Monica Tranel is an attorney, Olympian, and mother of three, and she’s also running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Montana’s reformed second congressional district. Monica grew up in eastern Montana in a large family where she was one of ten siblings. Throughout her childhood, her parents stressed the importance of hard work, curiosity, and independent thinking, characteristics that Monica has exhibited in all aspects of her athletic and professional endeavors. - As an athlete, Monica began rowing competitively during law school, and after years of unwavering focus and tenacity, she earned a spot on different two Olympic teams. As an attorney, she devoted much of her career to standing up to a wide range of powerful corporate interests that were attempting to bully or take advantage of everyday Montanans. And now, as a Congressional candidate, she’s focused on bolstering Montana’s middle class and closing the ever-widening inequality gap. - Monica is in the final stretch of her campaign, so I greatly appreciate her taking the time out of her jam-packed schedule to chat with me. We spend about half of the time talking about Monica as a person– her upbringing in eastern Montana, why athletics have been so important in her life, her high school and college years, her rowing and legal careers, and why public service has always been a part of her personal operating system. For the second half of the conversation, we discuss the election– the challenges facing the middle class, her commitments to Indigenous communities, the importance of thinking independently, an issue that she has changed her mind on, and much more. She also offers a ton of excellent book recommendations, which I always appreciate. - A big thank you to Monica and her team for fitting this podcast into their busy schedule, and thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy. --- Monica Tranel Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/monica-tranel/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 – Monica discusses her upbringing and how it set her on her trajectory 6:45 – Monica talks about athletics and the role the outdoors played in her life 9:00 – Monica describes her high school years 12:40 – Monica explains what drew her to the legal field 16:00 – Monica talks about what she is particularly proud of in her legal career 21:45 – Monica discusses her Olympic career in rowing 26:45 – Monica talks about when public service became an interest in her life 30:15 – Monica discusses the challenges of politically addressing the inflating cost of living in places like Montana 34:15 – Monica talks about rebuilding a culture of governance with fair, enforceable rules 39:15 – Monica outlines what she feels her political role and commitment will be with respect to Indigenous communities in Montana 42:15 – Monica talks about something she has changed her mind on 45:45 – Monica discusses what she thinks people will find surprising about her during her Congressional candidacy  51:15 – Monica’s book recommendations 52:15 – Monica’s parting words of hope --- 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

Francesca Claverie is the Native Plant Program Manager at the Borderlands Restoration Network. Based in the southern Arizona town of Patagonia, the Borderlands Restoration Network’s mission is “to grow a restorative economy by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for plants and wildlife, and reconnecting our border communities to the land through shared learning.” Through binational partnerships and community-led innovation, Francesca and her team are making progress toward solving many border-specific conservation challenges– challenges that are often not very well known to those of us living far from the border. - We could easily spend five or six hours discussing Francesca’s various conservation projects, but for this hour-long conversation, we zoned in one particularly innovative project that spans the US-Mexico border called "Bacanora for Bats: Binational Conservation and Sustainable Agave Spirits." The project is focused on conserving agave plants– plants that are a critical food source for specific migrating bat populations and are simultaneously under a great deal of pressure because of the booming tequila and Bacanora industries. As you’ll hear her explain, Francesca and her team have implemented a one-of-a-kind system that allows for continued economic prosperity from agave production, but not at the expense of the bat populations. It’s a perfect example of a community-driven, win-win conservation solution. - A little more than two years ago, the project was awarded the Salazar Center’s Connectivity Challenge prize– a $100,000 award that Francesca and her binational team have used to implement this innovative conservation solution. So we obviously talk about how those funds have been put to use and some of the successes that have resulted from the prize. We also discuss some of the unexpected opportunities and challenges that have arisen during the project, and how changing political administrations on both sides of the border have affected her work. We go into great detail about bats, the ecology of agave plants, and specific challenges that come with working across borders. Francesca also has a fascinating personal and professional trajectory, so we talk about her childhood spent on the California-Mexico border and how she decided to pursue conservation as a career. She also offers up some excellent book recommendations and some wise parting words. - I was so inspired by Francesca and her work along the border, and I believe there are lessons in this conversation that can be applied by anyone working in the conservation sector. Thanks to Francesca for taking the time to chat, and thank you for listening. --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Salazar Center for North American Conservation. To register for the fourth annual International Symposium on Conservation Impact, go to salazarcenter.colostate.edu and receive $25 off symposium registration with the code "25OffReg". --- Borderlands Restoration Network Connectivity Challenge Episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/francesca-claverie/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 - Overview of the Borderlands Restoration Network 9:30 - Application to the Connectivity Challenge 11:40 - Agave, Bats, and Pollination 20:40 - How the bat pollination issue came to Borderlands Restoration Network's attention 27:00 - Certification program for Bacanora 36:20 - How the Connectivity Challenge funds have been invested 38:55 - Unexpected challenges and opportunities 41:20 - How different US administrations affect these border projects 47:20 - Francesca's personal and professional background 53:45 - Other borderland projects that are showing great promise 57:30 - Favorite books 1:02:25 - Wise parting words 1:04:30 - Connect with the Borderlands Restoration Network --- 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

Amber Smith is a Montana-based rancher and the Executive Director of Women in Ranching, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to hold brave space, support courageous action, and champion rural women’s leadership on the land. Offering a blend of in-person and virtual events, Women in Ranching has filled a unique niche across a wide range of rural communities in the West and beyond. From skill-building workshops to virtual kitchen table chats to multi-day on-the-ground experiences, Women in Ranching offers a much-needed, supportive network for women whose families and livelihoods are closely tied to agriculture and the land. - Amber was born and raised in Illinois, and she met her now-husband Trevor while working at a ranch in Colorado. They fell in love, got married, and today Amber and Trevor have two young children and a successful ranching business in eastern Montana. As you’ll hear in our conversation, when Amber was first introduced to Women in Ranching several years ago, she felt an immediate connection to the organization’s work– the connection was so strong that she eventually took the helm as the organization’s leader. And earlier this year, after several years under the umbrella of Western Landowners Alliance, Women in Ranching became its own freestanding nonprofit organization- an exciting next step for the organization’s continued growth and evolution. - Amber and I met more than five years ago on the Antelope Springs Ranch, the ranch that she and Trevor continue to steward to this day. I was immediately impressed with her energy, dedication to her community, and ability to juggle many competing priorities with grace and humor. I’ve been following her leadership with Women in Ranching for many years now, and it was a real pleasure to have the opportunity to reconnect and have such an inspiring conversation. We talked about the purpose and mission of Women in Ranching and how the organization has evolved in unexpected ways. We discuss some of the specific challenges facing women ranchers and how Women in Ranching works to address those needs. We discussed the pandemic’s effect on ranching communities, how Amber tries to find balance in her life, how she has been positively impacted by the organization, some specific success stories, her favorite books, and much more. Be sure to check out the episode notes for a complete list of everything we discussed. - To learn more about Women in Ranching and to support its work, head over to www.womeninranching.co. Huge thanks to Amber for all of her hard work, and thanks to you for listening. Hope you enjoy! --- Women in Ranching Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/amber-smith/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Amber describes Women in Ranching 17:30 - Amber talks about how her work with elders impacted how she approaches her work and life 22:30 - Amber discusses Women in Ranching and how its work was influenced by the pandemic 29:00 - Amber talks about who comes to the Confluence 30:30 - Amber discusses the current form of Women in Ranching 35:00 - Amber talks about the early stages of Women in Ranching becoming their own organization 40:00 - Amber explains her outlook on life balance and managing overwhelm 45:30 - Amber discusses how she learned to deal with the a new kind of challenge in her work with Women in Ranching 56:00 - Amber talks about how the shift in Women in Ranching from WLA program to its own organization impacted her as a person 1:05:45 - How folks can get involved and support Women in Ranching 1:10:15 - Amber talks about books that have influenced her 1:14:30 - Amber’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

Mike McTee and Vince Slabe are Montana-based researchers who use cutting-edge science, writing, and educational programs to protect eagles in the American West and beyond. Both Mike and Vince are laser-focused on the surprisingly little-known issue of lead poisoning in bald and golden eagles, a problem caused mainly by eagles scavenging the remains of big game animals that have been hunted with lead-based ammunition. For example, a study conducted near Jackson Hole captured migrating golden eagles, tested them for lead, and found that 98% had elevated lead levels in their blood. Committed hunters themselves, Mike and Vince are devoting their professional energies toward finding sustainable, reasonable, and mutually beneficial solutions to this large-scale challenge. - Mike lives in Missoula and works as a researcher at the MPG Ranch, a large, privately owned ranch in the Bitterroot Valley that promotes conservation through restoration, research, education, and information sharing. He is also the author of the excellent new book "Wilted Wings: A Hunter's Fight for Eagles," which was recently published by Riverfeet Press. In it, Mike lays out the issue of lead poisoning in eagles in a compelling and easy-to-understand style, and he offers some clear and relatively simple paths to solving the problem. Mike has also written for The FlyFish Journal, Backcountry Journal, and Bugle, and he is a sought-after speaker on various hunting-related topics. - Vince is a Bozeman-based Research Wildlife Biologist with Conservation Science Global. He holds a Ph.D. from West Virginia University and recently published a wildly cited paper that details the implications of lead poisoning in eagles across North America. The paper, which was published in “Science,” describes how almost half of the bald and golden eagles sampled for the study had elevated levels of lead in their blood. More importantly, it explains exactly how increasing or decreasing levels of lead exposure will affect golden and bald eagle populations. We discussed the paper in our conversation, and I've also linked it to the episode notes. - This is a fascinating discussion that digs deep into a very specific issue– an issue that is largely under the radar here in the West. But if you zoom out from the details related to lead and eagles, and focus on the big picture, I think you'll agree that Mike and Vince are shining examples of the many smart, driven, level-headed people here in the West who are working hard to find win-win solutions to conservation-related challenges. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, Mike's new book, and Vince's paper, and I hope you will too. - Be sure to check out the episode notes for a list of all the topics we discussed and links to everything. Thanks for listening! --- “Wllted Wings: A Hunter’s Fight for Eagles” by Mike McTee Vince’s Paper in “Science” - “Demographic Implications of Lead Poisoning for Eagles Across North America” Mike’s quarterly newsletter - Montana’s Nonlead Newsletter Conservation Science Global MPG Ranch Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/mike-mctee-vince-slabe/ --- This episode is brought to you by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, which embodies the values-based approach to philanthropy and business of its Chairman Arthur M. Blank. Head to www.blankfoundation.org to learn more. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:45 - Mike’s introduction 5:30 - Vince’s introduction 8:45 - Mike and Vince discuss the history of raptor-human interaction in the US over the last 200 years 15:15 Mike and Vince discuss the threat of lead poisoning as it pertains to raptors, noting the historical use of lead shot in waterfowl hunting 26:30 - Mike and Vince discuss their current work addressing the threat still posed to raptors by lead bullets for big game hunting 33:00 - Vince discusses ammunition demonstrations and the Arthur M. Blank Foundation’s advocacy for adopting non-lead ammunition through their private, guided hunting trips.  40:15 - Mike and Vince talk about why there has been resistance to widespread adoption of non-lead ammunition. 49:15 - Mike discusses managing the few situations where there is anger directed towards his work as he encourages hunters to switch ammunition 55:15 - Mike and Vince’s book recommendations 1:04:30 - Mike and Vince’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

If you’re a long-time Mountain & Prairie listener, then I’m sure you’ve heard me reference the author and historian Peter Stark. He’s written some of the most memorable books I’ve ever read, including one of my all-time favorites about the early history of the western United States– a thrilling tale of adventure and exploration called “Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition, and Survival.” Peter has also spent years working as a correspondent for Outside and has written extensively for magazines including Smithsonian, Men’s Journal, The New Yorker, and more. - I’ve been a fan of Peter’s for more than twenty years, so when I was offered the chance to chat with him, I jumped at the opportunity. The focus of this conversation is Peter’s newest project, an e-and-audio book titled “Sins of the Founding Father: George Washington, the Indigenous Tribes, and the Decisions that Shaped America’s Future.”  It’s an in-depth exploration of an often-overlooked battle in 1791 between American troops and Indigenous tribes– a violent fight that was decisively won by the Native Americans, and resulted in three times more American deaths than the Battle of Little Big Horn. The e-book also covers the life and personality of George Washington, America’s insatiable hunger for land, and the United States’ uncertain future in the years just after the Revolutionary War. - You might be wondering, what does George Washington have to do with the present-day American West? Back then, the term “American West” described a region now known as Ohio. Well, as you’ll hear in this conversation, this specific battle set the course of action for the next hundred+ years regarding the United States’ policies toward Indigenous tribes. The American’s crippling defeat led Washington and other leaders to ramp up their violent tactics against Native tribes and hold nothing back in their quest to claim as much western land as possible, as quickly as possible. It’s an eye-opening story that gave me a much better understanding of the ambition, egos, and economic realities that laid the foundation for the modern-day West. - "Sins of the Founding Father" is available exclusively at Scribd, and there’s a link in the episode notes that will give you a free 30-day trial. Scribd is a really cool app that I’ve enjoyed using for e and audiobooks, so go to Scribd.com to check it all out.  “Sins of the Founding Father” is a  great read and at only 70 pages, you can enjoy it in one sitting. I hope you’ll check it out, and I hope you enjoy this conversation. "Sins of the Founding Father" by Peter Stark "Astoria" by Peter Stark Scribd Peter Stark's website All episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/peter-stark/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Peter describes young George Washington 7:15 – Peter discusses Washington’s lust for land acquisition  19:30 – Peter talks about how Washington’s land speculation set the playbook for greedy land acquisition seen throughout US history 23:00 – Peter jumps ahead to Washington’s life in 1791 40:00 – Peter talks about writing history in an engaging way  46:00 – Peter discusses his own writing process 51:15 – Peter discusses the historical parallels between our recent sociopolitical turmoil and that of the late 1700s following the Battle with No Name – or -discusses the fallout of the Battle with No Name 1:01:15 – Peter’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

Frances B. Ashforth is an artist who specializes in drawing, printmaking, and painting. While much of her work is tied to the landscapes and rivers of the American West, she is also well known for her depictions of salt flats and coastal weather in more tropical locales. If there are two threads that bind all of Francie’s work, they are her deep reverence for natural landscapes and her desire to protect them. Over the years, she has collaborated with many highly regarded conservationists to combine writing and art– first, in her “Water + Words” project, and most recently, when she created all of the art for Dylan Tomine’s excellent book Headwaters. - Francie was born and raised on the east coast, into a family of artists and athletes who cultivated her obsessions with art and perpetual physical activity. Even though a childhood accident confined her to a body brace for nearly six years, Francie always pursued her passions with full enthusiasm and vigor, working hard to keep a positive attitude in the face of such a serious physical setback. But her commitment to creativity never waivered– after studying art and architecture in college, she worked professionally as both an architectural illustrator and art director for more than a decade. Eventually, Francie left her day job to focus on her own artistic endeavors, as well as her all-important role as a mother to young children. Today, Francie’s work has been shown in venues from New York City to San Francisco, and she has a loyal following among galleries and collectors across the country. - Francie and I met through past podcast guest Dylan Tomine, when I had the pleasure of interviewing both of them at a live event in Brooklyn earlier this year. I was immediately impressed with Francies’ art, her obsession with fly fishing and books, and her long-term commitment to melding art and conservation. So I was so thrilled when she agreed to join me on the podcast, and we managed to cover a lot. We discussed her childhood and her family’s influence, and her early career that combined art and architecture. We talked about the specifics of her art, including her influences and her preferred mediums, and we talked in detail about her “Water + Words” project. We talk a lot about the book Headwaters, as well as her own love of books and reading. Francie offers a long list of excellent book recommendations, so be sure to check the episode notes for links to all of those and everything else we discuss. - Huge thanks to Francie for all she does for conservation and for taking the time to chat with me. Hope you enjoy! https://francesbashforth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/frances.ashforth/ Water + Words Headwaters: The Adventures, Obsession and Evolution of a Fly Fisherman Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/frances-ashforth/ TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:40 – Francie discusses her childhood 5:30 – Francie talks about her family’s creative streak 8:30 – Francie discusses an accident that impacted her childhood 19:00 – Francie talks about her college education and early career in architecture 26:15 – Francie explains her transition from professional drafting to focusing on her own art 28:55 – Francie describes her art 32:30 – Francie talks about her Water and Word Project 37:15 – Francie explains her process of adapting existing words into new, complementary art 42:45 – Francie talks about how she became involved with Dylan Tomine, Headwaters and Patagonia Books 49:15 – Francie discusses reading and the books that make up her personal “bibliography” 1:00:30 – Francie talks about what is giving her hope these days 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

Mark Kenyon is an author, podcaster, conservationist, and member of the MeatEater crew. You probably know him from his excellent book "That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America's Public Lands," the Wired to Hunt podcast, or his contributions to MeatEater's Netflix show and other video productions. To learn more about Mark and his impressive personal and professional journey, I'd encourage you to go back to our first Mountain & Prairie conversation from a few years ago, which is linked in the episode notes. - In this episode, Mark and I are doing something a little different: We're focusing exclusively on books. Earlier this year, Mark had me on his podcast to discuss our favorite books about conservation, and we both received excellent feedback on that episode. You can find a link to that discussion in the notes. So we decided to have another book conversation, this time focusing on some of our favorite books about the American West. Both Mark and I are voracious readers who share a love of history, conservation, and adventure, so I'm always excited to hear Mark's recommendations and thoughts on a wide range of titles. - The episode starts out with a brief catch-up on Mark's summer adventures and his current work with MeatEater, and then we dive into the books. We each picked five of our all-time favorites to discuss, and, as you'd expect, we veer off into lots of tangentially related titles and subjects. This is an episode where you'll definitely want to check out the episode notes, because there are links to dozens of books, authors, films, and other resources. Mark and I could've easily talked for three or four hours, but we had to keep the conversation relatively short because of tight schedules. However, we're going to try and make these book conversations a regular occurrence on both of our podcasts– so if you like this format, stay tuned for more! - If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to check out Mark's podcast or follow him on social media– he's a smart, thoughtful, hard-working guy that brings tons of value to the world of conservation and outdoor recreation. Please enjoy the episode, and if you do, please share it with a few friends. --- Mark Kenyon Mark & Ed's first book discussion - 10 Conservation Books Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/10-books-west/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 - Mark talks about his summer with his family  11:30 - Mark discusses his plans for Meat Eater in the fall 13:15 - Mark talks about the incredible experiences that constitute his job 14:30 - Mark and Ed discuss their five favorite American West conservation books (see full notes on the episode's webpage) starting with Desert Solitaire  27:30 - Blood and Thunder 33:15 - Empire of the Summer Moon 34:45 - Blood Meridian  36:15 - The Course of Empire and  39:15 - Dreams of Eldorado 45:15 - The Emerald Mile  51:00 - The Oregon Trail 54:45 - Leave It As It Is 59:00 - Great Plains 1:03:15 - Badlands 1:05:45 - American Zion --- 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

Nate Schweber is an award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in the New York Times, ProPublica, Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, and more. He’s also the author of the new book “This America of Ours: Bernard and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild,” which was published in early July 2022. If you’re looking for an engaging and entertaining history book that highlights an often-overlooked era of conservation in the American West, then "This America of Ours" is your book– as you’ll hear in this conversation, I thoroughly enjoyed it. - Nate is a native Montanan who grew up in Missoula and headed east to New York City as a young man to pursue a career in journalism. Despite building a successful life and career in the big city, Nate never lost his love for Montana– so he made an effort to pursue more stories linked to the people and landscapes of the American West. As he studied and explored the West with his journalist’s eye, he discovered the writings of Bernard DeVoto and was quickly captivated. Fast forward to today, and he has written an amazing book about Bernard and his wife Avis, and how together they were one of the most important and effective forces for conservation in the early 20th century. - I knew I was going to enjoy "This America of Ours," but it surpassed all of my lofty expectations. While I had definitely heard of the DeVotos, I had no idea of their influence and fearlessness, especially as they faced off against powerful forces that were attempting to sell off vast tracts of our public lands. Nate and I dig into all aspects of the DeVotos’ lives and historical importance, both individually and as a power couple. We talk about why Nate became so obsessed with the DeVotos, and how the DeVotos bridged the gap between Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt’s conservation legacies and the modern-day environmental movement. We discuss the parallels between the public lands battles of today and those of the early 20th century, and how reading history helps us to better understand and process today’s current events. Nate also offers up tons of excellent book recommendations, so be sure to check out the notes for a list of all the topics we discuss and links to everything. - A huge thanks to Nate for writing such an enlightening book and for taking the time to join me for a conversation. I hope you enjoy. --- Nate Schweber “This America of Ours: Bernard and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild” by Nate Schweber Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nate-schweber/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED 4:00 - How the DeVotos captured Nate’s attention 8:45 - Nate describes the DeVotos' personalities 13:30 - Nate explains how a flood galvanized Bernard DeVoto’s passionate conservation ethic 20:00 - The role road trips played in the DeVotos' lives and work 27:00 - Nate discusses how learning the historical and legal backdrop for conservation colors his understanding of the challenges surrounding conservation and public lands now 32:00 - Nate introduces some of the tangles the DeVotos had with the FBI following accusations that the couple were communists  38:00 - Nate discusses an important friendship for the DeVotos: Julia Child 44:00 - Nate dives into his process of researching the DeVotos 49:45 - Nate talks about his career and how he ended up moving from Missoula, MT to NY City, and why he stays there now 55:07 - Ed and Nate discuss contradictions in each personality and how they make people more interesting 58:00 - Nate recommends some books 1:03:30 - Nate’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

Pete McBride is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker whose work is regularly featured by National Geographic, Smithsonian, The Nature Conservancy, and other renowned institutions. His most recent book is titled “Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Most Quiet Places,” and it features photographs and stories from more than two decades of his adventures on all seven continents. “Seeing Silence” uses stunning imagery and engaging storytelling to highlight the importance of places free of man-made noise, and it educates the reader on just how quickly silence is disappearing from the world. - For more than twenty years, Pete has been using his skills as a storyteller to inspire action on a wide variety of conservation issues. He has highlighted the multitude of threats facing the Grand Canyon in both his documentary "Into the Grand Canyon" and his book "Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim." He’s also documented the West’s ongoing water crisis by focusing on the myriad of challenges affecting the Colorado River basin–making the important but sometimes confusing topic of water in the West accessible to a broader audience. And now, with "Seeing Silence," he’s turned his focus to noise pollution and natural sounds, and I personally learned a lot from the book and this conversation. - This is Pete’s second appearance on the podcast, so if you’d like to learn more about his personal backstory and adventures in the Grand Canyon, you can find a link to that conversation in the episode notes. In this conversation, we go deep into Pete’s new obsession with silence and natural sounds, and why noise pollution is such a critical conservation issue. We started out talking about Pete’s expedition to South Georgia Island back in March of 2020 and how he had to make a hasty escape from the island when Covid descended on the world. We talk about his experience during Covid, and how the pandemic shifted his interests from the visual to the auditory. We discuss how artificial noise affects wildlife, why Pete feels a responsibility not to share specific wilderness locations on social media, how Pete’s family keeps him grounded, the larger purpose that drives his professional work, his recent photography work in Lake Powell, and we also included some sounds that Pete recorded during his South Georgia Island expedition. - It was great to chat with Pete again, and I’d encourage you to check out "Seeing Silence"– it’s an excellent book. And be sure the check out the episode notes for a complete list of all the topics we discussed and links to everything. Thanks to Pete for taking the time, and thanks to you for listening. I hope you enjoy. --- Pete McBride Seeing Silence: The Beauty of the World’s Most Quiet Places Pete's first M&P episode Complete episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/pete-mcbride-2/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Where Pete was during the start of the pandemic 5:30 - Thousands of King Penguins 10:15 - How Pete, as an outgoing person, adjusted from a career of traveling for films to pandemic isolation 13:30 - An example that Pete observed of how pandemic silence affected wildlife 23:30 - Pete reflects on shifting his focus from more visual media to auditory 26:45 - Pete discusses a search for quiet and how human-made sound and industry impacts wildlife 32:30 - Pete and Ed discuss the impact of human-caused light pollution along with the impacts sound has on humans 36:45 - Pete describes why he became interested in sound 40:00 - Pete discusses the responsibility he feels as a photographer to not inspire destructive over-visitation of beautiful natural places  44:45 - Pete discusses how he and his family keep him humble and grounded despite widespread attention 49:45 - Pete talks about weaving adventure into work for conservation, and follows up on our first conversation regarding the state of water in the western US 59:30 - Pete gives us some conservation optimism --- 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  

Rick Ridgeway is a world-renowned mountaineer and adventurer who has devoted his life to exploring some of the wildest regions of Planet Earth– from the summit of K2 to the jungles of Borneo to the mountain ranges of the American West and almost everywhere in between. Rick is also a highly regarded author, director, and producer who has written seven books and created numerous films and television shows. His newest book is titled "Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map,"-- an excellent memoir that dives deep into his adventures, friendships, environmental advocacy, and pursuit of purpose-driven work. - Rick was born and raised in California, and when he was a teenager, his mother gave him a subscription to National Geographic, which ignited his passion for climbing and adventure. Early in his climbing career, Rick ticked off some unbelievably difficult climbs around the world, most notably being the first American to summit K2. But as he grew older and more experienced in the mountains, he shifted his focus away from pursuing adventure for adventure's sake. Over time, he began to use his skills as an athlete and explorer to advance more purpose-driven causes such as wildlife conservation and environmental advocacy. Rick's commitment to living a purpose-driven life is beautifully detailed in his new book "Life Lived Wild," a book that I loved and highly recommend. - I had the pleasure of recording this conversation with Rick in person, just before a book signing at the Patagonia store in Denver. I have long admired Rick, and one of his earlier books played a huge role in my personal development, so it was an honor to have the opportunity to sit and talk with him for an hour. We started out discussing how and when he first began climbing and how he grew from an amateur climber into a world-class mountaineer. We talk a lot about mentorship– how he was mentored by climbing and environmental luminaries Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins, and how he mentored many up-and-coming climbers, including Jimmy Chin. We talk about his commitment to taking action and being a doer, his success as an entrepreneur, and his 15-year tenure leading Patagonia's sustainability initiatives. We talk about what brings Rick hope in the face of the climate crisis, how the pandemic affected him, and, as you'd expect from such a skilled writer, Rick offers tons of excellent book recommendations. - Huge thanks to Rick for taking the time to chat and to Patagonia Books for setting it all up. Meeting Rich was really a dream come true for me. I hope you enjoy. --- Rick Ridgeway Life Lived Wild: Adventures at the Edge of the Map by Rick Ridgeway Patagonia Books Episode Notes & Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/rick-ridgeway/ --- THANK YOU: This episode is brought to you thanks to the generous support of Ranchlands. Visit www.ranchlands.com to learn more or visit www.ranchlandsmerchantile.com for a large selection of high-quality western goods. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 6:00 - A thank you to Rick 7:30 - Rick describes the moment he knew what he wanted to do when he grew up 13:30 - Rick talks us through his transition from climbing just for fun to using climbing to inform larger causes 21:30 - Rick talks about mentorship and what inspires him to be that kind of friend to people 29:15 - Rick talks about his experiences on the second American expedition on Everest and the first American expedition on K2 with his mentor, Jim Whittaker 32:00 - Rick explains the “do” mentality of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Thompkins 36:45 - Rick talks about his career shift from owning his own business to a job at an established company (Patagonia) 44:45 - Rick discusses how he finds balance between a business’s larger purpose and the details in its operation 48:30 - Rick talks about hope and climate change 56:00 - Rick talks about his lessons in exploration during the pandemic 1:00:15 - Rick’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