Mountain & Prairie Podcast

Dan Flores is a writer, historian, and former professor whose work explores the connections between people and the natural world in the American West. His most recent books—Coyote America and American Serengeti—are two of the most enlightening and informative books on the West’s natural history that I have ever read. The former is a biography of the coyote, a surprisingly fascinating animal with a rich and severely misunderstood history. The latter explores the last big mammals of the great plains—pronghorn, coyotes, horses, grizzlies, bison, and wolves—and also gives a great overview of North American big history. • It’s clear that Dan was a wonderful professor, because as you’ll hear in this episode, he has a real knack for explaining complicated subjects in a way that’s understandable, engaging, and exciting. This conversation gave me a glimpse into what it must have been like to be a student in Dan’s class at the University of Montana—I walked away from it full of new knowledge, and it whet my appetite to dig deeper into the many subjects we covered. • I could’ve asked Dan questions for hours and hours, but in our relatively short time together we managed to cover a lot. We start by discussing the coyote—how and why the animal has been so misunderstood, its similarities to humans, how it has managed to thrive despite efforts to totally eradicate the species, and the varying pronunciations of the word coyote. Then we discuss horses—the misconception that they are a non-native species in North America, their evolutionary history around the world, and some modern-day challenges facing the West's few remaining wild horses. We also talk about Dan’s childhood in Louisiana, his current home in New Mexico, his favorite books on the American West, and much, much more. • This is an excellent episode and I’m excited for you to listen. If you haven’t already, buy Coyote America and American Serengeti—I can promise you’ll love them both. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/dan-flores/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - How Dan describes his work 4:10 - History of the pronunciation of “Coyote” 7:30 - Coyote’s historical reputation 11:00 - Coyote’s historical status in Native American lore 12:30 - Mark Twain’s influence on the coyotes’ image 14:05 - Coyotes as humans’ avatars 16:15 - Fission and fusion in coyotes 18:00 - Coyotes' ability to control their reproduction 22:20 - Dan’s thoughts on the current attempted Federal Land grab 28:45 - Misconception that horses are non-native 34:30 - Current issues with horses in the United States 37:55 - Dan’s thoughts on the BLM Wild Mustang Program 40:15 - Dan’s early years in Louisiana 43:00 - First trip to Carlsbad Caverns 45:20 - Dan’s passionate love of desert 48:55 - Living in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley 51:00 - Changes in Montana during Dan’s time there 55:00 - "In Defense of the Ranchette” article 1:01:45 - Favorite books about the American West 1:08:00 - Most powerful experience outdoors 1:09:20 - Favorite place in the West 1:11:30 - Dan’s request of the listeners 1:15:45 - Connect with Dan

Noel Durant is the new Executive Director of the Crested Butte Land Trust, a conservation organization that protects and stewards the ranches, trails, open space, and wildlife habit of Colorado’s Gunnison Valley. Noel took the helm of the land trust in early 2017, and he brings a wide variety of conservation experience with him into this new role. He’s worked as a member of the Interagency Hotshot Crew, fighting fires across the American West. He has also worked for regional and national conservation organizations, doing everything from managing large swaths of rural land to developing urban trail systems. • Noel’s resume speaks for itself, but what is even more impressive is his intense curiosity and deep knowledge around all things conservation. Whether discussing the history of the Gunnison Valley or the ideas of Wendell Berry, it’s clear that Noel has a true passion for his work and a vision for the future of conservation in Colorado and beyond. His practical experience combined with abundant enthusiasm is what will allow him to continue and expand the work of Crested Butte Land Trust into the future. • As listeners of the podcast know, Crested Butte in one of my favorite places in the American West. Its ranching heritage, world-class recreation, and genuine community make it a unique and rare place in today’s American West. In our conversation, Noel explains what makes Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley so special, and how the Land Trust must balance the goals of such a wide range of various stakeholders. He talks about the history of conservation in the Valley and where he sees conservation going in the future. We also discuss his time fighting fires throughout the West, how his early life and parents shaped his love of the outdoors, and lessons learned from his various roles in conservation. • This is an excellent episode with lots of interesting information, so be sure the check the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. I’m sure you’ll agree that Crested Butte Land Trust is in great hands under the leadership of Noel. Enjoy! ••• ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:35 - How Noel describes his work 2:55 - Crested Butte and the Crested Butte Land Trust 5:00 - Crested Butte compared to other mountain towns 7:00 - History of conservation in Crested Butte 11:00 - Variety of stakeholders and methods of conservation 16:30 - Overlap between ranchers and recreational users 19:00 - The community of the Gunnison Valley 20:15 - Early years in Tennessee 22:00 - Semester in western NC 23:50 - College at Clemson 27:00 - Time with the Interagency Hotshot Crew 29:00 - Details of a hotshot crew 33:00 - Community and purpose of the fighting fires 35:00 - Tragedies and challenges from the fire fighting world 39:45 - Moving on from fires to land conservation 43:00 - Time at Trust for Public Land 45:20 - Importance of open space in urban area 47:00 - Lessons learned from jobs in conservation 51:45 - Future of land conservation locally and nationally 56:45 - Favorite books 58:50 - Favorite documentaries 59:20 - Favorite location in the West 1:01:34 - Favorite hike in Crested Butte 1:03:00 - Best piece of advice he’s ever received 1:04:45 - Request of the listeners 1:05:45 - Connect with Noel and Crested Butte Land Trust

If you love art and the American West, chances are you’re already a fan of Teal Blake. His paintings of bucking horses, working cowboys, and the Western ranching lifestyle are some of the most authentic and creative around. Teal's art is authentically Western because he’s so authentically Western—he has worked on ranches for all of his life, has ridden rodeo on the professional level, and has been making art since before he can remember. These unique life experiences, combined with a deep-seated drive to create original and striking art, meld together to make him one of the most genuine and fresh faces in Western art today. • Teal grew up in Augusta, Montana, the son of two creative parents who allowed him to roam free—fishing, hunting, and exploring the wilderness out his backdoor. During high school, he discovered his talent for bull riding and rodeo, and he pursued that passion for years, eventually competing on the professional circuit. Throughout all of his various adventures and life stages, Teal was continuously sketching and painting, and after several impressive showings at western art shows, he decided to make a go of it as a professional artist. Since then he hasn’t looked back, and his stature in the Western art world continues to grow. • We had an in-depth conversation in which we discussed Teal’s upbringing in Montana and Idaho, and how his artistic parents influenced his life and work. We chatted about his experience at art school, which ended with him flunking out, yet being the only one from his class to actually make it as a professional artist. We discuss his background in ranching and rodeo, and his process of transitioning into life as a professional artist. We also talk about the important role that external validation can play in a solitary creative endeavor such as painting. As usual, we discuss favorite books, favorite films, and his favorite place in the American West. We cover a lot in this episode, so be sure to check out the episode notes for all the topics and links to everything we discuss. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/teal-blake/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:45 - How Teal describes his work 3:33 - Process of becoming a professional artist 5:00 - Teal’s childhood in Montana 7:55 - Teal’s parents and their influence on him 9:35 - Early artistic influences 11:20 - Early artistic endeavors 12:00 - Move to Idaho and rodeo beginnings 14:55 - Decision to stop riding bulls 17:40 - Teal’s experience at college art school 21:30 - Transition from rodeo to full-time artist 24:00 - Teal’s first art show 28:00 - Teal’s daily routine and artistic phases 31:05 - Ranch work and its influence on Teal’s work 35:25 - Teal’s attraction to bucking animals — painting and riding them 38:20 - Biggest changes in Teal’s art over the past 10 years 40:33 - Challenge of creating new and original work 43:00 - Thoughts on the business of professional art 48:20 - Favorite books 52:10 - Importance of being humbled 53:10 - Raising kids in the internet age 56:50 - Favorite films 58:40 - Surprising hobbies 1:01:00 - Great advice Teal has received 1:02:15 - Favorite place in the West 1:05:50 - Teal’s advice to the listeners 1:07:45 - Connect with Teal online 1:08:10 - Chappin’!!

Justin Simoni is an ultra-endurance adventurer who is most well known for his self-powered, long-distance tours that combine cycling, mountain running, and climbing. He is currently preparing for the "Highest Hundred” in which he’ll climb Colorado’s 100 highest peaks, accessing them all by bike, in 60 days or less. If he pulls it off (and I’m betting that he will), it will be the first time anyone has linked all of these peaks by bike in a completely self-supported style. • Most people would assume that Justin has been a hardcore cyclist for his entire life, but he actually started riding relatively late. He studied painting in college and worked full time as a professional artist for years, living in an art gallery in downtown Denver. Frustrated with his car that kept breaking down, Justin purchased a bike and began to ride it as his primary mode of transportation. As his rides became longer and longer, he enjoyed it more and more, and pretty soon he was completely committed to long-distance cycling. What followed was a barrage of impressive solo ultra-distance adventures: cycling the Pacific Coast, racing the Tour Divide mountain bike race twice, and completing the Tour 14er, which involved cycling to all 58 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains and climbing them... in just 34 days. • Thanks to his athletic accomplishments, artistic perspective, hilarious sense of humor, and infectious enthusiasm, Justin is truly one of a kind. We had a fun and funny conversation that covered a wide range of topics from his adventures to his time as an artist. We chatted about some of the techniques that he uses to stay upbeat during periods of extreme fatigue or fear, and we discussed how he balances his free-wheeling artist’s mentality with the monk-like discipline required to pull off such serious adventures. As usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and Justin shares the best piece of advice he’s ever received. • I appreciate Justin taking the time to chat during such a hectic period of planning and training. This was a really fun conversation, so I hope you enjoy. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/justin-simoni/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:40 - How Justin describes his work 4:45 - "Highest Hundred” defined 5:10 - Significance of highest hundred 7:20 - Background of Justin’s self-powered adventures 9:20 - When Justin started seriously riding bikes 10:00 - Growing up in Connecticut 10:45 - His decision to move West 11:50 - Skateboarding and skateboarding advocacy 12:50 - Beginning cycling 14:15 - Pacific Coast bike tour 15:50 - Tour Divide 18:30 - Epic snowfall on the Tour Divide course 20:45 - Justin’s approach to hardcore adventure 21:45 - Positivity versus negativity in ultra-endurance 23:15 - Strategies for overcoming fatigue 24:45 - How he decides when he does need to stop 25:30 - Other techniques for keeping a positive mindset 26:00 - Justin’s ability to invent his own rules and challenges 27:00 - “Everesting” Green Mountain 29:30 - Enjoyment of truly knowing a place 31:30 - Justin’s approach to creating art 32:50 - The hard work involved in athletics and art 35:35 - How much art is a part of Justin’s life currently 36:35 - How adventures changes people 39:00 - Heroes and mentors 42:00 - Overarching goal of sharing these adventures with the public 43:45 - Favorite Books 45:00 - Favorite films 46:50 - Surprising activities 48:40 - Best advice he’s ever received 53:00 - Enlightenment through endurance 56:00 - Most powerful outdoor experience 58:50 - Favorite location in the West 1:01:00 - Justin’s request of the listeners 1:02:00 - Connect with Justin online and follow the adventure!

Bryan Martin and Elizabeth Williams work at Big City Mountaineers, a Colorado-based nonprofit that transforms the lives of underserved youth through wilderness mentoring expeditions. Through partnerships with community youth programs around the United States, Big City Mountaineers exposes close to 1,000 youth per year to outdoor adventures in some of our country’s most spectacular public lands. Not only do these young people learn outdoor skills, but more importantly, they learn critical life skills while also improving their self-confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities. • Prior to assuming his role as executive director at BCM, Bryan enjoyed great success with a wide variety of conservation and outdoor-related organizations including the Nature Conservancy, Continental Divide Trail Alliance, Colorado Mountain Club, and the Land Trust Alliance. Elizabeth was a teacher in India and Nepal before joining BCM as a marketing intern—10 years and a lot of hard work later, she has risen through the ranks and is now the Director of Programs. Bryan and Elizabeth share a deep enthusiasm for the outdoors and a belief that outdoor experiences can be transformative. Their passion for the work and BCM’s mission is palpable, so I know you’ll enjoy getting to know them. • I met Bryan and Elizabeth at the BCM offices in the American Mountaineering Center in Golden, Colorado, where we discussed BCM’s mission, the details of their wilderness expeditions, and why outdoor adventures can be such life-changing experiences. We chat about Bryan and Elizabeth's professional backgrounds and learn what drew them to careers centered around the outdoors and service. They also tell a heart-warming success story in which a student overcomes her initial fears to thrive on a weeklong wilderness trip. • Thanks to Bryan and Elizabeth for taking the time to chat. Hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/bryan-elizabeth-bcm/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Details of Elizabeth and Bryan’s roles at BCM 5:00 - Building teamwork through outdoor experiences 7:45 - Details of the wilderness expeditions 9:10 - Areas in which BCM operates 10:00 - Teaching students with no outdoor experience about wilderness travel 14:00 - BCM’s focus on personal development and critical life skills 15:50 - Ensuring the lessons stick when the students return home 17:00 - How BCM measures success 20:00 - Evolution of BCM’s measurements of success 22:45 - How BCM selects its mentors 25:00 - Areas where the expeditions take place 26:45 - Thoughts on public lands 29:00 - Elizabeth and Bryan's personal backgrounds 34:30 - Bryan’s biggest surprise since becoming BCM’s E.D. 36:30 - Overarching lessons learned from their careers 40:40 - "Summit for Someone" program 44:45 - A recent BCM success story 49:00 - Favorite books 52:50 - Favorite documentaries 53:50 - Craziest/most powerful outdoor experiences 59:10 - Request of the listeners 1:00:40 - Connect with BCM online

John Dunaway is a Texas-based merchant mariner who spends six months each year traveling the world as the captain of large cargo ships. Whether cruising the calm, warm waters of Central America or avoiding Somali pirates off the coast of Africa, John’s goal is the same: deliver the cargo efficiently while ensuring the safety of his crew—quite the responsibility for a 32-year-old. When not at sea, John is an avid bird hunter, surfer, and all-around adventurer who uses his downtime to explore everywhere from Jackson Hole to Canyonlands to Antelope Island with his wife and young daughter. Thanks to a talent for photography and writing, John has gained a huge following on Instagram, where he documents his exploits on his account, AbstractConformity. • So you might be asking, what does a ship captain have to do with mountains and/or prairies? Although John may spend most of his time on the high seas, far away from the American West, you’ll notice that his optimistic perspective, focused sense of purpose, and thirst for adventure parallel the attitudes and outlooks of many of my previous podcast guests. Also like other guests, he is well read, a deep thinker, and has a genuine conservation ethic thanks to his close connection to the natural world. Although the objects of our affections may be different, our underlying values and priorities are surprisingly similar. • After almost a year of recording this podcast, I was excited to switch it up a little with this in-depth conversation with John about a subject that was fairly new to me. We start by covering the basics of his job—how one becomes a ship captain, particulars on the size of the ships, and details of day-to-day life on a 90-day ocean voyage. Then we dig deeper into some of his thoughts on leadership, his rituals and superstitions, how fatherhood has changed his outlook, and how he manages the pressure that comes along with being responsible for a massive ship, his crew, and the cargo. He also tells a few crazy stories from Africa and India, and he shares some insights from his recent trips around the American West. As usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and thoughts on conservation. • I found this to be a fascinating conversation, and I’d love to hear what you think. If you have a moment, please shoot me an email and let me know your thoughts. As always, thanks for taking the time to listen; hope you enjoy. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/john-dunaway/ ••• 3:00 - How John describes his work 4:20 - Details on the ships 5:40 - Length of the typical ocean voyage 8:35 - How John became a ship captain 10:25 - A typical day on an ocean voyage 12:40 - John’s morning routine 19:00 - Superstitions on the ship 21:00 - Details on the crew and boat 22:15 - How John leads his crew 25:20 - Comparing leadership methods of old-timers and younger captains 27:20 - Ernest Shackleton 28:40 - Common misconceptions 30:35 - Most dangerous areas John has visited 31:00 - Adventures with Somali pirates 33:50 - Robberies at port 36:15 - Getting a gun shoved in his chest in Mumbai 38:40 - John’s early years in Brazil and Texas 39:10 - Family ties to ships and the ocean 41:00 - John’s decision to pursue ships as a career 41:55 - John’s advice to young students at the Merchant Marine Academy 43:45 - How fatherhood has changed his perspective 49:30 - How John became a well-known photographer 54:45 - Background on John’s ability as a writer 58:00 - John’s recent adventures in the American West 1:03:30 - What was most striking about the American West 1:07:30 - Favorite books 1:10:15 - Favorite documentaries 1:11:00 - Best piece of advice he’s ever received 1:12:30 - Biggest challenge facing the oceans today 1:15:00 - John’s request to the listeners 1:15:40 - Connect with John online

Bernice Ende is a horsewoman and adventurer who has ridden over 28,000 miles on horseback throughout the United States. Back in 2005, without any significant experience in long riding, Bernice set out by herself from her home in Trego, Montana and headed south—2,000 miles south, all the way to the Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the following years, her rides became more and more ambitious, and her most recent trip stretched 8,000 miles from Montana to the coast of Maine and back, a journey that took over two and a half years to complete! • I was surprised to learn that Bernice is relatively new to long riding and never had life-long dreams of making long riding a full-time vocation. She grew up on a Minnesota dairy farm and spent the majority of her adult life teaching ballet in cities such as San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Seattle. In 1992 she moved to Trego, Montana and opened a ballet school in a historic community hall building. After a decade of teaching there in Trego, she made the decision to take her first long ride. Since then, her story has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers, and even on the Today Show. More importantly, her rides have inspired people of all ages to follow their dreams and pursue lives of adventure. • Bernice is extremely gifted at telling her her life story, so we had a fun and in-depth conversation. We discussed her background and the decisions that led her to strike out on her own on her first long ride. We talked about the mental challenges of pursuing such ambitious adventures and how she manages the emotional ups and downs of years on the road. She breaks down the specifics of her long rides—how far she rides each day, what she eats, where she sleeps, and all the other details. She also shares some heartwarming stories of people she has met on her rides—stories that will restore your faith in humanity in the midst of our current volatile political climate. • Thank you again to Bernice for taking the time to chat. I hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/bernice-ende/ ••• 2:35 - How Bernice describes her work 3:45 - “Long ride” defined 4:15 - Quick summary of all the rides 4:40 - Bernice’s background and family 5:40 - Bernice’s mother and her influence 6:45 - Her attraction to horses 9:00 - Career in ballet 11:50 - Bernice’s family history in Montana 14:30 - The genesis of the idea for her first long ride 17:50 - How Bernice learned to long ride with no experience 19:40 - How to manage the highs and lows of long rides 22:20 - The transition from the life of a teacher to a long rider 25:00 - The technical details of long riding 28:30 - Heartwarming encounters with kind people 33:00 - Details of the most recent 8,000-mile journey 37:00 - Inspiring women of all ages through her journeys 39:15 - How Bernice has changed since becoming a long rider 42:30 - How Bernice defines conservation 44:45 - The importance of public lands 46:45 - Favorite books 48:30 - Unexpected hobbies 49:30 - A memorable event in the outdoors 50:50 - Biggest challenge and opportunity facing the West 54:00 - Words of wisdom 54:30 - Connect with Bernice online 55:10 - Bernice’s next adventure

Mike Reilly is the Veterans Program Coordinator at Heroes and Horses, a Montana-based nonprofit that uses expedition-style horse pack trips through wild landscapes to help veterans overcome the challenges of life after the military. Prior to his work with Heroes and Horses, Mike was a Navy SEAL and served as a member of SEAL Team 1 in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. As he was transitioning out of the military, he heard about Heroes and Horses and signed on as a student. The program offered a perfect blend of service, teaching, helping others, and adventure that spoke to Mike’s strengths and interests; after completing the program, he was hired to stay on a full-time member of the team. • Heroes and Horses is not a vacation. It’s a rigorous and hardcore three-phase process that takes veterans with no prior horseback experience and, in the course of a summer, turns them into expert horsemen and wilderness travelers. Through the hard work and focus required to make it through the program, veterans are able to forge lasting bonds and discover a renewed sense of purpose—which gives them the skills and confidence to thrive in the civilian life as they begin their post-military lives. Amazingly, this program is offered at no cost to veterans. • Mike was nice enough to take a break from a morning of training wild mustangs to chat with me about the program and his personal story. We discussed how he initially connected with Heroes and Horses and how it helped him through some of the challenges of post-deployment life. Mike explained the organization's upcoming 500 Miles Project, in which they are training horses from the BLM’s Wild Mustang Program and planning to take them on a 500-mile ride later this summer. He also talks about his military career, and how a collegiate baseball injury was the catalyst that led him to pursue his dream of becoming a SEAL. • Mike is a humble guy with a deeply ingrained passion for serving and helping others, so I know you’ll enjoy this episode. I encourage you to check out the Heroes and Horses website, visit their GoFundMe page, and consider supporting their important work. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/mike-reilly/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - How Mike describes his work 4:00- Heroes and Horses explained 7:45 - Importance of the bond between the veterans and horses 9:10 - Why H&H so effective compared to “traditional” PTSD therapy 11:15 - The circumstances that led Mike to H&H 13:30 - Why Mike chose H&H over traditional channels of help 15:25 - Mike reaches out to H&H founder and E.D. Micah Fink 16:00 - Personal powerful moment during Mike’s student stint at H&H 18:30 - Mike’s attraction to the military 20:00 - From enlisting to trying out for the SEAL teams 22:40 - Why teaching suits Mike’s personality 24:00 - Personal mentors and heroes 25:00 - Importance of purpose and community 27:55 - Ensuring that H&H lessons stick when the students return to civilian life 31:00 - Success stories from H&H 32:35 - Val from Unbranded 33:55 - The 500 Miles Project 36:30 - The BLM’s Wild Mustang Program 39:35 - Training wild horses 42:25 - How Mike defines the word “conservation” 45:40 - Favorite books 46:55 - Favorite movies 49:10 - Favorite place in the West 50:50 - Mike’s request of the listeners

AD Maddox is an accomplished artist who creates some of the most spectacular and memorable paintings of trout that I’ve ever seen. Using bright colors and unique perspectives, AD depicts trout and the fly fishing lifestyle in a way that is completely original, yet so authentic you’d be hard-pressed to find an angler who doesn’t love her work. Her art has been featured widely throughout the fishing world, including on the cover of Gray’s Sporting Journal, Patagonia apparel, and even StealthCraft drift boats. • I first encountered AD’s work when I moved to Jackson Hole in the mid-2000s. I’m not an art connoisseur, but I was instantly taken away with how she managed to capture the beauty and realistic details of trout with a contemporary and unconventional style. And just like her work, AD is a one-of-a-kind original—she spent years as a super-competitive athlete, studied exercise physiology in college, taught herself to paint without any formal art education, and rips around backroads on a Ducati motorcycle. Despite a fun-loving and easygoing exterior, she approaches her work with discipline and rigor that seem more fitting for a professional soldier than a professional artist. • Thanks to AD’s outgoing and hilarious personality, we had a very fun and wide-ranging conversation. We chatted about her many years living in Jackson Hole and how the people, landscapes, and natural beauty of that valley influenced her art. We discussed her upbringing and her parents' role in giving her the confidence to pursue art as a full-time career. She also talks in detail about the importance of facing challenges (both in work and life) head-on and proactively, with a positive attitude and relentless work ethic. Whether you’re an artist or not, there are many wise lessons in the conversation that anyone could apply to their work and life. • Thanks to AD for taking the time to chat. So much fun! Hope you enjoy. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/ad-maddox/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:45 - How AD describes her work 4:30 - Why AD focused on fly fishing as a primary subject 5:50 - Selling her first piece of art 7:20 - Using photos to learn to paint trout 8:45 - How her art has changed over the years 10:30 - Knowing when a painting is truly finished 12:15 - How AD learned the technical aspects of art 14:00 - AD’s artistic influences and mentors 16:00 - Lessons learned from painting mistakes 17:15 - Advantages of not waiting for permission 19:00 - AD’s optimistic attitude 21:00 - The constant quest to reinvent her art 24:00 - Writers/Artist’s block? 26:40 - AD’s early years in athletics 29:00 - Parent’s influence on her confidence 31:20 - Haters: the sign of success 34:00 - How living Jackson Hole shaped her art 35:50 - Importance of schedule, routine, and discipline 41:00 - Discipline versus inspiration 42:20 - Riding motorcycles 43:40 - How motorcycles helped her overcome personal challenges 46:00 - How personal challenges affected her art 50:00 - Favorite books 52:31 - Craziest outdoor experience 54:54 - Favorite place in the West 1:02:13 - Connect with AD online

Jeff Lee is the co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Land Library, a residential library located on a historic ranch in one of Colorado's most beautiful and dramatic high country grassland basins. The Buffalo Peaks Ranch, as it is known, will eventually house a collection of over 35,000 books related to natural history, conservation, and the American West. These books will be dispersed throughout ranch in houses and agricultural structures that have been preserved and restored by a growing team of enthusiastic volunteers. The ranch will become a place where individuals can immerse themselves in a natural setting, surrounded by books, for days at a time to read, write, and work on projects related to the West’s unique landscapes. • The idea for the Land Library came to Jeff and his wife Ann (the library’s other co-founder) when they visited a residential library in Europe during the mid-1990s. Given their deep love of books and land, Jeff and Ann immediately saw the potential for a similar concept in Colorado that centered around the history and landscapes of the American West. More than 20 years and tens of thousands of books later, their vision has become a reality—the Rocky Mountain Land Library is open for business and continuing to grow and evolve. • For anyone who has listened to this podcast, you know that the Land Library is my dream come true—it combines ranches, conservation, nature, and books—so I was obviously extremely excited to chat with Jeff. In a little over an hour, we covered a ton of interesting information, including the project’s backstory, the history of the ranch, and Jeff and Ann’s long term vision for the Land Library. Of course, we discuss books, and Jeff has many excellent recommendations that were brand new to me. It’s worth noting that the Land Library is in the midst of the a fundraising campaign, so I encourage you to visit their KickStarter page, watch the video, and donate to the cause... I just did, so you definitely should too! Links to everything are in the episode notes. • If you love the West, love books, and love the land, I can guarantee you will love the Land Library and this episode. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/jeff-lee/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:40 - How Jeff describes his work 3:45 - Backstory on the Land Library 4:40 - Jeff’s introduction to the West 7:00 - Lake Powell, water, and differences between the East and West 7:55 - The early beginnings of Jeff’s book collection 10:55 - The initial idea for the Land Library 13:50 - Challenges of storing tens of thousands of books 17:00 - South Park, Colorado described 19:30 - Early search for a Land Library site 23:45 - Unique experience on a ranch versus pristine wilderness 25:45 - Current state of the Land Library 28:10 - Cook’s House restoration - Kickstarter Campaign 29:40 - History of Buffalo Peaks Ranch 34:10 - How Jeff defines “conservation” 35:30 - Interesting people and groups who have visited and volunteered at the ranch 40:00 - How Jeff and Ann were able to take the Land Library from an idea to reality 42:20 - Jeff’s recommended books about the West 44:45 - Recommended biographies 51:00 - The interconnectedness of historical figures 52:25 - Purchase these books at your LOCAL bookstore!! 53:20 - Books that Jeff has gifted or recommended 57:40 - Jeff’s most powerful outdoor experience 1:00:10 - Favorite location in the West 1:03:30 - Jeff’s request of the listeners 1:04:40 - Connect with the Land Library online

Christian Beckwith is the executive director of SHIFT, a Jackson Hole-based non-profit that is building a powerful coalition to protect our nation’s public lands. By bringing together climbers, skiers, hunters, anglers, land managers, and countless other stakeholders, SHIFT is finding common ground and harnessing these groups' collective power to ensure that public lands—our birthright as Americans—remain safe during this tenuous time in political history. • After a distinguished career in the publishing world which included editing the American Alpine Journal and co-founding Alpinist Magazine, Christian experienced a profound change in priorities when one of his close friends was killed by an avalanche in the Teton backcountry. At that point, Christian decided to focus his resources and energy exclusively on work that makes a “substantive difference in the world.” From there he founded the Center for Jackson Hole, SHIFT, and, most recently, the Emerging Leaders Program which brings together a diverse group of early career leaders in conservation. • Christian’s career is inspiring in many ways, but I especially admire his willingness to set audacious goals, put himself on the line, and not wait around for permission to make things happen. We dig into all of these topics in our hour-long conversation, and he shares some interesting insights into his career and the future of conservation. We also discuss Christian’s early childhood experiences that led him to a career focused on adventure and the outdoors, and he talks about his relationship with Yvon Chiounard and how Chiounard has influenced him both personally and professionally. We chat about Christian’s favorite books, documentaries, and how fatherhood has focused his thinking on the importance of conservation. There’s a full list of the topics we discuss in the episode notes. • Given the current fights surrounding our public lands, this is a timely and powerful episode. I hope this conversation spurs you to continue educating yourself on threats to our public lands and to take appropriate action to protect them. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/christian-beckwith/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:40 - How Christian describes his work 5:10 - Changing demographics in conservation 8:30 - Genesis of the idea for SHIFT 13:00 - Avalanche in Apocalypse Couloir 15:20 - Christian’s decision to shift from publishing to conservation 18:00 - Evolution of SHIFT 20:30 - Importance of encouraging people to fall in love with wild places 21:40 - Overview of the current public land debate 25:40 - How becoming a father changed Christian’s mindset 28:20 - Collaborating with non-traditional partners of recreation 31:20 - Defining the word “conservation” 31:50 - Conservation heroes and Yvon Chouinard 35:50 - The importance of Chouinard’s internal compass 40:45 - Childhood experiences that led to a career centered around the outdoors 43:10 - First experiences climbing 45:40 - Advice to his younger self 49:30 - Favorite books 51:30 - Favorite documentaries 52:30 - Unexpected activities 54:00 - Christian’s most powerful outdoor experience 58:00 - Christian’s request of the listeners 59:00 - Connect with Christian and SHIFT online

Tyler Sharp is an adventurer, sportsman, conservationist, and world traveler with a gift for telling stories through images and words. While he may be best known for his photography focusing on Americana and Western lifestyle, travel, and adventure, Tyler has built a substantial resume that includes filmmaking, directing, writing, and creative strategy. His work has taken him to some of the most spectacular and far-flung regions of the globe, with an emphasis on East Africa, Montana, and his home state of Texas. • As a devoted hunter and fisherman, Tyler has chased game in some of the world’s wildest regions, giving him a global perspective on the importance of natural resources, game management, and sustainable hunting practices. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Tyler has thought deeply about the practical and ethical implications of hunting and fishing both abroad and here in the American West. His sincere devotion to conservation and adventure shines through in his work and has made him the go-to photographer for iconic brands such as Filson, Cabelas, and Stetson, to name a few. • Tyler and I met up in Estes Park, Colorado, just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, for a fun conversation that could have gone on for hours. We discussed his beginnings as a professional photographer, which began in earnest when he moved to East Africa just out of college—he’s got some intense stories from his travels that include run-ins with lions and leopards. We covered his thoughts on conservation, and how his time traveling abroad has given him a clearer understanding of conservation issues facing the American West. Then the conversation took an unexpected but interesting turn when we chatted about his commitment to Kung Fu (yes, Kung Fu!), meditation, and eastern philosophy. • Be sure to check out the episode notes for the full list of topics covered, because we touch on a lot. This is a wide-ranging conversation that takes many surprising twists and turns. Hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/tyler-sharp/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:40 - How Tyler describes his work 3:40 - Tyler’s niche in the creative world 4:25 - Tyler’s background 5:35 - Heading to Los Angeles from Texas for college 7:00 - Post college adventures in Africa 8:10 - The shock of moving to Tanzania from LA 10:30 - Learning how to “grease the wheels” in Africa 11:25 - How time in Africa changed Tyler 13:20 - Threat of people versus wildlife 14:10 - Craziest experience in Africa (spoiler alert - it involves a lion!) 20:40 - Showdown with a leopard 22:20 - Transition from Africa to American West 24:15 - His choice to focus in on his passion 26:30 - Specific actions that have allowed Tyler to separate himself from the competition 31:10 - Tyler’s personal brand 32:00 - Tyler’s conservation ethic 35:00 - Discussion about conservation and hunting 39:00 - Hunters and others coming together to save public lands 40:00 - Details on The Modern Huntsman 41:55 - Blowback from posting hunting photos online 44:35 - Importance of having conversations versus fighting 46:30 - Tyler’s definition of “conservation” 50:00 - Kung Fu and other martial arts 52:50 - Physical and mental benefits of Kung Fu 56:00 - Favorite books 1:00:50 - Advice to take better landscape photos 1:03:50 - Favorite place in the West 1:05:30 - Tyler’s request of the listeners 1:09:50 - Connect with Tyler online

Connor Coleman is the founder of Resiliency Lands, a progressive, conservation-minded land management and advisory group committed to promoting ecological and resource resiliency. Prior to starting Resiliency Lands, he held a variety of positions closely connected to the land, jobs that would be on the wish-list of anyone who loves adventure and the American West—wildland firefighter, cowboy, bison manager, and conservationist, just to name a few. Connor is currently based in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, and he resides on a spectacular ranch just outside of Carbondale. • You may be surprised to learn that Connor was not born and raised in the West or on ranches. On the contrary, he grew up in Ohio, went to college in North Carolina, and after paying his dues in east coast conservation and earning two master’s degrees from Duke, he headed West to focus his energy on western landscapes. Thanks to an insatiable curiosity, a rock-solid work ethic, a service mindset, and a willingness to insert himself into new and uncomfortable situations, Connor has carved out a professional niche for himself in Colorado doing rewarding, exciting, and important work. • Connor’s education and unconventional career path can serve as a great blueprint for anyone who loves the American West and wants a life centered around land, conservation, and natural resources. When I was in my early twenties, I would’ve loved to meet a guy like Connor who could point me in the right direction. So in this episode, we talk in depth about his career and his ability to “put himself out there” to create exciting professional opportunities. We dig deep into his thoughts on conservation in the West, as well as issues related to forest fires throughout the country. Connor loves to read and learn, so he also has tons of great book and film recommendations. • We cover a ridiculous amount of information, so be sure to check out the episode notes for the full list of topics we discuss. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/connor-coleman/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:32 - How Connor describes his work 3:55 - Importance of conserving working ranches 7:55 - Grazing as an important part of conservation 13:40 - Examples of some of Resiliency Land’s projects 16:35 - Where did Connor grow up? 18:50 - Connor’s decision to make conservation a career 22:45 - Brief history of NC barbecue 25:00 - Early career in conservation 29:10 - Grad school at Duke 30:30 - Difference between conservation in NC versus CO 32:20 - How easterners misunderstand public lands in the west 33:30 - Time as a wildland firefighter 36:30 - Fire policy in the east versus west 40:00 - Longleaf pine book recommendations 41:15 - Adventures at Camp Lejeune 42:20 - Moving out west to work on ranches 45:40 - Challenges of adjusting to the demands of ranch work 48:30 - Working with bison on the Zapata Ranch 49:50 - Bison and bison book recommendations 55:20 - Transition to the Aspen Valley Land Trust 59:20 - Lesson learned working in conservation in different parts of country 1:01:20 - Thoughts on service and giving back to the community 1:06:15 - Favorite books about the American West 1:10:15 - Favorite films 1:12:50 - Surprising activities 1:14:35 - Craziest experience in the outdoors 1:18:45 - Favorite place in the West 1:20:20 - Biggest challenge facing the West 1:23:00 - Connor’s request of the listeners 1:25:15 - Connect with Connor online 1:25:55 - Bonus book recommendations!

Taylor Keen is a teacher, community builder, and Native American thought leader based out of Omaha, Nebraska. His back story is as diverse as it is impressive—he’s a member of both the Omaha Tribe and the Cherokee Nation, attended Dartmouth College (BA) and Harvard University (Masters of Public Policy, MBA), and enjoyed a successful stint in corporate America before returning to Nebraska to teach entrepreneurship and management at Creighton University. His most recent undertaking is Sacred Seed, a project with the goal of preserving Native American heritage and history through collecting, growing, and spreading the seeds of corn and other traditional Native American foods. • The writer Wallace Stegner theorized that people generally fit into one of two categories—“Boomers” or “Stickers.” Boomers are “those who pillage and run” and want “to make a killing and end up on Easy Street.” Stickers are just the opposite—they are “motivated by affection, by such a love for place and its life that they want to preserve it and remain in it.” Taylor is the walking embodiment of a Sticker. Given his drive, intelligence, and education, he could’ve followed the path of the Boomer and pursued any number of careers. But a deep love of his Native American heritage and his community called him back home to teach, lead, and live a life devoted to service of others. It’s an inspiring story. • I could’ve talked to Taylor for hours and I only asked about a third of the questions I had prepared, but we still managed to dig into a wide variety of fascinating topics. We discussed the history and mission of Sacred Seed and where he sees the project going in the future. We talked about his path from the West to the Ivy League, the decisions that led him to transition from corporate America to higher education, and some very interesting Native American history. One of my favorite parts of our conversation was Taylor’s recounting the advice he received from his grandfather soon after graduating from Harvard Business School. • This was a very enlightening conversation for me, and I greatly appreciate Taylor taking the time to chat. I encourage you to visit the Sacred Seed website and watch the video—you can find links to everything we discuss in the episode notes on the webpage. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/taylor-keen/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:55 - How Taylor describes his work 4:00 - Sacred Seed Project 5:35 - Early beginnings of Sacred Seed 9:00 - Discovering the importance of seed banking 10:00 - Threats to native seeds from large corporations 11:45 - Difference between Omahas and Cherokees 13:50 - How Taylor found his first ancient seeds 15:55 - How the plants compliment each other, Four Sisters 20:45 - How Sacred Seed has changed Taylor 22:40 - The link between elders and the ancient ways of planting 25:30 - Fall festival 26:45 - Future plans for Sacred Seed 29:20 - Taylor’s changing approach to the project—MBA to Holistic thinking 33:45 - Similarities between Sacred Seed and the reintroduction of bison 36:45 - The fight for sustainable agriculture 37:10 - Meaning of Omaha 38:10 - Where Taylor grew up 39:00 - Taylor’s journey to the Ivy League 41:15 - Biggest surprise when moving east 43:55 - Harvard graduate school and corporate America 45:35 - Taylor’s grandfather’s wise advice 49:25 - Discussing Sebastian Junger’s Tribe 51:00 - Taylor’s thoughts on the importance of tribes 53:50 - Best books for learning about Native American culture 56:45 - Taylor’s advice to his younger self 58:00 - Other favorite books 1:02:50 - Taylor’s request of the audience 1:06:00 - Connect with Taylor online

Camrin Dengel is a professional lifestyle photographer who lives and works on the quiet side of the Teton Mountain Range in Teton Valley, Idaho. Her work focuses on a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, hunting, fishing, and life in and around her mountain community. In her work and leisure, Camrin is a devoted proponent of slow living, and she strives to approach her profession and life in a manner that is intentional, simple, meaningful, and positive. • Growing up in Valdez, Alaska gave Camrin a unique perspective and toughness (she calls it “stubbornness”) that have allowed her to pursue her passion for art full time, while staying true to her ideals and enjoying a slow-living lifestyle. She attended college on a running scholarship with the intention of becoming an engineer, but decided midway through that art and photography were her true calling. After graduation, she moved straight to Teton Valley where she has built a life and business centered around documenting the people and places that make the American West such a special place to live. • I’ve spent a lot of time in Teton Valley and can honestly say that Camrin’s work captures the landscapes and lifestyle more authentically than any artist I’ve ever seen. She is obviously a talented photographer, but she is also a super-interesting person who has managed to sidestep a good deal of the “busyness” and distractions that dominate many of our lives. In our conversation, we discuss her career trajectory, and also her love for the community of Teton Valley. We dig deep into the idea of slow living, and she offers some thoughts on ways for people to adopt a slower, more intentional lifestyle. As usual, we discuss favorite books, documentaries, and challenges and opportunities facing the American West. • This is a really fun episode full of lots of great info. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/camrin-dengel/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:30 - How Camrin describes her work 3:50 - Good example of Camrin’s work 5:30 - Teton Valley explained 7:25 - How she ended up in Teton Valley 8:30 - Transition from adventure photography to lifestyle 9:50 - Thoughts on slow living 10:45 - Ways to live slowly as effortlessly as possible 13:25 - Being intentional with social media 14:20 - Advice for adopting a slower lifestyle 15:30 - Growing up in Alaska 16:35 - Unique aspects of growing up in Alaska 18:50 - How Alaska shaped Camrin’s perspective 20:05 - College years in California 21:15 - From engineer student to artist 23:15 - Time with the Alaska Marine Conservation Council 24:35 - Similarities between fisherman, ranchers, and farmers 27:10 - Camrin’s definition of conservation 28:00 - Thoughts on fishing and hunting 31:45 - How Camrin developed the confidence to follow her passion 33:15 - Role models and mentors 35:10 - Other possible career paths 36:45 - Advice to aspiring photographers 39:00 - Photography advice 40:30 - Book recomendations 41:20 - Slow living resources 42:45 - Favorite documentaries 44:20 - Surprising activities 48:00 - Favorite place 49:20 - Ideas for off the beaten path experiences in Alaska 51:00 - The insanity of the Mt. Marathon 55:15 - Biggest challenge facing the American West 57:30 - Request of the listeners 58:50 - Connect with Camrin online