Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Heather Hansman is a Seattle-based writer and editor, as well as the author of the excellent new book "Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and the Future of Chasing Snow." Longtime listeners will remember Heather's first appearance on the podcast, when we discussed her book "Downriver," one of my favorite books about the complicated subject of water in the West. Heather has an uncanny ability to distill complex, sometimes-messy topics into fun-to-read narratives that are equally educational and entertaining. And she's done it once again with "Powder Days"-- it's a thoughtful and thorough examination of ski culture, the ski industry, and the myriad of challenges that can accompany life in ski communities. - Heather was born and raised on the east coast, but headed West immediately after college, where she spent many winters living and working in ski towns throughout the Rocky Mountains. She eventually left the ski bum lifestyle behind to pursue a career in journalism but has remained closely connected to skiing and the ski culture for all of her adult life. Given her professional success as a journalist and her personal love of skiing, Heather is uniquely qualified to offer this nuanced, in-depth look at skiing and its impact on the culture, economy, and environment of mountain towns throughout the United States. - Heather and I connected a few days before "Powder Days'" publication date to talk about the book and the many important topics that it addresses. We start out discussing why she chose to write a book about the ski industry, and how the many issues and challenges facing ski communities are representative of broader issues facing the American West. We discuss the history of skiing in the United States and how the industry has grown and transformed over the past 70+ years. We discuss income inequality in ski towns, as well as the prevalence of mental health and substance abuse problems that often plague these communities. We discuss the psychological profiles of sensation-seeking skiers, the big business of skiing and ski resorts, equity in outdoor recreation, climate change's effect on skiing, and much more. - Whether you're a skier or not, I highly recommend you check out "Powder Days." It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the economic and social forces shaping the modern-day American West. And for more information on Heather, you can check out our first episode-- there's a link in the episode notes. - Big thanks to Heather for writing yet another wonderful book, and thanks to all of you for listening. Enjoy! --- Heather Hansman "Powder Days" by Heather Hansman Heather's first M&P episode Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/heather-hansman-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Why Heather chose to write a book about skiing 8:00 - "Ski bum" defined 12:00 - Heather's time as a ski bum and when she decided to leave that world 15:00 - The psychological profile of obsessed skiers 18:00 - The appeal of seeking adventure in the mountains 19:40 - History of the ski industry in the US 23:00 - Changes in the business of skiing 27:00 - Extreme economic inequality in ski towns 30:30 - What is the future of economic sustainability in ski towns 33:30 -Gini coefficient and more on inequality 38:20 - Climate change and the ski industry 41:30 - Predicting the future of skiing related to climate 43:00 - Feeling that came with revisiting the ski world 45:00 - The need for ski bums to engage in the community 48:30 - Booze and mental health in mountain communities 51:20 - Goals and reasons for writing this book 55:00 - Heather's current projects 56:00 - Good 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

Matt Pierson is a fifth-generation Montana rancher who owns and operates Highland Livestock Company alongside his wife and two sons. He's also the founder and President of the Producer Partnership, a newly formed non-profit organization that brings together farmers and ranchers with the goal of ending hunger in Montana. Since its start in spring of 2020, the Producer Partnership has given away tens of thousands of pounds of beef to Montana food banks and is creating replicable, scalable solutions for fighting hunger throughout the West and beyond. - The idea for the Producer Partnership was born in early 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was roiling communities and economies across the globe. With many Montana residents out of work and food banks struggling to keep up with the unprecedented demand, Matt decided to donate the meat from a cow he was planning to cull to his local food bank. He quickly recognized the direct positive impact that his donation had on the community, so he reached out to friends to drum up more donations. Within a month, he had directed 10,000 pounds of ground beef to area food banks. He kept going, and by the end of 2020, that number had risen to more than 53,000 pounds of beef. Through creativity, hard work, and an unyielding commitment to G.S.D. ("Getting Stuff Done"), Matt and his team at the Producer Partnership have created a new model for solving food insecurity in Montana. - Matt and I connected virtually for a wide-ranging conversation that will be inspiring and educational for anyone interested in impactful, purpose-driven work. We started out discussing his family's long history in Montana, and then we moved into details of how the Producer Partnership began. We talked about the challenges around processing meat both during the early stages of the pandemic and now, as well as the cutting-edge meat processing facility that the Producer Partnership is currently building. We discussed the scalability and replicability of the Producer Partnership model, and how he expects the organization to evolve in the coming years. Matt discussed the importance of community; why he chooses to volunteer for causes ranging from youth soccer to Trout Unlimited; the future of agriculture; how he defines success in his ranching operation; and much more. - This is an inspiring episode, and I know you'll enjoy it. Go to www.producerpartnership.com to learn more about Matt and his work-- and donate or buy some gear if you are so inclined. Enjoy! --- Producer Partnership DONATE to the Producer Partnership Producer Partnership Merch Full episode Notes with Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/matt-pierson/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:50 - Matt's family history in Montana 4:50 - The beginnings of the Producer Partnership 8:20 - Logistics during the early days of the Producer Partnership 10:20 - Media begins to pick up the Producer Partnership story 12:00 - "GSD" - Getting Stuff Done 14:00 - First year success 15:50 - Managing the Producer Partnership and the family ranch 18:20 - Executing the idea of building a new processing facility 22:00 - Adding value to all steps of the process 26:20 - Realities of building a first-of-its-kind federally approved processing facility 30:00 - Role for the Producer Partnership post-COVID 32:00 - Potential for replicability 39:00 - The importance of community 43:00 - How Matt judges success in ranching 47:45 - How Matt thinks agriculture will evolve in the coming years 52:00 - The unexpected surprise of creating a non-profit 56:00 - Importance of being a problem solver, thinking independently 57:30 - Favorite books 1:00:30 - Words of wisdom 1:02:30 - Overcoming the labor challenges --- This episode is brought to you by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and its Montana-based AMB West Philanthropies, both of which embody the values-based approach to philanthropy and business of their Chairman Arthur M. Blank. --- 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

Ryan Busse is a Montana-based conservationist, public lands advocate, and former top-performing firearms executive. He's also the author of the new book "Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America," which has received advanced praise from everyone from Publishers Weekly to Senator Jon Tester. Ryan is a life-long hunter and angler, as well as a proud gun owner, and he brings a unique, nuanced perspective to our country's ongoing debate about guns and the Second Amendment. "Gunfight" is in no way an "anti-gun" book-- rather, it's an insider's examination of how and why the firearms industry transformed from a sportsman-centered business into a politically driven machine that uses decisiveness and fear to grow profits exponentially. From a broader perspective, "Gunfight" helped me to understand how we ended up at this bizarre moment in history-- a moment defined by anger, misinformation, tribalism, and binary thinking. - Ryan was born in western Kansas and grew up on his family's ranch, where most of his childhood was centered around hunting, fishing, and a close connection to the land. After college, Ryan focused his energy on building a career in the sporting goods industry, first working for an optics company and then moving into the firearms business. Ryan found his calling as a gun salesman, and, over the course of his career, he helped transform a small firearms company named Kimber into an internationally recognized brand. But as you'll hear in our conversation, Ryan's advocacy for public lands and conservation created a rift between him and the firearms industry-- a rift that eventually exposed the industry's authoritarian power structure that does not tolerate independent thinking or deviations from industry dogma. Ryan refused to be bullied or told what to think, and he eventually quit his lucrative job selling guns and decided to tell his story and that of the industry's transformation. The result is his book "Gunfight," which we are discussing here today. - I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of "Gunfight," and I was thrilled to have a chance to discuss it with Ryan. We started out talking about his upbringing on his family's Kansas ranch and how his father introduced him to the writings of conservation luminaries, including Aldo Leopold and Theodore Roosevelt. We then discussed his life-long love of hunting and guns, and why he chose to pursue a career in the gun industry. We discussed the exact moment when he realized that his personal devotion to public lands was at odds with his industry's stance and the unraveling that occurred over the course of the following years. We talk about why gun sales soar during Democratic administrations, the industry's shift from hunting rifles to assault rifles, some very disturbing stories from industry events, Ryan's public land advocacy, the positive influence of his wife, and much more. - I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, and I learned a lot. I really appreciate Ryan taking the time to chat, and I hope you find it enlightening. Be sure to check out the episode notes for a complete list of topics and links to everything we discussed. Enjoy! --- Ryan Busse "Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America" - Bookshop & Amazon Episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/ryan-busse/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:00 – Ryan's background 8:30 – Ryan discusses his father and his impact on Ryan's conservation ethic 12:45 – Ryan talks about what he was like in high school 15:00 – Ryan discusses when he felt like his role in the firearms/optics industry was a good career path for him 17:00 – Ryan tells the story of the experience that made him second guess his career 22:00 – Following his falling out with the leaders in firearms industry, Ryan explained why he stayed in the industry 26:00 – Ryan describes an uncomfortable moment when he went to an NRA conference 32:30 – Ryan describes a moment where a journalist showed up to an interview armed with an AR-15 37:30 – Ryan discusses the phenomenon that gun ownership/purchases sky rocket during Democratic presidential administrations 41:30 – Ryan explores why gun enthusiasts or industry personnel may disagree with him 45:30 – Ryan talks about his wife 48:00 – Ryan talks about Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and his role with them 1:02:30 – Ryan's book recommendations 1:05:00 – Ryan'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

Lesli Allison and Tuda Libby Crews join me to discuss the critical role of private and working lands in achieving durable conservation outcomes in the United States. Lesli is a founding member and the Executive Director of the Western Landowners Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advances policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes, and native species. Tuda is a rancher and owner of Ute Creek Cattle Company, a conservation-focused ranching operation in northeastern New Mexico that has been in Tuda's family for more than 200 years. Whether discussing on-the-ground stewardship practices or the intricacies of federal conservation policy, Lesli and Tuda are uniquely qualified to offer informed and thoughtful perspectives on all aspects of private land in the West. - While ranchers, farmers, and conservation stakeholders have long understood the critical importance of private land stewardship and conservation, the Biden administration's 30x30 conservation goal has brought the topic to the forefront of American politics and mainstream media. 30x30 has prompted challenging conversations about what it means to conserve land, and it has sparked healthy debates about the government's role in private land stewardship. 30x30 is a bold initiative and its implications for private landowners, particularly agricultural producers, are enormously complex-- we'll never find sufficient answers in pithy Tweets or surface-level news stories. So, I was excited to have Lesli and Tuda join me for an hour-long conversation about 30x30 and private lands' role in large-scale conservation. - Lesli, Tuda, and I connected via Zoom and enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation, covering everything from Tuda's family history in New Mexico to some of the intricacies of the 30x30 initiative. We started out discussing the vital role private lands play in conservation and environmental health here in the United States. Tuda talks about her family's process of restoring her family's ranch in New Mexico and the many environmental benefits that they have experienced. We obviously dig into 30x30, discussing its pros and cons and its opportunities and challenges. We talk about the importance of garnering local support for all land-related initiatives, and they each discuss their thoughts on the odds of success for an initiative as ambitious as 30x30. And as usual, they each offer up some excellent book recommendations that I think you'll enjoy. - Please check out the episode notes for a full list of topics we discuss and links to all of the information we reference. Enjoy! --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Colorado State University's Salazar Center for North American Conservation. https://salazarcenter.colostate.edu/ --- Western Landowners Alliance Ute Creek Cattle Company 2021 International Symposium on Conservation Impact Full episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/lesli-tuda/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:40 – Lesli's introduction 6:25 – Tuda's introduction 9:55 – Lesli discusses private lands' role in conservation 13:25 – Tuda describes her ranch and her family's conservation work there 19:40 – Lesli talks about performing private land conservation work at scale 24:40 – Tuda describes her process of arriving at creative land stewardship solutions 28:55 – Lesli and Tuda discuss 30 by 30 39:40 – Lesli discusses means of protecting agricultural property from subdivision 44:10 – Nodding towards public land conservation efforts, Leslie and Tuda discuss was to garner public support for private land stewardship efforts 51:40 – Lesli and Tuda talk about how they see our odds for success in these efforts 55:40 – Book recommendations 59:40 – Lesli mentions what WLA is doing from a media perspective --- 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

Hampton Sides is a historian and New York Times bestselling author who is best known for his engaging works of narrative nonfiction, including the books "Blood and Thunder," "Ghost Soldiers," "On Desperate Ground," and more. His latest project is an ebook and audiobook titled "THE EXOTIC: Intrigue and Cultural Ruin in the Age of Imperialism," which details the life and unbelievable adventures of a man named Mai, who was the first Polynesian to set foot on British soil. "The Exotic" is much shorter than Hampton's previous books but much longer than a magazine article, giving the reader a chance to enjoy Hampton's one-of-a-kind historical storytelling in only a few hours of reading. - Longtime listeners of Mountain & Prairie will remember Hampton's two previous appearances on the podcast. The first was an in-depth discussion of his book "Blood and Thunder" and the history of the American West, which was recorded live and on stage at the Aspen Institute. In his second appearance, we focused on his writing and research process, and his career progression from journalist at Outside Magazine to becoming a best-selling historian. Today's conversation takes us far beyond the American West, everywhere from remote islands in the South Pacific to King George's court in England. So if you're a fan of adventure, history, and profiles of Indigenous people who have often been overlooked by mainstream history, you'll love this book. - Hampton and I connected virtually and had a fun conversation about the book and his process for writing it. We talked a lot about Mai's unbelievable journey from Polynesia to England and back again, as well as the opportunities and challenges of exploring history from an Indigenous perspective. We talked about Hampton's process for researching the book and how COVID has forced him to adjust his usual approach. Hampton was actually in the South Pacific researching the book in March 2020 when the pandemic hit, which, as you'll hear, added an extra layer of adventure to an already adventurous trip. And as usual, Hampton offers up some great book recommendations that I think you'll enjoy. - "The Exotic" is available exclusively on Scribd, which is an online service that gives you instant access to ebooks, audiobooks, articles, podcasts, and more. I've thoroughly enjoyed Scribd over the past few weeks, and I'd encourage you to give it a shot. You can access it for free for 30 days by following the link in the episode notes or on this episode's webpage. And I'm not being paid for this endorsement-- I'm just a fan of what Scribd is doing and the unique forms of writing that they are bringing to the world. - I hope you enjoy this episode, and I hope you'll invest a few hours reading "The Exotic." And if you haven't already, go back and listen to my past episodes with Hampton-- they are fun and educational conversations. Thanks so much. --- "The Exotic" by Hampton Sides 30-day free trial of Scribd Hampton's first and second M&P episodes Episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/hampton-sides-3/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – How Mai got Hampton's attention 11:45 – Hampton discusses who Mai was 22:00 – Hampton walks us through what Mai did while he was in England 31:30 – Hampton explains what happens when Mai returns home 36:30 – Hampton describes doing his research while COVID-19 took off and discusses how the pandemic affected his writing 43:30 – Hampton talks about Captain Cook 51:15 – Hampton'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

Luke Smithwick is a professional alpinist, ski mountaineer, and mountain guide best known for his cutting-edge climbs and descents in the world's wildest mountain ranges. Luke is based in Victor, Idaho, in the shadow of the legendary Teton Range, but he spends large portions of each year deep in the Himalayas, guiding clients on remote peaks or pursuing personal climbing and skiing objectives on 7-8,000-meter peaks. He is currently hard at work on a multi-year skiing project called The Himalaya 500, which is his personal quest to ski 500 aesthetic ski lines throughout the greater Himalayan Range. - Luke was born and raised in North Carolina, and he moved to Colorado for college, where he attended CU Boulder and studied environmental biology and cultural anthropology. When not in class, Luke immersed himself in outdoor sports and soon began working as a guide-- first a river guide on Colorado's Upper Arkansas River and then a climbing guide. After graduation, Luke completely committed himself to the mountains, and his adventures have since taken him everywhere from the Alaska Range to his current work in the Himalayas. His company, Himalaya Alpine Guides, focuses on trips to some of the lesser-known (and less crowded) peaks in the Himalayan Range, where his clients can enjoy completely unique climbing and cultural experiences that cannot be found on more mainstream, well-known mountains. - Luke and I went to high school together back in the mid-1990s, and I was a couple of grades ahead of him. After graduation, we lost touch but have reconnected during the past few years thanks to shared interests and common friends. I was so happy that he joined me on the podcast, because I had lots of questions about how a guy from small-town North Carolina has become one of the world's most accomplished Himalayan skiers. We had a wonderful conversation, discussing everything from his career trajectory to this season's climbing objectives. We talked about how he picks ski lines, how climate change is affecting the Himalayas, the unique nature of his guiding company, how he trains, why he has made his home in the American West, and his deep respect for the people, history, and cultures of the Himalayas. - I loved catching up with my old friend Luke. I was blown away by all he has accomplished in the past 20 years, and I have the utmost respect for his understated, humble approach to life, learning, and adventure. Be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything we discussed. Enjoy! --- Luke Smithwick Himalaya Alpine Guides The Himalaya 500 Episode Notes with Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/luke-smithwick/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Luke walks us through his trajectory post high school and how he became a professional outdoor guide 7:30 – Luke talks about his work and his guide company in the Himalayas 9:45 – Luke explains why he focuses on a deep understanding of mountain ranges instead of just the principle summits of a range 13:15 – Luke discusses how he finds his clientele 15:30 – Luke explains the importance of local relationships for his business 17:45 – Luke discusses his project, the Himalaya 500 21:15 – Luke explains how he picks his ski lines 23:00 – Luke talks about the information age and its impact on the availability of "secret spots" 25:00 – Luke talks about the people he has met in his travels around the Himalaya 27:45 – Luke talks about how current action in Afghanistan may affect his work 28:45 – Luke discusses the impacts of climate change that he sees in his work 32:00 – Luke explains how he trains for his work and play in the mountains in order to make it a sustainable lifestyle 36:00 – Luke talks about his current 8,000 meter peak goal 39:00 – Luke discusses how he balances humility and the need for self-promotion in his field 44:45 – Luke talks about training for alpine trips in his forties 48:00 – Luke talks about his family 49:15 – Luke discusses his hometown and the significance of Boy Scouts in his upbringing 51:30 – Luke's book recommendations 53:30 – Luke's film recommendations 54:30 – Luke talks about the most powerful experience in his life 56:45 – Luke'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

Shane Doyle is a Montana-based scholar, teacher, and community advocate whose work focuses on the history and heritage of Native American tribes of the Northern Great Plains. Shane is an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke Nation (also known as the Crow Tribe), and he holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. His unique personal and professional experiences, combined with his deep curiosity and seemingly endless energy, have made Shane a well-known leader in many fields, including education, land use advocacy, and the arts. - Shane grew up in Crow Agency, Montana, and he did not have an interest in history until college, when a road trip with a professor opened his eyes to Montana's rich Native American past. From that moment onward, Shane's curiosity has continued to grow, and he has built his career around making Native American history a cultural mainstay in everything from Montana's educational system to governmental land management decisions. Whether designing educational curriculums, making films, or singing Northern Plains tribal music, Shane is always focused on serving his community. - Whether you're a long-time listener or this is your first episode, I know you'll enjoy getting to know Shane. We started out discussing his youth on the Crow reservation, and he talks about that fateful road trip when he fell in love with history. We talk about his family and the important life lessons that he learned from his grandmother. We discuss the history of the Apsáalooke, and the importance of the Crazy Mountains from a cultural and historical perspective. We also discuss his consulting business Native Nexus, some of his film projects, and his plans for the future. And Shane obviously has plenty of excellent book recommendations, so be sure to check out the episode notes for links to all of those. - As you'll hear in this conversation, Shane is doing so much excellent work and has many more projects in the pipeline. I'll look forward to a part 2 with Shane in the future so we can hear updates on everything that he's working on. Hope you enjoy! --- Native Nexus Shane's film: Awaxaawippíia: The Crow Nation's Sacred Ties Full episode note and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/shane-doyle/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 – Shane's childhood and how he pursued Indigenous history in his youth 7:45 – Shane describes how he engaged in studying the Indigenous history of Montana 10:30 – Shane discusses Asaalooke Nation history 14:30 – Shane discusses his thoughts regarding a history of broken treaties 18:15 – Shane talks about the service element of his work 21:00 – Shane discusses the significance of the Crazy Mountain Range, including his own experience fasting in that mountain range 27:15 – Shane explains the regularity of his meditation ceremonies 30:15 – Shane mentions some resources for people interested in Northern Plains Indigenous culture 34:00 – Shane discusses the book he is writing, Messages from Medicine Wheel Country 38:00 – Shane talks about his film regarding the Crazy Mountains 41:45 – Shane explains how folks can get involved in the protection of the Crazy Mountains 43:30 – Shane discusses his business, Native Nexus 47:15 – Shane talks about where he thinks his career is going next 51:45 – Shane's book recommendations 55:45 – Shane's film recommendations, as well as some films he feels less enthusiastic about 1:01:30 – Shane's parting words of wisdom --- This episode is brought to you by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and its Montana-based AMB West Philanthropies, both of which embody the values-based approach to philanthropy and business of their Chairman Arthur M. Blank. --- 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

Antonia Malchik is a Montana-based writer and essayist, and she's also the author of the book "A Walking Life: Reclaiming Our Health and Freedom One Step at a Time." She has written for publications including The Atlantic and High Country News, she also writes a regular Substack newsletter titled "On the Commons," which I highly recommend. Antonia thinks deeply about a wide range of topics, including community, conservation, the environment, private property, the West, books, and more. She has a true talent for writing about complex subjects in an engaging, in-depth manner that both educates and challenges the reader. - Antonia grew up in northwest Montana-- her mother was a multigenerational Montanan and her father was a first-generation immigrant from the former Soviet Union. Her family heritage combined with her innate curiosity gave Antonia a unique perspective on the world that informs all of her work. She has lived in Moscow, Vienna, Australia, and other far-flung regions, but she has always been drawn back to the landscapes of her home state of Montana, where she currently lives with her husband and two children. - I've been a long-time fan of Antonia's work, so it was a pleasure to finally have her join me on the podcast. Just as her work covers a broad range of topics, so does this conversation-- we discuss everything from Russian history to her Montana ancestors to her long-standing commitment to the craft of writing. We talk about why she has chosen to not participate in social media, and how she manages to consume online news and media without becoming overwhelmed. We talk a lot about her writing process, her thoughts on publishing her work, and her approach to exploring and writing about potentially controversial ideas. We obviously talk about her book "A Walking Life," as well as how the act of walking can contribute to strong communities, mental health, and physical well-being. And finally, Antonia is known for her excellent book recommendations, and she offers up some great ones-- be sure to check the episode notes for links to all the books and authors she mentions. - I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and can't thank Antonia enough for all of her hard work. Hope you enjoy. --- Antonia Malchik On The Commons "A Walking Life" by Antonia Malchik Full episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/antonia-malchik/ --- Freeflow Institute - Special M&P Offer: https://freeflowinstitute.com Bill deBuys episode --- 5:00 – Antonia explains why she was left on the streets of Moscow and told not to get lost. 8:45 – Antonia reflects on moving to a completely different culture during a time when international relations were tense. 14:15 – Antonia recommends resources for understanding Russian history. 18:15 – Antonia reflects on the Montana side of her family and on the idea of pioneering. 23:00 – Antonia explains how and why she chooses to write. 27:45 – Antonia explores how she puts potentially controversial ideas out into the digital commons as well as explains when she decides to engage with people who disagree with her and comment on her writing. 31:30 – Despite anxiety regarding putting her work out for public viewership, Antonia reflects on why she still writes. 35:30 – Antonia and Ed discuss creating for the sake of continuing to create and the merits of not waiting for permission to create. 43:15 – Antonia explains, as a curious person, how she controls the constant influx of information that can occur through social and informational media. 49:00 – Antonia discusses her book, A Walking Life. 55:15 – Antonia talks about walking as it relates to mental health. 1:07:45 – Antonia's favorite books about the West. 1:15:30 – Antonia'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

Nickolas Butler is an award-winning writer and novelist who has published five books, one of which is the wildly popular, award-winning "Shotgun Love Songs." His most recent novel is titled "Godspeed"-- a fast-paced, thriller of a book that is set in and around Jackson Hole, Wyoming. While the novel has all of the components that make for a great story-- action, suspense, wild landscapes, complex characters-- it also touches on many of the challenges facing the modern-day West, including income inequality and rural gentrification. From the first page of "Godspeed," I was hooked, and I stayed up way too late for several nights in a row finishing the book. - For all of Nick's accomplishments as a novelist, his path to becoming a full-time writer was not an easy one, nor was he an overnight success. He spent many years working a variety of jobs, including as a telemarketer, meatpacker, and Burger King maintenance man. And as you'll hear him discuss in this conversation, it was during his stint working as a liquor store clerk that he decided to fully commit to the craft and profession of writing. Fast forward to today, and his focus, commitment, and hard work have paid off-- not only is he a successful full-time writer, but also a devoted husband and father of two. - Nick and I recorded this conversation just a few days after the publication of "Godspeed." I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of the book prior to our conversation, and I can't say enough great things about it. So we obviously talked a lot about the book-- his process for writing it, how the book highlights present-day challenges facing the West, and how he went about developing the plot and the characters. We discussed his journey as a writer and artist-- how and why he views writing as a craft, the importance of hard work, and how he keeps his competitive fire burning, even after experiencing so much success. We also talk a lot about family and community, which are two subjects that Nick and I are both very passionate about. And finally, Nick offers up a ton of excellent book and author recommendations, as well as some wise parting words. - Big thanks to the great writer, angler, and past podcast guest Chris Dombrowski for introducing me to Nick. Check the episode notes for the full list of everything we discuss and links to all of the books and authors that nick mentions. And I encourage you to pick up a copy of "Godspeed"... you'll love it. --- Nickolas Butler "Godspeed" by Nickolas Butler Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nickolas-butler/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Nickolas compares his most recent book release with his first release. 9:30 – Nickolas discusses how he handles reviews of his work 13:45 – Nickolas explains how he balances creating art with treating writing as a job, like a craftsman 16:00 – Nickolas discusses his most recent novel, Godspeed, and how the story came to him 21:00 – Nickolas talks about the process of a story gathering in his mind, and generally how long it takes. 22:30 – Nickolas discusses how he comes to know a place to write about it so well. 25:45 – Nickolas reads a passage from Godspeed and explores the challenges surrounding housing in the West and beyond. 32:00 – Nickolas explores the way he crafts stories in his writing, and how it leads to empathy in his most recent novel. 36:45 – Nickolas describes the role of meth and addiction in Godspeed. 38:30 – Nickolas talks through the pace and process of writing Godspeed. 41:15 – Nickolas discusses some of his current projects. 42:45 – Nickolas looks back on his career before being a writer. 49:30 – Nickolas discusses his transition from early career to writing career. 52:15 – Nickolas talks about how he keeps his "fire going" in his career. 55:00 – Nickolas talks about teaching work ethic to his children. 58:00 – Nickolas identifies his literary icons. 1:00:45 – Nickolas's favorite books about the West. 1:03:00 – Nickolas'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

Nicole Morgenthau is a Utah-based professional photographer whose work depicts the people and places of the American West in a completely unique, one-of-a-kind style. While she has been involved in many aspects of the photography business throughout her career, Nicole may be best known for her portraits of a wide range of western characters-- from cowgirls to mountain men, from professional athletes to mountain-town ski bums. And her creative pursuits don't stop with photography-- Nicole is also the owner of Sandstone Sky Jewelry, a business in which she makes and curates a variety of stunning jewelry, much of which has its creative roots in Native American culture. - Nicole was born and raised on the east coast, just outside of New York City. As a kid, she loved western movies and dreamed of moving out of the humid New Jersey suburbs and into wide-open, arid landscapes of the American West. After high school, she made the move West for college, first in Colorado and then to Montana State, where she studied photography. And immediately after graduating, she dove headfirst into the photography business, first as an assistant to several commercial photographers and then as her own boss. Since then, her work has been featured by well-known brands such as Patagonia, "Outside," "Men's Journal," the "New York Times," and more. - Nicole and I connected a few weeks ago and had an insightful discussion about everything from the photography business to jewelry making to overcoming creative blocks. We started out by discussing her childhood in New Jersey, her desire to move West, and how she decided to take that leap. We then talked about her journey as a professional photographer-- the ups and downs, the evolution of the business, and how she found her voice as a portrait photographer. We talked about her jewelry business and how it compliments photography, both creatively and financially. And toward the end, she offers up some excellent music recommendations, wise parting words, and an inspiring quote from Anthony Bourdain that I think you'll appreciate. - Be sure the check the episode notes for links to all the people and places Nicole mentions. This was a fun chat, and I hope you enjoy. --- Nicole Morgenthau Sandstone Sky Jewelry --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Growing up in New Jersey 5:30 - First trip to the West 7:30 - Decision to attend college in the West 9:00 - Childhood beginnings in art and creativity 10:45 - Nicoles first years in professional photography 12:30 - Working as an assistant 14:00 - Going out on her own 18:00 - Importance of toughness 19:00 - Finding her "voice" as a photographer 24:00 - What's the key to good portrait photography 26:30 - Photography influences 28:45 - The evolution of her photography 31:30 - Nicole's jewelry business, Sandstone Sky Jewelry 37:00 - Inspiring interactions while making jewelry 39:30 - Techniques for remaining calm despite being Type A 42:000 - Musical influences 45:00 - Advice to aspiring creatives 50:00 - Upside of education and workshops 54:00 - Parting words of wisdom 59:30 - Parting quote --- 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