If you’re a longtime Mountain & Prairie listener, then you’ll definitely remember Pete McBride. He’s a renowned photographer, filmmaker, and author, and he’s joined me on the podcast twice before– once to discuss his epic hike of the length of the Grand Canyon, and then to chat about his global search for silence in a very loud world. I’m glad to say that he’s back again, and this time, we’re chatting about his backyard river– the mighty Colorado– and the challenges, opportunities, and realities facing the people and wildlife that depend on it. - Pete’s newest book is titled “The Colorado River: Chasing Water,” and it features Pete’s stunning photography and insightful essays, along with a foreword by Nick Paumgarten and an introduction by Kevin Fedarko. The book follows the Colorado River from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains all the way down to the Colorado River Delta, where it peters out just before reaching the Gulf of California. - I’ve read a lot of books about the Colorado River and water in the West, but “Chasing Water” opened my eyes to a number of very specific and sometimes-maddening challenges facing the Colorado River Basin. The book delves into issues such as the unchecked exportation of water-intensive alfalfa to foreign countries, how dust leads to increased evaporation and water loss, as well as more optimistic topics, such as how Las Vegas has become an imperfect-yet-inspiring case study in responsible water conservation. But at its core, the book demonstrates Pete’s deep love and respect for the Colorado River, and showcases his two decades of dedication to telling the story of this world-famous waterway. - We met up at Pete’s house in Basalt, overlooking the Roaring Fork River, and talked about all things water and conservation. We started by talking about Pete’s father, and how his advice many years ago led Pete to shift his focus from global adventure photography to the Colorado River. We discussed the disconnect between people and their water sources, the challenge of using an over-appropriated water source to grow food for an entire country, Pete’s firsthand experience observing changes in the river and surrounding landscape, his work with Indigenous communities throughout the basin, and his preferences between photography, filmmaking, and writing. We also discuss some of his recent favorite books, and much, much more. - Be sure to check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed and links to all of Pete’s books. - A big thanks to Pete for graciously letting me barge into his house and hassle him with questions yet again, and thank you for listening.  --- Pete McBride The Colorado River: Chasing Water by Pete McBride Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Quietest Places by Pete McBride The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim by Pete McBride Into the Grand Canyon documentary Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/pete-mcbride-3/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - All the places Pete has seen in the Colorado River watershed 6:30 - How Pete’s dad influenced Pete’s career  11:30 - The immense changes to the Colorado River over the course of Pete’s father’s lifetime 13:00 - Reconciling how much of the West’s water comes from the Colorado, and how few people know it  14:30 - Pete’s hope for his new book 18:00 - Pete’s style of writing for this visual book  21:00 - Discussing how much Colorado River water goes to cattle and cattle feed, and the water challenges that face agriculture 29:00 - The impact of dust on Rocky Mountain snow, and how that impacts the Colorado River 34:30 - Highlighting an unexpected water conservation success story: Las Vegas, and how southwestern cities can start conserving their water.  39:00 - How many times Colorado River water has been reused along its trek to Mexico, and discussing the state of the Colorado River Delta 44:45 - How Peter wants to divide his time between books and films, and a discussion about “earning” hope 53:00 - Pete’s work with Indigenous communities’ access to Colorado River Water 1:01:00 - Pete’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

Peter Gower is the Nature Conservancy’s Climate and Renewable Energy Program Director for the Western United States and Canada Divisions, and Chris Menges is the Director of Climate Action for the Colorado Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. Both Peter and Chris are on the front lines of North America’s transition from fossil fuels to renewables, working to find solutions that protect and benefit working lands, natural landscapes, wildlife, and communities. - As you’ll hear in this episode, the transition from fossil fuels to renewables is an incredibly complex process, and Peter and Chris are highly skilled at breaking down the issues and explaining them in a substantive yet easy-to-understand manner. While the details of their work may be complicated, everything Peter and Chris do is built on the very simple foundation of strong relationships, partnerships, and trust, which has been the common theme of all of these TNC-focused episodes. - We connected virtually and had a great conversation about The Nature Conservancy’s work in the renewables space, exploring everything from TNC’s big-picture strategies in the American West, down to a few on-the-ground examples of successful initiatives and projects. We discussed how TNC is working with Western states to help them achieve their energy goals and some of the specific renewable work being done here in Colorado. - We also talked about the challenges of finding sites for renewable energy projects, how market incentives can be used to ensure siting that benefits both people and nature, and recently passed legislation in Colorado that addresses these issues. We chatted about TNC’s extensive research in the renewables space, including its Power of Place studies. As usual, we discuss their favorite books and some resources to learn more about the issues surrounding renewable energy. - Renewable energy has long been one of those topics that I have never been able to fully wrap my head around, but after this conversation, I felt that I had a solid foundation of knowledge– as well as the curiosity and desire to go out and learn more. - A huge thanks to Peter and Chris for devoting the time to have this extremely educational conversation, and thank you for listening. --- Peter Gower Chris Menges TNC’s energy work Power of Place West Report Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/peter-chris/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - The state of renewables in the West (Peter) 8:05 - Chris’s renewable work on the ground in CO with TNC (Chris) 12:35- Challenges and opportunities associated with finding physical sites for renewable projects (Chris) 15:50 - Examples of market incentives that Chris thinks would help develop renewable sites to the benefit of as many interests as possible (Chris and Peter)  22:20 - Discussing the Power of Place studies (Peter) 26:35 - Other major challenges to implementing more renewable energy solutions (Peter) 33:05 - Discussing the Connected West study, to be released soon (Peter) 36:20 - Building relationships with businesses and large entities (Peter) 39:05 - Discussing Colorado SB24-212 (Chris) 47:35 - Developing renewable energy sites on “brownfields” (Peter) 51:05 - Where to learn more about renewable energy (Peter and Chris) --- 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

Beatriz Soto is the Director of Protégete, a statewide program from Conservation Colorado, whose mission is to elevate Latino-driven solutions to protect our lands, water, air, and fight for environmental and climate justice. Prior to joining Conservation Colorado, she held a number of leadership and founding positions with conservation-focused organizations here in Colorado. At her core, Beatriz is a gifted and highly effective leader, one who combines her professional expertise with her unique personal story to act as a cultural bridge and give voices to both underrepresented communities and the threatened lands and waters of the West. - Beatriz is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and she spent her childhood and youth in a bicultural setting between Mexico and the United States. She graduated from Colorado’s Basalt High School, and then went on to study architecture back in Chihuahua City, Mexico. For nearly 20 years, she applied her talents in architecture and design to a wide range of projects, from Net-Zero affordable housing projects to high-performance strawbale homes and everything in between, in locations ranging from the Pacific Coast of Mexico to Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. But as you’ll hear in the conversation, she eventually realized that she wanted to work more directly on issues including conservation and community vitality, so she pivoted and began her new career as a conservation leader in Colorado. - Beatriz and I connected virtually and had an inspirational and instructive conversation about her amazing life story and her present-day conservation work. We talked about her bicultural upbringing between Mexico and the US, and the realities of growing up as an undocumented child. We discussed her family’s emphasis on service and community, and how those values have expressed themselves throughout her career. We talk about the uncertainty that accompanied her transition from a career in architecture to a career in conservation and advocacy, and why she decided to apply her talents to the mission of Conservation Colorado. We discuss the mind-boggling process of becoming an American citizen, how she builds trust with community stakeholders, her favorite books, and much more. Be sure to check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we covered. - A huge thank you to Beatriz for taking the time to share her wisdom, and thank you for listening. --- Beatriz Soto Conservation Colorado Protégete --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation. To whom much is given, much is expected. This value guides the philosophy behind the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation today. Committed to its cause and infused with an entrepreneurial spirit, Mighty Arrow aims to invest in solutions that take action on climate change to build a more vibrant future, repair relationships from farm to market to table, heal our connection to the lands and waters we call home, and demand a more just and equitable society. To learn more about Mighty Arrow’s forward-thinking, optimistic, and visionary work here in the American West and beyond, please visit www.mightyarrow.org. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Beatriz’s childhood 5:30- What brought Beatriz and her family from Mexico to the US 8:30 - Reflecting on adaptation within Beatriz’s very mobile childhood 11:30 - Whether or not looking back on the US from Mexico changed Beatriz’s outlook on the US 14:00 - Beatriz’s experience growing up undocumented, and how that affected her upbringing 17:45 - Where Beatriz’s commitment to service comes from 22:45 - The importance of community 24:15 - Beatriz’s goals in college 26:30 - Beatriz’s work in design and architecture 33:00 - Beatriz’s shift away from design and architecture, and the fear that comes with transitions like that 36:30 - How long it took Beatriz to feel like it was the right move to shift from professional architecture to conservation work 39:30 - When Conservation Colorado came into Beatriz’s world 43:15 - Beatriz’s day-to-day work with Conservation Colorado 48:30 - Whether or not leaders and stakeholders are happy to hear from Beatriz and her team 51:15 - How Beatriz handles rejections from potential partners 53:30 - Discussing the Colorado Latino Justice Handbook 1:00:00 - What is next for Beatriz 1:02:45 - How Beatriz became a documented American 1:04:30 - Discussing how to simplify an overcomplicated immigration process 1:08:45 - Beatriz’s book recommendations 1:11:15 - Beatriz’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

This is a special episode recorded live in Bozeman at the premiere of the important new short film titled "Good Fire, Bad Fire: Inside the Race to Restore America’s Forests." - On the evening of May 16, 2024, around 200 folks gathered at Bozeman’s Museum of the Rockies to watch the 15-minute film, which captures the breathtaking beauty of our nation’s forests and delves into the urgent crisis threatening their existence. Following the screening, I moderated a panel discussion featuring an extremely impressive line-up of some of the nation’s leading conservationists and forest-health experts. The on-stage conversation gave us the opportunity to dig deeper into some of the issues raised by the film, and glean valuable insights into the importance of responsible forest management from ecological, recreational, economic, and policy perspectives. - “Good Fire, Bad Fire” was directed by filmmaker Eric Ian, and produced by the team at the Property and Environment Research Center, better known as PERC, who also hosted the event.  The panelists you’ll hear in this episode are:   Brian Ferebee, Chief Executive of Intergovernmental Relations for the U.S. Forest Service Randy Newberg, renowned conservationist and Host of Fresh Tracks and Hunt Talk with Randy Newberg Morgan Varner, Director of Fire Research at Tall Timbers Corey Lewellen, District Ranger for the Bozeman Ranger District Hannah Downey, Policy Director at PERC Brian Yablonski, CEO of PERC (and a past Mountain & Prairie podcast guest)   I could’ve spoken with each of these experts individually for several hours, but having them all share a stage and combine their wide range of expertise into a single conversation was a powerfully educational experience. - While you can listen to this episode on its own, I would strongly encourage you to first spend 15 minutes watching “Good Fire, Bad Fire” as a primer.  There’s a link in the episode notes and it’s embedded on the episode webpage. - I’d also encourage you to check out the episode notes for a full list of all of the topics we discussed, which included everything from a history of fire as a resource management tool to the Forest Service’s evolving approach to wildfires and forest health. We talked about forest health’s impact on hunting and fishing, the pros and cons of policies such as the ESA and NEPA, on-the-ground success stories, optimistic good news about the future of forest health, and much more. There were tons of resources mentioned, all of which are listed and linked on this episode’s webpage. - A huge thanks to Brian Yablonski and the team at PERC for creating such an important film and for inviting me to participate in such an enlightening conversation. I hope you enjoy the film as much as I did, and I hope that this discussion provides some new insights into the all-important issue of forest health in the American West. --- WATCH THE FILM: "Good Fire, Bad Fire" Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/good-fire-bad-fire/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - Introductions  6:15 - Where the USFS stands right now on its approach to wildfire and forest health (Brian F) 8:45 - A hunter and public lands advocate’s perspective on the state of the forests (Randy) 10:30 - A brief history of how fire became a resource management tool in the US and before the US (Morgan) 13:45 - Discussing obstacles to the forest management work described in Good Fire, Bad Fire (Corey) 18:00 - How we can streamline large federal processes like the ESA and NEPA (Hannah) 21:00 - Why PERC became involved in this forestry work (Brian Y) 23:15 - What is preventing ideal progress on forest management in Montana (Brian F) 27:30 - How Randy would recommend hunters and anglers take action and advocate for forest health 31:00 - Discussing how lessons in forest management from the Southeast can impact forestry in MT (Morgan) 35:15 - On-the-ground success stories in forest management (Corey) 39:45 - An example of fire outpacing procedure, and the impacts that can have (Hannah) 41:15 - How discussions of conservation and forestry are received by elected officials (Hannah) 43:00 - Predictions for the next five years of forest management (Morgan and Randy) 47:15 - Brian Y’s optimistic take on the state of forest stewardship --- 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 Shed Session episode, normally published exclusively for Mountain & Prairie Patreon supporters. In it, I answer the most common question I receive, which is some variation of "How do I start a podcast?" - In this episode I answer that question in excruciating detail, laying out everything I know about it, based on my own bumbling, meandering, eight-year journey through Podcastlandia. - I hope this episode will provide a little bit of actionable guidance that will allow you to put your own unique ideas into the world. - To listen to all past, present, and future Patreon-exclusive episodes, you can sign up at www.mountainandprairie.com/patreon. Memberships start at as little as $2 per month. - Back to the regular episodes next week!!   – TOPICS DISCUSSED: [2:15] - Intro [6:55] - Disclaimers [10:00] - How and why I started Mountain & Prairie [22:13] - Intentions [28:12] - Getting started + endurance [39:25] - Finding your voice, authenticity, enthusiasm [52:55] - Finding an audience [1:03:09] - Interview techniques [1:08:48] - Finding guests [1:11:40] - Dealing with negative feedback [1:15:14] - Equipment and editing [1:21:38] - Money (least important!) [1:25:54] - Further reading – RESOURCES: All Patreon-Exclusive Podcast Episodes Ed's 2024 Freeflow Course on the Rogue River Seth Godin Books: Purple Cow, Tribes, This is Marketing, The Practice Steven Pressfield Books: The War of Art, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh!t Originals by Adam Grant 1000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Conan interviewing Jack White Spreadsheet with all my podcast equipment

Dan Stellar is the State Director for the Arizona Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, where he leads the organization’s efforts across a wide range of cutting-edge initiatives, including forest health, water conservation, resilient cities, healthy grasslands, and more. Arizona is one of the nation’s largest and most biodiverse states, which creates a host of extremely unique conservation challenges and opportunities– both in its arid, wide-open landscapes and densely populated urban centers. As you’ll hear, Dan and his team are implementing conservation solutions that not only benefit people and nature specifically in Arizona, but they are also creating actionable conservation frameworks that can be applied all over the American West. - Dan was born and raised on the East Coast, and he has spent his career in the non-profit sector, applying his talents to important issues both domestically and abroad.  He began his tenure at TNC Arizona in 2016, when he assumed the role of Deputy State Director. He quickly fell in love with Arizona and TNC’s critical work in the state, and, in 2020, he assumed the role of State Director. Dan is also a committed endurance athlete, and he’s run a mind-blowing number of marathons and half-marathons. And on top of all of that, he’s a dedicated father, husband, and family man. - Dan and I share so many common interests in conservation, endurance sports, and family, so I was super excited to have the opportunity to learn more about the specifics of his work and his fascinating personal and professional journey. We started the conversation with an overview of what makes Arizona such a unique place from a conservation perspective, then we dug into the details of TNC’s work in forest heath, rivers, aquifers, outdoor recreation, and resilient cities. We talked about some of the lessons he learned from traveling and working internationally, why he chooses to push himself so hard athletically, and how he goes about building such strong relationships with stakeholders, partner organizations, and his TNC team members. Dan is also a voracious reader, so we obviously chatted about books, and he wrapped up the conversation with very wise parting words. - I really felt like I’d met a real kindred spirit in Dan, and I greatly appreciate everything that he and his team are doing to make Arizona– and the West– a better place. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Dan Stellar TNC Arizona's 2023 Annual Report Spring 2024 Field Notes Magazine Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/dan-stellar/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive. On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Setting the scene for conservation work in Arizona 8:45 - Forest health work in Arizona 15:00 - Aligning profit motives with forest health goals 22:00 - Whether or not there are down-sides to forest thinning 25:15 - Discussing the Verde River 31:15 - Discussing the Big Chino Aquifer  35:00 - Collaborating with the Trust for Public Land to build a new park in Arizona 39:45 - TNC’s work with cities in Arizona 46:00 - Dan’s passion for running, and his attraction to doing hard things 50:15 - How Dan fits running into his schedule 52:00 - How Dan became interested in conservation 57:30 - Dan’s lessons from traveling 1:00:00 - Dan’s book recommendations 1:04:30 - Dan’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

Sandy Colhoun is the President of the National Outdoor Leadership School, also known as NOLS. - Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzolt, NOLS is widely considered to be the world’s premier wilderness school, and its mission is “to be the leading source and teacher of wilderness skills and leadership that serve people and the environment.” NOLS operates in many of the world’s wildest outdoor classrooms, and it provides the highest quality instruction in many outdoor skills, including wilderness travel, mountaineering, rock climbing, sea kayaking, and more. But perhaps most importantly, through these outdoor adventures, NOLS students learn the foundational and all-important life skills of leadership, teamwork, humility, and responsibility. - Sandy was named the seventh President of NOLS in October of 2023, after serving as the interim President and, before that, as a member of the NOLS Board of Trustees. Prior to his work with NOLS, he had spent much of his career in the worlds of education and journalism, most notably leading a $750 million fundraising campaign at Colby College in Maine. Sandy is also a proud graduate of a NOLS Wind River Mountaineering course, and he’s no stranger to hardcore outdoor adventures– he worked as a ski patroller in Park City, climbed in Alaska, Nepal, and Bolivia, and cycled up and over the Himalayas from Tibet to Nepal. As you’ll hear in our conversation, he’s focused, driven, and lots of fun, and he’s s fully committed to leading NOLS into the future. - I’m a proud graduate of a 1999 semester-long NOLS course, which was hands-down one of the most formative and valuable experiences of my entire life. Yes, I learned plenty of outdoor skills that have served me well for nearly 25 years now, but the most important lessons were those that taught me the value of good exhibition behavior, being comfortable in uncomfortable situations, and keeping a positive attitude when life gets difficult. If not for that semester, I highly doubt I would’ve ever moved out west, worked in conservation, or started this podcast. So, I’m obviously a superfan of all things NOLS. - I was so excited to chat with Sandy, and we covered a lot in our hour-long conversation. We discussed the history of NOLS, what separates NOLS from other wilderness schools, risk management, exhibition behavior, expanding one’s comfort zone, a description of the ideal NOLS student, Sandy’s own leadership style, his vision for the future of NOLS, how he will measure success, leaders that Sandy admires, favorite books, and much more. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. - A huge thank you to Sandy for being so generous with his time and for everything he and the entire team at NOLS do to make the world a better place. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy! --- NOLS Sandy Calhoun Ed's Freeflow Institute Workshop Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/sandy-colhoun/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - A brief history of NOLS 8:15 - What sets NOLS apart from other outdoor schools 10:30 - Discussing NOLS’ partnerships 13:00 - How NOLS manages risk 16:30 - The talent of NOLS instructors 19:00 - What “expedition behavior” is 22:15 - How NOLS recruits students in a world that prioritizes job opportunities and career advancement 24:45 - How NOLS expands one’s comfort zone 28:45 - The ideal NOLS student 30:15 - Determining the next chapter of NOLS in the early 2020s 33:30 - Sandy’s career pre-NOLS 37:00 - Sandy’s leadership style 42:30 - How Sandy got his mind around the task of taking the helm at NOLS 46:00 - Measuring future success at NOLS 49:00 - Leaders that Sandy admires 52:15 - Sandy’s book recommendations 58:15 - Sandy’s parting words of wisdom, and how you can support NOLS   --- 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

Kami Bakken is a river guide and outdoor advocate, and she currently serves as the Director of the Freeflow Foundation and Director of Ambassador and Grant Programs for Rivers for Change. A native of Minnesota, Kami headed West for college at Colorado State University, where she earned a degree in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Since graduating in 2018, she has been fully focused on helping others explore and appreciate the mountains and rivers of the American West, while also advocating for their protection and conservation. - Kami and I met in 2023 when she was the facilitator on my Green River Freeflow Institute workshop through Dinosaur National Monument and the Gates of Lodore. During our weeks of preparation for the course and our five days on the river, I was so impressed by her expertise in outdoor education and river travel, and perhaps more importantly, by her ability to connect with a wide range of people in a sometimes-intense wilderness setting. She’s humble yet confident, earnest yet hilarious, and I credit her with so much of the success of that workshop. - When I was in my late 20s and deep in a traditional career in the real estate business, I dreamed of having a life and career like Kami’s– one that combined adventure and wide-open spaces with purpose-driven work. So I wanted to chat with her in depth to learn more about how she has made it all happen. If, like I was, you are interested in learning the realities of following a non-traditional but deeply fulfilling career in the outdoors, then you’ll definitely learn a lot from Kami. - We met up a few weeks ago at my house in the Springs and had a wide-ranging and funny conversation about her life, career, adventures, and crazy misadventures. We talked about what drew her to Colorado for college, and some of the challenges of adjusting to such a new place and environment where she didn’t know anyone. We discussed some of her wild experiences traveling in the West and internationally– including a few run-ins with cult-like groups– and how she took the leap to become a sea kayaking guide and eventually a western river guide. We talk a lot about her commitment to pushing outside of her comfort zone, overcoming fear and discomfort, and why she’s drawn to conservation work. We also discuss the financial realities of seasonal work, how her non-profit work compliments her guiding work, her career plans for the future, and her roles with the Freeflow Institute and Foundation. - And it’s worth noting that Kami and I will be heading out on the river again this summer for another Freeflow workshop, this time on Oregon’s Wild & Scenic Rogue River– August 15th through 20th. As of this recording, there are still a few spots left, so you can follow the link in the episode notes to learn more about the workshop and apply. As of this moment, you can use the secret code “ED200” to get $200 off of the tuition. - A huge thanks to Kami for agreeing to let me ask her a bunch of weird questions, and more importantly, for all of her leadership and support on our river trips. Enjoy! --- Kami on Instagram and LinkedIn Freeflow Institute Freeflow Foundation Upcoming 2024 Freeflow Program on the Rogue River Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/kami-bakken/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED 4:00 - Where Kami is from 5:00 - Why Kami went to Colorado State, and how her family felt about that decision 9:00 - How her early experience in Colorado led her to WWOOF (and apparently a couple of cults) 15:30 - Kami’s return to CSU, and her entry into the world of outdoor recreation 19:30 - Kami’s travel adventures post-graduation 22:00 - Kami’s time with Protect Our Winters 24:15 - Kami’s transition to professional guiding 27:45 - Where Kami’s desire for connection and impact led her career next 31:45 - What Kami’s friends from college were doing while she was raft guiding, and whether or not she has ever questioned her career path 33:30 - Exploring the difference between contentment and happiness, and some more details about the outdoor education and rafting nonprofit that Kami worked for 37:15 - Kami’s transition to the Freeflow Foundation 44:00 - Discussing the Freeflow Foundation 45:45 - Balancing safety with growth driven by risk 50:00 - The trip that Ed and Kami did together on the Green River 54:45 - What makes for a good outdoor guide, and what makes for a bad one 59:00 - Who Kami admires  1:03:00 - Kami’s next steps 1:05:45 - What worries Kami 1:09:00 - Kami’s book recommendations 1:10:30 - Kami’s advice for those who want to try a new lifestyle or career --- 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 Santa Fe-based historian and bestselling author who has written many books that are favorites of Mountain & Prairie listeners, including "Blood and Thunder," "On Desperate Ground," and "Ghost Soldiers." His newest book is "The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook," which is available now and sitting high on the New York Times bestseller list. If you’re a longtime Mountain & Prairie listener, then I’m sure you’re glad to see that Hampton has joined me for yet another podcast conversation. - Much of Captain Cook’s epic third voyage takes place far from the mountains and prairies of the American West, in tropical paradises including Tahiti and Hawaii. But what you may not realize, is that a big portion of his final voyage was spent exploring and mapping the west coast of North America, from the rocky shores of present-day Oregon and Washington, all the way up to Alaska. While I was somewhat familiar with Cook and his explorations, I didn’t fully understand or appreciate the mind-blowing scale of his journeys or his impact on world history. - As is the case with all of Hampton’s books, he melds together deep and extensive research with thrilling storytelling to make the process of understanding history as entertaining as it is educational. While Cook is obviously a central figure in "The Wide Wide Sea," the book also profiles numerous fascinating Polynesian and Indigenous historical figures, including the Tahitian man named Mai, whom Hampton and I discussed at length in our September 2021 episode. If you haven’t already listened to that episode, I’d encourage you to do so when you’re done with this one– there’s a link in the episode notes. - Hampton and I met up here in Colorado Springs, one of many stops on his book tour for The Wide Wide Sea. As usual, we had a fun and at times very funny conversation about history, his research and writing process, and all things Captain Cook. We started out discussing why Hampton is drawn to write about controversial historical figures, and we talked at length about how he combined historical accounts from Europeans with those from the Indigenous communities that Cook visited. We talked about the mystery of Cook’s dramatic personality change, how Cook’s arrival disrupted the equilibrium of Polynesian cultures, Cook’s leadership style both before and after his personality change, how Hampton organized such massive amounts of research, and how and why he works so hard to get his books into the world. He also gives a sneak peek into his next book, which will based here in Colorado and explores one of the West’s most notorious massacres. - A huge thank you to Hampton for taking time out of his busy schedule to chat with me again, and thank you for listening. Enjoy! --- Hampton Sides The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides Hampton’s M&P episode discussing Mai BOZEMAN FILM EVENT: Good Fire, Bad Fire --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Discussing Hampton’s recent time on the road, and why Hampton values in-person readings 7:00 - Why write about Captain Cook 10:45 - Captain Cook, pre-1776 16:45 - Cook’s ship 21:15 - Exploring Cook’s mental health 25:30 - Exploring humans’ predisposition towards greed 29:30 - The importance of doing boots-on-the-ground research for history 32:00 - How Cook kept scurvy at bay 34:30 - Hampton’s biggest unexpected discovery while writing The Wide Wide Sea 38:00 - Whether or not Hampton experienced apprehensions about telling the story of a complicated person like Cook 42:00 - Discussing the circumstances that led to Cook’s death 45:45 - Discussing some of Cook’s personality traits and cultural differences between Cook and the Māori  49:30 - How Hampton organizes his quotes for writing 53:45 - How Hampton actually sells his books 58:00 - Hampton’s plans for the future --- 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

Celene Hawkins and Izabella Ruffino discuss tribal partnerships and cutting-edge conservation, focusing on their work in the Colorado River Basin. They emphasize the importance of incorporating Indigenous voices and perspectives in water projects, sharing success stories and challenges in negotiating agreements aligned with tribal values. The podcast delves into building strong partnerships, overcoming communication barriers, and the significance of cultural reconnection in conservation initiatives.