Not every women’s hunt or retreat is created equal, and some should raise red flags.

Erin Crider sits down with Kelly Godfrey of Texas Women Outdoors to walk through how to evaluate women’s hunts, fishing trips, and outdoor events before you book.

This episode empowers women to ask better questions, protect themselves, and find safe, legitimate communities.

Topics include:

• Green and red flags when booking hunts
• How to check legality and insurance
• Pricing transparency
• Finding reputable women’s outdoor groups
• Avoiding scams and unsafe situations

Texas Womens Outdoors, LLC - INSTAGRAM
Texas Womens Outdoors, LLC - WEBSITE

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Every hunter makes mistakes; the best ones learn from them.

Adrian Jessen is joined by professional angler and hunter Anastasia Patterson to break down the most common mistakes women make while deer hunting, from gear choices to decision-making in the stand.

This episode uses humor and honesty to turn mistakes into learning opportunities.

Topics include:

• Gear and setup mistakes
• Judgment calls gone wrong
• Learning from bad hunts
• How mistakes build confidence over time

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Shooting clays and hunting birds are not the same, and that gap frustrates a lot of women.

Julia Stallings is joined by shotgun instructor Brandy Elrod to break down how to transition from the clay target field into real-world hunting with confidence.

This episode focuses on gun fit, recoil management, practice strategies, and how proper instruction saves money, time, and frustration.

Topics include:

• Recoil management for women
• Gun fit mistakes beginners make
• Clay drills that translate to hunting
• Why instruction matters early
• Equipment tips that actually help

Follow Brandy Elrod
https://ladyoutdoorlifestyles.com/
(FB) https://www.facebook.com/LadyOutdoorLifestyles/
(IG) https://www.instagram.com/ladyoutdoorlifestyles and https://www.instagram.com/brandy.elrod1

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

You don’t need big land or big policy to raise conservation-minded kids.

Bethany Beathard sits down with Amy Hall to talk about parenting, hunting, and how everyday outdoor moments like fishing trips, predator encounters, and quiet walks shape lifelong values in children.

This episode reframes conservation as something personal, accessible, and rooted in family time.

Topics include:

• Introducing kids to hunting and wildlife ethically
• Teaching conservation through shared outdoor experiences
• Balancing busy family life with time outside
• Why small moments matter more than big harvests

Amy's Social Media: HerWildOutdoors

(FB) https://www.facebook.com/herwildoutdoorspodcast/

(IG) https://www.instagram.com/herwildoutdoors/?hl=en

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Why don’t the ducks show up when social media says they should?

In this episode, Erin Crider is joined by Ducks Unlimited conservation leader Sarah Fleming to break down how duck migration actually works, and why weather, flyways, and timing matter more than viral hunting clips.

This conversation helps new waterfowl hunters set realistic expectations, understand migration science, and approach their first hunts focused on learning rather than limits.

Topics include:

• How weather influences migration timing
• The four U.S. flyways explained
• Why “limits” aren’t a fair expectation for beginners
• How to hunt ethically and safely as a new waterfowler
• Becoming a better “marsh birder” before pulling the trigger

WATERFOWL 360 Migration Updates

FowlWeather.co - Migration Forecasts

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Handgun training isn’t just about the gun; it’s about mindset, responsibility, and awareness.

Host Adrian Jessen is joined by firearms educator Beth Alcazar to discuss what women should consider before buying a handgun, how to find the right trainer, and why situational awareness matters as much as equipment.

This episode focuses on confidence over fear and preparation over panic, offering grounded guidance for women thinking seriously about personal safety.

Topics include:

• Choosing a handgun responsibly
• Finding quality training
• Concealed carry considerations
• Situational awareness and conflict avoidance
• Alternatives to firearms for personal protection

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

Find Beth Alcazar:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth619/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/beth619
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacifiersandpeacemakers/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethalcazar
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbeth619

About the Host: Adrian Jessen
Adrian Jessen is a reviewer, writer, and adult-onset hunter best known as co-founder and on-camera host of the YouTube channel Review This Thing.
Instagram: @reviewthisthing.
TikTok: @reviewthisthing.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReviewThisThing
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/ReviewThisThing
Website: https://www.reviewthisthingtv.com

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Can you raise a hunting dog without sacrificing your family or your sanity?

Bethany Beathard sits down with professional dog trainer Destiny Thomasson of Hund + Soul to talk about training gun dogs in real life. They cover puppy foundations, introducing gunfire safely, managing training with kids at home, and keeping dogs conditioned year-round.

This episode is for women who want working dogs and functional family life, without perfection or expensive gear.

Topics include:

• Choosing the right breed for your lifestyle
• Puppy training basics that actually transfer to the field
• Introducing dogs to gunfire safely
• Budget-friendly training alternatives
• Finding community and mentorship in dog training

Destiny's Social Media: Hund + Soul 

(FB) https://www.facebook.com/share/1GgjxBLFfU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

(IG) Instagram

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Do you need to grow up hunting to belong outdoors?
The women of Ascend say no.

In this premiere episode, hosts Adrian Jessen, Bethany Beathard, Erin Crider, and Julia Stallings share how they each found their way outside—later in life, through different paths, and without having all the answers.

They talk honestly about starting late, learning as adults, building confidence, and why community matters more than credentials.

This episode sets the foundation for Ascend: a place where women can learn, ask questions, and grow at their own pace.

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Dry Pocket.
Visit drypocket.com and use promo code "ASCEND" for 25% off.

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off.

Ascend is a podcast for women who want to feel confident outdoors—whether you’re hunting, fishing, shooting, hiking, or just starting to wonder if you belong there.

Hosted by four women with very different paths into the outdoors, each episode explores how to build skills, find mentors, ask better questions, and grow into your own outdoor identity, without gatekeeping or pressure to be perfect.

If you’ve ever felt curious, intimidated, or unsure where to start, Ascend is for you.

New episodes release biweekly.
Presented by Ducks Unlimited.

Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

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