ASCEND by Ducks Unlimited – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Do you need to grow up hunting to belong outdoors?
The women of Ascend say no.

In this premiere episode, hosts Adrian Jessen, Bethany Beathard, Erin Crider, and Julia Stallings share how they each found their way outside—later in life, through different paths, and without having all the answers.

They talk honestly about starting late, learning as adults, building confidence, and why community matters more than credentials.

This episode sets the foundation for Ascend: a place where women can learn, ask questions, and grow at their own pace.

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Ascend is a podcast for women who want to feel confident outdoors—whether you’re hunting, fishing, shooting, hiking, or just starting to wonder if you belong there.

Hosted by four women with very different paths into the outdoors, each episode explores how to build skills, find mentors, ask better questions, and grow into your own outdoor identity, without gatekeeping or pressure to be perfect.

If you’ve ever felt curious, intimidated, or unsure where to start, Ascend is for you.

New episodes release biweekly.
Presented by Ducks Unlimited.

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.

• (00:02) - Marker 1

Why don’t the ducks show up when social media says they should?

In this episode, Erin Crider is joined by Ducks Unlimited conservation leader Sarah Fleming to break down how duck migration actually works, and why weather, flyways, and timing matter more than viral hunting clips.

This conversation helps new waterfowl hunters set realistic expectations, understand migration science, and approach their first hunts focused on learning rather than limits.

Topics include:

• How weather influences migration timing
• The four U.S. flyways explained
• Why “limits” aren’t a fair expectation for beginners
• How to hunt ethically and safely as a new waterfowler
• Becoming a better “marsh birder” before pulling the trigger

WATERFOWL 360 Migration Updates

FowlWeather.co - Migration Forecasts

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Handgun training isn’t just about the gun; it’s about mindset, responsibility, and awareness.

Host Adrian Jessen is joined by firearms educator Beth Alcazar to discuss what women should consider before buying a handgun, how to find the right trainer, and why situational awareness matters as much as equipment.

This episode focuses on confidence over fear and preparation over panic, offering grounded guidance for women thinking seriously about personal safety.

Topics include:

• Choosing a handgun responsibly
• Finding quality training
• Concealed carry considerations
• Situational awareness and conflict avoidance
• Alternatives to firearms for personal protection

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.

Find Beth Alcazar:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth619/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/beth619
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacifiersandpeacemakers/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethalcazar
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbeth619

About the Host: Adrian Jessen
Adrian Jessen is a reviewer, writer, and adult-onset hunter best known as co-founder and on-camera host of the YouTube channel Review This Thing.
Instagram: @reviewthisthing.
TikTok: @reviewthisthing.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ReviewThisThing
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/ReviewThisThing
Website: https://www.reviewthisthingtv.com

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Can you raise a hunting dog without sacrificing your family or your sanity?

Bethany Beathard sits down with professional dog trainer Destiny Thomasson of Hund + Soul to talk about training gun dogs in real life. They cover puppy foundations, introducing gunfire safely, managing training with kids at home, and keeping dogs conditioned year-round.

This episode is for women who want working dogs and functional family life, without perfection or expensive gear.

Topics include:

• Choosing the right breed for your lifestyle
• Puppy training basics that actually transfer to the field
• Introducing dogs to gunfire safely
• Budget-friendly training alternatives
• Finding community and mentorship in dog training

Destiny's Social Media: Hund + Soul 

(FB) https://www.facebook.com/share/1GgjxBLFfU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

(IG) Instagram

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Discover how modern women are reclaiming ancestral skills—from raising and processing their own meat to handling unexpected encounters with Florida gators.

Host Bethany Beathard sits down with Tiffany Sanders, homesteader, hunter, nurse, and nuisance‑gator responder, to explore what self‑sufficiency really looks like in today’s world. Tiffiny shares firsthand stories from the field, including the wildest gator call she and her husband ever responded to, how her children got involved, and what it’s like navigating communities that protect nuisance wildlife.

The conversation shifts into the heart of Tiffiny’s work: empowering women to take ownership of their food sources. From home butchering and dispatching animals humanely to growing nutrient‑dense produce, she teaches women that you don’t have to be “born” into homesteading to thrive in it. Her background as a nurse opened her eyes to the connection between diet and health—and sparked her drive to grow and raise food intentionally.

Together, Bethany and Tiffany dig into the historical roots of women feeding their families, the rise in self‑sufficiency post‑COVID, and why today’s homesteaders are simply rediscovering what women have always done.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The wild reality of nuisance‑gator calls—and how Tiffiny ended up in the middle of one neighborhood’s “gator protection squad”
• Why nursing school led Tiffiny to grow, raise, and process her own food
• How women historically provided for their families through gardening, preserving, and animal harvesting
• Why more women are learning dispatching and butchering skills today
• The importance of humane, low‑stress animal processing on small homesteads
• How COVID reshaped food security and sparked a self‑sufficiency movement
• Garden staples Tiffiny never goes without—especially her obsession with red potatoes
• Why perfection isn’t the goal—intentionality is

Follow along with Bethany for more homesteading conversations, practical skills, and stories from women who live close to their roots.

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Learn how women are taking safety, confidence, and responsibility into their own hands—both in the field and everyday life.

Professional shotgun shooter and DU Ascend host Julia Stallings sits down with Audrey Wikan, Drake Waterfowl spokeswoman and former gun‑industry marketer, to discuss what women need to know about concealed carry, field carry, legal realities, holsters, draw practice, and staying equipped on hunts.

Audrey shares her early experiences working behind a gun‑store counter at age 19, why women beelined to her with questions, what she carries now, and how she mentors new shooters. Together, they unpack the realities of traveling with firearms, carrying while hunting or fishing, choosing the right gun, staying legal across state lines, and building confidence through training and mentorship.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why more women are choosing to carry in the outdoors
• Training, mentorship, and how to find the right firearm
• Holsters, appendix vs. backpack carry, and drawing safely
• What to know about carrying while hunting, fishing, or hiking
• Traveling with firearms: TSA tips, ammo rules, and packing hacks
• Understanding caliber choices, recoil, and comfort for smaller hands
• Why confidence and comfort determine whether you’ll actually carry

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Shooting clays and hunting birds are not the same, and that gap frustrates a lot of women.

Julia Stallings is joined by shotgun instructor Brandy Elrod to break down how to transition from the clay target field into real-world hunting with confidence.

This episode focuses on gun fit, recoil management, practice strategies, and how proper instruction saves money, time, and frustration.

Topics include:

• Recoil management for women
• Gun fit mistakes beginners make
• Clay drills that translate to hunting
• Why instruction matters early
• Equipment tips that actually help

Follow Brandy Elrod
https://ladyoutdoorlifestyles.com/
(FB) https://www.facebook.com/LadyOutdoorLifestyles/
(IG) https://www.instagram.com/ladyoutdoorlifestyles and https://www.instagram.com/brandy.elrod1

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

You don’t need big land or big policy to raise conservation-minded kids.

Bethany Beathard sits down with Amy Hall to talk about parenting, hunting, and how everyday outdoor moments like fishing trips, predator encounters, and quiet walks shape lifelong values in children.

This episode reframes conservation as something personal, accessible, and rooted in family time.

Topics include:

• Introducing kids to hunting and wildlife ethically
• Teaching conservation through shared outdoor experiences
• Balancing busy family life with time outside
• Why small moments matter more than big harvests

Amy's Social Media: HerWildOutdoors

(FB) https://www.facebook.com/herwildoutdoorspodcast/

(IG) https://www.instagram.com/herwildoutdoors/?hl=en

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com

Learn how to stay safe, prepared, and confident in the backcountry—no matter the terrain or weather.

Olympian, biathlete, firearms instructor, and trick shooter Lanny Barnes joins host Adrian to share real‑world safety insights from decades of high‑stress shooting, extreme cold exposure, and deep‑country hunting.

Lanny breaks down what actually causes most backcountry emergencies, what to pack, how to prevent hypothermia and dehydration, and the mindset that saves lives when things go wrong. Her cautionary stories—from stabbing her thigh while quartering an elk to bonking at 12,000 feet—offer practical lessons for hunters and hikers of all levels.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The most common dangers in backcountry hunts
• How to prepare for rapid weather changes, terrain hazards, and cold exposure
• What should be in every day‑pack, including med gear and survival items
• How to prevent (and recognize) dehydration, bonking, and hypothermia
• Why pack checks, mapping tools, and backup plans save lives
• The training approach Lanny recommends for high‑altitude hunts

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.

The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by:

Bird Dig Whiskey.
Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly! 

Taurus Firearms.
Visit taurusUSA.com

Oklahoma Joes.
Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order.

Springfield Armory.
Visit springfield-armory.com