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! --- Nicole Qualtieri The Westrn 20% Discount off the Annual Subscription Link for M+P Listeners will auto-populate discount:  https://www.thewestrn.com/mtnprairie 20% Off Pre-Order Single Issues:  Use link to use code: https://thewestrnstore.com/discount/MTNPRAIRIE?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fthe-westrn-individual-issue Or use code MTNPRAIRIE Ed’s Book Recommendations Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nicole-qualtieri/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Nicole and Ed’s first convo (shared Roadhouse appreciation) 6:15 - Nicole’s background 8:15 - How writing’s been a part of Nicole’s life 13:15 - Getting out West 16:30 - College degrees 19:15 - On writing On Killing Animals 21:00 - The grind and the craft 28:00 - Taking the pain 30:15 - Outside’s rejection of On Killing Animals 34:45 - The corporatization of outdoor media 44:30 - The Westrn 54:30 - Taking a good idea and running with it 59:45 - Etymology of happy 1:02:30 - Nicole’s book recs 1:07:00 - Parting words --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

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! --- Hal Herring Backcountry Hunters and Anglers’ Podcast & Blast with Hal Herring Old Salt Festival Hal’s first M&P episode Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/hal-herring-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Ed introducing Hal at Old Salt Festival 4:45 - How Hal ended up in Montana 7:15 - Hal’s thoughts on the consolidation, absorption of family ranches 9:30 - Threat to public lands  11:15 - Hal’s “ah ha” moments as he’s researching his new book 12:45 - Hal’s book recs 15:00 - Finding common ground 18:15 - Keeping the energy going  19:15 - Hal’s new podcast project  23:45 - What Hal views as current threats to public lands (1872 mining law) 26:00 - Optimist or pessimist? 29:15 - Who’s taking action? 31:45 - Start of Q&A, Hal expanding on new podcast 34:00 - Broadening the audience 36:00 - What’s Hal doing beyond podcasting to trigger improvement? 37:15 - Ideas into action 39:00 - Project 2025 42:15 - Getting people’s attention without scaring them 44:00 - Future of journalism 46:00 - Montana Senate race --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

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! --- Flow Violento: A Scott Hulet Omnibus The Surfer’s Journal Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Ed's book recs Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/scott-hulet/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Scott’s “hunting and gathering” approach to reading 5:30 - Scott’s father’s influence on his reading 7:00 - Favorite childhood books 8:15 - A brief family history 9:35 - Childhood activities in San Diego 11:45 - First three foundational surfing experiences 16:00 - First adventure in Mexico 20:30 - Approaching new cultures and locations with respect… or else 24:00 - Heading to university 25:45 - Writing: from avocation to vocation 28:00 - Mentors 34:30 - How TSJ has maintained such a loyal following in the changing world of print media 36:45 - A surprisingly positive take on Twitter/X 39:45 - The importance of knowing a wide range of people with wide ranges of ideas 44:45 - The art of editing 47:15 - Courting the Muse 49:30 - Lessons learned from several super-intense health trials 53:30 - Pre-stroke Scott vs post-stroke Scott 55:45 - How to stand out from the crowd as a creative 57:15 - There are still unknown, off-the-map places to discover 59:00 - Rules for thinking traveler 1:01:00 - Important books 1:05:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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