Mountain & Prairie Podcast

Ed Roberson

Interviews with innovators of the American West. Guests include ranchers, writers, athletes, artists, adventurers, conservationists, entrepreneurs—anyone who’s doing important work and has an interesting story to tell. Through informal yet substantive conversations, conservationist Ed Roberson introduces you to these fascinating characters, giving you a better understanding of their careers, influences, and outlooks, as well as a deeper appreciation for life in the American West.

  • 1 hour 23 minutes
    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.

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    This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation.

    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 www.mightyarrow.org.

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    4 April 2025, 6:24 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    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!

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    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 www.nature.org

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    31 March 2025, 6:48 pm
  • 1 hour 26 minutes
    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!

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    10 March 2025, 10:10 pm
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    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.

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    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 www.nature.org

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    28 February 2025, 9:12 pm
  • 1 hour 16 minutes
    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!

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    20 February 2025, 10:00 pm
  • 54 minutes 57 seconds
    Ivan McClellan Returns - From Behind the Lens to Center of the Arena

    Ivan McClellan 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 Eight Seconds Rodeo, 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 Eight Seconds Rodeo 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!

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    13 February 2025, 10:36 pm
  • 55 minutes 44 seconds
    Betsy Gaines Quammen Returns - Myths, Curiosity, and Human Connection (Live at the Old Salt Festival)

    Betsy Gaines Quammen 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, American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God, and Public Lands in the West, and since then, she’s published another must-read: True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America. 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 Old Salt Festival, 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 2025 Old Salt Festival are on sale now, 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.

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

     

    7 February 2025, 8:47 pm
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    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.

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    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 www.nature.org

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    30 January 2025, 11:49 pm
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Nicole Qualtieri - Charting a New Course in the Changing Landscape of Outdoor Media

    Nicole Qualtieri 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 The Westrn, 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!

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    24 January 2025, 1:01 am
  • 49 minutes 43 seconds
    Hal Herring Returns - Live at the Old Salt Festival

    Hal Herring is an award-winning outdoor journalist, fierce public lands advocate, and thoughtful, action-oriented conservationist. He’s also an accomplished podcaster and host of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ Podcast & Blast with Hal Herring. 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 Old Salt Festival 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 2025 Old Salt Festival are on sale now, so follow this link 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!

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

    17 January 2025, 6:15 pm
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    Scott Hulet: Reading + Writing + Surfing + Fishing + Traveling

    Scott Hulet is a legendary writer, editor, and current Creative Director at The Surfer’s Journal. He also has a new book titled Flow Violento: A Scott Hulet Omnibus, 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!

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    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

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    ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

     

    10 January 2025, 11:07 pm
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