Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

A podcast about the people shaping the future of the American West—its land, communities, and culture. • Hosted by conservationist Ed Roberson, Mountain & Prairie features in-depth conversations with leaders, innovators, and changemakers—conservationists tackling environmental challenges, authors and historians preserving the West’s stories, artists capturing the region’s spirit, entrepreneurs building place-based businesses, outdoor athletes pushing human limits, and more. Through engaging, down-to-earth discussions, Ed explores their journeys, hard-earned wisdom, and lessons learned. • Each episode offers inspiration and insight—whether a story of resilience, a fresh take on conservation, or practical lessons in leadership, creativity, and problem-solving. It’s a space for meaningful conversations about the land, the people, and the ideas shaping the modern West.

Sara Domek – The Science and Story of Wyoming’s Wildlife Migration 04/30/2025

Sara Domek – The Science and Story of Wyoming’s Wildlife Migration Sara Domek is Wyoming’s Migration Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. Sara grew up in the small town of Kemmerer and later moved to Pinedale, giving her a rare, firsthand perspective on Wyoming’s working landscapes—both from a natural resources and a conservation standpoint. Her upbringing, paired with years of experience working in nonprofits, agencies, and boots-on-the-ground conservation, makes her uniquely suited to lead TNC’s efforts to protect Wyoming’s world-renowned wildlife migrations. If you’ve spent any time driving through Wyoming, you’ve probably cruised past some of the most important migration corridors in North America—maybe without even realizing it. Sara and her team are working to keep those landscapes permeable, helping mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and other species continue the seasonal journeys they’ve been making for thousands of years. We talk about the science behind migration, how seemingly small barriers like fences can create big challenges for wildlife, and how collaborative conservation—between landowners, agencies, and nonprofits—can create real, lasting wins. Sara also shares some fascinating details about Wyoming’s longest mule deer migration, the importance of building trust with local communities, why cheatgrass is a bigger villain than it looks, and how carefully designed wildlife crossings can benefit both animals and people. We also get into her favorite books, why she’s hopeful about the future, and, once again, the simple but powerful idea that success in conservation often comes down to strong relationships. This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation with someone who truly embodies the spirit of collaborative, community-driven conservation. I hope you enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:50 – Intro, growing up in Wyoming and valuing natural resources 6:09 – Pinedale and the Wind Rivers 7:15 – Plan after high school 10:37 – Finding TNC 14:16 – Sara describes her job 17:21 – Mule deer and pronghorn migration corridors 21:57 – Fencing and migration 26:25 – Getting the word out about fencing 29:27 – Migration primer: distance, predators and collisions 35:54 – Valley of the warm winds 42:37 – RCPP programs 45:27 – Cheatgrass 101 48:54 – Important partners 51:08 – Prioritizing projects 54:40 – What Sara’s looking forward to 57:57 – Where to learn more 1:00:22 – Book recs 1:03:04 – Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/36379380

Cody Wellema – After the Fire, Before What’s Next 04/24/2025

Cody Wellema – After the Fire, Before What’s Next Cody Wellema is a master hatmaker and the founder of Wellema Hat Co., a highly regarded, California-based custom hat business. For over a decade, Cody built a reputation as one of the country’s premier craftspeople in the art of traditional hatmaking, creating heirloom-quality hats by hand, using vintage tools and techniques that harken back to a slower, more intentional era. His work has been worn by artists, ranchers, musicians, and everyday folks alike, and his shop became not only a destination for finely made hats, but a gathering place rooted in community and craft. On January 8th of this year, Cody and his family lost their Altadena storefront and workspace in the Eaton Canyon Fire, one of the many devastating fires that destroyed a large part of the greater Los Angeles area in early 2025. In the aftermath, he has navigated an overwhelming combination of grief, logistics, and uncertainty—yet throughout it all, he has maintained a sense of gratitude, humility, and forward-looking optimism that is as rare as it is inspiring. As he puts it, the fire forced a kind of reset—one that, while painful, has given him a blank page and the opportunity to reimagine the next chapter of his creative life. In this conversation, we talk about Cody’s early entrepreneurial spirit, his deep appreciation for vintage craftsmanship, and how he taught himself the trade by deconstructing old hats and learning from the past. We also explore the role of presence in parenting, the importance of community, and the creative possibilities that can emerge when the old path is unexpectedly cleared. Cody’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and deep care– for people, for his craft, and for doing things the right way. I was so inspired by Cody’s optimism and gratitude, and I know you will be too. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discussed, including a GoFundMe page that was set up to support Cody and his family during this unexpected time of chaos. Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 – Intro, how’s Cody doing? 7:04 – His default wiring is optimism 8:49 – Setting an example for the kids 10:52 – Roots 12:41 – Cody’s evolution 17:33 – Heading out on his own 19:31 – Getting to hats 25:50 – Taking apart old hats 28:33 – Monetization 30:59 – Hindsight and going all in 34:41 – The fear of diving in 38:33 – Time to define 41:14 – More than just hats 46:29 – Blessing in the bad 51:59 – Moving on 56:00 – Cody’s first time voicing his new idea 1:04:59 – Taking the compliments 1:08:56 – Figuring out a blank slate 1:13:00 – Inspiration recs 1:18:16 – Final words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/36299635

Live at SXSW - Farmer-Founded Brands Will Save American Fashion 04/16/2025

Live at SXSW - Farmer-Founded Brands Will Save American Fashion This is a special live episode recorded this past March at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and it features a conversation I had the honor of moderating with two powerhouse guests: Cate Havstad-Casad of Range Revolution and Daniel Mouw of Duckworth. The title of the panel was Farmer-Founded Brands Will Save American Fashion. At first glance, that might sound like a bold claim, but these two are actually doing the work to make it real. Cate is a designer, hatmaker, and regenerative rancher whose company, Range Revolution, is turning discarded cattle hides into regenerative high-end leather goods. Daniel is the president of Duckworth, a Montana-based wool company that’s rebuilding the American supply chain– one sheep, sweater, and ranch at a time. Together, we dug into some big questions: What happened to American-made textiles? Why are most of us walking around wearing plastic? And what would it look like to rebuild rural economies from the ground up, using natural fibers like leather and wool, raised and processed responsibly, here in the United States? It might sound like we’re talking fashion and manufacturing trends—but this is really a conversation about values, ecosystems, and the future of rural America. Cate and Daniel are funny, deeply thoughtful, and grounded in the realities of both agriculture and business. They bring hard-earned optimism to a conversation that too often gets bogged down in doom and gloom. And they make a compelling case for why fashion can be a vehicle for stewardship, beauty, and connection to the land. We also had a sharp, engaged audience that asked some truly insightful questions– you’ll hear a few of those toward the end. Thanks to Cate and Daniel for the amazing conversation, thanks to SXSW for inviting us, and thank you for listening. --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:10 - Introductions 6:35 - A history lesson in US fiber production 10:22 - Current supply chain challenges facing producers 16:17 - Why natural fibers are superior to synthetics 19:17 - The true cost of synthetics and fast fashion 23:17 - How Range Revolution and Duckworth are restoring economic power to ag producers 27:36 - The unique role of for-profit businesses in solving these challenges 33:13 - Positivity as a strategic business decision 37:09 - How do you scale this regenerative fashion movement? 40:32 - Embracing natural characteristics in design 42:06 - How to capture attention in today’s information age 46:13 - What would an ideal community support system look like? 50:26 - Fabric frequencies! 52:53 - How to convert standard retail buyers into regenerative buyers 56:40 - Any collaboration with the EU fashion industry? --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/36193080

Elliot Ross: Where Landscape, Justice, and Storytelling Meet 04/04/2025

Elliot Ross: Where Landscape, Justice, and Storytelling Meet Elliot Ross is a photographer and writer whose work focuses on the intersection of landscape, identity, and justice in the American West. His images have appeared in Time, National Geographic, and The New York Times, and he’s known for deeply researched, long-term projects that combine striking visual storytelling with a journalist’s rigor. Whether he's documenting water access on the Navajo Nation or tracing the contours of Glen Canyon as it reemerges, Elliot brings a rare mix of artistry, empathy, and precision to every assignment. Born in Taiwan and raised on the eastern plains of Colorado, Elliot grew up between cultures and landscapes—an experience that shaped both his worldview and his creative path. He picked up a camera early, inspired by his grandmother’s family albums, and later earned a full-ride to the Savannah College of Art and Design. After college, he cut his teeth in New York City, assisting some of the most high-profile portrait and fashion photographers in the industry. All the while, he was quietly dreaming about building a career on his own terms—one rooted in storytelling, purpose, and the landscapes he still called home. In this episode, we talk about the early experiences that shaped his artistic voice, the evolution of his career, and how he’s learned to navigate the demands of both commercial and documentary work. Elliot shares the backstory of his recent Time magazine cover story on water equity in the West, a project that involved years of reporting, deep community ties, and even a return to the classroom. We also discuss his thoughts on creative endurance, working across political divides, and the role of photography in fostering empathy and connection. I’d encourage you to visit Elliot’s website and dig deeper into all of his work, especially his project A Question of Balance, which became the Time magazine feature. You can find links to everything in the episode notes. Thanks to Elliot for the inspiring and timely conversation, and thank you for listening. --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the . To whom much is given, much is expected. This value guides the philosophy behind the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation today. Committed to its cause and infused with an entrepreneurial spirit, Mighty Arrow aims to invest in solutions that take action on climate change to build a more vibrant future, repair relationships from farm to market to table, heal our connection to the lands and waters we call home, and demand a more just and equitable society. To learn more about Mighty Arrow’s forward-thinking, optimistic, and visionary work here in the American West and beyond, please visit . --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:05 – Elliot growing up in Taipei and how his parents met 6:00 – Few but vivid memories of Taipei 7:09 – The culture shock of moving to eastern Colorado 8:25 – How photography came into Elliot’s life 10:29 – Reading influences 13:16 – Travel bug 16:22 – Savannah College of Art and Design 18:07 – Parental pressure 19:49 – Credit to high school art teachers 20:54 – Figuring out photography 27:47 – No wavering 29:54 – Moving into independent business 33:29 – Pitching Carhartt 37:03 – Nat Geo ups and downs 42:10 – Near-death experiences 45:44 – Approaching long-term projects 49:35 – Pulling on threads 51:45 – Humans and landscapes 56:35 – Curiosity as the most authentic de-escalator 58:05 – Writing and shooting and doing it all 1:02:45 – Response to the Time story 1:07:35 – A tale of two places 1:13:45 – Using water in the West 1:16:35 – The Desiderata creed 1:17:05 – Book recs 1:23:05 – Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/36008620

Aaron Citron: Crafting Conservation Policy in a Changing West 03/31/2025

Aaron Citron: Crafting Conservation Policy in a Changing West Aaron Citron is the Associate Director of External Affairs at The Nature Conservancy, where he leads state-level policy engagement across Colorado. His work spans a wide array of conservation priorities, including water management, healthy forests, renewable energy siting, and partnerships with private landowners and tribal nations. Aaron plays a key role in bridging on-the-ground conservation efforts with the legislative and regulatory frameworks that support them. He also helps shape TNC’s strategy around climate and energy policy, working to ensure a rapid but responsible transition to renewable infrastructure. Aaron grew up in Tucson, Arizona, where early exposure to the desert landscape—and its vital, limited water resources—sparked a lifelong interest in the natural world. After studying history and political science at Emory University, he returned west for law school at the University of Arizona, focusing on water and land use law. His career has taken him from local land trusts to national NGOs like Environmental Defense Fund, always at the intersection of policy, place, and practical impact. Along the way, he’s built a reputation for thoughtful, collaborative work that reflects both his legal background and his deep connection to the West. In our conversation, Aaron shares a detailed look at how conservation policy gets made—from coalition-building and legislative drafting to navigating complex stakeholder relationships. We discuss examples like Colorado’s response to Clean Water Act rollbacks and new tools to support in-stream flows on the Yampa River. He talks about the balance between urgency and patience, the importance of trust in long-term conservation, and how calm, clearheaded engagement can shape better outcomes. It’s a compelling look at the behind-the-scenes work that makes public-facing conservation efforts possible. Be sure the check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed and links to everything. Thanks to Aaron for this conversation and thank you for listening. Enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 – Starting at the beginning, growing up in Tucson 7:42 – Underrated Arizona 11:23 – From environmental history to law school 15:22 – After law school, including a TNC internship 18:11 – Landing at the Arizona Land and Water Trust 21:24 – Path to TNC 24:06 – Aaron’s role at TNC 27:42 – Clean Water Act protection project 33:40 – Getting the information to the people 35:29 – Yampa River Fund 40:39 – What makes someone good at policy work? 46:11 – The power of relationships 49:00 – Federal versus state policy focuses 53:40 – Remaining calm 57:21 – Book recs 1:01:53 – Parting thoughts --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35944605

David Cronenwett - Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu, On and Off the Mats 03/10/2025

David Cronenwett - Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu, On and Off the Mats David Cronenwett is the owner of Helena Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a third-degree black belt under American Jiu-Jitsu legend Rafael Lovato Jr. David started his Jiu-Jitsu journey in Seattle in 1996, back when finding a place to train was like stumbling upon a secret society. Over the years, he’s not only refined his own game but has shared this art with hundreds of students in Montana’s capital city since opening his academy in 2016. But David’s path to Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t exactly a straight shot. He grew up in New Jersey, made his way west to study classical guitar at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle right as the grunge scene was taking over, and eventually found himself in Montana, drawn by the wilderness and a deep-rooted need for something more. That “something more” turned out to be a mix of conservation work, backcountry living, and, of course, Jiu-Jitsu—an art that would come to define much of his life. In this conversation, we go deep into the philosophy of Jiu-Jitsu: why it grabs certain people and won’t let go, how it humbles you, how it teaches you to remain calm under pressure, and how it can serve as a vehicle for self-improvement. But beyond that, we explore how Jiu-Jitsu teaches lessons that stretch far beyond the mats—lessons about patience, resilience, adaptability, and how to wisely face challenges in life. We also talk about the importance of culture in an academy, how a good training environment can shape people beyond the gym, and how the shared purpose and community of Jiu-Jitsu has a way of bringing together folks from all walks of life. And for those of you who might be on the fence about trying Jiu-Jitsu, David has plenty to say about why it’s never too late to start and how it can change not just how you move, but how you see the world. So whether you’re a seasoned grappler or just curious about what makes this martial art so addictive, there’s a lot to learn from this conversation. Enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:15 - Getting to know David 4:30 - Seattle to Montana 6:30 - And from music to conservation 7:45 - Early outdoor interests 10:00 - First Jiu-Jitsu memories 12:30 - Getting into Jiu-Jitsu 16:30 - What is it about Jiu-Jitsu? 21:00 - Community on the mat 26:45 - Importance of having new trainees 29:45 - Where the growth happens 31:30 - Maintaining culture 35:30 - Lessons from practicing and teaching 42:30 - Obsessive types 45:15 - Not for the bullies 47:30 - Maintaining the practice as life goes on 53:30 - Self-defense as an insurance policy 1:01:00 - What Jiu-Jitsu gives you 1:04:45 - Losing ego 1:08:45 - Peaks and valleys 1:12:30 - Not about the belts 1:14:45 - Book recs 1:21:30 - Thoughts on therapy 1:23:45 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35617395

Helen Augare Carlson & Dylan DesRosier – Land, Language, and Stewardship in the Blackfeet Nation 02/28/2025

Helen Augare Carlson & Dylan DesRosier – Land, Language, and Stewardship in the Blackfeet Nation Helen Augare Carlson and Dylan DesRosier are leaders, community builders, and proud members of the Blackfeet Nation. Helen, the Chair of the Piikani Studies Division at Blackfeet Community College, has dedicated over two decades to education, cultural preservation, and building pathways for future generations. Dylan, the Blackfeet Program Manager with The Nature Conservancy, brings a wealth of experience in conservation work rooted in respect for Indigenous knowledge and long-term community collaboration. In addition to their official roles, they both wear many hats when it comes to serving their communities—mentoring youth, engaging in policy discussions, telling stories, and working on grassroots initiatives that strengthen cultural and environmental resilience. In this episode, we explore the profound relationships between land, language, and stewardship. Helen shares the moving story behind her Blackfoot name, Dylan reflects on his time working in Glacier National Park and how it shaped his conservation approach, and we dig into the groundbreaking Chief Mountain Initiative—an effort that weaves together conservation, education, and cultural revitalization. We also discuss the evolving role of conservation organizations, TNC's comprehensive approach to supporting Blackfeet initiatives, the importance of holistic thinking, and why Indigenous leadership is crucial for the future of land stewardship. As usual, we wrap up with some incredible book recommendations that will deepen your understanding of these topics long after the episode ends. This conversation is rich with wisdom, humor, and insight, and Helen and Dylan make quite a team, bringing their unique expertise and shared passion for their community to this important discussion. I’m so excited for you to hear it. So let’s dive in—here’s my conversation with Helen Augare Carlson and Dylan DesRosier. --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:03 - Introductions, starting with Helen 7:18 - Helen’s Blackfeet names 12:18 - When to use “Blackfoot” or “Blackfeet” 13:33 - Dylan’s bio and Blackfeet name 17:48 - Community health and education 23:03 - Why Dylan wanted to plug into TNC 26:48 - Blackfeet connection to land 30:33 - Helen’s thoughts on TNC 36:03 - Face-to-face trust 38:48 - Chief Mountain initiative 45:48 - Measuring progress on a huge timeframe 50:48 - Progress in Helen’s view 56:03 - Like biodiversity, human diversity is important, too 1:01:03 - What Dylan’s learned from Helen 1:03:03 - And what Helen’s learned from Dylan 1:06:33 - Book recs 1:12:33 - Parting words 1:15:03 - A Land Back addendum --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35486665

George Hodgin Returns – Risk-Taking, Leadership, and the Future of Cannabis 02/20/2025

George Hodgin Returns – Risk-Taking, Leadership, and the Future of Cannabis George Hodgin is a former Navy SEAL turned entrepreneur who is revolutionizing the world of medical cannabis research. George is the founder and CEO of BRC - Biopharmaceutical Research Company, one of the only federally legal cannabis research organizations in the United States. His company is leading the charge in developing safe, regulated, and scientifically-backed cannabis-based therapeutics—offering alternatives to opioids and other pharmaceutical treatments. This is George’s second time on the podcast—our first conversation was almost exactly five years ago, back when his company was in its early stages, the pandemic was just beginning, and he was navigating the uncharted waters of federal cannabis regulations. Since we last spoke, BRC has made huge strides—partnering with leading medical institutions, earning FDA orphan drug designation, and paving the way for legal, cannabis-based medications. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend going back and listening to that first episode, where George shares the full story of his fascinating career trajectory—his time as a Navy SEAL, his MBA at Stanford, and his undergraduate experience as a Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina. That conversation is a great companion to this one and provides even more insight into his unique journey. In this episode, George and I dive into the evolution of BRC, the shifting cultural and political landscape around cannabis, and what it’s like balancing an entrepreneurial mindset with the slow, methodical world of federal drug approval. We also talk leadership, risk assessment in business and combat, humility vs arrogance, and what it's been like to watch his wife, bestselling author and culinary powerhouse Caroline Chambers, build an incredible career of her own. Be sure to check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed, plus links to resources, books, and more. George is one of the most insightful, driven, and humble people I know, and I always learn a ton from our conversations. Whether you're interested in business, science, leadership, or just a great story of perseverance and innovation, this episode has something for you. Hope you enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:36 – Reconnecting with George 3:51 – George’s BRC elevator pitch 6:51 – City of Hope collaboration 10:36 – Choosing partnerships and plans 13:36 – What makes a successful idea 16:06 – Company mechanics 18:21 – Energy balance 22:06 – Cannabis in the name 23:51 – Cannabis sentiments culturally shifting 26:36 – But not legally 28:06 – Regulations and competition 32:21 – Different schedules of drugs 36:36 – Betting on the idea versus the team 41:21 – Risk framework 46:51 – When do you stop planning? 51:06 – Favorite failure 55:36 – Not seeing the forest for the trees 59:06 – Does cockiness play a role? 1:02:06 – George’s wife’s cooking journey 1:07:06 – General Mattis’ influence 1:08:51 – Book recs 1:11:06 – Parting words, asking Ed a question --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35370270

Ivan McClellan Returns - From Behind the Lens to Center of the Arena 02/13/2025

Ivan McClellan Returns - From Behind the Lens to Center of the Arena is a photographer, writer, and storyteller who’s shining a light on Black cowboy culture in a way that’s never been done before. When we first talked back in 2020, Ivan was in the early stages of immersing himself in this world—capturing rodeos, meeting cowboys, and telling stories that had largely been overlooked. Now, nearly five years later, he’s once again forging his own path by creating , an electrifying, high-stakes event that’s bringing some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the country together to compete for serious prize money, all while celebrating a rich and important legacy. In this episode, Ivan shares the inspiring story of how came to life—from a passion project sparked by tragedy to a must-see event that’s redefining the rodeo world. We dig into the challenges of launching something this big from scratch, the power of storytelling to shift culture, and what it means to build something bigger than yourself. Ivan also talks about his new photography book, his creative process, and how he stays grounded while juggling everything he’s got going on. If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to go back to our first podcast conversation, where we discuss Ivan’s early life and upbringing, as well as his journey into professional photography and the world of Black rodeo. It’s super inspiring to see how his career has grown and evolved over the last few years– and also to see how he’s continued to be such a humble, hard-working family man. Whether you’re a longtime rodeo fan or just love hearing stories about people chasing big, meaningful dreams, this conversation is for you. As always, you can find links to Ivan’s work, Eight Seconds Rodeo, his book, and our first conversation in the episode notes. And if you’re near Portland or Philadelphia in 2025, do yourself a favor and check out one of his rodeos. You won’t regret it. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Ivan McClellan! --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - Checking in with Ivan 7:05 - Eight Seconds Rodeo beginnings 9:35 - Knowing Ouncie 14:35 - The first step and conquering doubt 16:05 - Choosing Portland 18:35 - Someone to run the rodeo 22:50 - Stories of the first rodeo 26:50 - Year two 29:05 - What’s in store for 2025 32:35 - Balancing helping others and being the face 38:05 - The driving force 39:20 - The story of Ivan’s photography book 46:35 - Is a written book in store? 48:20 - Wearing a cowboy hat 52:35 - For more info on Ivan --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35275975

Betsy Gaines Quammen Returns - Myths, Curiosity, and Human Connection (Live at the Old Salt Festival) 02/07/2025

Betsy Gaines Quammen Returns - Myths, Curiosity, and Human Connection (Live at the Old Salt Festival) is a Montana-based historian and writer whose work explores the history and myths of the American West and how those stories have endured and shaped life in the region today. Betsy joined me on the podcast several years ago to discuss her amazing book, , and since then, she’s published another must-read: . In True West, Betsy meets face-to-face with a wide range of folks here in the West– from militia members to hardcore environmentalists– and seeks to understand why they believe what they do. Combining these conversations with her deep understanding of history, Betsy is able to demonstrate the fascinating complexity and contradictions that define many of the people and issues in today’s West. We recorded this conversation on stage at the 2024 , where Betsy was nice enough to join us for the three-day festival of music, food, and conversation. As you’ll hear me say in the episode, Betsy and her work have played a huge role in my never-ending quest to try and understand this region, and I consider her to be a great friend and mentor. But even if you don’t have any interest in the West’s history or modern-day conflicts, there are big lessons to be learned from Betsy’s approach to her work. She is committed to finding the humanity in everyone– even people she completely disagrees with. Rather than attack them and their ideas, she approaches them with genuine curiosity, really trying to understand what they believe and why. And even when no common ideological ground can be found, there is still mutual respect. And I think most people will agree that we need more of these types of respectful interactions these days. In this conversation, we talk a bit about Betsy’s background and why she is so fascinated with understanding myths and the West. We talk about her commitment to having deep conversations with people across political and socio-economic spectrums, and she describes one of the unlikely friendships she built with a man whose views on politics, public lands, and the environment could not be further from her own. We discuss the importance of getting off the internet and having face-to-face conversations, how real estate development is changing the ecology and economics of the West, her thoughts on the future, and more. We also took questions from the audience, which was a lot of fun. Again, I can’t thank Betsy enough for joining me onstage for this conversation, but more importantly, for the wisdom she has shared with me over the years. If you haven’t read True West, I encourage you to pick up a copy as soon as you can, and I’d also encourage you to listen to our first conversation, where Betsy talks a lot about her life and career journey. And tickets for the , so if you’d like to experience conversations like this in person– plus music, food, Western makers, and more– follow the link in the episode notes to grab your tickets. --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:15 - Introducing Betsy at Old Salt 7:45 - Why the West? 10:15 - Discussing myths 14:15 - Betsy talks across the aisle 17:30 - Betsy’s relationship with Lance 19:45 - Lance’s email 23:15 - Creating conversations outside the internet 26:00 - Real estate development in the West 30:00 - Covid as a catalyst 34:30 - Predicting the future 35:45 - Q&A 39:15 - Should we trust the government? 41:30 - Lance’s takeaways 43:30 - A ‘real’ Montanan 49:45 - Our energy future 53:00 - Parting thoughts --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35197570

Chris Pague - Stories, Science, and the Southern High Plains 01/30/2025

Chris Pague - Stories, Science, and the Southern High Plains Chris Pague is the Senior Conservation Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy, and he is deeply involved in so many of the topics we discuss here on the podcast– grasslands, bison, endangered species, landscape-scale conservation, and more. For many decades now, Chris has been working on the frontlines of TNC’s science-based conservation efforts, and during his tenure, he’s accumulated a mind-blowing amount of knowledge about everything from the tiniest prairie plants to the plains’ largest mammals. But what makes Chris so special is his ability to translate complex ecology into inspiring, impactful stories– stories that resonate with everyone from the most committed conservationists to people who are just beginning to learn about the West’s wild places. Chris grew up in Virginia, and for as long as he can remember, he’s been obsessed with the outdoors, wild creatures, and all varieties of plants. He eventually moved West to take a job in Colorado with the Nature Conservancy, where he’s been an invaluable member of the team ever since. I personally credit Chris for helping me in my own journey to understand the importance of grasslands and connected landscapes across the Southern High Plains, thanks to a presentation Chris gave at an event I was attending over a decade ago. I know there are countless other folks just like me who credit Chris with helping them to better understand and appreciate pressing conservation issues— and more importantly, to take action. Between his on-the-ground ecology work and his gift of storytelling, it’s difficult to fully wrap my head around the scale of the positive impact Chris has had over his career. So, I was long overdue in having Chris join me for a podcast conversation. We could’ve talked for many hours, but in this chat, we still managed to cover a lot, including: Chris’s upbringing in Virginia and some of our shared favorite Virginia landscapes; his decision to move to Colorado; the decades-long shift in thinking around grasslands conservation; the importance of storytelling to communicate critical science, TNC’s Southern High Plains initiative; optimism and the wisdom of Ted Lasso; partnerships and relationships; favorite books, and much more. Be sure to visit the episode webpage for a full list of topics discussed, links to everything, and a new short film that features Chris and some of the landscapes he works to protect. A huge thanks to Chris for this wonderful conversation, but more importantly, thanks to Chris for his many decades of inspiring work. Enjoy. --- Short Film: Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. During the last week of every month throughout 2025, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Introducing Chris 8:30 - Chris’s favorite Virginia spots 9:45 - Making the decision to work for TNC 12:45 - Grassland evolution 17:30 - Why are grasslands important? 21:15 - Science and storytelling 24:15 - 50 years of land conservation history 28:00 - TNC’s Southern High Plains Initiative 35:15 - Protecting land 42:30 - Keep or sell? 47:45 - Building relationships 52:45 - Ted Lasso and optimism 56:45 - Increase in partnerships 58:45 - What Chris is excited about 1:03:45 - Book recs 1:06:45 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/35090325

Nicole Qualtieri - Charting a New Course in the Changing Landscape of Outdoor Media 01/24/2025

Nicole Qualtieri - Charting a New Course in the Changing Landscape of Outdoor Media is an outdoor writer and editor, a conservationist, and a committed outdoorswoman. Over the past decade, she’s worked with some of the most notable brands in the outdoor industry, including MeatEater, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and GearJunkie, and she has bylines with many well-known outdoor publications, such as Outside, Modern Huntsman, and Backcountry Journal. But despite being plugged in with many of the best names in the outdoor business, she and a few creative friends decided to go out on a limb and start their own outdoor publication– one that focuses on substance over clickbait, depth and vulnerability over the silly quest for virality and search engine optimization. The name of the project is , and it combines the best parts of online writing and journalism with a printed, hold-it-in-your-hands newspaper that ships to subscribers four times per year. As you’ll hear Nicole describe, the topics covered by The Westrn’s include hunting, conservation, and a wide range of outdoor adventure. But the deeper point of it all is to build a tight-knit community of engaged outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes, who appreciate the value of nuanced writing, thinking, and publishing. As many legacy outdoor media brands have become controlled by private equity and now focus on scalability over creativity and quality, the role of people like Nicole and her partners at the Westrn are all the more important— they are taking a real risk to make the Westrn a reality, and I greatly admire their vision and commitment to action. Nicole and I connected online– she was at her home in Anaconda, Montana and I was here in Colorado Springs– and we had an enlightening conversation filled with lots of laughs about her fascinating life, career, and the creation of The Westrn. We discussed her upbringing in what she describes as a high-control religious cult and how hunting and the outdoors were her way of working through some of that childhood trauma. We discussed her non-traditional career path, which included a stint as a stand-up comic, and how she worked her way into the outdoor industry. We discuss the importance of hard work, preparation, and grinding, and how self-confidence is generated from those activities. We discuss the current state of the outdoor media industry, the financial challenges of making it as a freelancer, her writing process, contentment vs happiness, favorite books, and of course, her goals for The Westrn. Nicole was also kind enough to offer some discount codes for M&P listeners, so follow the appropriate links in the episode notes or on the website to get 20% off annual memberships to The Westrn and/or 20% off single issues of the print newspaper. A huge thanks to Nicole for the conversation and thank you for listening. Enjoy! --- 20% Discount off the Annual Subscription Link for M+P Listeners will auto-populate discount: 20% Off Pre-Order Single Issues: Use link to use code: Or use code MTNPRAIRIE Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Nicole and Ed’s first convo (shared Roadhouse appreciation) 6:15 - Nicole’s background 8:15 - How writing’s been a part of Nicole’s life 13:15 - Getting out West 16:30 - College degrees 19:15 - On writing On Killing Animals 21:00 - The grind and the craft 28:00 - Taking the pain 30:15 - Outside’s rejection of On Killing Animals 34:45 - The corporatization of outdoor media 44:30 - The Westrn 54:30 - Taking a good idea and running with it 59:45 - Etymology of happy 1:02:30 - Nicole’s book recs 1:07:00 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34987570

Hal Herring Returns - Live at the Old Salt Festival 01/17/2025

Hal Herring Returns - Live at the Old Salt Festival is an award-winning outdoor journalist, fierce public lands advocate, and thoughtful, action-oriented conservationist. He’s also an accomplished podcaster and host of . If you’re a longtime listener of Mountain & Prairie, you may remember my first episode with Hal back in December of 2019– pre-pandemic, when the world was a much different place. Like me, Hal was born and raised in the south, and also like me, his Southern accent has not faded. But he’s made Montana his home for many decades now and has established himself as one of the most respected voices in conservation here in the American West. This episode was recorded live and on stage at the 2024 on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana. If you’re not familiar with Old Salt, it’s a three-day gathering in Montana’s Blackfoot Valley that combines live Americana music with artists like Sterling Drake and Summer Dean, wood-fired cooking with chefs including Eduardo Garcia, and a General Store featuring western makers such as Cate Havstad, Jillian Lukiwski, Christy Sing, and many more. The festival also includes a ton of on-stage conversations about land stewardship, conservation, history, literature, and more– and this is one of those conversations. Most of you are probably already familiar with Hal, but if you’re not, you are in for a treat. Hal brings such energy, humor, and knowledge to everything he does, and he has helped me in my own personal journey to better understand this complex region known as the American West. In this conversation, we covered a lot, including: Hal’s journey from Alabama to Montana, his thoughts on the current state of family ranching and public lands, optimism vs pessimism, and who he admires in the conservation space. We also discuss his forthcoming book on public lands, an idea he is working on for a new podcast, and we take a number of questions from the audience. I know you’ll learn a lot from this episode– I consider Hal a great teacher and leader, and it’s always an honor to spend time with him. Tickets for the , so follow to learn more and secure your spot at what will surely be another amazing weekend with amazing people. Thanks to Hal for the conversation, to the Mannix Family for opening up their ranch for this festival, and to you for listening! --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Ed introducing Hal at Old Salt Festival 4:45 - How Hal ended up in Montana 7:15 - Hal’s thoughts on the consolidation, absorption of family ranches 9:30 - Threat to public lands 11:15 - Hal’s “ah ha” moments as he’s researching his new book 12:45 - Hal’s book recs 15:00 - Finding common ground 18:15 - Keeping the energy going 19:15 - Hal’s new podcast project 23:45 - What Hal views as current threats to public lands (1872 mining law) 26:00 - Optimist or pessimist? 29:15 - Who’s taking action? 31:45 - Start of Q&A, Hal expanding on new podcast 34:00 - Broadening the audience 36:00 - What’s Hal doing beyond podcasting to trigger improvement? 37:15 - Ideas into action 39:00 - Project 2025 42:15 - Getting people’s attention without scaring them 44:00 - Future of journalism 46:00 - Montana Senate race --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34896860

Scott Hulet: Reading + Writing + Surfing + Fishing + Traveling 01/10/2025

Scott Hulet: Reading + Writing + Surfing + Fishing + Traveling is a legendary writer, editor, and current Creative Director at . He also has a new book titled , which is a compilation of more than thirty years of his writing about surfing, fishing, travel, food, music, and more. If you subscribe to my book recommendations email, then you’ll already know how much I loved the book– Scott brings to life the cultures, waves, and landscapes of Latin America using his unique blend of insights, humor, and perfectly crafted prose. If you’re a fan of travelogues, adventure tales, and cultural immersion, I know you’ll enjoy “Flow Violento.” Scott was born and raised in southern California, and he’s been writing for longer than he can even remember. Skating and surfing entered his life very early, as did travel to Mexico for surf trips. Through a deep commitment to the craft of writing and surfing, he’s been able to build a successful career that combines both. But for all his success, there have also been some speedbumps along the way, including a string of health scares during his fifties that culminated with a very serious stroke. But after a ton of hard work and help from some inspiring medical professionals, Scott was able to make a full recovery– and refocus his efforts on writing, traveling, and surfing. I’ve been a huge fan of The Surfer’s Journal and Scott for many, many years, so I was honored that he took the time to chat with me about his life, work, and the new book. I caught him just a few days before he took off to the Colombian Amazon for a fishing and research trip, and we had a fun chat about reading, writing, surfing, traveling, and more. Some of the topics include: his “hunting and gathering” approach to reading: some of his favorite childhood books; his first foundational surfing and traveling experiences; moving to Hawaii after high school; becoming a professional writer; the importance of approaching new cultures with respect; his health scares and lessons learned; his surprising thoughts on social media; rules for travel; and much more. A big thanks to Scott for the conversation and his decades of important work. And another big thanks to you for listening. Enjoy! --- Leave a 5-star review on or Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Scott’s “hunting and gathering” approach to reading 5:30 - Scott’s father’s influence on his reading 7:00 - Favorite childhood books 8:15 - A brief family history 9:35 - Childhood activities in San Diego 11:45 - First three foundational surfing experiences 16:00 - First adventure in Mexico 20:30 - Approaching new cultures and locations with respect… or else 24:00 - Heading to university 25:45 - Writing: from avocation to vocation 28:00 - Mentors 34:30 - How TSJ has maintained such a loyal following in the changing world of print media 36:45 - A surprisingly positive take on Twitter/X 39:45 - The importance of knowing a wide range of people with wide ranges of ideas 44:45 - The art of editing 47:15 - Courting the Muse 49:30 - Lessons learned from several super-intense health trials 53:30 - Pre-stroke Scott vs post-stroke Scott 55:45 - How to stand out from the crowd as a creative 57:15 - There are still unknown, off-the-map places to discover 59:00 - Rules for thinking traveler 1:01:00 - Important books 1:05:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34812755

Rusty Bell & Justin Loyka - Economics, Energy, and Community Pride 12/31/2024

Rusty Bell & Justin Loyka - Economics, Energy, and Community Pride Rusty Bell is the Director of Gillette College’s Office of Economic Transformation, and Justin Loyka is the Wyoming Energy Program Director at the Nature Conservancy. Rusty and Justin are working together to find sustainable, economically viable solutions to the energy transition that is currently taking place in and around Gillette, Wyoming. Gillette and Campbell County, Wyoming have long been leaders in the United States’ coal production business and have been a foundation of West’s economy for decades. But over the past 15 years or so, coal production has decreased by approximately half, which will have far-reaching consequences for Gillette, the state of Wyoming, and the West. But as coal mining scales back, Gillette is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the rise of renewable energy and the many positive economic and environmental ripple effects that it creates. Campbell County’s landscape, workforce, infrastructure, transmission capabilities, and wildlife migration patterns offer huge opportunities to be a future hotbed of renewable energy. By transitioning reclaimed coal mines into renewable energy sites, Campbell County will not only be able to fill in the economic gap created by the contraction of the coal business, but will be able to allow Gillette to continue its culture of innovation, hard work, and community pride for decades to come. Rusty was born and raised in Gillette, and Justin’s been living and working in Wyoming for almost 15 years. As you’ll hear, they’ve formed a partnership based on optimism, creativity, respect, and pragmatism, and they are making great strides to bolster the economic and environmental future of northeastern Wyoming. We talked about a lot in this conversation, including: A history of Wyoming’s coal mining business; the culture and community pride of Gillette; why Gillette is a perfect place for renewables; cultural and political views on renewables; wildlife considerations; details around coal mine reclamation; ways to build trust and lasting relationships; and more. Justin and Rusty also share ideas about why they work so well together, and they both offer some great book recommendations and wise parting words. I loved this conversation and learned so much about not just energy production, but also community pride, pragmatism, problem-solving, and respectful, productive relationships. A huge thanks to Rusty and Justin for joining me, and thank you for listening. --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - A brief history of the coal business in Wyoming 10:00 - The unique culture and economy of Gillette, Wyoming 16:30 - Some background on coal mine reclamation 22:30 - Why Gillette is such a prime location for renewable energy 26:00 - Wildlife considerations 29:45 - Transmission capacity considerations 31:30 - What is a megawatt? 34:00 - The cultural and political acceptance of renewables 38:30 - Justin’s approach to building trust in Wyoming communities 43:30 - The positive ripple effects of a renewable economy 48:30 - What Justin admires about Rusty 51:30 - What Rusty admires about Justin 53:45 - TNC’s role in this energy and economic transition 57:30 - How the new Presidential administration will affect this work 1:03:30 - Favorite books 1:07:15 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34673785

Joe Whitworth - On Unrelenting Effort, Blazing Your Own Trail, and Taking Action 12/10/2024

Joe Whitworth - On Unrelenting Effort, Blazing Your Own Trail, and Taking Action is the President and CEO of (“TFT”), an innovative and action-oriented conservation organization whose mission is to preserve and restore freshwater ecosystems. With a focus on technology and an all-star staff made up of scientists, attorneys, GIS experts, systems analysts, and more, TFT is pioneering the next generation of conservation by focusing on quantifiable results. Back when I was a Conservation Director here in Colorado, I had the great pleasure of partnering with TFT on a project involving water rights and irrigated farmland, and I was blown away by the organization’s ability to quickly put complex ideas into action for the benefit of land, water, and communities. Joe was born into a large midwestern family, and from an early age, his grandfather, who was a farmer, played a foundational role in his understanding of land, water, and conservation. After high school, Joe moved east to attend Dartmouth, where he played football, and then he eventually moved West to attend law school. Along the way, he began to focus his professional efforts on doing work that made the world a better place. After several stints at several different organizations, he took the reins of the organization that would eventually become The Freshwater Trust. Joe has now been at the helm of TFT for more than two decades and has grown the organization’s budget tenfold during his tenure. He’s focused, action-oriented, innovative, and very serious about solving big, complex conservation problems in the West and beyond. As you’ll hear, Joe and I share many common interests in everything from history to reading to conservation to rivers, and, perhaps more importantly, I connect deeply with many of Joe’s core values around hard work, following your own path, and taking action. So, it’s no surprise that we had such a fun conversation. We start out talking about Joe’s grandfather, Joe’s journey from the Midwest to the Ivy League, and how he adjusted to life at Dartmouth. We talk about his early years working as a non-profit consultant and the series of events that led him to The Freshwater Trust. We discuss the ultimatum that led to TFT’s impressive growth, the type of people who thrive as staff members, and he gives an overview of their BasinScout technology. We discuss the future of environmentalism, technology’s role in solving environmental challenges, favorite books, and much more. As I said, I’ve been a fan of TFT for many years, so I was so glad to finally have this opportunity to chat with Joe about his personal and professional operating systems. I hope you enjoy. --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - Joe’s grandfather and his lasting influence 9:00 - Unexpected blessings from a broken femur 13:00 - Adjusting to the Ivy League culture 16:15 - Next moves after Dartmouth 21:30 - Living like a monk and figuring out next steps 25:30 - “The world is designed to make you shut up and get in line.” 28:45 - Law school and beginnings at the Freshwater Trust 29:00 - Revamping The Freshwater Trust 34:00 - The board’s reaction to Joe’s plans for the future 39:00 - The importance of making hard decisions 43:45 - The magic of The Freshwater Trust team 47:45 - An overview of BasinScout 51:15 - A foundational BasinScout case study 58:30 - Ideas and areas of focus on the horizon 1:01:00 - The importance of taking action 1:03:30 - Next phase of environmentalism 1:06:00 - How TFT’s values meld with Joe’s personal values 1:09:00 - Expectations of new team members 1:12:00 - The TFT model of handing off new ideas and innovation to partners 1:16:00 - Favorite books --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34373170

Jesse Smith – A Regenerative Approach to Land and Life 12/03/2024

Jesse Smith – A Regenerative Approach to Land and Life is the Director of Land Stewardship at the , which is a global hub for regenerative land stewardship, ecological monitoring and research, education, and more. Jesse brings a unique perspective and a diverse set of experiences to his work in regenerative agriculture– his early interest in architecture led him to pursue an education in design, which then led to a career in product design and visual communication. But over time, he became interested in combining his artistic sensibilities with his love of the land, science, and permaculture, and soon thereafter began his journey in the world of family farming, food production, and education. Jesse is now a leader in the world of regenerative ag, and, as you’ll hear, he has a real gift for communicating the art and science of land stewardship. This conversation was recorded in November of 2024 on stage at the – one of the country’s foremost gatherings of regenerative agriculture practitioners and thought leaders. REGENERATE is a collaboration between the Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, and the American Grassfed Association, and the conference attracts fascinating people from all over the world to share knowledge, build community, and create a culture of resilience and regeneration. Despite sitting on stage in front of an auditorium full of people, this conversation felt much more like a fun one-on-one discussion between two friends. We covered everything from Jesse’s winding path into the world of agriculture to some of the more technical details around land monitoring and certifications. We discussed the natural disasters in Jesse’s community that highlighted huge problems in the local food systems, which eventually led to the creation of the White Buffalo Land Trust. We discussed how Jesse prioritizes his work when there are so many urgent challenges to address, and he shares his experiences with big business’s growing interest in regenerative ag. We talk about the Japanese concept of Ikigai, transforming inspiration into action, advice for building a career in regenerative ag, favorite books, and much more. We also allowed ample time for Q&A from the audience, which I know you’ll enjoy. Jesse mentions tons of useful resources so be sure to visit the episode notes for a full list of topics we discussed and links to everything. A huge thanks to the team at REGENERATE for inviting me to the conference, thank you to Jesse for chatting with me and offering so much wisdom, and thanks to you for listening. The episode starts out with an introduction from Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, who is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition and a past Mountain & Prairie podcast guest. Hope you enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - An introduction from Quivira’s Executive Director, Sarah Wentzel-Fisher 4:45 - Ed’s introduction 8:00 - Jesse’s early years and path into conservation 12:15 - Recognizing the community need that led to the creation of the White Buffalo Land Trust 16:00 - How does Jesse prioritize his work at the White Buffalo Land Trust 21:45 - Thoughts on big business’s interest in regenerative agriculture 27:05 - The complexity of regenerative certifications 32:45 - Predictions about the future of regenerative certifications 35:30 - Advice for people who want to work in regenerative ag 41:00 - Translating inspiration into action 45:30 - Audience Q&A: How do stories and on-the-ground experiences help to change people’s minds? 50:43 - Audience Q&A: Why is the burden on regenerative producers to get certifications to prove that they are doing it correctly? 54:15 - Audience Q&A: Thoughts on the new administration bringing regenerative practitioners into the FDA? 59:20 - Audience Q&A: How do we create more accessibility around regenerative ag? 1:03:10 - Audience Q&A: How does regenerative ag play a role in procurement by institutional buyers? 1:05:00 - Audience Q&A: What is the source of people’s disconnection with food and what is one step to bridge that gap? 1:08:20 - Audience Q&A: What are some planning strategies to help balance stewardship and profitability 1:12:05 - Audience Q&A: What is the lay of the land when it comes to certifications across a broad range of markets? 1:16:15 - Jesse’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34274790

Nichole Barger – Science as a Catalyst for Human Connection 11/27/2024

Nichole Barger – Science as a Catalyst for Human Connection Nichole Barger is an ecologist, former university professor, and the current deputy chief scientist and lead global scientist for The Nature Conservancy. She earned her master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her PhD from Colorado State University, and her career has included extensive time researching, teaching, and practicing on-the-ground, frontline conservation on issues including land degradation, restoration, and more. Prior to assuming her current position at TNC, she was the research director of the Canyonlands Research Center located at the Dugout Ranch, which you may remember as the subject of a Mountain & Prairie episode back in August of 2024. Given her distinguished career as a scientist, you might be surprised to learn that Nichole never considered pursuing science as a vocation until the second half of her time in college. She grew up in small-town Indiana, and, although she was extremely curious, a great student, and a voracious reader, she was not particularly enamored with science and didn’t know anyone who worked as a scientist. But during college, a supportive-yet-casual comment from one of her professors planted the seed that science could be an option. Fast forward to today, she has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers, she co-chairs the Science Policy Interface group of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and she leads many of TNC’s cutting-edge science initiatives. As you’ll hear, Nichole brings a deep level of empathy, curiosity, and open-mindedness to all of her work as a scientist. Whether she’s teaching, researching, or working with conservation stakeholders, she never loses sight of the importance of human connection. We spent the first half of the conversation discussing lessons learned from her nontraditional path into the world of science, including a two-year stint where she left college to travel and explore the United States. We discussed her renewed focus on academics when she returned to school, and the moment that professor planted the seed that eventually grew into her career in science. We discuss teaching versus research, how she evolved as an educator and mentor to college students, and when she decided to apply her talents to TNC’s mission. We discuss TNC’s incorporation of Indigenous wisdom and science into its work, human health as a conservation initiative, and the importance of face-to-face human interactions. She also offers some excellent book recommendations and ideas for remaining optimistic and action-oriented during challenging times. There’s so much wisdom packed into this episode, so be sure to check out the episode notes for a complete list of topics and links to everything. A huge thanks to Nichole for the great conversation and thank you for listening. --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Nichole’s upbringing and early years 7:45 - Taking a non-traditional path and her parents’ reaction 9:30 - Lessons learned from her two-year break 11:00 - Books read in high school that gave Nichole confidence to follow her own path 12:30 - Returning to school with a renewed focus 15:30 - Advice to college students who are trying to find their way in the world 18:15 - Her journey to becoming a successful scientist 20:30 - Research versus teaching 22:45 - Lessons learned from years of teaching 26:30 - When and how TNC became a professional focus 29:30 - Nichole describes her current job at TNC 31:15 - Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into TNC’s science work 40:00 - The importance and power of weaving in Indigenous knowledge 43:00 - Human health as a conservation initiative 47:00 - “Doom and Gloom” is not a motivating strategy 50:00 - Online resources for news and science (that won’t make you crazy) 52:00 - The importance of physcially being with other people 53:15 - The most exciting project Nichole is working on 55:00 - What can the average person do to take action and make a difference 59:00 - Book recommendations 1:03:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/34172850

Mark Easter - Food, Soil, and Our Planet's Future 11/15/2024

Mark Easter - Food, Soil, and Our Planet's Future Mark Easter is a Colorado-based ecologist and author whose new book is titled "The Blue Plate: A Food Lover's Guide to Climate Chaos." If you care about food and you care about Planet Earth, "The Blue Plate" is a must-read. It explores the production, consumption, and disposal of many of our favorite foods– seafood, salad, bread, chicken, steak, potatoes, ice cream, and more– and offers a thoughtful and nuanced analysis of these foods' impacts on the environment. This is not a gloom-and-doom climate change book, nor does it have the condescending tone that sometimes accompanies many climate-related readings. While Mark is crystal clear about the massive threats facing our planet, this is a book built on the ideals of optimism, ingenuity, and taking action. I loved it. Mark lives and works in Fort Collins and has conducted research in academia and private industry since 1988. He has enjoyed a very successful and impactful career at Colorado State University, and he has authored and co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and reports related to carbon cycling and the carbon footprint of agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. But Mark also has a real gift for storytelling and for breaking down enormously complex topics into understandable and enjoyable writing. His writing is personal, educational, and fun to read, and I credit Mark and "The Blue Plate" with helping me to finally fully understand issues around greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. Mark and I met up a few weeks ago at CSU and had a fun and nuanced conversation about food, agriculture, and the climate. We started by discussing why he refers to himself as a “greenhouse gas accountant,” and he offers an excellent explanation of soil's all-important role in balancing the release and capture of carbon on Planet Earth. We talk about how grasslands, jungles, and mangroves sequester carbon, and how and why the destruction of any of these ecosystems negatively affects the planet. We discuss Mark’s ten-year process of writing this book and how Patagonia Books helped him bring his vision to life. We discuss how methane is produced by everything from reservoirs to ruminants, and why that particular greenhouse gas is more harmful than the others. We discuss regenerative agriculture, meat production, composting, and personal diet choices, and Mark offers a long list of excellent book recommendations. We barely scratched the surface of all of the fascinating topics in "The Blue Plate," so if you enjoy this conversation, I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of the book and dig in. I know you’ll enjoy it and learn a lot. --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - Intro and how Mark describes his work 7:15 - Parallels between carbon accounting and business accounting 13:45 - An overview of soil and carbon 21:30 - Carbon in grasslands vs jungles vs mangroves 25:00 - How and why Mark decided to write this book 33:00 - The ten-year process of writing the book 37:00 - Greenhouse gases explained 40:00 - Methane feedback loop explained 43:30 - A fascinating story about methane in Lake Powell 46:15 - Reservoirs and evaporation 47:00 - The most difficult chapter to write: Ruminants and meat 55:30 - The increasing global demand for meat 58:00 - Taking action and personal responsibility 1:01:30 - Personal responsibility versus regulation 1:04:00 - A helpful way to understand carbon quantities 1:06:00 - Carbon consequences of transforming forests to grasslands 1:09:00 - All about composting 1:13:00 - Business opportunities in regenerative agriculture 1:16:30 - Favorite books 1:22:15 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/33949497

Kelsey Molloy & Angel DeVries – Fortifying Grasslands & Communities on the Northern Great Plains 11/01/2024

Kelsey Molloy & Angel DeVries – Fortifying Grasslands & Communities on the Northern Great Plains Kelsey Molloy is the Northern Great Plains Director at The Nature Conservancy and Angel DeVries is the Executive Director of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA)– they both live and work on the Northern Great Plains in Malta, Montana. While they work for different organizations, Kelsey and Angel collaborate on a long list of critical projects, most of which are focused on grassland conservation, ranching, and community partnerships. One of their most notable collaborations involves the Matador Ranch, a 60,000-acre TNC-owned property near Dodson, Montana. The Matador Ranch is home to an outside-the-box conservation initiative known as a grassbank, which is a partnership opportunity that offers ranchers grazing access to rich grasses in exchange for adopting sustainable practices on their own property. This grassbank was introduced during the historic drought of the early 2000s, and it offered much needed grazing opportunities for ranching families whose homeplaces had been hit hard by the dry conditions. Since then, for the past 20+ years, the grassbank has continued to provide win-win solutions for ranchers and conservation-focused non-profit organizations, as well as helping to bolster trust, goodwill, and community cohesiveness. As you’ll hear in this conversation, the grassbank has been such a success, the TNC is currently searching for another ranch to acquire and eventually transform into a community led and owned grassbank. This “grassbank 2.0” will not only provide a grazing safety net during times of drought, but will also further the work of providing opportunities for new or young ranchers who are just entering the business but do not yet have the capital to purchase their own land. We connected via the magic of the internet, and had a wide-ranging conversation about their productive collaboration, grassbanks, challenges and opportunities in the Northern Great Plains, and more. We discussed the work of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, the history of the Matador Ranch, and the ins and outs of the Matador Ranch grassbank. We discussed how skyrocketing land values are making it nearly impossible for new ranchers to enter the business, and also how succession planning is becoming an important, but often underappreciated, issue for ranching families. We also talked a lot about the need for optimism and curiosity, the importance of building community, and how TNC and RSA are working to bridge cultural and geographic divides. We also learn about RSA’s book club, which will likely be of great interest to many of you. I learned so much from this conversation and appreciate Kelsey and Angel taking time out of their busy schedules to chat with me. Hope you enjoy! --- Full episode notes & links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Kelsey and Angel introduce themselves 8:10 - Background on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) 10:00 - A few of the biggest challenges facing Great Plains ranchers 15:30 - The history of the Matador Ranch and the grassbank 22:00 - Lessons learned from the grassbank 24:15 - A local’s perspective on the grassbank 25:30 - Wildlife-friendly fencing explained 26:30 - Other examples of grassbanks 30:15 - Emerging plans for a new grassbank 33:45 - Steps involved in finding a new property 36:00 - Success stories from the Matador Ranch 41:00 - Easements as a tool for grasslands restoration 43:45 - Importance of positivity and optimism 48:45 - Importance of optimism 52:00 - Important books 56:15 - RSA book club 59:45 - Words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/33725377

The Partnership of Rangeland Trusts - 20 Years of Cooperation, Collaboration, and Conservation 10/25/2024

The Partnership of Rangeland Trusts - 20 Years of Cooperation, Collaboration, and Conservation If you’re a longtime Mountain & Prairie listener, then you’re already familiar with the , also known as PORT. But for any new listeners, PORT is an alliance of agriculture-focused conservation organizations dedicated to preserving working farms and ranches and conserving productive agricultural lands. PORT is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, and in those two decades (and as of this recording), PORT organizations have helped more than 2,000 families conserve almost 3.2 million acres of productive working lands across the West. In this episode, I chat with three executive directors of PORT-affiliated organizations, two of which have been on the podcast before. You’ll recognize Chad Ellis of the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT), and Erik Glenn of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust. And new to the podcast is Michael Delbar, who leads the California Rangeland Trust. I’ve known all three of these guys for many years now, and I have long admired the ways that they lead their respective organizations. But perhaps even more impressive to me is how they have worked as a team with all nine PORT organizations to increase the scale, influence, and effectiveness of large-scale, working lands conservation. I don’t think I’ve ever recorded an episode this early in the morning– we squeezed it in between an early morning breakfast and PORT’s board meeting. Just the day before, we had all been at TALT’s Working Lands Innovation Summit on the Birdwell-Clark Ranch in Henrietta, Texas, which was a huge success. So this was a great time to reflect on the importance of working lands, and we covered a lot: The Working Lands Innovation Summit and the importance of spending time out on the land; the history and purpose of PORT, the growth of additive conservation projects; private lands conservation as an economic driver; hard work; innovation; the importance of advocating for conservation in Washington DC; future plans for PORT, and much more. As you’ll hear, I start out chatting with Chad and Erik, and then Michael steps in for Erik about halfway through and shares his valuable perspective. A huge thanks to TALT for inviting me to Texas and another huge thanks to all the PORT organizations and landowner partners who have had such a positive and significant impact on the landscapes of the West. --- Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Intro / What brought us all to Texas 7:00 - Importance of being on the land for the conference 8:45 - Introduction to the Partnership of Rangelands Trust (PORT) 12:30 - How and why PORT was created 15:30 - Additive conservation and the future 18:45 - Examples of additive conservation projects 25:30 - Private lands conservation as an economic driver 29:15 - Intro to Michael Delbar 31:00 - How the perception of conservation easements has changed in California 32:00 - Once again, the importance of relationships 34:15 - Hard work and innovation 39:45 - Advocating in DC 42:00 - How PORT’s scale translates into results 43:30 - Future plans for PORT 47:00 - Funding needs and parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/33617092

Kevin Grange - The Secret Lives of Grizzlies 10/18/2024

Kevin Grange - The Secret Lives of Grizzlies is a Wyoming-based author, paramedic, and firefighter. His most recent book is titled “,” which is a must-read for anyone interested in the evolving relationship between humans and bears. The book follows Kevin’s journey throughout the American West and Alaska as he seeks to better understand grizzly bears, debunk many deeply engrained myths, explore case studies of successful coexistence, and more. The book is part travelogue, part adventure story, and part science– making for a fun and educational read that I highly recommend. Kevin was born and raised in New Hampshire, where he grew up obsessed with the outdoors and, like many of us, obsessed with kids’ outdoor books such as Old Yeller, Sounder, and Where the Red Fern Grows. He attended paramedic school in California and began his career in downtown LA before landing a job as a National Park paramedic in Yellowstone. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Kevin has managed to successfully merge his love of medicine and adventure with his talent for writing, and with a lot of hard work, he’s enjoyed two successful, simultaneous careers– one in medicine and the other in writing. Kevin and I connected just a few weeks after the publication of “Grizzly Confidential” and had a fascinating conversation about his career, his writing process, and his journey to better understand the legendary grizzly bear. We discussed his career path that led him to the West and his first experiences working in Yellowstone. We talk about balancing his paramedic work with his writing work, and how having a full-time job allows him to be more selective with his writing projects. We obviously talk a lot about grizzly bears– grizzly research, poaching, backcountry bear safety, his travels to Alaska, success stories of coexistence, false grizzly myths, overcoming his fear of grizzlies, and much more. Kevin is also a voracious reader, so he offers up plenty of excellent book recommendations. A huge thanks to Kevin for writing such a fun and educational book, and a huge thanks to you for listening. Enjoy! --- by Kevin Grange Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Intro and Kevin’s upbringing 5:45 - Favorite books as a kid 8:15 - First memories of grizzlies 9:15 - First encounter with a grizzly 11:30 - Becoming a National Park paramedic 13:45 - Types of emergencies in National Parks 15:00 - Idiotic tourist mistakes 16:45 - Balancing paramedic work with writing 19:30 - Why Grizzlies? 22:15 - How this book’s angle is different from other Grizzly books 26:20 - What’s the difference between a “Grizzly bear” and a “Brown bear”? 27:45 - Washington State University’s Bear Center 32:45 - Grizzly poaching 37:15 - Learning bear defense methods, including bear spray 41:15 - Basic backcountry safety in bear country 44:15 - Examples of good and bad coexistence strategies 48:15 - Debunking certain grizzly myths 52:45 - Continued learning about grizzlies 55:45 - How writing this book compares to the others 57:15 0 Favorite writers and books 59:30 - How has Kevin changed because of this project? 1:05:30 - Learning to switch gears after an intense paramedic experience 1:07:30 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/33518567

Nick Mott - A Masterclass in Nuanced Storytelling 10/01/2024

Nick Mott - A Masterclass in Nuanced Storytelling is an award-winning multimedia journalist who lives in Livingston, Montana. His latest project is a wonderful new podcast called , which he produced in collaboration with Montana Public Radio and the Montana Media Lab. The podcast offers a fresh look into our ever-changing relationship with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and it digs into the history, nuance, and modern-day controversies surrounding what has been called “the most powerful environmental legislation in the world.” Nick explores this devisive topic with deep curiosity and journalistic integrity, and I found the podcast to be amazingly educational and entertaining– which is a rare combo when discussing such a complex piece of legislation. If you’re a longtime Mountain & Prairie listener, then many of the topics Nick explores in The Wide Open will be of great interest– grizzly bears, wolves, the environmental history of the West, and more. You’ll also hear a few familiar voices, including past podcast guest and living legend Doug Peacock. But what I most appreciated about The Wide Open is how Nick was able to humanize the stories surrounding such a divisive part of Western culture– he features people who love the ESA and people who hate it, but all of them are given the opportunity to share their stories and unique outlooks. In this current cultural moment of hot takes, outrage, and misinformation, The Wide Open is a much-needed return to nuance, curiosity, and civility. As you’d expect from an award-winning podcaster, Nick knows how to tell a great story, so I know you’ll enjoy this episode. We start out discussing the history of the ESA and Nick’s fresh approach to exploring such a well-known environmental story. We discuss how the ESA is used as a tool to achieve goals other than species protection, how Nick balances the need to make his podcasts both informative and fun to listen to, how he accounts for his own personal biases when telling stories, and how he goes about choosing people to interview. About halfway through the episode, Nick recounts a horrifying recent run-in he had with a grizzly bear, and he discusses how that close call affected his thinking on some of these complex wildlife issues. We also discuss his favorite books, plans for future seasons of The Wide Open, how he deals with negative feedback, wolf reintroduction in Colorado, his professional heroes, and much more. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything, including Nick’s other podcasts and his book "This is Wildfire," which he co-authored with Justin Angle. A big thanks to Nick for taking the time, thank you for listening, and please subscribe to The Wide Open– I know you’ll really enjoy it! --- "" by Nick Mott and Justin Angle Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:50 - What attracts Nick to specific stories or topics? 6:30 - Nick describes his new approach to examining the ESA. 8:30 - A brief history of the ESA 11:35 - Using the ESA as a tool to save species OR achieve other goals 16:00 - How Nick chooses people to interview and include on the podcast 19:15 - Balancing telling stories that are both entertaining and substantive 22:50 - Accounting for bias in journalism 24:45 - Why Nick includes his own story in the podcast narrative 27:30 - Introvert or extrovert? 28:50 - Did Nick change his mind on anything related to the ESA? 31:30 - How the internet has inflamed the divisiveness of the ESA 33:00 - Nick’s recent terrifying encounter with a grizzly 39:00 - The psychological aftermath of the grizzly scare 44:45 - Providing a framework for thinking about wolf reintroduction in Colorado 49:00 - People Nick admires 53:00 - What type of journalism does Nick like the best? 55:00 - Future seasons of The Wide Open? 56:45 - People Nick admires 1:00:00 - Favorite books 1:02:00 - Dealing with negative feedback 1:04:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/33290347

Mauricia Baca - An Empathetic Approach to Nevada's Conservation Challenges 09/24/2024

Mauricia Baca - An Empathetic Approach to Nevada's Conservation Challenges is the State Director of the Nevada Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. In this role, she leads TNC’s efforts in Nevada across a wide range of conservation issues that are familiar to Mountain & Prairie listeners– the Colorado River, the Sagebrush Sea, and renewable energy. But Nevada is also home to some very unique conservation challenges related to biodiversity, mining for rare earth metals, groundwater for agriculture, and more. So I was excited to have this opportunity to learn from Mauricia about some of the specific challenges facing Nevada, TNC’s solutions to these challenges, and how the lessons learned can be applied in other regions of the West. Mauricia was born in Mexico, grew up in New York City, and credits much of her love of nature and the environment to her childhood experiences exploring Central Park. After college, she served in the Peace Corps, worked as a community organizer in New York, and eventually attended law school. After four years of working as a prosecutor for the United States Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, she moved to Nevada and began her first position with The Nature Conservancy, leading conservation work on the Truckee River. She has served as the State Director since November 2020, and, as you’ll hear, all of her efforts are infused with a deep level of compassion, empathy, and gratitude. Mauricia has such a fascinating personal and professional trajectory, and there are many lessons to be learned from both her approach to her life and career, and the specifics of TNC’s critical work in Nevada. We talked about her youth in Mexico and New York City, and how she has been committed to environmental work since she was a very young girl. We discuss her stint in the Peace Corps and how those experiences laid the groundwork for her current work with TNC. She shares some insights from switching from the litigation world to the conservation world, and she offers some wisdom for folks looking to make a similar transition. We discuss lithium mining, groundwater conservation, and climate change, and how TNC is making strides to protect biodiversity while balancing society's growing need for rare earth metals, water, and development. She also shares some wisdom gleaned from her recent battle with breast cancer, and discusses how her approach to work has changed since that life-altering health scare. A big thanks to Mauricia for being so open and thoughtful, and for sharing so many wonderful insights from her inspiring career. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discussed and to watch Mauricia's recent TEDx talk, which serves as a great companion to this interview. Enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Mauricia’s upbringing and early years in Mexico and New York City 7:00 - When she knew she wanted to devote her career to environmental work 9:15 - Legal training as thought training 11:45 - How the Peace Corps and other experiences helped her learn to build trust and relationships 16:45 - When TNC entered Mauricia’s life as a next career step 19:45 - More details on how she was able to land her first job with TNC 24:00 - Career evolution within TNC 26:00 - Starting as TNC State Director at the beginning of the pandemic 28:45 - Tackling climate-related challenges in Nevada and beyond 34:00 - The Atwood Preserve and the quiet beauty of the Mojave Desert 39:00 - TNC’s work to preserve biodiversity in the face of lithium mining 43:45 - The importance of groundwater for Nevada’s ag sector 49:00 - Working in partnership with Tribal communities 54:00 - Thinking locally and acting globally 56:00 - Lessons learned from Mauricia’s recent cancer scare 1:03:30 - Favorite books 1:06:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/33193572

Joe Schobert - From NFL Pro Bowler to Western Conservation Advocate 09/10/2024

Joe Schobert - From NFL Pro Bowler to Western Conservation Advocate Joe Schobert is a retired NFL Pro Bowler who is devoting the second act of his professional career to advocating for the West’s wild places. Joe was born and raised in Wisconsin, and despite having an exemplary high school football career, he was not offered a scholarship to play college football. So he took matters into his own hands and walked on at the University of Wisconsin– four years later, he was awarded the Jack Lambert Trophy as the nation’s best linebacker. He was then drafted by the Cleveland Browns, and a few years later, he earned a spot on the NFL’s Pro Bowl team. After a successful career with teams including the Browns, Jaguars, and Steelers, Joe recently retired and is leaning into the next phase of his career. Since childhood, Joe has loved the outdoors and wide-open spaces. During his time with the Browns, he began leveraging his influence and resources to raise awareness and funds for conservation-focused organizations. Through an NFL fundraising initiative called “My Cause, My Cleats,” he spotlighted several Colorado-based conservation organizations on the NFL’s international stage. Back in 2021, his non-profit of choice was my old employer, Palmer Land Conservancy, and before that, he supported the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. His most recent fundraiser is called the NFLPA Fishing for Conservation, which was created to raise funds for the amazing team at Western Rivers Conservancy. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Joe loves the West, loves hiking, fishing, and outdoor adventure, and loves exploring wild places with his wife Megan and their two young sons. He also understands and appreciates the wide range of threats facing everything from family farms and ranches to public lands to river ecosystems, and he is committed to doing his part to protect these invaluable resources. So in this conversation, we talk about it all– from Joe’s inspiring journey at the highest levels of professional athletics all the way up to this summer’s first annual Fishing for Conservation, which took place at Lake Tahoe. At his core, Joe is a focused, humble, and action-oriented guy, and it was such a treat to learn the origins of his talents and how he has applied those talents to both football and conservation. A huge thanks to Joe for joining me for a chat, and for his years-long commitment to western conservation. Enjoy! --- Joe on Full episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - Joe’s upbringing 6:15 - When it became clear that Joe was a talented athlete 9:30 - Discussing how, despite his clear talent, Joe did not receive an athletic scholarship to college, and how he pushed past that 18:15 - When Joe arrived at the University of Wisconsin 20:15 - What Joe is most proud of doing at Wisconsin 22:15 - Whether or not there was room for other activities (besides school and football) during Joe’s college experience 25:00 - When the NFL became a possibility for Joe 26:30 - How Joe chose an agent 29:45 - Discussing the Combine 32:30 - Discussing the NFL Draft 35:15 - Discussing training camp with the Browns 37:30 - Joe describes the training camp balance between preparing to work as a team but also working against teammates for a spot on the roster 39:00 - The importance of “intangibles” and “soft skills” in the NFL 40:45 - When conservation entered Joe’s brain, and how he ended up in Colorado 50:00 - Joe’s nonprofit, and the conservation fundraiser he held in Lake Tahoe 55:15 - Joe’s recent river trip in Montana 58:00 - Joe’s retirement and family life 1:00:30 - Joe’s book recommendations 1:03:15 - Discussing the need for action 1:06:00 - Joe’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/32999737

Heidi Redd & Sue Bellagamba - Tales from the Dugout Ranch 08/27/2024

Heidi Redd & Sue Bellagamba - Tales from the Dugout Ranch Heidi Redd is a renowned rancher, conservationist, author, and member of the National Cowgirl Museum’s Hall of Fame. Sue Bellagamba serves as Canyonlands Regional Director at the Nature Conservancy, and for more than thirty years, she has worked to protect the lands and waters of southeastern Utah. Heidi and TNC have been partners since 1997 when Heidi sold her family’s Utah ranch– – to the Nature Conservancy in a historic conservation deal that protected the property from impending development. The Dugout Ranch is located at the gateway to Canyonlands National Park and sits within the boundaries of what is now Bears Ears National Monument– a fragile and arid landscape that has faced various development and environmental threats for many decades. Heidi and Sue have worked together in many capacities over the years, with one of their most notable achievements being the creation of , which is headquartered at the Dugout Ranch. The CRC was founded in 2010, and its mission is to “promote a sustainable future on the Colorado Plateau for people and nature through research, inspiration, and demonstration of evidence-based solutions to solve some of our most pressing ecological, social, and economic issues.” Heidi is also the author of the excellent new book titled . The book details her fascinating and adventurous life, with tales ranging from her youth (which included lots of rock climbing and skydiving), to her early years on the Dugout Ranch, all the way up to some recent behind-the-scenes stories from the designation of Bears Ears as a National Monument. If you’re a fan of history, adventure, ranching, conservation, and purpose-driven people, I know you’ll enjoy the book. We covered a lot in the episode, including Heidi’s upbringing, her first visit to the Dugout Ranch, and when she knew that she would devote her life to stewarding the Dugout’s spectacular landscapes. Sue provides some excellent context around conservation in the American Southwest, and why drylands are such a critical ecosystem and focus of TNC’s efforts. We discuss how TNC initially built trust with Heidi back in the 1990s, the creation of The Canyonlands Research Center, new insights Heidi gleaned from writing her book, and much more. Be sure to visit the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, including Heidi’s book. A huge thanks to Heidi and Sue for taking the time to chat with me and share their wisdom from so many decades of conversation work in such a special part of the country. Enjoy! --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Heidi’s upbringing 7:15 - Heidi describes the Dugout Ranch 13:30 - When Heidi knew she wanted to dedicate her life to the Dugout Ranch and surrounding area 16:00 - When Heidi took the reins of the Dugout 20:45 - When Heidi became interested in working with TNC 24:30 - Why Heidi trusted TNC 26:45 - Sue explains why TNC wanted to get involved with the Dugout Ranch and what their plan was once they purchased it 30:15 - Sue explains the mission and purpose of the Canyonlands Research Center 32:15 - When climate change got on Heidi’s radar 37:45 - How Heidi discusses climate change, given our political climate 41:30 - Sue explains why drylands are so important 44:00 - Heidi and Sue explain the impact of the political battle surrounding Bears Ears on their work 50:30 - Heidi discusses whether or not writing her book helped her come to new conclusions 54:00 - Heidi’s hopes for her family 55:30 - Heidi and Sue’s book recommendations 59:45 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/32766947

Curt Meine - Aldo Leopold's Life, Work, and Enduring Legacy 08/23/2024

Curt Meine - Aldo Leopold's Life, Work, and Enduring Legacy Curt Meine is a Senior Fellow at the Aldo Leopold Foundation and one of the world’s foremost experts on the life, work, and legacy of conservation icon Aldo Leopold. Curt is the author of the biography “Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work,” and he also works as a conservation biologist, a professor, a senior fellow with the Center for Humans and Nature, and much more. - Since the very beginning of Mountain & Prairie, Aldo Leopold has been one of the most referenced, admired, and influential conservation thinkers whose name and ideas have been referenced over and over on the podcast. Whether I’m talking to people in agriculture or entertainment, writing or athletics, history or politics, there always seems to be a thread of thinking that connects many Mountain and Prairie guests to the Land Ethic of Aldo Leopold. - So, I was long overdue in devoting an episode exclusively to Leopold, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Curt, one of our most admired and trusted Leopold scholars. Whether you are brand new to the work of Leopold or you’ve read A Sand County Almanac a hundred times, I think you’ll learn a lot from this episode. Curt has a real gift for discussing the details of Leopold’s life in an amazingly engaging way, while also helping us to understand Leopold’s legacy in the context of the broad history of North American conservation. - We start the conversation with an overview of Leopold’s early years and upbringing, and his eventual enrollment in the Yale School of Forestry. We discuss Leopold’s formative years in the American Southwest, how his outside-the-box ideas about wildlife sometimes clashed with the status quo, and his eventual move back to Wisconsin. We talk a lot about Leopold’s personality and how it compares to other conservation icons, how his work was received both in his lifetime and after his death, his surprising challenges finding a publisher for A Sand County Almanac, and that book’s long-lasting influence. We also discuss criticisms of Leopold’s work, some of his ideas that may not hold up as well today as they did in their time, and Leopold’s abundant curiosity and willingness to change his mind. We also discuss books, the very important work of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and much more. - Be sure to check out the episode notes for a full list of topics and links to everything. And also, I want to thank my friend, the great conservationist and all-around amazing human Doug Duren for so generously introducing me to the team at The Aldo Leopold Foundation and being such a steadfast champion of Leoplod’s legacy. Enjoy! --- " Complete episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Aldo Leopold’s upbringing 11:15 - Leopold’s work in the Southwest 16:30 - How Leopold’s persona may or may not have helped (or harmed) him in his efforts to implement conservation 20:!5 - What brought Leopold back to his home state of Wisconsin 22:45 - How Leopold’s novel ideas for wildlife management were received by the Forest Service establishment 26:45 - How Leopold’s ideas influenced forestry and conservation thinking outside of the Forest Service, and whether or not this influenced FDR’s conservation work 32:45 - Whether or not Leopold ever lost his cool in his fight to change land stewardship thinking in the US 37:00 - Discussing A Sand County Almanac, and how long it took to be viewed as the influential work it is considered by many to be today 43:15 - Leopold’s passion for, and balance between, science and art 45:45 - Which of Leopold’s stances or ideas do not hold up today 50:45 - Leopold’s willingness to accept change and criticism, and its importance today 53:15 - An overview of the Aldo Leopold Foundation 57:45 - Curt’s book recommendations 1:01:30 - Curt’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/32714737

Janie & Louise Roberson - Chatting It Up With Their Old Man 08/13/2024

Janie & Louise Roberson - Chatting It Up With Their Old Man This is a completely different kind of episode, featuring a fun and at times crazy conversation with my two daughters, Janie and Louise. - Back in June, we were eating dinner when, out of the blue, both girls expressed an enthusiastic interest in being guests on the podcast. So the next day, we set up the podcast gear at our dining room table, sat down, and had what I thought was a funny conversation. - Both girls were surprisingly relaxed and acting pretty naturally despite having microphones jammed up in their faces, and I thought that the conversation highlighted their personalities, curiosities, and senses of humor. But I fully understand and admit that I am about as biased as any human can be when it comes to these two girls, so you can take my opinion with a grain of salt. - As you’ll hear, we jammed a lot of crazy topics into thirty minutes, including: camping, what makes for an ideal campground, their understanding of conservation, violin, rock climbing, jiu-jitsu, North Carolina versus the American West, the Biltmore House, silly 19th-century rules about girls wearing bathing suits, Costa Rica, Alcatraz, drunk people, earthquakes vs tsunamis, our favorite secret spot in Colorado, favorite books, commentary on my choice of shirts and underwear, and more topics you probably never thought you’d hear on Mountain & Prairie. I also asked them each to prepare a question to ask me, and one of them involved the unexpected topic of me getting into a fight with a wild animal– a subject I’d never really considered in detail until that moment. - Anyway, I appreciate you humoring me with this episode. It was fun for the girls, fun for me, and my wife Kim and I will be happy to have this audio time capsule years from now when they are out of the house, living their own lives, and having their own adventures. - Next week, we’ll be back to the normal episodes featuring grown-ups. I’ve got a great line-up of conversations coming your way, including a deep dive into Aldo Leopold’s life and work, a conversation with a Canyonlands conservation/cowgirl/ranching legend, and live interviews from the Old Salt Festival. - Thanks for listening, and hope you get a few chuckles from this conversation with Janie and Louise. --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/32566087

Nancy Smith & Austin Rempel - A Surprisingly Simple, Effective, and Scalable Approach to Riparian Restoration 07/30/2024

Nancy Smith & Austin Rempel - A Surprisingly Simple, Effective, and Scalable Approach to Riparian Restoration Nancy Smith is the Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River Program, and Austin Rempel is the Riparian Restoration Program Manager at The Nature Conservancy. Both Nancy and Austin are working on the front lines of some of the West’s most innovative water and habitat conservation projects– projects that benefit everything from groundwater supplies to wildlife habitat, climate resiliency to ecosystem health. - If you’ve listened to many of these TNC-focused episodes, then you’ll know that TNC works extensively throughout the Colorado River Basin on a wide range of conservation issues that affect people, wildlife, and landscapes. In this episode, we’re going to zoom in on one very specific, very simple, and very effective process that has the potential to have massive positive impacts on ecosystem health throughout the West. - The process is called “low-tech process-based restoration,” which is the practice of adding simple, low-cost structures made of natural materials like rocks, wood, and posts to simulate natural processes like beaver dams in streams and wetlands, kick-starting natural cycles of recovery. These structures require minimal permitting, can be built quickly by hand without heavy equipment, use locally sourced materials, and can be installed by local workers who do not need extensive training. The end result creates surprisingly effective outcomes that can be scaled quickly across vast stretches of the West. - We recorded this conversation the day after Colorado River Day, which was a fitting time to highlight such an important project and process. We started out by discussing how this project came to be, which involved a significant amount of funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. We discuss how rivers have historically looked in the West versus how they look now, as well as the ecological complexities of riverscapes and riparian corridors. We then dig into the details of “low-tech process-based restoration”-- timelines, challenges, opportunities, partnerships, and measuring success. We also talk about beavers, shifting cultural norms around conservation, overlaps between forest and riparian restoration, favorite books, and much more. - As you’ll hear, Nancy and Austin provide such an excellent overview of several varieties of low-tech process-based restoration. But for those of you who want to dig deeper into details of the various processes and case studies, they’ve provided me with extensive additional resources that you can access in the episode notes. I’d also encourage you to check out the short film embedded on the episode’s webpage, which will give you a visual overview of the process and its results. - A big thanks to Nancy and Austin for the fun conversation, and thank you for listening. --- Full episode notes and links: --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Nancy’s intro 5:26 - Austin’s intro 7:15 - The impact of wet upland meadows on the Colorado River (Nancy) 10:00 - How the Inflation Reduction Act has funded TNC’s important partnership work (Nancy) 13:30 - Defining the low-tech, process-based, restoration (LTPBR) involved in this project (Austin) 16:30 - What meadows have historically looked like in the American West (Austin and Nancy) 21:00 - Describing more of the structures TNC uses in this work, like beaver dam analogs (Austin) 26:30 - What kind of land TNC does this restoration work on (Austin) 29:30 - How long this work takes (Austin and Nancy) 33:30 - What success will look like for this work (Nancy) 37:30 - How LTPBRs help empower crucial work by being simple 40:45 - What could make or break this project (Austin and Nancy) 44:00 - TNC’s ability to balance innovation with responsible stewardship of funding (Nancy) 46:30 - Overlaps between river and forest restoration (Austin) 50:30 - What would make a good staff member for this work 55:45 - Nancy’s book recommendations 57:00 - Austin’s book recommendations 59:18 - Nancy’s parting words of wisdom 1:00:10 - Austin’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/32357082

Dr. Alan Townsend - Generosity & Curiosity in the Face of Tragedy 07/17/2024

Dr. Alan Townsend - Generosity & Curiosity in the Face of Tragedy Dr. Alan Townsend is a scientist, author, and Dean of the Franke College of Forestry & Conservation at the University of Montana. His new book is titled “,” and it’s an unbelievably powerful book. It’s the story of Alan’s family being rocked to the core by two unthinkable, back-to-back tragedies– his four-year-old daughter and wife both being diagnosed with brain tumors. - Alan is a highly trained, Ph.D.-level scientist who spent his entire career using cold hard facts, emotionless inquiry, and academic rigor to try and solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. Yet when faced with a father/husband’s worst nightmare, he was forced to accept that science alone was simply not enough to make it through the gauntlet. I was blown away by Alan’s insightfulness and vulnerability and how he managed to constructively meld science and spirituality to make sense of an unimaginable catastrophe. - Alan was born in Hawaii and grew up in Montana, where he spent much of his youth hunting, fishing, and exploring the West’s wide-open landscapes. His education and career in science allowed him to delve deeper into the natural world, giving him an even more intense respect and appreciation for the beautifully complex biological systems that make our world work. He’s worked in Amazonian forests and Costa Rican jungles, and he’s published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles. But, as you’ll hear in this conversation, Alan also embraces the more ethereal and unknown aspects of our existence, and he has a gift for discussing and writing about them in a very powerful and helpful manner. - We met up at Alan’s office at the University of Montana, and had a very meaningful conversation about grief, curiosity, generosity, open-mindedness, focus, and family. We discussed Alan’s upbringing in Montana, his path to becoming such a highly trained scientist, and his process of re-evaluating the limits and usefulness of science in the face of tragedy. We talked a lot about his late wife Diana and her unbelievable toughness and his daughter Neva, who thankfully beat the tumor and is now a happy and healthy young lady. We discussed the compassion and skill of medical professionals, Alan’s years-long process of writing the book, and the indispensable role of his agent and editor. Alan also offers some wise, hard-earned wisdom for anyone who may be going through their own set of challenges. - I loved this conversation, I loved the book, and I really appreciate Alan taking the time to talk with me. Be sure to click through the link in the notes to grab your own copy of "This Ordinary Stardust." Hope you enjoy. --- “r” by Alan Townsend All episode notes and links: --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:10 - An introduction to the power of Alan’s book 6:10 - The importance of focus in Alan’s book, and the strength of Alan’s wife and daughter 10:40 - Discussing Alan’s writing 13:40 - Alan’s birth and early childhood in Hawaii 15:30 - When science became a focus for Alan 17:00 - Alan’s reading choices 18:45 - When Alan found out his daughter Neva had a brain tumor 21:00 - How Alan got through this incredibly challenging period in his life 23:15 - The importance of routine for finding mental stability and peace in difficult times 25:15 - The power of curiosity in Alan and his wife, Diana’s, life after Diana was diagnosed with brain cancer 27:45 - The difference between people who are curious when it is easy to do so and those who remain curious when life becomes difficult 30:15 - Why Alan reevaluated his relationship with science, and how he challenges readers to do a similar reevaluation in his book 37:15 - How we share more than we don’t, regardless of political belief 39:15 - How Diana invited Michael Brown into their home to learn more about his work with FEMA, demonstrating the importance of respecting and learning from people with different opinions 45:00 - Unpacking the theme of generosity in Alan’s book 47:45 - How Alan handled vulnerability and the desire for this book to have impact 49:45 - Alan’s relationship with his agent and editor 52:15 - Discussing Doctor Henry Freedman 56:00 - Alan’s take on how doctors dealing with mortality are able to handle the difficulties of that subject on a daily basis 58:15 - Alan’s work right now 1:01:30 - The next 5-10 years for Alan 1:02:45 - Of generosity, curiosity, and the willingness to fail 1:03:45 - Alan’s book recommendations 1:08:00 - Alan’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: /episode/index/show/mountainandprairie/id/32185027