The Wild Dispatch

Robin Warman

From world-record-breaking expeditions to traditional techniques: The Wild Dispatch explores the incredible ways we connect with nature.  Full of honest conversations and occasional audio-adventures. This part-Brit part-South-African in America chats with guests about fishing, foraging, tracking, homesteading, ancient hunting, ultralight camping, and everything in between. It’s a podcast for nature lovers —an owl-hoot to the skills and traditions that've got us here today.

  1. EP101: 3 Winners + 3 Great Stories From the Last 100 Episodes ↣↣↣

    4 hr ago

    EP101: 3 Winners + 3 Great Stories From the Last 100 Episodes ↣↣↣

    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! Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube 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. Main Topics Covered:Announcing winners of a wilderness podcast contest and the behind-the-scenes processAn in-depth recount of a solo wilderness hunting experience, focusing on tracking, hunting strategies, and emotional resilienceThe story of a grappling encounter with a highly aggressive bushbuck, showcasing extraordinary animal behavior and human ingenuityInsights into outdoor gear preparation, clothing strategies for cold environments, and psychological tactics like stoicism and self-affirmationRobin announces the top three winners from San Jose and Minnesota with a live draw processAubrey Tibbury recounts wresting and suffocating a wounded bushbuck with a jersey as a makeshift tourniquetAn exploration of a hunter’s meticulous gear preparation, especially handmade clothing suitable for Arctic-like conditionsEmotional reflections on the risks, disappointments, and mental resilience involved in hunting larger game like mooseDiscussions on ethical hunting challenges, wildlife tracking, and the importance of mental readiness in survival situationsPhilosophical insights into the human drive, driven by seeking approval and deep personal valuesChapters: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

    1hr 9min
  2. EP100:The First Woman to Win Alone: Woniya Thibeault ↣ Cultivating Gratitude Amid Adversity

    28 Jun

    EP100:The First Woman to Win Alone: Woniya Thibeault ↣ Cultivating Gratitude Amid Adversity

    The first Woman to win Alone, and holder of the highest number of days spent out in the wildernes – Woniya Thibeault is an incredibly skilled, exceptionally strong willed, and a wonderful story teller all at the same time. Despite life changing experiences both times on the Alone show, her deep relationship with the wild began long before Alone even existed. Join us for this special episode as Woniya shares the fascinating journey that brought her to this moment: Author, Mother, Wilderness Expert and highly respected surthrivalist within the community. A huge thankyou again to Woniya for sharing her time and knowledge with us today! Follow Woniya On Instagram, Facebook, YouTube... And visit her website: www.Woniyathibeault.com where you can find her memoir Never Alone, online and in-person wilderness courses and other fantastic resources too. Give Robin and The Wild Dispatch a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube too. 00:00 - Welcoming Woniya Thibault 02:00 - Woniya’s background 04:30 - The significance of prime numbers 07:00 - Transitioning to Timeless Ways 09:00 - A wilderness ethic of respect and asking permission 12:00 - Woniya’s decision decision to leave or stay 17:00 - How community and collaboration influence survival success 20:00 - barefoot walking and sensory awareness 25:00 - The powers gained from wilderness skills 30:00 - Creative problem solving: natural sources of salt 36:00 - The importance of sensory engagement with the earth 42:00 - Woniya’s story behind her name and cultural considerations 46:00 - Her approach to cultural respect 50:00 - Insights on mental resilience and gratitude 55:00 - lessons learned from health issues 60:00 - Gender dynamics on "Alone" 65:00 - The role of respect for the land 70:00 - Strategies for avoiding common survival mistakes 75:00 - The significance of community, and internal motivation 80:00 - Reflections on rules, creativity, and pushing boundaries 85:00 - Techniques for cultivating gratitude amid adversity 90:00 - Key mistakes to avoid in solo wilderness survival 95:00 - Woniya’s upcoming projects, books, and ways to connect

    1hr 38min
  3. EP99: Rich Gardner ↣ Tales of the Stick & String

    22 Jun

    EP99: Rich Gardner ↣ Tales of the Stick & String

    In this Episode, Rich Gardner - Local legend from the traditional 3D Archery circuit - shares a quiver-full of stories from his past. Known for his highly addictive archery footage landing across millions of people's Facebook feeds. Episode 99 gives us an insight to the jolly man behind the camera. This one's got some great tales from the wilds of California, competitive 3D tournaments, and plenty of other adventures from afar too. Be sure to give Rich a follow on his Facebook page, where he regularly posts footage of archery that's guaranteed get you itching to grab the bow and heading for the hills. Be sure to also sign up for the Longbow Safari happening at Rancho Neblina on the 4th of July, and say hi to Rich yourself! Watch/Follow Robin and The Wild Dispatch on: Instagram Facebook Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube In this episode of The Wild Dispatch, Robin sits down with Rich Gardner for a fascinating conversation about traditional archery, bow hunting, wildlife encounters, and the stories behind Rich’s viral social clips. From his first bow-killed buck to unforgettable turkey hunts, Alaska fishing adventures, mountain lion sightings, and the mindset behind shooting instinctively, this episode is packed with practical insight and wild outdoor storytelling.If you’re interested in traditional archery, recurve and longbow shooting, bow hunting tips, wild game, hunting stories, or the outdoors lifestyle, this conversation delivers plenty to learn and enjoy. Whether you’re a beginner archer, an experienced bowhunter, or simply love real stories from the outdoors, this episode offers a mix of humour, wisdom, and hard-earned lessons from years in the woods and on the range. Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Rich Gardner and his viral archery content 02:12 Episode 100 giveaway announcement 03:52 Rich’s background and early archery interest 05:27 Turkey hunting stories and calling techniques 10:12 How Rich moved from rifle hunting to archery 11:14 First bow setup and first buck story 14:13 Early fishing adventures and bowfishing attempts 21:42 Sturgeon fishing and Alaska salmon trips 29:57 The first buck and transition to traditional archery 30:17 Longbow hunting and the first wild pig 36:05 Bow setup, arrows, and broadheads 40:09 Bear and mountain lion encounters 52:08 How Rich’s Facebook archery videos took off 54:24 3D competitions and travelling for shoots 57:58 Learning to shoot from mentors and tuning bows 68:35 Neck injury, pain, and choosing lighter bows 73:20 Why Rich no longer hunts with rifles or shotguns 75:36 Judging distance by eye and shooting uphill 83:17 Mitchell story and a meaningful connection at the range 87:06 Closing thoughts and where to find Rich

    1hr 33min
  4. EP96: Pursuing The Perfect Fly ↣ Raymond Mutemeri: From Zimbabwe to S.Africa

    25 May

    EP96: Pursuing The Perfect Fly ↣ Raymond Mutemeri: From Zimbabwe to S.Africa

    Like many things in the wild, it’s small details that make the difference. Trained by the late Gordon Macpherson as part of an elite fly tying team in Zimbabwe, Ray Mutemeri has known this fact to be true for almost 40 years. It was this same attention to detail that brought him up through the ranks, and eventually gave him the opportunity to move to South Africa. He is now the lead tyer at the Johburg office of South africa’s biggest fly fishing shop and outfitter -Mavungana Fly Fishing. Perhaps the wildest part of this story: it was almost twenty years and hundreds of thousands of flies later that Ray could first experience the effectivenes of his own craftmanship in the water.  A huge thankyou to Ray for sharing his time and stories with us today! Give Mavungana a follow on Instagram and check out all kinds of information and classes including fly tying with Raymond at Mavungana fly fishing Main Topics Covered:Raymond’s fishing journey from Zimbabwe to South AfricaEvolution and specialization in fly tyingTechniques for tying various fly sizesEnvironmental influences on fly selectionFly fishing culture in Zimbabwe and South AfricaConservation through catch-and-releaseTeaching fly tying to new generationsMentorship and continuous learningIdentifying and adapting fly techniquesUnusual fly requestsBuilding a foundation in fly tyingImpact of Zimbabwe’s economy on tourismWomen’s role in fly tying and fishingTimestamps:00:31 - Introduction to Raymond Mutemere and his background 04:02 - The history of fly fishing in Zimbabwe and Raymond’s early life 06:36 - The influence of Scottish fly tyer Gordon MacPherson 07:45 - The scale of the fly tying industry in Zimbabwe 08:45 - Tying rates and specialization in dry flies 12:23 - Raymond’s childhood near rivers in Zimbabwe 14:01 - Fly fishing trips to Eastern Highlands for trout 16:14 - Personal stories of first catches and learning from guides 20:41 - Popular fly patterns like the Shamare Timi 22:00 - The cultural difference between catch and release and consumption 24:46 - The significance of size in catch-and-release practices 26:29 - Technical challenges in fly tying, 36:23 - Teaching others and passing on skills 41:44 - Creating custom flies and imitating environmental cues 44:41 - Types of hooks used in fly tying 46:12 - The process of tying a fly step by step 50:14 - Material application and proportions 54:33 - How observing insects in nature informs fly design 58:23 - Handling unusual requests, creative tying stories 60:18 - Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them 63:49 - Women in fly tying and fishing 66:00 - The importance of continuous learning and mentorship 68:51 - Philosophy of humility in skill mastery 70:15 - Maintaining connections with fly fishing peers 71:07 - How to find Raymond for lessons or custom flies 72:54 - Closing remarks and future episodes Follow Robin & The Wild Dispatch on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook

    1hr 15min
5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

From world-record-breaking expeditions to traditional techniques: The Wild Dispatch explores the incredible ways we connect with nature.  Full of honest conversations and occasional audio-adventures. This part-Brit part-South-African in America chats with guests about fishing, foraging, tracking, homesteading, ancient hunting, ultralight camping, and everything in between. It’s a podcast for nature lovers —an owl-hoot to the skills and traditions that've got us here today.

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