The Origins Foundation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 671 - Mpho Tjianel | South African CITES Quota Explained Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Safari Club International Liaison (and South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment alum) Mpho Tjiane, based out of Jo-Burg, South Africa, joins Robbie to talk about recent news in CITES quotas for South Africa. South Africa released their 2026-2027 export quota this week, and Mpho dove into what that means for hunting and conservation. Mpho is the perfect person to explain this, including the context of how we got here because he was in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment, as the CITES lead when the quotas were pulled and the litigation occurred.

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

Text us at 601-790-0607 with thoughts, comments and ideas for guests and episodes

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Schnee: https://schnees.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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

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Episode 670 - Million Dollar Sheep Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

There is a thing called the "Governor's Tag" in our wildlife management system. It’s an often expensive tag that is accused to be antithetical to the North American Wildlife Model - because only the rich get to play in that proverbial sand-box. This is why Robbie went to New Mexico to start a documentary around this "Governor's Tag" - there is no better place to do this than in New Mexico. Robbie sits down live with John Mark Matkin, following his three-year journey to hunt New Mexico’s coveted Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep after ultimately winning the state’s Governor’s Tag for $1 MILLION. Robbie and John Mark are joined by outfitters/guides Jim Breck and GT, John brings us through the failed bids, setbacks, surgeries, and determination that finally led him to an extraordinary 200-plus-inch ram in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico. There is so much more to this story than this podcast, but this is the beginning.

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

Text us at 601-790-0607 with thoughts, comments and ideas for guests and episodes

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Landtrust: https://landtrust.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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

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Roundup 176 || Ducks, Elk, Leopards and More Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Ashlee and Robbie are back after a long stretch of travel to break down the most recent news, including the new Rule released changing the method by which USFWS will establish migratory bird hunting season and limits, the new quotas released for elephants, rhinos and leopards in South Africa, the latest on the Roadless Rule proposed rescission and debate, a new Elk Habitat Plan for WY, no new grizzlies for California, and whether or not Trump is selling part of Yosemite.

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

Text us at 601-790-0607 with thoughts, comments and ideas for guests and episodes

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Landtrust: https://landtrust.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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 669 - Kristie Gill | From Anti-Hunting To Pro-Hunting Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Robbie sits down with Kristie Gill, a PhD student out of the College of Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, doing her field work in South Africa. Kristie has an incredible journey from an anti hunter to actually becoming PRO hunting and the evolution of her preconceived notions to opening her eyes to the realities of wildlife conservation. This all started with her first visit to South Africa and someone taking the time to explain to her the value of sustainable use of wildlife.

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

Text us at 601-790-0607 with thoughts, comments and ideas for guests and episodes

Support our Conservation Club Members!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Walther: https://waltherarms.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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

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Flashback: Jenny Lesieutre | Ground Zero For The Wild Horse Debate Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Flashback Podcast to March 2025 (Episode 543):

There are certain topics in this world that are likely the most controversial - wolves, feral cats, and wild horses. Wild Horses for some reason evoke such emotions that there has been little work done on exposing what is actually going on.

We are starting to delve into this topic more and more and there is not greater place to talk about this topic than Nevada. Former Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employee Jenny Lesieutre is now speaking out around the management of wild horses after being involved in the space for almost two decades. As a horse owner and self-professed horse lover herself, you’ll find that it is not from a place of malice that she advocates for management, rather because they are destroying their own habitat and environment without badly needed management protocols - because leaving them alone isn’t working. This is a MUST LISTEN PODCAST.

Update August 2026: You have likely seen the social media posts and New York Times article discussing the adminstrations new "rules" around gathers, horse slaughter, etc. As an update, nothing has changed. Everything around horses is the same as it has been for the last 20 years.

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!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Landtrust: https://landtrust.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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 668 - Dale Lewis || From Poachers To Farmers Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Robbie sits down with Dale Lewis, founder of COMACO (Community Markets for Conservation). Based in Zambia, Dale used the free market tit tackle a problem at the intersection of snaring, conservation and community upliftment. Dale’s pipeline allows community agricultural products to make their way in to market in exchange for conservation pledges, essentially buying their help in exchange for helping them get their products to market. It’s a genius maneuver that’s working well for everyone, including both the people and the wildlife on their landscape.

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!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Landtrust: https://landtrust.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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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Short Truths 25 || What’s the deal with the Australian trophy ban? Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Robbie goes off the cuff about an “election promise” by the federal Labor government suggesting a ban on trophies from 20 different animals, ranging from black bears to giraffes. Australia has already banned the importation of elephant, rhino, and lion trophies, so the basic question one has to ask oneself is: Why? Let’s call it what it is—a cynical and damaging push by the anti-hunter, anti–sustainable-use sector of Australia’s political wing. Learn all about the benefits of hunting and the amazing work hunters are truly doing on the ground in these “trophy destinations” right here in this episode of Short Truths—in just eight minutes.

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!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Landtrust: https://landtrust.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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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Are We Managing Elephants Wrong? || The Deep Dive #1 Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

In today’s media there are a lot of scientific reports, peer-reviewed science articles, and government gazettes that are long, cumbersome, and frankly difficult to understand. Let’s be honest too, nobody today has time to read those long articles and reports either. So we have decided to help you understand them. We have a new podcast series called The Deep Dive - where we’re taking a really dense scientific document and boiling it down for you so that you can understand it and share it at the bar, around the dinner table, on the golf course or wherever you are. We’re starting with a paper on legal reform of elephant management principles by Dr. Sam Ferreira. Please see below for the full link for the paper.

Making a case for legal reform: https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsb.70034

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!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Vortex Optics: https://vortexoptics.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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

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

Intro Music: Captain Joz - Smile High, artlist.io license

If you are interested in us deconstructing a science article, report, or government brief, please send it to us at info@theoriginsfoundation.org with the subject - Deep Dive Idea.

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Episode 667 - The Toll of Owning Rhinos Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

After a 3 week long documentary expedition visiting multiple owners and understanding their plights as it relates to rhino conservation, Robbie sits down with all three of the largest private rhino owners, outside the South African government itself, the first time the three have ever been in the same room. The conversation that ensues covers rhinos, which these three love more than anything, rhino conservation, and what it truly takes from budgets to land to medical, security and beyond to be stewards of these animals. It’s the epitome of rhino conservation.

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!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Vortex Optics: https://vortexoptics.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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 666 - Mike McLane || Inside Oregon’s IP28 Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

After hearing Oregon State Senator Mike McLane discussing the controversial IP28 ballot measure on his podcast, The Oregon Discussion, Robbie invited him on to discuss these critical thought processes around IP28, the ramifications of this if it becomes law (not only for conservation but the economy as well), and where we go from here. IP28 has failed and did not pass the Secretary of State Ballot Process, but this is an important podcast as IP28 is not about this ballot initiative but rather the long game of the anti-use community looking to abolish hunting, fishing, and all use of animal products.

Get to know the guest: https://rockwoodconservation.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!

Classic African Hunting: https://classicafricanhunting.com/

Vortex Optics: https://vortexoptics.com/

Everyone Deserves to Play: https://theoriginsfoundation.org/conservation-projects/everyone-deserves-to-play/

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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