Daniel Anderson - Finding Common Ground

Daniel Anderson is a Montana native and founder of the Common Ground Project, a nature-based retreat, hiking, and camping experience in which small groups of people from around the world share adventure, education, and conversation. Located on Daniel’s family ranch in the heart of Montana’s renowned Tom Miner Basin, the Common Ground Project seeks to strengthen connections between people, wildlife, and the stunning landscapes of the American West. As you’ll hear, Daniel and his family’s multi-generational commitment to community and holistic land stewardship make them the perfect people to pass along the wisdom they’ve gained from the land and from life in the Rockies. • To call Daniel’s personal story “fascinating" would be quite an understatement. Born in Missoula and raised in the Tom Miner Basin, Daniel attended boarding school on the east coast and graduated from college with a degree in engineering. But soon after beginning his professional career in California, doctors discovered two fist-sized, cancerous tumors in his body, one attached to his kidney and the other to his aorta. The cancer diagnosis, subsequent treatment, and return to health sharpened Daniel’s focus on the importance of helping and connecting with others, and also led him on a ten-year journey of rigorous personal spiritual work. The cumulative result of all of these intense life experiences was the creation of the Common Ground Project. • So, as you’ve probably gathered, Daniel is an interesting dude. We only covered a fraction of what I’d hoped to discuss, but I know you’ll enjoy the conversation. We discussed the Common Ground Project, the genesis of the idea, and the moment he decided to make the plan a reality. We also talked about lessons learned from his cancer experience and wisdom gleaned from his tight-knit family, including his grandfather who purchased their ranch in the 1950s after being a POW during World War II. We chatted about his family’s long-standing commitment to collaborative land stewardship in the Tom Miner Basin, and the challenges and opportunities of land ownership in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Finally, we discussed influential books, his most powerful outdoor experience, and the insights Daniel has gained from a decade of rigorous spiritual inquiry... with mentors that even include a Peruvian shaman. • I encourage you to check out the Common Ground Project online and if the mission speaks to you, consider donating to their Indiegogo campaign. Links to everything are in the episode notes. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Daniel Anderson. ••• https://www.thecommongroundproject.us https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-common-ground-project--2#/ Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/daniel-anderson/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - How Daniel describes his work 4:50 - Tom Miner Basin explained 8:30 - Challenges and opportunities of land ownership in Tom Miner Basin 11:40 - Keys to successful landowner collaboration 14:05 - Complexity of collaborative landownership 19:35 - Daniel’s family history 23:00 - Boarding school 27:00 - The Common Ground Project explained 30:00 - Moment that Daniel decided to make TCGP a reality 34:30 - Idea of long term land stewardship 38:30 - Books and resources about land stewardship 42:00 - Leadership of TCGP 48:00 - Crowdfunding for TCGP 51:30 - Daniel’s cancer experience 57:00 - How cancer changed Daniel’s perspective 1:04:40 - Mentors 1:08:00 - Spiritual journey 1:12:00 - Favorite books about the West 1:13:00 - Favorite films 1:15:30 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:21:30 - Request of the listeners 1:26:30 - Connect with Daniel and TCGP online