Christy Sing Robertson is a hatmaker and the founder and owner of Sing Hat Company. Based in Jackson, Wyoming, Christy has evolved rather quickly from making a few hats for herself and several friends into becoming one of the most popular and sought-after hat makers in the West. Whether she’s hand-shaping palm leaf hats for hundreds of people at events such as last month’s Old Salt Festival or creating a custom felt hat for a 5th generation rancher or celebrity musician, Christy’s humility, curiosity, and commitment to the craft have allowed her to stand out in the crowded field of custom hatmakers. - Christy was born and raised in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, and she stayed there for the first half of her career, working as a high-performing salesperson in the insurance industry. But despite her success in the conventional and lucrative world of sales, she felt called to the West and decided to uproot her life and move to Jackson, Wyoming. Even though she moved to Jackson without knowing a soul, she managed to establish roots and build a fulfilling life centered around motherhood, hard work, and leading a thoughtful, intentional life. And along the way, just as she felt a calling to move to Wyoming, she felt called to make hats– so she went all-in. Today, Christy’s hats– and her long list of customers– demonstrate the amazing success she’s achieved in a relatively short amount of time. - I’ve been following Christy’s work for many years now, so I was thrilled to finally have a chance to chat with her on the podcast. Her story is amazingly inspiring and speaks to the importance of grit, risk-taking, working hard, humility, and trusting your gut. We covered a lot during our hour together, including: her upbringing in Arkansas and her success in the insurance business; the spiritual event that led her to move to Wyoming; how motherhood changed her; the focus and hustle required to make ends meet as a single mother; hunting big game for food; balancing the artistic side of hatmaking with the all-important need to earn a living; the increasing wealth inequality in Jackson; the importance of friendships with other artisans and makers; why imposter syndrome can be a good thing; techniques for keeping an even keel; favorite books; and much more. - If you haven’t checked out Christy’s website or followed her on social media, I recommend that you do– there are links in the episode notes to all of that and everything else we discussed. But in the meantime, I know you’ll enjoy this inspiring and motivational conversation with Christy Sing Robertson. --- Sing Hat Company Sing Hat Company on Instagram Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/sing/ SUPPORT M&P on Patreon Visit the M&P SHOP --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Christy’s childhood 9:00 - Christy’s life post high school 10:45 - When making things clothes came into Christy’s life 12:00 - How Christy came to the Rocky Mountains, and how it changed her 23:00 - What Christy’s work and life was like after moving to Wyoming 25:15 - When hatmaking entered Christy’s life 27:30 - How Christy’s life changed after she had kids 32:00 - How Christy became self-sufficient in hunting 35:30 - Back to hats  39:00 - Whether or not Christy ever reconsidered her decision to make hats 40:55 - When Christy felt she was good at making hats 42:45 - How relationship building impacted Christy’s business 44:15 - How it went when Christy went full into making hats for a living 46:45 - How Christy manages the prices of Jackson, WY 50:15 - How Christy keeps an even keel 51:30 - How a community of makers has impacted Christy’s journey and career 55:15 - Reflecting on how Christy got where she is in her craft and career 58:45 - Christy’s advice for aspiring makers 1:01:15 - Christy’s vision for Sing Hats 1:05:00 - Christy’s book recommendations 1:07:00 - Christy’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 live episode that was recorded in late June 2023 at the first-ever Old Salt Festival, which was held on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana. The Old Salt Festival is a three-day celebration of ranching, land stewardship, and wild places that features live Western music, wood-fired cooking, products from some of the West’s most renowned artisans, readings and interviews with Western authors and poets, and in-depth discussions about conservation and land stewardship. The festival was a resounding success, so I’m thrilled to share one of the many conversations with you here. - The episode is a panel discussion titled "Rebuilding a Resilient, Regional Meat Supply Chain," featuring several of the West’s leading voices in sustainable meat production and regenerative agriculture. In order of their appearance in the episode, you’ll hear from Cole Mannix, President of the Old Salt Co-op; Kate Kavanaugh, owner of Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe and host of the Mind, Body, and Soil Podcast; Dan Miller, Founder of Steward; and Wyatt Nelson, President of Wild West Local Foods. As you’ll hear, each panelist is deeply immersed in a different aspect of the meat production supply chain, and each of them brings a unique and wise perspective to the challenges facing producers and small businesses involved in meat production. - Many of you may already know, but the Old Salt Festival is a part of the Old Salt Co-op, a new, purpose-driven company that “provides meat raised with integrity from Montana landscapes its customers know and care about.” The Old Salt Co-op is working to rebuild the meat business in Montana, creating a sustainable business model that is beneficial to local ranchers, local consumers, and local economies– all while responsibly and effectively stewarding the lands that support agriculture. Rebuilding Montana’s meat supply chain is no small feat, but with smart, purpose-driven people like Cole, Kate, Dan, and Wyatt working to find solutions, I think you’ll be both inspired and encouraged. - To learn more about the Old Salt Co-op, you can go back to my first podcast conversion with Cole from February of 2023. And be on the lookout for another live Old Salt Festival episode, which I’ll be releasing on August 8, 2023– that one will feature a conversation with famed western author David James Duncan followed by a reading from his new novel Sun House. - A huge thanks to Cole and the Old Salt team for inviting me to the Festival, and a huge thanks to the Mannix Family for sharing their stunning ranch with all of us. Thanks to Cole, Kate, Dan, and Wyatt for sharing their wisdom. And last but definitely not least, thanks to the one and only, always hilarious and energetic Bex Frucht for the amazing intro. Hope you enjoy. --- OLD SALT FESTIVAL OLD SALT CO-OP Cole's first M&P episode Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/old-salt/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:45 - Introductions 6:15 - The challenge and opportunity that Cole saw, leading to the development of Old Salt Co-op 9:00 - What Kate sees as major potential challenges for Old Salt Co-op going forward 12:15 - What attracted Dan to finance regenerative agriculture, especially given that industry’s tight margins 15:00 - Wyatt’s introduction, as well as the roadblocks that Wyatt sees to a more resilient food system from the distribution side of things 17:15 - How the panel members go about getting people’s attention 24:45 - The work Cole’s family and neighbors have done to protect the local landscape, as well as trends in young people getting involved with agriculture 32:15 - What Kate is seeing on the retail side of meat production, and how to address it 38:15 - What Old Salt Co-op is working on right now 41:15 - What we can do that would help build a resilient meat and food system --- 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

Rob Addington, Director of the Forest and Fire Program with The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, discusses collaborative solutions for increasing forest restoration and promoting landscape resilience. Topics include the 2020 wildfire season, land management's impact on wildfires, pine beetles, water quality, beavers' role in fire mitigation, and post-fire land management strategies.

David Gessner is no stranger to Mountain & Prairie listeners– he’s joined me for many episodes and is the author of many of my favorite books, including "All the Wild That Remains," "Leave It As It Is," "My Green Manifesto," and more. His newest book is "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and Water," which once again showcases David’s unique ability to combine humor, travel, and memoir in service of connecting the reader with the natural world. - "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World" chronicles David’s journeys around the country, where he finds himself in the middle of an unsettling number of climate disasters– from historic forest fires in the American West to hurricanes on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Eschewing the ubiquitous facts, figures, and policy debates that often dominate climate-focused books, David does what he does best: he tells stories. Specifically, he tells impactful, insightful stories from the front lines of the climate crisis– stories that will stick with the reader for years to come. - As has been our tradition for several years now, David and I met up in Boulder, Colorado, where he and his family visit each summer. We obviously talk a lot about the book, but as is the case whenever we get together, the conversation flows into many fun and unexpected topics. You can check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed, but some of the topics include: David’s recent writing workshop at the Zapata Ranch with his friend, author Craig Childs, the importance of momentum and dailiness in writing, how David’s daughter was the influence for the new book, optimism vs. pessimism when reporting current events, thoughts on death and loss, David’s good friend, the late Mark Spitzer, the next generation of conservation-minded writers, some book recommendations, the idea of being a “polygamist of place,” and much more. - I’m always happy to have the opportunity to sit down with David for a conversation, so I greatly appreciate his carving out the time. I hope you can check out "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World," and I hope you enjoy this episode. --- A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World by David Gessner David Gessner Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/david-gessner-4/ Support Mountain & Prairie Sign up for Ed's Book Recommendations --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - David’s Zapata Ranch retreat 6:45 - Discussing the power of “dailiness” 7:45 - Whether or not teaching helped in David’s practice of writing 9:00 - How many books David has written in the past 18 months 10:30 - How David knows when an idea becomes a book in his mind 16:45 - David’s goal for "A Traveler’s Guide to the End of the World," including how he balanced stories with statistics and humor with the weight of the subject 20:45 - Evaluating how the news of the West is reported 27:45 - What David means when he identifies as a “polygamist of place” 33:15 - David’s relationship with Mark Spitzer 39:30 - How David feels about entering a stage in life where his friends are beginning to pass away 43:45 - Discussing David’s daughter, climate change, and how they figure into "A Traveler’s Guide" 50:30 - David discusses the various tools he would like to use to face climate change 52:45 - Who David thinks will continue the work of the Doug Peacocks of the world 56:45 - Discussing the political alignment affiliated with climate change work 1:01:30 - David’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  

Doug Peacock is a legendary environmentalist, writer, filmmaker, and grizzly bear advocate. He’s the co-founder of two conversation nonprofits– Round River Conservation Studies and Save the Yellowstone Grizzly. Doug was also the inspiration for the character George Washington Hayduke in his friend Edward Abbey’s classic novel "The Monkey Wrench Gang." And to top it all off, he is the author of many classic books, including "Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness" and his most recent award-winning book "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior’s Long Trail Home," published by Patagonia Books. - Doug was born and raised in Michigan, where he grew up obsessed with nature and the outdoors. As a young man, he was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he served as a Green Beret combat medic, an experience that placed him squarely in the middle of devastating violence toward his fellow soldiers, as well as civilian men, women, and children. In 1968, he returned home from Vietnam spiritually broken, mentally unwell, and physically debilitated with malaria. Not knowing where to turn, he headed deep into the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park by himself, where he formed an unlikely bond with the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear. Eventually, he recovered both physically and mentally and, to this day, he credits the grizzly with saving his life. He has spent the last half-century repaying his debt to the grizzly bear, aggressively fighting for their protection and recovery in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond. - I met up with Doug in Aspen, Colorado, where he was in town for a reading of "Was it Worth It?" at Aspen’s only bookstore, Explore Booksellers. Even though I could’ve talked with Doug for many hours, we managed to jam a lot of stories into this conversation. Some of the topics we discussed include: Why Doug does not carry a gun in grizzly country; why it is important for humans to love and protect a creature as powerful, even dangerous, as a grizzly; his friendships with Edward Abbey, Yvon Chouinard, Jim Harrison, and others, and how each of those high-voltage personalities helped to elevate the others; the death and secret burial of Edward Abbey; why climate changes is such a threat to grizzlies, the challenges and financial realities of a life dedicated to environmental advocacy; his greatest source of pride and greatest disappointment; what is giving him hope now; and Doug reads several passages from "Was It Worth It?’" - Today, at age 81, you can still feel the fire in Doug’s spirit, and his passion for grizzlies is palpable. I was honored to have the opportunity to chat with Doug, and I loved his book "Was it Worth It?" I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Doug Peacock "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior’s Long Trail Home" "Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness" Save the Yellowstone Grizzly Round River Conservation Studies Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/doug-peacock/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:10 - Discussing the picture on the front of Doug’s book 6:25 - When Doug decided it wasn’t fair to be in grizzly country with guns 8:40 - How Yellowstone became a part of Doug’s life  10:55 - How grizzlies provided a much-needed community for Doug after his time at war 12:40 - How long it took for Doug to find peace in grizzly country after Vietnam 15:10 - Exploring Doug’s balance between telling the good stories and being willing to fight for conservation 18:10 - Why specifically it is so important for humans to learn to love and protect a creature as powerful, even dangerous, as a grizzly 19:40 - How Doug’s friends made him a better conservationist 21:40 - How Doug’s friends balance their very strong personalities 22:40 - The importance of ceremony and how Doug handled the passing of his dear friend, Ed Abbey 28:40 - Whether or not parenthood changed Doug’s outlook on risk and death 30:10 - Who or where Doug drew his motivation from 32:10 - How Doug managed his lifestyle 33:40 - What keeps Doug awake at night, as it pertains to grizzlies 36:40 - How Doug became interested in fighting climate change by way of grizzlies 39:30 - Where Doug would focus his energy if he were starting his career in conservation now 40:25 - Whether or not Doug is an optimist 43:40 - What work Doug is most proud of in his life, and where he thinks he may have fallen short 46:00 - Doug’s friendship with Jim Harrison 47:10 - What gives Doug hope 48:40 - Doug’s mandatory reading --- 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

Chris Hawkins is the Colorado Urban Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy, where he leads the organization’s efforts in Denver to “solve global challenges like the biodiversity and climate emergencies by supporting and creating more sustainable, efficient ways of living.” - When many people think of The Nature Conservancy, they may envision large-scale conservation efforts across vast grasslands and wild landscapes– but TNC also conducts some of its most innovative conservation work in cities— work that leads to more resilient, healthy, and equitable communities. Chris’s work in Denver is a shining example of how nature-based solutions in densely populated urban areas can have positive ripple effects far beyond the city limits. - Chris was born and raised on the east coast, attended college in Boston, and from the very beginning of his career, he’s been focused on service and causes greater than himself. He’s worked as a Corps Member of AmericaCorps, as Chief of Staff in New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection, and for the past nine years, he’s been with the Nature Conservancy. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Chris’s diverse professional experiences have allowed him to bring a unique and effective perspective to the complex world of urban conservation. - Chris was nice enough to join me at my dining room table for an engaging and educational conversation about all things urban conservation. We started out by discussing why TNC has chosen to devote its resources and expertise to conservation in cities, and he explains the unique challenges facing cities in the West. We discuss how public health is directly related to people’s access to nature, and how the simple-but-not-easy strategy of planting trees in neighborhoods can have huge conservation and public health benefits. As is the case with all of my conservation-related conversations, we discuss the critical importance of relationships, and how Chris has managed to build relationships with a diverse group of Denver residents. We also discuss his professional trajectory, the importance of exporting urban conservation ideas to other cities, and the critical roles of mayors and local leadership. And finally, Chris is a serious history buff, so we have a great discussion about books. - There is so much fascinating information packed into this episode, and I greatly appreciate Chris’s taking the time to share his wisdom with the Mountain & Prairie community. Check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. --- Chris Hawkins TNC's Urban Conservation Program in Denver TNC's Global Cities Program Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-hawkins/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Why do Chris and TNC work in cities 7:00 - Thriving cities in the West and the unique challenges they present 9:30 - Whether or not the health benefits of the outdoors have become a larger part of Chris’s work recently 15:30 - Discussing trees 27:45 - How Chris builds relationships in his work in cities 33:45 - Specific strategies Chris uses to build trust 38:30 - Where Chris grew up and why he became involved in this work 43:30 - Discussing the work of city mayors 53:00- How ideas that are exported or imported between cities show up in Chris’s work in Denver 1:00:15 - Chris’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

Back in September of 2022, I held the first annual Strenuous Life Retreat at the renowned Zapata Ranch in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The retreat consisted of five days of adventure and education inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s well-known commitment to living “the Strenuous Life.” We hiked high into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, rode horses in Great Sand Dunes National Park, and enjoyed world-class meals. And each afternoon, we enjoyed facilitated conversations about land stewardship, conservation, and regenerative agriculture. This episode is a recording of one of those conversations. - I was honored to be joined by conservation veteran Nancy Fishbein, who serves as Director of Resilient Lands for the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Nancy has been a long-standing leader in the Western conservation community, so we were all honored that she took time out of her full schedule to join us and share some stories and hard-earned wisdom. The Zapata Ranch is owned by the Nature Conservancy and managed by Ranchlands, so Nancy has a unique insight into the history of the ranch, as well as the importance of conservation in the San Luis Valley. - We recorded this conversation at the ranch’s education center, one afternoon after a morning of horseback riding. The first half consists of me asking the questions, and the second half consists of questions from the retreat participants. We cover everything from the history of the Zapata Ranch to the establishment of Great Sand Dunes National Park, which adjoins the ranch to the north. We talk about the conservation bison herd that calls the ranch home, and some of the ongoing challenges in the San Luis Valley created by water speculation and development. We discuss how mineral rights development can coexist with conservation, the protection of biodiversity on ranches, how TNC and the National Park Service work together, and much more. As you’ll hear, everyone in attendance was super engaged and curious about Nancy’s work, and it showed in the range of interesting and thoughtful questions. - I hope this episode will give you a bit of insight into the types of conversations we had at the 2022 Retreat and the kind of conversations you can expect in 2023 and beyond. Colorado is blessed to have so many committed conservationists like Nancy who devote their time and energy to protecting and stewarding these spectacular landscapes, and I can’t thank Nancy enough for taking the time to join us. - If you’re interested in joining me for the 2023 Retreat, as of this recording, there are still a few spots left. You can click here to learn more and reserve your spot. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy! --- Nancy Fishbein Zapata Ranch Strenuous Life Retreat Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nancy-fishbein/ --- SUPPORT M&P: Become a Patreon supporter today! --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - A quick intro to Nancy 5:30 - The story of the Education Center on Zapata Ranch 7:00 - How Zapata Ranch first got onto TNC’s radar 10:00 - How TNC goes about acquiring properties like Zapata Ranch 12:15 - Why the previous owner of Zapata Ranch did not charge TNC full fair market value for the property 13:30 - The importance of relationships in TNC’s work 15:30 - What happened after TNC acquired Zapata Ranch 18:15 - Explaining a conservation easement 20:00 - Why the bison herd on Zapata Ranch were such a focal point of TNC’s conservation work there 22:15 - Why TNC has chosen to hold onto Zapata Ranch as an owner for so long 25:45 - How TNC works with various levels of government agencies 27:30 - Nancy’s biggest concern for the San Luis Valley 29:00 - The most recent scheme to remove water from the San Luis Valley 31:45 - Audience questions begin 32:00 - Whether or not Nancy wished that TNC had done something different in their acquisition of Zapata Ranch 32:45 - Nancy’s surprises and lessons learned about Zapata 34:30 - Why an easement cannot be put on San Luis Valley’s aquifer 36:15 - TNC’s role in the establishment of Baca Wildlife Refuge and the Great Sand Dunes National Park 40:45 - The distinction between a national park and a national monument 41:30 - How the TNC navigated purchasing land that was managed by a private company (Rocky Mountain Bison) but on leased state land 42:30 - Exploring the potential causality between water export schemes in the San Luis Valley and the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Park 44:00 - Whether or not there remains the appetite for bipartisan action, such as the kind that led to the creation of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, in our current political climate 45:00 - Exploring TNC’s support of agriculture as a conservation service 43:30 - Whether or not TNC deals with agricultural leases 51:30 - How easements impact mineral and mining rights on a property 53:30 - How fracking might complicate conservation easements, and whether or not easements are a successful tool for reducing oil and gas development  55:45 - How TNC measures success in its conservation work and the preservation of biodiversity on a property, and how they respond to and act on those measurements 1:00:55 - What TNC is working on right now in Colorado --- 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

Jesse Griffiths is an Austin-based chef, author, hunter, and fisherman, and he’s also the co-owner of Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club and the New School of Traditional Cookery. Jesse’s work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times to the Joe Rogan Experience, and he’s a regular contributor to Steven Rinella’s MeatEater. As an author, Jesse has received great praise for his two books, the James Beard Award-finalist cookbook, "Afield: A Chef’s Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish," as well as his most recent title, "The Hog Book: A Chef’s Guide to Hunting, Preparing, and Cooking Wild Pigs." - Born and raised in Denton, Texas, Jesse grew up obsessed with fishing– he loved catching the fish, but he also loved cooking and eating them. As a teenager, he started working in restaurants and became more and more interested in cooking– an interest that he pursued full-time after graduating from high school. Propelled by a deep curiosity and a desire to broaden his perspective, he would save up his money and then travel, studying food and cooking in a wide variety of cultures around the world. Eventually, Jesse combined all of his unique personal and professional experiences and opened his own restaurant, Dia Due, which features food that is “produced in a fair and equitable way, represent(s) local culinary traditions, and support(s) farmers and ranchers who are striving to improve the quality of our food.” - I’ve been a fan of Jesse’s work for many years, so I was thrilled when we were introduced by a mutual friend. Over the course of our hour together, we covered a lot, include: Jesse’s upbringing in Texas and his early days in cooking, the importance of international travel, the challenges of getting Dai Due off the ground, the importance of humility and curiosity, a deep dive into wild hogs in Texas, his approach to writing, Jesse’s recent obsession with wild turkeys, and, of course, Jesse offers a ton of great book recommendations. - I loved this conversation and was blown away by Jesse’s kindness and humility. I really appreciate his taking the time to chat with me, and I know you’ll learn a lot from Jesse’s fascinating life story.  Enjoy! --- Dai Due New School of Traditional Cookery The Hog Book by Jesse Griffiths Afield by Jesse Griffiths Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/jesse-griffiths/ --- Join Ed for five days on Utah's Green River for his Freeflow Institute Course: PLACE, POWER, PURPOSE --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - Jesse’s upbringing 7:30 - How Jesse got involved in cooking 12:15 - When Jesse first left the USA 13:30 - The importance of international travel 16:45 - Jesse’s mentors 24:15 - Getting Dai Due started 27:15 - How Jesse learned to be a manager 31:15 - The source of Jesse’s humility 36:15 - Jesse’s work with Texas wild hogs 50:15 - Jesse’s ethos in writing 51:30 - Jesse’s recent work with turkeys 1:01:15 - Jesse’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

For today’s conversation, I was thrilled to chat once again with Christian Beckwith, a Jackson, Wyoming-based writer, historian, conservationist, and entrepreneur. Christian’s latest project is “Ninety-Pound Rucksack: A podcast about the US Army's 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America.” - If you enjoy spending time up high in the mountains here in the American West, then you’ve surely heard at least a passing mention of the 10th Mountain Division. It’s nearly impossible to travel up and down the I-70 corridor here in Colorado without seeing a few references to the 10th. But if you’re like me, you probably do not have a sufficient appreciation for the exciting story of how and why the division was formed, and how its creation set the trajectory for climbing, skiing, and recreational outdoor adventure for decades to come. - Whether you’re a climber, skier, or simply a history buff who enjoys diving into untold stories from pivotal moments in our past, then I highly recommend Ninety-Pound Rucksack. The podcast starts out exploring the 1939 Russian invasion of Finland, and how, despite being outmatched on nearly every level, the Fins were able to put up a heroic fight thanks to their ability to efficiently maneuver through cold, snowy, rugged terrain on skis. The story then shifts to America, where a small group of young mountaineers and skiers recognized the importance of mountain warfare and began to lobby the government to focus on this unconventional approach to battle. I won’t give any more details away, but the podcast is just the kind of history I love: big adventures, one-of-a-kind characters, and people driven by causes larger than themselves. - To learn more about Christian’s personal background, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to our first conversation from many years ago. Because in this one, we talk all history, all the time– from the backstory of the 10th, to the adventurous young men who dreamed it up, to how that time period affects us still today. Toward the end of the conversation, Christian offers up some valuable wisdom on the need to be tenacious in all creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, and he also has some really great book recommendations. - Follow the links in the episode notes to listen to Ninety-Pound Rucksack, and please pass the podcast along to any of your history-loving friends. A big thanks to Christian for working so hard to create this podcast and for joining me for another conversation. Hope you enjoy! --- Ninety-Pound Rucksack Christian Beckwith Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/christian-beckwith-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 - An overview of Christan’s background 13:15 - How the 10th Mountain Division was established 26:15 - How the 10th Mountain Division impacted the development of skiing in the US 32:15 - How digging into the history of the 10th impacted Christian’s thinking about the present 40:45 - Discussing Christian’s code switch from adventure writing to engaging history writing 45:15 - The podcast’s advisory council  50:15 - Christian’s advice for people who have an idea but feel they are not qualified to pursue it 54:45 - Discussing Christian’s tenacity 57:00 - What can we do to help get the word out about Christian’s work 1:00:00 - Christian’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

Matt Moorhead and Galen Guerrero-Murphy are conservationists who work for The Nature Conservancy on its Southern Highs Plains Initiative (SHPI), a collaboration between five states with the shared goal of protecting the nation’s grasslands. The Southern High Plains encompasses approximately 71 million acres across Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The region is home to some of the country’s most important grasslands, as well as the people and wildlife who depend on the invaluable shortgrass prairie ecosystem. - Officially, Matt is TNC’s Conservation Business & Partnership Development Advisor and Galen is TNC’s Land Conservation Program Manager– but at their core, they are both relationship builders. As you’ll hear in this conversation, both Matt and Galen work tirelessly to build long-term, rock-solid partnerships with landowners and conservation partners with the goal of finding win-win solutions that can be mutually beneficial for all parties.  Through genuine curiosity, creative thinking, and a deep respect for landowners and their legacy, Matt and Galen have helped to implement lasting conservation outcomes in the Southern High Plains. - The three of us connected virtually and had a fascinating conversation about grasslands, ranching, buidling relationships, and purpose-driven work. We start out by defining exactly what constitutes the Southern High Plains and why this is such an important region for conservation. We then discuss why the large percentage of private ownership creates such a compelling case for conservation, the need for balancing conservation with various forms of energy development, the current markets around grasslands carbon sequestration, and the all-important role of TNC’s partners. We also discuss Matt and Galen’s mentors, how they measure conservation success, and some of their favorite books. - I’ve considered Matt and Galen to be friends and mentors for many years now, so I was grateful for the opportunity to talk with them on the podcast. Hope you enjoy. --- More Information: Southern High Plains Initiative Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/southern-high-plains/ --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:10 - Introductions 6:25 - What are the Southern High Plains  9:55 - Why the Southern High Plains are so critical in conservation 16:10 - How the patchwork of private lands in the Southern High Plains allows Matt and Galen to be effective in their conservation work 20:55 - The process of building relationships in private lands conservation work 29:10 - Balancing the potential for landowners to earn revenue through energy development with the interest in conserving landscapes 35:10 - Where things stand on grassland carbon sequestration as a method of generating both landowner revenue as well as conservation outcomes 39:10 - The importance and skills of TNC’s partners 43:10 - Matt and Galen’s mentors 50:10 - What progress on the Southern High Plains Initiative would make Matt and Galen happy in 10-15 years 53:40 - Matt and Galen’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