Shows
Gundog NationBen Skinner - Skinner's Dog Food: From Post Mill to Performance Dog FoodSend us a text#35 What does a 300-year-old family business have to teach us about passion, quality, and preserving our gundog heritage? Ben Skinner, the seventh-generation leader of Skinner's Dog Food, takes us on a fascinating journey from his family's 1688 windmill to their current position as a beloved dog food manufacturer in the UK.The remarkable story unfolds as Ben shares how his grandfather Stanley operated a traditional grain milling business that was facing bankruptcy when his father Roger, at just 15 years old, was pulled from school to join the struggling company. The pivotal moment...2025-07-251h 02
Eating While BrokePEN KEN - Player Potatoes to Penning LegendsIn this inspiring episode of *Eating While Broke*, host Coline Witt sits down with "Kenneth Monroe", aka 'Pen Ken, to explore his incredible journey from Hollywood party promoter to celebrated children’s book author. Known for his unique book series, 'Legends of Hip Hop', Kenneth shares the inspiration behind his work, the challenges he faced, and the valuable lessons he learned from his mentor in Oakland. The conversation dives into Kenneth’s transition to fatherhood, his decision to leave social media for his family, and his pandemic pivot into the children’s book industry. Kenneth also discusses the imp...2025-07-2445 minGundog NationBarton Ramsey - British vs American Training Methods, Group Steadiness, SOKSend us a text#34 The journey to developing an extraordinary hunting retriever demands more than just basic obedience—it requires a training philosophy built on understanding, patience, and fair expectations. In this captivating conversation with Barton Ramsey of Southern Oak Kennels, we explore the nuanced approach that has established him as one of America's premier British Labrador breeders and trainers.Barton takes us deep into his training methodology, emphasizing the critical difference between British and American training philosophies while revealing how he's crafted a hybrid approach tailored to American hunting conditions. His perspective challenges conventional wi...2025-07-191h 29Gundog NationLuke Cour - Cour's Retrievers, SRS Crown Champion, Field TrialsSend us a text#33 What does it take to become one of retriever training's rising stars at just 30 years old? Luke Cour reveals the mindset and methods behind his remarkable success as we explore his journey from rodeo competitor to SRS Crown Champion.Growing up as the son of a successful pointer trainer, Luke developed an appreciation for working dogs from an early age. His natural intensity and competitive spirit found an outlet first in rodeo, then in retriever training after purchasing his first Lab to help recover lost doves on hunting trips. Eight and...2025-07-111h 06Gundog NationDr. Joe Wurster - Veterinary Insights for Gundog Owners. The Bird Dog Vet.Send us a text#32 When your beloved gun dog is miles from civilization with a medical emergency, knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Joe Wurster, known throughout the bird dog community as "the bird dog vet," we dive into the specialized world of hunting dog medicine that many urban veterinarians rarely encounter.Dr. Wurster reveals why he became a veterinarian after a career change from political science – his passion for bird dogs and the hunting community drove him to medicine. This unique perspective al...2025-07-041h 26Gundog NationBen Leger - Georgian Bay Shed Dog Club, Canadian Antler Dogs, UKC CompetitionsSend us a text#31 Unlock a fascinating world of canine adventure with Ben Leger, founder of Georgian Bay Shed Dogs and Canadian Antler Dogs, as he reveals the thriving sport of shed hunting. This growing pastime taps into dogs' natural instincts to find and retrieve shed antlers – a behavior even observed in wild wolves and coyotes.Ben walks us through how this accessible sport has evolved from casual recreation to structured competition through the UKC Elite Shed Dog Series. With championships, titles, and even scholarship opportunities for youth participants, shed hunting has created a vibrant co...2025-06-271h 20Gundog NationRay Voigt - From Field Trial Champions to Purina Pro PlanSend us a text#030 Ray Voigt brings nearly three decades of retriever training expertise to this enlightening conversation about the evolution of gundog training, handling sensitive dogs, and his journey from Minnesota teenager to professional dog trainer and Purina executive.With 53 field champions, three National Amateur Champions, and one National Open Champion to his credit, Ray offers rare insights into what separates truly exceptional dogs from the rest. "Some of the best dogs I've had were classified as sensitive, but they were extremely smart," he reveals, explaining how modern training methods have shifted toward teaching...2025-06-2058 minGundog NationHannah Hall and Abbie Binzer - Building a Life Around Gundogs and HuntingSend us a text#029 Two Kentucky women are redefining what it means to be hunters in today's world, proving that you don't need to grow up in a hunting family to become passionate about the sport and working with gundogs.Hannah Hall and Abbie Binzer share their remarkable journeys into hunting, which both began later in life. Hannah, who started in 2021 with a turkey hunt that left her "100% addicted," has since restructured her entire life around hunting opportunities – leaving her corporate HR career for the flexibility of restaurant work that allows her to chase waterfowl ac...2025-06-131h 08Gundog NationClark Kennington - Champion Gundog Trainer, The Hunt Test Guide, Castile Creek KennelsSend us a text#028 What separates truly elite dog trainers from the rest? Clark Kennington pulls back the curtain on 20 years of success in the competitive retriever world, revealing that psychological understanding might matter more than traditional pressure-based methods.As a two-time SRS Crown Champion with over 100 Grand passes to his credit, Kennington explains how the retriever game has evolved dramatically over two decades. Today's better-bred, more intelligent dogs respond to fundamentally different training approaches than their predecessors. "They don't require the use of pressure that they did 20 years ago," he explains, highlighting how the...2025-06-061h 21Gundog NationGundog Nation #027: Standing Stone Kennels - Breeding and Training GSP'sSend us a textWhat happens when a Geek Squad technician with an obsessive personality meets a college-educated bird hunter? For Ethan and Kat of Standing Stone Kennels, this unlikely combination sparked a remarkable journey from amateur dog owners to renowned German Shorthair Pointer breeders and trainers.Their story begins with pure passion. After acquiring their first GSP in 2009, Ethan's meticulous nature took over—watching videos, reading books, working with dogs at every opportunity, even staying unpaid hours at a training facility just to absorb more knowledge. What started as curiosity evolved into opportunity when th...2025-05-301h 06Gundog NationGundog Nation #026: Brent Cowley - Gunner Kennels, Hunting, RetrieversSend us a textIn this fascinating conversation with Brent Cowley, Gunner's Event Marketing Specialist, we explore the science and passion behind what many consider the world's safest dog kennels. Brent takes us inside the company's patented double-walled rotomolded design – the only one of its kind – and describes testing that included throwing kennels off cliffs, shooting them with shotguns, and crushing tests where the kennel actually broke a 7,000-pound industrial vice.The real power of this conversation comes through the stories. Brent shares emotional testimonials from customers whose dogs walked away unharmed from horrific accidents, incl...2025-05-161h 23Gundog NationGundog Nation #025: Think Twice Retrievers - Breeding, Training, Judging in EuropeSend us a textEver wondered what separates championship gun dogs from the rest? Kenneth Witt sits down with Pieter Vivijs and Laura Lazzaretto, Belgian retriever experts with decades of experience breeding, training, and judging at the highest levels of European competition, including the prestigious International Gundog League (IGL).This fascinating conversation reveals striking differences between European and American approaches to training and competitions. Laura shares her 25-year journey breeding golden retrievers, transitioning from show lines to working dogs that compete at elite levels. The couple's expertise is evident as they explain how European field...2025-05-0959 minGundog NationGundog Nation #024: Wayne Lain - Snake Avoidance Training, Snake BreakerSend us a textWayne Lain, known professionally as "Snake Breaker," brings over two decades of specialized expertise to this compelling episode of Gundog Nation. Having trained thousands of dogs to avoid dangerous encounters with venomous reptiles, Wayne shares the methodology that has potentially saved countless canine lives throughout Texas and beyond.The conversation dives deep into the science and psychology behind effective snake avoidance training. Wayne meticulously explains how he uses live Western Diamondback rattlesnakes (safely defanged and secured) to create powerful learning experiences for dogs. Rather than relying on commands, this unique training...2025-05-031h 01Gundog NationGundog Nation #023: Ben Randall - UK Champion Gundog Trainer, Gundog App, Training PhilosophySend us a textBen Randall, double British National Field Trial Champion and creator of the revolutionary BG method, challenges traditional training approaches in this eye-opening conversation. Drawing from decades of experience training hundreds of dogs and teaching thousands of handlers worldwide, Randall reveals how psychology-driven training produces exceptional results without harsh corrections.At the heart of Randall's approach is a profound shift in perspective—training the human first, then the dog. "Many people talk about dog psychology and training with dog psychology. Well, I don't really buy into that," he explains. "The people training th...2025-04-251h 25
Birdshot PodcastGun Dogs, Land Work, and Podcasting with Kenneth WittIn this episode of the Birdshot Podcast, Nick Larson talks with Kenneth Witt—host of the Gun Dog Nation podcast—about his unconventional journey from small-town attorney to landman in West Texas, and ultimately, to upland hunter and podcast creator. Kenneth shares how his love for dogs, passion for the outdoors, and curiosity for training led him to start a show that highlights voices across the diverse world of hunting dogs.The conversation covers everything from British labs and retriever training to life on the road, podcast growth, banjo-playing through law school, and what it’s...2025-04-251h 27Gundog NationGundog Nation #022: Rachel Busselman: Chagas Disease and Prevention in GundogsSend us a textA deadly parasite spread by kissing bugs is silently attacking hunting dogs across America, and most owners have no idea their dogs are at risk until it's too late. In this eye-opening conversation, Kenneth Witt welcomes Rachel Busselman, a fourth-year veterinary student who earned her PhD researching Chagas disease at Texas A&M University.Rachel reveals alarming statistics from her years studying hunting kennels across Texas, where she discovered over 25% of previously healthy dogs became infected within a single year. The parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, primarily attacks the heart and can cause...2025-04-1148 min
Hunts On Outfitting PodcastFrom Bull Riding To Lion HuntingSend us a textWalker Witt embodies the dream that many eastern hunters hold close—leaving everything behind to build a life in the western mountains. After growing up hunting whitetails and turkeys in Pennsylvania, Walker packed his bags the summer after high school graduation and headed to Montana to guide elk hunts. He never looked back.Walker brings a unique background to his guiding career. A bull rider since age 17—initially hiding competitions from his concerned mother—he carries that same grit into the mountains. This resilience served him well when he was thrown into g...2025-04-0157 minGundog NationGundog Nation #021: J.R. Gray - Champion Coon Dogs, Breeding, Coon HuntingSend us a textStep into the fascinating world of champion coon hunting dogs with J.R. Gray, owner of what many consider the most successful stud dog in America today. Gray's Rack Em Willie boasts an unprecedented collection of titles – UKC World Night Hunt Champion, PKC Hunt Champion, AKC Supreme Grand Night Champion – all earned before his fourth birthday when Gray made the strategic decision to retire him for breeding.Willie has since sired approximately 1,800 puppies, with many becoming champions themselves. Gray shares the unconventional wisdom that's made his program so successful: "Picking a pup...2025-03-281h 14Gundog NationGundog Nation #020: Steve Strongman - The Waterfowl Dispatchers, Retriever TrainingSend us a textFrom carving wooden decoys in Ontario to guiding hunts beneath dancing Northern Lights in Saskatchewan, Steve Strongman's waterfowling journey embodies the rich heritage of Canadian hunting traditions. As co-owner of The Waterfowl Dispatchers outfitting company, Steve offers a rare window into what makes Saskatchewan arguably the world's premier waterfowl destination.What makes this conversation truly compelling is Steve's parallel journey as a first-time dog owner and trainer. Having never owned a dog before, Steve and his wife—a Florida transplant who traded sunshine for Canadian winters—decided to dive headfirst into the...2025-03-211h 10Gundog NationGundog Nation #019: Declan Boyle - Tullyah Gundogs, IKC/KC Judge, Gundog TrainerSend us a textIn this engaging conversation, Kenneth Witt interviews Declan Boyle, a renowned gundog trainer from Ireland. Declan shares his journey into the world of gundogs, discussing the structure of national gundog teams, the importance of obedience in training, and the various competitions held across Europe. He also delves into the practices of hunting with retrievers, the regulations surrounding firearms in the UK, and his experiences as a judge in gundog competitions. Declan concludes by reflecting on his breeding career and the current state of his kennel. In this conversation, Kenneth Witt and Declan Boyle...2025-03-141h 06Gundog NationGundog Nation #018: Jeremy Moore - DogBone, Shed Hunting, Dog TrainingSend us a textIn this engaging conversation, Kenneth Witt interviews Jeremy Moore of DogBone Training, a seasoned dog trainer and entrepreneur, who shares his journey from training his first hunting dogs to developing innovative products for dog training. The discussion covers the evolution of dog training, the growth of shed hunting as a sport, and the transition from retrievers to upland hunting. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of understanding dog behavior, the traits of a great hunting dog, and the significance of patience in training. He also explores the versatility of different dog breeds, particularly wirehaired breeds...2025-03-061h 19Gundog NationGundog Nation #017: Jay Lowry - Ryglen Gundogs, Cocker Spaniels, Breeding and Training InsightsSend us a textIn this conversation, Kenneth Witt interviews Jay Lowry, the owner of Ryglen Gundogs, who specializes in importing UK Cocker Spaniels. Jay shares his journey into the world of gundogs, discussing the appeal of Cocker Spaniels, the challenges of importing dogs, and the importance of training and socialization. He also touches on breeding practices, kennel management, and the impact of government regulations on dog imports. The conversation highlights Jay's experiences with Wildrose Kennels and his future plans for his training facility. In this engaging conversation, Kenneth Witt and Jay Lowry delve into the world...2025-02-2259 minGundog NationGundog Nation #016: Eric Byrd - Kinetic Performance, Quail Hunting, Bird DogsSend us a textIn this episode of Gundog Nation, host Kenneth Witt interviews Eric Byrd, a national channel manager for Kinetic Performance Dog Food. They discuss the nuances of quail hunting in Florida, the importance of dog nutrition, and the characteristics that make English pointers a preferred breed for hunting. Eric shares his journey into the dog food industry, emphasizing the need for high-quality nutrition for working dogs. The conversation also touches on the use of GPS technology in tracking dogs, the impact of weather on hunting, and the growing popularity of Cocker Spaniels in the...2025-02-151h 07Gundog NationGundog Nation #015: Kali Parmley - Bird Hunting, Wild Upland, and GUN DOG MagazineSend us a textIn this engaging conversation, Kenneth Witt interviews Kali Parmley, the editor of GUN DOG Magazine and host of the Wild Upland TV show. They discuss Kali's journey into the outdoor industry, her experiences with hunting, the challenges of filming a hunting show, and her passion for training hunting dogs. Kali shares insights on the importance of physical preparation for hunting, the impact of her athletic background, and her personal experiences with her dogs, including her first hunting dog, Lincoln. The conversation highlights the joys and challenges of hunting and the deep connection between...2025-02-051h 06Gundog NationGundog Nation #014: Mo Pitney - Country Music, Hunting, Bird Dogs and FaithSend us a textIn this episode, country music artist Mo Pitney shares his deep passion for hunting, bird dogs, and the emotional connections that come with them. He reflects on his upbringing in Illinois, the challenges of bird populations, and the importance of involving youth in hunting traditions. Mo also discusses his musical journey, the influence of bluegrass on his work, and his recent mission trips that have shaped his faith and purpose. The conversation highlights the intersection of hunting, music, and spirituality, emphasizing the need for conservation and community involvement. In this conversation, Mo shares...2025-01-1659 minGundog NationGundog Nation #013: Landon Poplin - Trainer, Guide, German Wirehaired PointersSend us a textIn this episode of Gundog Nation, Kenneth Witt and Landon Poplin discuss Landon's impressive journey in dog training, focusing on his experiences with wirehaired breeds, particularly his dog Harker. They explore the unique qualities of wirehaired breeds, the challenges of transitioning from hunting to competition, and the training techniques that have led to Landon's success, including achieving a Grand Pass with Harker. The conversation also touches on the differences between various dog breeds, including labs and cockers, and their respective training and hunting styles. In this segment, Landon Poplin and Kenneth Witt discuss...2024-12-271h 14