africamaximum.co.za/

Turbine Tool & Gage: https://www.turbinetoolandgage.com/

Depredation to Conservation: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/depredation-to-conservation/

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Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Roundup 163 || Roundup with Ashlee and special guest host David Willms Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Robbie is across the pond, so Ashlee is joined by special guest host David Willms to discuss the news of the week, including an epic battle between the Oklahoma Attorney General and the Governor over tribal hunting rights, the new classification of bison in Colorado, Wyoming considering allowing landowners to sell hunting tags, and Ohio constitutional right to hunt and fish.

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Champion Ranch: https://championranch.com/

Big Bear Services: https://big-bear-services.com/home

Fighting Fire with Fire: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/fighting-fire-with-fire/

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Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 608 - Trent Leen || From Duck Hunting To Conservation Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

While Robbie was making his way through South Australia and Victoria, he connected with team members of Field and Game Australia throughout Victoria. Robbie is joined by Trent Leen, the Conservation Director of the Geelong Field and Game Branch—similar to his counterpart (and previous guest) Graeme Wall. The Geelong Branch has a storied history in Field and Game, and Trent joins on location from the wetland his family donated to the headquarters of Field and Game. He discusses his history and passion for ducks, his heritage, and why this is about more than just shooting ducks for him.

Get to know the guest: https://www.instagram.com/trentleen/?hl=en

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Champion Ranch: https://championranch.com/

Big Bear Services: https://big-bear-services.com/home

Fighting Fire with Fire: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/fighting-fire-with-fire/

See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe

Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 607 - Graeme Wall || A Conservation Champion you have never heard of Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Graeme Wall, the Conservation Director of the Rushworth Field and Game Branch of Field and Game Australia, is an enigma. We first learned about Graeme and his branch last year and celebrated all the things they do for conservation because they love to duck hunt. During Robbie’s tour down under, he managed to stop in and see Graeme in Rushworth. Graeme joined Robbie on the podcast to discuss his tiny little town of just 1,000 people in the middle of nowhere—Victoria, Australia—and his role as the spear tip of conservation in his community. The two discuss Rushworth’s rural success in conservation, all recorded on location in the middle of an Australian wetland in the middle of nowhere (check out the YouTube video).

Get to know the guest: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-10-31-rhino-horn-harvested-from-captive-breeding-operations-can-be-exported-high-court-rules/

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Camino Real Hunting Consultants: https://www.crhunting.com/

Mirim Enterprises:

Arkansas Black Bear Collaring: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/arkansas-black-bear-collaring/

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Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Roundup 162 || Warning Not To Eat Maine Wild Deer/Turkey, Ostrich Cull in Canada, and an LA Menhaden Ruling Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

Ashlee and Robbie are back after a couple of weeks off traveling, and discuss the statewide warning from Maine not to eat wild turkey and deer due to PFAS, the recent mass killing of almost 400 ostriches on a farm in Canada after 2 tested positive for H1N1 over a year ago, the Louisiana Wildlife Commission 4-3 ruling to shrink the Menhaden (pogie) commercial fishing buffer zone from ½ mile to ¼ mile against overwhelming pushback from conservation community, a new study discussing the massive decline in global biomass of wild animals, the uptick in bear attacks around the globe.

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Camino Real Hunting Consultants: https://www.crhunting.com/

Mirim Enterprises:

Arkansas Black Bear Collaring: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/arkansas-black-bear-collaring/

See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe

Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 606 - Brandon Maddox || Past, Present, And Future Of Silencers Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Returning guest, sponsor, and CEO of Silencer Central, Brandon Maddox, sits down with Robbie at Silencer Central HQ in Sioux Falls, SD, during their 20th anniversary celebration to talk about the past, present, and future of silencers. From humble beginnings selling them face-to-face out of the back of his car to becoming the largest seller of silencers in the world—and sharing things you may not know about their 20-year run and achieving the American dream—this podcast dives into some little-known territory about the brand and the man behind it, Brandon Maddox.

Get to know the guest: https://www.silencercentral.com

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia: https://spsafarisnamibia.com/

Dr. Blake Brown, DDS: https://www.drblakebrowndentistry.com/

The Hunting Ban in Cabaneros National Park: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/hunting-ban-cabaneros-national-park/

See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe

Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 605 - Wicus Diedericks || Rhino Horn Trade Back On After 50 Years? Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Wicus Diedericks, owner of Rockwood Conservation, dropped a bomb on the rhino conservation world on Friday, when a court ruled that he can trade in rhino horn (devil is in the details). It’s not quite that simple, but the ruling stated that the CITES exemption for conservation-bred rhinos is part of South African law - i.e., he should legally be able to get an export permit for horns that have been dehorned from his herd. This is huge news for rhino conservation and potentially the legal mechanism by which rhino horn can be purchased by the east and the Middle East. This is absolutely breaking news, with this court decision occurring last Friday. We do not know the extent of the implications of the court ruling, we do know the MEC of the Northern Cape has 7 days to respond to the issuance of the export permit. We also know that in 2 1/2 weeks CITES COP starts in Uzbekistan and this will be the talk of the town there!

Get to know the guest: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-10-31-rhino-horn-harvested-from-captive-breeding-operations-can-be-exported-high-court-rules/

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia: https://spsafarisnamibia.com/

Dr. Blake Brown, DDS: https://www.drblakebrowndentistry.com/

The Hunting Ban in Cabaneros National Park: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/hunting-ban-cabaneros-national-park/

See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe

Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 604 - Jon Flocchini || State Of Bison Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

In celebration of National Bison Day (November 1st), Jon Flocchini, the generational farmer of the Durham Bison Ranch, joins Robbie to give a State of the Union on bison in the U.S. All Jon knows is bison, and he dives deep into the state of these iconic American mammals and the practices it takes to keep a herd of these majestic animals thriving for over a century. If you have been fascinated by bison or are interested in learning more, then this is the podcast for you.

Get to know the guest: https://durhambisonranch.com/the-ranch/ranch-staff/

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia: https://spsafarisnamibia.com/

Dr. Blake Brown, DDS: https://www.drblakebrowndentistry.com/

The Hunting Ban in Cabaneros National Park: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/hunting-ban-cabaneros-national-park/

See more from Blood Origins: https://bit.ly/BloodOrigins_Subscribe

Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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Episode 603 - Tony Schoonen || The Dark Numbers Of Poaching In The US Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

When one thinks of poaching, the mind often turns to Africa—snares, and people involved in the illegal bushmeat trade. Few would think of poaching occurring in the United States of America. Boone and Crockett Club President Tony Schoonen and researcher Jon Gassett join Robbie to talk about the Club’s new Poach and Pay program. This enormous undertaking to understand poaching in the U.S. revealed a massive “dark number” of poachers—and what that means for the landscapes and lifestyles we love. It’s an incredibly fascinating episode where you’ll learn the data and science behind the true impact of poaching in the U.S. today, what motivates it, and what steps can be taken to combat its staggering scale. This is the kind of podcast you’ll definitely be talking about with your colleagues around the water cooler—or the coffee pot—in the morning.

Get to know the guest: https://podfollow.com/boone-and-crocketts-heritage-of-the-hunt-podcast

Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundation.org

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Mumembe Safaris: https://www.mumembesafaris.com/

Dog & Gun Coffee: https://www.dogandguncoffee.com/

Whio vs Stoats - A Conservation Battle: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/whio-vs-stoats-a-conservation-battle/

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Music: Migration by Ian Post (Winter Solstice), licensed through artlist.io

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