x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Connecting with Conservation

Do you enjoy angling, boating, hunting, recreational shooting or just getting outdoors and into the backcountry? Connecting with Conservation is the only podcast that delves into the business of conservation. We talk with state wildlife agency and industry experts about how conservation is achieved in the United States along with the tremendous impacts to local economies that driven by the recreational user. Join our hosts as they explore this often unknown or misunderstood aspect of how fish and

sports wilderness

All Episodes

34:14

Season 3: Episode 14: Forests, Wildlife, and Private...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/04/07

What does the timber industry have to do with hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation? More than most people realize. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Darren Miller, Vice President of Forestry Programs at the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) to explore how private forest lands, responsible timber management, and science-based research are quietly driving conservation outcomes across the country.Darren

en

31:40

Season 3: Episode 13: Bringing Back the Bobwhite:...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/04/03

The northern bobwhite was once a fixture of the American countryside — heard on nearly every farm, fence row, and field edge from Texas to New England. Today, populations have collapsed across most of that range, and bringing them back requires more than good intentions. It takes habitat, scale, and a lot of people willing to change how they manage their land. In this episode, Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with John Morgan, President and CEO of the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative

en

32:17

Season 3: Episode 12: The Truth About Regulated...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/03/28

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation welcome Sue Tidwell, award-winning author of Cries of the Savanna. Sue came to Africa not as a hunter but as a skeptic — a Western Pennsylvania deer hunting family background gave her an understanding of the North American model, but hunting lions, leopards, and zebras felt entirely different. What she discovered on the ground in

en

42:17

Season 3: Episode 11: Mobilizing Hunters, Fighting...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/03/19

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Charles Whitwam, Founder and President of Howl for Wildlife. Charles traces the origin of Howl to a grassroots effort he organized with co-founder John Stallone to stop a California Senate bill that would have eliminated black bear hunting in the state. The rapid success of that campaign, fueled by hunters

en

30:33

Season 3: Episode 10: Firearms Innovation,...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/03/11

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Shane Meisel, President of Christensen Arms — the Utah-based company that pioneered carbon fiber rifle barrels in 1995 and has grown into one of America's premier precision rifle manufacturers with approximately 200 employees. Shane traces his career from early outdoor experiences outside Eugene, Oregon through 11

en

34:36

Season 3: Episode 9: Outdoor Media, Conservation...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/03/04

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett of the Wildlife Management Institute and Jim Curcuruto of the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation sit down with Kevin Paulson — founder of HuntingLife.com, creator of the Outdoor Hive newsletter, and Executive Director of AGLOW (Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers). Kevin traces his career from litigation work in Washington, D.C. through outfitting in Idaho and Montana, to building one of the outdoor industry's most

en

32:26

Season 3: Episode 8: Bird Dogs, Upland Hunting, and...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/02/25

Scott Linden, creator of Wingshooting USA and host of the Upland Nation podcast, joins Jon and Jim to explore the cultural, economic, and conservation impact of upland bird hunting. With decades of experience across radio, television, and outdoor media, Scott shares stories about his start in journalism, his transition into outdoor broadcasting, and how bird dogs became the central passion that shaped his entire career. From pointers to Labradors, he discusses why dogs are the top reason many

en

29:34

Season 3: Episode 7: The Future of Deer Hunting,...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/02/18

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, Jon and Jim welcome Jenifer Wisniewski, Chief Marketing Officer at the National Deer Association and long-time leader in conservation communications. Jen shares her unique background in state agency marketing and R3 efforts—recruitment, retention, and reactivation—and explains how thoughtful marketing strategies can generate millions in license revenue and boost federal conservation funding. With 11 million deer hunters in America, she highlights the

en

33:08

Season 3: Episode 6: Sporting clays for sick kids...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/02/10

Kids & Clays Executive Director Zac Lemmon joins Connecting with Conservation to share how charity sporting clays events across the country are raising millions for Ronald McDonald Houses while introducing thousands of new shooters to the outdoors. He traces the program’s growth from a single Chicagoland event in 1999 to more than 40 million dollars raised, 40+ annual shoots in over 20 states, and a waiting list of houses eager to participate.The conversation walks through a typical event

en

38:21

Season 3: Episode 5: Managing the Business of...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/02/04

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Amanda Wuestefeld, the Director of the Indiana DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Nature Preserves. The discussion highlights the success of wildlife restoration projects for species like elk, turkeys, and deer, which are funded through Pittman-Robertson (PR) dollars and sportsman's excise taxes. Amanda provides an in-depth look at the 12-year process of establishing Indiana’s first sustainable Bobcat

en

36:57

Season 3: Episode 4: Trapping Myths, BMPs, and...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/01/27

Bryant White of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies joins Connecting with Conservation to unpack modern trapping, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and why regulated trapping remains a critical wildlife management tool. From river otter and beaver restoration to managing human–wildlife conflicts and protecting infrastructure, he explains how agencies use trapping for conservation, public safety, and habitat health.The discussion covers AFWA’s decades-long BMP research, rising trapper

en

31:25

Season 3: Episode 3: Wild Sheep Conservation and the...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Corey Mason, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Conservation at the Wild Sheep Foundation. Corey shares his extensive background—from his time at Texas Parks and Wildlife to international conservation work—while explaining the unique challenges facing wild sheep across North America and beyond. Listeners get an insider’s look at the habitat, natural history, and incredible

en

35:08

Season 3: Episode 2: Elevating Indigenous Voices in...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/01/13

In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto sit down with Dr. Julie Thorstenson, Executive Director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society. Julie shares her remarkable journey from wildlife habitat restoration on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation to leading a national organization dedicated to supporting tribal conservation efforts. Her insights reveal the complexity of managing fish, wildlife, and ecosystems across tribal lands and the

en

32:32

Season 3: Episode 1: Range USA supports wildlife...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2026/01/08

Dive into the business of conservation with Tom Willingham of Range USA, discussing the recent opening of their 50th indoor range, welcoming 350,000+ new shooters yearly, and how the excise tax from firearms and ammo sales helps to support wildlife conservation. Hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto explore how indoor ranges cure cabin fever while supporting wildlife, habitats, shooting opportunities, and other outdoor-related recreation.Learn how recreational shooting bolsters the billion-dollar

en

32:59

Season 2: Episode 53: Wildlife Corridors, Migration,...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2025/12/30

Wildlife migration is one of the most fascinating, and urgent, challenges in modern conservation. Today we’re joined by Casey Stemler, former U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service leader and architect of the national Wildlife Corridor & Big Game Migration Initiative (Secretarial Order 3362). Casey’s background spans wildlife biology, policy development, and federal leadership, making him uniquely qualified to explain how major landscape-scale conservation happens.We discuss: Why wildlife corridors

en

32:55

Season 2: Episode 52: ATA’s Fight for Fair...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2025/12/22

Hosts Jon Gassett and Jim Curcuruto interview Dan Forster, VP and Chief Conservation Officer of the Archery Trade Association (ATA), on the podcast Connecting with Conservation. They explore ATA’s evolution from a business trade show to a key player in policy and funding for wildlife efforts. Forster details his wildlife biology background and Georgia DNR leadership before joining ATA.The episode dives into excise taxes on bows, arrows, and accessories, which generate $50 million annually for state

en

33:55

Season 2: Episode 51: Restoring Elk in the...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2025/12/16

Elk once roamed much of the eastern United States but restoring them has taken decades of science, funding, and collaboration. In this episode, Steven Dobey, Mission Lead for the Eastern Region of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), joins us to explore how elk restoration has succeeded across Appalachia and the Midwest.We discuss the history of eastern elk extirpation, modern restoration efforts, and how states like Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina are

en

37:47

Maine’s Wildlife Conservation Story—from Moose to...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2025/12/09

Commissioner Judy Camuso of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife joins us to explore one of the most wildlife-rich states in the U.S. We dive into the science, management, and on-the-ground conservation work that keeps Maine’s natural heritage thriving. From world-class target shooting programs and public shooting ranges, to ice-fishing traditions, brook trout and Arctic char research, and the nation’s longest-running black bear study, this episode highlights how conservation

en

33:51

Season 2: Episode 49: Inside Modern Trapping with...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2025/12/02

Discover the essential role that regulated trapping plays in North American wildlife conservation. In this episode, Jon and Jim sit down with Jake DeBow of New England Naturals to explore how modern trapping works, why it matters, and how fur, meat, and other resources can be utilized in sustainable and ethical ways. We discuss the real science behind trapping, state wildlife agency needs, and how trappers contribute critical data to wildlife management programs. Jake also shares how he and his

en

35:27

Season 2: Episode 48: West Virginia Elk Restoration,...

Connecting with Conservation ·

2025/11/25

Go behind the scenes of West Virginia’s wildlife management with Paul Johansen, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. In this episode of Connecting with Conservation, we explore how elk restoration, big-game management, and healthy forests are funded and sustained through hunting and fishing license dollars, federal excise taxes, and powerful public–private partnerships.Paul shares how West Virginia successfully

en

80 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN