Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Chris La Tray is a writer, poet, and musician, as well as the author of the award-winning book "One Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large." Chris is also an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe—a Native American tribe that was just recently recognized by the United States government, and prior to the recognition was known as the "landless Indians of Montana." Chris's immense talents as a storyteller combined with his unique personal perspective allow him to offer a fresh approach to understanding the complexities of the modern-day American West. - Chris was born and raised in Frenchtown, Montana, a small blue-collar community located just west of Missoula. Growing up with a deep passion for music, Chris headed to Seattle soon after high school to pursue a career as a professional rock musician, but he eventually made his way back to Frenchtown, where he worked for years in the manufacturing industry. But in 2015, following the death of his father, Chris quit his manufacturing consulting job and went all-in on pursuing his dream of being a full-time storyteller. A few years later, he published One Sentence Journal and has been widely recognized as one of the West's most unique up-and-coming authors. - Chris and I had an interesting and timely conversation about his career, his life as a writer and musician, and his family's heritage as members of the Little Shell Tribe. We start out by discussing the genesis of his idea for "One Sentence Journal," how writing the book has changed his life, and a few stories from his many years as a professional musician. Then, we talk in-depth about the long-overdue federal recognition of his tribe and his thoughts on how the tribe can move forward. We also discuss how the long-term treatment of his tribe gives Chris unique insights into the current national discussions around race and privilege here in the United States. Chris also offers up a long list of excellent books on a wide variety of subjects related to the West and Native Americans that I know you will all find useful. Links to everything are in the episode notes. - Thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat, and I encourage you to check out One Sentence Journal. But in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Chris La Tray. --- Chris La Tray "One Sentence Journal" by Chris La Tray Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-la-tray/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED 6:30 - Influence of Jim Harrison 8:40 - Writing practice that led to “One Sentence Journal” 11:30 - The amazing community of Montana writers 14:30 - The “practice” of creative output 16:30 - Decision to leave his manufacturing job 19:30 - Early years in Montana and beyond 21:30 - Music’s role in Chris’s life 24:00 - Becoming a “musician” 25:30 - Reading/writing vs music 27:00 - Chris’s Little Shell Tribe heritage 32:30 - Emotional impact of learning family’s history 35:15 - Thoughts on the Little Shell’s federal recognition 38:30 - Ideas for the future of the Little Shell Tribe 40:00 - Specifics of federal recognition 44:00 - How to read to expand knowledge and eliminate blind spots 46:30 - Hope for the future? 54:00 - Fact and Fiction Bookstore 59:00 - Favorite books 1:03:30 - Favorite location in the West 1:05:30 - Parting words of wisdom --- SPECIAL OFFER FOR M&P LISTENERS! Freeflow Institute is a Montana-based organization focused on re-wilding the creative spirit, connecting people to places, and preserving wild spaces. Freeflow eliminates the barrier between your ideas and your environment by bringing emerging and established writers, leaders, artists, and communicators together into wild landscapes.  - The first ten Mountain & Prairie listeners who register for SHIFT or the Gates of Lodore Workshop will get $150 off their tuition. Just mention the Podcast when you register. -- Find out more about all of Freeflow Institute's programs by visiting their website: www.freeflowinstitute.com or shoot them an email at info@freeflowinstitute.com ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Rachel VandeVoort is the Director of the Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation, an office that advocates for the outdoor recreation industry and works to leverage its numerous benefits to the state. The office was created in 2016 by Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and he tapped Rachel to be its first director, where she built the office from the ground up. Since then, the office has experienced amazing growth in influence and effectiveness, and it has served as a shining example for other states that have formed similar offices. - A native Montanan, Rachel has a diverse background that makes her uniquely qualified for her role as Director. She grew up working for her family's river guiding business in and around Whitefish, MT and also spent time as a fishing guide. After graduating from the University of Montana, she worked in a wide variety of industries that are closely connected with land and recreation, including organic farming, skiing, and firearms manufacturing. Thanks to her diverse and deep experience in all facets of the outdoor world, Rachel has had great success finding common ground between sometimes-competing stakeholders to harness the collective power of Montana's recreation industry. - Rachel was slated to be a keynote speaker at Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Partners in the Outdoors Conference, an annual gathering that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the conservation and outdoor recreation industries. But because of the COVID pandemic, the in-person conference was transformed into a virtual conference—and Rachel's keynote speech was transformed into this episode of Mountain & Prairie. I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Rachel, because her work aligns so well with the theme of the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, specifically, how do we find common ground and mutually beneficial solutions for balancing conservation and recreation. - We covered a lot in a little over an hour, including the history of her job and the office, the staggering positive economic impacts of the outdoor industry, and ideas around funding conservation through recreation now and into the future. We also talked a lot about Rachel's eclectic background and how all of her varied experiences make her uniquely qualified for her position. Rachel shares some thoughts on finding common ground among competing stakeholders, the importance of understanding history in the West, and the collaborative nature of the outdoor recreation industry. Be sure the check out the episode notes for a full list of topics discussed. - Big thanks to Rachel for taking the time to chat and to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for partnering with Mountain & Prairie for this series of podcasts. If you have a chance, visit the Partners in the Outdoors website all of the conference content—there's quite a line up of virtual courses and learning opportunities. But in the meantime, enjoy this educational episode with Rachel VandeVoort. --- FULL EPISODE NOTES: https://mountainandprairie.com/rachel/ Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation CPW's Partners in the Outdoors Virtual Conference --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation explained 7:45 - Massive economic impacts of outdoor recreation 10:00 - Economic impacts in Montana specifically 11:30 - Process of creating the office for Montana 12:45 - Outdoor infrastructure in Montana 15:15 - The positivity of the recreational economy 17:45 - Learning from other states' outdoor rec offices 18:45 - How Montana's rec office differs from Colorado's 20:45 - Rachel's eclectic background 22:45 - Desire to stay in Montana 26:00 - First job in organic food 29:30 - Starting her job in the firearms industry 34:00 - Communication lessons learned from a childhood in recreation 37:15 - Techniques for finding common ground between competing stakeholders 39:45 - The false premise of "consumptive" vs "non-consumptive" recreation 46:45 - Thoughts on Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, and the future of conservation funding 54:45 - Collaboration between outdoor rec stakeholders 59:35 - Favorite books 1:01:00 - Favorite films 1:02:45 - Rachel's family history in Montana 1:03:45 - Parting words of wisdom ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Chris Burkard is a world-renowned photographer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work captures the beauty and rawness of some of the earth's wildest places. Whether documenting iconic climbs in Yosemite or frigid surf trips deep in the Arctic Circle, Chris has established himself as a committed artist who is willing to suffer extensively to get the perfect shot. And because of his love and respect for these wild places, Chris is also a committed conservationist, using his artistic skills to showcase the importance of endangered places and effect positive policy changes. - Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, Chris spent much of his youth exploring the mountains and coastline of his home state. During high school, he fell in love with photography and eventually left college to pursue it as a full-time career. After several years of working to establish himself in the business, Chris’s commitment and hard work paid off—he’s now one of the most sought after photographers for a wide range of clients, from corporations like Apple to independent publications such as "Surfers Journal" or "Modern Huntsman." Chris’s career is a testament to the power of hard work, positivity, boundless energy, and laser-like focus. - I’ve been a fan of Chris’s for years, so it was a real pleasure to have the chance to chat with him. We both took a break from our respective quarantines and kid-wrangling duties to meet up via Skype for a fun and wide-ranging conversation. The specifics of Chris’s photography career have been documented extensively in audio and print, so I wanted to learn more about what makes Chris tick—why he chooses to suffer in dangerous environments, how he and his wife engrain grit in their two sons, and how he manages to muster positivity during tough times. We also talked a lot about his commitment to conservation, as well as his commitment to working with smaller, independent outdoor publications. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, places in the West, and Chris offers some timely words of wisdom. Links to everything are in the episode notes. - A huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat during such a crazy time. I hope you all enjoy this conversation—it’s a much-need burst of energy and optimism during this challenging time! --- https://www.chrisburkard.com Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-burkard/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - “Pain is a shortcut to mindfulness” 7:15 - The process of learning to appreciate pain 10:00 - Growing up in California 14:00- When photography entered Chris’s life 16:00 - Deciding to leave school to pursue photography 18:30 - Choosing to be positive 22:30 - Thoughts on cultivating grit in children 25:00 - Striving to live up to one’s full potential 27:15 - Outdoor adventure as a parenting tool 29:30 - Re-evaluating risk as a parent 36:00 - Training for mental stress 37:30- Ultra-endurance bike riding 42:00 - Meditation training 43:00 - Dealing with the stress of COVID-19 46:30 - Work in the conservation world 53:45 - Commitment to working with smaller outdoor publications 58:30 - Favorite books 1:02:30 - Favorite places in the West 1:04:45 - Parting words of wisdom ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Dan Prenzlow is the Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the agency charged with managing wildlife, lands, natural resources, and outdoor recreation throughout the great state of Colorado. Dan started with the agency back in 1986 as a District Wildlife Manager and steadily worked his way through the ranks, assuming the role of Director in the spring of 2019. Born and raised in Colorado, Dan has had a lifelong love of recreating in the state's open spaces and wild places, and he has devoted his entire career toward protecting and managing them for the benefit of present and future generations. Dan and I were scheduled to meet at CPW's annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, an extremely popular gathering that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the conservation and outdoor recreation sectors. The conference has become the foremost opportunity for organizations, businesses, agencies, universities, and more to come together to find common ground and mutually beneficial solutions for balancing conservation and recreation here in Colorado. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic made the in-person conference impossible, but thankfully the amazing team at CPW was able to move the conference online, and this podcast is a part of the new virtual conference. If you love spending time outdoors, whether here in Colorado or anywhere else, I know you'll glean lots of valuable information from this conversation. Dan and I spend the first half of the conversation discussing some of the specifics around CPW—the organization's history, the success of the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, CPW's important role in private land conservation, and CPW's role as a national leader in balancing conservation and recreation. During the second half of the conversation, we discuss Dan's personal backstory—why he decided to pursue public service as a career, his family's long history of service-minded work, and how he worked his way up to the role of Director. Dan also shares many valuable leadership lessons, including the importance of humility, empathy, and surrounding yourself with a strong team.  As usual, there is a ton of valuable information in this episode, so I encourage you to check out the episode notes for a full list of the topics we discussed and links to all of the information we reference. And if you’d like more information about how you can participate in Virtual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, that link is in the episode notes as well.   Thanks to Dan and his team at CPW for all of their important work. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! --- Virtual Partners in the Outdoors Conference: https://cpw.state.co.us/partnersconference Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/dan-prenzlow/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Colorado Parks and Wildlife (“CPW”) described 6:50 - CPW’s "Partners in the Outdoors” program 11:45 - Colorado’s population boom and its impact on CPW’s work 16:00 - CPW as a trusted conservation partner 21:30 - CPW’s “Ranching for Wildlife” program 26:30 - Partnership successes that can result from adversity 28:00 - CPW as a national leader in conservation and recreation 22:30 - Dan’s personal journey to CPW 37:30 - The importance of service for Dan and his family 40:30 - Leadership lessons gleaned from rising through the ranks at CPW 45:30 - What characteristics Dan looks for in employees 50:45 - Techniques for finding common ground between competing stakeholders 57:00 - Favorite books 58:50 - Favorite location in Colorado ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Callan Wink is a writer, novelist, fishing guide, and surfer who currently splits his time between Livingston, Montana and Santa Cruz, California. He’s the author of the newly released novel August, as well as the highly regarded short story collection Dog Run Moon, books that I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed. Callan’s writing speaks for itself, but if you’re looking for credentials, he’s got those too—he’s been published in The New Yorker, Men’s Journal, The Best American Short Stories Anthology, and more. He’s also been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. A native of Michigan, Callan moved west soon after high school, where he began guiding on some of Montana’s most renowned rivers. In the ensuing years, writing became more and more of a focus, and eventually, he published Dog Run Moon. Currently, Callan writes seasonally—he guides in Montana during the warm months, then moves to California during the winter, where he focuses exclusively on writing, with surfing filling the remainder of his non-writing time. Callan and I connected via the internet from our respective quarantines and had a fun conversation about fishing, writing, reading, creativity, and more. We started out talking about his upbringing in Michigan and how fishing eventually led him to build a life in the West. We discuss the pros and cons of his seasonal approach to writing, and how working as a fishing guide helps to fuel his writing career. We talk about the importance of being a keen observer of people, and we also discuss where and how he finds inspiration for his characters. We also talk about his friendship with the legendary author Jim Harrison, and how that relationship has positively affected his life and work. I encourage you to check out August and Dog Run Moon—I think you’ll enjoy them both. But in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Callan Wink. -- All Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/callan-wink/ -- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Callan’s early years in Michigan 4:00 - Childhood ideas about the west 6:30 - Heading to Montana to fish 10:30 - Childhood obsession with reading 12:30 - Progress toward becoming a professional writer 18:30 - Lessons learned from grad school 21:00 - Balancing writing and fishing 23:30 - Gathering material for characters 30:15 - Callan's writing routine 33:30 - How an idea becomes a short story or novel 37:00 - How the novel August evolved from a short story 39:30 - Outlining versus organic growth of a story 43:00 - Jim Harrison’s influence 45:45 - Poetry Recommendations 51:00 - Callan’s current reading habits 54:00 - Advice for aspiring writers 58:30 - Favorite books 1:00:30 - The magic of Road House 1:01:30 - Favorite location in the West 1:04:00 - Best advice ever received ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Rebecca Jewett is President and CEO of Palmer Land Trust, a conservation organization that works to conserve land and water resources in southeastern Colorado. Palmer Land Trust is one of the twenty largest land trusts in the nation based on acreage conserved, with over 135,000 acres of land protected in perpetuity.  Rebecca has led the organization since 2014, expanding and diversifying its conservation initiatives and building Palmer into a national force in the land conservation sector. If Rebecca and Palmer Land Trust sound familiar, it’s because this is Rebecca’s second time on the podcast and I work at Palmer as a Conservation Director. In the midst of this unprecedented COVID crisis, I thought it would be timely to have Rebecca join me again, this time to discuss how the crisis is affecting conservation and how she sees conservation evolving in its aftermath. Once the all-important work of the first responders has been completed, what role will the conservation of working farms and ranches, as well as public recreational open space, play in our recovery and rebuilding? For those of you who love land and the communities tied to it, this is a must-listen conversation. And if you’re like me and often feel completely overwhelmed with COVID talk, rest assured that this conversation is upbeat and solution-oriented. I imagine you will finish the discussion inspired by the opportunities that our new future holds—and inspiration is something that we can all use more of these days. Rebecca and I cover a lot, including the importance of farming and ranching during this crisis and the role that Palmer plays in supporting agricultural producers. We talk about the need to focus on community building and strong partnerships, as well as the conservation opportunities that could arise post-COVID. Finally, we discuss leadership lessons and how the birth of her daughter has made her a better leader. Obviously, I’m a big fan of Rebecca’s. And I’m sure that after this conversation, you will be, too. Hope you enjoy the episode. --- Complete Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/rebecca-jewett-2/ --- Topics Discussed: 3:45 - Palmer Land Trust explained 6:15 - Land conservation and COVID-19 9:00 - Community as a focus of conservation 13:45 - Importance of agriculture in the face of COVID 18:45 - Win-Win-Wins that are possible in conservation 21:15 - How a diversified “business model” will allow effective conservation post-COVID 26:30 - Importance of strong partnerships during COVID 30:35 - Importance of storytelling in conservation 35:45 - How conservation will evolve in the coming years 40:45 - Thoughts on leadership during challenging times 47:45 - How motherhood has changed her perspective, professionally and personally 53:45 - Importance of optimism in parenting and life 56:15 - Good books on parenting 57:45 - Other good books 58:45 - Favorite podcasts 1:00:45 - Parting words of wisdom ----- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie SHOP Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

George Hodgin is the founder and CEO of Biopharmaceutical Research Company (BRC), a California-based business with the mission of providing federally legal cannabis for approved researchers in the United States. Prior to starting BRC, George served as a US Navy SEAL officer, leading counterterrorism operations in combat zones such as Afghanistan. And to top it all off, he’s a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the University of North Carolina, where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. With a resume like this, it’s safe to assume that George is a driven, hard-working guy. From a very young age, George knew he wanted to be a Navy SEAL. So after participating in ROTC during his undergraduate years, he began the Navy SEAL training, also known as BUD/S, immediately after graduation.  After nearly seven years in the SEAL teams, George left the military to pursue his MBA at Stanford. During grad school, while helping one of his SEAL teammates seek treatment for combat injuries, George was shocked by the inability of doctors to advise patients on the use of marijuana for therapeutic, healing purposes. Despite being legal in many states, it is still illegal at the federal level, and therefore unable to be studied by federally approved researchers and doctors. George and his company seek to change this status-quo so that cannabis can be better understood and more widely prescribed as an alternative to opioids and other drugs. The state-legal marijuana business has its roots in the American West, so I’ve wanted to speak with a cannabis entrepreneur for some time now. George offers excellent insights into the industry, discussing the challenges, governmental roadblocks, and opportunities for optimistic, innovative entrepreneurs. We also talk about why he decided to become an entrepreneur, and why he has consistently chosen some of the most challenging careers imaginable. We talk a lot about his service in the Navy, including the common traits of SEALs, the lessons learned from service, and the challenges of transitioning from the military into civilian life. Since we recorded this episode a few weeks into the Coronavirus crisis, he offers some hard-earned wisdom on how best to deal with high-stress, potentially dangerous situations like the one we all find ourselves in now. George and I were supposed to record this episode in person, but the Coronavirus had other plans. But we still made it happen-- each of us holed up in our homes and connected via Zoom-- so I hope this episode offers some entertainment and motivation during this challenging time.  Thanks for listening. --- Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/george-hodgin/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - BRC explained 7:00 - Genesis of the idea for BRC  10:15 - Decision to be an entrepreneur 13:00 - Complexity of the cannabis business 16:00 - What fuels his passion for BRC 18:00 - Early years in NC 21:30 - Morehead-Cain Scholarship explained 24:00 - Early desire to be a SEAL 26:00 - Path from college to BUDs 31:30 - Common trait of successful SEALs 34:30 - Transition from the Navy to civilian life 38:00 - Finding purpose outside of the SEALs 43:00 - Military lessons applied to business 47:30 - Main business challenge facing BRC 53:30 - Thoughts on the Coronavirus 57:45 - Favorite books 1:00:00 - Favorite Films ---- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie

Kyle Richardson is a Colorado-based professional runner and mountain athlete who is best known for his high-stakes, high-speed endurance feats in the Rocky Mountains. Over the past two years, Kyle has set several Fastest Known Time (“FKT”) records in the Colorado mountains—most notably on Boulder’s First and Third Flatirons, as well as the renowned LA Freeway route that stretches from Longs Peak to Arapahoe Peak. Away from his endurance feats, Kyle is a formally trained musician, and he composes original music for filmmakers and outdoor brands such as Black Diamond and La Sportiva. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Kyle’s youth was defined by time in the outdoors with his family and a deep commitment to music and playing the drums. His love of the West’s wide-open spaces led him to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he began to realize his talent for endurance and moving quickly through the mountains. After several years of running and climbing throughout Colorado, he captured the attention of the endurance community with his record-setting time on the LA Freeway, a difficult and exposed route that combines running, scrambling, and rock climbing. Since then, he has earned sponsorships from major outdoor brands that have allowed him to pursue his adventures in the mountains with full focus and intensity. I met up with Kyle in Boulder, where we had a wide-ranging conversation about his passion for the mountains and music. We started by discussing his athletic career and some of the details around his fastest known times on well-known mountain routes. We also discussed Kyle’s love of the process of training—in both athletics and music—and how his commitment to preparation gives him the confidence to pursue challenging and sometimes dangerous goals. We discuss the common skills required to be great in both endurance sports and music, and Kyle talks about some of the mentors and heroes who have shaped his career. Kyle is a voracious reader, so we talk a lot about books, and Kyle reveals a very interesting personal tie to one of my favorite history books, "Empire of the Summer Moon." Kyle is humble and thoughtful, and it was a real pleasure getting to know him. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/kyle-richardson/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - How Kyle describes his athletic pursuits 6:00 - Kyle and Fastest Known Times (“FKT”) 10:30 - FKTs in the Boulder’s Flatirons 16:00 - Training routine 18:00 - Growing up in Texas 20:30 - Music and how it informs athletics 22:50 - Film scoring, composing, and music industry 26:30 - Heroes and mentors in the music world 28:00 - Drums, running, and excess energy as a kid 29:30 - When people began to take note of Kyles running 32:30 - Athletic mentors 38:30 - Artistic, cerebral aspects to mountain sports 39:30 - Assessing risk in the mountains 42:30 - Nature making you feel small 46:30 - Kyle’s parent’s support for his career 48:30 - Running goals for 2020 52:00 - Books he’s currently reading 54:15 - Favorite books about the West 56:00 - Limiting screens and social media 57:30 - Favorite location in the West 58:45 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:00:25 - Parting words of wisdom ---- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Daniela Ibarra-Howell is the CEO and a co-founder of the Savory Institute, an organization whose mission is to regenerate the world’s grasslands through holistic management. By restoring and protecting grasslands-- both in the American West and around the globe-- Daniela and her team at Savory effectively address pressing issues such as climate change, economic well-being, and food and water insecurity. Through inspiring leadership, masterful storytelling, and cutting-edge research, Savory is shifting the paradigm around agriculture’s role as a solution to many of the world’s challenges. Daniela was born and raised in Argentina, and from a very young age, she loved the land, agriculture, and adventure. Her studies of agronomy led her to some of the far reaches of the globe, including New Zealand, where she met her now-husband Jim Howell. After many years managing ranches and working in the trenches of holistic management, they helped to found the Savory Institute in 2009, and Daniela took the reigns as CEO in 2011. Since then, the organization has grown and evolved, and Daniela has become one of the world’s leading voices for Holistic Management. I was thrilled to finally get the chance to chat with Daniela on the podcast because my guests and I have referenced the Savory Institute so many times over the years. We started by discussing the organization-- its mission, goals, structure, and global reach. We then talk about Daniela’s leadership philosophy and how she values thoughtful action, failing fast, and embracing complexity in all aspects of life. We talk about her upbringing in Argentina, her adventurous personality, and her partnership with her husband, Jim. We also talk about motherhood and how she has managed to balance such a high-performing career with raising two impressive and accomplished daughters. Whether you are interested in agriculture, leadership, or parenting, there are many lessons to be learned from Daniela, so I hope you enjoy! -- All Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/daniela-howell/ -- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:00 - Savory Institute explained 9:30 - Growth and evolution of Savory 14:00 - On taking risks and failing fast 16:00 - "Holistic Management” defined 18:30 - “Regenerative Agriculture” defined 21:00 - Business inertia in agriculture 27:00 - Importance of storytelling (and data!) 31:00 - Will Harris and White Oak Pastures as storytellers 34:45 - Daniela’s upbringing and education in Argentina and beyond 40:30 - Meeting Jim in New Zealand 44:00 - How managing ranches made her a better leader of people 52:00 - Heroes and mentors in business and leadership 56:00 - Balancing action and planning 1:00:30 - Thoughts on motherhood and raising children 1:07:00 - Important books on agriculture 1:12:30 - Parting words of wisdom -- This episode is brought to you by the FREEFLOW INSTITUTE. The first ten Mountain & Prairie listeners who register for a 2020 summer course will get $100 off their tuition. Just mention the Podcast when you register. For more information go to freeflowinstitute.com or shoot them an email at info@freeflowinstitute.com. ---- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie  

Andrew Ramiro Tirado is a Colorado-based artist who is best known for his award-winning large-scale sculptures and paintings of human hands. Using wood, metal, or traditional paint and canvas, Andrew combines his unique artistic eye with decades of experience as a craftsman to create remarkable pieces that are stunning in both their size and presentation. His hand sculptures can exceed ten feet in length and are sometimes displayed hanging from the ceilings of galleries or buildings—when you see Andrew’s work, there is no mistaking who created it! Andrew grew up in Colorado and graduated high school with the intention of studying and pursuing art as a vocation. During college, he landed a job in New York City, working as an assistant for the renowned artist Chuck Close—a coveted position for any budding artist. But soon after leaving New York, Andrew decided to walk away from making art, and he stayed away for 23 years. But in 2012, a serendipitous life-changing event rekindled his interest in making art, and he returned to the art world with full focus and passion. Just four years later, in 2016, Andrew resigned from his job at Colorado College and began pursuing art full time… and has never looked back. We met at Andrew’s brand new Colorado Springs studio, which happens to be just a few blocks from my own house. We had a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from making art to mountain climbing to the realities of life as a full-time artist. We started out by discussing his upbringing in Colorado Springs and how he found his way to art school and eventually, New York City working for the world-famous Chuck Close. Then we discuss his decision to leave the art world, and why—after more than two decades away—he decided to return to making art. We talked about the importance of writing to Andrew’s artistic process, as well as lessons he’s learned from spending time up high in the Colorado mountains. And finally, we talk about artistic heroes, favorite books, favorite films, and Andrew offers wisdom to those who dream of pursuing art as a full-time vocation. Andrew is an amazingly thoughtful and humble guy, and I greatly admire his soft-spoken and wise approach to chasing his dreams. Be sure to check out the episode webpage to see photographs of some of Andrew’s art, but for right now, enjoy this insightful conversation with Andrew Ramiro Tirado. --- Complete Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/andrew-tirado/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Andrew’s background 6:15 - Studying art in school 8:00 - Working for Chuck Close 11:00 - "Leaning in” to opportunities 12:00 - Lessons learned from Chuck Close 15:30 - The importance of self-imposed limitations 18:00 - Taking a hiatus from art 21:30 - The moment he decided to return to art 25:30 - Making his first-hand art piece 31:00 - Discovering a demand for his art 34:00 - Decision to pursue art full time 36:00 - Chasing the feeling of “peak experiences" 41:00 - Importance of "inflection points” 42:30 - Importance of writing to Andrew’s writing process 47:30 - How time in the mountains has affected his art 50:00 - Andrew’s artistic heroes 52:45 - Favorite books 55:00 - Films 59:00 - Favorite location in the West ---- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie