The Wild Dispatch

More good times hearing stories at Ejler's fish shack. In this episode Robin and Ejler give a little post-match analysis on another incredible day on the ocean, along with a little history lesson from wild ocean times past.

As always a huge thank you to Ejler for the entertainment.

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Growing up in New South Wales, Nero Buys had no idea he'd one day be representing Australia in the Alone World Championships. But, big life changes are not unusual for Nero... It's only through exploring many different careers, persistently searching for the right fit, and the right people, that he found himself alone, standing above three feet of ice in the Canadian wilderness. This is Nero's story – we find out what happened on Alone 13, and perhaps more importantly, why he even wanted to go in the first place.

A huge thank you again for your time and stories Nero!

Give Nero a follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube... and check out Nerobuys.com too.

Help kids connect with nature through Nero's NaturePost kits.

Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

Growing up in New South Wales, Nero Buys had no idea he'd one day be representing Australia in the Alone World Championships. But, big life changes are not unusual for Nero... It's only through exploring many different careers, persistently searching for the right fit, and the right people, that he found himself alone, standing above three feet of ice in the Canadian wilderness. This is Nero's story – we find out what happened on Alone 13, and perhaps more importantly, why he even wanted to go in the first place.

A huge thank you again for your time and stories Nero!

Give Nero a follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube... and check out Nerobuys.com too.

Help kids connect with nature through Nero's NaturePost kits.

Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

Chapters:

0:00 Cold Opener

0:37 Episode introduction

2:57 Welcome and Possum Stick

8:31 The path to Alone

16:22 Lure of the North

26:21 The journey to Canada

28:32 Australian and Canadian cold

33:00 Sourdough pizza and expedition meals

38:30 Eating well on Alone

45:23 The polar plunge lesson

01:03:34 Preparing for Alone

01:10:13 Beaver hunting and fieldcraft

01:20:25 Axe craft and efficiency

01:27:33 Gear, bows and hunting

01:31:56 Fishing weir and adaptation

01:45:14 Early life and schooling

02:05:58 Military service and meaning

02:21:58 Nature Post and time outdoors

02:32:55 Episode closing

Growing up in New South Wales, Nero Buys had no idea he'd one day be representing Australia in the Alone World Championships. But, big life changes are not unusual for Nero... It's only through exploring many different careers, persistently searching for the right fit, and the right people, that he found himself alone, standing above three feet of ice in the Canadian wilderness. This is Nero's story – we find out what happened on Alone 13, and perhaps more importantly, why he even wanted to go in the first place.

A huge thank you again for your time and stories Nero!

Give Nero a follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube... and check out Nerobuys.com too.

Help kids connect with nature through Nero's NaturePost kits.

Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram + Facebook...

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and watch on YouTube too.

The only female In this season... Jacks not only represented the US, but the entirety of womankind for the Alone World Champs. As expected, in this episode Jacks shares her story with that trademark mix of brutal honesty combined with laugh out loud humor. A huge thank-you again to @wildcardjacks for sharing your time with us!

Follow Jacks on Instagram @wildcardjacks and @wildcardwilderness

Book survival courses, and learn more about Jacks at wildcardwilderness.com and jacksgenega.com

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James Eastman is more than just a shark story. A family man, a teacher, and passionate lover of outdoor spaces both on land and ocean... the hefty label of 'shark attack survivor' is not one he'd choose. But, It's definitely the most unexpected challenge he's faced since a quick afternoon surf took a horrifying turn. In this episode James shares the whole story, and we're so grateful he didn't hold back, both in the detail of that moment, and his brutal honesty about the mental and physical toll an event like this takes.

There is however one silver lining: James' wife Chloe Parris – an ER nurse at the hospital where James was rushed – has since founded The Minutes Matter Project. Their goal is to supply life-saving medical gear to remote surf beaches. Many of these beaches are zero-cell-service areas, so supplying something as simple as a tourniquet, will help give shark victims the minutes they need to survive.

A huge thank you again to James for sharing his story today!

Check out the Minutes Matter site and be sure to follow on Instagram too.

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Some say Brendan Becker grew his enormous beard to soften the dangerously sharp wit that lurks beneath... Having worked as an international fly-fishing guide for many years. Brendan has taken clients and chased monsters in some incredibly wild places. Having hung up his guiding waders, he now passes on his knowledge and incredible stories to customers visiting the Johannesburg brand of Mavungana fly fishing - South Africa. Now we get to hear some too. Hang on folks, we've hooked a big one here.

A huge thanks again to Brendan and Mavungana for allowing us to record in your space.

Give Brendan a follow on Instagram, Follow the Mavungana site and Instagram while you're at it too.

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Originally a journalist from the city, twenty years ago Holly stopped chasing copy deadlines, and started chasing wild game. Now an obsessed hunter of waterfowl, she's making up for lost time, by helping other latecomers to the hunting world. Simply sharing best ways to prepare for a hunt, AND how to make the most of the protein you harvest.

A huge thank you to Holly for sharing her stories and knowledge with us today!

Follow her on Instagram, YouTube and check out her linktree with a bunch of tips you never knew you needed.

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00:00 — Welcome and podcast intro

5:00 — Becoming an Adult-Onset Hunter

7:20 — Growing Up Around Food

10:43 — How Hunting Started

12:04 — The Duck Dinner Moment

13:25 — Holly's First Pig Hunt

17:48 — Thinking About AI and Convenience

19:14 — Why Animals Deserve Respect

25:28 — Pushing Too Hard at Work

30:07 — Why Duck Hunters Use Gear

38:34 — Hunting Ducks Alone

42:25 — Learning to Shoot Well

53:15 — Bird Bands & Training Dogs

69:24 — Why She Waited to Get a Dog

80:37 — The Dog Training Journey

In this Episode Robin visits Doug Cockroft –founder of Splitting Image Taxidermy– in his incredible factory and studio space.

The conversation delves into the journey of taxidermy, It's origins, the unknown passion involved, and the future of the industry. It explores the impact of importation rules and its evolving solutions to new challenges. Amongst Doug's own fascinating stories we also cover the evolution of 3D printing technology, the art of taxidermy and anatomy, tanning techniques, ethics and principles in taxidermy, and the discussion of hunting, conservation, and responsibility. We also couldn't tip our hat to the future of taxidermy without giving a comical nod to taxidermy 100 years ago.

A huge thank you to Doug for the thought provoking chat, and to the Splitting Image team for their help setting up the space.

Check out the Splitting Image website

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This episode dives into the fascinating world of taxidermy, guided by Doug Cocroft, founder of Splitting Image Taxidermy. We explore the history, technological advancements, ethical considerations, and the profound connection between hunting and conservation.

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction and the importance of respecting wildlife in taxidermy

00:44 - Doug Cockroft’s entrance into taxidermy

01:30 - The origin of taxidermy practices

02:16 - The transformative role of hunting and conservation in Africa

04:10 - The relationship between taxidermy and wildlife storytelling

05:16 - Personal reflections on connecting with nature

06:40 - The importance of patience, observation, and respect

08:07 - Hunting versus non-hunting – A spectrum of attitudes

09:13 - Memorable experiences and mishaps

10:52 - The story of a vehicle mishap

14:50 - The role of hunting

18:49 - Transition from guiding to taxidermy

20:00 - How 9/11 reshaped Doug’s career path into taxidermy

21:40 - Early training and challenges in taxidermy

25:12 - Doug's true passion for the craft and conservation’s role

28:49 - The history and cultural roots of taxidermy in Africa and beyond

38:31 - 3D printing, scanners, and chemical advancements

42:17 - Evolution of techniques and technologies

48:44 - Handling ethical considerations

53:01 - Taxidermy and creative, respectful expressions

56:46 - The influence of legislation and poaching

60:39 - The connection between hunting, storytelling, and societal perception

64:18 - The importance of authentic outdoor experiences a

65:33 - Resources and inspirations for those interested in taxidermy

Congrats to three lucky guests from our EP100 Giveaway Competition! It's been an amazing few years and 100 episodes, here's a few favourites from other participants of Alone, and a wild African spear hunters tale from the Eastern Cape. Thanks again everyone, here's to another 100 episodes!

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Get ready for a diverse episode blending exciting contest announcements, gripping outdoor adventures, survival stories, and ethical hunting insights. Robin shares behind-the-scenes moments of a podcast competition, followed by intense narratives from seasoned adventure and hunting experts, revealing raw emotions and incredible wildlife experiences.

• Announcing winners of a wilderness podcast contest and the behind-the-scenes process
• An in-depth recount of a solo wilderness hunting experience, focusing on tracking, hunting strategies, and emotional resilience
• The story of a grappling encounter with a highly aggressive bushbuck, showcasing extraordinary animal behavior and human ingenuity
• Insights into outdoor gear preparation, clothing strategies for cold environments, and psychological tactics like stoicism and self-affirmation

• Robin announces the top three winners from San Jose and Minnesota with a live draw process
• Aubrey Tibbury recounts wresting and suffocating a wounded bushbuck with a jersey as a makeshift tourniquet
• An exploration of a hunter’s meticulous gear preparation, especially handmade clothing suitable for Arctic-like conditions
• Emotional reflections on the risks, disappointments, and mental resilience involved in hunting larger game like moose
• Discussions on ethical hunting challenges, wildlife tracking, and the importance of mental readiness in survival situations
• Philosophical insights into the human drive, driven by seeking approval and deep personal values

00:00 - Contest Winners
02:04 - Episode Setup
04:19 - Bushbuck Story
07:11 - Solo Survival
09:10 - Tracking Techniques
14:02 - Moose Hunt
18:02 - Ethical Tracking
22:34 - Lost Game
26:21 - Mental Resilience
28:01 - Personal Drive
32:20 - Purpose Shift
33:41 - Show Prep
36:13 - Homestead Build
40:23 - Support System
43:24 - Sacrifice
48:06 - Cold Gear
53:48 - Facing Fear
57:08 - Bushbuck Encounter
63:22 - Survival Tactics
67:13 - Final Reflections