Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Allison Ryan is a West Texas native and co-founder of Explore Ranches, a company that connects its customers with spectacular private ranches throughout Texas and Colorado—some have described it as “AirBnB for ranches." For those seeking a truly unique outdoor experience, Explore Ranches offers access to private land that has rarely, if ever, been visited by the public. And for the ranch owner, Explore Ranches creates an additional revenue stream to support the costs of land ownership, encourage conservation, and reduce the likelihood of subdividing large ranches due to financial strain. Given the lack of public land in Texas and the financial realities of owning large ranches, Explore Ranches offers a welcome solution for both landowners and adventure-loving non-landowners. • Allison grew up in El Paso, Texas, in a conservation-minded family that valued time in the outdoors and understood the importance of land stewardship. Between her childhood experiences at summer camp in West Texas, time spent on her family’s ranch, and a love of fitness and wellness, Allison has a deep understanding of the many benefits of recreating in open spaces. But Allison is also familiar with the financial commitments of land ownership, and she understands first hand the need to identify new revenue streams in order to make ranch ownership financially viable. In fact, her family’s ranch, known as the Withers, is available on Explore Ranches-- it serves as an excellent case study that demonstrates the need that Explore Ranches fulfills for landowners. • If you listened to my recent interview with Allison’s co-founder Jay Kleberg, you may remember that we briefly discussed Explore Ranches. But in this conversation with Allison, we dig into the nitty-gritty details of the business—how the idea came about, descriptions of some of the available properties, and the challenges and opportunities arising from the small amount of private land in Texas. We discuss how Explore Ranches can be a useful tool for landowners, and why her family’s ranch was a prime candidate to partner with Explore Ranches. We talk about her childhood in West Texas, conservation lessons learned from her parents and grandparents, and some of her formative experiences in the outdoors. Allison also dives into her other career in the fitness world, and I veer the conversation completely off track by asking way too many questions about diet, exercise, and fasting—if you like any of my interviews with professional athletes, you’ll probably enjoy that part. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, and her most powerful outdoor experience. • Take a moment to visit Explore Ranches—there are links in the episode notes. And please enjoy this fun conversation with Allison Ryan. ••• Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/allison-ryan/ https://www.exploreranches.com/ http://mountainandprairie.com/reading ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30- How Allison describes her work 5:50 - Overview of Explore Ranches 7:25 - Origin of the Explore Ranches idea 11:30 - Public vs private land in Texas 14:50 - Allison’s family ranch 19:30 - History of land stewardship in Allison’s family 20:45 - Childhood experiences in the outdoors 21:45 - Other ranches in the Explore Ranches portfolio 24:30 - Working with landowners 27:15 - Explore Ranches as a landowner tool 28:30 - Competitors? 30:00 - Criteria for ranches 31:30 - Biggest surprises in starting the business 33:50 - Future plans for Explore Ranches 36:00 - Growing up in El Paso 37:45 - School and early career 40:00 - Personal training 41:00 - Diet versus exercise 46:30 - Best single exercise 47:30 - Fasting 50:15 - Thoughts on social media 54:30 - Favorite books 57:15 - Favorite films 58:30 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:00:30 - Favorite location in the West 1:01:00 - Request of the listeners 1:02:45 - Connect with Allison

Jay Kleberg is a conservationist and the Associate Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. He’s also the co-founder of Explore Ranches, a new company that connects outdoor enthusiasts to some of the most iconic private ranches in Texas and beyond. Jay has built his career and life around a deep respect for land and an inborn sense of responsibility to protect these landscapes, as well as the wildlife and heritage they support. As a sixth-generation Texan landowner, responsible land stewardship is in Jay’s blood, and as you’ll hear in our conversation, he’s laser-focused on leaving Texas an even better place than he found it. • Growing up on his family’s large-scale South Texas working ranch, Jay has been closely connected to the land for as long as he can remember. After high school and college on the east coast, Jay headed to Brazil for several years, where he worked with renowned conservationist John Cain Carter to protect the region’s threatened landscapes. It was in Brazil that Jay began to hone his personal conservation philosophy and had a number of crazy adventures along the way. After working a stint in for-profit real estate and earning his MBA, Jay decided to focus all of his professional energy on conservation in his home state. • Jay and I have been friends for over 25 years, so it was a real treat to connect with him on the podcast to discuss our shared passions for land conservation and adventure... we normally just re-tell hilarious stories from high school! As usual, we cover a lot-- we discuss his upbringing on his family ranch and lessons learned from both his family and the larger ranch community. We talk about his time in Brazil, conservation challenges in South America, and one close call in a small airplane that could’ve been the end of Jay. We discuss Explore Ranches, his work with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, his role in the upcoming film “The River and the Wall,” and other adventures throughout the West. We also discuss the importance of humility and honesty, benefits of having a for-profit mentality in the nonprofit world, favorite books, films, and more. • Be sure to check out the episode notes for a full list of topics discussed and links to everything… there’s a ton of great information here. I know you’ll enjoy this fun conversation with Jay Kleberg. ••• mountainandprairie.com/jay-kleberg/ www.exploreranches.com ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - How Jay describes his work 5:15 - Explore Ranches explained 8:45 - Importance of access to the outdoors 11:15 - More about Explore Ranches and the team 17:00 - Lessons learned from growing up on a ranch 21:30 - Conservation influences in Brazil 26:00 - Culture shock and lawlessness in Brazil 30:30 - An almost-airplane crash in the Amazon 37:45 - Moving to El Paso, TX 44:00 - Decision to pursue his MBA 47:30 - Business skills for land conservation 49:00 - Beginning work with the TX Parks and Wildlife Foundation 51:30 - Biggest conservation challenge facing Texas 56:40 - Experience at Woodberry Forest School 1:02:30 - River and the Wall teaser 1:07:10 - The source Jay’s humility 1:11:30 - Importance of “getting after it” 1:14:00 - Favorite books 1:15:45 - Favorite films 1:17:45 - Surprising hobbies i.e. wigs 1:19:40 - Favorite location in the West 1:21:30 - Request of the listeners 1:24:00 - Connect with Jay online

Daniel Anderson is a Montana native and founder of the Common Ground Project, a nature-based retreat, hiking, and camping experience in which small groups of people from around the world share adventure, education, and conversation. Located on Daniel’s family ranch in the heart of Montana’s renowned Tom Miner Basin, the Common Ground Project seeks to strengthen connections between people, wildlife, and the stunning landscapes of the American West. As you’ll hear, Daniel and his family’s multi-generational commitment to community and holistic land stewardship make them the perfect people to pass along the wisdom they’ve gained from the land and from life in the Rockies. • To call Daniel’s personal story “fascinating" would be quite an understatement. Born in Missoula and raised in the Tom Miner Basin, Daniel attended boarding school on the east coast and graduated from college with a degree in engineering. But soon after beginning his professional career in California, doctors discovered two fist-sized, cancerous tumors in his body, one attached to his kidney and the other to his aorta. The cancer diagnosis, subsequent treatment, and return to health sharpened Daniel’s focus on the importance of helping and connecting with others, and also led him on a ten-year journey of rigorous personal spiritual work. The cumulative result of all of these intense life experiences was the creation of the Common Ground Project. • So, as you’ve probably gathered, Daniel is an interesting dude. We only covered a fraction of what I’d hoped to discuss, but I know you’ll enjoy the conversation. We discussed the Common Ground Project, the genesis of the idea, and the moment he decided to make the plan a reality. We also talked about lessons learned from his cancer experience and wisdom gleaned from his tight-knit family, including his grandfather who purchased their ranch in the 1950s after being a POW during World War II. We chatted about his family’s long-standing commitment to collaborative land stewardship in the Tom Miner Basin, and the challenges and opportunities of land ownership in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Finally, we discussed influential books, his most powerful outdoor experience, and the insights Daniel has gained from a decade of rigorous spiritual inquiry... with mentors that even include a Peruvian shaman. • I encourage you to check out the Common Ground Project online and if the mission speaks to you, consider donating to their Indiegogo campaign. Links to everything are in the episode notes. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Daniel Anderson. ••• https://www.thecommongroundproject.us https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-common-ground-project--2#/ Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/daniel-anderson/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - How Daniel describes his work 4:50 - Tom Miner Basin explained 8:30 - Challenges and opportunities of land ownership in Tom Miner Basin 11:40 - Keys to successful landowner collaboration 14:05 - Complexity of collaborative landownership 19:35 - Daniel’s family history 23:00 - Boarding school 27:00 - The Common Ground Project explained 30:00 - Moment that Daniel decided to make TCGP a reality 34:30 - Idea of long term land stewardship 38:30 - Books and resources about land stewardship 42:00 - Leadership of TCGP 48:00 - Crowdfunding for TCGP 51:30 - Daniel’s cancer experience 57:00 - How cancer changed Daniel’s perspective 1:04:40 - Mentors 1:08:00 - Spiritual journey 1:12:00 - Favorite books about the West 1:13:00 - Favorite films 1:15:30 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:21:30 - Request of the listeners 1:26:30 - Connect with Daniel and TCGP online

Alexis Bonogofsky is a rancher, conservationist, and community organizer who is fiercely committed to protecting the landscapes and communities of eastern Montana. While much of Alexis’s career has been devoted to environmental issues in the West, the 2011 Exxon oil spill in the Yellowstone River brought the fight to her doorstep—her family’s pastures were inundated with oil, threatening not only the local ecosystem, but the livelihoods of her family and community. Since that spill and the ensuing battle with Exxon, Alexis has become an outspoken advocate for ranchers, farmers, and rural Montana stakeholders. Through her writing, photography, and old-fashioned relationship-building, Alexis has become an invaluable force in bringing people together even in today’s divisive political climate. • Alexis grew up in eastern Montana as part of a tight-knit, hardworking, blue-collar family. Her parents engrained in her a rock-solid work ethic, a deep sense of responsibility, and a refusal to back down from bullies-- characteristics that have served her well in her life and career. Alexis studied international development in undergrad and grad school, but decided that rather than taking her expertise to another country, she could apply those invaluable skills to her home of eastern Montana. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Alexis is humble and open-minded, but completely unwavering when it comes to standing up against individuals or companies that seek to take advantage of the less powerful. • I can’t overstate how much I enjoyed this conversation. Alexis is a shining example of the impact that one person can have if she’s willing to work hard, be humble, play the long game, and have the bravery to put herself out there. We cover a lot, including the Exxon oil spill and how it affected her life, work, and sense of responsibility. We talk about her time working with Native Americans as part of the Tribal Lands Partnership, and some of the wisdom gained from that job. She discusses the lessons learned from her parents and shares some thoughts on her father’s tragic death several years ago. We also delve into her writing process, hunting, public lands, goats, llamas, and our mutual contempt for bullies. And Alexis also offers a ton of book recommendations that have never been mentioned on the podcast before. • This is a seriously inspiring episode, so I’m very excited for you to listen. Be sure to check out Alexis’s blog “East of Billings” and follow her on social media. I have links to everything in the episode notes. Enjoy! ••• Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/alexis/ East of Billings: http://www.eastofbillings.com ••• TOIPICS DISCUSSED: 4:10 - How Alexis describes her work 5:25 - Eastern Montana described 7:30 - Exxon oil spill on Alexis’s farm 11:00 - Dealing with Exxon 17:00 - The origins of Alexis’s leadership abilities 20:35 - Role models 23:20 - Misunderstandings around “environmentalists” 26:10 - Education and early work 28:40 - Lessons learned from working with Native American tribes 31:00 - Technique for finding common ground among opposing groups 34:30 - Political aspirations? 35:15 - Resources that have shaped Alexis’s thoughts on organizing 38:35 - Writing and photography 42:00 - Bravery required for writing 43:30 - Alexis’s father’s tragic death 46:45 - Distaste for bullies 49:30 - Public Lands 52:45 - Artemis Sportswomen 55:00 - Goats! 58:10 - Favorite books 1:00:35 - Favorite films 1:01:30 - Other activities 1:02:35 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:04:30 - Favorite location in the West 1:05:00 - Best advice 1:06:30 - Request of listeners 1:07:40 - Connect with Alexis

Sara Dant is a historian, professor, and chair of the history department at Weber State University. She’s also the author of one of my new favorite books: Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West. Sara’s work touches many of the topics we discuss regularly on this podcast, including conservation, water, public lands, building consensus around divisive issues, historical figures of the West, and much more. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Sara has a unique ability to explain complex and potentially dry topics regarding the American West in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner. • Whether you’re like me and have read dozens of books on the history of the West or simply have a general interest the subject, I think Losing Eden should be mandatory reading. It lays out the history of the region, starting with human migration into North America 15-30,000 years ago and ends in the present-day West with our scramble to find solutions to natural resource shortages and climate change. For me, the book connected many different time periods and concepts into one cohesive narrative, while simultaneously introducing me to new ideas and people, all in just under 200 pages. • Sara and I had a great conversation covering key concepts from her book, as well as her life as a historian, teacher, and life-long Westerner. We chat about the concept of the "tragedy of the commons,” conservation versus preservation, and the myth that the West was a sort of Garden of Eden prior to European settlement. We also dig into some of the key historical figures of the West, including Brigham Young, John Wesley Powell, Theodore Roosevelt, and John Muir. Most of you know that I’m weirdly obsessed with Teddy Roosevelt—I’ve got a life-sized cardboard cut-out of him in my office, for Pete’s sake—so Sara gently offers a more “balanced" examination of his conservation legacy. We also discuss Sara’s upbringing in Arizona, love of trail running, favorite books, and much more. Be sure to visit the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, because there’s a lot. • And since many of you are members of the Mountain & Prairie Book Club, I wanted to let you know that Losing Eden will be the November/December selection. Sara has graciously offered to answer questions about the book or even participate in some sort of online discussion, so I’ll be sorting out those details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, start reading the book and visit the book club webpage for more information as it becomes available. But for now, please enjoy this fun and educational conversation with Sara Dant. ••• Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/sara-dant/ Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West: http://a.co/d/8rCRHS8 Book Club: http://mountainandprairie.com/book-club/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:55 - How Sara describes her work 4:45 - Where Sara grew up 6:15 - Background on the book 7:30 - The myth of the West as “Eden” 9:40 - The tragedy of the commons explained 13:10 - The Morman’s settlement of the West 17:00 - John Wesley Powell explained 22:00 - Ambition and the settlement of the West 23:00 - The significance of the 1890s 27:55 - Conservation versus preservation 34:00 - A more balanced view of Theodore Roosevelt 40:00 - Growing up in Arizona 41:25 - Early influences 44:15 - The book that most influenced Sara’s career 46:20 - Pursuing her Phd and the choice to teach 49:00 - Sara’s optimism about current college students 52:45 - Trail running 54:25 - Working at Grand Teton and Denali National Parks 56:30 - Public lands 1:01:30 - Favorite books 1:03:00 - Favorite films 1:05:00 - Hobbies 1:05:50 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:07:25 - Favorite location in the West 1:08:00 - Best thing Sara ever learned 1:09:00 - Sara’s words of wisdom 1:10:15 - Connect with Sara online

Anyone who has listened to this podcast surely knows of best-selling author and narrative historian Hampton Sides. I reference his books often and was lucky enough to interview him in August at the Aspen Institute, which I released as a podcast episode. In that conversation, we discussed the history of the 19th-Century American West, and many of you kindly reached out to let me know how much you enjoyed learning from Hampton. So I was thrilled—and I think you will be too—when Hampton generously stopped through Colorado Springs last week in the midst of a busy tour for his amazing new book, "On Desperate Ground: The Marines at the Reservoir, the Korean War’s Greatest Battle." As you’d expect, we had a fun conversation that expanded upon our first interview—we dig into his childhood in Memphis, Tennessee, and discuss his life-long desire to be a writer. We talk about his early years in journalism, and how his experiences writing and editing have contributed to his success as an author. We also chat about his years at “Outside" magazine and some of the realities of being a freelance journalist and author. Additionally, he shares some of the ins and outs of his writing process, including the struggle of cranking out a first draft, a process he describes as spending time in the “pain cave.” We also discuss the Grand Canyon, Wallace Stegner’s writing, and much more. Finally, we spend some time talking about "On Desperate Ground," which I can’t recommend enough. I knew next to nothing about the Korean War, but as usual, Hampton’s writing was simultaneously educational and entertaining, allowing me to learn a lot while thoroughly enjoying the process. You don’t have to be a war history buff to enjoy this book—his exploration of characters’ personalities, motivations, and egos makes for an engaging story that will appeal to anyone who is fascinated by interesting people. And being a weird guy who loves climbing big, absurdly cold mountains, I especially enjoyed our discussion of North Korea’s brutal winters and how sub-zero temperatures were one of the deadliest forces in this battle. Thanks again to Hampton for making time to meet up during such a busy book tour. Be sure to check the episode notes for links to all the authors and books we discuss, as we cover a lot. This was a fun conversation, and I know you’ll enjoy it. Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/hampton-2/ “On Desperate Ground” by Hampton Sides: http://a.co/d/aZBZFiO First Episode with Hampton: http://mountainandprairie.com/hampton/ Support the Podcast: http://mountainandprairie.com/support/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - How Hampton describes his work 7:15 - Hampton’s early years 11:00 - College and history training 13:40 - Importance of discipline in writing 17:00 - The "Pain Cave” 19:00 - Publising his first book 20:20 - First job out of college 22:00 - Working at Outside 24:45 - Learning the art of structure 28:30 - Importance of characters in history 31:40 - General MacArthur 36:00 - The cold as a character in the book 40:45 - US Marines’ retreat from the reservoir 41:50 - Chairman Mao 42:40 - Lessons learned from veterans 47:40 - Favorite books 48:45 - Favorite documentaries 49:40 - Most powerful experience in the outdoors 51:40 - Best advice ever received 52:45 - Connect with Hampton online

Erik Petersen is a Montana-based photographer, filmmaker, and photojournalist whose work showcases the American West and the many ways we enjoy our wide open spaces. His most recent film, A Few Steps Further, explores the commonalities between backcountry hunting and mountain endurance sports, while highlighting the spectacular wild landscapes that make these activities possible. Historically, hunters and adventure sports enthusiasts have not always seen eye to eye, but through his film, Erik demonstrates that the two groups have much more in common than not, most notably a love for public lands, pushing one's physical limits, and hardcore adventure. • Growing up in Minnesota, Erik was an avid hunter and outdoorsman-- but with a lifelong love for Montana, he moved West the day that he graduated from college. He worked for over ten years as a newspaper photographer throughout Montana, honing his craft and learning to produce high-quality work under the pressure and deadlines of traditional print media. Eventually Erik transitioned into freelance photography, taking some initial assignments that included trips to war-torn Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Today, much of his work centers around the landscapes of the American West, and his photographs and films highlight many of the values that we celebrate time and again on this podcast—conservation, public lands, adventure sports, and interesting people who love the West. • Erik and I caught up on the day that A Few Steps Further was released to the public, so I’ve embedded it in the episode notes—be sure to check it out, you’ll love it. In addition to that film, we talk about some of his other creative work, including a film he’s currently making that explores the threat of a goldmine near Yellowstone National Park and the promising bipartisan coalition that has emerged to fight the threat. We also cover the lessons he learned from his years in photojournalism, and how he manages to balance his roles as a husband and father of two boys while running his own creative business and pursuing adventure sports such as hunting and ultra running. We also discuss his creative mentors and heroes and his favorite books and films, plus he gives some good advice on how to take better landscape photos. • Visit the episode notes for links to everything, and enjoy this fun conversation with Erik Petersen. ••• Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/erik-petersen/ A Few Steps Further: https://vimeo.com/273008250 Support the Podcast: http://mountainandprairie.com/support/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:35 - How Erik describes his work 4:10 - A Few Steps Further explained 6:05 - Erik’s background ultra running 7:35 - Growing up in Minnesota 8:50 - Backstory of Erik’s ultra running friend in the film 11:50 - What attracts Erik to adventure and endurance sports 14:00 - Early years 16:00 - Moving to Montana 18:15 - Experience from working at a newspaper 22:20 - Transition to freelance 25:30 - Time in Afganistan and scary stories 29:10 - Public lands 33:55- Mentors and heroes 36:15 - Nuts and bolts of filmmaking 37:50 - Patagonia media grant & new film 43:30 - How he choses creative projects 48:05 - How to take better landscape photos 51:00 - Favorite books and authors 53:00 - Favorite films 54:00 - Surprising activities 55:40 - Most powerful outdoor experience 57:50 - Best advice ever received 59:15 - Request of the listeners 1:00:05 - Follow Erik online

Normally on the podcast, I introduce you to innovative individuals who are shaping the future of the American West—ranchers, writers, athletes, authors, adventurers, conservationists, entrepreneurs... pretty much anyone who’s interesting and doing important work here in the West. • But this episode is a little different. This time the tables are turned, and I’m in the hot seat, being interviewed on the local Colorado Springs podcast, The Little London Show. • A few months back, Little London Show hosts Jeff and Darcie asked me to join them to chat about my new role as Conservation Director at Palmer Land Trust, my family’s move from Boulder to Colorado Springs, and some of the lessons I’ve learned from hosting the Mountain & Prairie Podcast. I thought it was a fun conversation, and we discussed a variety of interesting topics, including public lands, Theodore Roosevelt (of course), favorite books, my journey from selling ranches to full-time conservation, and much more. • And just to be clear, I don’t think I’m an Innovator of the American West, nor do I enjoy listening to my own voice, but we covered some topics that I thought might be of interest to you guys. As usual, there are links to everything we discuss in the episode notes, so visit the website to access all of those resources. And if you have a few moments, let me know if you enjoy this format of me answering a few questions. If you do, then every so often I’ll plan on releasing episodes from other podcasts where I am the interviewee or possibly answering questions from you guys, if that would be of interest. • But no matter what, we’ll be back to the normal interviews with real innovators next week, so be on the lookout for that. Again, thanks for your support and thanks for listening. ••• Episode Notes: http://mountainandprairie.com/bonus/ Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/mountainandprairie ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:30 - Introduction 3:20 - Mountain & Prairie Podcast explained 6:00 - Discussion of podcast guests 9:55 - TR and Public Lands 13:40 - Lessons learned from the podcast 16:50 - How I ended up in the West 19:45 - Transition to Colorado Springs from Boulder 22:30 - New job with Palmer 24:20 - Land conservation discussion 30:40 - Rugged individualism 33:10 - Rawness of the West 35:40 - “Your Stoke Won’t Save Us” article 40:50 - Uselessness of ultra running 42:10 - Three best books on the West

Juanita Vero is a partner at the E Bar L Ranch, a family-owned dude ranch located on the Blackfoot River, about an hour east of Missoula, Montana. The ranch was purchased and founded by Juanita’s great-grandfather and has served as a Rocky Mountain retreat for families from around the world for almost 100 years. If you’ve never visited but would like to learn more about the ranch, this conversation with Juanita is one of your only options—they don’t have a website, nor do they advertise. They serve the same clients year after year, clients who value an authentic, rustic, and tight-knit dude-ranching experience that is closely connected to the land. • But the term “dude ranch” doesn’t really do the E Bar L justice. Juanita’s family has participated in some cutting-edge conservation projects, protecting their ranch with a unique conservation easement that also allows for responsible timber management. Becoming a member of the ranch’s summer staff is also an amazing experience, and it's not uncommon for staff members to develop such a deep love of the land that they go on to careers in ranching or conservation. Juanita and her family lead by example with their business management and land stewardship practices, which seem to rub off on everyone who visits or works at the ranch. • Juanita and I connected just as she was wrapping up another successful summer season on the ranch. We had a fun conversation that covered everything from her great-grandfather’s purchase of the ranch in the early 1900s all the way up to its present day operations. We talk in detail about Juanita’s commitment to community service, and we dig into some of her work with groups such as Trout Unlimited, Montana Conservation Voters, and the Blackfoot Challenge. We also discuss her youth on the ranch, and what she learned from leaving Montana in her teens to attend an east coast boarding school. We talk about toughness, the interesting story of how her parents met, and her blind date with her now husband, which happened to be a three-day elk hunt. And as usual, we cover favorite books, films, places in the West, and more. • This was a great conversation, so I know you’ll enjoy it. Thanks again for listening. ••• More info: http://mountainandprairie.com/juanita-vero/ Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/mountainandprairie ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:10 - How Juanita describes her work 5:20 - Family history of the ranch 8:00 - Motivations for her great-grandfather to move West 12:15 -Who are the ranch guests? 15:30 - Funny guest stories from the ranch 18:10 - Growing up on the ranch 21:00 - Description of the ranch 22:10 - Conservation projects with the Nature Conservancy 31:10 - Juanita’s parents 35:15 - Importance of toughness 41:50 - Boarding school on the east coast 46:20 - Passion for community service and conservation 55:10 - Need for conservation to counterbalance development 1:00:15 - Importance of rural land use 1:02:30 - Favorite books 1:05:00 - 3-day blind date with her now-husband 1:06:50 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:09:50 - Favorite locations in the West 1:11:40 - Best advice ever received 1:13:30 - Requests of the listeners

Geoffrey Keating is a Colorado-based woodworker whose dedication to exquisite craftsmanship and creative design have made him one of today's most sought-after furniture makers. But creating furniture is just a small part of his interesting life story—Geoffrey has also worked as a mechanic on a professional motocross team and holds two graduate degrees in theology, one from Yale and one from Notre Dame. He discovered his talent for woodworking about ten years ago while still in graduate school, and soon decided to go all in on building a career as a professional craftsman. • Geoffrey has a unique ability to understand and respect the past, while maintaining a commitment to a sustainable future. He uses reclaimed or responsibly sourced wood to create his furniture, and all of his work is built to last—he expects each piece to be passed on from one generation to the next. His workshop and home are in a beautiful 1897 building that was formerly a grocery store—he and his wife have fully repurposed the historical space to be their growing family’s base of operations. And as you’ll hear, Geoffrey’s study of history and theology plays a huge role in his design ethic and commitment to sustainability. • We met up at Geoffrey’s shop which is located just a block north of Colorado College in Colorado Springs. As you’d expect from someone with Geoffrey’s interesting background, we had a fun and wide-ranging conversation. We discuss his family’s history as craftsmen, and how he is the fifth generation to make a living working with wood. We talk about his transition from academia to woodworking, and how he managed to get his business off the ground in the early days. We chat about his commitment to quality, and how he balances his artistic goal of perfection with the economic realities of running a business. And we touch on his daily routines and techniques he uses to avoid the creative blocks that arise from time to time. As usual, we also cover his favorite books, most powerful outdoor experience, and more. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/geoffrey-keating/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:45- How Geoffrey describes his work 3:15 - Geoffrey describes his furniture 4:55 - Family history of woodworking 5:45 - Racing motorcycles and working as mechanic 6:45 - Teaching and theology 8:45 - Transition from theology to woodworking 11:15 - Starting the business 14:15 - The formation of Geoffrey’s style 14:50 - Dealing with the quest for perfection 18:15 - The business of woodworking 19:55 - History of his workshop 20:55 - Living in the West 22:15 - Life in Colorado Springs 23:55 - Commitment to sustainability 26:10 - Types of wood 27:00 - Mentors and books 29:45 - Dealing with distraction 32:35 - Goal versus process 33:45 - Dealing with creative block 35:25 - Life lessons from woodworking 36:55 - Talent versus work ethic 38:25 - Advice for woodworkers 42:25 - Favorite books 45:15 - Favorite films 46:45 - Hobbies 47:15 - Most powerful outdoor experience 50:15 - Favorite location 50:55 - Best advice ever received? 52:10 - Request of the listeners 53:05 - Connect with Geoffrey online