48 episodes

A conservation podcast hosted by filmmaker John Jurko II about rangers, rhinos, and what we can do to stop the poaching crisis. Recorded in support of the Global Conservation Corps' feature-length documentary, RHINO MAN. A film about the courageous field rangers who risk their lives every day to protect South Africa's rhinos from being poached to extinction.

The Rhino Man Podcast John Jurko II

    • Society & Culture
    • 5.0 • 10 Ratings

A conservation podcast hosted by filmmaker John Jurko II about rangers, rhinos, and what we can do to stop the poaching crisis. Recorded in support of the Global Conservation Corps' feature-length documentary, RHINO MAN. A film about the courageous field rangers who risk their lives every day to protect South Africa's rhinos from being poached to extinction.

    Ep 48: Marianne De Kock - A life dedicated to training the next generation of rangers.

    Ep 48: Marianne De Kock - A life dedicated to training the next generation of rangers.

    In this episode, I'm talking with Marianne De Kock. Marianne along with her husband, Ruben, and their close friend, Martin Mthembu, founded and ran African Field Ranger Training Services, or AFRTS. Together they developed the coursework and trained tens of thousands of rangers across Africa and beyond. AFRTS continues to operate as a program of the Southern African Wildlife College's Protected Area Integrity Department. Marianne served in the South African Military Defence Force, where she became a sharp shooter and participated in National Key Point shooting competitions. In 2018, Marianne was recognized as a Rhino Conservation Supporter at the Rhino Conservation Awards. She also plays a major role in our documentary film, RHINO MAN.

    In this conversation, we talk about Marianne's path into the military and how the training she received prepared her for her future work as a ranger trainer. We go into how she and Ruben met, and the leap of faith they took in starting AFRTS. She tells many stories of the early days, of the bonds she had with Martin Mthembu and Anton Mzimba, and the passion she has for the frontline of conservation, our rangers. This was such a lovely episode, and Marianne's life of dedication to a bigger purpose shines through.

    Subscribe, Like, and Review The Rhino Man Podcast on #Spotify, #ApplePodcasts, and #YouTube today!

    Listen here: rhinomanthemovie.org/podcast/

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    CREDITS
    Produced by @theglobalconservationcorps
    Music by @simon.wilson.music
    Edited by @karaborej
    Host @johnjurko

    Thank you for listening to The Rhino Man Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and you're excited to see the film succeed, please subscribe and review our podcast on #Spotify and #iTunes. Then follow us on Instagram and Facebook @rhinomanthemovie. More details about Rhino Man, the social impact campaign, and future screenings are at rhinomanthemovie.org.

    To learn more about the Global Conservation Corps and their work visit globalconservationcorps.org, sign up for the newsletter, and follow GCC on all of the social platforms.

    If you liked this podcast, make sure to subscribe to and catch up on GCC's Voices of Nature Podcast, where Bob Ludke interviews a wide range of people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in conservation.

    A special thanks goes out to Simón Wilson for the music for this podcast. He is the brilliant composer for Rhino Man the movie. Learn more about his work at simonwilsonmusic.com.

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Ep 47: Andrew Lemieux, Ph.D. - Problem-Oriented Wildlife Protection with LEAD Ranger.

    Ep 47: Andrew Lemieux, Ph.D. - Problem-Oriented Wildlife Protection with LEAD Ranger.

    In this episode, I'm talking with Dr. Andrew Lemieux. Andrew grew up in the mountains of Arizona in the United States, before spending more than a decade researching wildlife crime at the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement in Amsterdam. Andrew now manages LEAD Ranger's Problem-Oriented Wildlife Protection program, the humble beginnings of a scalable approach to teaching problem-analysis and crime prevention to the global conservation community. Andrew is also the editor-in-chief of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing’s Wilderness Problems Resource Portal, and is a member of the scientific advisory committee for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's World Wildlife Crime report.

    In this conversation, we dive into Andrew's youth and path to studying criminology and wildlife crime. We go deep into the benefits of implementing problem-oriented policing in conservation, the importance of having a well trained analyst on your team, and the obstacles to convincing organizations to hire analysts and how to overcome them. We take a brief journey through LEAD Ranger 's development and explore their vision for the future, and we go into the broader advantages of looking at the world through the lens of problem solving, even outside of protected area management. This episode is jam packed with years of research and knowledge, and Andrew's passion for the work shines though.

    Subscribe, Like, and Review The Rhino Man Podcast on #Spotify, #ApplePodcasts, and #YouTube today!

    Listen here: rhinomanthemovie.org/podcast/

    - - - - - - - -

    CREDITS
    Produced by @theglobalconservationcorps
    Music by @simon.wilson.music
    Edited by @karaborej
    Host @johnjurko

    Thank you for listening to The Rhino Man Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and you're excited to see the film succeed, please subscribe and review our podcast on #Spotify and #iTunes. Then follow us on Instagram and Facebook @rhinomanthemovie. More details about Rhino Man, the social impact campaign, and future screenings are at rhinomanthemovie.org.

    To learn more about the Global Conservation Corps and their work visit globalconservationcorps.org, sign up for the newsletter, and follow GCC on all of the social platforms.

    If you liked this podcast, make sure to subscribe to and catch up on GCC's Voices of Nature Podcast, where Bob Ludke interviews a wide range of people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in conservation.

    A special thanks goes out to Simón Wilson for the music for this podcast. He is the brilliant composer for Rhino Man the movie. Learn more about his work at simonwilsonmusic.com.

    • 1 hr 35 min
    Ep 46: Julian Rademeyer - Killing for Profit, investigative journalism, and organized crime.

    Ep 46: Julian Rademeyer - Killing for Profit, investigative journalism, and organized crime.

    In this episode, I'm talking with Julian Rademeyer. Julian is the Director for East and Southern Africa for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Prior to joining the organization, he was a project leader at TRAFFIC, the international wildlife trade monitoring network. He is a former investigative journalist, and his bestselling book, Killing for Profit – Exposing the Illegal Rhino Horn Trade, was shortlisted for the Alan Paton Award. His work on illegal wildlife trade and organized crime has been featured on Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, Sky News and in The Guardian, New York Times, Economist, National Geographic, and many more.

    In this conversation, we talk about Julian's current work for the Global Initiative. We dig into his youth and path to becoming an investigative journalist. We dive into his obsession with organized crime, and how he ended up focusing on the rhino poaching crisis. We go into his process and the journey of writing his book, and he gives an eloquent summary of his recent report, Landscape of fear: crime, corruption and murder in greater Kruger. Julian is full of stories, passion, and deeply researched information. It was an honor to spend a little time scratching the surface of his knowledge.

    Subscribe, Like, and Review The Rhino Man Podcast on #Spotify, #ApplePodcasts, and #YouTube today!

    Listen here: rhinomanthemovie.org/podcast/

    - - - - - - - -

    CREDITS
    Produced by @theglobalconservationcorps
    Music by @simon.wilson.music
    Edited by @karaborej
    Host @johnjurko

    Thank you for listening to The Rhino Man Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and you're excited to see the film succeed, please subscribe and review our podcast on #Spotify and #iTunes. Then follow us on Instagram and Facebook @rhinomanthemovie. More details about Rhino Man, the social impact campaign, and future screenings are at rhinomanthemovie.org.

    To learn more about the Global Conservation Corps and their work visit globalconservationcorps.org, sign up for the newsletter, and follow GCC on all of the social platforms.

    If you liked this podcast, make sure to subscribe to and catch up on GCC's Voices of Nature Podcast, where Bob Ludke interviews a wide range of people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in conservation.

    A special thanks goes out to Simón Wilson for the music for this podcast. He is the brilliant composer for Rhino Man the movie. Learn more about his work at simonwilsonmusic.com.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Ep 45: Tom Medema - Rally for Rangers: Empowering rangers with new motorcycles.

    Ep 45: Tom Medema - Rally for Rangers: Empowering rangers with new motorcycles.

    In this episode, I'm talking with Tom Medema. Tom is the Co-Founder of Rally for Rangers, whose mission is to protect the world's special places by empowering rangers around the world with new motorcycle equipment. Tom was born in Michigan in the United States, and developed a passion for national parks at a young age while on family vacations throughout the American west. This passion turned into a career as a park ranger spanning over 33 years.

    In this conversation, we talk about how Tom found himself on his first ride through Mongolia, and the early beginnings of Rally for Rangers. We dive deep into the importance of rangers, the support they need to do their work, and passion for this calling. We go into some of the epic adventures of past rallies, how you can get involved, and talk about their new film A Rally for Rangers. Tom was full of energy and passion and his stories make you want to go on your own adventure and to support the rangers.

    Subscribe, Like, and Review The Rhino Man Podcast on #Spotify, #ApplePodcasts, and #YouTube today!

    Listen here: rhinomanthemovie.org/podcast/

    - - - - - - - -

    CREDITS
    Produced by @theglobalconservationcorps
    Music by @simon.wilson.music
    Edited by @karaborej
    Host @johnjurko

    Thank you for listening to The Rhino Man Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and you're excited to see the film succeed, please subscribe and review our podcast on #Spotify and #iTunes. Then follow us on Instagram and Facebook @rhinomanthemovie. More details about Rhino Man, the social impact campaign, and future screenings are at rhinomanthemovie.org.

    To learn more about the Global Conservation Corps and their work visit globalconservationcorps.org, sign up for the newsletter, and follow GCC on all of the social platforms.

    If you liked this podcast, make sure to subscribe to and catch up on GCC's Voices of Nature Podcast, where Bob Ludke interviews a wide range of people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in conservation.

    A special thanks goes out to Simón Wilson for the music for this podcast. He is the brilliant composer for Rhino Man the movie. Learn more about his work at simonwilsonmusic.com.

    • 1 hr 12 min
    Ep 44: Urs Reif - European Ranger Federation and Black Forest National Park.

    Ep 44: Urs Reif - European Ranger Federation and Black Forest National Park.

    In this episode, I'm talking with Urs Reif. Urs studied biology and nature conservation and is working as chief ranger for Black Forest national park in Germany. In addition Urs worked in conservancy reporting and in the federal ministry for nature conservation. As a volunteer he is seating the ranger working group for Europarc Germany and is president of the European Ranger Federation.

    In this conversation, we talk about Urs' path to becoming a ranger, the beauty of Black Forest national park, and his opinion on Black Forest cake. We dive into the importance of rangers locally and globally, the necessity and benefits of ranger associations, and the workings of the European Ranger Federation. This conversation was full of energy and confirmed, once again, my love of rangers, their stories, and the work they do.

    Subscribe, Like, and Review The Rhino Man Podcast on #Spotify, #ApplePodcasts, and #YouTube today!

    Listen here: rhinomanthemovie.org/podcast/

    - - - - - - - -

    CREDITS
    Produced by @theglobalconservationcorps
    Music by @simon.wilson.music
    Edited by @karaborej
    Host @johnjurko
    Photo by Thomas Niedermüller ©Archiv Umweltakademie

    Thank you for listening to The Rhino Man Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and you're excited to see the film succeed, please subscribe and review our podcast on #Spotify and #iTunes. Then follow us on Instagram and Facebook @rhinomanthemovie. More details about Rhino Man, the social impact campaign, and future screenings are at rhinomanthemovie.org.

    To learn more about the Global Conservation Corps and their work visit globalconservationcorps.org, sign up for the newsletter, and follow GCC on all of the social platforms.

    If you liked this podcast, make sure to subscribe to and catch up on GCC's Voices of Nature Podcast, where Bob Ludke interviews a wide range of people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in conservation.

    A special thanks goes out to Simón Wilson for the music for this podcast. He is the brilliant composer for Rhino Man the movie. Learn more about his work at simonwilsonmusic.com.

    • 1 hr
    Ep 43: Nick Brandt - Photography highlighting human impact on the natural world.

    Ep 43: Nick Brandt - Photography highlighting human impact on the natural world.

    In this episode, I'm talking with Nick Brandt. Nick is a conservationist and photographer who uses his captivating art to champion environmental causes. Nick was born and raised in London, where he originally studied Painting and Film. He now lives in the southern Californian mountains. In 2010, Nick co-founded Big Life Foundation, a non-profit in Kenya and Tanzania that employs more than 300 local rangers protecting 1.6 million acres of the Amboseli/Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The themes in Nick's photographic series relate to the destructive impact that humankind is having on both the natural world and now humans themselves too.

    In this conversation, we talk about Nick's confrontation with elephant poaching in East Africa, and how that sparked his journey from photographer to conservationist, leading to the creation of Big Life Foundation. We dive deep into his art series from the East African Trilogy to Inherit the Dust and This Empty World to The Day May Break. We go into his process and the logistics for these massive artistic undertakings. And we spend time digging into the environmental issues that currently plague our planet, along with stories of some of the resilient humans in his photographs.

    Subscribe, Like, and Review The Rhino Man Podcast on #Spotify and #ApplePodcasts today!

    Listen here: rhinomanthemovie.org/podcast/

    - - - - - - - -

    CREDITS
    Produced by @theglobalconservationcorps
    Music by @simon.wilson.music
    Edited by @karaborej
    Host @johnjurko

    Thank you for listening to The Rhino Man Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode and you're excited to see the film succeed, please subscribe and review our podcast on #Spotify and #iTunes. Then follow us on Instagram and Facebook @rhinomanthemovie. More details about Rhino Man, the social impact campaign, and future screenings are at rhinomanthemovie.org.

    To learn more about the Global Conservation Corps and their work visit globalconservationcorps.org, sign up for the newsletter, and follow GCC on all of the social platforms.

    If you liked this podcast, make sure to subscribe to and catch up on GCC's Voices of Nature Podcast, where Bob Ludke interviews a wide range of people who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in conservation.

    A special thanks goes out to Simón Wilson for the music for this podcast. He is the brilliant composer for Rhino Man the movie. Learn more about his work at simonwilsonmusic.com.

    • 1 hr 8 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
10 Ratings

10 Ratings

ejcunningham ,

Amazing interviews

I am hooked on this podcast. I love the diversity of people and roles featured, John is really pulling back the curtain on conservation and all of the work being done, not just directly but indirectly though art and film. It definitely has given me some ideas for how I can get involved myself. I’m very much looking forward to the film, and I really hope this podcast continues beyond its release!

Conservation NYC ,

Inspiration and Impact

Just listened to the Peter Knight episode. Amazing episode.

John Jurko ,

Features Legends of Conservation

The Rhino Man Podcast interviews top conservationists on the topics of rhinos, rangers, and the poaching crisis. Everyone from wildlife vets, investigative journalists, to ranger associations, rangers, rhino sanctuaries, scientists, you name it. You get to learn about the lives of the people involved and the work the organizations are doing.

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