The Origins Foundation Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Roundup 174 || Roadless Mayhem, Snyder Mayhem, and the Big Colorado Move Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

In a particularly lively discussion, Ashlee and Robbie discuss the news of the week, including Senator Mike Lee’s most recent attempt to sabotage the Wildfire Prevention Act and repeal the Roadless Rule, Colorado’s attempts to codify the Right to Hunt and Fish within their state, a plan to lease hundreds of thousands of acres of BLM public land in CO to oil and gas companies, and a recent viral video giving hunters a really bad rep.

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!

Maple Ranch:

Leupold: https://www.leupold.com/

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

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

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

This podcast is brought to you by Bushnell, who believes in providing the highest quality, most reliable & affordable outdoor products on the market. Your performance is their passion. https://www.bushnell.com

This podcast is also brought to you by Silencer Central, who believes in making buying a silencer simple and they handle the paperwork for you. Shop the largest silencer dealer in the world. Get started today! https://www.silencercentral.com

Don't forget to go subscribe to our new The Origins Foundation Podcast Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginsFoundationPodcast - who knows, you may be a lucky subscriber who wins some cool stuff from our partner companies!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meat, Orphanages, and Rhino Hunting || Helix Program #6 Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Robbie is joined by South African outfitter and Helix Program member Ruan of Inkulu Adventures to discuss his 21 years in the hunting industry and the meaning behind building his own safari operation from the conservation standpoint, to the community impact, and beyond. Ruan breaks down the significant costs involved in managing rhinos (security, insurance, fencing, feed, and anti-poaching measures) and explains why regulated rhino hunting provides critical revenue that incentivizes private landowners to maintain and protect rhino populations.

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!

Maple Ranch:

Leupold: https://www.leupold.com/

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

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

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ebola dodging, Being a Savant in France, and who knew Corner Crossing would be the hornets nest it is! Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

Ashlee and Robbie had a LOT to catch up on after Robbie's trip to four different countries in the last 5 weeks, including the premier of 'A Fine Balance' in Kenya, where wildlife hasn't been hunted since the 1970s; the premiere of 'Sauvon Bambi' in Paris, Robbie narrowly dodging Ebola and other assorted foreign diseases, harrowing flights, and amazing rhino conservation work. Ashlee caught Robbie up on the House Interior Appropriations for USFWS, BLM and other agencies, the latest controversy over corner crossing (not again!), and the Public Lands Integrity Act.

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!

Hunters Inc: https://huntersinc.com/

Double Rifle Society: https://doubleriflesociety.com/

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

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

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Helix Program #5 || Danene Van Der Westhuizen Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Danene Van Der Westhuizen, Helix Program member and owner of Art Game Lodge in Namibia, joins Robbie to discuss conservation in Namibia. Danene lives, breathes and her heart belongs to conserving wildlife and wild places in her home country of Namibia, and they are one of the outstanding model of community uplifting and wildlife conservation and this is your chance to learn to her as she showcases this lifestyle for people who may never get a glimpse like this into the realities of it on the ground.

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!

Hunters Inc: https://huntersinc.com/

Double Rifle Society: https://doubleriflesociety.com/

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

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

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Field Leaders Ep. 5 - Major General Glenn Curtis || Healing PTSD with Ibogaine Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Ashlee is joined by Major General Glenn Curtis, highly decorated war hero, former Adjutant General of Louisiana and Past-President of the National Association of Adjutant Generals to discuss he and his injured son’s personal journey of healing via the medical administration of the psychedelic drug Ibogaine which led to founding a non-profit aimed to help other veterans have access to the same treatment and further FDA approval and medical access to Ibogaine in America.

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!

Wintershoek Safaris: https://www.wintershoeksafaris.com/

EuroOptic: https://www.eurooptic.com/

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Field Leaders Ep. 4 - Governor Brian Kemp | Governor of the State of Georgia Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Ashlee is joined by Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, who has held that office since 2018. Governor Kemp was named Safari Club International's 2026 Governor of the Year, and he and Ashlee discuss this recent honor, as well as his love of bowhunting, wing shooting, fishing, and how his love of the outdoors has impacted decisions he has made throughout his political career, including passing the recent Hunters Education in School curriculum bill, helping support and promote the GA Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, the role states' play in wildlife management, the North American Model, the very recent difficult fiscal decisions he had to make at the end of the 2026 session, how important it is to get kids outdoors and more.

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!

Wintershoek Safaris: https://www.wintershoeksafaris.com/

EuroOptic: https://www.eurooptic.com/

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 647 - Chris Comer || Counting Leopards May 28, 2026

Show notes

Robbie is joined by return guest, Chris Comer, Director of Conservation at the Safari Club International Foundation from CIC in Vienna, Austria and the two talk about the fantastic research they are doing around large carnivores (specifically, leopards) across Southern Africa, to address the lack of data associated with these elusive creatures through a diverse, scaled, camera trap survey across multiple countries. If you have been paying attention lately, Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) has really been stepping into some exciting conservation arenas and have a firm direction with respect to filling research gaps tied to large carnivores.

Get to know the guest: https://safariclubfoundation.org/chris-comer/

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!

Bar JP Safaris: https://www.barjpsafaris.com/

Teton Leather Company: https://www.tetonleather.com/#/

Arkansas Black Bear Collaringk: 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 646 - Adri Kitshoff Botha || The Stalwart Of The South African Hunting Industry May 26, 2026

Show notes

Adri Kitshoff Botha, the current CEO of Custodians, is one of the most fly-under-the-radar, but also incredibly important, members of the South African hunting industry. An industry stalwart, she has been involved since the early 2000’s and has worked for top organizations across the country, and a true champion for sustainable use and our community. Listen to her story with her dear friend, Robbie!

Get to know the guest: https://thecustodians.co.za/about-custodians/

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!

Bar JP Safaris: https://www.barjpsafaris.com/

Teton Leather Company: https://www.tetonleather.com/#/

Arkansas Black Bear Collaringk: 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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Rodger || The Helix Program #4 May 21, 2026

Show notes

Justin Rodger, operations coordinator and part of the family run operation of Safaris De Mocambique (and base for our historic cheetah project!), joins Robbie for another Helix program episode to talk about what happens when you go hunting with somebody in a rural place and all the things that happen as a result of hunting with him. The whole emphasis of these episodes are for you to learn from different outfitters in different countries and hear directly from them about their impacts to wildlife, habitat, people, and communities.

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!

Safaris de Mozambique: https://safarisdemozambique.com/

Kayuga Broadheads: https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roundup with Ashlee Smith and new Origins team member Peter Kelly May 20, 2026

Show notes

Join Ashlee on today's Roundup with new Origins' team member Peter Kelly while Robbie is out of the country filming in Africa. Ashlee and Peter discuss his unique background, his recent induction as a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Boy Scouts, his expertise in messaging and public relations, 3 bills moving through the California legislature including one to allow bowhunters to carry concealed weapons for protection while they hunt, a MI law to require MDNR to allow license applicants to register to vote when they apply for their license, the Department of Interior's proposed FY'27 budget and negative ramifications for wildlife and natural resources and the Farm Bill on the move.

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!

Safaris de Mozambique: https://safarisdemozambique.com/

Kayuga Broadheads: https://www.kayugabroadheads.com.au/

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices