August 25, 2026 • 21 mins
Are you curious about how women are finding community, building confidence, and stepping into leadership roles within the outdoor sports industry? In this episode recorded live at the 2026 SHOT Show, hosts Erica Chin and Maggie Reese sit down with WOMA board members Katie Healy and Katie Riley. The group shares behind-the-scenes stories about the year-long effort to host "She Never Quit," an annual retreat that introduces women to shooting, archery, and fishing while raising funds for female veterans and first responders.
The hosts and guests discuss the transformative power of female mentorship, sharing how attendees often go from being intimidated by firearms to entering local shooting competitions or teaching their own families. Katie Healy explains how her background directing major IDPA matches will help shape a safe, educational range experience for new and returning shooters. Looking ahead, the team highlights exciting updates for the 2026 "She Never Quit" event, including a new location in Idaho, focused event editions, and a platinum partnership with OA Defense. Listeners looking to support the mission, join the waitlist, or become involved can visit thewoma.org or follow WOMA on social media.
Links
- 0:14 - Otis Technology (Firearm maintenance and cleaning equipment booth at SHOT Show 2026)
- 0:14 - Women's Outdoor Media Association (WOMA) (Non-profit organization dedicated to expanding women's participation in outdoor sports)
- 3:49 - She Never Quit (WOMA's annual flagship charity and outdoor training event)
- 6:17 - IDPA / Indiana State IDPA Championship (International Defensive Pistol Association competition framework)
- 8:14 - Babes with Bullets (Firearms training camp for women)
- 18:59 - OA Defense (Firearms manufacturer featuring the 2311 double-stack pistol platform, named 2026 Platinum Sponsor)
- 20:23 - thewoma.org (Official organization website for memberships, waitlists, and podcast episodes)
Key Takeaways
- WOMA brings women together from across the country to mentor newcomers in outdoor sports while raising funds for female veterans and first responders.
- Events like "She Never Quit" offer a supportive, non-intimidating environment that builds long-term confidence and self-reliance around firearms.
- Female leadership in match administration is growing, with experienced competitors bringing high-level match management skills to intimate, educational settings.
- Hands-on exposure to shooting sports often creates a ripple effect, encouraging women to teach safety and marksmanship to their own families.
- The 2026 "She Never Quit" retreat marks a major expansion, relocating to Idaho with specialized shooting, hunting, and fishing editions supported by OA Defense.
Keywords Used Amateurs and Experts Podcast, SHOT Show 2026, Women Outdoor Media Association, WOMA, Erica Chin, Maggie Reese, Katie Healy, Katie Riley, She Never Quit, IDPA, Range Master, Female Mentorship, First Responders, Female Veterans, OA Defense, Idaho, Firearms Training.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:14):
Welcome to Amateurs and Experts Podcast.
I'm Erica Chin and I'm here withMaggie Reese.
And we are at SHOT Show 2026 inthe Otis booth.
It's an amazing booth, and uh asyou can see, and we are here
with the two Katie's, KatieHealy and Katie Riley.
And um we're all on the WomenOutdoor Media Association board,
(00:36):
the Walmart board, and uh we'rehere talking about Walmart.
Welcome, ladies.
SPEAKER_03 (00:40):
Thank you.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:42):
All right, I'm gonna make fun of us immediately
because we have just been havinglike the funniest conversations
and just catching up with oldfriends.
And then as soon as we get oncamera, we're like, okay, we
have to be serious and we haveto be professional.
SPEAKER_01 (00:57):
And I don't think we are serious.
And sometimes not professionaleither.
SPEAKER_02 (01:04):
But my favorite part of Shot Show is that it's like
your time to see people that youonly see once a year.
You know, everything else isemails, and maybe you're lucky
if you get like a Zoom call andyou get to see somebody's face.
But it's it's totally differentwhen you're here and you get to
catch up in person and sharestories and connect with all
your friends in the industry.
(01:24):
So that's my favorite part ofSHAT.
Make new stories for the future.
Maybe have a few things to bribepeople over.
Oh, yeah.
What happens in Vegas stays inVegas.
But uh but we've been having areally good time, you know, and
and connecting with people andconnecting with our sponsors and
who've become our friends.
(01:45):
So absolutely, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (01:46):
And it's been fun to um, you know, usually um several
of the board members we staytogether, so um we go out
together, we eat together, wehang out together.
Um, and that also I feel like weget closer every time that we
are together.
And um, you know, we're allacross the nation, Katie and the
well the two Katie's are EastCoasts, Maggie and I were West
(02:09):
Coast, and um you know, so wedon't actually get to see each
other face to face a lot, and soit really makes the difference
for me.
SPEAKER_03 (02:18):
Me too, because you know, everybody's such a good
hugger.
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (02:22):
I was talking to somebody yesterday and he's
like, Walmart gives out the besthugs.
And actually he said, Erica, youwere top.
You were top hugger.
I know who that was.
SPEAKER_01 (02:36):
Give it away.
I know.
I know, and they do too.
Like, you know, it's just likeum when you come here, uh people
are family.
Like we've come here so manytimes, and you know, we've spent
we've spent you know hours onthe phone or um, you know,
talking to each other on Zoom,and so you do become that
family.
(02:56):
Yeah, and it's just like oh mygosh, it's so great to see you,
the family that you like, youknow.
It's the family reunion with thepeople that you actually like,
and um and it it is, it's greatto share, you know, the things
that you don't share overvirtual, right?
Is the energy and you know, a agreat hug and just um the
(03:16):
camaraderie that um is face toface just does not, you know,
you you can't make that up.
And um, so I love coming to SHOTShow just for that, you know.
Um I mean for a lot of otherreasons too, but you know,
that's that's top of top of mylist is to just hang out with
the people that I reallyappreciate, um have mad respect
(03:38):
for in the industry.
And you know, this is this isjust like one of those um I
don't know, I feel like I levelup every time I come to SHOT
Show.
Yep.
Personally, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (03:49):
We spend so much time, I think, doing prep work.
I I don't think people realizelike how much prep work goes
into like she never quit, youknow.
I mean it is a full year-longprocess for us to plan that
event and get everything readyand and and get the the location
and the food and the guns andthe gear and and all the swag
(04:10):
for people and everything.
So it's it it ends up being kindof serious a lot of times when
we're on our meetings becausewe're doing so much work, but
then we get to come and havefun.
But yeah, but I kind of like totalk about like how much we prep
for you know what goes behindthe scenes to do something like
she never quit.
You guys work harder than me, sohow about that?
SPEAKER_01 (04:29):
I'm glad I'm retired.
SPEAKER_03 (04:32):
I will say, yeah, me too.
SPEAKER_01 (04:33):
Yeah, I know it's um you know it's a labor of love.
We're all a uh volunteer board,and so um I spend a lot of time
actually talking to you threeladies because like bouncing
whether it's bouncing ideas offof each other, um, you know,
spreadsheets, uh, you know, uhit's not just registration and
(04:54):
and um collecting fees, but youknow, as uh Katie Healy has and
Katie Riley has helped this yearwith um how how do we plan it,
how do we get how many beds dowe have and how many people can
we let in and who do we um youknow just the whole housing
situation is one thing and whodo we house together and these
people want to be together andtrying to get all that sorted
(05:15):
out.
Um and then you have the themeal aspect because sometimes um
we don't have we don't go outand have things catered like we
actually do it ourselves.
It costs the you know it cutsdown on costs and also um there
might not be a cater around thatthat comes out.
So um, you know, that's a wholenother aspect is is that part.
(05:35):
And then Maggie, you're more onthe um outside and the range
part.
So that's a whole nother aspect,you know, of making sure we have
enough steel, making sure thatum we have the guns for for the
ladies to use, um, you know, andand the diagrams and and making
uh um those you know decisionsof okay, uh whether it's
(05:59):
possibly a three-gun littlethree-gun um station setup or
you know, just static targets.
How are how are we gonna dothat?
SPEAKER_02 (06:07):
So yeah, but Katie's coming along, you're gonna be
rangemaster this year.
Yes, that's what I've been told.
But you have a whole like yourexperience and IDPA and
everything.
SPEAKER_00 (06:17):
So I've run the Indiana State IDPA championship
for five years.
Uh-huh.
Um, so I've got a little bit ofexperience.
A little bit.
Running major events.
150 people around a regionalmajor.
So I'm looking forward to itbecause this is a different
situation than that.
It's a lot more intimate.
(06:37):
Yeah.
And that brings its ownchallenges.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (06:40):
But you've got skills.
But you but we don't I mean Imean, I'm sorry, but like in our
sport, we don't have a lot offemale rangemasters.
We just don't.
In fact, I I think you're theonly one that I know.
You and Lisa Munson are reallythe only ones that I've ever
seen be a rangemaster.
SPEAKER_00 (06:57):
There really, there aren't a lot.
And it's one of those, it'ssomething you learn.
I kind of got it thrust on mewhen I took over our match in
Indiana.
The guys were like, we're tiredof doing this.
Here, have fun.
So it was a little bit of atrial by fire.
Yeah.
Um, so I'm looking forward tobeing able to bring it from
having 150 people on an actionpistol range for two days into
(07:21):
kind of the small intimatesetting of how do we set it up
to be safe number one, butenjoyable and benefit women.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:33):
So I love that um, you know, I say it's the heart
we have the heart of Walmart,you know, because it's um, you
know, mentoring women, gettingthem into um outdoor sports like
shooting, archery, hunting,fishing.
Um, but uh the other aspect ofWalmart is fundraising for
(07:53):
female veterans and firstresponders.
And all of that, I mean, justtotally speaks to my heart.
And just like you said, Katie,it's the experience, making sure
those ladies have thatexperience that they will go
back and tell everybody else andwant their friends, want their
family to have the sameexperience.
SPEAKER_00 (08:14):
And I mean, I wouldn't be here doing this
today if it wasn't for a babeswith bullets camp and a she
never cut experience.
Like that is what pushed me outof my comfort zone into shooting
IDPA, being a match director anda range master, coming onto the
Walmart board, and I'd behonest, we don't know where the
next generation is gonna comefrom.
(08:37):
So if we can introduce somebodyto that, whether it's hunting,
whether it's shooting actionpistol, like that, we don't know
where we're gonna find that.
And us being able to introducewomen to that is so impactful.
SPEAKER_03 (08:54):
It really is, because I know I came to my
first, she never quit, and I wassuch a newbie.
You know, I had I have my CPL,um, so I've had that training,
but I never really feltconfident enough to go out and
shoot up a lot.
And then just the support of ourtrainers was so awesome to feel
to make me feel comfortable withgetting confident in my skills,
(09:16):
so then I can go and you know goon my own or you know, feel
comfortable enough to go tap afriend and say, hey, let's go do
a ladies' night, or whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
So and and I think that that's the best way to put
it, right?
Is the weekend buildsconfidence.
Like I've seen ladies absolutelychange over the weekend, and
they can go back and and givingthem that power to say, okay,
I'm gonna go back and go to myrange now, or I'm gonna go find
a friend and and help themthrough this, and we'll we're
(09:47):
gonna do this together.
Um, I think ladies love to dothings together and you know the
camaraderie and you know, beingable to mentor.
We've actually talked about youknow mentoring and how we need a
mentor and then we need to pullsomebody up with us.
And um, you know, I got intothis because of Deb Ferns and um
and not saying no.
(10:09):
I mean, every time she said youwant, and I said yes.
SPEAKER_03 (10:12):
And it's like so many.
SPEAKER_01 (10:14):
Don't you regret that now?
You know what's funny is KaneMitcheleck told me one time, you
know, you could say no to Deb.
And I said, Why would I?
Like I would miss the adventurebecause I got to hunt for the
first time.
You know, I actually went to myfirst base with the three-gun
match, and after that, I it waslike I drank the Kool-Aid.
(10:34):
And I went back to my localrange, I became an um certified
RO so that I could work thematch the next year.
And I hadn't even shot three gunbefore that before I signed up
for that match.
And it was just like I was soexcited about it, and then
coming to, you know, she neverquit.
I, you know, started out as amassage therapist and just like
(10:56):
kind of got to be.
Erica's worn a lot of differenthats.
SPEAKER_02 (11:00):
She has like the most diverse resume out of
anybody I've ever like seen inmy life.
I'm like, how do you go frombeing like a probation officer
to massage therapist?
To I I mean, all the things thatyou've done.
I'm like, I re I really need todiversify.
SPEAKER_01 (11:16):
And no, this is why I'm the amateur because I uh,
you know, I dabble in stuff justenough, but I'm not an expert at
anything.
So, you know, I I always like tolearn new things.
And um, you know, going back toschool, you know, a couple of
times uh has has really I don'tknow.
That's that's what you know it'sbeen fun and learning different
(11:38):
things, and so um, you know,it's open, it's definitely open
doors because I was the massagetherapist and then um you know I
never got to have one of themassages though, by the way.
SPEAKER_02 (11:49):
No, never once.
So because like for people whodon't know, we spend the
mornings doing shooting or ordoing other activities, and then
we're a little bit likefreelance in the afternoons
where you can sign up for forgoing fishing or doing archery
or yoga or relaxation ormassage.
And I never got to I've neveronce had an Erica massage.
(12:12):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (12:14):
Do you see where I'm leading to the do you see where
I'm not even nothing's not evenlooking at you?
SPEAKER_02 (12:22):
No, because we've been rooming all week long,
she's used to tuning me out atthis point.
SPEAKER_01 (12:28):
No, no, really.
Uh you know, unfortunately, nowI'm I'm too busy to give
massages.
I know the president doesn'tgive massages anymore.
I know, it was so much fun, andum, you know, uh and it's really
it's really cool, really,because uh usually wherever
wherever we go for she neverquit, it's a beautiful ranch,
(12:48):
and you know, to be able to andgive massages outside and you
know, just just a little youknow chair massage, it that's
all it was.
But um it was always so sorelaxing for me too.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (13:00):
And um, but now I mean I love that we all came for
like different reasons.
Like, you know, like we werebrought like through either
babes with bullets or she neverquit for very different reasons,
but now we're all sitting on theboard.
I mean it it it's kind of wildhow it's it's turned out over
the years, and like you'rewalking the floor this morning
and you're getting sponsors andyou're doing all of this other
(13:21):
stuff, having just told a storyabout how you know a couple
years ago you were intimidated,you know.
And now you're like wearing theshirt and leading the charge and
and making sure all the otherladies are like taken care of.
So that's pretty cool.
I don't I don't know.
SPEAKER_00 (13:34):
That's really cool.
SPEAKER_02 (13:35):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (13:36):
I mean, I remember walking into my first babes with
Bulland's camp because I had afriend who went and said, You've
gotta do this.
It's amazing.
And I walked in and I was like,what if I got myself into And
then you drink the Kool-Aid.
And then it was the most amazingweekend.
And I think one of the thingsthat make it amazing is how much
diversity we've got in theinstructors, in the WOMA board,
(14:02):
in the people who come.
Yeah.
Because you never know wherepeople start and how they get
there, and you make friends thatyou never expected to make.
Like Katie and I in ourfull-time jobs, well, you're
retired now, but before youretired, in the same industry,
which has absolutely nothing todo with firearms.
(14:22):
Yeah.
Right.
And it was like, oh.
So unexpected.
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (14:29):
Well, my favorite part, uh, you know, because I
I've been an instructor at atShe Never Quit, you know, pretty
pretty much since the beginning.
And so my favorite part is everytime a different lady comes up
to my or a different group ofladies comes up to my shooting
lane, is I introduce myself, butI really want to hear about them
and what their background is.
And I, you know, have womenwho've come to She Never Quit
(14:49):
every single year, you know, andthen I have other women who are
like, I've never touched afirearm before.
I'm like, okay, like this is,you know, like you said, just
the diversity of skill set andthe age ranges and the
backgrounds of people, and thenjust getting them all together
over something that they canreally, you know, um learn
something from, but more notjust learn about the the guns or
(15:10):
the gear or the products, butlearn about themselves in the
process.
So I love that aspect and I lovethe storytelling part of it.
SPEAKER_03 (15:18):
Yeah, and this is what makes you such a good
instructor to before we allbefore I joined the board and
all that and and would just bean attendee.
Um I just I I watched you dothat and and just yeah, it's
like okay, I kind of want toknow about you, so I can better
show you how to work this andyeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (15:39):
So women are pretty good about listening to other
women.
SPEAKER_01 (15:41):
Yes, you know.
I think the experience that wegive, I mean, we have a lot of
women, um, like the instructorsare all top-notch shooters,
they're you know, they'rechampions, and I think that
makes a difference.
They have years of experience.
Um, doesn't it doesn't matterhow old they are, they still
have years of experience.
(16:01):
And um, you know, it was reallycool to watch my sister-in-law
come out with us last year.
Oh, and uh she used to pick upmy brother's guns with a towel
because she didn't want to touchthem.
Wow, yeah.
And she she hadn't handled uhshe had gone shooting, some you
know, blinkering with her dad,uh, you know, when when she was
(16:23):
younger, but she was just likein you know, kind of this like
scared of guns and things likethat.
And by the end of the weekend,she was like, I'm quitting my
job and becoming a sniper.
And like now she just asked uhme about competition.
She wants to get intocompetition shooting.
And so I said, Why aren't youcoming as she never quit this
(16:43):
year?
You know, and she's like, I'mcoming, yeah.
So it's really you know, it it'samazing to see ladies.
I mean, she learned so muchabout herself, like you said,
but then she goes back and nowshe's not scared um to have her
children out there on the range.
And it's knowledge, right?
And when we're scared ofsomething, it's a lot of times
(17:06):
it's because w of the unknown.
And so now she has thatknowledge she can share with my
niece and nephew, and pass thaton.
And you know, it's just it'samazing to watch.
I told my brother, I said, I'mgonna create a monster here, and
he's like, go for it.
And now she's like, you know,she's talking about fishing with
us, she's talking about possiblyhunting, and that's I mean,
(17:28):
that's how I got into it.
Like the one weekend with Deb,and I was like, okay, Deb, what
are we doing next?
You know, and she's like, Okay,we're doing this this month.
And I said, uh, wait, I I wouldhave every month traveling
somewhere.
Like I don't have that much timeon the books.
And you know what's funny is Ihad so much time on the books
(17:48):
before I got into um you knowBasopolis and MoMA.
And by the time I retired, I hadlike no time on the books, and I
couldn't even do a secondvacation if if I didn't retire,
you know, or a second thing withDeb if I didn't retire that
year.
Because I had no time on thebooks, and I was just like, see
you later.
I guess I gotta go, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (18:09):
I'm lucky and I say I work a full-time job in order
to fuel my passion.
Oh yeah.
Which really ha is this and iswhat we do.
So I'm kind of in the same boat,but I don't get to retire yet.
SPEAKER_03 (18:23):
I tell you, so I retired um March right before
she never quit last year.
Yes.
And oh my gosh, so yeah, doneworking on Friday, Saturday, I'm
on a plane and I'm out to todev's and hanging out with her,
and then you know We had thecreepy van.
We had the creepy van.
We had drove from Tucson to SanAntonio.
(18:45):
Oh my god, we had so much fun.
But that and that's the thing,is like I I'm so happy like I
did have that career and savedenough money so that I can
afford my passion now.
Yeah, so it makes a difference,it definitely makes a
difference.
SPEAKER_02 (18:59):
And this year is gonna be kind of different for
us.
So we've got a new location, um,we're formatting it a little bit
different.
So we've always been in Texas,but this year we're gonna be in
Idaho.
Um, we're gonna be veryintensive on the firearms, you
know, during the day.
We've brought in some supercool, you know, new sponsors.
We've got our our tried and truesponsors who've supported us
(19:21):
along the way and who we'resuper grateful for.
But we have a brand new companythat's coming on as our platinum
sponsor.
You're wearing their badge andeverything.
Check it out.
One defense.
OA Defense with their 2311s.
So I and that's where it's kindof at right now.
Like everybody wants a doublestack pistol, but everybody
wants a double stack pistol, youknow, um that with a traditional
(19:44):
hammer and a great trigger, andand you know, in that format,
but at an affordable pricepoint.
So that's always been so I Idon't know, I'm excited about
all the stuff that we have toshow off this year.
SPEAKER_03 (19:55):
Oh yeah.
Me too.
I'm and I'm excited that it isgonna be all shooting-centric.
I mean, not that I I I loved ourformats in the past where you
get to go out and do differentthings like the archery and the
fishing and that kind of thing.
But but I think this is gonna begood because there's gonna be I
feel like there's gonna be moreactual training than shooting.
(20:15):
Yeah, so because we all got toshoot, but then I think with
this you're gonna have a lotmore pistol time, rifle time,
training time.
SPEAKER_01 (20:23):
Yeah, and and I also love that this year we're doing
something different where we'redoing a shooting edition,
fishing edition, and huntingedition.
And that will be on our websitesoon.
So um, I know we're we have await list, but um I mean we're
excited about it.
We're really excited.
So um, you know, I I I love youguys.
(20:46):
I I feel like you guys are mysisters and um it's been so much
fun um to be a part of Woma andhave you guys a part of it also.
Um and you know, if anybody outthere is looking to become a
part, a team, you know, be onour team, um they could reach
out.
Yeah, uh reach out to us at uhthewoma.org, um get on our
(21:11):
social media, um, you know,check out um our our podcast on
Spotify and uh you know thesevideos on YouTube.
So we're we're plugging alongand doing some great stuff and
and I'm excited about it.
Me too, absolutely.
Thank you for being on ourpodcast.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_04 (21:29):
Thank you.
Welcome to Amateurs and Experts Podcast.
I'm Erica Chin and I'm here withMaggie Reese.
And we are at SHOT Show 2026 inthe Otis booth.
It's an amazing booth, and uh asyou can see, and we are here
with the two Katie's, KatieHealy and Katie Riley.
And um we're all on the WomenOutdoor Media Association board,
(00:36):
the Walmart board, and uh we'rehere talking about Walmart.
Welcome, ladies.
SPEAKER_03 (00:40):
Thank you.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (00:42):
All right, I'm gonna make fun of us immediately
because we have just been havinglike the funniest conversations
and just catching up with oldfriends.
And then as soon as we get oncamera, we're like, okay, we
have to be serious and we haveto be professional.
SPEAKER_01 (00:57):
And I don't think we are serious.
And sometimes not professionaleither.
SPEAKER_02 (01:04):
But my favorite part of Shot Show is that it's like
your time to see people that youonly see once a year.
You know, everything else isemails, and maybe you're lucky
if you get like a Zoom call andyou get to see somebody's face.
But it's it's totally differentwhen you're here and you get to
catch up in person and sharestories and connect with all
your friends in the industry.
(01:24):
So that's my favorite part ofSHAT.
Make new stories for the future.
Maybe have a few things to bribepeople over.
Oh, yeah.
What happens in Vegas stays inVegas.
But uh but we've been having areally good time, you know, and
and connecting with people andconnecting with our sponsors and
who've become our friends.
(01:45):
So absolutely, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (01:46):
And it's been fun to um, you know, usually um several
of the board members we staytogether, so um we go out
together, we eat together, wehang out together.
Um, and that also I feel like weget closer every time that we
are together.
And um, you know, we're allacross the nation, Katie and the
well the two Katie's are EastCoasts, Maggie and I were West
(02:09):
Coast, and um you know, so wedon't actually get to see each
other face to face a lot, and soit really makes the difference
for me.
SPEAKER_03 (02:18):
Me too, because you know, everybody's such a good
hugger.
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (02:22):
I was talking to somebody yesterday and he's
like, Walmart gives out the besthugs.
And actually he said, Erica, youwere top.
You were top hugger.
I know who that was.
SPEAKER_01 (02:36):
Give it away.
I know.
I know, and they do too.
Like, you know, it's just likeum when you come here, uh people
are family.
Like we've come here so manytimes, and you know, we've spent
we've spent you know hours onthe phone or um, you know,
talking to each other on Zoom,and so you do become that
family.
(02:56):
Yeah, and it's just like oh mygosh, it's so great to see you,
the family that you like, youknow.
It's the family reunion with thepeople that you actually like,
and um and it it is, it's greatto share, you know, the things
that you don't share overvirtual, right?
Is the energy and you know, a agreat hug and just um the
(03:16):
camaraderie that um is face toface just does not, you know,
you you can't make that up.
And um, so I love coming to SHOTShow just for that, you know.
Um I mean for a lot of otherreasons too, but you know,
that's that's top of top of mylist is to just hang out with
the people that I reallyappreciate, um have mad respect
(03:38):
for in the industry.
And you know, this is this isjust like one of those um I
don't know, I feel like I levelup every time I come to SHOT
Show.
Yep.
Personally, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (03:49):
We spend so much time, I think, doing prep work.
I I don't think people realizelike how much prep work goes
into like she never quit, youknow.
I mean it is a full year-longprocess for us to plan that
event and get everything readyand and and get the the location
and the food and the guns andthe gear and and all the swag
(04:10):
for people and everything.
So it's it it ends up being kindof serious a lot of times when
we're on our meetings becausewe're doing so much work, but
then we get to come and havefun.
But yeah, but I kind of like totalk about like how much we prep
for you know what goes behindthe scenes to do something like
she never quit.
You guys work harder than me, sohow about that?
SPEAKER_01 (04:29):
I'm glad I'm retired.
SPEAKER_03 (04:32):
I will say, yeah, me too.
SPEAKER_01 (04:33):
Yeah, I know it's um you know it's a labor of love.
We're all a uh volunteer board,and so um I spend a lot of time
actually talking to you threeladies because like bouncing
whether it's bouncing ideas offof each other, um, you know,
spreadsheets, uh, you know, uhit's not just registration and
(04:54):
and um collecting fees, but youknow, as uh Katie Healy has and
Katie Riley has helped this yearwith um how how do we plan it,
how do we get how many beds dowe have and how many people can
we let in and who do we um youknow just the whole housing
situation is one thing and whodo we house together and these
people want to be together andtrying to get all that sorted
(05:15):
out.
Um and then you have the themeal aspect because sometimes um
we don't have we don't go outand have things catered like we
actually do it ourselves.
It costs the you know it cutsdown on costs and also um there
might not be a cater around thatthat comes out.
So um, you know, that's a wholenother aspect is is that part.
(05:35):
And then Maggie, you're more onthe um outside and the range
part.
So that's a whole nother aspect,you know, of making sure we have
enough steel, making sure thatum we have the guns for for the
ladies to use, um, you know, andand the diagrams and and making
uh um those you know decisionsof okay, uh whether it's
(05:59):
possibly a three-gun littlethree-gun um station setup or
you know, just static targets.
How are how are we gonna dothat?
SPEAKER_02 (06:07):
So yeah, but Katie's coming along, you're gonna be
rangemaster this year.
Yes, that's what I've been told.
But you have a whole like yourexperience and IDPA and
everything.
SPEAKER_00 (06:17):
So I've run the Indiana State IDPA championship
for five years.
Uh-huh.
Um, so I've got a little bit ofexperience.
A little bit.
Running major events.
150 people around a regionalmajor.
So I'm looking forward to itbecause this is a different
situation than that.
It's a lot more intimate.
(06:37):
Yeah.
And that brings its ownchallenges.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (06:40):
But you've got skills.
But you but we don't I mean Imean, I'm sorry, but like in our
sport, we don't have a lot offemale rangemasters.
We just don't.
In fact, I I think you're theonly one that I know.
You and Lisa Munson are reallythe only ones that I've ever
seen be a rangemaster.
SPEAKER_00 (06:57):
There really, there aren't a lot.
And it's one of those, it'ssomething you learn.
I kind of got it thrust on mewhen I took over our match in
Indiana.
The guys were like, we're tiredof doing this.
Here, have fun.
So it was a little bit of atrial by fire.
Yeah.
Um, so I'm looking forward tobeing able to bring it from
having 150 people on an actionpistol range for two days into
(07:21):
kind of the small intimatesetting of how do we set it up
to be safe number one, butenjoyable and benefit women.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:33):
So I love that um, you know, I say it's the heart
we have the heart of Walmart,you know, because it's um, you
know, mentoring women, gettingthem into um outdoor sports like
shooting, archery, hunting,fishing.
Um, but uh the other aspect ofWalmart is fundraising for
(07:53):
female veterans and firstresponders.
And all of that, I mean, justtotally speaks to my heart.
And just like you said, Katie,it's the experience, making sure
those ladies have thatexperience that they will go
back and tell everybody else andwant their friends, want their
family to have the sameexperience.
SPEAKER_00 (08:14):
And I mean, I wouldn't be here doing this
today if it wasn't for a babeswith bullets camp and a she
never cut experience.
Like that is what pushed me outof my comfort zone into shooting
IDPA, being a match director anda range master, coming onto the
Walmart board, and I'd behonest, we don't know where the
next generation is gonna comefrom.
(08:37):
So if we can introduce somebodyto that, whether it's hunting,
whether it's shooting actionpistol, like that, we don't know
where we're gonna find that.
And us being able to introducewomen to that is so impactful.
SPEAKER_03 (08:54):
It really is, because I know I came to my
first, she never quit, and I wassuch a newbie.
You know, I had I have my CPL,um, so I've had that training,
but I never really feltconfident enough to go out and
shoot up a lot.
And then just the support of ourtrainers was so awesome to feel
to make me feel comfortable withgetting confident in my skills,
(09:16):
so then I can go and you know goon my own or you know, feel
comfortable enough to go tap afriend and say, hey, let's go do
a ladies' night, or whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
So and and I think that that's the best way to put
it, right?
Is the weekend buildsconfidence.
Like I've seen ladies absolutelychange over the weekend, and
they can go back and and givingthem that power to say, okay,
I'm gonna go back and go to myrange now, or I'm gonna go find
a friend and and help themthrough this, and we'll we're
(09:47):
gonna do this together.
Um, I think ladies love to dothings together and you know the
camaraderie and you know, beingable to mentor.
We've actually talked about youknow mentoring and how we need a
mentor and then we need to pullsomebody up with us.
And um, you know, I got intothis because of Deb Ferns and um
and not saying no.
(10:09):
I mean, every time she said youwant, and I said yes.
SPEAKER_03 (10:12):
And it's like so many.
SPEAKER_01 (10:14):
Don't you regret that now?
You know what's funny is KaneMitcheleck told me one time, you
know, you could say no to Deb.
And I said, Why would I?
Like I would miss the adventurebecause I got to hunt for the
first time.
You know, I actually went to myfirst base with the three-gun
match, and after that, I it waslike I drank the Kool-Aid.
(10:34):
And I went back to my localrange, I became an um certified
RO so that I could work thematch the next year.
And I hadn't even shot three gunbefore that before I signed up
for that match.
And it was just like I was soexcited about it, and then
coming to, you know, she neverquit.
I, you know, started out as amassage therapist and just like
(10:56):
kind of got to be.
Erica's worn a lot of differenthats.
SPEAKER_02 (11:00):
She has like the most diverse resume out of
anybody I've ever like seen inmy life.
I'm like, how do you go frombeing like a probation officer
to massage therapist?
To I I mean, all the things thatyou've done.
I'm like, I re I really need todiversify.
SPEAKER_01 (11:16):
And no, this is why I'm the amateur because I uh,
you know, I dabble in stuff justenough, but I'm not an expert at
anything.
So, you know, I I always like tolearn new things.
And um, you know, going back toschool, you know, a couple of
times uh has has really I don'tknow.
That's that's what you know it'sbeen fun and learning different
(11:38):
things, and so um, you know,it's open, it's definitely open
doors because I was the massagetherapist and then um you know I
never got to have one of themassages though, by the way.
SPEAKER_02 (11:49):
No, never once.
So because like for people whodon't know, we spend the
mornings doing shooting or ordoing other activities, and then
we're a little bit likefreelance in the afternoons
where you can sign up for forgoing fishing or doing archery
or yoga or relaxation ormassage.
And I never got to I've neveronce had an Erica massage.
(12:12):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (12:14):
Do you see where I'm leading to the do you see where
I'm not even nothing's not evenlooking at you?
SPEAKER_02 (12:22):
No, because we've been rooming all week long,
she's used to tuning me out atthis point.
SPEAKER_01 (12:28):
No, no, really.
Uh you know, unfortunately, nowI'm I'm too busy to give
massages.
I know the president doesn'tgive massages anymore.
I know, it was so much fun, andum, you know, uh and it's really
it's really cool, really,because uh usually wherever
wherever we go for she neverquit, it's a beautiful ranch,
(12:48):
and you know, to be able to andgive massages outside and you
know, just just a little youknow chair massage, it that's
all it was.
But um it was always so sorelaxing for me too.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (13:00):
And um, but now I mean I love that we all came for
like different reasons.
Like, you know, like we werebrought like through either
babes with bullets or she neverquit for very different reasons,
but now we're all sitting on theboard.
I mean it it it's kind of wildhow it's it's turned out over
the years, and like you'rewalking the floor this morning
and you're getting sponsors andyou're doing all of this other
(13:21):
stuff, having just told a storyabout how you know a couple
years ago you were intimidated,you know.
And now you're like wearing theshirt and leading the charge and
and making sure all the otherladies are like taken care of.
So that's pretty cool.
I don't I don't know.
SPEAKER_00 (13:34):
That's really cool.
SPEAKER_02 (13:35):
Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (13:36):
I mean, I remember walking into my first babes with
Bulland's camp because I had afriend who went and said, You've
gotta do this.
It's amazing.
And I walked in and I was like,what if I got myself into And
then you drink the Kool-Aid.
And then it was the most amazingweekend.
And I think one of the thingsthat make it amazing is how much
diversity we've got in theinstructors, in the WOMA board,
(14:02):
in the people who come.
Yeah.
Because you never know wherepeople start and how they get
there, and you make friends thatyou never expected to make.
Like Katie and I in ourfull-time jobs, well, you're
retired now, but before youretired, in the same industry,
which has absolutely nothing todo with firearms.
(14:22):
Yeah.
Right.
And it was like, oh.
So unexpected.
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (14:29):
Well, my favorite part, uh, you know, because I
I've been an instructor at atShe Never Quit, you know, pretty
pretty much since the beginning.
And so my favorite part is everytime a different lady comes up
to my or a different group ofladies comes up to my shooting
lane, is I introduce myself, butI really want to hear about them
and what their background is.
And I, you know, have womenwho've come to She Never Quit
(14:49):
every single year, you know, andthen I have other women who are
like, I've never touched afirearm before.
I'm like, okay, like this is,you know, like you said, just
the diversity of skill set andthe age ranges and the
backgrounds of people, and thenjust getting them all together
over something that they canreally, you know, um learn
something from, but more notjust learn about the the guns or
(15:10):
the gear or the products, butlearn about themselves in the
process.
So I love that aspect and I lovethe storytelling part of it.
SPEAKER_03 (15:18):
Yeah, and this is what makes you such a good
instructor to before we allbefore I joined the board and
all that and and would just bean attendee.
Um I just I I watched you dothat and and just yeah, it's
like okay, I kind of want toknow about you, so I can better
show you how to work this andyeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (15:39):
So women are pretty good about listening to other
women.
SPEAKER_01 (15:41):
Yes, you know.
I think the experience that wegive, I mean, we have a lot of
women, um, like the instructorsare all top-notch shooters,
they're you know, they'rechampions, and I think that
makes a difference.
They have years of experience.
Um, doesn't it doesn't matterhow old they are, they still
have years of experience.
(16:01):
And um, you know, it was reallycool to watch my sister-in-law
come out with us last year.
Oh, and uh she used to pick upmy brother's guns with a towel
because she didn't want to touchthem.
Wow, yeah.
And she she hadn't handled uhshe had gone shooting, some you
know, blinkering with her dad,uh, you know, when when she was
(16:23):
younger, but she was just likein you know, kind of this like
scared of guns and things likethat.
And by the end of the weekend,she was like, I'm quitting my
job and becoming a sniper.
And like now she just asked uhme about competition.
She wants to get intocompetition shooting.
And so I said, Why aren't youcoming as she never quit this
(16:43):
year?
You know, and she's like, I'mcoming, yeah.
So it's really you know, it it'samazing to see ladies.
I mean, she learned so muchabout herself, like you said,
but then she goes back and nowshe's not scared um to have her
children out there on the range.
And it's knowledge, right?
And when we're scared ofsomething, it's a lot of times
(17:06):
it's because w of the unknown.
And so now she has thatknowledge she can share with my
niece and nephew, and pass thaton.
And you know, it's just it'samazing to watch.
I told my brother, I said, I'mgonna create a monster here, and
he's like, go for it.
And now she's like, you know,she's talking about fishing with
us, she's talking about possiblyhunting, and that's I mean,
(17:28):
that's how I got into it.
Like the one weekend with Deb,and I was like, okay, Deb, what
are we doing next?
You know, and she's like, Okay,we're doing this this month.
And I said, uh, wait, I I wouldhave every month traveling
somewhere.
Like I don't have that much timeon the books.
And you know what's funny is Ihad so much time on the books
(17:48):
before I got into um you knowBasopolis and MoMA.
And by the time I retired, I hadlike no time on the books, and I
couldn't even do a secondvacation if if I didn't retire,
you know, or a second thing withDeb if I didn't retire that
year.
Because I had no time on thebooks, and I was just like, see
you later.
I guess I gotta go, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (18:09):
I'm lucky and I say I work a full-time job in order
to fuel my passion.
Oh yeah.
Which really ha is this and iswhat we do.
So I'm kind of in the same boat,but I don't get to retire yet.
SPEAKER_03 (18:23):
I tell you, so I retired um March right before
she never quit last year.
Yes.
And oh my gosh, so yeah, doneworking on Friday, Saturday, I'm
on a plane and I'm out to todev's and hanging out with her,
and then you know We had thecreepy van.
We had the creepy van.
We had drove from Tucson to SanAntonio.
(18:45):
Oh my god, we had so much fun.
But that and that's the thing,is like I I'm so happy like I
did have that career and savedenough money so that I can
afford my passion now.
Yeah, so it makes a difference,it definitely makes a
difference.
SPEAKER_02 (18:59):
And this year is gonna be kind of different for
us.
So we've got a new location, um,we're formatting it a little bit
different.
So we've always been in Texas,but this year we're gonna be in
Idaho.
Um, we're gonna be veryintensive on the firearms, you
know, during the day.
We've brought in some supercool, you know, new sponsors.
We've got our our tried and truesponsors who've supported us
(19:21):
along the way and who we'resuper grateful for.
But we have a brand new companythat's coming on as our platinum
sponsor.
You're wearing their badge andeverything.
Check it out.
One defense.
OA Defense with their 2311s.
So I and that's where it's kindof at right now.
Like everybody wants a doublestack pistol, but everybody
wants a double stack pistol, youknow, um that with a traditional
(19:44):
hammer and a great trigger, andand you know, in that format,
but at an affordable pricepoint.
So that's always been so I Idon't know, I'm excited about
all the stuff that we have toshow off this year.
SPEAKER_03 (19:55):
Oh yeah.
Me too.
I'm and I'm excited that it isgonna be all shooting-centric.
I mean, not that I I I loved ourformats in the past where you
get to go out and do differentthings like the archery and the
fishing and that kind of thing.
But but I think this is gonna begood because there's gonna be I
feel like there's gonna be moreactual training than shooting.
(20:15):
Yeah, so because we all got toshoot, but then I think with
this you're gonna have a lotmore pistol time, rifle time,
training time.
SPEAKER_01 (20:23):
Yeah, and and I also love that this year we're doing
something different where we'redoing a shooting edition,
fishing edition, and huntingedition.
And that will be on our websitesoon.
So um, I know we're we have await list, but um I mean we're
excited about it.
We're really excited.
So um, you know, I I I love youguys.
(20:46):
I I feel like you guys are mysisters and um it's been so much
fun um to be a part of Woma andhave you guys a part of it also.
Um and you know, if anybody outthere is looking to become a
part, a team, you know, be onour team, um they could reach
out.
Yeah, uh reach out to us at uhthewoma.org, um get on our
(21:11):
social media, um, you know,check out um our our podcast on
Spotify and uh you know thesevideos on YouTube.
So we're we're plugging alongand doing some great stuff and
and I'm excited about it.
Me too, absolutely.
Thank you for being on ourpodcast.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_04 (21:29):
Thank you.
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