We’ve had a lot of conversations with owners of rhinos in South Africa, and believe it or not, private owners are one of the most important cogs in the wheel of rhino conservation. Today, Robbie catches up on location with Jacques Hartzenberg, owner of Kalahari Oryx, an 86,000 hectare area in the northern part of South Africa - the equivalent of about 186,000 acres. As they are driving across this massive property in Jacques own Land Cruiser, they discuss what it takes to conserve these animals, what it’s like to be the third largest black rhino owner in the country, and just living and breathing rhino conservation as a helicopter circles overhead to dart a specific rhino for blood tests.

If you missed the first Roundtable between Robbie the cinematography team (SLOTS media), then go back and watch Episode 650. In that first Roundtable the team discussed their raw thoughts around rhino conservation and rhino hunting. In this second part of the Rhino Conservation Roundtable, Robbie explores with the team their feelings, thoughts and how their viewpoints have changed or not changed three weeks into being on the ground, learning all about the security measures, the land owners and everything else embroiled around rhino conservation.

Sean Outram returns to the The Origins Foundation podcast, sitting with Robbie in his home of Lakipia County Kenya to rehash stories of his Great Grandfather and the good old days of Africa. George (his Great Grandpa) lived quite the life - from being documented, trampled by elephants, to pictures of him with Frederick Courtney Selous, to his eventual death by a lioness - it truly was a lesson in old school Africa at its finest. Enjoy.

Ashlee is joined by Ducks Unlimited Senior Waterfowl Scientist and DU Podcast Co-Host Dr. Mike Brasher and Senior Director of Conservation Strategy Dr. Scott Stephens as they discuss the current proposal by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service to potentially withdrawal the current wetland drainage rule in the Prairie Pothole region, which is the primary breeding ground for nearly 75% of the ducks in North America, the implications of this proposed change, the timeline of the request for proposed comments, and suggestions for any alternatives to the current rule, and how exactly permanent wetland easements operate in practice. This is one to listen to this week!

Join Robbie in sitting down with Wiaan Van Der Linde of Wintershoek Safaris out of South Africa’s Northern Cape - an incredible outfitter and human being who loves Africa, hunting, conservation and his large privately owned White Rhino population. His unique model even takes in Rhinos from other concessions that has hit it’s carrying capacity with their populations, offering a new habitat for Rhinos that are hitting overpopulation status in other areas.

Kristy and Clayton Williams, a hunting couple out of West Texas, love hunting buffalo, Africa and all around the world. While in camp in Inkulu Adventures in the Northwest Province of South Africa, Clayton and Kristy embarked on a controversial hunt - the White Rhino. If that bothers you, don’t just write it off, listen to this and the rest of our series of Rhino conservation podcasts to learn the TRUTH about hunting and conservation of White Rhinos.

When Murray “The Mad Sculptor” Grant takes off his hat and gets excited, his mane of exuberant white hair comes out and he looks a little like Albert Einstein. Murray is essentally a mad scientist built into a sculptor. Murrray invited Robbie to his studio on the family conservancy in Lakipia County, Kenya, where he creates his world famous bronzes, to talk about wildlife conservation from the eyes of an artist obsessed with recreating the beauty he sees in the world. 

Mark Haldane, owner of Zambezi Delta Safaris, now Conservation, discusses his 50 year building the epitome of hunter led conservation in Africa. All the elements from people to jobs to communities to hunting and anti-poaching that culminate in one of the densest wildlife populations in all of Africa in the flood plain of the Zambezi Delta. Learn more about Mark’s success story here.

Daniela and Patrick Fanzoj are multi-generational family gun makers of fabled Johan Fanzoj, that has been making guns for 500 years in the Rosental valley of Austria since the Ottoman Empire. Their ‘fine art’ guns are leading their family into the next generation, building on a legacy that stems from the very name of the valley they live in.

We are doubling down on Rhino podcasts this week, because it is absolutely hot news right now. Wicus Diedericks is back for a second time this week. After a previous episode discussing their landmark case allowing them to export Rhino Horn (a key conservation tool in his tool belt) and the episode earlier this week recorded on location at his facility and touring the incredible work he does for Rhinos - Robbie has Wicus back on to discuss the current state of play now that the government has taken the next step, with the high court of appeals dismissing permission to leave. With the government now out, Wicus explains the state of the union for this court case and where we are with it, the biggest trade conversation since crocodiles were removed from Appendix 1 to Appendix 2.

Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Hon James Meager, joins the podcast as a return guest to give some breaking news for conservation and hunting in New Zealand. Both Wapiti and Sika have been designated as New Zealand’s first two Herds of Special Interest (HOSI). What does this mean for those two species in New Zealand moving forward? Listen to the podcast to find out more

Rhino conservation in South Africa is not for everyone. It's fraught with security liabilities, risks, and poaching concerns, all in an environment that is devaluing Rhinos. Wicus Diedericks, owner of one of only 2 or 3 white rhino conservation breeding facilities in South Africa, invited Robbie to Rockwood to see the scale of the operation. Wicus has been in a legal fight with the South African government about the trade of legal Rhino Horn. If you want to listen to the first podcast in this series check out episode 605 . Today Wicus and Robbie sit down at Rockwood, on the ground at his facility. From feed to camera to security infrastructure, one thing is clear: these people care about Rhinos deeply. 

Yesterday we had a HUGE news story break. We have been keeping it quite a secret for over 2 months now, that we have our first set of cubs out of our Panyame Cheetah Project. However, even though having cubs is the most amazing news story ever, we are just as excited to announce that the entire Panyame Cheetah Project has been picked up by National Geographic and an article has been written about our work. If you had asked Robbie at the beginning of this project and the short life of The Origins Foundation what a goal would have been - it would have been to be featured in National Geographic. Well we have done it, in a short 6 year span as a non-profit.

Robbie travels all over the world spreading the proverbial "gospel" about sustainable use of wildlife. Recently, A Fine Balance, a documentary out of Botswana that looks at the benefits that come from elephant hunting in that country was accepted to be screened at the Pridelands Wildlife Film Festival, in Mombasa Kenya. After the premiere - there was a question and answer with Robbie. Listen to a Q&A that was recorded live of Robbie in Kenya with a moderator (recorded on lav mics) answering questions about the documentary, and specifically about elephant hunting.

If you’ve never heard of The Metapopulation Initiative (TMI), you are about to hear a lot more about them. The TMI started by Vincent Van De Merwe, was an initiative to expand cheetah conservation in Africa and Asia. Vincent was a mover and shaker and didn't always do things by the book - he was so driven by his passion, that he got frustrated with the bureacracy of the world when it came to cheetah conservation. Vinny was the catalyst for our Panyame Cheetah project, and his tragic death just weeks before our historic move of 16 cheetahs changed our outlook on things. In order to continue his legacy, continue what he championed at TMI we needed to figure out something. We, The Origins Foundation, needed to help. In this podcast, Robbie sits down with the directors of TMI in South Africa and discusses the history and the announcement of TMI's partnership with The Origins Foundation. 

In this first of a two part series on rhino conservation (one of the most delicate, complex and nuanced areas of conservation) Robbie sits down with the fan favorite Slots Media boys (and newbie Freddie) to discuss Rhino conservation on the ground. This podcast was recorded right after a rhino hunt, and just before a lot of fieldwork around Rhino conservation. Robbie wanted to gain their perception and perspective of how they feel about the hunt, generally about Rhino Conservation, BEFORE they spent several weeks learning all about it. Be sure to tune in for part two in a couple weeks!

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon joins our Field Leaders series to discuss his work leading the organization started by Jimmy Carter (back when he was Governor of the state of Georgia) and all the incredible work they do managing 5 different agencies in the state from Coastal protection to Environmental Protection and beyond.

Robbie and Ashlee span the globe with news this week about multiple invasive species issues (Feral Horse culling in Australia, Burmese Python spreading seeds, rats in New Zealand), animal rights activists prioritizing one species to the detriment of all others (feral horses, elephants, wolves), a new piece of legislation introduced to invest $1.9 billion in national parks and public lands called "Investing in America's Public Lands" and more. 

Dr. Jerrold (Jerry) Belant, a dear old friend of Robbie's from their time as professors at Mississippi State University, joins the podcast after bumping into Robbie at the CIC general assembly in Vienna, Austria. Jerry is the Boone And Crockett Chair of Wildlife Conservation at Michigan State, and is one of the foremost scientific minds in the world in carnivore conservation (publishing over a hundred papers a year!) and brings his formidable experience to the show to educate the audience about what exactly carnivore conservation looks like.

Sean Outram of Laikipia County, Kenya and his family run Sosian, a conservancy that runs a mixed wildlife and cattle model. Join he and Robbie as they spend time on the ground reviewing his high intensity grazing program, the conservancy itself, and what Sosian is all about as they drive around the property.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.