Podcast Archives • Page 6 of 9 • Mountain & Prairie

Agriculture, Athletes, Conservation, Conservationists, Leadership, Service

Anna Brones is a freelance journalist, author, artist, and producer who is prolific in all of her creative endeavors– she’s published four books, produced documentary films, is currently publishing a quarterly print journal about food, and much more. One of her most recent projects was the Women’s Wisdom Project, in which she showcased the wisdom of inspiring women by creating 100 papercut portraits. All of Anna’s work is authentic and enlightening, and her personal commitment to cultivating creativity is instructive and inspiring.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Anna always had a deep appreciation for nature and community. She has studied, lived, and worked in many different countries and cities, but several years ago decided to return to her hometown in Washington state where she and her husband currently live. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Anna has read and thought deeply on the importance of place, and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be truly connected to a landscape or community.

Anna and I connected via Skype and had a wide-ranging conversation about her creative process, her current and past artistic projects, the importance of wilderness and nature, and much more. We started by discussing her Creative Fuel Challenge email newsletter– an amazing resource that has been very helpful to me during these past few crazy months. We also discussed her Women’s Wisdom Project–how she researched all 100 inspirational women and the process of creating 100 intricate pieces of art. Anna talked about her experience leading kids on a wilderness leadership retreat, as well as how camp and wilderness experiences in her own youth helped to shape her life and career. And as usual, we discussed favorite books and her most powerful outdoor experience, and she also offered some excellent words of wisdom for anyone with creative aspirations.

There are tons of resources mentioned in this episode. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything, including a few bonus resources that Anna and I discussed before and after recording the actual episode. Enjoy!

Photo of Anna outdoors is by Julie Hotz, others courtesy of Anna Brones

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

3:30 – The Creative Fuel Challenge explained
6:30 – Why provide creative prompts?
7:45 – Importance of putting out regular content
9:30 – Time as an artist in residence
12:30 – Process of finding balance in life and creativity
15:30 – Pushing through creative blocks
19:00 – Fighting the reptile brain
20:45 – Using social media productively
23:45 – The Women’s Wisdom Project
27:45 – Process of researching women leaders
32:30 – The myth of having millions of ideas
36:00 – Anna’s early years in Washington state
41:00 – Importance of “place”
45:30 – How Anna came to appreciate the complexities of place
50:30 – Artists that Anna admires
53:30 – Anna’s experience leading wilderness trips
57:45 – How camp experiences benefited Anna
1:02:00 – Favorite books
1:06:30 – Most powerful outdoor experience
1:09:00 – Parting words of wisdom

Information Referenced:

Anna Brones
Creative Fuel Challenge
Creative Fuel
Women’s Wisdom Project
Brendan Leonard episode
Brendan Leonard creative prompt
The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
Blue Mind by Wallace J Nichols
Wendell Berry
Afghan Cycles
Lisa Congdon
Hilma af Klint
Beyond the Visible
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Daily Rituals by Mason Currey
Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Deep Work by Cal Newport
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
IndieBound
NOLS
Outward Bound
Nikki McClure
Hannah Viano
Wasteland
Story of Plastic

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Posted on September 18, 2020 by ELR

Artists, Books, Craftsmanship, Creativity, Entrepreneurs, Writers

Carlos Fernandez

Carlos Fernández is the State Director for the Nature Conservancy in Colorado, where he and his team build alliances that advance conservation outcomes both in Colorado and around the world. Building on his formal training as an attorney, Carlos has had a long and successful career in conservation that extends far beyond the American West. He has worked extensively in his home country of Argentina, both as the Nature Conservancy’s Southern Andes Conservation Strategies Manager and as the Patagonia Program Manager. Since taking the helm in Colorado in 2015, Carlos and TNC have enjoyed many notable achievements—everything from protecting large swaths of native grasslands to helping to create Colorado’s newest state park.

Carlos grew up in Mendoza, Argentina, an agricultural region known for producing some of the world’s best beef and exceptional Malbec wine. After a childhood spent hunting and fishing along the base of the Andes Mountains, Carlos trained as an attorney and went on to practice law for large international law firms in Buenos Aires and Washington DC. Several years into his career, Carlos realized that the legal profession was not providing deep fulfillment that he needed from a job—so he made the career switch into conservation and has never looked back.

Carlos and I had a fascinating conversation that I know you’ll enjoy. We started by discussing the Nature Conservancy, and specifically what the organization does both globally and here in Colorado. We then chat about several of TNC’s recent successes, including the creation of Yampa River Fund and TNC’s critical role in acquiring and protecting the 19,200-acre Fisher’s Peak property, which will soon be Colorado’s newest state park. Carlos talks about the importance of partnerships in conservation, with other land trusts, governmental organizations, and local communities. We then discuss the future of conservation in the West and the challenges and opportunities facing the region in the next 30 years. Carlos and I both have five-year-old daughters, so we talk a bit about fatherhood and the outdoors’ role in raising children. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, his favorite places in Colorado, and he offers some actionable words of wisdom.

This is an excellent episode, full of optimism, inspiration, and educational resources. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Enjoy!

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This episode is brought to you by Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Partners in the Outdoors program. The Partners in the Outdoors program brings together diverse interests from across the entire spectrum of the outdoors to advance and balance both outdoor recreation and conservation in Colorado. The program seeks to foster alignment and trust through three cornerstone initiatives: the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, the Colorado Outdoor Partnership, and the Colorado Outdoor Principles, as well as extensive resource sharing and network building.

EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

5:00 – The Nature Conservancy explained
9:30 – TNC’s mission in Colorado
10:30 – Yampa River Fund explained
16:30 – Importance of community in conservation
19:30 – Fishers Peak State Park
26:00 – TNC and equitable access to the outdoors
28:30 – The importance of partnerships
30:45 – Civic duty of partnerships
32:00 – Colorado Outdoor Partnerships
35:00 – Early years in Mendoza, Argentina
38:00 – Transitioning from corporate law into conservation
41:30 – Moving to Colorado
42:30 – Carlos’s unique professional background
46:00 – Conservation in the time of COVID
48:45 – Heroes and mentors
52:00 – Advice for people transitioning from the private sector into non-profits
55:30 – Envisioning the future of conservation
59:30 – Favorite books
1:04:00 – Favorite films
1:05:45 – Carlos’s favorite outdoor activities
1:07:00 – Rediscovering the outdoors through your kids’ eyes
1:08:00 – Favorite location in the West
1:10:30 – Parting words of wisdom

Information Referenced:

Carlos Fernandez
The Nature Conservancy
Sydney Macy
Ken Salazar
Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
Great Sand Dunes National Park
TNC 13ers Young Professionals Group
Yampa River Fund in the news
The Carpenter Ranch
Big Agnes
Fishers Peak project
Trust for Public Land
Governor Jared Polis
Gabe Vasquez episode
Keep it Colorado
Rebecca Jewett episode
Colorado Outdoor Partnership
SHIFT
Mendoza, Argentina
Gandhi: An Autobiography
Governor Bill Ritter
Ed’s book recommendations email
Where the Water Goes by David Owen
Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner
The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko
Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal
The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres
Designing Climate Solutions by Hal Harvey
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Planet Earth II
Delta Dawn by Pete McBride
Pete McBride episode

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Posted on August 23, 2020 by ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Ecology, Leadership, Service, The Nature Conservancy

David Gessner is back for his third appearance on the podcast, and this time we are discussing his brand new book Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt’s American Wilderness. Most long-time listeners will remember David’s past two episodes– we discussed everything from Edward Abbey and Wallace Stegner to his daily writing rituals and his hand-built coastal writing shack. If you haven’t listened to those first two episodes, I encourage you to do so—they are chock-full of wisdom, good humor, and inspiration to fight to conserve the places you love. But first, take a listen to this episode, as it offers some timely insights into this current moment in history.

In this episode, we spend the full hour discussing his new book and digging into the good, the bad, and the ugly of Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy. As many of your know, I’ve read way-too-many TR books, and Leave It As It Is offers the most balanced, clear-eyed examination of the man that I’ve read to date. It’s not a strict biography or historical examination of TR, although there’s plenty of both within the pages. Rather, it’s David’s search to capture the best of TR’s conservation ethos, to discard the worst, and to use the balance to build a new, holistic model for conservation and environmental justice. David melds together a “confluence of ideals” that acknowledges the wrongs of the past and sets an equitable, sustainable course for the future. During this time when we are rightfully reexamining many of our country’s revered historical figures, Leave It As It Is provides a valuable, well-timed deep dive into the complexities of TR and his influence on conservation in the United States.

Although an hour-long interview is no substitute for reading the book, I believe that this conversation will give you a good taste of the fresh and unique perspective that David brings to the well-worn subject of Theodore Roosevelt. We start by discussing the relevance of studying TR now, in the midst of a global pandemic, economic crisis, and social turmoil. David also explains the series of events that led him to begin writing this book, a multi-year project that took him from Bears Ears to Yosemite with many stops in between. We talk in-depth about TR’s unacceptable views and treatment of Native Americans, some of the hypocrisies that defined TR’s life, and why David chose to stare these uncomfortable facts in the eye rather than just make excuses, as many biographers do. David discusses how TR’s idea of the Strenuous Life has helped define his own life, and how writing this book has encouraged David to become more of an activist for specific causes. We also talk about the removal of the TR statue in New York, the idea of the Confluence of Ideals, and David offers up a long list of further reading on TR.

I loved every minute of this conversation, and I highly encourage you to read Leave It As It Is. It’s an important book that is perfect for this important time in history. Hope you enjoy!

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

5:00 – What is the value of studying TR during this moment in history?
9:00 – The Antiquities Act explained
12:30 – Why read biography?
14:00 – TR’s attitude toward Native Americans
17:00 – Importance of open conversation and hypocrisy
18:30 – “Walking the ridge”
20:00 – David’s “What would Teddy do?” list
21:00 – Why David had to write this specific book
27:00 – “Confluence of Ideals”
32:00 – Importance of living strenuously
33:30 – Combining books and adventure
37:30 – Focused action
39:30 – Morris and McCullagh’s TR work
41:30 – Thoughts on the removal of the NYC TR statue
46:00 – TR as an effective, energetic liberal
49:30 – Backstory on the title “Leave It As It Is”
52:30 – Who wins in a TR vs. Trump fight?
55:00 – How did writing this book change David?
58:00 – Activists that David admires
59:30 – Additional recommended books on TR

Information Referenced:

Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt’s American Wilderness by David Gessner
David Gessner
All of David’s previous books
David’s First and Second Mountain & Prairie episodes
Washington Post John Muir article
Red Rock Testimony book
Edmund Morris
Brad Watson
Brad Watson obituary, written by David
Bob Richardson
John Muir
Removal of the TR statue
Pulling Down Our Monuments by Jason Mark
Sunrise Movement
Bill McKibben
Rick Bass
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life by Kathleen Dalton
The Crowded Hour by Clay Risen
TR: Preacher of Righteousness by Joshua David Holly
Red Rock Stories edited by Stephanie Trimble
Edge of Morning edited by Jacqueline Keeler
Ceremony by Lesley Silco
The Western Paradox by Bernard DeVoto
House Made of Dawn by Scott Momaday
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian by Wallace Stegner
The Professor’s House by Willa
Books by Theodore Roosevelt

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Posted on August 9, 2020 by ELR

Books, Conservation, Creativity, History, Writers

Becky Edwards is the Executive Director of the Mountain Mamas, an organization whose mission is to amplify women’s voices into a movement to ensure that kids grow up in a healthy climate with clean air and access to public lands. Operating out of both Montana and Colorado—and currently expanding throughout the West—the Mountain Mamas harness the power of mothers to advocate to solve some of the West’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges. Whether helping to garner support for the recently passed Great American Outdoors Act or fighting for clean water in our Rocky Mountain rivers, the Mountain Mamas have become a formidable force for good in the West.

Becky grew up in Iowa but moved West to pursue her passion for climbing and mountaineering. After many years of being single-mindedly focused on life in the big mountains, her priorities drastically shifted with her daughter’s birth. No longer was she focused on big accents, but instead on making the world a better place for her little girl. And it’s worth noting that Becky’s early years of motherhood were no walk in the park—she spent many years as a single mother while simultaneously starting several successful businesses as well as the Mountain Mamas. But despite all of the challenges, Becky never gave up and built an impactful movement that is spreading across the West.

We caught up via Skype the day after the House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, so we started out talking about that victory and its impacts on conservation and recreation. Becky is very gifted at explaining complicated legislative jargon, so she graciously and entertainingly walks me through many of the details around the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the importance of its permanent funding, and more. We discuss the importance of advocacy work with elected officials, and she offers up practical advice for anyone who wants to become more involved in guiding their elected officials on important issues. We also discuss her journey as a mother, as well as her journey as a woman in the conservation sector. Finally, we talk about the need for more diversity in conservation, and why now is a wonderful opportunity for positive change.

This was such a fun conversation—I think you’ll find it equal parts educational, inspiring, and empowering. Hope you enjoy.

Photos courtesy of Becky Edwards

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EPISODE NOTES

Topics Discussed:

5:00 – Mountain Mamas explained
6:00 – Background of the organization
9:30 – Land and Water Conservation Fund explained
13:00 – What does “fully funding” the LWCF mean?
17:00 – Ability of groups to do conservation rather than fight for $$
19:00 – Importance of advocacy and discussions with Congress
23:45 – Practical tips for advocating for your cause
27:00 – The vital role of the outdoors during Covid
29:30 – Importance of “finding the area of commonality”
32:00 – Transitioning the Mamas into advocacy work
37:00 – Becky’s journey as a mother
42:30 – Decision to start a business while being a single mother
47:00 – The driving force behind Becky’s career
50:00 – Importance of storytelling
53:30 – Need for increased diversity and inclusion in conservation
58:00 – Opportunities that will arise from this moment in history
59:30 – Heroes
1:01:30 – Favorite books
1:03:30 – Favorite films
1:06:00 – Parting words of wisdom

Information Referenced:

Becky Edwards
Mountain Mamas
Mountain Mamas on Instagram
Great American Outdoors Act
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Conservation Easements
John Dingell Act
Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Hurari
Sally Jewell
Senator Jon Tester
Winnie the Poo by AA Milne
Charlotte’s Web by EB White
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gameinhart
Brendan Leonard episode
How to Run 100 Miles film
Run Rabbit Run 100 miler

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Posted on July 29, 2020 by ELR

Adventurers, Athletes, Conservation, History, Leadership, Service

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!

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on July 16, 2020 by ELR

Artists, Creativity, Entrepreneurs, History

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on June 28, 2020 by ELR

Conservation, Conservationists, History, Hunting & Fishing, Leadership, Service

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

Information Referenced:

Chris La Tray
Chris’s email newsletter
One Sentence Journal by Chris La Tray
In Search of Small Gods by Jim Harrison
Returning to Earth by Jim Harrison
Braided Creek by Jim Harrison
Frenchtown, MT
Little Shell Tribe
“Landless Indians of Montana”
Métis
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Troyer
Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
James Lee Burke
David Sedaris
Ellen Meloy
Anna Maria Spana
Amy Irvine
Craig Childs
Robert Sund
Heather Durham
Jim Welch
Richard Wagamese
Joy Harjo
Council Grove

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.

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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 ELR

Artists, Books, Creativity, History, Native American History, Service, Writers

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on June 1, 2020 by ELR

Adventurers, Conservation, Conservationists, History, Hunting & Fishing, Leadership, Service

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

Information Referenced:

Chris Burkard
Chris on Instagram
Chris’s books
Chris’s TED talk
SURFER Magazine
Big Sur
Yosemite
Zion
Grit by Angela Duckworth
Under An Arctic Sky film
Yvon Chouinard
Surfers Journal
Modern Huntsman
Adventure Journal
The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth by Chris Burkard
The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko
Edward Abbey
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Ansel Adam: An Autobiography by Ansel Adams
Chris’s interview with Chase Jarvis
Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis
Bears Ears
Valley of the Gods
Canyonlands
Paul Nicklen

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Posted on May 26, 2020 by ELR

Adventurers, Artists, Athletes, Conservation, Creativity, Entrepreneurs, Mindfulness

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on May 10, 2020 by ELR

Conservation, Conservationists, Ecology, Hunting & Fishing, Leadership, Service

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

Information Referenced:

Callan Wink
Callan on Instagram
August: A Novel by Callan Wink
Dog Run Moon by Callan Wink
Beth Loffreda
Brad Watson
Joy Williams
Jim Harrison
Dead Man’s Float by Jim Harrison
Michael Earl Craig
Tap Out by Edgar Kunz
Breath by Tim Winton
The Shepard’s Hut by Tim Winton
Stegner Fellowship at Stanford
Blood Meridian by Corman McCarthy
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Rock Springs by Richard Ford
Road House
Yellowstone River

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Posted on May 8, 2020 by ELR

Artists, Books, Creativity, Hunting & Fishing, Writers

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

Information Referenced:

Rebecca Jewett – first podcast episode
Palmer Land Trust
Conservation easements explained
Gates Family Foundation
Great Outdoors Colorado (“GOCO”)
Russ Schnitzer podcast episode
Seth Godin
This is Marketing by Seth Godin
Hampton Sides
Hampton Sides M&P episodes One and Two
Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman
Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp
Ed’s book recommendations
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
Marketplace
Make Me Smart
The Daily
Fresh Air
The Moth
Chronicle of Higher Ed article referenced

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Posted on April 23, 2020 by ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Leadership, Service

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:

Biopharmaceutical Research Company (BRC)
Navy SEALs
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Morehead-Cain Scholarship
National Outdoor Leadership School
Navy SEALS movie clip
BUD/S
Navy SEAL Foundation
“Commander’s Intent”
Good to Great by Jim Collins
The Cruelest Miles Gay Salisbury
Washington’s Farewell by John Avalon
Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
Daniel Day-Lewis
Lincoln
Gangs of New York
Becoming Warren Buffett

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Posted on April 8, 2020 by ELR

Adventurers, Entrepreneurs, Leadership, Public Health, Service

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

Information Referenced:

Kyle Richardson
Kyle on Instagram
Black Diamond
La Sportiva
Peter Bakwin
FKT website
FKT podcast
Third Flatiron
Art Blakey
Jeremiah Green
Carter Beauford
Wilco
LA Freeway
Buzz Burrell
Longs Peak
Joe Grant
Joe Grant podcast episode
Anton Krupicka
The Rut
The Big Wonderful Thing by Stephen Harrigan
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay Michael Chabon?
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
Hampton Sides podcast interview
Empire of the Summer Moon by SC Gwynne

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Posted on March 26, 2020 by ELR

Adventurers, Artists, Athletes, Creativity

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:

Savory Institute
Savory Hubs
Allan Savory
Jody Butterfield
Jim Howell (episodes 1 and 2)
Grasslands LLC
Paris Agreement of 2015
Will Harris – White Oak Pastures
Wilbur Smith
Indiana Jones
Holistic Management by Allan Savory
Savory’s Land to Market Project
Tre Cates
Auden Schendler episode
The Continuum Concept by Jean Leidloff
The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible by Charles Eisenstein
For the Love of Land by Jim Howell

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 ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Ecology, Leadership, Ranchers, Regenerative Ag, Service

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:

Andrew Ramiro Tirado
Andrew’s Blog
Andrew on Instagram
Floyd Tunson
Chuck Close
Bemis School of Art
Colorado College
Strand Book Store
Canoecraft by Ted Moores
Masters of Scale Podcast
James Surls
James Herriot
All Creatures Great and Small by James Harriet
Lawrence of Arabia
Road House
NOLS
Art Institute of Chicago

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Posted on February 18, 2020 by ELR

Artists, Craftsmanship, Creativity, Entrepreneurs

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on January 29, 2020 by ELR

Artists, Craftsmanship, Creativity, Entrepreneurs

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on January 14, 2020 by ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Craftsmanship, Creativity, Ecology, Entrepreneurs, Mindfulness, Ranchers, Regenerative Ag

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on December 30, 2019 by ELR

Adventurers, Artists, Books, Creativity, Hunting & Fishing, Mindfulness, Writers

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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C lick Here to Download on Google Play

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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

Information Referenced:

Tom McGuane
At Play in the Fields of the Lord by Peter Matthiessen
Peter Matthiessen
Davis Bacon wages
Alan Jones
Fishboy and Ice at the Bottom of the World by Mark Richard
City of Thieves by David Benioff
Whitebark pine
Chronic wasting disease
Missouri Border Wars
Wildwood Boys by James Carlos Blake
Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell
Ride with the Devil by Daniel Woodrell
Squatter Sovereign
Ed Abbey
Federalist Papers
Bernard DeVoto
El Capitan of the Bitterroots
NOLS
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Rock Springs by Richard Ford
A Piece of My Heart by Richard Ford
Wildlife in America by Peter Matthiessen
Jim Harrison
Ninety-two in the Shade by Tom McGuane
Hal’s podcast with Tom McGuane
Rinella’s podcast with McGuane
Teal Blake episode
Guy De Maupassant
Stephen King’s On Writing
Draft No. 4 by John McPhee
Erst Junger
Seven Beauties
The Accidental Life by Terry McMillan
The Heart of the Game

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Posted on December 16, 2019 by ELR

Adventurers, Books, Conservation, Conservationists, Craftsmanship, Ecology, History, Hunting & Fishing, Writers

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

Information Referenced:

Mark Kenyon
Wired to Hunt
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands by Mark Kenyon
MeatEater
Pittman-Robertson Act
Deep Work by Cal Newport
“Backpack Tax” article
Franklin Roosevelt
Bob Marshall
Gifford Pinchot
Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
Tim Ferriss
Steven Rinella
Seth Godin
Seth Godin’s failure blog post
The Back 40
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Rick Bass
Why I Came West by Rick Bass
A Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine by Steven Rinella
American Serengeti by Dan Flores

Posted on December 6, 2019 by ELR

Books, Conservation, Creativity, Entrepreneurs, History, Hunting & Fishing, Writers

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

Information Referenced:

North Bridger Bison
North Bridger Bison on Instagram
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chiounard
Buffalo for the Broken Heart by Dan O’Brien
Natural Resources Defense Council
Wild Idea Buffalo
Dan O’Brien
Theodore Roosevelt
Aldo Leopold
A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
American Buffalo by Steven Rinella
Last Stand by Michael Punke

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Posted on November 6, 2019 by ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Ecology, Entrepreneurs, Ranchers, Regenerative Ag

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

C lick Here to Download on iTunes

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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

Information Referenced:

Idaho Wildlife Federation
Artemis Sportswomen
University of Kentucky
Stanley, Idaho
Frank Church Wilderness
Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow conference
National Wildlife Federation
Coming Into the Country by John McPhee
Encounters with the Archdruid by John McPhee
Draft No. 4 by John McPhee
The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretle Erhlich
The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen
Never Cry Wolf
265 Images of Northern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers by Scott Earle

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Posted on October 17, 2019 by ELR

Conservation, Conservationists, Hunting & Fishing

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on September 26, 2019 by ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Ecology, Entrepreneurs, Leadership, Ranchers, Regenerative Ag, Service

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

Information Referenced:

Ranchlands
Chico Basin Ranch
Medano Zapata Ranch
Colorado State Land Board
The Nature Conservancy
Charlie Russell
Lasater Family
Becca Frucht
The Lasater Philosophy of Raising Cattle by Laurance M Lasater
Endurance by Alfred Lansing
Empire of the Summer Moon by SC Gwynne
Jim Kane by JPS Brown
The Outfit by JPS Brown
Forests of the Knight by JPS Brown
Tribe by Sebastian Junger
10th Annual Southern Colorado Conservation Awards
SCCA Film Trailer

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Posted on September 20, 2019 by ELR

Agriculture, Conservation, Conservationists, Ecology, Entrepreneurs, Leadership, Ranchers, Regenerative Ag, Service

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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C lick Here to Download on Google Play

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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

Information Referenced:

Cate Havstad
Jillian Lukiwski
Becca Skinner
Juanita Vero
Becca Frucht
Montana Land Reliance
Road House clip
Robert Krapfel podcast
Jim Howell podcasts 1 and 2
For the Love of Land by Jim Howell
Montana block management
“Extinction of Experience” by Pyle, explained
Wendell Berry
Palmer Land Trust
The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry
It All Turns on Affection by Wendell Berry
Dirt by David Montgomery
The Hidden Half of Nature by David Montgomery
Growing a Revolution by David Montgomery
American Serengeti by Dan Flores
Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nerburn
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan
Lentil Underground by Liz Carlisle
Grain by Grain by Liz Carlisle
Claiming Ground by Laura Bell
The Biggest Little Farm
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
Tom Morgan Rodsmiths podcast
Seth Godin
Sarah Wentzel-Fisher podcast
Stacy Townsend (who made the epic Road House poster)

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR SPONSORS!

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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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on September 4, 2019 by ELR

Books, Conservation, Creativity, History, Writers

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

Information Referenced:

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Posted on August 19, 2019 by ELR

Adventurers, Conservation, Creativity, Ecology, History

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 ELR