Hal Herring is an award-winning journalist and writer whose work has appeared in such notable publications as the Atlantic, the Economist, and Orion. He is also a contributing editor at Field and Stream and a regular contributor to High Country News. Most recently, Hal has made a name for himself in the podcast world as the host of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ popular podcast, called the Podcast & Blast with Hal Herring. If there’s one common thread that runs through Hal’s prolific and wide-ranging career, it’s a love of the West, its people, and its public lands.
I’ve long admired Hal and specifically his refusal to be boxed in by any particular political party or close-minded ideologies. He could be considered progressive on some issues and conservative on others, but his opinions are always the result of a lot of deep thinking, extensive research, and thorough consideration. And as you’ll hear him say in this interview, he’s endlessly curious and always open to having his mind changed– two characteristics that I personally admire and try my best to emulate, especially when it comes to issues here in the American West.
Hal and I covered a lot in a little over an hour, and regular listeners will enjoy his depth and breadth of knowledge, as well as his unbridled passion for the West. We start by discussing his upbringing in Alabama and why he decided to move West. We talk a lot about books, and Hal offers up a massive selection of titles that have influenced his work, most of which have never before been mentioned on this podcast. We discuss the importance of journalism at this specific moment in history, and how he goes about finding the facts in today’s overwhelming deluge of media. We also chat about his work ethic, family, his current home in Augusta, Montana, his climbing and mountaineering adventures, and his recent success in the world of podcasts.
There’s a lot to learn and digest in this episode, so be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything. Also, I hope you enjoy the southern accents– I think Hal really brought mine out in full force. Hope you enjoy!
Photos courtesy of Hal Herring
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Episode Notes
Topics Discussed:
- 3:05 – Growing up in Alabama
- 4:15 – Intro to Montana
- 5:50 – Deep love of Alabama
- 6:45 – Early years writing & traveling
- 9:30 – Source of Hal’s early wanderlust
- 11:35 – When Hal got serious about writing
- 15:00 – Importance of constraints
- 18:00 – How Hal’s work on public lands influences his journalism
- 20:45 – Decision to focus on public lands
- 22:10 – Need for real journalism
- 25:00 – Where does Hal get his news?
- 29:00 – Public land discussion
- 32:15 – Optimistic or pessimistic for the future of public lands?
- 36:30 – Mountaineering and climbing
- 41:15 – Having kids
- 44:00 – Hal’s foray into podcasting
- 48:15 – Most important books
- 50:50 – Connection with Teal Blake
- 55:30 – Importance of preparation and hard work
- 57:15 – Hal’s new book
- 1:00:30 – Favorite films
- 1:01:50 – Favorite location in the West
- 1:06:30 – Request of the listeners
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
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these as well:
- Mark Kenyon – A Passion for Public Lands
- David Gessner, Part 2 – Ambition, Art, and Arête
- Mike Phillips – Audacious Goals, Relentless Action
- Chris Dombrowski – Words, Water & the West
- Sara Dant – A Deep Dive Into the History of the West
- Becca Aceto – Forging Her Own Path in the West
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