Ignite Podcast

Ignite connects outdoor enthusiasts through authentic and bold conversations. This show dives deep and explores topics with adventurers, conservationists, leaders, storytellers, and trailblazers. We celebrate strength, resilience, and champions of wildlife and wild places.

Ignite your passions, expand your horizons, and be inspired by voices from around the world.

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Ignite Podcast Co-Hosts

DANA DYKEMA

Podcast Co-Host

British Columbia

Dana Dykema is a wife and mother to four teenagers. As a stay-at-home mom she is passionate about feeding her family scratch made, locally sourced food. In 2021, she started a farm to table distribution business that would later introduce her to people in the hunting world. Those relationships would be impactful in her decision to join them and become a hunter herself.

Dana first had the pleasure to podcast alongside Mark Hall at Wild Origins Canada in 2024. In 2025 she became the host of the new Ignite Podcast with the Women Hunt program which engages, educates, empowers, and inspires more women to enter the hunting and conservation space.

Dana is thankful to be part of the WSF family and is excited to develop her skills as a hunter and as a podcast host.

RENÉE THORNTON

Founder and Chair – Women Hunt
Ignite Podcast Co-Host

Montana

Renée Thornton is the Founder and Chair of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Women Hunt® program and committee, and the Women in Hunting® initiative. Originally from rural Alberta, Canada, she built a 30-year career in federal government and politics, serving in senior leadership and executive roles before retiring and relocating to Montana. Renée became a hunter in 2016 after a decade-long pursuit of ethically sourced, locally raised food, and her experience as a solo, adult-onset female hunter fuels her passion for helping more women enter hunting and conservation. A dedicated advocate for wildlife and wild places, she volunteers, speaks publicly, and works with state, provincial, and national legislators to advance the rights and heritage of hunters. Renée is a Summit Life Member of the Wild Sheep Foundation and holds numerous conservation life memberships, including the prestigious Marco Polo Society, supporting the future of wild sheep conservation. An avid outdoorswoman and world traveler who has visited all seven continents, she enjoys hunting, fly fishing, hiking, and camping, and in 2025 captained the first all-female championship team in the history of the Lander One Shot Antelope Hunt.

Emily Richett - Mama Bear Field Camp

Ignite - Episode 30

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

When Emily Richett stepped into the world of hunting, she never imagined how much it would change her perspective, deepen her respect for wildlife, and ignite her drive to bring others along for the journey. In this compelling conversation, Emily shares her inspiring journey from a vegan news reporter to a passionate advocate and participant in the Women Hunt program, revealing how a simple application transformed her life and redefined her relationship with food, nature, and community.

Discover how a young woman’s seeds of curiosity planted at a hunting expo grew into a life-altering adventure—culminating in her pivotal participation in Women Hunt at FTW Ranch in San Antonio, Texas.

That experience as a participant in the Women Hunt "Field to Fork" course set Emily on a trajectory that would find her launching her very own version of an introduction to hunting course. Her course is for ladies and female youth called, "Mama Bear Field Camp" which launched in December 2025 at Legends Ranch in Michigan. Mama Bear Field Camp is an immersive, hands-on experiences: from harvesting your first deer to creating lasting memories with your children. Emily explores the profound emotional and spiritual moments that happen when we connect face-to-face with the wild, challenging our assumptions, and embracing a deeper understanding of conservation and ethical hunting.

Dana and Emily also talk about how traditional skills like hunting can build resilience and confidence in women and children alike . Emily shares how crucial role of education, community, and mentorship in reshaping perceptions of hunting and wild game. As well as, practical insights for mothers wanting to integrate outdoor and survival skills into family life without sacrificing their busy schedules.

Why does it matter? Because understanding the true story behind hunting’s role in conservation—and experiencing it firsthand—familiarizes us with what’s possible when we step outside our comfort zones. This episode invites you to reconsider what’s truly important: connection, respect, resilience, and passing on powerful traditions to the next generation.

Perfect for moms, women curious about hunting, outdoor enthusiasts, or anyone questioning their assumptions about food and wildlife, this conversation sparks curiosity and fuels action. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just beginning to explore, these stories will inspire you to participate, learn, and grow. Join us and discover how your next adventure might just be the most empowering one yet.

Tags: Youth, Women Hunt