Ryan Darby - who the average listener wouldn’t know from a bar of soap - sits down to explore with Robbie the intersection of mental health and hunting. Ryan Darby is the regional officer at The British Association for Shooting and Conservation.  In this incredibly brave interview, Ryan Darby opens up to say, “I am not okay” and in doing so hopefully gives hope and resiliency to others who may be out there in the same place in the hunting community. Robbie shares a similar experience in this incredibly open conversation about mental health. If you are struggling, it is important to reach out to someone and know that you are not alone. If you want to talk to anyone, feel free to reach out to us.

In this week’s roundup while Robbie is off galavanting again, Ashlee is joined by Fred Bird of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. And luckily, in addition to being CSF’s Senior Manager of Eastern States, Fred also serves as the host of CSF’s own Sportsmen’s Voice podcast - because when a catastrophic power and internet failure hits Ashlee’s office mid-recording, Fred is able to step in and finish the episode! Ashlee and Fred discuss legislative news around the country, including the implications of controversial bills like Alabama's House Bill 509, the significance of food sovereignty legislation such as the statute passed in Maine, legal challenges in Pennsylvania regarding the Open Fields doctrine and wildlife management’s ability to enter private land vs the rights of hunting clubs, the legal implications surrounding wildlife & property surveillance, recent legislative updates on the ND Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) bills, and the outline of the plan for the return of bear hunting in Florida. Check it out!

In response to news of a BAN on “exotic animal skins” in London’s fashion week, Robbie is joined by Christy Plott Gilmore, a 4th-generation crocodile and alligator industry specialist whose family has owned a tannery for generations in Georgia. Christy invited Dr. Patrick Aust, the Director of the African Institute of Applied Herpetology and expert in innovative solutions to reptilian management to join this conversation. If you have ever been interested in understanding the world of sustainable use of wildlife then listen to this podcast!

In response to news of a BAN on “exotic animal skins” in London’s fashion week, Robbie is joined by Christy Plott Gilmore, a 4th-generation crocodile and alligator industry specialist whose family has owned a tannery for generations in Georgia. Christy invited Dr. Patrick Aust, the Director of the African Institute of Applied Herpetology and expert in innovative solutions to reptilian management to join this conversation. If you have ever been interested in understanding the world of sustainable use of wildlife then listen to this podcast!

Robbie and the Slots Boys are back with more South African shenanigans that we all love from their latest road trip. From the back of the trusty old rig traveling around South Africa, the boys cover the project they’re sending to the nines in honor of a friend, what they’re up to in Africa, and so much more. This trip the boys have had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Sam “The Trapman” Gibson is a lifelong hunter and trapper out of New Zealand. After leaving a long career with the department of environmental conservation in 2020 due to being disparaged with how they were doing things, he started a project called Eastern Whio Link a hunter-led conservation project that looks to protect native birds (specifically kiwi) and whio (a rare native duck). He discussed both with Robbie in depth in today's episode. The Eastern Whio Link is a project that Blood Origins, through funding by Bergara has invested in. It’s a phenomenal investment from people into ensuring ecosystem health and native New Zealand fauna are looked after.

In this follow-up episode to Part 1 (if you didn't listen to Part 1 - go back and listen to it) - Robbie wanted to talk to someone else that has been on the ground in this part of the world, to hear an eye-witness account of what is happening. Robbie is joined by Ed Stoddard, a journalist out of South Africa for the Daily Maverick, to follow up on Mike Labuschagne’s episode about Kasungu National Park in Malawi.  Ed, in this episode, recounts his personal invitation from Mike to come see the travesty happening on the Zambian side of the border. Ed witnessed first hand the effect of these elephants, which was the largest translocation of elephants ever attempted, and the impact it is having on the people living next to the park on the Zambian and Malawi sides. 

There is big news coming out of the Zambian - Malawi Border this past week. A relocation of 263 elephants into Kasungu National Park has led to a human rights travesty. This travesty has now been picked up by a law firm in the United Kingdom that is about to file a class action lawsuit against IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) - arguably one of, if not the, largest NGO in the world. In this longer-than-normal episode, Robbie kicks off our series on Kasungu in Zambia with someone who has been on the ground in the area for 20+ years. Mike Labuschagne has been working in the Kasungu area for two decades, and at one point was even employed by IFAW. He is the force behind exposing the human rights travesty, and has an important story to tell on human wildlife conflict, investment, and sets the stage for one of the most important, if underreported, wildlife conflicts in the world right now. 

Barry Cromhout is a total unknown to both Robbie and our listeners - but after listening to Robbie on Andy Stump’s Cleared Heart podcast describing his grandfather Leo Kroger and his gun - he realized he’d met Robbie’s grandfather in 1998 and is one of the only remaining people with one of his wooden business cards. After exchanging a photo, Robbie invited him on for this episode, where the two exchange stories about the man, Leo Kroger, and the “Wild impression” he left on Barry Cromhout in 1998.

There have been significant rumors and discussions about DSC's future since the Atlanta show in January of 2025. The show was not a success, and as such there have been rumbling from exhibitors, partners, and others about what DSC will do next. Robbie reached out to DSC CEO Rob McCanna to come on the podcast and talk about all of it, post the press release that just came out explaining the route forward for DSC over the next 5 years. Rob talks about his tenure as the new CEO, addresses rumors about the show and the move from Dallas to Atlanta, and provides a vision for the future of what they’re going to do next and where they go from here. He explains the mistakes that were made, and the measures being put in place to rectify those mistakes, and puts to bed the internet bashing and rumor mills.

The Endangered Species Act has been helping bring species back from the brink of extinction for more than 50 years now… and depending on what you read, it’s either under attack, or being reauthorized with improvements. Ashlee is joined by David Willms, a law professor, author, hunter, & notable expert on all things ESA to breakdown the existing law and the new bill that was introduced 2 weeks ago in the House to reauthorize and Amend the ESA. Note: a full hearing on the ESA Amendments Act is set for this Tuesday 3/25 so you won’t want to miss this podcast!

This is a special podcast episode for Blood Origins - its essentially a full circle moment for Robbie. Robbie has always been interested in wildlife conservation, and growing up in South Africa, in a non-hunting environment, his outlets for wildlife conservation were very limited. Robbie first met John Ledger when he was 14 years old (he’s 46 years young now!) and now he’s meeting him for the second time 32 years later. John was the director of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) of South Africa at the time - an organization that unfortunately has changed drastically since John’s 17-year run as their director. John and Robbie catch up on his history, how they met, and the rumination of a stalwart of wildlife conservation in South Africa and the value of wildlife to the people in these communities around the world.

In this week’s roundup, Robbie is joined by returning guest Charles Whitwam to discuss what is shaping up to be one of the wildest legislative sessions in recent memory. They explore the challenges facing wildlife commissions,  AB 1038 (a controversial black bear bill in California), the importance of public education and how our stories as hunters can help shape perceptions about hunting, and the need for effective, truly scientific management strategies. 

Glen Thurston is the founder of a mental health focused organization in New Zealand called ‘Mental Hunts’ - and today he shares his incredible story with Robbie. His story started with the tremendously big step of admitting he had a problem with his mental health, to an ordeal that resulted in him losing his gun license and all his guns to authorities in New Zealand. As a result of that admission, he has really started to think that others may have a similar story and/or need to hear his story to understand that things will be ok. Glen's story addresses an important issue occurring around the world as it relates to mental health and guns, as well as pushing back on the ‘conventional wisdom’ from a guy's perspective, of having to be hard and not admit or talk about your problems. If you’re seeking help, know there are resources available to you in whatever country you’re listening from.

Australia is home to likely the largest population of feral invasive species in the world. From all of the deer species, horses, camels, donkeys, buffalo - and PIGS, Australia has a rich history of introductions, and also a need for significant management of these species. Additionally, typically around the world, chasing any animal with dogs is typically frowned upon, and as such the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association has never really pushed to change their narrative. That was until now. Ned Makim, the President and Acting Executive Director of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters’ Association, joins Robbie on the Blood Origins podcast to discuss the association’s work changing the narrative, rhetoric, and even visual representation of who pig hunters REALLY are in Australia. Robbie and Ned dive deep into the data - including what impact pig hunting has on the environment, the economics of pig hunting in Australia, and beyond. 

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. 

Bupe and Robbie are joined by Dimas Mulyandambo, the Chairperson for the Kasempa Community Association and Mutende Simwanza, a climate specialist to bring forward the Zambian voice for conservation to talk about the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation, overviewing how climate change has affected Zambia, and more. This podcast is a collaboration between CIC and Blood Origins giving voices to IPLC's all over the world. 

Robbie and Ashlee chop it up about Robbie’s India trip now that he’s back stateside and the human-wildlife conflict the Blood Origins team witnessed during their trip documentary filming in India, including two people being killed within 20 kilometers of their base by tigers, while the team was there. The team then outlines plans for upcoming documentaries focused on sustainable practices and human-wildlife conflict, along with recent bipartisan support stateside for several wildlife conservation bills to address the fiscal challenges wildlife agencies are facing. It's such an action packed Roundup that we completely forgot to connect with our audience via the text message platform - if you want to connect with us text us at 601-790-0607.

Kirsty Redman has many titles but the two she is most proud of are - Emerging Tuskers Project Coordinator, as well as the Elephant Hall Museum Director in Letaba Rest Camp for Kruger National Park in South Africa. Kirsty joined Robbie live from her office (yes and its true, Robbie and Kirsty were surrounded by garbage bags of elephant dung - all in the name of research!) to discuss big tuskers in the park, the history of the museum (which started as a marketing effort and evolved into more conservation and research efforts), and to really give folks an insight into the history of elephants.

Gogo Nomsa Sibeko, a traditional sangoma healer in South Africa, joins Robbie to talk about this rich tradition and - much like hunters - the many times inaccurate perception around them that comes out of Hollywood and movies. Robbie met Gogo back in November at the Custodians conference and was fascinated by her and the fact that she is facing the same stigmas as hunters are - that we pillage the environment for our own good.  Along with her views on sustainability (she needs natural resources for her craft), Gogo discusses the human pressures surrounding them, and more!

Ian Harmer, the foremost walking safari guide for rhinos in Matopos, and owner of African Wanderer Safaris out of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe joins Robbie on the show from his safari in the Matapos Hills - a land full of mystique and magic and rhinos. The Matopos hills are rich with history, stories, and incredible wildlife including Rhinos. What’s so good about Ian is that he has been in Matopos working for 30 years and literally knows Rhinos since their births. Ian isn’t a hunter, he is a walking tour operator and a member of Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association. This is especially important podcast as Rhino poaching incidents start ramping up and asking someone who is on the ground daily with Rhino’s - what is the path forward? 

Luke Care, current Chairman of the New Zealand Tahr Foundation, joins Robbie on the podcast to dive deep into the subject of Himalayan Tahr and educate the public more about these amazing creatures, sustainability of tahr, hunting tahr, and much more. Luke and Robbie release brand new information for the NZ Tahr Foundation, and give you information on how to enter the drawing for a FULLY GUIDED tahr hunt with Snow Hewetson (another former Blood Origins guest!) and help conserve tahr at the same time! If you have ever wanted to hunt New Zealand and wanted to understand Tahr this is a must listen to podcast.

On this week’s Roundup, Ashlee is being joined by co-hosts Chris Borgatti, the Director of Policy for the 36 states in the Eastern Region of North America for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, as well as Brock Wahl, the North Dakota state chairman for BHA, who will update us on the CWD bills moving through the ND state legislator and how to form a strong BHA chapter. Chris covers a commission restructuring bill in New Hampshire, a bill moving through IL that would potentially increase public access to 85,000 navigable waterways within the state, a SD bill designed to increase the public safety zone and thereby decrease public access, a set of MA bills that would decrease the setback zone and increase public access, and potential bear seasons in FL and CT.

William McKinley, the Director of the Whitetail Deer Program for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks joins Ashlee on this episode in our CWD series. William is a veteran deer biologist and has been with MDWFP for over 24 years. He regularly consults with the deer program directors from the adjacent states as well as deer biologists across the country on best management practices, he works closely with the MS State Deer Research Lab, and stays very up to date on the latest and best CWD research studies and testing methods by attending international forums on the subject and working with experts across the nation. MS is on the front line, geographically speaking, of CWD, and William is doing an amazing job of managing the state and its CWD zones.

Bronson Strickland is arguably one of the leading extension deer biologists in the entire country. Robbie and Bronson used to be in the same Wildlife and Fisheries department at Mississippi State University, and so Bronson was invited onto the show by Robbie for this special second installment of our CWD Series to explore some of the major questions around the management of white-tailed deer with Chronic Wasting Disease. With this series we wanted to explore first the private land owners perspective (Doug Duren) on CWD, and then talk to an extension biologist and their landscape level purview of the issue and management implications around it.