Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Discover how women find belonging, mentorship, and confidence by stepping into the outdoors together.

Host Bethany Beathard sits down with Jess Rice, founder of WildHERness, a women‑centered outdoor community built to empower beginners and seasoned outdoorswomen alike.

Together, they explore what community really means for women entering the outdoor world—breaking down barriers, building skills, and creating friendships that change lives. From learning to hunt or kayak to embracing homesteading and conservation, Jess shares how shared experiences help women grow stronger, braver, and more connected.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why women thrive when they learn outdoor skills together
How Wilderness creates accessible, authentic adventure for every woman
What mentorship looks like beyond hunting
How shared first‑time outdoor experiences deepen confidence
The role of conservation, motherhood, and mental health in outdoor life
Practical ways women can find or build their own outdoor community
WildHERness - INSTAGRAM
WildHERness - 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.
Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

In this special tribute episode, we honor the life, impact, and legacy of John Gordon—Media Productions Manager at Ducks Unlimited, lifelong outdoorsman, storyteller, mentor, friend, and a familiar voice to DU Nation and the Ducks Unlimited Podcast. John’s passing in January of 2026 left a profound void in the waterfowling community he spent a lifetime uplifting.
Through stories and archival audio, we revisit John’s journey from his Mississippi roots to the Texas prairies that shaped his early hunting life, and eventually to his influential role at Ducks Unlimited where he helped bring DU Nation, DU Films, and countless conservation stories to life.
About John Gordon
Born in Mississippi, later moving with his family to Kingwood, Texas, where he discovered goose hunting and the Texas coastal prairie that shaped his lifelong passion.
Worked as a snow goose guide on the Katy, Texas prairie before joining Ducks Unlimited.
Graduated from Mississippi State University with a BA in Communications.
Served as a Senior Communications Specialist at Ducks Unlimited, coordinating production for DUTV, DU Nation, and Ascend. . 
Frequent contributor and co‑host on the Ducks Unlimited Podcast, featuring conversations on retrievers, hunting heritage, and waterfowl history. 
Recognized writer with published work in WILDFOWL, Outdoor Life, and more.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

In this episode of the Ducks Unlimited podcast, host John Gordon sits down with Ray Voigt, former professional retriever trainer and current Purina senior specialist, and Karl Gunzer, Purina Sporting Dog Group Director, discussing all things dogs. They talk about their love for sporting breeds, canine nutrition, training tips, and the Bird Dog Hall of Fame. If you're a dog lover, this episode is a must-listen as they dive into the history and importance of sporting dogs.
 
Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Get a clear read on what drove Great Lakes hunting success this season—and how to adapt for spring snows, steelhead, and turkey.
Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by DU’s Chris Jennings and returning Great Lakes voice Jay Anglin (Northern Indiana, guides primarily in Michigan) to break down conditions, bird behavior, and practical lessons learned.
This episode is a boots‑on‑the‑ground season review from the Great Lakes region. Jay explains why he hunted fewer days but had better results by timing “the right days,” and why low water and inconsistent weather created a challenging year for local puddle ducks. The crew also digs into diver timing, late/odd Canada goose movement, big-water pressure from year‑round fishing, and the mindset shift that keeps hunts enjoyable even in down years.
Takeaways:
Why “hunting the right days” (wind, timing, conditions) mattered more than grinding it out
How drought/low water created short-lived habitat even after heavy rain bursts
Diver storylines (especially redheads) vs. a slower mallard “burn” across key Great Lakes areas
How big-water refuge behavior, boat traffic, and fishing pressure push ducks offshore
The mystery of “late Canada geese” and why it didn’t match typical patterns
What’s next: conservation order snow geese, spring movement, steelhead, and turkey plans

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Take a deeper dive into how state policy drives habitat conservation, promotes access, and protects our hunting and outdoor traditions.
Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with South Carolina State Senator Chip Campsen, DU’s Southern Region Director of Public Policy Ed Penny, and Wildlife Mississippi Executive Director James Cummins. They unpack proven tools like the South Carolina Conservation Bank, dedicated state funding models, and why respectful behavior and smart policy both matter for the future of hunting and fishing.

From perpetual conservation easements to college‑town river hunts and the role of Boone & Crockett, this episode shows how statehouses—and the people who vote them in—influence opportunities for every hunter and angler. 

Takeaways:
How the South Carolina Conservation Bank leverages competitive grants and easements to protect ~500,000 acres—and why seed funding stretches dollars farther 
Voluntary, perpetual easements: property‑rights friendly, customizable, and often paired with public access incentives 
Why clustered easements (ACE Basin, Santee Delta) create ecosystem‑scale wins for waterfowl and wildlife 
Dedicated state funding models (e.g., Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund) unlock big federal matches and local projects 
Social license to hunt and fish: how hunter behavior, messaging, and policy safeguard opportunity beyond a constitutional “right” 
CSF/NASC: bipartisan networks where state legislators swap playbooks that protect hunting, angling, and access 
 
Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.