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Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold

Bringing Back the Wild with Mike Arnold

By: Mike Arnold
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Mike Arnold explores how science, tradition, and hands-on conservation come together to protect the wild places and wildlife we care about.

Your host, Mike Arnold, is professor of genetics, a lifelong hunter, and a conservation biologist.

As a genetics professor who spends as much time in the woods as he does in the lab. Mike studies wildlife, has a passion for hunting, and cares deeply about conservation.

On this podcast, Mike dives into the science and stories behind bringing wildlife species back and keeping wild places wild.

Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • A discussion of Hornady manufacturing with Seth Swerczek
    Jun 23 2026

    In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, host Mike Arnold sits down with Seth Swerczek of Hornady to explore a life shaped by hunting, shooting, and service. Seth shares how he grew up along Nebraska’s Cedar River, learned to reload with his father, and harvested his first whitetail at age twelve. He explains how eight years in the United States Marine Corps sharpened his marksmanship and deepened his understanding of firearms fundamentals.

    Seth then traces his path from technical representative to Marketing Communications Manager at Hornady, detailing hands-on training in bullets, brass, ammunition, and ballistics.

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    34 mins
  • A Conversation with Russell Stacy, CEO of Dallas Safari Club, on hunting, conservation and community outreach
    Jun 9 2026

    In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, host Mike Arnold sits down with Russell Stacy, CEO of the Dallas Safari Club, for an in-depth conversation about hunting heritage, leadership, and conservation impact.

    Russell shares how he grew up hunting in rural Louisiana and South Texas, learning the outdoors from his father and developing a lifelong passion for whitetails, quail, and waterfowl. He reflects on harvesting his first deer at seven years old and explains how hunting shaped his values, family traditions, and work ethic. Thanksgiving and Christmas hunts in South Texas still anchor his year and connect him to a tight-knit hunting community.

    The conversation traces Russell’s journey from first attending a Dallas Safari Club convention to becoming a dedicated volunteer, board member, foundation president, and ultimately CEO. He explains how volunteering opened doors and why the organization’s strong volunteer culture sets it apart.

    Russell also breaks down the roles of the Dallas Safari Club and the Dallas Safari Club Foundation, highlighting advocacy, conservation, and education efforts around the world. He discusses successful projects in Africa, Canada, and the United States, including anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration, and wildlife research. Throughout the episode, Russell emphasizes community, mentorship, and the responsibility hunters carry in sustaining wildlife for future generations.

    Sponsors of Bringing Back the Wild include: Dallas Safari Club, Royal Outfitters UK, Life-Form Taxidermy, Zambeze Delta Safaris, and Choctaw Hunting Lodge.

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    41 mins
  • Erica Tergeson, Dallas Safari Club Government Affairs Director discusses the advocacy protecting hunting
    May 26 2026

    In this episode of Bringing Back the Wild, Mike Arnold sits down with political strategist and Dallas Safari Club Government Affairs Director, Erica Tergeson, to explore why hunters must stay engaged in Washington, D.C. Erica shares her upbringing on a Colorado ranch, where she learned to shoot a Ruger .22, hunted prairie dogs, and developed a deep respect for rural life and wildlife. She explains how that background led her to Capitol Hill, where she now fights daily to defend hunting from federal restrictions and trophy import bans.

    Erica breaks down how excise taxes through the Pittman-Robertson Act fund state wildlife agencies and why many lawmakers still misunderstand that system. She details her work building relationships with key committees, supporting pro-hunting candidates, and countering well-funded animal rights campaigns. She urges hunters to visit their representatives, engage across party lines, and support DSC’s political action committee to protect conservation, hunting traditions, and the future of wildlife management.

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    32 mins
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