Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Matt Cahill is the Sagebrush Sea Program Director for the Nature Conservancy. Based out of Bend, Oregon, Matt leads all of TNC’s critical work restoring, managing, and protecting sagebrush habitat across six western states. This is a huge and complex effort– it combines protection and policy work with ground-breaking restoration advances, public and industry partnerships, and local community projects. But as you’ll hear in this conversation, Matt is optimistically leaning into the challenge and making great strides to protect this uniquely Western ecosystem. - To give you some context into the vastness of North America’s sagebrush ecosystem, it spans 150 million acres and is home to 350 rare, threatened, and endangered species. Since 1998, 14 million acres of sagebrush ecosystems have been lost, and currently, we’re losing approximately one million acres to invasive species, catastrophic wildfires, development, improper grazing, and climate change. 70% of the Sagebrush Sea is found on public lands, so efforts to protect, manage, and restore the ecosystem are dependent on creative, action-oriented public-private partnerships. Again, Matt is leading a huge and complex effort! - In this episode, we start our conversation by discussing why the Sagebrush Sea is important, and why even people who live far from the ecosystem should care about it. We discuss the history of the threats to sagebrush and do a deep dive into the specific threat of cheatgrass– a true scourge on the landscapes of the West. We discuss the ecology of sagebrush, how TNC measures success when it comes to protecting such a fragile ecosystem, and the importance of partnering with ranchers. We talk about the efficacy of for-profit approaches to restoration, collaboration with government agencies, and specific cutting-edge approaches to restoration. Matt also explains his career trajectory that led him from the East Coast to becoming obsessed with sagebrush, and he offers several great book recommendations. - Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, including a few videos and writings by Matt that will provide even more context into this nuanced issue. Thanks to Matt and his team for all of their hard work, and thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy. --- Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/matt-cahill --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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.   To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Of the Sagebrush Sea 7:45 - Why sagebrush matters 10:30 - The state of the Sagebrush Sea and how it got there 15:15 - Cheatgrass’s impact on the Sagebrush Sea 23:30 - TNC’s Sagebrush Sea program 26:45 - Exploring the restoration aspect of Matt’s work 33:15 - The restoration timeline for sagebrush regions 35:30 - Measuring restoration success 39:00 - The management portion of Matt’s work 41:30 - Matt’s success stories of collaborating with ranchers 46:00 - The land protection (acquisition, easement, etc.) portion of Matt’s work 49:15 - Evaluating the for-profit wing of conservation of sage grouse habitat 43:15 - Discussing TNC’s collaboration across its own programs as well as with government land managers 57:00 - How Matt ended up an expert in sagebrush biomes when he grew up on the East Coast 1:00:30 - Matt’s book recommendations 1:04:00 - Matt’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

James Prosek is an artist, writer, and naturalist whose work deeply examines our relationship with the natural world. Over the course of his career, he’s focused his artist’s eye and philosopher’s mind on everything from trout to eels, from birds to ocean fishes. For the past two years, he’s been focused on understanding and documenting the grasslands of Texas, and he’s traveled the state examining the diverse plants and wildlife that call the prairie ecosystem home. Beginning on September 16, 2023, the results of his journey around Texas will be on display at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, in his new exhibition titled Trespassers: James Prosek and the Texas Prairie. - James was born in Connecticut and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, much of his childhood was spent obsessed with birds, fish, and fishing. He attended Yale Univesity, where at age 19 he published his first book titled Trout: An Illustrated History, which featured seventy of his watercolor paintings of the trout of North America. From there, his curiosity about the natural world continued to intensify, as evidenced by his prolific production of art and writing for many renowned museums and publications. He has also lent his talents to a variety of conservation efforts, most notably his partnership with Yvon Chionard to protect coldwater fisheries habitat. - James and I share many mutual friends and interests, so it was wonderful to connect with him for this conversation. It’ll only take you a few minutes of listening to realize that James is a deep thinker whose art is the manifestation of his extremely nuanced and fascinating ideas and philosophies. We started out talking about his first memory of interacting with nature, and how he has used drawing and journaling as tools to better understand plants, animals, and concepts. We discuss how the idea of naming plants and animals is an imperfect science, how drawing connects us with our evolutionary past, how philosophy and philosophical thinking inform all of his art, grasslands in Texas, the importance of understanding and respecting place, how James snaps out of creative slumps, his writing process, and he offers plenty of book recommendations. - As is the case with so many of my guests, I could’ve talked to James for many more hours. So thankfully, this conversation is part one of what will be a two-episode series with James. The second episode will be a live event at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, on Thursday, January 11, 2024. We’ll be continuing this conversation, and we’ll be focusing in more detail on his exploration of the Texas Prairie and his new exhibition, Trespassers. We’ll be releasing more information about this event soon, but I’d love to see some of you at the event in Fort Worth on January 11. - A huge thank you to James for his inspiring art, to the Amon Carter Museum for the opportunity to chat with James, and to all of you for listening. Enjoy! --- James Prosek Trespassers: James Prosek and the Texas Prairie James on Instagram --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - James’ first memory of interacting with nature 7:00 - When journaling and drawing became standard practices for James 10:15 - James’ view on drawing and its connection to our evolutionary past as hunters  15:15 - How drawing fish made James a better angler 20:45 - How names affect our thinking about other organisms 24:15 - The art that James engaged in parallel to fishing 28:00 - How James sharpens his philosophy  39:45 - James’ writing process 43:00 - How James establishes connections with places 1:00:15 - Whether or not James has gone through an artistic slump 1:10:00 - James’ parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Anna Borgman is a Montana-based butcher, chef, and writer whose work focuses on helping people better understand and appreciate the origins of their food. Whether writing an article for Steven Rinella’s MeatEater or helping to field harvest and process a bison, Anna has a gift for helping curious, conscientious people become more educated about the impacts of their food choices. And as you’ll hear in this conversation, her enthusiasm and authenticity are infectious– even after more than an hour of chatting, I felt like we only scratched the surface. - Anna grew up in Oregon, and thanks to participation in 4H, she was involved with animals and livestock from an early age. During her teenage years, skiing became her primary passion, and she devoted much of her post-college life to spending as many days as possible in the mountains, oftentimes working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Eventually, through a serendipitous chain of events that we discuss, she found her way into culinary school, which was her gateway into the world of meat and butchery. Through all the various stages of Anna’s career, she’s brought intense devotion– possibly even obsession– to her work, which has resulted in a fascinating life trajectory that is both inspiring and instructive. - Anna and I share so many mutual friends and I’ve been hearing about her and her work for many years, so I was thrilled to have her finally join me for a conversation. We started out discussing her childhood in Oregon and how skiing became her primary focus for so many years. We discuss some of her adventurous international travel experiences, and how those places and the characters she met led her into the world of food. We discuss the upsides of obsession, advice for getting out of ruts, the value of curiosity, and the importance of experiencing other cultures. She also talks in detail about the realities of slaughtering livestock, why she feels such a connection to butchery, her favorite books, and much more. - Even though this was my first time meeting Anna, I felt like I was chatting with an old friend. I’m super-inspired by all of her work, but even more inspired by the focus and passion that she brings to everything she does. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Anna on MeatEaterAnna on Instagram Forage Fed --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - What Anna wanted to be when she grew up 7:30 - When Anna realized that most livestock she raised would led to slaughter  10:00 - Anna’s interest in skiing and how it led her to work with a French cook in Australia and adventures in Spain 16:30 - Anna’s experience in culinary school 20:15 - Why so many interesting people have pastry making on their resume 22:15 - When Anna became interested in butchery, and whether or not working long days in culinary school made Anna feel more content 25:45 - The importance of having an obsession 28:45 - Anna’s advice for getting out of a rut  32:00 - The scariest things that have happened to Anna during international travel, as well as the lessons travel taught her 38:30 - When Anna went all in on butchery 43:00 - The process of slaughtering and butchering 46:30 - Anna’s first slaughter 51:45 - Lessons from butchery 57:00 - The value of curiosity  59:45 - Discussing Forage Fed 1:03:45 - Anna’s book recommendations 1:09:00 - Anna’s guilty pleasures (or lack thereof) 1:14:00 - Anna’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Carrie Segil is the People and Culture Manager at The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, and Duncan Gilchrist is a Climate and Natural Resources Policy Associate at The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. Both Carrie and Duncan are deeply involved with TNC Colorado’s Catalyst Fund, a cutting-edge conservation funding initiative that supports forward-looking projects that enable innovation and rapid learning, both to test new ideas and to build greater capacity for innovation over the long term. - One of the Catalyst Fund’s most notable projects involves agrivoltaics, which is the simultaneous use of land for both solar energy production and agriculture. The project is called the Agrivoltaics Retrofit Partnership, and it’s a Boulder-based partnership between TNC, Jack’s Solar Garden, Drylands Agroecology Research, Boulder Housing Partners, and a conservation-justice / community outreach partner called FLOWS. The project aims to achieve multiple conservation and community objectives, including restoring degraded land, producing perennial plants with medicinal, economic, and indigenous cultural value, and providing a host of benefits to local marginalized community members– benefits that we discuss in this episode. - In this episode, we talk in detail about this specific agrivoltaics project, as well as some of the other innovative projects that are being pushed forward thanks to support from the Catalyst Fund. We discussed how and why TNC Colorado decided to create the Catalyst Fund in the first place, and the need to push boundaries and take risks in the conservation space. Carrie offers insights into specific Catalyst projects, such as virtual fencing for bison, and Duncan discusses all the details about this agrivoltaics project– including the genesis of the idea, the challenges of the projects, and why it has proven to be so successful and replicable. We also discuss how policy on the state and federal level is creating more opportunities for agrivoltaics, why it garners bipartisan support, and lessons learned from all of the Catalyst Fund projects. - I was so impressed with Carrie and Duncan’s enthusiasm, professionalism, and commitment to innovation, and I learned so much from this conversation. Be sure to check out the episode notes to learn more about everything we discussed, and please share this episode with any friends or colleagues who might find it valuable.  Thanks so much for listening, I hope you enjoy!   --- Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/catalyst/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - An overview of the Catalyst Fund 7:00 - Talking to funders about the Catalyst Fund 8:45 - How TNC evaluates what it is looking for regarding the Catalyst Fund 10:30 - Duncan’s agrivoltaics project 12:45 - Duncan’s job before his agrivoltaics project 14:45 - More on Duncan’s project and his site 19:00 - About Boulder Housing Partners, and how they reacted to Duncan’s idea 20:30 - How Duncan worked to turn the rocky land he is working into agricultural land 22:30 - The outlook for Duncan’s project, and how it stacks up against his expectations 25:00 - The federal and state (CO) push for more projects like Duncan’s 28:00 - Why agrivoltaics seems to garner bipartisan support 29:30 - Why everyone isn’t doing agrivoltaics  31:30 - The potential for grazing under agrivoltaics 32:30 - Other synergies between solar energy and agriculture 33:30 - Carrie’s outlook on Duncan’s project, and some other projects funded by the Catalyst Fund 36:45 - What it’s like for TNC to work with external partners 37:45 - Other projects funded through the Catalyst Funds 40:00 - Big lessons from the Catalyst Fund project 45:00 - The power of advocating for policy 47:15 - Where the Catalyst Fund is going 51:00 - Carrie and Duncan’s book recommendations 53:45 - Closing thoughts --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

David James Duncan is one of those Western literary legends who needs no introduction to Mountain & Prairie listeners. But for those of you who may be new to the podcast or to Western literature, David is a renowned Montana novelist, activist, and flyfisherman. He’s the author of "The River Why" and "The Brothers K," and his newest novel "Sun House" hits shelves today. David is also the author of countless nonfiction essays, many of which have been compiled in books such as "My Story as Told by Water," "River Teeth," and "God Laughs & Plays." - This episode was recorded live at the first-annual Old Salt Festival, which was held on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana. The festival was a three-day celebration of land stewardship and wild places, and it featured live music, wood-fired cooking, and discussions about conservation, literature, and the power of place. Given that so much of David’s work as an author and activist is heavily influenced by his love of land, water, and wildlife, he brought a wise and thoughtful perspective to the Festival– a perspective that was greatly appreciated by everyone in attendance. - This episode is split into two parts– first is our on-stage conversation, which took place on Saturday morning, followed by two readings from his new novel "Sun House," which took place that evening. In our conversation, I focused in on David’s life as a contemplative. We talk about his upbringing in the Pacific Northwest and his eventual move to Montana, which is the place he now considers his home. We discuss the importance of being able to hold two competing ideas in your mind at once, why he felt called to become an activist, why deep friendships are such an important part of his life, and the women who have served as mentors to him. We also talk about his 16-year process of writing "Sun House," the difference between creating ideas versus receiving them, what gives David hope for the future, and much more. - The second part of the episode features two readings from "Sun House," both of which were perfectly aligned with the spirit and mood of the Old Salt Festival. From where I was sitting in the crowd, I saw many people tearing up near the end of David’s reading, so I hope the power of his words and the place come through in this audio. It was a special experience that I will not soon forget. - A huge thank you to David for his kindness, generosity, and for all of his contributions to the culture and conservation of the West. Thank you to the Old Salt Festival for giving me this opportunity to talk with David. Thanks to the great Bex Frucht for the intro, and thank you for listening. - If you haven’t already, I’d encourage you to pick up a copy of "Sun House"– it’s available online or in your favorite local bookstore right now. -- David James Duncan "Sun House" by David James Duncan Old Salt FestivalFull episode notes, links, and photos: https://mountainandprairie.com/djd/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Intros 7:30 - Discussing if Montana is home to David 10:30 - How David came to write about Montana 12:30 - How to hold two ideas in your head (the brutal US past and the landscape beauty we see presently) 14:55 - David’s transition from fiction to nonfiction writing 19:30 - Advice on how to take a stand 21:45 - David’s friends 26:30 - David’s women mentors 30:30 - Writing "Sun House" 34:30 - The benefits and challenges of writing something so emotional as "Sun House" 38:00 - Whether or not David is creating ideas or receiving them while writing 41:30 - What makes David feel good about the future 43:30 - Reading 1 58:15 - Reading 2 --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

This is the 200th episode of Mountain & Prairie, so I decided to celebrate the milestone by bringing back the first-ever M&P guest, my good friend Erik Glenn. Erik is the Executive Director of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, a statewide conservation organization that protects Colorado's agricultural land, heritage, and families for future generations by conserving working rural landscapes. Erik is also the President of the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts, a collection of nine ag-based, western land trusts who work together to “advocate for the conservation of working lands and western heritage for the benefit and wellbeing of future generations.” - When Erik and I spoke for episode number one all the way back in the spring of 2016, he was only about a year into his role as Executive Director. At that point, the organization had conserved just over 465,000 acres of land in Colorado. Fast forward seven and a half years to today, Erik and his team have added an additional 300,000 acres of conserved land, bringing the total to more than 765,000 acres. But most importantly, CCALT has served as a loyal and trusted partner for more than 400 agricultural families who are deeply committed to conserving Colorado’s western heritage and working landscapes. - I consider Erik a great friend and a wise mentor, and if not for his kindness, encouragement, and counsel, I doubt there would be a Mountain & Prairie, nor would I have ever worked in the conservation world. We sat down at his office in Lakewood and caught up on everything, including: how Erik spurs innovation without losing sight of the basics of land conservation; his thoughts on building culture and retaining the best team members; balancing his own intense work ethic with his desire set reasonable-yet-high expectations for his team; how having kids has changed him; the growth of PORT; his mentors; the evolution of the perception of conservation easements in the ag community; threats and opportunities; book recommendations; and much more. - A big thanks to Erik for letting me use him as a guinea pig for the first episode back in 2016, and for his willingness to join me again for episode 200. But more importantly, thanks to Erik for his leadership and commitment to conservation in Colorado, the West, and beyond. Hope you enjoy! --- Erik Glenn Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust Partnership of Rangeland Trusts Complete episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/erik-glenn-2/ Support M&P on Patreon -- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - What the Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust is 11:00 - How Erik balances innovation with the basics of conservation 15:30 - Implementing a culture in the workplace 23:30 - Balancing his work ethic with the desire to not set unreasonable work expectations for his team 29:30 - How having kids impacted Erik 35:45 - Discussing PORT 46:00 - Discussing whether or not good conservation tools have become good business tools for land owners  50:00 - Erik’s mentors 58:00 - The biggest threat and opportunity facing conservation 1:10:30 - Erik’s book recommendations 1:13:30 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

For years now, listeners have been emailing me with many different versions of the same basic question:   “How do I get a job in the conservation world?”   Some of the inquiries come from college students or young professionals, while others come from folks who are deep into a specific career path but want to make a change. I’m always happy to receive these messages, and I’m flattered that anyone would think I have valuable advice to offer.   Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to provide what I believe to be a suitable answer, mainly because I could not do the question justice within the constraints of email or social media. And over the last few years, the volume of messages has reached a point that I simply cannot keep up with it all– so if you’ve reached out and I have not responded, my sincere apologies.   For (at least) the past three years, I’ve been considering answering this question in podcast form, thinking the episode could serve as a detailed resource for anyone who asked the question… and for those who will in the future. But I’ve procrastinated or rationalized reasons not to, mainly because I felt extremely uncomfortable about sitting by myself, blabbing my thoughts and ideas into a microphone. I never want to come off as a know-it-all or some kind of wannabe internet guru.   But the volume of the incoming messages kept increasing, so I finally decided to put my ego and self-consciousness aside and just answer the question in podcast form.   I wrote an eight-page outline that laid out everything I know about finding a job in the conservation world, then I sat down in The Shed and let ‘er rip. The result is a ridiculously long soliloquy in which I put it all out there. I’m calling it a SHED SESSION.   Please keep in mind that this episode is simply a recounting of my own personal and professional experience– it’s not some kind of one-size-fits-all “hack” that will lead you directly to your dream job. I’ve long said that I am the last person anyone should be asking for career advice, and there are certainly tons of people who are much more experienced and accomplished in conservation than I am.   But for those of you who did ask, this episode is for you. I lay it all out, including: my specific career path; my specific job in the conservation field; skills that are needed in the conservation sector; why relationship building is the most important skill; how I built a deep and broad network in Colorado despite only knowing one person when I moved here in 2010; why I think networks are the most valuable assets; what I looked for when I was hiring for conservation roles; what you should look for (and avoid) in conservation organizations; pros and cons of working in non-profit conservation, book recommendations, and more. Links to everything are in the episode notes.   Again, all of this is just my personal experience and my possibly weird ideas about doing purpose-driven work. For those of you who have reached out, I hope this adds some value. For everyone else, we’ll be back to the regularly scheduled interviews later this week.   Thanks for listening! --- Watch the video on Patreon Support M&P on Patreon! Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/shed-sesh/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:12 - Intro, Questions, and Goals 10:20 - Disclaimers 13:58 - Discussion outline 15:45 - My career path 19:53 - My specific job in conservation 22:30 - How I built a network from scratch 40:01 - Advice on how to build a network 48:55 - What I looked for when I was hiring 54:39 - What you should look for in a conservation organization 1:05:51 - Book Recommendations 1:15:05 - Pros and cons 1:22:22 - Closing thoughts --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Lorelei Cloud is a member of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council. Lorelei’s commitment to conservation, leadership development, and Ute language, traditions, and culture is evident by the staggering number of leadership roles she holds– she is Co-Chairman of the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network, a Board Trustee for the Nature Conservancy, and serves on the Colorado River Basin’s Water & Tribes Initiative. Earlier this year, she was appointed by the Governor of Colorado to serve on the Colorado Water Conservation Board, making her the first-ever Tribal member of the board. - Lorelei was born and raised on the Southern Ute Reservation, which is located in the far southwestern corner of Colorado. From the very beginning, water has played a central role in Lorelei’s life– much of her childhood was spent without running water and access to drinking water continues to be a challenge on the Reservation to this day. Much of Lorelei’s early career was spent working in various businesses, including banking and energy, all while being a mother and raising four children. In 2015, she was elected to the Tribal Council, which began this new phase of her life and career– a phase devoted to serving her Tribal Community, as well as the communities, landscapes, and natural resources of the American West. - I’ve been hearing such great things about Lorelei for years, so I was honored to have the opportunity to chat with her on the podcast. We enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation about her upbringing on the Southern Ute Reservation, the history of the Southern Ute Tribe, her recent appointment to the CWCB, why she decided to devote herself to public service, the goals of the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network, her work with the Nature Conservancy, the need to elevate Tribal voices on issues of water and land conservation in the West and beyond, advice for aspiring leaders, her favorite books, ways the listeners can get involved and support the work of the Southern Ute Tribe, and much more. - Be sure to check out the episode notes for a full list of topics discussed and links to everything. A huge thanks to Lorelei for taking the time out of her busy schedule to talk with me and for her deep commitment to doing such impactful work in Colorado and beyond. Enjoy! --- Lorelei Cloud Southern Ute Indian Tribe Colorado Water Conservation Board Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/lorelei-cloud/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Lorelei’s youth on the Southern Ute Reservation 6:15 - How Lorelei’s family would get water 8:15 - Lorelei’s childhood personality, school years, and early jobs 13:30 - Whether or not Lorelei wanted to stay on the reservation 15:30 - A brief Ute history 19:00 - How Lorelei’s appointment as the first Indigenous representative on the CWCB 22:15 - What the CWCB does 27:30 - How Lorelei decided to pursue public service 30:15 - About the Indigenous Women’s Leadership Network 34:00 - Lorelei’s advice for aspiring leaders 36:15 - Lorelei’s mentors 40:30 - About Lorelei’s role as Vice Chairman of the Southern Ute Tribe 43:00 - How Lorelei became involved with TNC and how she evaluates whether or not to pursue a professional opportunity 48:15 - Whether or not Deb Haaland has elevated Tribal voices through her work 52:00 - Lorelei’s book recommendations 55:00 - How you can help Lorelei’s work 56:00 - Lorelei’s words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Christy Sing Robertson is a hatmaker and the founder and owner of Sing Hat Company. Based in Jackson, Wyoming, Christy has evolved rather quickly from making a few hats for herself and several friends into becoming one of the most popular and sought-after hat makers in the West. Whether she’s hand-shaping palm leaf hats for hundreds of people at events such as last month’s Old Salt Festival or creating a custom felt hat for a 5th generation rancher or celebrity musician, Christy’s humility, curiosity, and commitment to the craft have allowed her to stand out in the crowded field of custom hatmakers. - Christy was born and raised in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, and she stayed there for the first half of her career, working as a high-performing salesperson in the insurance industry. But despite her success in the conventional and lucrative world of sales, she felt called to the West and decided to uproot her life and move to Jackson, Wyoming. Even though she moved to Jackson without knowing a soul, she managed to establish roots and build a fulfilling life centered around motherhood, hard work, and leading a thoughtful, intentional life. And along the way, just as she felt a calling to move to Wyoming, she felt called to make hats– so she went all-in. Today, Christy’s hats– and her long list of customers– demonstrate the amazing success she’s achieved in a relatively short amount of time. - I’ve been following Christy’s work for many years now, so I was thrilled to finally have a chance to chat with her on the podcast. Her story is amazingly inspiring and speaks to the importance of grit, risk-taking, working hard, humility, and trusting your gut. We covered a lot during our hour together, including: her upbringing in Arkansas and her success in the insurance business; the spiritual event that led her to move to Wyoming; how motherhood changed her; the focus and hustle required to make ends meet as a single mother; hunting big game for food; balancing the artistic side of hatmaking with the all-important need to earn a living; the increasing wealth inequality in Jackson; the importance of friendships with other artisans and makers; why imposter syndrome can be a good thing; techniques for keeping an even keel; favorite books; and much more. - If you haven’t checked out Christy’s website or followed her on social media, I recommend that you do– there are links in the episode notes to all of that and everything else we discussed. But in the meantime, I know you’ll enjoy this inspiring and motivational conversation with Christy Sing Robertson. --- Sing Hat Company Sing Hat Company on Instagram Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/sing/ SUPPORT M&P on Patreon Visit the M&P SHOP --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Christy’s childhood 9:00 - Christy’s life post high school 10:45 - When making things clothes came into Christy’s life 12:00 - How Christy came to the Rocky Mountains, and how it changed her 23:00 - What Christy’s work and life was like after moving to Wyoming 25:15 - When hatmaking entered Christy’s life 27:30 - How Christy’s life changed after she had kids 32:00 - How Christy became self-sufficient in hunting 35:30 - Back to hats  39:00 - Whether or not Christy ever reconsidered her decision to make hats 40:55 - When Christy felt she was good at making hats 42:45 - How relationship building impacted Christy’s business 44:15 - How it went when Christy went full into making hats for a living 46:45 - How Christy manages the prices of Jackson, WY 50:15 - How Christy keeps an even keel 51:30 - How a community of makers has impacted Christy’s journey and career 55:15 - Reflecting on how Christy got where she is in her craft and career 58:45 - Christy’s advice for aspiring makers 1:01:15 - Christy’s vision for Sing Hats 1:05:00 - Christy’s book recommendations 1:07:00 - Christy’s parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

This is a special live episode that was recorded in late June 2023 at the first-ever Old Salt Festival, which was held on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana. The Old Salt Festival is a three-day celebration of ranching, land stewardship, and wild places that features live Western music, wood-fired cooking, products from some of the West’s most renowned artisans, readings and interviews with Western authors and poets, and in-depth discussions about conservation and land stewardship. The festival was a resounding success, so I’m thrilled to share one of the many conversations with you here. - The episode is a panel discussion titled "Rebuilding a Resilient, Regional Meat Supply Chain," featuring several of the West’s leading voices in sustainable meat production and regenerative agriculture. In order of their appearance in the episode, you’ll hear from Cole Mannix, President of the Old Salt Co-op; Kate Kavanaugh, owner of Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe and host of the Mind, Body, and Soil Podcast; Dan Miller, Founder of Steward; and Wyatt Nelson, President of Wild West Local Foods. As you’ll hear, each panelist is deeply immersed in a different aspect of the meat production supply chain, and each of them brings a unique and wise perspective to the challenges facing producers and small businesses involved in meat production. - Many of you may already know, but the Old Salt Festival is a part of the Old Salt Co-op, a new, purpose-driven company that “provides meat raised with integrity from Montana landscapes its customers know and care about.” The Old Salt Co-op is working to rebuild the meat business in Montana, creating a sustainable business model that is beneficial to local ranchers, local consumers, and local economies– all while responsibly and effectively stewarding the lands that support agriculture. Rebuilding Montana’s meat supply chain is no small feat, but with smart, purpose-driven people like Cole, Kate, Dan, and Wyatt working to find solutions, I think you’ll be both inspired and encouraged. - To learn more about the Old Salt Co-op, you can go back to my first podcast conversion with Cole from February of 2023. And be on the lookout for another live Old Salt Festival episode, which I’ll be releasing on August 8, 2023– that one will feature a conversation with famed western author David James Duncan followed by a reading from his new novel Sun House. - A huge thanks to Cole and the Old Salt team for inviting me to the Festival, and a huge thanks to the Mannix Family for sharing their stunning ranch with all of us. Thanks to Cole, Kate, Dan, and Wyatt for sharing their wisdom. And last but definitely not least, thanks to the one and only, always hilarious and energetic Bex Frucht for the amazing intro. Hope you enjoy. --- OLD SALT FESTIVAL OLD SALT CO-OP Cole's first M&P episode Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/old-salt/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:45 - Introductions 6:15 - The challenge and opportunity that Cole saw, leading to the development of Old Salt Co-op 9:00 - What Kate sees as major potential challenges for Old Salt Co-op going forward 12:15 - What attracted Dan to finance regenerative agriculture, especially given that industry’s tight margins 15:00 - Wyatt’s introduction, as well as the roadblocks that Wyatt sees to a more resilient food system from the distribution side of things 17:15 - How the panel members go about getting people’s attention 24:45 - The work Cole’s family and neighbors have done to protect the local landscape, as well as trends in young people getting involved with agriculture 32:15 - What Kate is seeing on the retail side of meat production, and how to address it 38:15 - What Old Salt Co-op is working on right now 41:15 - What we can do that would help build a resilient meat and food system --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Rob Addington is the Director of the Forest and Fire Program with The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. He and his team are focused on increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration in Colorado to reduce hazardous fuels and promote landscape resilience to natural disturbances such as wildfire as well as climate change. - You don’t have to live in the West to know that the region has been battling ongoing drought, historically large and intense wildfires, and various forms of insect-induced forest devastation. Over the past few years here in Colorado, we’ve experienced some of the most destructive wildfires in recorded history, and the pine beetle infestation continues to be a source of serious and increasing concern. And Colorado is obviously not alone– there are similar stories of struggling forests throughout all of the Western states. - While the current conditions may be dire, you’ll be happy to know that Rob and his team at The Nature Conservancy are working extremely hard to find collaborative, creative, and effective solutions to the challenges facing our forests here in the West. By partnering with government agencies, Tribal nations, private landowners, various non-profits, and more, TNC has been leading and implementing some of the most innovative forest health work in the country– work that is creating more resilient, healthy landscapes across hundreds of thousands of acres. - For all the listeners who have been asking for a wildfire and forest health-focused episode, this one is for you. I met up with Rob at the TNC office in Boulder, and he was kind enough to educate me on both the big picture and finer details of all things forest health. You can check out the notes for a full list of everything we discussed, but a few of the topics include: The infamous 2020 wildfire season and the outlook for 2023, the history of land management and how that has affected wildfires, pine beetles, wildfire’s effects on water quality, how beavers can play a role in fire mitigation, some specific success stories, business solutions for forest health, the all-important focus on partnerships, post-fire land management strategies, good books, and much more. Be sure to visit the episode webpage for links to everything, including TNC’s exciting new Western Division Forest and Fire Initiative. - A huge thanks to Rob for taking the time to answer all my questions and another huge thanks to TNC for leading all of this important work. I hope you enjoy! --- Rob Addington Colorado Wildfires, Climate Change and Water | TNC What Colorado Trailblazers Teach Us About Wildfire Recovery Colorado Forests and Beer: OktoberForestFull episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/rob-addington/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 – Discussing the fire season of 2020 9:45 – The outlook for the fire season of 2023 12:00 – Discussing the variability in Colorado’s recent fire seasons 14:45 – The causes for Colorado’s changing fire seasons 17:30 – Exploring, specifically, the role of historic land management and how it impacts fire behavior 20:30 – Discussing pine beetles 26:00 – How the forest regime progresses in beetle-killed stands without fire, and how changing fire behavior is impacting the forest regime 32:00 – How fires impact water 39:15 – Discussing potential solution strategies for Colorado’s fire situation 42:00 – Discussing the importance of managing partnerships in this work 44:45 – A specific, fire-related project that Rob is happy about 47:15 – Exploring the potential of a for-profit business that is incentivized to thin out fire-prone forests 50:30 – Beavers’ role in wildfire prevention 54:30 – Rob’s favorite period of history to read about 56:30 – Management strategies for an area that has been wiped clean by fire 1:00:30 – Rob’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

David Gessner is no stranger to Mountain & Prairie listeners– he’s joined me for many episodes and is the author of many of my favorite books, including "All the Wild That Remains," "Leave It As It Is," "My Green Manifesto," and more. His newest book is "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and Water," which once again showcases David’s unique ability to combine humor, travel, and memoir in service of connecting the reader with the natural world. - "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World" chronicles David’s journeys around the country, where he finds himself in the middle of an unsettling number of climate disasters– from historic forest fires in the American West to hurricanes on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Eschewing the ubiquitous facts, figures, and policy debates that often dominate climate-focused books, David does what he does best: he tells stories. Specifically, he tells impactful, insightful stories from the front lines of the climate crisis– stories that will stick with the reader for years to come. - As has been our tradition for several years now, David and I met up in Boulder, Colorado, where he and his family visit each summer. We obviously talk a lot about the book, but as is the case whenever we get together, the conversation flows into many fun and unexpected topics. You can check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed, but some of the topics include: David’s recent writing workshop at the Zapata Ranch with his friend, author Craig Childs, the importance of momentum and dailiness in writing, how David’s daughter was the influence for the new book, optimism vs. pessimism when reporting current events, thoughts on death and loss, David’s good friend, the late Mark Spitzer, the next generation of conservation-minded writers, some book recommendations, the idea of being a “polygamist of place,” and much more. - I’m always happy to have the opportunity to sit down with David for a conversation, so I greatly appreciate his carving out the time. I hope you can check out "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World," and I hope you enjoy this episode. --- A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World by David Gessner David Gessner Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/david-gessner-4/ Support Mountain & Prairie Sign up for Ed's Book Recommendations --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - David’s Zapata Ranch retreat 6:45 - Discussing the power of “dailiness” 7:45 - Whether or not teaching helped in David’s practice of writing 9:00 - How many books David has written in the past 18 months 10:30 - How David knows when an idea becomes a book in his mind 16:45 - David’s goal for "A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World," including how he balanced stories with statistics and humor with the weight of the subject 20:45 - Evaluating how the news of the West is reported 27:45 - What David means when he identifies as a “polygamist of place” 33:15 - David’s relationship with Mark Spitzer 39:30 - How David feels about entering a stage in life where his friends are beginning to pass away 43:45 - Discussing David’s daughter, climate change, and how they figure into "A Traveler’s Guide" 50:30 - David discusses the various tools he would like to use to face climate change 52:45 - Who David thinks will continue the work of the Doug Peacocks of the world 56:45 - Discussing the political alignment affiliated with climate change work 1:01:30 - David’s book recommendations ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Doug Peacock is a legendary environmentalist, writer, filmmaker, and grizzly bear advocate. He’s the co-founder of two conversation nonprofits– Round River Conservation Studies and Save the Yellowstone Grizzly. Doug was also the inspiration for the character George Washington Hayduke in his friend Edward Abbey’s classic novel "The Monkey Wrench Gang." And to top it all off, he is the author of many classic books, including "Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness" and his most recent award-winning book "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior’s Long Trail Home," published by Patagonia Books. - Doug was born and raised in Michigan, where he grew up obsessed with nature and the outdoors. As a young man, he was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he served as a Green Beret combat medic, an experience that placed him squarely in the middle of devastating violence toward his fellow soldiers, as well as civilian men, women, and children. In 1968, he returned home from Vietnam spiritually broken, mentally unwell, and physically debilitated with malaria. Not knowing where to turn, he headed deep into the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park by himself, where he formed an unlikely bond with the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear. Eventually, he recovered both physically and mentally and, to this day, he credits the grizzly with saving his life. He has spent the last half-century repaying his debt to the grizzly bear, aggressively fighting for their protection and recovery in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond. - I met up with Doug in Aspen, Colorado, where he was in town for a reading of "Was it Worth It?" at Aspen’s only bookstore, Explore Booksellers. Even though I could’ve talked with Doug for many hours, we managed to jam a lot of stories into this conversation. Some of the topics we discussed include: Why Doug does not carry a gun in grizzly country; why it is important for humans to love and protect a creature as powerful, even dangerous, as a grizzly; his friendships with Edward Abbey, Yvon Chouinard, Jim Harrison, and others, and how each of those high-voltage personalities helped to elevate the others; the death and secret burial of Edward Abbey; why climate changes is such a threat to grizzlies, the challenges and financial realities of a life dedicated to environmental advocacy; his greatest source of pride and greatest disappointment; what is giving him hope now; and Doug reads several passages from "Was It Worth It?’" - Today, at age 81, you can still feel the fire in Doug’s spirit, and his passion for grizzlies is palpable. I was honored to have the opportunity to chat with Doug, and I loved his book "Was it Worth It?" I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Doug Peacock "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior’s Long Trail Home" "Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness" Save the Yellowstone Grizzly Round River Conservation Studies Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/doug-peacock/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:10 - Discussing the picture on the front of Doug’s book 6:25 - When Doug decided it wasn’t fair to be in grizzly country with guns 8:40 - How Yellowstone became a part of Doug’s life  10:55 - How grizzlies provided a much-needed community for Doug after his time at war 12:40 - How long it took for Doug to find peace in grizzly country after Vietnam 15:10 - Exploring Doug’s balance between telling the good stories and being willing to fight for conservation 18:10 - Why specifically it is so important for humans to learn to love and protect a creature as powerful, even dangerous, as a grizzly 19:40 - How Doug’s friends made him a better conservationist 21:40 - How Doug’s friends balance their very strong personalities 22:40 - The importance of ceremony and how Doug handled the passing of his dear friend, Ed Abbey 28:40 - Whether or not parenthood changed Doug’s outlook on risk and death 30:10 - Who or where Doug drew his motivation from 32:10 - How Doug managed his lifestyle 33:40 - What keeps Doug awake at night, as it pertains to grizzlies 36:40 - How Doug became interested in fighting climate change by way of grizzlies 39:30 - Where Doug would focus his energy if he were starting his career in conservation now 40:25 - Whether or not Doug is an optimist 43:40 - What work Doug is most proud of in his life, and where he thinks he may have fallen short 46:00 - Doug’s friendship with Jim Harrison 47:10 - What gives Doug hope 48:40 - Doug’s mandatory reading --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Chris Hawkins is the Colorado Urban Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy, where he leads the organization’s efforts in Denver to “solve global challenges like the biodiversity and climate emergencies by supporting and creating more sustainable, efficient ways of living.” - When many people think of The Nature Conservancy, they may envision large-scale conservation efforts across vast grasslands and wild landscapes– but TNC also conducts some of its most innovative conservation work in cities— work that leads to more resilient, healthy, and equitable communities. Chris’s work in Denver is a shining example of how nature-based solutions in densely populated urban areas can have positive ripple effects far beyond the city limits. - Chris was born and raised on the east coast, attended college in Boston, and from the very beginning of his career, he’s been focused on service and causes greater than himself. He’s worked as a Corps Member of AmericaCorps, as Chief of Staff in New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, and for the past nine years, he’s been with the Nature Conservancy. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Chris’s diverse professional experiences have allowed him to bring a unique and effective perspective to the complex world of urban conservation. - Chris was nice enough to join me at my dining room table for an engaging and educational conversation about all things urban conservation. We started out by discussing why TNC has chosen to devote its resources and expertise to conservation in cities, and he explains the unique challenges facing cities in the West. We discuss how public health is directly related to people’s access to nature, and how the simple-but-not-easy strategy of planting trees in neighborhoods can have huge conservation and public health benefits. As is the case with all of my conservation-related conversations, we discuss the critical importance of relationships, and how Chris has managed to build relationships with a diverse group of Denver residents. We also discuss his professional trajectory, the importance of exporting urban conservation ideas to other cities, and the critical roles of mayors and local leadership. And finally, Chris is a serious history buff, so we have a great discussion about books. - There is so much fascinating information packed into this episode, and I greatly appreciate Chris’s taking the time to share his wisdom with the Mountain & Prairie community. Check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Chris Hawkins TNC's Urban Conservation Program in Denver TNC's Global Cities Program Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-hawkins/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Why do Chris and TNC work in cities 7:00 - Thriving cities in the West and the unique challenges they present 9:30 - Whether or not the health benefits of the outdoors have become a larger part of Chris’s work recently 15:30 - Discussing trees 27:45 - How Chris builds relationships in his work in cities 33:45 - Specific strategies Chris uses to build trust 38:30 - Where Chris grew up and why he became involved in this work 43:30 - Discussing the work of city mayors 53:00- How ideas that are exported or imported between cities show up in Chris’s work in Denver 1:00:15 - Chris’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Back in September of 2022, I held the first annual Strenuous Life Retreat at the renowned Zapata Ranch in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The retreat consisted of five days of adventure and education inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s well-known commitment to living “the Strenuous Life.” We hiked high into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, rode horses in Great Sand Dunes National Park, and enjoyed world-class meals. And each afternoon, we enjoyed facilitated conversations about land stewardship, conservation, and regenerative agriculture. This episode is a recording of one of those conversations. - I was honored to be joined by conservation veteran Nancy Fishbein, who serves as Director of Resilient Lands for the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Nancy has been a long-standing leader in the Western conservation community, so we were all honored that she took time out of her full schedule to join us and share some stories and hard-earned wisdom. The Zapata Ranch is owned by the Nature Conservancy and managed by Ranchlands, so Nancy has a unique insight into the history of the ranch, as well as the importance of conservation in the San Luis Valley. - We recorded this conversation at the ranch’s education center, one afternoon after a morning of horseback riding. The first half consists of me asking the questions, and the second half consists of questions from the retreat participants. We cover everything from the history of the Zapata Ranch to the establishment of Great Sand Dunes National Park, which adjoins the ranch to the north. We talk about the conservation bison herd that calls the ranch home, and some of the ongoing challenges in the San Luis Valley created by water speculation and development. We discuss how mineral rights development can coexist with conservation, the protection of biodiversity on ranches, how TNC and the National Park Service work together, and much more. As you’ll hear, everyone in attendance was super engaged and curious about Nancy’s work, and it showed in the range of interesting and thoughtful questions. - I hope this episode will give you a bit of insight into the types of conversations we had at the 2022 Retreat and the kind of conversations you can expect in 2023 and beyond. Colorado is blessed to have so many committed conservationists like Nancy who devote their time and energy to protecting and stewarding these spectacular landscapes, and I can’t thank Nancy enough for taking the time to join us. - If you’re interested in joining me for the 2023 Retreat, as of this recording, there are still a few spots left. You can click here to learn more and reserve your spot. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy! --- Nancy Fishbein Zapata Ranch Strenuous Life Retreat Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nancy-fishbein/ --- SUPPORT M&P: Become a Patreon supporter today! --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - A quick intro to Nancy 5:30 - The story of the Education Center on Zapata Ranch 7:00 - How Zapata Ranch first got onto TNC’s radar 10:00 - How TNC goes about acquiring properties like Zapata Ranch 12:15 - Why the previous owner of Zapata Ranch did not charge TNC full fair market value for the property 13:30 - The importance of relationships in TNC’s work 15:30 - What happened after TNC acquired Zapata Ranch 18:15 - Explaining a conservation easement 20:00 - Why the bison herd on Zapata Ranch were such a focal point of TNC’s conservation work there 22:15 - Why TNC has chosen to hold onto Zapata Ranch as an owner for so long 25:45 - How TNC works with various levels of government agencies 27:30 - Nancy’s biggest concern for the San Luis Valley 29:00 - The most recent scheme to remove water from the San Luis Valley 31:45 - Audience questions begin 32:00 - Whether or not Nancy wished that TNC had done something different in their acquisition of Zapata Ranch 32:45 - Nancy’s surprises and lessons learned about Zapata 34:30 - Why an easement cannot be put on San Luis Valley’s aquifer 36:15 - TNC’s role in the establishment of Baca Wildlife Refuge and the Great Sand Dunes National Park 40:45 - The distinction between a national park and a national monument 41:30 - How the TNC navigated purchasing land that was managed by a private company (Rocky Mountain Bison) but on leased state land 42:30 - Exploring the potential causality between water export schemes in the San Luis Valley and the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Park 44:00 - Whether or not there remains the appetite for bipartisan action, such as the kind that led to the creation of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, in our current political climate 45:00 - Exploring TNC’s support of agriculture as a conservation service 43:30 - Whether or not TNC deals with agricultural leases 51:30 - How easements impact mineral and mining rights on a property 53:30 - How fracking might complicate conservation easements, and whether or not easements are a successful tool for reducing oil and gas development  55:45 - How TNC measures success in its conservation work and the preservation of biodiversity on a property, and how they respond to and act on those measurements 1:00:55 - What TNC is working on right now in Colorado --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Jesse Griffiths is an Austin-based chef, author, hunter, and fisherman, and he’s also the co-owner of Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club and the New School of Traditional Cookery. Jesse’s work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times to the Joe Rogan Experience, and he’s a regular contributor to Steven Rinella’s MeatEater. As an author, Jesse has received great praise for his two books, the James Beard Award-finalist cookbook, "Afield: A Chef’s Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish," as well as his most recent title, "The Hog Book: A Chef’s Guide to Hunting, Preparing, and Cooking Wild Pigs." - Born and raised in Denton, Texas, Jesse grew up obsessed with fishing– he loved catching the fish, but he also loved cooking and eating them. As a teenager, he started working in restaurants and became more and more interested in cooking– an interest that he pursued full-time after graduating from high school. Propelled by a deep curiosity and a desire to broaden his perspective, he would save up his money and then travel, studying food and cooking in a wide variety of cultures around the world. Eventually, Jesse combined all of his unique personal and professional experiences and opened his own restaurant, Dia Due, which features food that is “produced in a fair and equitable way, represent(s) local culinary traditions, and support(s) farmers and ranchers who are striving to improve the quality of our food.” - I’ve been a fan of Jesse’s work for many years, so I was thrilled when we were introduced by a mutual friend. Over the course of our hour together, we covered a lot, include: Jesse’s upbringing in Texas and his early days in cooking, the importance of international travel, the challenges of getting Dai Due off the ground, the importance of humility and curiosity, a deep dive into wild hogs in Texas, his approach to writing, Jesse’s recent obsession with wild turkeys, and, of course, Jesse offers a ton of great book recommendations. - I loved this conversation and was blown away by Jesse’s kindness and humility. I really appreciate his taking the time to chat with me, and I know you’ll learn a lot from Jesse’s fascinating life story.  Enjoy! --- Dai Due New School of Traditional Cookery The Hog Book by Jesse Griffiths Afield by Jesse Griffiths Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/jesse-griffiths/ --- Join Ed for five days on Utah's Green River for his Freeflow Institute Course: PLACE, POWER, PURPOSE --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - Jesse’s upbringing 7:30 - How Jesse got involved in cooking 12:15 - When Jesse first left the USA 13:30 - The importance of international travel 16:45 - Jesse’s mentors 24:15 - Getting Dai Due started 27:15 - How Jesse learned to be a manager 31:15 - The source of Jesse’s humility 36:15 - Jesse’s work with Texas wild hogs 50:15 - Jesse’s ethos in writing 51:30 - Jesse’s recent work with turkeys 1:01:15 - Jesse’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

For today’s conversation, I was thrilled to chat once again with Christian Beckwith, a Jackson, Wyoming-based writer, historian, conservationist, and entrepreneur. Christian’s latest project is “Ninety-Pound Rucksack: A podcast about the US Army's 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America.” - If you enjoy spending time up high in the mountains here in the American West, then you’ve surely heard at least a passing mention of the 10th Mountain Division. It’s nearly impossible to travel up and down the I-70 corridor here in Colorado without seeing a few references to the 10th. But if you’re like me, you probably do not have a sufficient appreciation for the exciting story of how and why the division was formed, and how its creation set the trajectory for climbing, skiing, and recreational outdoor adventure for decades to come. - Whether you’re a climber, skier, or simply a history buff who enjoys diving into untold stories from pivotal moments in our past, then I highly recommend Ninety-Pound Rucksack. The podcast starts out exploring the 1939 Russian invasion of Finland, and how, despite being outmatched on nearly every level, the Fins were able to put up a heroic fight thanks to their ability to efficiently maneuver through cold, snowy, rugged terrain on skis. The story then shifts to America, where a small group of young mountaineers and skiers recognized the importance of mountain warfare and began to lobby the government to focus on this unconventional approach to battle. I won’t give any more details away, but the podcast is just the kind of history I love: big adventures, one-of-a-kind characters, and people driven by causes larger than themselves. - To learn more about Christian’s personal background, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to our first conversation from many years ago. Because in this one, we talk all history, all the time– from the backstory of the 10th, to the adventurous young men who dreamed it up, to how that time period affects us still today. Toward the end of the conversation, Christian offers up some valuable wisdom on the need to be tenacious in all creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, and he also has some really great book recommendations. - Follow the links in the episode notes to listen to Ninety-Pound Rucksack, and please pass the podcast along to any of your history-loving friends. A big thanks to Christian for working so hard to create this podcast and for joining me for another conversation. Hope you enjoy! --- Ninety-Pound Rucksack Christian Beckwith Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/christian-beckwith-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - An overview of Christan’s background 13:15 - How the 10th Mountain Division was established 26:15 - How the 10th Mountain Division impacted the development of skiing in the US 32:15 - How digging into the history of the 10th impacted Christian’s thinking about the present 40:45 - Discussing Christian’s code switch from adventure writing to engaging history writing 45:15 - The podcast’s advisory council  50:15 - Christian’s advice for people who have an idea but feel they are not qualified to pursue it 54:45 - Discussing Christian’s tenacity 57:00 - What can we do to help get the word out about Christian’s work 1:00:00 - Christian’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Matt Moorhead and Galen Guerrero-Murphy are conservationists who work for The Nature Conservancy on its Southern Highs Plains Initiative (SHPI), a collaboration between five states with the shared goal of protecting the nation’s grasslands. The Southern High Plains encompasses approximately 71 million acres across Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The region is home to some of the country’s most important grasslands, as well as the people and wildlife who depend on the invaluable shortgrass prairie ecosystem. - Officially, Matt is TNC’s Conservation Business & Partnership Development Advisor and Galen is TNC’s Land Conservation Program Manager– but at their core, they are both relationship builders. As you’ll hear in this conversation, both Matt and Galen work tirelessly to build long-term, rock-solid partnerships with landowners and conservation partners with the goal of finding win-win solutions that can be mutually beneficial for all parties.  Through genuine curiosity, creative thinking, and a deep respect for landowners and their legacy, Matt and Galen have helped to implement lasting conservation outcomes in the Southern High Plains. - The three of us connected virtually and had a fascinating conversation about grasslands, ranching, buidling relationships, and purpose-driven work. We start out by defining exactly what constitutes the Southern High Plains and why this is such an important region for conservation. We then discuss why the large percentage of private ownership creates such a compelling case for conservation, the need for balancing conservation with various forms of energy development, the current markets around grasslands carbon sequestration, and the all-important role of TNC’s partners. We also discuss Matt and Galen’s mentors, how they measure conservation success, and some of their favorite books. - I’ve considered Matt and Galen to be friends and mentors for many years now, so I was grateful for the opportunity to talk with them on the podcast. Hope you enjoy. --- More Information: Southern High Plains InitiativeFull episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/southern-high-plains/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:10 - Introductions 6:25 - What are the Southern High Plains  9:55 - Why the Southern High Plains are so critical in conservation 16:10 - How the patchwork of private lands in the Southern High Plains allows Matt and Galen to be effective in their conservation work 20:55 - The process of building relationships in private lands conservation work 29:10 - Balancing the potential for landowners to earn revenue through energy development with the interest in conserving landscapes 35:10 - Where things stand on grassland carbon sequestration as a method of generating both landowner revenue as well as conservation outcomes 39:10 - The importance and skills of TNC’s partners 43:10 - Matt and Galen’s mentors 50:10 - What progress on the Southern High Plains Initiative would make Matt and Galen happy in 10-15 years 53:40 - Matt and Galen’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Walt Morgan is a retired Navy Commander and Navy helicopter pilot, and he’s also the founder of Translational Lift Coaching, where he works with individuals and teams to help them reach their full potential. Walt’s wide-ranging background as a leader, teacher, student, and parent gives him a unique approach to helping people identify what they are doing well, what they could be doing better, and how to make subtle-yet-powerful adjustments that can lead to lasting change. - Walt grew up in rural Oregon, where agriculture and working lands were an important part of his upbringing. He attended college on a military scholarship, graduated, and began flying helicopters for the Navy. After 23 rewarding years of service, Walt retired from the Navy and made his way into corporate America, where he quickly discovered his talent and passion for coaching. Today, Walt has combined his innate skills as a coach with his deep desire to help people, and he’s created a meaningful second act to his already impressive career. - I have had the great fortune of being coached by Walt for many years now, and I credit him and his guidance with helping me to identify the beliefs and ideas that are serving me well and to discard those that created friction. As you’ll hear in this conversation, several of the insights I gained from Walt’s coaching are what led me to leave the real estate business and fully focus on the purpose-driven work of conservation and this podcast. While I generally avoid blabbing about myself in these conversations, I feel that my personal experience with Walt speaks to the power of the work he does on a daily basis with many, many people. - Walt and I sat down at my dining room table and had a fun conversation about his life and career, including: Walt’s upbringing in rural Oregon; his decision to join the military; lessons learned from helicopters, deployments, and decades of service; his experience on the morning of 9/11 and his work in the aftermath; discovering his love of teaching; harnessing youthful wild energy into something productive; becoming a coach; the difference between coaching and therapy; the Enneagram and Integral Coaching methodology; favorite books and music; and much more. - A big thanks to Walt for taking the time to chat and for his guidance over the years. You can find links to everything Walt is doing in the episode notes, so be sure to click through. Hope you enjoy. --- Walt MorganTranslational Lift CoachingWalt on LinkedInFull episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/walt-morgan/ --- Join Ed at the 2023 STRENUOUS LIFE RETREAT Support M&P on Patreon --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - How a saddle made it into Walt's living room (a look into his upbringing) 8:300 - Walt’s journey in college 10:00 - Discussing Walt’s hometown of Yoncalla, OR, and the remarkable people connected to it 13:45 - Why Walt became involved in the military  15:30 - Walt’s character pivot from his 19-year-old self to now 18:30 - When Walt started at the US Navy post graduate school 19:15 - Discussing when flying helicopters became a dream of Walt’s 21:45 - Whether or not flight school was a means for Walt to channel the negative experiences he was having in his personal life into something productive 23:45 - Describing Walt’s missions with helicopters 28:15 - Where Walt was on 9/11 31:00 - Walt’s deployments following 9/11 34:45 - Walt’s spiritual and emotional journey in corporate America, and starting his own business 42:15 - People’s reactions (including Ed’s) to receiving the kind of coaching Walt provides  48:15 - Defining Integral Coaching and the process that Ed has specifically worked through with Walt 53:30 - The difference  between Integral Coaching and therapy 56:45 - Exploring the Integral Coaching methodology further, and discussing success stories in Walt’s work 1:05:15 - Why this coaching strategy is not widespread 1:08:00 - How folks can work with Walt 1:13:45 - Walt’s book and music recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Kathie Sever is an artist, designer, and the founder of Fort Lonesome, an Austin-based company that creates one-of-a-kind, hand-cranked, chain-stitched western wear. What started with Kathie hand-embroidering garments for friends out of her home has transformed over the years into a globally known fashion brand that is worn by well-known personalities such as Matthew McConaughey and singer-songwriter Nikki Lane. Using decades-old chain stitching machines, Kathie and her team create some of the most intricate and rich designs imaginable, and Fort Lonesome has been credited with the resurgence of Western wear’s popularity in fashion circles around the world. - Kathie was born, raised, and educated in California, but soon after graduating from art school, she took off for Montana, where she worked at a dude ranch. She worked at the ranch off and on for several years, and she took note of how the ranchers brought creativity, craftsmanship, and an artist’s eye to so many of their tasks– from welding to sewing to leatherwork. Kathie loved the idea of functional art, and she has since made a career of combining handcrafted artistry with pragmatic design. And now, as the head of Fort Lonesome, she and her team continue to innovate and push the boundaries of functional art with Fort Lonesome’s unique brand of what they call Cosmic Western wear. - I loved this conversation with Kathie and could’ve talked with her for many more hours. We covered a lot, including Kathie’s upbringing in California and how her family affected her artistic trajectory; her experience in Montana and how it laid the foundation for Fort Lonesome; her work as a pastry chef and the challenges of working in the restaurant scene of the 1990s; the power that can come as a result of negative experiences; her growth and evolution as a manager and business owner; how parenthood affected her goals; the pros and cons of working with famous people; the nervous feelings that come with creating art; our shared Enneagram personality profiles; favorite books; and much, much more. - Whether you’re interested in art, fashion, the creative process, entrepreneurship, or balancing a career with the demands of parenthood, you’ll glean a lot of value from this conversation. A huge thank you to Kathie for the conversation, and thank you for listening. --- Fort Lonesome Fort Lonesome on Instagram Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/kathie-sever/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - How Kathie’s childhood led her to a career in art 9:00 - Kathie’s goals as she went into art school 10:00 - How Kathie ended up in Montana 13:30 - Kathie’s takeaways from her time in Montana 15:45 - When Kathie started to recognize Western wear as a creative outlet  18:30 - Kathie’s next steps after working at a ranch in Montana 20:15 - When pastry making came into the equation, and exploring the connection between pastry making and art 23:30 - Kathie’s time in Austin and the misogyny she experienced in the restaurant scene in the late 90s 29:00 - Exploring the motivational power of negative experiences 32:00 - How having a kid impacted Kathie and how it led to her work with clothing 37:45 - Kathie’s journey in figuring out the business side of making clothes 43:45 - When Kathie realized she was onto a good business idea, and how she balanced managing a small business from home while raising kids 1:00:00 - How oil painting impacted Kathie’s embroidery work 1:03:45 - The first time a celebrity reached out for one of Kathie’s pieces 1:07:15 - How Kathie balances her vision for her art with that of her clients when making clothes for performers 1:11:00 - Whether or not Kathie still feels nervous about putting her art into the world 1:18:30 - Kathie’s vision for Fort Lonesome in the next 5-7 years 1:22:15 - Kathie’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & PrairieLeave a Review on Apple Podcasts