Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Chris Dombrowski is a Missoula-based writer, poet, teacher, and fishing guide, and he’s also the author of the excellent new book “The River You Touch: Making a Life on Moving Water.” If you’re a longtime Mountain & Prairie listener, you probably remember Chris’s first appearance on the podcast in which we discussed his first book “Body of Water” and his poetry collection, “Ragged Anthem.” Since that first conversation, Chris has become a great friend, sounding board, and supporter, and his generous spirit and creative commitment continue to be a huge source of inspiration for everything I’m trying to do here at Mountain & Prairie. - Like me, Chris is not originally from the West, but since moving here, he has built a meaningful, purpose-driven life that is deeply connected to the region’s rugged land and powerful rivers. Whether guiding fishing clients on the Big Hole, foraging food with his family, or hunting birds with his dog Zeke, the West’s wild places are a cornerstone of Chris’s life– professionally, personally, and spiritually. His new book “The River You Touch” offers rich insights into his journey from his home state of Michigan to his now-home of Montana, as well as his personal evolution as a husband, father, friend, and community member. Beautifully written, surprisingly vulnerable, and extremely inspiring, “The River You Touch” is one of the best books I’ve read this year. - Chris and I connected virtually and had a fun conversation about the book, fatherhood, adventure, writing, and much more. We started by discussing how “The River You Touch” came to be, which has an interesting connection to our first podcast conversation. We talk about his process of combining poetic prose with non-fiction narrative, as well as his desire to explore ideas around masculinity and vulnerability. We talk a lot about Jim Harrison– their friendship, Harrison’s genius, and his other-worldly work ethic. We discuss family, the blessing of having strong and tough wives, advice for aspiring writers, and more good book recommendations. Enjoy! --- Chris Dombrowski "The River Your Touch" by Chris Dombrowski Episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-dombrowski-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - Chris talks about how he came upon the idea that became his most recent book, The River You Touch 8:30 - Chris discusses his motivations for writing 14:30 - Chris talks about his writing process for The River Your Touch 20:30 - Chris discusses being vulnerable in his writing 30:30 - Chris talks about the need for more writing that discusses masculinity and vulnerability 34:45 - Chris discusses his relationship with Jim Harrison and how he operated with such a work hard, play hard mentality 42:15 - Chris explains the advice he received from Jim Harrison: “Don’t let your life become the sloppy leftovers of your work.” 45:45 - Chris reads a section from The River You Touch 48:30  - Chris discusses his thinking regarding having children and their environmental impact 51:45 - Chris talks about his wife and continuing his writing career after having children 54:15 - Chris discusses how he advises students who may not want to write as much as they think they do 1:00:15 - Chris talks about his audiobook narrator for The River You Touch 1:04:00 - Chris’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

Douglas Brinkley is a world-renowned historian, author, and professor who may be best known to Mountain & Prairie listeners as the author of "The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America" and "Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America," which detailed the first two waves of the United States’ conservation movement. His most recent book is "Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening," which delves into the third wave of conservation and the rise of the modern environmental movement. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of Silent Spring Revolution, and I highly recommend it. - Doug was raised in Ohio and from an early age, his parents instilled in him and deep love and respect for wild places, national parks, and the rich history of conservation in the United States. After earning his M.A. and Ph.D. from Georgetown University, Doug began his career as a professor and historian, and he went on to teach at numerous prestigious institutions, including the US Naval Academy, Princeton, Hofstra, Tulane, and, most recently, Rice University. The prolific nature of Doug’s writing life is hard to comprehend– he’s written extensively about everyone from TR to FDR, JFK to Rosa Parks, and about places ranging from the Alaskan Wilderness to the moon. He’s the literary executor of Hunter S. Thompson’s estate and has edited the diaries of Jack Kerouac for two separate books. He’s also served on the boards of numerous conservation organizations and has won awards for his contributions to the conservation movement. And those accomplishments just scratch the surface of his career… - Doug has been a long-time literary hero of mine, and I credit "The Wilderness Warrior" with fueling my obsession with TR and inspiring me to move out of the real estate business and into land and water conservation work. So when I had the opportunity to join Doug at his home in Austin for a conversation about "Silent Spring Revolution," I didn’t hesitate to jump on a plane to Texas. We had a wonderful, wide-ranging conversation about the book, exploring everything from the life and work of Rachel Carson to the TR-like qualities of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas to the environmental legacies of JFK, LBJ, and Nixon. We also talk about Doug’s longstanding personal connection to conservation and how a deep love of teaching is at the core of all of his work. Doug also talks about the roles that art and music play in his life, what gives him hope for the future, and much more. The episode notes are jam-packed with everything we discussed, so be sure to visit the episode webpage for copious resources and links. - Again, I highly recommend "Silent Spring Revolution," but really, I highly recommend all of Doug’s work. I greatly appreciate Doug welcoming me into his home and taking the time to chat, I hope you enjoy both this conversation and "Silent Spring Revolution" as much as I did. --- Douglas Brinkley "Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening" by Douglas Brinkley Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/douglas-brinkley/ The Strenuous Life Retreat --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:30 - Doug walks us through a brief history of American conservation, as well as his love for Thoreau 9:00 - JFK’s connection to the ocean and how it influenced his conservation ethic 15:30 - Wiliam O’Douglas’s impact on American conservation 20:00 - How Rachel Carson’s work ended up connecting her to JFK 31:30 - The bond that developed between Rachel Carson and JFK 34:30 - The Nixon legacy in American Conservation 41:45 - Sewage treatment and its unexpected contribution to the environmental movement 45:00 - The formation of the Endangered Species Act 46:00 - Doug talks about how he writes, his relationship with teaching, and his National Park travels 52:00 - Doug discusses the more art-focused parts of his life 56:20 - Doug talks about what gives him hope despite climate change --- 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

This is a special podcast episode that was recorded live in Los Angeles at Maxwell Alexander Gallery’s 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition. Maxwell Alexander Gallery was founded back in 2012, when brothers Beau Alexander and Logan Maxwell Hagege decided to start an artist-focused gallery that spotlighted the West’s most cutting-edge art. What started with a crazy idea, a small space, and a few artists has evolved into one of the most well-known galleries in the West– a gallery that celebrates the many complex facets of the American West through paintings and sculpture. - This is a recording of an artist panel discussion that was held on Saturday evening, just before the public exhibition began. The panel includes both Beau and Logan, as well as renowned western artists Kim Wiggins, Eric Bowman, and T. Allen Lawson, who goes by Tim. We recorded this conversation in a space next door to the gallery, and we quickly filled all of the chairs and it became a standing-room-only event. The six of us sat on stools in front of Logan’s 8'x12' painting titled “The Song at Sunset,” which Logan discusses during the panel. If you’d like to see an image of this massive work of art, there’s a link in the episode notes. - Over the course of an hour, the six of us had a wonderful conversation that covered a wide range of topics, everything from the founding of the Maxwell Alexander Gallery all the way to expectations about the future of the Western art markets. Tim speaks about how he used to go out looking for scenes to paint, but now he patiently waits for the “paintings to come to [him].” Kim talks about his unique upbringing in New Mexico and how professional art captured him from an early age. Eric discussed how he treats each of his paintings as an “open-ended story” so as to draw the viewer deeper into the work. And those are just a few of the many topics we discussed. Check out the notes for a full list of topics. - And if you leave this episode wanting to hear more from these artists, don’t worry– I’ve convinced them all to join me for their own episodes in the coming months. And you can always go back and listen to my first episode with Logan by following the link in the notes. - A huge thank you to Beau and Logan for inviting me to this one-of-a-kind event, and a thank you to all of the artists for being such fun, welcoming, and fascinating people who contribute so much to the culture of the American West. I was honored to be included, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Maxwell Alexander Gallery 10-Year Anniversary Exhibition Logan's first M&P episode Full notes, links, and photos: https://mountainandprairie.com/maxwell-alexander/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - Introductions 4:30 - Ed starts the questions 5:45 - Logan talks about starting up the Maxwell Alexander Gallery and why they were interested in doing so 8:00 - Beau talks about the biggest surprises he experienced in starting the gallery 10:45 - Beau and Logan discuss how they evaluate which artists are a good fit for their gallery  13:45 - Tim discusses his process of letting “paintings come to me” 16:15 - Tim talks about balancing (or not balancing) making art that he knows will sell with trying new forms of art 17:45 - Kim talks about becoming an artist 22:45 - Eric discusses how he makes his paintings “open-ended [stories]” 25:45 - Eric talks about how the American West captured his imagination 28:00 - Beau discusses his process of encouraging artists that he works with without over-influencing them 30:00 - Logan discusses his large work of art positioned behind the panel (name?) 32:30 - Beau discusses Logan’s painting 34:15 - The panel talks about the responsibility they feel to understand the history of the places they represent in their art 40:30 - Eric discusses why he believes that making art should never be easy 42:30 - Beau talks about the business of art, how it was impacted by COVID-19, and what he is thinking about as predictions of a recession circulate 47:15 - Audience question: How does the panel compose their color harmonies, especially Logan on such large paintings? 52:45 - Audience question: Discuss the effect of the 2021 Maxwell Alexander artist’s retreat  55:45 - Audience question: Does anyone on the panel intend to make a big shift in their style, or do they feel locked in?  1:00:00 - Tim celebrates Logan and Beau’s work at the gallery 1:01:00 - Logan and Beau express their appreciation for the artists --- 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  

Monica Tranel is an attorney, Olympian, and mother of three, and she’s also running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Montana’s reformed second congressional district. Monica grew up in eastern Montana in a large family where she was one of ten siblings. Throughout her childhood, her parents stressed the importance of hard work, curiosity, and independent thinking, characteristics that Monica has exhibited in all aspects of her athletic and professional endeavors. - As an athlete, Monica began rowing competitively during law school, and after years of unwavering focus and tenacity, she earned a spot on different two Olympic teams. As an attorney, she devoted much of her career to standing up to a wide range of powerful corporate interests that were attempting to bully or take advantage of everyday Montanans. And now, as a Congressional candidate, she’s focused on bolstering Montana’s middle class and closing the ever-widening inequality gap. - Monica is in the final stretch of her campaign, so I greatly appreciate her taking the time out of her jam-packed schedule to chat with me. We spend about half of the time talking about Monica as a person– her upbringing in eastern Montana, why athletics have been so important in her life, her high school and college years, her rowing and legal careers, and why public service has always been a part of her personal operating system. For the second half of the conversation, we discuss the election– the challenges facing the middle class, her commitments to Indigenous communities, the importance of thinking independently, an issue that she has changed her mind on, and much more. She also offers a ton of excellent book recommendations, which I always appreciate. - A big thank you to Monica and her team for fitting this podcast into their busy schedule, and thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy. --- Monica Tranel Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/monica-tranel/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 – Monica discusses her upbringing and how it set her on her trajectory 6:45 – Monica talks about athletics and the role the outdoors played in her life 9:00 – Monica describes her high school years 12:40 – Monica explains what drew her to the legal field 16:00 – Monica talks about what she is particularly proud of in her legal career 21:45 – Monica discusses her Olympic career in rowing 26:45 – Monica talks about when public service became an interest in her life 30:15 – Monica discusses the challenges of politically addressing the inflating cost of living in places like Montana 34:15 – Monica talks about rebuilding a culture of governance with fair, enforceable rules 39:15 – Monica outlines what she feels her political role and commitment will be with respect to Indigenous communities in Montana 42:15 – Monica talks about something she has changed her mind on 45:45 – Monica discusses what she thinks people will find surprising about her during her Congressional candidacy  51:15 – Monica’s book recommendations 52:15 – Monica’s parting words of hope --- 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

Francesca Claverie is the Native Plant Program Manager at the Borderlands Restoration Network. Based in the southern Arizona town of Patagonia, the Borderlands Restoration Network’s mission is “to grow a restorative economy by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for plants and wildlife, and reconnecting our border communities to the land through shared learning.” Through binational partnerships and community-led innovation, Francesca and her team are making progress toward solving many border-specific conservation challenges– challenges that are often not very well known to those of us living far from the border. - We could easily spend five or six hours discussing Francesca’s various conservation projects, but for this hour-long conversation, we zoned in one particularly innovative project that spans the US-Mexico border called "Bacanora for Bats: Binational Conservation and Sustainable Agave Spirits." The project is focused on conserving agave plants– plants that are a critical food source for specific migrating bat populations and are simultaneously under a great deal of pressure because of the booming tequila and Bacanora industries. As you’ll hear her explain, Francesca and her team have implemented a one-of-a-kind system that allows for continued economic prosperity from agave production, but not at the expense of the bat populations. It’s a perfect example of a community-driven, win-win conservation solution. - A little more than two years ago, the project was awarded the Salazar Center’s Connectivity Challenge prize– a $100,000 award that Francesca and her binational team have used to implement this innovative conservation solution. So we obviously talk about how those funds have been put to use and some of the successes that have resulted from the prize. We also discuss some of the unexpected opportunities and challenges that have arisen during the project, and how changing political administrations on both sides of the border have affected her work. We go into great detail about bats, the ecology of agave plants, and specific challenges that come with working across borders. Francesca also has a fascinating personal and professional trajectory, so we talk about her childhood spent on the California-Mexico border and how she decided to pursue conservation as a career. She also offers up some excellent book recommendations and some wise parting words. - I was so inspired by Francesca and her work along the border, and I believe there are lessons in this conversation that can be applied by anyone working in the conservation sector. Thanks to Francesca for taking the time to chat, and thank you for listening. --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Salazar Center for North American Conservation. To register for the fourth annual International Symposium on Conservation Impact, go to salazarcenter.colostate.edu and receive $25 off symposium registration with the code "25OffReg". --- Borderlands Restoration Network Connectivity Challenge Episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/francesca-claverie/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Overview of the Borderlands Restoration Network 9:30 - Application to the Connectivity Challenge 11:40 - Agave, Bats, and Pollination 20:40 - How the bat pollination issue came to Borderlands Restoration Network's attention 27:00 - Certification program for Bacanora 36:20 - How the Connectivity Challenge funds have been invested 38:55 - Unexpected challenges and opportunities 41:20 - How different US administrations affect these border projects 47:20 - Francesca's personal and professional background 53:45 - Other borderland projects that are showing great promise 57:30 - Favorite books 1:02:25 - Wise parting words 1:04:30 - Connect with the Borderlands Restoration Network --- 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

Amber Smith is a Montana-based rancher and the Executive Director of Women in Ranching, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to hold brave space, support courageous action, and champion rural women’s leadership on the land. Offering a blend of in-person and virtual events, Women in Ranching has filled a unique niche across a wide range of rural communities in the West and beyond. From skill-building workshops to virtual kitchen table chats to multi-day on-the-ground experiences, Women in Ranching offers a much-needed, supportive network for women whose families and livelihoods are closely tied to agriculture and the land. - Amber was born and raised in Illinois, and she met her now-husband Trevor while working at a ranch in Colorado. They fell in love, got married, and today Amber and Trevor have two young children and a successful ranching business in eastern Montana. As you’ll hear in our conversation, when Amber was first introduced to Women in Ranching several years ago, she felt an immediate connection to the organization’s work– the connection was so strong that she eventually took the helm as the organization’s leader. And earlier this year, after several years under the umbrella of Western Landowners Alliance, Women in Ranching became its own freestanding nonprofit organization- an exciting next step for the organization’s continued growth and evolution. - Amber and I met more than five years ago on the Antelope Springs Ranch, the ranch that she and Trevor continue to steward to this day. I was immediately impressed with her energy, dedication to her community, and ability to juggle many competing priorities with grace and humor. I’ve been following her leadership with Women in Ranching for many years now, and it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to reconnect and have such an inspiring conversation. We talked about the purpose and mission of Women in Ranching and how the organization has evolved in unexpected ways. We discuss some of the specific challenges facing women ranchers and how Women in Ranching works to address those needs. We discussed the pandemic’s effect on ranching communities, how Amber tries to find balance in her life, how she has been positively impacted by the organization, some specific success stories, her favorite books, and much more. Be sure to check out the episode notes for a complete list of everything we discussed. - To learn more about Women in Ranching and to support its work, head over to www.womeninranching.co. Huge thanks to Amber for all of her hard work, and thanks to you for listening. Hope you enjoy! --- Women in Ranching Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/amber-smith/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Amber describes Women in Ranching 17:30 - Amber talks about how her work with elders impacted how she approaches her work and life 22:30 - Amber discusses Women in Ranching and how its work was influenced by the pandemic 29:00 - Amber talks about who comes to the Confluence 30:30 - Amber discusses the current form of Women in Ranching 35:00 - Amber talks about the early stages of Women in Ranching becoming their own organization 40:00 - Amber explains her outlook on life balance and managing overwhelm 45:30 - Amber discusses how she learned to deal with the a new kind of challenge in her work with Women in Ranching 56:00 - Amber talks about how the shift in Women in Ranching from WLA program to its own organization impacted her as a person 1:05:45 - How folks can get involved and support Women in Ranching 1:10:15 - Amber talks about books that have influenced her 1:14:30 - Amber’s 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

Mike McTee and Vince Slabe are Montana-based researchers who use cutting-edge science, writing, and educational programs to protect eagles in the American West and beyond. Both Mike and Vince are laser-focused on the surprisingly little-known issue of lead poisoning in bald and golden eagles, a problem caused mainly by eagles scavenging the remains of big game animals that have been hunted with lead-based ammunition. For example, a study conducted near Jackson Hole captured migrating golden eagles, tested them for lead, and found that 98% had elevated lead levels in their blood. Committed hunters themselves, Mike and Vince are devoting their professional energies toward finding sustainable, reasonable, and mutually beneficial solutions to this large-scale challenge. - Mike lives in Missoula and works as a researcher at the MPG Ranch, a large, privately owned ranch in the Bitterroot Valley that promotes conservation through restoration, research, education, and information sharing. He is also the author of the excellent new book "Wilted Wings: A Hunter's Fight for Eagles," which was recently published by Riverfeet Press. In it, Mike lays out the issue of lead poisoning in eagles in a compelling and easy-to-understand style, and he offers some clear and relatively simple paths to solving the problem. Mike has also written for The FlyFish Journal, Backcountry Journal, and Bugle, and he is a sought-after speaker on various hunting-related topics. - Vince is a Bozeman-based Research Wildlife Biologist with Conservation Science Global. He holds a Ph.D. from West Virginia University and recently published a wildly cited paper that details the implications of lead poisoning in eagles across North America. The paper, which was published in “Science,” describes how almost half of the bald and golden eagles sampled for the study had elevated levels of lead in their blood. More importantly, it explains exactly how increasing or decreasing levels of lead exposure will affect golden and bald eagle populations. We discussed the paper in our conversation, and I've also linked it to the episode notes. - This is a fascinating discussion that digs deep into a very specific issue– an issue that is largely under the radar here in the West. But if you zoom out from the details related to lead and eagles, and focus on the big picture, I think you'll agree that Mike and Vince are shining examples of the many smart, driven, level-headed people here in the West who are working hard to find win-win solutions to conservation-related challenges. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, Mike's new book, and Vince's paper, and I hope you will too. - Be sure to check out the episode notes for a list of all the topics we discussed and links to everything. Thanks for listening! --- “Wllted Wings: A Hunter’s Fight for Eagles” by Mike McTee Vince’s Paper in “Science” - “Demographic Implications of Lead Poisoning for Eagles Across North America” Mike’s quarterly newsletter - Montana’s Nonlead Newsletter Conservation Science Global MPG Ranch Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/mike-mctee-vince-slabe/ --- This episode is brought to you by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, which embodies the values-based approach to philanthropy and business of its Chairman Arthur M. Blank. Head to www.blankfoundation.org to learn more. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Mike’s introduction 5:30 - Vince’s introduction 8:45 - Mike and Vince discuss the history of raptor-human interaction in the US over the last 200 years 15:15 Mike and Vince discuss the threat of lead poisoning as it pertains to raptors, noting the historical use of lead shot in waterfowl hunting 26:30 - Mike and Vince discuss their current work addressing the threat still posed to raptors by lead bullets for big game hunting 33:00 - Vince discusses ammunition demonstrations and the Arthur M. Blank Foundation’s advocacy for adopting non-lead ammunition through their private, guided hunting trips.  40:15 - Mike and Vince talk about why there has been resistance to widespread adoption of non-lead ammunition. 49:15 - Mike discusses managing the few situations where there is anger directed towards his work as he encourages hunters to switch ammunition 55:15 - Mike and Vince’s book recommendations 1:04:30 - Mike and Vince’s 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

If you’re a long-time Mountain & Prairie listener, then I’m sure you’ve heard me reference the author and historian Peter Stark. He’s written some of the most memorable books I’ve ever read, including one of my all-time favorites about the early history of the western United States– a thrilling tale of adventure and exploration called “Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival.” Peter has also spent years working as a correspondent for Outside and has written extensively for magazines including Smithsonian, Men’s Journal, The New Yorker, and more. - I’ve been a fan of Peter’s for more than twenty years, so when I was offered the chance to chat with him, I jumped at the opportunity. The focus of this conversation is Peter’s newest project, an e-and-audio book titled “Sins of the Founding Father: George Washington, the Indigenous Tribes, and the Decisions that Shaped America’s Future.”  It’s an in-depth exploration of an often-overlooked battle in 1791 between American troops and Indigenous tribes– a violent fight that was decisively won by the Native Americans, and resulted in three times more American deaths than the Battle of Little Big Horn. The e-book also covers the life and personality of George Washington, America’s insatiable hunger for land, and the United States’ uncertain future in the years just after the Revolutionary War. - You might be wondering, what does George Washington have to do with the present-day American West? Back then, the term “American West” described a region now known as Ohio. Well, as you’ll hear in this conversation, this specific battle set the course of action for the next hundred+ years regarding the United States’ policies toward Indigenous tribes. The American’s crippling defeat led Washington and other leaders to ramp up their violent tactics against Native tribes and hold nothing back in their quest to claim as much western land as possible, as quickly as possible. It’s an eye-opening story that gave me a much better understanding of the ambition, egos, and economic realities that laid the foundation for the modern-day West. - "Sins of the Founding Father" is available exclusively at Scribd, and there’s a link in the episode notes that will give you a free 30-day trial. Scribd is a really cool app that I’ve enjoyed using for e and audiobooks, so go to Scribd.com to check it all out.  “Sins of the Founding Father” is a  great read and at only 70 pages, you can enjoy it in one sitting. I hope you’ll check it out, and I hope you enjoy this conversation. "Sins of the Founding Father" by Peter Stark "Astoria" by Peter Stark Scribd Peter Stark's website All episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/peter-stark/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Peter describes young George Washington 7:15 – Peter discusses Washington’s lust for land acquisition  19:30 – Peter talks about how Washington’s land speculation set the playbook for greedy land acquisition seen throughout US history 23:00 – Peter jumps ahead to Washington’s life in 1791 40:00 – Peter talks about writing history in an engaging way  46:00 – Peter discusses his own writing process 51:15 – Peter discusses the historical parallels between our recent sociopolitical turmoil and that of the late 1700s following the Battle with No Name – or -discusses the fallout of the Battle with No Name 1:01:15 – Peter’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

Frances B. Ashforth is an artist who specializes in drawing, printmaking, and painting. While much of her work is tied to the landscapes and rivers of the American West, she is also well known for her depictions of salt flats and coastal weather in more tropical locales. If there are two threads that bind all of Francie’s work, they are her deep reverence for natural landscapes and her desire to protect them. Over the years, she has collaborated with many highly regarded conservationists to combine writing and art– first, in her “Water + Words” project, and most recently, when she created all of the art for Dylan Tomine’s excellent book Headwaters. - Francie was born and raised on the east coast, into a family of artists and athletes who cultivated her obsessions with art and perpetual physical activity. Even though a childhood accident confined her to a body brace for nearly six years, Francie always pursued her passions with full enthusiasm and vigor, working hard to keep a positive attitude in the face of such a serious physical setback. But her commitment to creativity never waivered– after studying art and architecture in college, she worked professionally as both an architectural illustrator and art director for more than a decade. Eventually, Francie left her day job to focus on her own artistic endeavors, as well as her all-important role as a mother to young children. Today, Francie’s work has been shown in venues from New York City to San Francisco, and she has a loyal following among galleries and collectors across the country. - Francie and I met through past podcast guest Dylan Tomine, when I had the pleasure of interviewing both of them at a live event in Brooklyn earlier this year. I was immediately impressed with Francies’ art, her obsession with fly fishing and books, and her long-term commitment to melding art and conservation. So I was so thrilled when she agreed to join me on the podcast, and we managed to cover a lot. We discussed her childhood and her family’s influence, and her early career that combined art and architecture. We talked about the specifics of her art, including her influences and her preferred mediums, and we talked in detail about her “Water + Words” project. We talk a lot about the book Headwaters, as well as her own love of books and reading. Francie offers a long list of excellent book recommendations, so be sure to check the episode notes for links to all of those and everything else we discuss. - Huge thanks to Francie for all she does for conservation and for taking the time to chat with me. Hope you enjoy! https://francesbashforth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/frances.ashforth/ Water + Words Headwaters: The Adventures, Obsession and Evolution of a Fly Fisherman Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/frances-ashforth/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:40 – Francie discusses her childhood 5:30 – Francie talks about her family’s creative streak 8:30 – Francie discusses an accident that impacted her childhood 19:00 – Francie talks about her college education and early career in architecture 26:15 – Francie explains her transition from professional drafting to focusing on her own art 28:55 – Francie describes her art 32:30 – Francie talks about her Water and Word Project 37:15 – Francie explains her process of adapting existing words into new, complementary art 42:45 – Francie talks about how she became involved with Dylan Tomine, Headwaters and Patagonia Books 49:15 – Francie discusses reading and the books that make up her personal “bibliography” 1:00:30 – Francie talks about what is giving her hope these days 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 Kenyon is an author, podcaster, conservationist, and member of the MeatEater crew. You probably know him from his excellent book "That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America's Public Lands," the Wired to Hunt podcast, or his contributions to MeatEater's Netflix show and other video productions. To learn more about Mark and his impressive personal and professional journey, I'd encourage you to go back to our first Mountain & Prairie conversation from a few years ago, which is linked in the episode notes. - In this episode, Mark and I are doing something a little different: We're focusing exclusively on books. Earlier this year, Mark had me on his podcast to discuss our favorite books about conservation, and we both received excellent feedback on that episode. You can find a link to that discussion in the notes. So we decided to have another book conversation, this time focusing on some of our favorite books about the American West. Both Mark and I are voracious readers who share a love of history, conservation, and adventure, so I'm always excited to hear Mark's recommendations and thoughts on a wide range of titles. - The episode starts out with a brief catch-up on Mark's summer adventures and his current work with MeatEater, and then we dive into the books. We each picked five of our all-time favorites to discuss, and, as you'd expect, we veer off into lots of tangentially related titles and subjects. This is an episode where you'll definitely want to check out the episode notes, because there are links to dozens of books, authors, films, and other resources. Mark and I could've easily talked for three or four hours, but we had to keep the conversation relatively short because of tight schedules. However, we're going to try and make these book conversations a regular occurrence on both of our podcasts– so if you like this format, stay tuned for more! - If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to check out Mark's podcast or follow him on social media– he's a smart, thoughtful, hard-working guy that brings tons of value to the world of conservation and outdoor recreation. Please enjoy the episode, and if you do, please share it with a few friends. --- Mark Kenyon Mark & Ed's first book discussion - 10 Conservation Books Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/10-books-west/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Mark talks about his summer with his family  11:30 - Mark discusses his plans for Meat Eater in the fall 13:15 - Mark talks about the incredible experiences that constitute his job 14:30 - Mark and Ed discuss their five favorite American West conservation books (see full notes on the episode's webpage) starting with Desert Solitaire  27:30 - Blood and Thunder 33:15 - Empire of the Summer Moon 34:45 - Blood Meridian  36:15 - The Course of Empire and  39:15 - Dreams of Eldorado 45:15 - The Emerald Mile  51:00 - The Oregon Trail 54:45 - Leave It As It Is 59:00 - Great Plains 1:03:15 - Badlands 1:05:45 - American Zion --- 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