Mountain & Prairie

Conversations & Contemplations from the New American West

Category: Podcast

Ivan McClellan – A New Look at the Old West
Ivan McClennan
(Photo credit: The Black Cowboy)

Ivan McClellan is a professional photographer and the creator of the Eight Seconds Project, a storytelling project with the goal of extending the cowboy icon to include people of color. Ivan started the project back in 2015, after a series of chance encounters led him to an all-black rodeo in Oklahoma. Over the course of photographing the event, he became enamored with the black cowboy way of life and obsessed with documenting this unique subculture. In the years since, the Eight Seconds Project has garnered the attention of iconic western brands such as Stetson and Wrangler, and Ivan’s work has helped to tell the story of black cowboys to a nationwide, mainstream audience.

A Kansas City native, Ivan grew up in a tough neighborhood were gangs and violence were the norm. Just after high school, he headed east to New York City, where he studied and worked in the arts for many years. A career transition into the advertising business led him to Portland, where he currently lives with his wife and two children. Ivan juggles many commitments—family, a career in advertising, and his photography projects—but through hard work, mindfulness, and obsession, he somehow manages to keep all the balls in the air and continues to evolve as an artist and storyteller. 

Ivan and I connected via the internet for a wide-ranging and enlightening conversation. We started out talking about the genesis of the Eight Seconds Project and how a random conversation at a party started the entire project. We talk about Black Cowboy culture, how he came to learn about the community’s deep roots and its ties to the history of the United States and the West. Ivan shares some thoughts on the importance of having creative control over projects, and how hard work, year after year, allowed him to find his true voice as a storyteller. We also chat about mindfulness and how mindfulness practice has improved Ivan’s life and creative output. As usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and Ivan offers some timely words of wisdom.

I loved this conversation, and I felt like it got better and better with each minute. Be sure to check out the episode notes for all of the subjects we covered and links to everything discussed. Hope you enjoy!

Photo by Ivan McClellan
Photo by Ivan McClellan
Photo by Ivan McClellan

Rodeo photos by Ivan McClennan; photos of Ivan courtesy of The Black Cowboy

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:30 – Background of the Eight Second Project
  • 7:00 – Ivan’s first black rodeo in Oklahoma
  • 9:30 – Publishing his first black rodeo images
  • 11:00 – Working with big brands
  • 15:00 – Ivan’s decision to self-fund the Eight Seconds Project
  • 16:30 – Treating photography as sacred
  • 18:30 – The long road toward creative freedom
  • 23:00 – Ability to pivot into other creative niches
  • 25:00 – Process of becoming a pro photographer
  • 27:30 – Ivan describes his work and process
  • 32:00 – History of Black Rodeo in Oklahoma
  • 35:00 – Why more black riders aren’t in the PBR
  • 39:00 – Shifting into a more equitable “new normal” in rodeo
  • 41:00 – Dealing with the frustration of shifting perspectives
  • 43:30 – Growing up in Kansas City
  • 45:00 – Discovering the need for mindfulness
  • 47:30 – Family’s role in mindfulness
  • 49:00 – Details on Ivan’s meditation practice
  • 52:00 – Mindfulness’s effects on Ivan’s creativity
  • 56:00 – Lessons learned from rodeo riders
  • 59:00 – Favorite books
  • 1:00:30 – Favorite films
  • 1:02:30 – Craziest thing Ivan’s every seen at a rodeo
  • 1:04:30 – Parting words of wisdom

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 Posted on July 16, 2020 by

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Gabe Vasquez – Advocate for Equity in the Outdoors

Gabe Vasquez is the founder of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project and currently serves as a city councilor in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Gabe has devoted his entire career to advocacy and conservation, specifically for the people and places in the border region of New Mexico. He’s worked for Senator Martin Heinrich, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and recently drafted New Mexico’s Outdoor Equity Fund legislation, which was the first of its kind in the nation. 

Growing up in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Gabe developed a childhood passion for the outdoors while fishing with his father and learning about hunting from his grandfather. The outdoors has remained a focal point of his life, both professionally and personally, whether advising lawmakers on federal land policies or hunting, fishing, and hiking in the Coronado National Forest. But most importantly, Gabe has made it his mission to ensure that people of all socio-economic backgrounds and races can enjoy the outdoors, and hopefully, become advocates for protecting our country’s wild places.

Gabe was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Partners in the Outdoors Conference, a popular gathering of some of the country’s foremost experts in conservation and recreation. But because of the COVID pandemic, the in-person conference was converted into a virtual conference. And instead of an on-stage keynote, Gabe is now appearing on this podcast with me! As you’ll hear, Gabe’s message of balancing conservation and recreation, while ensuring equitable access to the outdoors, is a perfect fit with the conference’s theme of cultivating common ground to ensure a sustainable future for Colorado’s outdoors.

This was a fascinating interview, and I left the conversation better informed and inspired by Gabe’s leadership and vision. We started out chatting about the formation of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project and talking about the history and mission of the organization. Gabe then discussed lessons learned from his time working with Senator Heinrich, and how a brief stint living and working in Washington DC solidified his love for the West. We discuss New Mexico’s Outdoor Equity Fund, and how he played a significant role in creating this historic and cutting-edge, public-private program. We talk in-depth about the importance of getting kids into the outdoors, and the idea of how people need to fall in love with the outdoors before they can advocate for it. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, his favorite place in the West, and Gave offers some timely words of wisdom.

A huge thanks to Gabe for taking the time to chat, and thank you to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for inviting me to be a part of its virtual conference. Visit the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, including the full conference schedule, which will give you access to all presentations from the virtual conference. There’s a ton of exciting and informative content. But in the meantime, enjoy this conversation with Gabe Vasquez.

Photos courtesy of Gabe Vasquez

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:00 – Gabe’s family connection to the outdoors
  • 6:00 – Early job with Senator Heinrich
  • 8:30 – Moving to Washington DC
  • 11:30 – Back out West, working for the NWF
  • 14:00 – Formation of Nuestra Tierra
  • 19:00 – Why Gabe chose a service-based career
  • 24:00 – Lessoned learned from working with Senator Martin Heinrich
  • 30:15 – New Mexico’s Outdoor Equity Fund, explained
  • 37:00 – What Outdoor Equity Fund funds
  • 32:30 – Alternative funding sources for recreation
  • 44:00 – Other states’ response to the Outdoor Equity Fund
  • 47:00 – Thoughts on privilege and the outdoors
  • 51:00 – Creating new generations of conservationists
  • 54:00 – Gabe’s role as a City Councilor 
  • 1:04:00 – Favorite books
  • 1:10:00 – Favorite place in New Mexico
  • 1:14:00 – Parting words of wisdom

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 Posted on June 28, 2020 by

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Chris La Tray – Rediscovering His Past, Writing His Future

Chris La Tray is a writer, poet, and musician, as well as the author of the award-winning book One Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large. Chris is also an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe—a Native American tribe that was just recently recognized by the United States government, and prior to the recognition was known as the “landless Indians of Montana.” Chris’s immense talents as a storyteller combined with his unique personal perspective allow him to offer a fresh approach to understanding the complexities of the modern-day American West.

Chris was born and raised in Frenchtown, Montana, a small blue-collar community located just west of Missoula. Growing up with a deep passion for music, Chris headed to Seattle soon after high school to pursue a career as a professional rock musician, but he eventually made his way back to Frenchtown, where he worked for years in the manufacturing industry. But in 2015, following the death of his father, Chris quit his manufacturing consulting job and went all-in on pursuing his dream of being a full-time storyteller. A few years later, he published One Sentence Journal and has been widely recognized as one of the West’s most unique up-and-coming authors.

Chris and I had an interesting and timely conversation about his career, his life as a writer and musician, and his family’s heritage as members of the Little Shell Tribe. We start out by discussing the genesis of his idea for “One Sentence Journal,” how writing the book has changed his life, and a few stories from his many years as a professional musician. Then, we talk in-depth about the long-overdue federal recognition of his tribe and his thoughts on how the tribe can move forward. We also discuss how the long-term treatment of his tribe gives Chris unique insights into the current national discussions around race and privilege here in the United States. Chris also offers up a long list of excellent books on a wide variety of subjects related to the West and Native Americans that I know you will all find useful. Links to everything are in the episode notes.

Thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat, and I encourage you to check out One Sentence Journal. But in the meantime, enjoy this conversation with Chris La Tray.

Photo courtesy of Chris La Tray

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 6:30 – Influence of Jim Harrison
  • 8:40 – Writing practice that led to “One Sentence Journal”
  • 11:30 – The amazing community of Montana writers
  • 14:30 – The “practice” of creative output
  • 16:30 – Decision to leave his manufacturing job
  • 19:30 – Early years in Montana and beyond
  • 21:30 – Music’s role in Chris’s life
  • 24:00 – Becoming a “musician”
  • 25:30 – Reading/writing vs music
  • 27:00 – Chris’s Little Shell Tribe heritage
  • 32:30 – Emotional impact of learning family’s history
  • 35:15 – Thoughts on the Little Shell’s federal recognition
  • 38:30 – Ideas for the future of the Little Shell Tribe
  • 40:00 – Specifics of federal recognition
  • 44:00 – How to read to expand knowledge and eliminate blind spots
  • 46:30 – Hope for the future?
  • 54:00 – Fact and Fiction Bookstore
  • 59:00 – Favorite books
  • 1:03:30 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:05:30 – Parting words of wisdom

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SPECIAL OFFER FOR M&P LISTENERS!

Freeflow Institute is a Montana-based organization focused on re-wilding the creative spirit, connecting people to places, and preserving wild spaces. Freeflow eliminates the barrier between your ideas and your environment by bringing emerging and established writers, leaders, artists, and communicators together into wild landscapes. 

On a Freeflow course you can expect to gain perspective and identify new tools to help you be effective in your creative work and build creative community. You can also take Freeflow courses for college credit and infuse your academic career with outdoor learning. 

The line-up of Freeflow instructors includes many guests of the Mountain & Prairie Podcast, including Alexis Bonogofsky, Hal Herring, Brendan Leonard, and today’s guest, Chris La Tray. This summer, Freeflow is adapting their programming to meet the challenges of the current moment, and I want to share two specific opportunities with you now. 

Starting on July 1, join a small cohort of writers and artists of all backgrounds for a unique, online, five-week Community Workshop Series, the theme of which is SHIFT. SHIFT is meant to empower you to find your voice amid the chaos and tackle the question of how we use our art and words to catalyze positive change, while exploring the natural world closest to and within you. Guest speakers will include Pam Houston, Amy Irvine, and Craig Childs, among others. Scholarships are available, and there are only a few spaces left. 

Then, in September, join Pulitzer Prize finalist William DeBuys on a five-day writing workshop on the Green River’s Gates of Lodore, where you’ll spend days floating between canyon walls, analyzing the concept of change in literature, climate, and life, and writing.

Find out more about all of Freeflow Institute’s programs by visiting their website: www.freeflowinstitute.com or shoot them an email at info@freeflowinstitute.com

The first ten Mountain & Prairie listeners who register for SHIFT or the Gates of Lodore Workshop will get $150 off their tuition! Just mention the Podcast when you register.

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 Posted on June 24, 2020 by

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Rachel VandeVoort – Harnessing the Power of Outdoor Recreation

Rachel VandeVoort is the Director of the Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation, an office that advocates for the outdoor recreation industry and works to leverage its numerous benefits to the state. The office was created in 2016 by Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and he tapped Rachel to be its first director, where she built the office from the ground up. Since then, the office has experienced amazing growth in influence and effectiveness, and it has served as a shining example for other states that have formed similar offices.

A native Montanan, Rachel has a diverse background that makes her uniquely qualified for her role as Director. She grew up working for her family’s river guiding business in and around Whitefish, MT and also spent time as a fishing guide. After graduating from the University of Montana, she worked in a wide variety of industries that are closely connected with land and recreation, including organic farming, skiing, and firearms manufacturing. Thanks to her diverse and deep experience in all facets of the outdoor world, Rachel has had great success finding common ground between sometimes-competing stakeholders to harness the collective power of Montana’s recreation industry.

Rachel was slated to be a keynote speaker at Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Partners in the Outdoors Conference, an annual gathering that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the conservation and outdoor recreation industries. But because of the COVID pandemic, the in-person conference was transformed into a virtual conference—and Rachel’s keynote speech was transformed into this episode of Mountain & Prairie. I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Rachel because her work aligns so well with the theme of the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, specifically, how do we find common ground and mutually beneficial solutions for balancing conservation and recreation.

We covered a lot in a little over an hour, including the history of her job and the office, the staggering positive economic impacts of the outdoor industry, and ideas around funding conservation through recreation now and into the future. We also talked a lot about Rachel’s eclectic background and how all of her varied experiences make her uniquely qualified for her position. Rachel shares some thoughts on finding common ground among competing stakeholders, the importance of understanding history in the West, and the collaborative nature of the outdoor recreation industry. Be sure the check out the episode notes for a full list of topics discussed.

Big thanks to Rachel for taking the time to chat and to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for partnering with Mountain & Prairie for this series of podcasts. If you have a chance, visit the Partners in the Outdoors website all of the conference content—there’s quite a line up of virtual courses and learning opportunities. But in the meantime, enjoy this educational episode with Rachel VandeVoort.

Photos courtesy of Rachel VandeVoort

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:45 – Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation explained
  • 7:45 – Massive economic impacts of outdoor recreation
  • 10:00 – Economic impacts in Montana specifically
  • 11:30 – Process of creating the office for Montana
  • 12:45 – Outdoor infrastructure in Montana
  • 15:15 – The positivity of the recreational economy
  • 17:45 – Learning from other states’ outdoor rec offices
  • 18:45 – How Montana’s rec office differs from Colorado’s
  • 20:45 – Rachel’s eclectic background
  • 22:45 – Desire to stay in Montana
  • 26:00 – First job in organic food
  • 29:30 – Starting her job in the firearms industry
  • 34:00 – Communication lessons learned from a childhood in recreation
  • 37:15 – Techniques for finding common ground between competing stakeholders
  • 39:45 – The false premise of “consumptive” vs “non-consumptive” recreation
  • 46:45 – Thoughts on Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, and the future of conservation funding
  • 54:45 – Collaboration between outdoor rec stakeholders
  • 59:35 – Favorite books
  • 1:01:00 – Favorite films
  • 1:02:45 – Rachel’s family history in Montana
  • 1:03:45 – Parting words of wisdom

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 Posted on June 1, 2020 by

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Chris Burkard – The Art of Suffering
Chris Burkard

Chris Burkard is a world-renowned photographer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work captures the beauty and rawness of some of the earth’s wildest places. Whether documenting iconic climbs in Yosemite or frigid surf trips deep in the Arctic Circle, Chris has established himself as a committed artist who is willing to suffer extensively to get the perfect shot. And because of his love and respect for these wild places, Chris is also a committed conservationist, using his artistic skills to showcase the importance of endangered places and effect positive policy changes.

Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, Chris spent much of his youth exploring the mountains and coastline of his home state. During high school, he fell in love with photography and eventually left college to pursue it as a full-time career. After several years of working to establish himself in the business, Chris’s commitment and hard work paid off—he’s now one of the most sought after photographers for a wide range of clients, from corporations like Apple to independent publications such as Surfers Journal or Modern Huntsman. Chris’s career is a testament to the power of hard work, positivity, boundless energy, and laser-like focus.

I’ve been a fan of Chris’s for years, so it was a real pleasure to have the chance to chat with him. We both took a break from our respective quarantines and kid-wrangling duties to meet up via Skype for a fun and wide-ranging conversation. The specifics of Chris’s photography career have been documented extensively in audio and print, so I wanted to learn more about what makes Chris tick—why he chooses to suffer in dangerous environments, how he and his wife engrain grit in their two sons, and how he manages to muster positivity during tough times. We also talked a lot about his commitment to conservation, as well as his commitment to working with smaller, independent outdoor publications. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, places in the West, and Chris offers some timely words of wisdom. Links to everything are in the episode notes.

A huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat during such a crazy time. I hope you all enjoy this conversation—it’s a much-need burst of energy and optimism during this challenging time!

Photos courtesy of Chris Burkard

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:30 – “Pain is a shortcut to mindfulness”
  • 7:15 – The process of learning to appreciate pain
  • 10:00 – Growing up in California
  • 14:00- When photography entered Chris’s life
  • 16:00 – Deciding to leave school to pursue photography
  • 18:30 – Choosing to be positive
  • 22:30 – Thoughts on cultivating grit in children
  • 25:00 – Striving to live up to one’s full potential
  • 27:15 – Outdoor adventure as a parenting tool
  • 29:30 – Re-evaluating risk as a parent
  • 36:00 – Training for mental stress
  • 37:30- Ultra-endurance bike riding
  • 42:00 – Meditation training
  • 43:00 – Dealing with the stress of COVID-19
  • 46:30 – Work in the conservation world
  • 53:45 – Commitment to working with smaller outdoor publications
  • 58:30 – Favorite books
  • 1:02:30 – Favorite places in the West
  • 1:04:45 – Parting words of wisdom

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 Posted on May 26, 2020 by

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Dan Prenzlow – Generous Service, Humble Leadership

Dan Prenzlow is the Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the agency charged with managing wildlife, lands, natural resources, and outdoor recreation throughout the great state of Colorado. Dan started with the agency back in 1986 as a District Wildlife Manager and steadily worked his way through the ranks, assuming the role of Director in the spring of 2019. Born and raised in Colorado, Dan has had a lifelong love of recreating in the state’s open spaces and wild places, and he has devoted his entire career toward protecting and managing them for the benefit of present and future generations.

Dan and I were scheduled to meet at CPW’s annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, an extremely popular gathering that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the conservation and outdoor recreation sectors. The conference has become the foremost opportunity for organizations, businesses, agencies, universities, and more to come together to find common ground and mutually beneficial solutions for balancing conservation and recreation here in Colorado. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic made the in-person conference impossible, but thankfully the amazing team at CPW was able to move the conference online, and this podcast is a part of the new virtual conference.

If you love spending time outdoors, whether here in Colorado or anywhere else, I know you’ll glean lots of valuable information from this conversation. Dan and I spend the first half of the conversation discussing some of the specifics around CPW—the organization’s history, the success of the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, CPW’s important role in private land conservation, and CPW’s role as a national leader in balancing conservation and recreation. During the second half of the conversation, we discuss Dan’s personal backstory—why he decided to pursue public service as a career, his family’s long history of service-minded work, and how he worked his way up to the role of Director. Dan also shares many valuable leadership lessons, including the importance of humility, empathy, and surrounding yourself with a strong team. 

As usual, there is a ton of valuable information in this episode, so I encourage you to check out the episode notes for a full list of the topics we discussed and links to all of the information we reference. And if you’d like more information about how you can participate in Partners in the Outdoors Virtual Conference, that link is in the episode notes as well.  

Thanks to Dan and his team at CPW for all of their important work. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Photos courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:30 – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (“CPW”) described
  • 6:50 – CPW’s “Partners in the Outdoors” program
  • 11:45 – Colorado’s population boom and its impact on CPW’s work
  • 16:00 – CPW as a trusted conservation partner
  • 21:30 – CPW’s “Ranching for Wildlife” program
  • 26:30 – Partnership successes that can result from adversity
  • 28:00 – CPW as a national leader in conservation and recreation
  • 22:30 – Dan’s personal journey to CPW
  • 37:30 – The importance of service for Dan and his family
  • 40:30 – Leadership lessons gleaned from rising through the ranks at CPW
  • 45:30 – What characteristics Dan looks for in employees
  • 50:45 – Techniques for finding common ground between competing stakeholders
  • 57:00 – Favorite books
  • 58:50 – Favorite location in Colorado

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 Posted on May 10, 2020 by

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Callan Wink – A New Voice for the New West

Callan Wink is a writer, novelist, fishing guide, and surfer who currently splits his time between Livingston, Montana and Santa Cruz, California. He’s the author of the newly released novel August, as well as the highly regarded short story collection Dog Run Moon, books that I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed. Callan’s writing speaks for itself, but if you’re looking for credentials, he’s got those too—he’s been published in The New Yorker, Men’s Journal,  The Best American Short Stories Anthology, and more. He’s also been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow.

A native of Michigan, Callan moved west soon after high school, where he began guiding on some of Montana’s most renowned rivers. In the ensuing years, writing became more and more of a focus, and eventually, he published Dog Run Moon. Currently, Callan writes seasonally—he guides in Montana during the warm months, then moves to California during the winter, where he focuses exclusively on writing, with surfing filling the remainder of his non-writing time.

Callan and I connected via the internet from our respective quarantines and had a fun conversation about fishing, writing, reading, creativity, and more. We started out talking about his upbringing in Michigan and how fishing eventually led him to build a life in the West. We discuss the pros and cons of his seasonal approach to writing, and how working as a fishing guide helps to fuel his writing career. We talk about the importance of being a keen observer of people, and we also discuss where and how he finds inspiration for his characters. We also talk about his friendship with the legendary author Jim Harrison, and how that relationship has positively affected his life and work.

I encourage you to check out August and Dog Run Moon—I think you’ll enjoy them both. But in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Callan Wink.

Photo courtesy of Callan Wink

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 6:30 – Heading to Montana to fish
  • 10:30 – Childhood obsession with reading
  • 12:30 – Progress toward becoming a professional writer
  • 18:30 – Lessons learned from grad school
  • 21:00 – Balancing writing and fishing
  • 23:30 – Gathering material for characters
  • 30:15 – Callan’s writing routine
  • 33:30 – How an idea becomes a short story or novel
  • 37:00 – How the novel August evolved from a short story
  • 39:30 – Outlining versus organic growth of a story
  • 43:00 – Jim Harrison’s influence
  • 45:45 – Poetry Recommendations
  • 51:00 – Callan’s current reading habits
  • 54:00 – Advice for aspiring writers
  • 58:30 – Favorite books
  • 1:00:30 – The magic of Road House
  • 1:01:30 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:04:00 – Best advice ever received

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 Posted on May 8, 2020 by

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Rebecca Jewett, Part 2 – Conservation’s Role During Challenging Times
Rebecca Jewett

Rebecca Jewett is President and CEO of Palmer Land Trust, a conservation organization that works to conserve land and water resources in southeastern Colorado. Palmer Land Trust is one of the twenty largest land trusts in the nation based on acreage conserved, with over 135,000 acres of land protected in perpetuity.  Rebecca has led the organization since 2014, expanding and diversifying its conservation initiatives and building Palmer into a national force in the land conservation sector.

If Rebecca and Palmer Land Trust sound familiar, it’s because this is Rebecca’s second time on the podcast and I work at Palmer as a Conservation Director. In the midst of this unprecedented COVID crisis, I thought it would be timely to have Rebecca join me again, this time to discuss how the crisis is affecting conservation and how she sees conservation evolving in its aftermath. Once the all-important work of the first responders has been completed, what role will the conservation of working farms and ranches, as well as public recreational open space, play in our recovery and rebuilding? For those of you who love land and the communities tied to it, this is a must-listen conversation.

And if you’re like me and often feel completely overwhelmed with COVID talk, rest assured that this conversation is upbeat and solution-oriented. I imagine you will finish the discussion inspired by the opportunities that our new future holds—and inspiration is something that we can all use more of these days. Rebecca and I cover a lot, including the importance of farming and ranching during this crisis and the role that Palmer plays in supporting agricultural producers. We talk about the need to focus on community building and strong partnerships, as well as the conservation opportunities that could arise post-COVID. Finally, we discuss leadership lessons and how the birth of her daughter has made her a better leader.

Obviously, I’m a big fan of Rebecca’s. And I’m sure that after this conversation, you will be, too. Hope you enjoy!.

Photos courtesy of Rebecca Jewett

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:45 – Palmer Land Trust explained
  • 6:15 – Land conservation and COVID-19
  • 9:00 – Community as a focus of conservation
  • 13:45 – Importance of agriculture in the face of COVID
  • 18:45 – Win-Win-Wins that are possible in conservation
  • 21:15 – How a diversified “business model” will allow effective conservation post-COVID
  • 26:30 – Importance of strong partnerships during COVID
  • 30:35 – Importance of storytelling in conservation
  • 35:45 – How conservation will evolve in the coming years
  • 40:45 – Thoughts on leadership during challenging times
  • 47:45 – How motherhood has changed her perspective, professionally and personally
  • 53:45 – Importance of optimism in parenting and life
  • 56:15 – Good books on parenting
  • 57:45 – Other good books
  • 58:45 – Favorite podcasts
  • 1:00:45 – Parting words of wisdom

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 Posted on April 23, 2020 by

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George Hodgin – Mission-Driven Entrepreneur

George Hodgin is the founder and CEO of Biopharmaceutical Research Company (BRC), a California-based business with the mission of providing federally legal cannabis for approved researchers in the United States. Prior to starting BRC, George served as a US Navy SEAL officer, leading counterterrorism operations in combat zones such as Afghanistan. And to top it all off, he’s a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the University of North Carolina, where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. With a resume like this, it’s safe to assume that George is a driven, hard-working guy.

From a very young age, George knew he wanted to be a Navy SEAL. So after participating in ROTC during his undergraduate years, he began the Navy SEAL training, also known as BUD/S, immediately after graduation.  After nearly seven years in the SEAL teams, George left the military to pursue his MBA at Stanford. During grad school, while helping one of his SEAL teammates seek treatment for combat injuries, George was shocked by the inability of doctors to advise patients on the use of marijuana for therapeutic, healing purposes. Despite being legal in many states, it is still illegal at the federal level, and therefore unable to be studied by federally approved researchers and doctors. George and his company seek to change this status-quo so that cannabis can be better understood and more widely prescribed as an alternative to opioids and other drugs.

The state-legal marijuana business has its roots in the American West, so I’ve wanted to speak with a cannabis entrepreneur for some time now. George offers excellent insights into the industry, discussing the challenges, governmental roadblocks, and opportunities for optimistic, innovative entrepreneurs. We also talk about why he decided to become an entrepreneur, and why he has consistently chosen some of the most challenging careers imaginable. We talk a lot about his service in the Navy, including the common traits of SEALs, the lessons learned from service, and the challenges of transitioning from the military into civilian life. Since we recorded this episode a few weeks into the Coronavirus crisis, he offers some hard-earned wisdom on how best to deal with high-stress, potentially dangerous situations like the one we all find ourselves in now.

George and I were supposed to record this episode in person, but the Coronavirus had other plans. But we still made it happen– each of us holed up in our homes and connected via Zoom– so I hope this episode offers some entertainment and motivation during this challenging time.  Thanks for listening.

Photos courtesy of George Hodgin

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:00 – BRC explained
  • 7:00 – Genesis of the idea for BRC 
  • 10:15 – Decision to be an entrepreneur
  • 13:00 – Complexity of the cannabis business
  • 16:00 – What fuels his passion for BRC
  • 18:00 – Early years in NC
  • 21:30 – Morehead-Cain Scholarship explained
  • 24:00 – Early desire to be a SEAL
  • 26:00 – Path from college to BUD/S
  • 31:30 – Common trait of successful SEALs
  • 34:30 – Transition from the Navy to civilian life
  • 38:00 – Finding purpose outside of the SEALs
  • 43:00 – Military lessons applied to business
  • 47:30 – Main business challenge facing BRC
  • 53:30 – Thoughts on the Coronavirus
  • 57:45 – Favorite books
  • 1:00:00 – Favorite Films

Information Referenced:

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 Posted on April 8, 2020 by

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Kyle Richardson – Mountains & Music

Kyle Richardson is a Colorado-based professional runner and mountain athlete who is best known for his high-stakes, high-speed endurance feats in the Rocky Mountains. Over the past two years, Kyle has set several Fastest Known Time (“FKT”) records in the Colorado mountains—most notably on Boulder’s First and Third Flatirons, as well as the renowned LA Freeway route that stretches from Longs Peak to Arapahoe Peak. Away from his endurance feats, Kyle is a formally trained musician, and he composes original music for filmmakers and outdoor brands such as Black Diamond and La Sportiva.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Kyle’s youth was defined by time in the outdoors with his family and a deep commitment to music and playing the drums. His love of the West’s wide-open spaces led him to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he began to realize his talent for endurance and moving quickly through the mountains. After several years of running and climbing throughout Colorado, he captured the attention of the endurance community with his record-setting time on the LA Freeway, a difficult and exposed route that combines running, scrambling, and rock climbing. Since then, he has earned sponsorships from major outdoor brands that have allowed him to pursue his adventures in the mountains with full focus and intensity.

I met up with Kyle in Boulder, where we had a wide-ranging conversation about his passion for the mountains and music. We started by discussing his athletic career and some of the details around his fastest known times on well-known mountain routes. We also discussed Kyle’s love of the process of training—in both athletics and music—and how his commitment to preparation gives him the confidence to pursue challenging and sometimes dangerous goals. We discuss the common skills required to be great in both endurance sports and music, and Kyle talks about some of the mentors and heroes who have shaped his career. Kyle is a voracious reader, so we talk a lot about books, and Kyle reveals a very interesting personal tie to one of my favorite history books, Empire of the Summer Moon.

Kyle is humble and thoughtful, and it was a real pleasure getting to know him. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Photos courtesy of the Kyle Richardson

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:00 – How Kyle describes his athletic pursuits
  • 6:00 – Kyle and Fastest Known Times (“FKT”)
  • 10:30 – FKTs in the Boulder’s Flatirons
  • 16:00 – Training routine
  • 18:00 – Growing up in Texas
  • 20:30 – Music and how it informs athletics
  • 22:50 – Film scoring, composing, and music industry
  • 26:30 – Heroes and mentors in the music world
  • 28:00 – Drums, running, and excess energy as a kid
  • 29:30 – When people began to take note of Kyles running
  • 32:30 – Athletic mentors
  • 38:30 – Artistic, cerebral aspects to mountain sports
  • 39:30 – Assessing risk in the mountains
  • 42:30 – Nature making you feel small
  • 46:30 – Kyle’s parent’s support for his career
  • 48:30 – Running goals for 2020
  • 52:00 – Books he’s currently reading
  • 54:15 – Favorite books about the West
  • 56:00 – Limiting screens and social media
  • 57:30 – Favorite location in the West
  • 58:45 – Most powerful outdoor experience
  • 1:00:25 – Parting words of wisdom

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 Posted on March 26, 2020 by

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Daniela Ibarra-Howell – Healing the Land Holistically

Daniela Ibarra-Howell is the CEO and a co-founder of the Savory Institute, an organization whose mission is to regenerate the world’s grasslands through holistic management. By restoring and protecting grasslands– both in the American West and around the globe– Daniela and her team at Savory effectively address pressing issues such as climate change, economic well-being, and food and water insecurity. Through inspiring leadership, masterful storytelling, and cutting-edge research, Savory is shifting the paradigm around agriculture’s role as a solution to many of the world’s challenges.

Daniela was born and raised in Argentina, and from a very young age, she loved the land, agriculture, and adventure. Her studies of agronomy led her to some of the far reaches of the globe, including New Zealand, where she met her now-husband Jim Howell. After many years managing ranches and working in the trenches of holistic management, they helped to found the Savory Institute in 2009, and Daniela took the reigns as CEO in 2011. Since then, the organization has grown and evolved, and Daniela has become one of the world’s leading voices for Holistic Management.

I was thrilled to finally get the chance to chat with Daniela on the podcast because my guests and I have referenced the Savory Institute so many times over the years. We started by discussing the organization– its mission, goals, structure, and global reach. We then talk about Daniela’s leadership philosophy and how she values thoughtful action, failing fast, and embracing complexity in all aspects of life. We talk about her upbringing in Argentina, her adventurous personality, and her partnership with her husband, Jim. We also talk about motherhood and how she has managed to balance such a high-performing career with raising two impressive and accomplished daughters. Whether you are interested in agriculture, leadership, or parenting, there are many lessons to be learned from Daniela, so I hope you enjoy!

Photos courtesy of the Savory Institute

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 5:00 – Savory Institute explained
  • 9:30 – Growth and evolution of Savory
  • 14:00 – On taking risks and failing fast
  • 16:00 – “Holistic Management” defined
  • 18:30 – “Regenerative Agriculture” defined
  • 21:00 – Business inertia in agriculture
  • 27:00 – Importance of storytelling (and data!)
  • 31:00 – Will Harris and White Oak Pastures as storytellers
  • 34:45 – Daniela’s upbringing and education in Argentina and beyond
  • 40:30 – Meeting Jim in New Zealand
  • 44:00 – How managing ranches made her a better leader of people
  • 52:00 – Heroes and mentors in business and leadership
  • 56:00 – Balancing action and planning
  • 1:00:30 – Thoughts on motherhood and raising children
  • 1:07:00 – Important books on agriculture
  • 1:12:30 – Parting words of wisdom

Information Referenced:

This episode is brought to you by the FREEFLOW INSTITUTE. The first ten Mountain & Prairie listeners who register for a 2020 summer course will get $100 off their tuition. Just mention the Podcast when you register. For more information go to freeflowinstitute.com or shoot them an email at info@freeflowinstitute.com.

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 Posted on March 12, 2020 by

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Andrew Ramiro Tirado – Stoking His Artistic Fire
Andrew Ramiro Tirado (photo credit: James Cochrane)

Andrew Ramiro Tirado is a Colorado-based artist who is best known for his award-winning large-scale sculptures and paintings of human hands. Using wood, metal, or traditional paint and canvas, Andrew combines his unique artistic eye with decades of experience as a craftsman to create remarkable pieces that are stunning in both their size and presentation. His hand sculptures can exceed ten feet in length and are sometimes displayed hanging from the ceilings of galleries or buildings—when you see Andrew’s work, there is no mistaking who created it!

Andrew grew up in Colorado and graduated high school with the intention of studying and pursuing art as a vocation. During college, he landed a job in New York City, working as an assistant for the renowned artist Chuck Close—a coveted position for any budding artist. But soon after leaving New York, Andrew decided to walk away from making art, and he stayed away for 23 years. But in 2012, a serendipitous life-changing event rekindled his interest in making art, and he returned to the art world with full focus and passion. Just four years later, in 2016, Andrew resigned from his job at Colorado College and began pursuing art full time… and has never looked back.

We met at Andrew’s brand new Colorado Springs studio, which happens to be just a few blocks from my own house. We had a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from making art to mountain climbing to the realities of life as a full-time artist. We started out by discussing his upbringing in Colorado Springs and how he found his way to art school and eventually, New York City working for the world-famous Chuck Close. Then we discuss his decision to leave the art world, and why—after more than two decades away—he decided to return to making art. We talked about the importance of writing to Andrew’s artistic process, as well as lessons he’s learned from spending time up high in the Colorado mountains. And finally, we talk about artistic heroes, favorite books, favorite films, and Andrew offers wisdom to those who dream of pursuing art as a full-time vocation.

Andrew is an amazingly thoughtful and humble guy, and I greatly admire his soft-spoken and wise approach to chasing his dreams. Be sure to check out all of Andrew’s art on his website, but for right now, enjoy this insightful conversation with Andrew Ramiro Tirado!

Photos courtesy of Andrew Tirado, headshot by James Cochrane

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:00 – Andrew’s background
  • 6:15 – Studying art in school
  • 8:00 – Working for Chuck Close
  • 11:00 – “Leaning in” to opportunities
  • 12:00 – Lessons learned from Chuck Close
  • 15:30 – The importance of self-imposed limitations
  • 18:00 – Taking a hiatus from art
  • 21:30 – The moment he decided to return to art
  • 25:30 – Making his first-hand art piece
  • 31:00 – Discovering a demand for his art
  • 34:00 – Decision to pursue art full time
  • 36:00 – Chasing the feeling of “peak experiences”
  • 41:00 – Importance of “inflection points”
  • 42:30 – Importance of writing to Andrew’s writing process
  • 47:30 – How time in the mountains has affected his art
  • 50:00 – Andrew’s artistic heroes
  • 52:45 – Favorite books
  • 55:00 – Films
  • 59:00 – Favorite location in the West

Information Referenced:

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 Posted on February 18, 2020 by

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Jessica Ilalaole – Creating Home in the High Desert

Jessica Ilalaole is a New Mexico-based artist who specializes in handcrafted jewelry inspired by the natural world and the landscapes of the American West. Through her online store CobraCult Jewelry, Jessica has built a loyal following of customers and admirers who are drawn to her uniquely stunning designs, as well as her authentic and unconventional lifestyle. Jessica’s personality is a unique mix of confident yet humble, social yet solitary, fiercely independent yet fully devoted to her friends and family– a special blend of traits that have allowed her to create unique art and one-of-a-kind life.

Jessica grew up in Hawaii but now lives on a spectacular property in Northern New Mexico on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Her jewelry studio looks out onto the mountains, and she and her partner Cody are in the process of building an adobe cabin from the ground up. But while the views are spectacular, their lives are currently fully focused on hard work– home construction, jewelry making, and the day-to-day realities of running Jessica’s business. Their vision and work ethic are extremely inspiring, and it was a pleasure to meet and record this episode at the property.

We sat down in Jessica’s studio and had a wonderful and wide-ranging conversation. We started by chatting about the property– how they decided to move there, how they acquired it, and their plans for it. We then talked about Jessica’s journey as an artist, and when and why she decided to make a go of it as a full-time jewelry maker. We discuss the influence of her parents, her artistic influences, her love of motorcycles and tattoos, and how social media has helped her to grow her business. We also discuss her commitment to positivity, the roots of her independent streak, and she offers some excellent advice for other aspiring artists. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, the best advice she’s ever received, and more.

Be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything. Hope you enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Jessica Ilalaole

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:10 – Jessica describes her property
  • 5:40 – Growing up in Hawaii
  • 8:10 – Being considered a haole
  • 10:10 – Source of Jessica’s independent streak
  • 11:10 – Similarity to parents
  • 15:55 – Early years as an artist and jewelry maker
  • 18:00 – Decision to make jewelry making a full-time job
  • 20:00 – Skills learned from taking jewelry classes
  • 22:00 – Deciding to take become a full-time artist
  • 24:10 – Challenges of working solo while being a social person
  • 25:40 – Relationship with Cody and building their cabin
  • 30:10 – Artistic influences
  • 31:10 – Riding motorcycles
  • 37:00 – Jessica’s connection to tattoos 
  • 39:40 – Independent streak revisited
  • 42:00 – Daily routines
  • 44:40 – Exciting personal news!
  • 47:30 – Long-term plans
  • 49:10 – Influences or heroes
  • 51:40 – Meaning of CobraCult
  • 54:00 – Instagram’s role in her business and life
  • 59:30 – Favorite books
  • 1:03:00 – FAvorite documentary
  • 1:04:00 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:05:30 – Best advice ever received
  • 1:09:30 – Advice for aspiring artists

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 Posted on January 29, 2020 by

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Kate Kavanaugh – Regeneration & Restoration

Kate Kavanaugh is an entrepreneur and regenerative agriculture advocate who co-owns and operates Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe in Denver, Colorado. Along with her partner Josh Curtiss, Kate sells fresh, local, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats that are all raised and harvested within 150 miles of Denver. Although she has been featured in such notable publications as The New York Times and Forbes, Kate is most proud of the deep connections she has formed with regenerative ranchers and farmers– and the positive impact her business has had on the land.

As you’ll hear in our conversation, Kate is deeply committed to regenerative agriculture and specifically the role that ruminants play in the health of soil and grasslands in the American West and beyond. She’s also a seasoned businesswoman who has paid her dues and suffered the bumps and bruises that come with any entrepreneurial endeavor. And it is the combination of her passion, toughness, curiosity, and willingness to think outside the box that has made Western Daughters such an inspiring success story.

I had a great time chatting with Kate, and I learned a lot from our conversation. We started by talking about the story of Western Daughters–how the business began, challenges of running a brick and mortar store, and specifics around how the company supports local agriculture. We discuss Kate’s upbringing in Colorado and how she felt a deep connection to the land and the environment from an early age. We talk about Kate’s childhood commitment to vegetarianism and why she began eating meat again at age 20. We also chat about Kate and Josh’s exciting recent purchase of a farm in upstate New York, and how they plan to balance Western Daughters with farming their new land. We discuss food’s role in mental health, and Kate graciously shares some of her daily practices that help her manage anxiety and depression. Kate is a voracious reader, so there are tons of good books mentioned– be sure the check out the episode notes for links to all the books and more. Hope you enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Kate Kavanaugh

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:15 – Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe, explained
  • 4:45 – Kate’s early interest in agriculture
  • 6:15 – Kate’s seriousness as a child
  • 8:45 – Ending her run with vegetarianism
  • 10:30 – Authors that helped Kate understand regenerative ag
  • 11:15 – Starting Western Daughters
  • 13:15 – Tribalism around food
  • 15:45 – New York Times article
  • 17:45 – Working with farmers and ranchers
  • 22:45 – The ins and outs of regenerative ag
  • 29:15 – The challenges of explaining regenerative ag to the masses
  • 30:45 – Unexpected challenges of running Western Daughters 
  • 34:45 – Economic challenges of regenerative ag
  • 37:45 – Kate and Josh’s new farm!
  • 40:15 – Realities of running a brick and mortar business
  • 45:15 – Thoughts on leaving the West
  • 49:00 – Advice to people who want to farm
  • 53:00 – Heroes and mentors
  • 55:30 – Managing mental health
  • 1:00:45 – Diet’s role in mental health
  • 1:03:45 – Favorite books
  • 1:04:45 – Favorite documentaries
  • 1:06:15 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:07:15 – Most powerful outdoor experience
  • 1:08:45 – Best advice ever received
  • 1:10:45 – Request of the listeners

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 Posted on January 14, 2020 by

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Peter Heller – Chasing the Flow

Peter Heller is a renowned novelist, as well as an award-winning adventure writer and former contributing editor to Outside, Men’s Journal, and National Geographic Adventure. Since age eleven, Peter has been committed to the craft of writing, and his lifelong love of words and stunning prose are the threads that connect all of his work– from fiction to non-fiction to poetry. His most recent novel, The River, is the culmination of Peter’s decades of storytelling– the book weaves a masterful tale that combines adventure, deep friendships, wild places, chilling violence, and page-turning suspense. [For those of you who subscribe to my bimonthly book recommendations email, you may remember that I devoured the book in less than two days and absolutely loved it!]

Peter was born, raised, and educated on the east coast but headed West soon after college to paddle rivers and immerse himself in the wide-open spaces of the American West. His writing career has taken him to some of the most far-flung corners of the earth. Still, he always returns to the Rockies, where he currently splits his time between Denver and Paonia, a rural community on Colorado’s Western Slope. The people and landscapes of the West play prominent roles in all of Peter’s novels, and his talent for capturing the beauty and complexity of people and wild places is second to none.

We met up at Peter’s home in Denver and had a fun, wide-ranging conversation covering everything from his early obsession with writing to his current writing process to our mutual love of surfing. We discuss his first big paddling trip in Colorado, which started his decades-long love affair with the West. We talk about his early days as a professional writer– discussing everything from how he made it work financially to how he dealt with rejection. We dig into the specifics of his daily writing routine, and why he stops writing at 1,000 words, even if he is mid-scene. We also talk about how he avoids thinking when writing novels, his obsession with “finding the flow” in writing and outdoor pursuits, the importance of momentum, and balancing physical exuberance with the writer’s life. If you love Peter’s books, the West, or learning about writers, you will love this episode.

And as a special bonus, I’m giving away a copy of The River via Instagram. On Friday, January 3, 2020, I’ll post all the details, so head to my Instagram page, give me a follow, and be on the lookout for the giveaway. You can either search by my name- Ed Roberson- or follow this link. The River was one of the best books I read in 2019, so I know you’ll enjoy it too.

Thanks again to Peter for being so generous with his time and so insightful with his answers. I hope you enjoy!

Photo of Peter by John Burcham

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 5:00 – Where Peter grew up
  • 6:30 – Deciding to be a writer at 11-years old
  • 10:00 – Specific disciplines to become a writer
  • 10:40 – Peter’s parents’ backgrounds and their influence
  • 13:30 – Peter’s love of writing as a career
  • 14:50 – Childhood adventures
  • 15:40 – Falling in love with the West
  • 18:30 – Starting out as a writer
  • 21:00 – Dealing with early rejections
  • 22:50 – First published story
  • 25:00 – “Not thinking” while writing fiction
  • 29:00 – Starting Dog Stars
  • 31:30 – Peter’s method – 1,000 words per day
  • 36:00 – The inevitability of Peter’s stories
  • 38:30 – Winslow Homer paintings and other real-life influences [Click to see “The Gulf Stream” painting]
  • 41:45 – Importance of confidence and craftsmanship in writing
  • 46:50 – Importance of momentum
  • 49:00 – Love of entering “the zone” through writing, surfing, fishing, and more.
  • 51:30 – Peter’s love for Paonia
  • 55:00 – Surfing!
  • 1:02:15 – Favorite books
  • 1:04:00 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:05:45 – Best advice ever received

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 Posted on December 30, 2019 by

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Hal Herring – A Man of Words & Wild Places
Hal Herring

Hal Herring is an award-winning journalist and writer whose work has appeared in such notable publications as the Atlantic, the Economist, and Orion.  He is also a contributing editor at Field and Stream and a regular contributor to High Country News. Most recently, Hal has made a name for himself in the podcast world as the host of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ popular podcast, called the Podcast & Blast with Hal Herring. If there’s one common thread that runs through Hal’s prolific and wide-ranging career, it’s a love of the West, its people, and its public lands.

I’ve long admired Hal and specifically his refusal to be boxed in by any particular political party or close-minded ideologies. He could be considered progressive on some issues and conservative on others, but his opinions are always the result of a lot of deep thinking, extensive research, and thorough consideration. And as you’ll hear him say in this interview, he’s endlessly curious and always open to having his mind changed– two characteristics that I personally admire and try my best to emulate, especially when it comes to issues here in the American West.

Hal and I covered a lot in a little over an hour, and regular listeners will enjoy his depth and breadth of knowledge, as well as his unbridled passion for the West. We start by discussing his upbringing in Alabama and why he decided to move West. We talk a lot about books, and Hal offers up a massive selection of titles that have influenced his work, most of which have never before been mentioned on this podcast. We discuss the importance of journalism at this specific moment in history, and how he goes about finding the facts in today’s overwhelming deluge of media. We also chat about his work ethic, family, his current home in Augusta, Montana, his climbing and mountaineering adventures, and his recent success in the world of podcasts.

There’s a lot to learn and digest in this episode, so be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything. Also, I hope you enjoy the southern accents– I think Hal really brought mine out in full force. Hope you enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Hal Herring

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:05 – Growing up in Alabama
  • 4:15 – Intro to Montana
  • 5:50 – Deep love of Alabama
  • 6:45 – Early years writing & traveling
  • 9:30 – Source of Hal’s early wanderlust
  • 11:35 – When Hal got serious about writing
  • 15:00 – Importance of constraints
  • 18:00 – How Hal’s work on public lands influences his journalism
  • 20:45 – Decision to focus on public lands
  • 22:10 – Need for real journalism
  • 25:00 – Where does Hal get his news?
  • 29:00 – Public land discussion
  • 32:15 – Optimistic or pessimistic for the future of public lands?
  • 36:30 – Mountaineering and climbing
  • 41:15 – Having kids
  • 44:00 – Hal’s foray into podcasting
  • 48:15 – Most important books
  • 50:50 – Connection with Teal Blake
  • 55:30 – Importance of preparation and hard work
  • 57:15 – Hal’s new book
  • 1:00:30 – Favorite films
  • 1:01:50 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:06:30 – Request of the listeners

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 Posted on December 16, 2019 by

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Mark Kenyon – A Passion for Public Lands
Mark Kenyon

Mark Kenyon is a conservationist, outdoorsman, and author of the fantastic new book That Wild Country: An Epic Journey through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands. For years, Mark has been well-known and respected in the hunting world, thanks in part to his website, blog, and podcast called Wired to Hunt, which focuses on the finer points of big game hunting. Mark and Wired to Hunt recently joined forces with Steven Rinella’s MeatEater, which has helped to amplify Mark’s impact on the worlds of hunting and conservation. That Wild County is the culmination of many years of Mark’s adventures, experiences, and writing, and I expect that Mountain & Prairie listeners will thoroughly enjoy it.

From the outside, it appears that Mark is cruising through life, living the dream– he hunts, writes, creates shows, and generally pursues his passions at full speed on a daily basis. But when you scratch below the surface, you’ll see that Mark’s professional path has been (and still is) defined by extreme focus and hard work, as well as an insatiable curiosity for everything from whitetail deer to US history to the finer points of public lands legislation. He walked away from an impressive and safe career at Google to merge his vocation and avocation, choosing to bet on himself rather than corporate America. And his bet paid off– between his podcasts, articles, essays, videos, and, now, a book, Mark’s body of work has educated and inspired countless people throughout the world.

We started our conversation by discussing That Wild Country, which is one of the most engaging and “user-friendly” explanations I’ve read of the history of public lands, as well as the modern-day controversies surrounding public lands. We discuss the conservation legacy of the other Roosevelt– Franklin D Roosevelt– and how his presidency revived our nation’s commitment to public lands stewardship. We dig into the details of the Pittman-Robertson Act, a historic piece of legislation that all of us who love the outdoors need to understand. We discuss the short and impactful life of Bob Marshall, the famed conservationist who is the namesake of Montana’s legendary Bob Marshall Wilderness. We also discuss a lot about Mark’s personal backstory– his decision to leave Google for Wired to Hunt, his recent merger with Meateater, how having a son has changed his perspective, his daily routine for maximum productivity, and much more. And finally, we touch on why Michigan seems to produce so many committed conservationists and outdoor writers.

I’ve admired Mark and his consistent, high-quality work for years, so it was a thrill to finally chat. I encourage you to check out That Wild Country and the Wired to Hunt Podcast, but in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Mark Kenyon.

Photos courtesy of Mark Kenyon

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 5:00 – An overview of “That Wild Country”
  • 9:00 – Timeline of writing the book
  • 11:00 – FDR’s influence on the conservation movement
  • 16:30 – Ins and outs of the Pittman-Robertson Act
  • 20:50 – Arguments around a “backpack tax”
  • 21:40 – Who was Bob Marshall?
  • 25:00 – How to write about dry subjects in an entertaining manner
  • 29:00 – The effort of writing a book
  • 29:40 – How having a kid changed Mark’s working style
  • 32:20 – Mark’s morning routine
  • 35:45 – Mark’s unique career path
  • 38:00 – Epiphany moment in Mark’s career
  • 40:30 – Merging with Meateater
  • 42:30 – Secrets to Wired to Hunt’s success
  • 47:00 – Mark’s “Back 40” project
  • 50:00 – Why does Michigan produce so many outdoor leaders?
  • 52:45 – New information learned about Theodore Roosevelt
  • 57:45 – Optimism or pessimism for the future of public lands
  • 1:01:30 – Important non-profits that Mark supports
  • 1:06:45 – Mark’s favorite books

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 Posted on December 6, 2019 by

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Matt Skoglund – Adventures in Bison Ranching
Matt Skoglund

Matt Skoglund and his wife Sarah are bison ranchers and the owners of the North Bridger Bison Ranch, which is located in Montana’s iconic Shields Valley. The Skoglund’s bison operation is deeply rooted in Holistic Management and Regenerative Agriculture principles, and their goal is to produce healthy and delicious meat, while simultaneously improving the land, helping the environment, and contributing to Montana’s economy. Through hard work and genuine curiosity, Matt has found his life’s true calling in bison ranching—a challenging yet deeply rewarding business that combines so many of Matt’s passions into one dream job.

By now, you may be assuming that Matt comes from a western ranching family or perhaps holds agriculture degrees from a land-grant university. But the reality is that Matt grew up in the Chicago area, attended college in the northeast, then law school, then began a career as an attorney in the litigation department of a large Chicago law firm. After several years of practicing law, he and Sarah could no longer resist the desire to move West, so they took a leap of faith and moved to Bozeman. Matt found a job with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he worked for nearly ten years, digging deep into many conservation issues that affect the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, including bison. Finally, in 2018, after several years of dreaming and planning, they pulled the trigger, bought some land, and started their adventure in bison ranching.

Matt and Sarah’s story is inspiring and instructive, especially for those who have dreams of pursuing lives and careers in the West. Instead of jumping all over the place like I normally do, this conversation is pretty much split into two main sections. The first half covers all the details about North Bridger Bison, how they acquired the ranch, their process of field harvesting the meat, who their customers are, and some of the biggest surprises of running their own business. The second half covers some broader personal topics, such as how being a father has affected Matt’s outlook, why he was able to walk away from a lucrative career in law, and the life lessons learned from being a college hockey player. Whether you are strictly interested in agriculture or only interested in people’s personal evolutions, there are aspects of the Skoglund’s journey that will be fascinating to both groups.

Be sure the check the episode notes for a list of everything we discussed. Hope you enjoy!

Header photo courtesy Courtney Green, other photos courtesy of Matt Skoglund

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:00 – The location of the ranch
  • 5:45 – Why they chose the Shields Valley
  • 8:15 – Details around purchasing the ranch
  • 12:30 – Genesis of the bison ranch idea
  • 14:30 – Books that shaped Matt’s business philosophy
  • 16:00 – Transitioning from dreaming about ranching to doing it
  • 18:15 – Criteria when searching for land
  • 22:45 – Collaboration among bison ranchers
  • 25:30 – Details of field harvesting bison
  • 30:40 – Biggest surprises of bison ranching
  • 36:00 – How past professional experiences inform bison ranching
  • 37:00 – Lessons learned from stressful situations
  • 39:30 – Transition from the law to conservation
  • 42:00 – Moving to Bozeman
  • 43:00 – Getting off the big law firm “treadmill”
  • 44:50 – Where Matt got his independent streak
  • 47:30 – Lessons learned from high-level athletics
  • 49:30 – How having kids changed Matt’s life and perspective
  • 54:30 – Three specific heroes and mentors
  • 58:45 – Aldo Leopold obsession
  • 1:00:15 – Favorite books

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 Posted on November 6, 2019 by

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Becca Aceto – Forging Her Own Path in the West
Becca Aceto

Becca Aceto is an Idaho-based conservationist and is currently the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Idaho Wildlife Federation. Prior to this position with IWF, she worked in a variety of jobs closely connected to Idaho’sIdaho’s rugged landscapes—as a naturalist, Forest Service wilderness ranger, and a Forest Service Wildlife Technician. Given her professional commitment to the lands and wildlife of the northern Rockies, you might assume that she’s a native westerner, but in fact, she grew up in Ohio and attended the University of Kentucky before heading West after graduation.

As the oldest of six siblings, Becca has never been shy about “putting herself out there,” learning new skills, or diving head-first into new experiences. She’s studied various types of conservation in far-flung places like Thailand and Costa Rica, and she moved to the small town of Stanley, Idaho, without knowing a soul who lived there. Most recently, in 2017, she took up hunting and has fallen in love with the sport, becoming the Idaho ambassador for the sportswomen’s group Artemis. Becca’s willingness to step outside her comfort zone both professionally and personally can serve as a blueprint for many non-western young people who want to build a fulfilling life and career for themselves in the Rocky Mountains.

Becca and I caught up between a few of her fall hunts and had a wonderful conversation, discussing everything from her early days in Ohio to her current life and work in Idaho. We started by chatting about her upbringing—her childhood spent fishing in a small neighborhood creek, her love of horses, and the positive influence of her grandmother (who happens to be a Buddhist and a vegetarian). We talked about her time working as a ranger and some of the hard-won lessons she learned by suffering in the backcountry. We talk a lot about her relatively new journey becoming a hunter and some of the challenges and opportunities that come with learning to hunt as an adult. We also discuss the important conservation work of the IWF, in politics, on-the-ground stewardship, and public lands advocacy. As usual, we discuss lots of books and the best advice she’s ever received.

We cover a lot in a little over an hour, and I jump around with my questions even more than usual, so be sure the check out the episode notes for a list of everything we discuss. Enjoy!

All photos courtesy of Becca Aceto

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:00 – Where Becca grew up
  • 6:10 – Decision to study natural resources at University of Kentucky
  • 8:45 – Working in Costa Rica 
  • 10:00 – Decision to move West
  • 11:30 – First jobs in Idaho
  • 14:30 – Bravery to move out West on her own
  • 16:30 – Becca’s Buddhist, vegetarian grandmother’s influence
  • 19:30 – Working conditions as a forest ranger
  • 21:00 – Importance of discomfort and fear
  • 25:00 – Starting to work at the Idaho Wildlife Federation
  • 29:15 – Importance of politics
  • 30:00 – Threat to public lands
  • 34:30 – Learning to hunt
  • 38:30 – Hunting lessons learned from year to year
  • 42:45 – Artemis sportswomen
  • 45:20 – Need for diversity in hunting and conservation
  • 47:00 – Advice for novice hunters
  • 49:15 – Becca’s most recent hunting trip
  • 57:00 – Writing
  • 1:00:15 – Favorite books
  • 1:02:30 – Favorite films
  • 1:04:30 – Out-of-the-ordinary hobbies
  • 1:06:00 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:07:00 – Best advice ever received
  • 1:08:30 – Words of wisdom
  • 1:10:00 – Connect with Becca

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 Posted on October 17, 2019 by

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Duke Phillips III – A Vision for the New West
Duke Phillips III (photo by Charles Post)

Duke Phillips III is the founder and CEO of Ranchlands, a Colorado-based, family-owned ranch management company. If Ranchlands sounds familiar, that’s because last week’s episode was with Duke’s son, Duke Phillips IV. You may remember that the younger Duke referenced his father’s philosophies around business and leadership several times, so I thought it would be fun to have the elder Duke on the podcast for an in-depth conversation. And in-depth it was—in a little under an hour we covered a wide range of subjects, everything from the future of ranching to world travels to poetry.

Duke has led a fascinating life, starting with his early years spent growing up on a remote cattle ranch in rural Mexico. His twenties were devoted to traveling and working around the world, including places like Europe, Central America, Australia, and the Bering Sea. Around age thirty he started his first “real job” in ranching, which eventually led to the formation of his company Ranchlands. Since its beginnings over two decades ago, Ranchlands has set a new standard what is possible when ranching, conservation, education, and business are successfully combined. And Ranchlands partnership with Colorado’s State Land Board is a case study in effective, mutually beneficial public-private partnerships.

I caught up with Duke on the phone, where he was gracious enough to take time away from one of his New Mexico operations to chat with me. We started by talking about his childhood in Mexico and the lessons he learned from growing up in such a wild and remote landscape. Then we discussed the series of travels and jobs that led to his founding Ranchlands in his mid-forties. From there, our conversation hits on a variety of subjects, including the joys of working with his kids, Duke III and Tess, the ins-and-outs of the bison ranching business, and his thoughts on the recent popularity of regenerative agriculture. There’s minimal overlap between the topics covered in this conversation and my conversation with young Duke, so be sure to check the episode notes for a full list of all the interesting information discussed.

Palmer Land Trust will be honoring Duke and his family at the 10th Annual Southern Colorado Conservation Awards on October 3rd in Colorado Springs. It’s going to be a fun and inspiring evening, so follow the link in the episode notes for more information and tickets.  Hope to see you there!

Enjoy the podcast!

All photos courtesy of Charles Post, who also generously donated his Ranchlands photos to Palmer Land Trust for promotion of the 2019 Southern Colorado Conservation Awards.

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:30 – Where Duke grew up
  • 6:30 – Lessons learned from growing up in Mexico
  • 8:30 – Having patience with those new to ranching
  • 9:45 – Leaving Mexico
  • 11:50 – World travels and adventures in his 20s
  • 14:30 – First “real job”
  • 15:45 – Lead-up to Chico Basin
  • 17:00 – Ranchlands explained
  • 22:00- Ranchlands’ grazing philosophy
  • 26:00 – Joys of working with Tess and Duke IV
  • 27:30 – Keys to running a successful family business
  • 29:30 – Keeping kids humble
  • 31:20 – Importance of positivity in life and business
  • 35:00 – Importance of honesty in business
  • 37:40 – Successful partnerships with Colorado’s State Board and The Nature Conservancy
  • 41:30 – Running a bison ranch
  • 45:00 – Regenerative agriculture
  • 48:30 – Heroes and mentors
  • 52:00 – The future of ranching
  • 54:00 – Favorite books and poetry
  • 56:30 – Most powerful outdoor experience

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 Posted on September 26, 2019 by

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Duke Phillips IV – Living with the Land
Duke Phillips IV (photo by Charles Post)

Duke Phillips IV is the Chief Operating Officer of Ranchlands, a Colorado-based ranching and ranch management company that is widely celebrated for its deep conservation ethic. Duke oversees all operations across Ranchlands’ properties, which include the renowned 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch and the 103,000-acre Medano Zapata Ranch. Working closely with his father Duke III and his sister Tess, the Duke and his family share a commitment to long-term land stewardship, and they embody the Ranchlands philosophy of “Working together to live with the land.”

As part of a multi-generational ranching family in southeastern Colorado, Duke grew up with one foot in the ranching culture and the other in a more traditional life of school, sports, and typical childhood activities. After college, he decided to return to the family business, where he began to work his way up through the ranks to his current role of COO.  Along the way, he learned lessons in leadership, humility, conservation, stockmanship, and business, many of which he shares with me during this conversation. Duke is one of the more humble and understated people I’ve met, especially when considering all that he’s accomplished so early into his career.

I met Duke out at the Chico where we sat around his kitchen table and chatted– and it was truly a delightful conversation. We talked about the operations at their ranches, delving into some of the details around their breed of cattle, the Beefmaster.  We discussed the apprentice and intern programs at Ranchlands, and why he and his family value teaching and educating both the general public and the next generation of land stewards. We discussed Duke’s thoughts on leadership and the importance of being humble and calm in all situations. He also explains Ranchlands open gate policy, and how that philosophy differs from some of the conventional wisdom around access to land in the West. We also discuss books, his heroes and mentors, flying helicopters, lessons learned from living and working internationally, and much more.

Finally, I wanted to note that Ranchlands will be honored at Palmer Land Trust’s 10th Annual Southern Colorado Conservation Awards on October 3rd in Colorado Springs. We’ll be debuting a short film about the Phillips family that highlights some of their innovative conservation work throughout the state. I guarantee it will be an inspiring and fun evening.

There are many important lessons to be learned from this conversation with Duke– check the episode notes below for a full list of everything we discussed.  Hope you enjoy!

All photos courtesy of Charles Post, who also generously donated his Ranchlands photos to Palmer Land Trust for promotion of the 2019 Southern Colorado Conservation Awards.

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:30 – Background on Chico Basin
  • 6:00 – Chico Basin’s open gate policy
  • 8:00 – Education and birding programs on the ranch
  • 11:15 – Background on open gate policy
  • 14:00 – Beefmaster cattle breed
  • 19:00 – Ideal characteristics of the Beefmaster breed
  • 22:15 – Good books about grazing and ranching
  • 23:30 – How travel and education have shaped their business
  • 25:00 – Finishing high school and starting college
  • 28:00 – Choice to study liberal arts
  • 30:00 – Internship and apprentice program
  • 34:00 – Traits Duke looks for in employees
  • 40:00 – Duke’s evolution as a leader
  • 42:00 – Importance of good communication
  • 44:00 – Heroes and mentors
  • 49:00 – Importance of being positive
  • 54:00 – Importance of controlling anger
  • 56:30 – Favorite books
  • 59:00 – Flying helicopters and planes
  • 1:01:30 – Using helicopters in ranching
  • 1:03:10 – Most powerful outdoor experience
  • 1:07:30 – Favorite place in the West

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 Posted on September 20, 2019 by

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Live in Bozeman!

Live in Bozeman!

This episode is a special recording from a Mountain & Prairie live podcast in Bozeman, Montana. On August 30th more than 300 folks gathered at the historic Ellen Theatre in downtown Bozeman to watch, listen, and participate in a wide-ranging conversation with four amazing women of the West—hat-maker and farmer Cate Havstad; silversmith and all-around artist Jillian Lukiwski; adventure photographer and writer Becca Skinner; and rancher and county commissioner Juanita Vero. We also held a raffle that benefited the Montana Land Reliance and the critical conservation work it is doing throughout the state of Montana.

The show started out with a hilarious, high-energy welcome from the amazing Becca Frucht, who is one of the funniest and most unique human beings I’ve ever met. Then I spent about an hour and fifteen minutes asking the women questions about their lives, work, and a shared love of western landscapes. After that, we had some excellent questions from the audience, followed by a few words from the Jessie Weisse from the Montana Land Reliance. As you’ll hear, a good bit of our conversation centered around the land, conservation, and agriculture, so it was very fitting that the Montana Land Reliance was such an important part of the evening. My only complaint about the event is that I wish it could’ve been much longer—as you’d expect, we only scratched the surface of all the fascinating topics we could’ve discussed.

A heartfelt thank you to Cate, Jillian, Becca, and Juanita for being so open, thoughtful, and funny with all of their answers—the evening would not have been even a fraction of the success it was without their participation. Thanks to Becca Frucht for her energizing welcome and for figuring out a way to work Road House into her remarks. Thank you to the Montana Land Reliance for all of their important work throughout the state and for being part of the evening. A huge thanks to our sponsors—Chris Dombrowski Fly Fishing, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, ONDA Wellness, Modern Huntsman, Beargrass Writing Retreat, Heyday, Head West Bozeman, and Big Agnes. And last but definitely not least, thanks to everyone who attended the event—I know we had people travel to Bozeman from many other states and even Canada for the show, so I can’t thank you all enough for being such important members of this podcast community.

It was truly a night to remember, and I’m excited to do more live shows in 2020, so stay tuned for that. But in the meantime, enjoy this audio version of the Mountain & Prairie Podcast, live in Bozeman!

All photos by Jasper Poore

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:30 – Welcome from the great Becca Frucht
  • 8:30 – A few words from Ed
  • 11:30 – Quick intros
  • 13:00 – Update on Cate’s involvement in farming
  • 15:30- Juanita’s entrance into county politics
  • 20:00 – Jillian’s evolving connection to her place
  • 21:00 – Becca’s immersion in private land conservation
  • 27:30 – Juanita’s thoughts on private land conservation
  • 32:00 – Jillian discusses the importance of hard work and adventure in wild places
  • 35:30 – Cate discusses the business realities of farming
  • 44:00 – Jillian and Becca talk about “putting herself out there”
  • 47:30 – Using social media productively
  • 50:00 – Other places the ladies would choose to live
  • 55:30 – Best books read in the past year
  • 1:01:30 – How their husbands/partners bolster them as individuals
  • 1:06:30 – Jillian’s “Big Enough Theory”
  • 1:12:00 – Q&A – Mentors and mentoring
  • 1:17:00 – Q&A – Roots to the past in the women’s trades
  • 1:20:30 – Q&A – Role of horses in the ladies lives
  • 1:28:00 – Q&A – Balancing development and conservation in Montana
  • 1:35:30 – Q&A – How do we connect people with their food
  • 1:40:15 – A few words from the Montana Land Reliance

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William deBuys – Sage of the Southwest
William deBuys (photo: Ben Moscona)

William deBuys is a renowned writer and conservationist who is known as one of the most influential thinkers in the modern-day American West. To call Bill prolific would be a blatant understatement—a few of his many books include The Walk, A Great Aridness, River of Traps, and The Last Unicorn. For more than 40 years, Bill has owned and tended a small farm in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico, a property that has heavily influenced his life, work, and appreciation for land. I was fortunate enough to meet Bill at his farm for this interview, which was a thrill and an experience I won’t soon forget.

Bill was born and raised on the east coast but moved to New Mexico after college to take a job as a research assistant with writer Robert Coles. Bill found himself immersed in the arid landscape of the American Southwest and very quickly fell in love with the people, culture, and terrain. From then on, Bill’s life and work centered around the land, whether earning his Ph.D., working for the Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund, or pursuing full-time writing. His life serves as an inspiring case study of how to meld on-the-ground conservation work with high-level aspirational writing and journalism.

My biggest challenge with this conversation was figuring out how to fit five hours of questions into a single hour! We start by discussing how Bill ended up in New Mexico, and then chat a good bit about his farm. We discuss lessons learned from his work in land conservation, and techniques he uses to find common ground among competing stakeholders. We talk a lot about his writing process and routine, including Bill’s excellent advice related to the technical and psychological aspects of writing. We also discuss several of his books, and how writing each book has influenced his perspective and appreciation for his beloved New Mexico home. Bill offers up a useful and completely unique technique for summoning gratitude, a practice I believe we all can benefit from. And as usual, we discuss his favorite books, his favorite location in the West, and the best advice he ever received.

It was a dream come true to spend time with Bill at his farm, so I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Be sure the check the episode notes for links to everything we discussed!

Header photo courtesy of Bill deBuys, headshot by Ben Moscona

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:30 – El Valle, New Mexico, described
  • 5:45 – How Bill ended up in New Mexico
  • 10:30 – Work with The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund
  • 12:30 – Lessons learned from conservation work
  • 14:30 – Early writing experience
  • 15:25 – Looking back at old work
  • 16:30 – Understanding and appreciating “place”
  • 19:45 – How Bill wrote “The Walk”
  • 22:15 – Dealing with feedback on his writing
  • 23:15 – The writer’s mindset
  • 24:30 – Bill’s writing process
  • 29:00 – Decision to focus mostly on writing
  • 30:15 – Discussion of his book “A Great Aridness”
  • 34:25 – Actionable ideas for dealing with climate change
  • 38:00 – Valles Caldera Trust
  • 42:00 – Techniques for finding common grounds
  • 45:30 – “The Last Unicorn” and other international adventures
  • 46:50 – Influentials writers and thinkers
  • 49:00 – Teaching and its influence on his work
  • 51:00 – Favorite books
  • 53:00 – Practice of writing down all the “aunts and uncles”
  • 55:00 – Most powerful outdoor experience
  • 56:10 – Threats to ANWR and the Rio Grand corridor
  • 59:25 – Favorite location in the West
  • 59:30 – Best advice ever received

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 Posted on September 4, 2019 by

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Emilene Ostlind – Storytelling for the New West
Emilene Ostlind

Emilene Ostlind is a Wyoming-based journalist and storyteller whose work focuses on the landscapes, natural resources, and communities of the American West. She may be best known for her work studying and documenting the long-distance migration of pronghorn antelope from Grand Teton National Park down into the Green River Valley—a topic that was the basis for her graduate school thesis, as well as her award-winning High Country News cover story about the “Path of the Pronghorn.” Emilene is also the editor of Western Confluence, an amazingly informative, entertaining, and free magazine published by the University of Wyoming’s Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources. And if all of that is not enough, she is also working closely on the production of an upcoming documentary called Deer 139, which tells the story of a mule deer’s migration across Wyoming and a researcher’s attempt to follow that same path on foot.

Emilene grew up at the base of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming, a third-generation Wyomingite from a family closely connected to ranching and the land. After earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming, she landed a job in Washington DC with National Geographic, where she learned first hand the power of storytelling as a means of communicating important, complex issues. She returned to the University of Wyoming for a graduate degree in creative nonfiction writing, with a focus on understanding and documenting pronghorns’ migration patterns throughout her home state. Along with photographer Joe Riis, they explored the mountains of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, shedding light on one of the lower 48’s last remaining big game migration corridors.

If you’ve enjoyed my conversations with folks like Dan Flores and Bryce Andrews, then you’ll love this episode. We dig deep into the specifics of pronghorns and discuss why they are one of the more interesting and impressive North American mammals. We talk about how Emilene initially became interested in pronghorn migrations, and how the project began and played out over several years. We also discuss her work editing Western Confluence and the 2018 book Wild Migrations. As you’d expect, we discuss her upbringing in Wyoming, her career path in storytelling, and she offers some excellent advice for aspiring journalists who’d like to follow a similar path. And of course we discuss favorite books, so be sure to check the episode notes for links to all of those– there are a lot of new titles.

I encourage you to subscribe to Western Confluence—it’s totally free which is quite a deal when you consider just how much you’ll learn from reading it. But in the meantime, enjoy my fun and educational conversation with Emilene Ostlind.

Photos courtesy of Emilene Ostlind

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:30 – Emilene’s family history in Wyoming
  • 7:00 – Her life-long interest in storytelling
  • 8:00 – Experience at National Geographic
  • 12:30 – Heading back West from DC
  • 13:30 – Genesis of pronghorn migration idea
  • 15:00 – Applying to grad school
  • 17:00 – “Path of the Pronghorn”
  • 21:50 – Pronghorns explained
  • 26:30 – Reception of migration story by the general public
  • 30:00 – Steps that landowners can take to help animal migrations
  • 35:00 – Wyoming as a last major migration corridor
  • 37:30 – “Deer 139”
  • 41:20 – Storytelling through film
  • 44:45 – Western Confluence
  • 50:00 – Mentors, heroes, and books
  • 53:30 – “Wild Migrations”
  • 56:40 – Advice to aspiring storytellers
  • 59:45 – Favorite books about the West
  • 1:01:00 – Favorite films
  • 1:02:00 – Most powerful outdoor experience
  • 1:03:40 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:05:00 – Best advice she’s ever received
  • 1:06:15 – Request of the listeners
  • 1:07:40 – Connect with Emilene

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 Posted on August 19, 2019 by

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Behind the Scenes with Ed – Parts 1 & 2

PART 1: Behind the Scenes with Ed – Cutting-Edge Land & Water Conservation in the West

This episode is a little different—this is part one of a two-part series in which I’m the one in the hot seat. It’s a repost of my recent appearance on the Quivira Coalition’s excellent podcast called “Down to Earth – The Planet to Plate Podcast.” They were nice enough to invite me on to discuss some of my conservation work at Palmer Land Trust, particularly around our focus of conserving irrigated farmland in southeastern Colorado. It’s fascinating work that hits on many of the issues we’ve previously discussed here on Mountain & Prairie—water rights, pressures facing agricultural communities, holistic approaches to resource management, balancing the needs of agriculture with that of municipalities, and more. It’s what I spend the vast majority of my time doing, and I hope you’ll find it interesting and informative.

Regardless of whether or not you listen to my episode, I highly encourage you to check out Down to Earth. The host Mary-Charlotte is a journalistic pro who likes to dive deep in the nuances of agriculture and has interviewed some of the most impressive people working in agriculture today (present company excluded). If you’ve enjoyed my past episodes with folks like Jim Howell, Pat O’Toole, Christine Su, and, of course, Quivira Executive Director Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, then I can guarantee you’ll love the Down to Earth podcast. There’s a link to Down to Earth in the episode notes, so be sure to check it out and give them a great iTunes review if you’re so inclined.

Thanks again to Down to Earth for being interested in my work, and thanks to you all for listening. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Hope you enjoy!

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PART 2: Behind the Scenes with Ed – A Never-Boring, Often-Crazy Personal Journey

If you listened to the previous episode above, then you know that I’m mixing things up a bit. This is Part 2 of a two-part series in which I’m the one in the hot seat. This episode is a repost of my recent appearance on the Truth & Dare Podcast, a wonderfully inspiring show that features in-depth conversations about personal growth, risk-taking, and living life to the fullest.

In the first part of this two-part series, you’ll remember it being detailed discussion around my professional interests—land, water, and agriculture. This conversation on Truth & Dare is equally detailed and deep, but focused almost exclusively on my personal life—my journey from North Carolina to the West, my obsession with long-distance running, the crazy way that I met my wife, lessons learned for a semester of NOLS, how my wife and girls’ influence has made me a much better person, and much more. Many of the books and ideas that we’ve discussed on Mountain & Prairie play a big role in my personal evolution from wanna-be real estate developer to conservationist, so I wanted to share this with you all.

As you’ll hear, the host Camden is a curious, kind, and natural conversationalist who likes to talk deeply about subjects of substance—not surface-level nonsense. I was turned on to her podcast when she interviewed my friend—artist, surfer, and family-man Kevin Mirsky—and I was thrilled and a little nervous when she asked me to join her on the show. But we had an instant connection and a great conversation that I hope you’ll enjoy. But regardless of my episode, if you are interested in personal growth and stories of people who have taken unconventional paths, you should definitely give Truth & Dare a listen.

A huge thanks again to Camden for having me on, thanks to you all for listening, and I’ll be back with regular Mountain & Prairie episodes in the next few days.

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 Posted on August 7, 2019 by

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Morgan Irons – Finding Her Muse
Morgan Irons

Morgan Irons is a Montana-based artist whose captivating oil paintings combine the classic style of late 19th-century painters with her own modern-day interpretation of the West’s people and places. When I first discovered Morgan’s art, I assumed I was looking at the work of a classically trained artist who’d been in the trenches of painting for decades… and I couldn’t have been more wrong. Morgan has only been painting since 2015, with virtually no artistic training prior. Her innate talent is matched only by her work ethic and commitment to the craft—she has built her life around the process of making art, which is inspiring and instructive for anyone with creative aspirations.

Morgan was born in Durango and spent her youth in various parts of the West, including Alaska and Idaho. After college in the flat midwest, she immediately returned to more rugged landscapes, working in Alaska and eventually landing in Bozeman. She tried her hand at a “normal” job but found the corporate world to be uninspiring and frustrating. So rather than wallow and complain, she moved on from that job and soon thereafter, discovered her talent for painting. Since then, she’s gone all-in on her career as an artist, and she is building quite a strong following in the art world.

If you are a person who dreams of pursuing your creative passion full time, then you will love this episode—it’s full of actionable ideas around art and the creative process. We talk about the remote cabin where Morgan lives and paints, and why she needs solitude and open spaces for maximum creative output. We discuss her daily routine and how she primes her artistic mindset through hiking, meditation, and writing. We also discuss how she blocks out distractions and her techniques for using the productive aspects of social media while avoiding the time-wasting traps. We obviously talk about the point when she discovered her talent for painting and how she has honed that talent through workshops and mentorships from top painters. Finally, Morgan tells some great stories about hunting for ghosts with her dad, her favorite books, a bear that broke into her car, and the importance of having no “Plan B.” Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of Morgan Irons

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 5:00 – Where Morgan is based
  • 6:00 – Why Morgan likes solitude
  • 8:00 – Balancing technology—productivity vs. distraction
  • 11:00 – Morgan’s younger years
  • 12:00 – Heading to college in St. Louis
  • 14:30 – Family history in Alaska
  • 17:30 – Job in Alaska
  • 22:00 – Lessons learned in Alaska
  • 23:00 – Moving in Bozeman 
  • 25:15 – Discovering art
  • 27:00 – Buying paint and starting to make art
  • 30:00 – Feelings during the process of painting
  • 32:30 – Learning from the masters while keeping the originality
  • 35:30 – Formal learning from world-class artists
  • 38:00 – Learning from fellow students as well as professors
  • 40:00 – Daily routines
  • 44:00 – Meditation practice
  • 46:30 – Balancing friendships with her need for solo time
  • 50:00 – How the West shapes her work
  • 53:30 – Mentors and artists Morgan admires
  • 56:00 – A non-painting artist who Morgan admires
  • 58:30 – How her psychology degree has helped her art
  • 1:00:00 – Favorite books
  • 1:04:00 – Ghost hunting!
  • 1:08:30 – Crazy bear encounter
  • 1:12:00 – Words of wisdom
  • 1:14:30 – Connect with Morgan online

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 Posted on July 22, 2019 by

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Heather Hansman – Demystifying Water in the West
Heather Hansman

Heather Hansman is a freelance writer and editor whose work explores the intersection of science, adventure, and culture. Her new book Downriver: Into the Future of Water in the West should be required reading for everyone who enjoys this podcast—it strikes the perfect balance of being entertaining and educational while examining all sides of the many issues facing the West’s water supply. There are few topics in the West as divisive and emotional as water, and in her book, Heather provides a balanced overview of all the issues, delving deep into the substance of water-related arguments, without crossing over into the mind-numbing jargon that defines most water-related writing.

The book follows Heather’s 730-mile float down the length of the Green River, starting at the base of Wyoming’s Wind River mountains and ending at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers in Utah. Along the way, she meets with a wide range of western water stakeholders—ranchers, farmers, river guides, government employees, scientists, conservationists, and more—and digs into their sometimes competing interests fighting for their shares of water in the West. But the book is far from an academic examination of water law—Heather paddled two-thirds of the river completely alone, so there is also a compelling adventure narrative that runs throughout the book.  

To understand most of the challenges facing the West, you need to understand water, and this episode is a perfect place to start. Heather and I start our conversation by laying out some of the basics around water—terminology that you may have heard thrown around but never truly understood. She explains how water in the West is a property right separate from land, and she explains some of the common language used when discussing water. We chat about why the Colorado River is over-allocated, and how transbasin diversions have transformed much of the West into a very large and complex plumbing system. For the second half of the conversation, we discuss Heather’s professional path as a writer, journalist, and former river guide. We talk about why she moved west, her first gig as a professional writer, and some of the tricks of the trade she uses to force herself to write. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and favorite locations in the West.

As a guy who spends much of my day working with water and water rights, I can’t thank Heather enough for writing this book. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Photos courtesy of Heather Hansman

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:15 – Events leading to writing the book
  • 7:30 – Overview of the river trip
  • 11:00 – Women pursuing adventure for adventure’s sake
  • 15:00 – Water as a private property right
  • 16:30 – What does “over-allocation” mean?
  • 19:20 – How do we overcome water shortages?
  • 20:30 – Transbasin diversions and the West’s plumbing system
  • 23:00 – Ins-and-outs of dams
  • 26:00 – Importance of being open-minded to all sides of issues in the West
  • 29:40 – “Water flows uphill towards money”
  • 32:00 – True value of water 
  • 33:45 – Potential water crisis
  • 35:00 – Reasons for optimism
  • 39:10 – Early years of river guiding
  • 42:30 – Pursuing a career in journalism
  • 44:30 – Benefits of journalism grad school
  • 45:45 – Process of writing and writing the book
  • 48:00 – Mentors
  • 50:50 – Becoming a full-time writer
  • 52:15 – Favorite books
  • 56:30 – Favorite films
  • 57:30 – Scariest event on the Green River trip
  • 1:02:30 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:05:00 – Request of the podcast listeners
  • 1:06:30 – Connect with Heather online

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 Posted on July 9, 2019 by

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David Gessner, Part 2 – Ambition, Art, and Arête
David Gessner

If you’re a regular Mountain & Prairie listener, then you are undoubtedly familiar with best-selling author David Gessner. He has written several of my all-favorite books, most notably All the Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West. He was also a past guest on this podcast almost exactly a year ago—a conversation that continues to receive excellent feedback and ranks as one of my most downloaded episodes. Between his writing, teaching, chairing the Creative Writing department at University of North Carolina Wilmington, and his role as a committed family man, David is a busy guy—so I greatly appreciate his sitting down to record a second episode.

We caught up during his annual trip to Colorado and covered a wide range of fascinating topics, all presented with his signature style of deeply considered insightfulness balanced with a hilarious sense of humor. We chatted about his ongoing work on his new book about public lands and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as a recent research trip in which he flew in a Cessna from Colorado to northwest Montana and many places in between. We discussed his thoughts on Theodore Roosevelt, and how his opinions of the man have evolved throughout this book project. David shares more insights into his writing process and how endurance and team sports have helped build his discipline and work ethic as an author. We spend a good amount of time discussing his book Ultimate Glory, digging into the mindset that allowed David to pursue the sport of Ultimate Frisbee—and writing—with laser-focused obsession. We finish up by chatting about some of the best books he’s read in the past year, as well as one relatively unknown author that everyone who loves the West should read.

This episode will obviously be of great interest to people who love the West, but I highly recommend it to anyone who is focused on a creative pursuit—writing, painting, poetry, sculpture, you name it. Thanks to his decades of daily grinding and obsession, David is a shining example of the discipline and commitment required to be a professional artist, and he’s damn good at explaining it in a way that really sinks in.

If you haven’t already, check out my first conversation with David as well—there’s a link in the episode notes.  But right now, enjoy this enlightening and hilarious conversation with David Gessner.

Headshot courtesy of David Gessner, Banner photo by Ed

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:00 – The importance of Boulder, Colorado in David’s life and work
  • 9:00 – Endurance feats as a metaphor for writing
  • 11:00 – Importance of having massive goals
  • 12:45 – Importance of  ambition
  • 15:00 – Current book project and trip to the West
  • 18:45 – Recent flight around the West
  • 20:00 – Examining TR in a modern context
  • 22:20 – Reluctance to become an activist
  • 25:50 – Changing perspectives on TR
  • 30:00 – Political cartooning
  • 32:00 – David on taking feedback from editors and others
  • 35:15 – Importance of constraints in writing and life
  • 39:50 – Arête
  • 42:15 – Finding camaraderie outside of team sports
  • 46:50 – Teaching the writing mindset
  • 50:50 – Best books David read this year
  • 53:45 – Lesser known authors worth reading

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 Posted on June 24, 2019 by

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Mike Phillips – Audacious Goals, Relentless Action
Mike Phillips

Mike Phillips is the Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund (“TESF”), an organization that he co-founded in 1997 with Ted Turner. Mike is also a Montana state senator representing District 31, which encompasses parts of his hometown of Bozeman and the surrounding area. In his work as an ecologist, Mike has spent much of his career studying and implementing the reintroduction of wolves throughout the United States. And in both science and politics, he’s never shied away from taking vocal leadership roles involving a wide range of important issues in southwest Montana and beyond.

Mike is very well known for his work with gray wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and also for his efforts to reintroduce the species into western Colorado. But as you’ll hear in our conversation, wolves are just a small part of his work– his overarching interest is the persistence of many imperiled species, with a particular emphasis on private land’s role in the recovery efforts.  Whether considering the fate of monarch butterflies, cutthroat trout, or gray wolves, Mike’s approach is the same– an action-oriented, science-backed strategy toward conserving biological diversity.

No matter where you stand on the issue of gray wolf reintroduction, I encourage you to give this conversation with Mike a very close listen. If you’re like me, you’ll be struck not only by his passion for ecology but by his deep reliance on non-emotional, quantitative scientific data. You’ll also notice his insatiable curiosity and his willingness to change his when presented with compelling new information. And finally, I think you’ll be impressed by his ability to discuss controversial topics such as wolves or politics in a respectful, considered tone that welcomes conversation and input from all sides of the issues.

I can’t thank Mike enough for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat. This is an important conversation that will make you think, and Mike’s enthusiasm will likely motivate you to dedicate more of your time to a cause that is important to you.

Headshot courtesy of Mike Phillips

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 3:30 – Beginnings of the Turner Endangered Species Fund
  • 9:30 – Mike’s background in ecology
  • 14:00 – TESF success stories
  • 17:30 – Wolf recovery in Colorado
  • 24:30 – Mike addresses the counterarguments to wolf recovery
  • 35:00 – Mike’s ability to not shy away from conflict—in ecology and politics
  • 39:30 – Decision to enter into politics
  • 43:30 – Importance of being mission and service oriented
  • 44:30 – Lessons learned from baseball
  • 47:30 – Importance of being able to “see around the next corner”
  • 48:30 – Private land’s role in conservation
  • 53:30 – Favorite books
  • 56:00 – Favorite films
  • 58:00 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:00:00 – Request of the listeners

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 Posted on June 9, 2019 by

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James Decker – Inspired Leadership for the New West
James Decker

James Decker is a farmer, attorney, and the Mayor of Stamford, TX, a tight-knit agricultural community located about 45 minutes north of Abilene. James grew up in Stamford, left for college and law school, but immediately returned home to begin his career– his love of his hometown and desire to contribute to its success far outweighed any material success that could result from practicing law in a big city. With his service-oriented mindset and natural leadership abilities, James worked his way up from city council to Mayor, all while working as an attorney and growing his family.

Like so many devoted small-town mayors, James is driven by a deep desire to see his community thrive, despite the many forces that seem to be conspiring against small-town America. He approaches local politics with an inspiring amount of focus and determination, and he’s not afraid to seek out new ideas from a variety of sometimes-unexpected sources. His weekly essays are worth a read whether you live in Stamford or not– he explores subjects ranging from the nuts and bolts of economic development to the writings of Wendell Berry to quotations from Theodore Roosevelt.  

James is a shining example of the positive impact that one passionate person can have when he or she decides to lead with enthusiasm, optimism, and old-fashioned hard work.  We covered a lot in our conversation, starting with his upbringing in Stamford and some of the history of the town. We talk about how he chose to return to Stamford after law school, despite having plenty of other opportunities elsewhere. We discuss the challenges facing rural America and how he chooses to approach economic development with an aggressive, proactive posture.  We also talk about his mentors and heroes, and how his love of history and biographies inform his leadership. We obviously talk a lot about Wendell Berry and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as his favorite books and our shared love of the greatest movie of all time, Road House.

The West is full of many small agricultural towns, and many of those communities share the same opportunities and challenges facing Stamford.  I think you’ll be inspired by this episode, and be sure to check the notes for links to everything we discuss. Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of James Decker

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Episode Notes

Topics Discussed:

  • 4:15 – How James describes his work
  • 5:00 – Stamford, Texas described
  • 7:00 – Family history
  • 8:30 – Growing up in Stamford
  • 9:30 – Choice to return to Stamford
  • 15:30 – Local heroes and mentors
  • 18:00 – What creates community pride?
  • 22:30 – James’s weekly essays
  • 26:00 – Decision to run for mayor
  • 28:00 – Biggest surprise of being mayor
  • 31:30 – Biggest challenge facing Stamford
  • 35:30 – Economic opportunities in small towns
  • 39:45 – Sources of inspirations, Wendell Berry and TR
  • 45:15 – Seeking out different opinions
  • 47:00 – National and local politics
  • 51:45 – How kids have changed James’s perspective
  • 57:00 – Importance of aggression
  • 1:00:00 – Best Texas history books
  • 1:02:30 – Favorite books
  • 1:08:50 – Favorite films
  • 11:11:30 – Hobbies away from work
  • 1:13:30 – Favorite location in the West
  • 1:15:30 – Best advice ever received
  • 1:16:30 – Request of the listeners
  • 1:18:00 – Connect with James

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 Posted on May 24, 2019 by

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