The Origins Foundation Podcast

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...

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...

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 cheet...

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 perceptio...

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. Do you have questions we can answer? Se...

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 "...

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 hun...

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

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 vi...

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 measure...

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...

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...

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 trea...

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 recen...

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 m...

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, Robbi...

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 di...

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...

Michael Butler, co-executive director of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. He and his co-director do a yeoman’s job when it comes to wildlife conservation issues in the state of Tennessee, and have since 2003, growing from just one person to a staff of 38.  Get to know the guest: https://tnwf.org/ Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM on IG or through email at info@theoriginsfoundat...

Russell De La Harpe, owner of Backcountry Africa, joins Robbie for another Helix program episode to talk about the incredible conservation benefits of his outfit on the landscape and wildlife of his home in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Now, you as an individual, non hunting public member or even as a hunter can see and hear firsthand what these operators and outfitters are doing for conservation on the gr...

In one of our most accent-ridden podcasts ever, Robbie interviews three wildfowlers (Dave Upton, William Wykes, and Gerald Carlile) from all over the United Kingdom about their exploits in the marsh, the community and culture around “wildfowling” in the UK and the traditions they share. If you thought you heard some hectic accents before on the podcast - just wait till you listen to this one. Howe...

Alvaro Mazon, another Helix Program participant, shares the story of how his hunting profession (he’s based in Spain) proudly supports the people, wildlife and places he calls home. What are the benefits to people, wildlife and communities in Spain by hunting with Alvaro? Find out here.  Get to know the guest: https://www.crhunting.com/en/equipo Do you have questions we can answer? Send it via DM...

AG Gregroroff who owns Toehold, the flip flop company based on interesting sustainable leathers such as elephant, crocodile, ostrich and more is back on the podcast. Robbie stopped in to see AG when he was moving his way through Vegas earlier this year through the show season. AG joins the podcast today to talk about the intersection of these amazing works of art and the conservation.  Get to know...

Robbie and the team were recently in England to undertake a documentary around the heritage and story around wildfowling - the UK's version of duck hunting (but don't tell them thats what they do). The British Association Of Shooting And Conservation (BASC) does a ton of work on wildlife, conservation and, of course, shooting. Robbie catches up with two of their researchers in the wild fowling dep...

Robbie and Ashlee are back after Robbie has been across the pond for 16 days. They recap his trip to Vienna, Slovenia and the UK and discuss predator management (or lack thereof), the abrupt cancellation of the House vote on the ESA Amendments Act, the citizen-led ballot initiative in CO to amend the constitution to protect the Right to Hunt and Fish, a similar initiative in OH, a couple of CWD bi...