When the Connecting with Conservation podcast debuted in 2024, its mission was clear: pull back the curtain on how conservation works financially, institutionally, and operationally in the U.S. With hosts Jon Gassett (WMI) and Jim Curcuruto (Outdoor Stewards), the first season delivered 12 episodes focused on conserving the business side of wildlife.

In that inaugural run, aside from returning stalwarts Tom Taylor and Joel Hodgdon, three other key voices helped define the show’s early identity:

• Alex Royzen of Optics Planet appeared in an episode centered on the optics and gear business, discussing how a major retailer helps shape consumer access to optics, as well as the downstream effects on wildlife recreation and funding.
• Lou Cornicelli of Southwick Associates joined in Episode 11, framing the “Kentucky Elk Restoration” discussion through analytics, population modeling, and how data drives agency decisions.
• Mitch King (Beam Consulting) featured in Episode 2 on excise taxes for hunting and angling equipment. In that conversation, King laid out how the Wallop–Breaux/Pittman–Robertson funding streams work (allocation, governance, disbursement) and why the excise tax remains central to funding state wildlife programs.

Finally, Tom Taylor of Sig Sauer anchored a “Talking Wildlife Conservation” episode, describing how firearm and optics manufacturers participate in conservation funding partnerships. And Joel Hodgdon’s RCBS Reloading episode dove into reloading culture, equipment, and how that niche sector contributes to conservation via excise taxes and user engagement.

Year Two Explodes the Reach

In 2025, the podcast’s pace accelerated, with 42 additional episodes being released to date, bringing the cumulative total to 54 episodes across two seasons. The podcast also achieved significant audience milestones: 77,000+ total views, 2.7 million impressions, and over 3,000 subscribers.

New guests introduced fresh angles:

• Christian Hogg of Fiocchi USA appeared mid-season on a “Hunting Products” episode, expanding on ammunition manufacturing, supply chain constraints, and how partnerships with wildlife agencies can align commercial production with habitat goals.
• Dan Cabela (Hard Truths of Conservation) weighed in on the tensions and opportunities in modern conservation storytelling—how leveraging narrative can influence funding and public awareness.
• Brandon Maddox (Silencer Central) explored suppressor technology, regulatory friction, and the case for hearing protection in recreational shooting as a conservation multiplier.
• Tom Decker (USFWS Office of Conservation Investment) offered insight into federal fund allocation, the role of excise-tax mechanisms, and how agencies prioritize projects under limited budgets.
• Tony Schoonen (Boone and Crockett Club) addressed historic and present roles of hunting-oriented nonprofit organizations in land access, species recovery, and policy influence.
• CJ Buck (Buck Knives) discussed edged-tool design, industry trends, and how knife manufacturers interact with outdoor markets and conservation ethics.
• Dr. Karen Waldrop (Ducks Unlimited) anchored the podcast’s wetlands and waterfowl segment, placing habitat priorities within larger land-use and funding frameworks.
• Jim Heffelfinger (AZ Game & Fish) joined to unpack mule deer ecology, Mexican wolf management, and how field decisions get translated into budget requests.
• Chuck Sykes (Alabama DCNR – now with Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports) spoke to how state agencies navigate politics, stakeholder pressure, and resource constraints.
• Dave Matheny (Silencer Shop) returned to focus on suppressor retail, hearing-safety advocacy, and how consumer behavior feeds into conservation funding streams.

Inside the Podcast's Appeal

From episode to episode, Connecting with Conservation keeps returning to core questions: Where does the money come from? Who controls it? How do commercial interests, agencies, nonprofits, and users align to support fish and wildlife conservation? The hosts’ conversational style helps unpack strategies, successes, and trade-offs without losing nuance.

If the first 54 episodes are any indication, Connecting with Conservation is carving a niche: the podcast doesn’t just talk about wildlife or recreation — it illuminates the backbone of how they persist financially.

The first year established a sturdy foundation: with manufacturers, analysts, and finance experts at the table, listeners got their first glimpse of conservation’s economic machinery. Year 2 broadened the lens, adding stronger agency voices and deeper thematic threads (suppressor, habitat financing, land access) while scaling reach. As of the 54th episode, the podcast has generated more than 2.7 million impressions, 77,000+ views, and more than 3,000 subscribers.

If the first 54 episodes are any indication, Connecting with Conservation is carving a niche: the podcast doesn’t just talk about wildlife or recreation — it illuminates the backbone of how they persist financially. Episodes of the podcast can be found here on the Wildlife Management Institute’s website, the Connecting with Conservation You Tube Page, and all other major podcast platforms.