Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Latest Episodes:

Cate Havstad-Casad, Part 2 - Building Businesses for the Greater Good Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

If you've listened to Mountain & Prairie since the early days, then I'm sure you remember Cate Havstad-Casad. She first joined me on the podcast in early 2018 for a conversation about her life and career as a hatmaker and farmer. In late 2019, she was one of the four amazing women who joined me on stage for a live podcast at the Bozeman's Ellen Theatre. And today, more than 5 years after that first conversation, she joins me once again to talk about her continued personal and professional evolution.

Over the past few years, Cate has been working at a dizzying pace, focusing on creating and building several purpose-driven businesses. She's the founder and CEO of Range Revolution, the world's first regenerative leather luggage company, as well as the co-founder of Agricultural Connections Co-Op, a regional food distribution business based in Bend, Oregon. Additionally, she and her husband, Chris, have continued to grow their organic farming business, and her hatmaking business, Havstad Hat Co., continues to grow and evolve in unexpected ways. And to top it all off, in 2021, Cate and Chris welcomed their first child into the world.

So, we had a lot to discuss! We started by talking about how Cate thinks about her work today versus five years ago, and why she feels it is important to continue to take business risks even after taking on the new responsibilities that come with parenthood. We talk a lot about Range Revolution and the Agricultural Connections Co-op, and Cate shares a ton of lessons learned from the process of founding these vastly different businesses. We discuss leadership and management, and Cate offers up some excellent books and resources that have helped her to become a better leader. We talk about fundraising, the importance of self-awareness, thinking versus doing, mentors, Wendell Berry, and our mutual love of hard work.

Cate obviously has a full schedule, so I appreciate her carving out time to chat with me. Check out the episode notes for links to her businesses and all of the resources we discuss. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy.

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Havstad Hat Co
Range Revolution
Casad Family Farms
Agricultural Connections Co-op
Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/cate-havstad-2/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED

4:00 - Comparing 2017 Cate Havstad to Cate Havstad now
8:00 - Talking about starting businesses and incurring risk later in one's career
11:15 - Discussing Range Revolution
15:00 - Where the business of Range Revolution stands
18:00 - Cate's work ethic and how she got potential business partners to take her seriously
20:45 - Cate's relationships with hard work and rest
23:45 - How Cate learned to build and manage teams in her work
27:15 - Cate's business book recommendations
30:30 - Cate's red flags in a teammate
32:00 - Discussing Agricultural Connections Co-op
34:30 - Defining a "cooperative entity" or "co-op"
36:15 - How Cate raised the money to start her co-op
38:00 - Why Cate is so good at fundraising and how she networks to that end
43:30 - Mistakes Cate made that taught valuable lessons
49:15 - Where Cate finds balance between action and reflective self-awareness
51:15 - Cate's mentors
53:45 - Cate's suggestions for Wendell Berry reads
58:00 - Other book and podcast recommendations from Cate

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe - Effecting Change Through Authentic Conversation Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a world-renowned climate scientist, professor, and Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, where she leads and coordinates the organization's scientific efforts. She is also the author of "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World," an excellent book you've likely heard me reference on the podcast. Whether you are interested in learning more about the facts, data, or projections regarding climate change, or if you are seeking guidance on how best to approach challenging conversations about climate, I highly recommend "Saving Us." It's an optimistic, solutions-oriented guidebook for finding common ground and having productive conversations.

Katharine was born and raised in Canada and has been obsessed with science, the natural world, and the universe for as long as she can remember. Her undergraduate studies focused on physics and astronomy, but as she was finishing up her degree, she happened to take a climate science course, which captured her imagination and changed the focus of her education and career. Today, Katharine is a distinguished professor at Texas Tech, a highly respected researcher, and a sought-after speaker with a TED Talk that's been viewed more than 4 million times. And to top it all off, in 2021, she joined The Nature Conservancy as its Chief Scientist.

Katharine and I met up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where she was the keynote speaker at a community event focused on climate and climate change in the Yampa Valley and beyond. Katharine and I chatted for an hour before her event, and we managed to cover a lot of ground. We discussed her book "Saving Us," her TED talk, and a concept known as "The Six Americas of Global Warming." We discuss how and why her Christian faith plays such an important role in her work to solve climate change, and she offers some common-sense, optimistic approaches to having challenging conversations with smart people who do not think that climate change is a threat. She also talks about her role at The Nature Conservancy, specific climate opportunities and challenges facing the American West, and she offers a ton of excellent book recommendations.

Thank you to Dr. Hayhoe for taking the time out of her busy schedule to chat with me, and thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy.

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Dr. Katharine Hayhoe
"Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World"
Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/katharine-hayhoe/

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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

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

3:30 - Why Dr. Hayhoe wrote "Saving Us"
5:45 - Regarding Dr. Hayhoe's TED Talk
8:15 - Discussing The Six Americas of Global Warming
12:00 - The relationship between Dr. Hayhoe's faith and climate work
17:45 - When religion and climate change dismissal historically became tied together
21:30 - Discussing the balance between fear and guilt as motivating and stagnating forces
28:00 - What surprised Dr. Hayhoe in writing the book
33:45 - Role playing how to interact with intelligent people who doubt climate science
37:30 - Applying lessons learned from COVID-19 to climate change
41:30 - Dr. Hayhoe's time as 9-year-old abroad in Columbia and how it influenced her thinking and career
46:15 - Why Dr. Hayhoe decided to work with The Nature Conservancy, and the impacts she hopes to make
50:15 - The stats Dr. Hayhoe would want to see to feel she has had an impact in five years
54:45 - The challenges and opportunities facing the arid West amidst climate change
57:00 - Dr. Hayhoe's reading habits and some books she has loved

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

Megan Torgerson - Storytelling from Rural America Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Megan Torgerson is a podcaster and the creator of Reframing Rural, a narrative podcast whose mission is to "share stories of people and places in rural America in an effort to celebrate culture, preserve history and cultivate curiosity and conversation across geographic, class and cultural divides." In just three seasons, Megan has grown Reframing Rural from a spark of an idea into a highly regarded podcast, one that has been recognized by institutions such as the Headwaters Foundation, Montana Farmers Union, Humanities Montana, and more. Personally, I have learned a ton from Megan's work, so it was an honor to have her join me on the podcast.

Megan was born and raised on the Great Plains of eastern Montana, primarily in the small town of Dagmar. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula and eventually made her way to graduate school in Seattle, where she earned her MFA. As you'll hear in this conversation, during her time in grad school, Megan began exploring the idea of a podcast that focused on rural America. Rather than getting bogged down in endless planning and idea generation, she took action, produced Season 1, and put it out into the world in spring 2020. Fast forward to today, and Megan has a team that works with her, she continues to receive wide-ranging recognition, and the show is being broadcast on several Montana radio stations.

I've known Megan for a year or so, but this was the first time I had a chance to ask her detailed questions about her journey as a storyteller. We started out talking about her upbringing in Dagmar, as well as her educational background and early career. We discuss why she decided to create a narrative podcast, and she explains the very involved process of creating a single episode. We discuss some of the issues she explores in Reframing Rural, including rural gentrification, which was the topic of one of her most recent episodes. We discuss her generosity in the podcast space, whether or not she considers herself a journalist, why she is optimistic about the future of rural America, some advice for aspiring podcasters, and she has lots of amazing book recommendations.

If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to subscribe to Reframing Rural on your favorite podcast app. Megan is committed and she's a pro, and I know that Mountain & Prairie listeners will appreciate the amazing work she's putting into the world. Enjoy!

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Reframing Rural
Reframing Rural: S3 E4: Rural Gentrification in North Idaho
Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/megan-torgerson/
Green River Course with the Ed & Freeflow Institute

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

5:30 - Megan's childhood
12:30 - What Megan hoped to do once she went to college in Missoula
15:00 - How Megan's passions inspired hard work
17:15 - Why Megan started Reframing Rural
22:00 - Why Megan produces a narrative style podcast
26:00 - When did Megan plan for podcasting to become a job
28:30 - Megan's experience with why podcasts generate such compelling stories and interviews
31:30 - Whether podcasting is a journalistic or creative endeavor for Megan, and whether she is concerned or not with "taking sides"
35:30 - An example of Megan's podcast topics
39:30 - If Megan worries about negative feedback to her show, and how she handles it
44:30 - Where Megan's generosity comes from
47:30 - What Megan is optimistic about regarding rural America
51:30 - How Megan measures success as a storyteller
53:30 - Other storytellers that Megan admires
55:15 - How to start a podcast, according to Megan
57:30 - How long the Dover episode took Megan to make
59:15 - Megan's accolades
1:02:30 - Megan's book recommendations
1:06:15 - Megan's parting words of wisdom

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Bryce Andrews, Part 2 - "Holding Fire" Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Bryce Andrews is a Montana-based rancher and writer, and he's the author of the brand new book "Holding Fire: A Reckoning with the American West." Longtime Mountain & Prairie listeners will remember my first conversation with Bryce back in 2019 when we discussed his writing, conservation work, ranching experience, and his first two books. I thoroughly enjoyed that first conversation and was so impressed with Bryce's thoughtfulness, curiosity, and humility, so I was thrilled to have him back on the podcast to discuss "Holding Fire."

"Holding Fire" is a thought-provoking memoir that explores Bryce's complicated and evolving relationship with the landscape, culture, and history of the American West. Much of the story focuses on his grandfather's Smith and Wesson revolver– a gun that he inherited and owned for many years while living and working in Montana. But despite being a committed big game hunter and owner of many guns, Bryce's feelings toward the revolver began to change. As you'll hear him explain, he eventually befriends a master blacksmith, learns to forge steel, and transforms the revolver from a gun into a tool that he now uses to plant trees on his property.

I loved the book, and it forced me to reexamine many of my baked-in notions about everything from the history of the West to my ideas about hunting for food, mental health, and the culture of the modern-day American West. We talked about why Bryce chose this particular topic for the subject of a book, his long-standing love of hunting, and why he decided to repurpose the revolver into a ranch tool. We discuss what he learned about craftsmanship from the blacksmith, the importance of converting guilt into action, and how fatherhood has changed his approach to life and work. We also talk about this summer's Old Salt Festival, he and his wife's stewardship of their ranch, and he offers up lots of excellent book recommendations.

And if you want to read and discuss a chapter of Bryce's book for free, then download the new social reading app called Threadable. I have recently partnered with Threadable to highlight and discuss a number of readings about the history of the American West, including chapters from Sara Dant's "Losing Eden," and Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz's "An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States." Threadable allows users to read portions of great books, then discuss them in a fun and interactive way. As of this recording, Threadable is only for iOS, but if you want to read a sample of Holding Fire and discuss it with the Mountain & Prairie community, follow the link in the episode notes to download the app. I've really been enjoying it.

Thanks to Bryce for another wonderful conversation, and thank you for listening. Hope you enjoy.

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"Holding Fire" by Bryce Andrews
Bryce's first M&P episode
Read & discuss Holding Fire, Chapter 6 on THREADABLE
Episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/bryce-andrews-2/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

3:00 - Bryce's process for choosing the topic of Holding Fire
6:15 - Bryce's father's choices of nonviolence during the Vietnam War
11:30 - How guns became a part of Bryce's life
13:45 - Bryce's background in hunting
18:45 - Bryce's scariest interaction with people and guns
21:45 - The problem with "tough guys with guns"
24:00 - A winter's impact on Bryce's thoughts regarding guns
29:45 - Exploring the concept of guilt 30:30 - Exploring the cultural significance of fire and firearms with women of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes
34:30 - What Bryce has done on his property since purchase
38:00 - How writing fits into Bryce's busy life
44:45 - How having a daughter has changed Bryce's work, writing, and life
48:30 - How Bryce became involved in the Old Salt Festival
51:30 - What Bryce learned about creativity from a metalsmith
54:30 - Discussing action as the antidote to despair
55:45 - Bryce's book recommendations

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Cole Mannix - Building Community through Land Stewardship and Local Food Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Cole Mannix is the President and Founder 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." Cole and his team partner with a growing number of Montana ranches, butchers, chefs, and businesses to connect customers and producers, while simultaneously encouraging and promoting a deeper understanding of land stewardship, community, and the interconnectedness of Montana landscapes.

Cole was born and raised in Montana, and he is a member of the fifth generation of the Mannix Family who has been stewarding their family ranch in Montana's Blackfoot Valley since the late 1800s. Cole has followed a fascinating educational and career path, mixing his degrees in biology, philosophy, and theology with wide-ranging work in both entrepreneurial ventures and non-proifit conservation work. And as you'll hear in this conversation, the common thread that connects all of Cole's experiences is a deep love and respect for the land and all that it can provide.

One of the most exciting projects that Cole is currently working on is the Old Salt Festival, a three-day festival taking place this June on the Mannix Ranch, just outside of Helmville, Montana. It's much more than a music festival– it's a celebration of land and land stewardship, and it will feature an eclectic mix of artists, authors, poets, storytellers, chefs and more. I'll be at the event hosting some live podcast conversations, and there will be appearances by a number of past M&P guests, including singer-songwriter Riddy Arman, author-poet Chris Dombrowski, author-rancher Bryce Andrews, and more. Novelist David James Duncan will be reading and chef Eduardo Garcia will be cooking. So we spend a lot of time discussing this event, its purpose, and how the whole idea came together.

This is a wonderful conversation about following your interests, working hard, and doing purpose-driven work that is connected to land and community. Check out the episode notes for a full list of all the topics we discussed, as well as links to the Co-op and this summer's Festival. Thanks so much to Cole for joining me, and thanks to you for listening.

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Old Salt Co-op
Old Salt Festival
Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/cole-mannix/
M&P Live Event: Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society
Support M&P via Patreon

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

3:45 - Cole explains the Mannix family tree
5:45 - Cole discusses his family history
7:45 - Overview of the Old Salt Co-op
13:00 - Cole explains what motivated him to begin the Old Salt Co-op, and describes what it was like to leave a steady job to start something uncertain
17:45 - The value proposition that sets the Old Salt Co-op apart
20:45 - The biggest obstacle/most important factor is for the business model of Old Salt Coop
27:00 - The biggest surprises in the building of Old Salt Co-op
31:00 - How he stays focused and keeps track of real progress
33:45- The Old Salt Festival in more detail, including the musical, culinary, and land stewardship talent that will be featured
40:30 - Cole dives more into his career and backstory, including his interest and study in philosophy
45:45 - His career shift from teaching to entrepreneurship
53:45 - Lessons he learned from past business difficulties and how they inform his current enterprises
57:00 - Cole discusses what he does when he isn't working
58:00 - Book recommendations
1:01:00 - Parting words of wisdom

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

Carlos Fernández, Part 2 - Creating Conservation Opportunities During Uncertain Times Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Carlos Fernández is the Colorado State Director of The Nature Conservancy, one of the most effective conservation organizations in the American West and around the globe. You probably remember Carlos from our first conversation back in August of 2020, in which we discussed his inspiring career trajectory, the importance of collaborative conservation partnerships, and several of TNC's cutting-edge initiatives throughout the West.

When we recorded that first episode, we were in the very early stages of the pandemic– a time marked by unprecedented uncertainty in almost every aspect of life. When we recorded today's episode– nearly two-and-a-half years after that first conversation– the worst of the pandemic is now behind us. Carlos was able to look back on that trying period with some perspective, discussing the many challenges and opportunities that arose from such a difficult few years. This conversation is a case study of how critical work can be produced during challenging times, and how optimism, focus, and old-fashioned teamwork can lead to lasting outcomes.

Carlos and I met up at his office in Boulder and had an in-depth conversation about TNC's conservation initiatives and collaborations over the past few years. I asked Carlos about his leadership strategies and tactics during the most intense days of the pandemic and what he and TNC learned from those challenges. We talk about Carlos's recent 2022 year-end letter and TNC Colorado's 2022 Year In Review, and we dig into several inspiring conservation victories from the past 12 months. We also revisit the Southern High Plains Initiative and the Yampa River Fund, and we discuss TNC's future plans around climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion. We also talk about this year-long partnership between TNC and Mountain & Prairie, which we are both very excited about.

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The Colorado chapter of Nature Conservancy
TNC Colorado's 2022 Year in Review
Full Episode Notes & Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/carlos-fernandez-2/
Carlos's First M&P episode

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To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

3:00 - Carlos discusses the evolution of TNC Colorado during COVID
10:00 - Why the eastern plains and grasslands of Colorado are important and such a focus area of TNC Colorado's work
12:00 - The power of partnerships in conservation work
14:45 - Why TNC Colorado feels it is important to focus on underserved and underrepresented groups in any work concerning climate change and conservation
19:30 - The importance of storytelling in conservation work
23:00 - How he and TNC prioritizes the focal points of their work, including who he seeks council from
30:45 - What he is excited about for TNC Colorado moving forward
33:30 - How he evaluates difficult choices and newest trends in conservation to ensure action is intentional and not controlled by external trends (not chasing every shiny object)
36:30 - What he thinks TNC Colorado's role is in the state's overall conservation sector, returning again to the importance of partnership and collaboration in this field
44:00 - The Yampa River Fund and updates us on its progress
49:45 - TNC's relationships with businesses
53:00 - Advice for folks looking to work in conservation
56:00 - Carlos and Ed talk about the upcoming podcast series that Mountain & Prairie will be conducting with TNC Colorado
59:45 - Book recommendations
1:01:45 - Parting words of wisdom

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

Christian Beamish - West Coast Craftsman Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Christian Beamish is a writer, craftsman, surfboard shaper, and all-around adventurer who lives and works between Ventura and Carpinteria, California. He's the author of one of my favorite books– "The Voyage of the Cormorant"– which tells his deeply personal story of building an open-hulled boat by hand and then sailing it down the Baja Peninsula alone, surfing and camping along the way. He's also the owner of Surfboards California, where he hand-shapes a wide variety of custom boards for surfers of all skill levels.

Christian grew up in California, and for as long as he can remember, he's been connected to the ocean and committed to building things. He's lived an adventurous life that included a stint in the military, surf trips to the far reaches of the globe, and sailing trips up and down the Pacific Coast. And in addition to his work shaping surfboards and writing, he's also a committed husband, father, and community member. I greatly admire how Christian manages to balance all of these sometimes-competing roles, and I gained a lot of valuable perspective from this conversation.

I met up with Christian in Carpinteria, just a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean, in a building that is home to several surfboard shapers and various creative folks. I've admired Christian's writing for over a decade, so it was a dream come true to have the opportunity to spend the morning with him. We covered a ton in this hour-long conversation– his lifelong connection to the ocean and craftsmanship, lessons learned from the military, how he developed his skill for writing, his amazing book "Voyage of the Cormorant," fatherhood, dealing with intense emotions, the craft of shaping surfboards, favorite books and authors, and much more. You can check out the episode notes for a list of all the topics we discussed and links to everything.

A huge thanks to Christian for welcoming me into his shop, and thanks to all of you for listening. Hope you enjoy.

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Christian Beamish
Surfboards California
"The Voyage of the Cormorant" by Christian Beamish
Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/christian-beamish/
Ed's 2023 Strenuous Life Retreat

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

4:00 - Christian talks about where he grew up
9:15 - What influenced his desire to build things
10:15 - Christian's relationship to work
12:30 - His writing practice and talks about when writing came into his life
16:00 - Christian tangles with how his literary interests and writing reconcile with his service in the US Navy
17:15 - Overview of his book, The Voyage of the Cormorant
24:45 - Christian reflects on the person he was when he started the voyage that inspired his book
27:30 - The inner challenges he experienced during his voyage
31:30 - His strategies for dealing with emotional challenges
33:00 - How having kids has affected his life
38:45 - Christian describes the surfboards he designs
43:00 - His transition from more standard surfing to big wave surfing
50:45 - Christian and Ed briefly discuss skiing
54:30 - Book recommendations, and a discussion of his family's history
1:01:00 - Parting words of advice for budding crafters and creators

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

Jess Mudgett - Humble & Grateful Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

Jess Mudgett is an artist, skater, surfer, and occasional ranch hand who specializes in one-of-a-kind designs that appear everywhere from murals in the rural West to the Yeti offices in downtown Austin. Fans of Jess's work can spot his art from a mile away– he's known for bold, often-times big portrayals of western landscapes, horses, birds, people, and more, all presented in a style that is uniquely his own. If you're not familiar with Jess's art, I'd encourage you to visit his Instagram page while listening– there's a link in the notes for you to click through.

Jess was raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, and grew up obsessed with and fully committed to skateboarding. While attending art school in Portland, he dropped out to go on a professionally funded skate trip, which ultimately led to getting his foot in the door with the art department of a skate company. After a few years, Jess returned to school to earn his degree, and his path as a professional artist was set. Currently, Jess is based in Portland, but spends big portions of the year traveling the West in his truck, creating art for a wide variety of well-known companies and individuals.

Jess and I met up at my house in Colorado Springs and had a fun conversation about his life as an artist. We started out discussing his upbringing in Fort Collins and how skating and art became the focus of his life. We discuss his creative process, his partnerships with popular brands, and his relationship with the renowned photographer (and past podcast guest) Chris Burkard. Jess describes his time working on Mark Carter's Wyoming ranch, his lifestyle of living on the road, how he pushes through self-doubt, his love of tattoos, and some of the artists who have inspired him over the years. And what I loved most about this conversation was Jess's overall vibe of deep gratitude and true humility– I think you'll be inspired by his approach to life and art.

And as a surprise, Jess created a special Mountain & Prairie design that I know you'll love– I sure do. I'm going to be offering this design on special edition t-shirts, stickers, and coffee mugs in the Mountain & Prairie shop. If you want to check out the collection, follow the link in the notes. It's an awesome design, and I'm honored that Jess took the time to create such a unique piece just for Mountain & Prairie listeners.

Once again, thanks for taking the time to listen. I hope you enjoy this conversation with the great Jess Mudgett.

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Jess on Instagram
SHOP: Jess Mudgett x M&P
Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/jess-mudgett/
Writers for the Wild with David Gessner and Craig Childs

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

4:10 – Jess discusses growing up and the role his parents played in his childhood
6:00 – Jess talks about how skateboarding became a part of his life and art
7:15 – Jess discusses the next step in his life after high school: going to art school
13:45 – Jess and Ed talk about surfing
16:30 – Jess discusses his life after art school, including how he worked his way into NHS skate company
23:30 – Jess talks about his current lifestyle, including living out of his truck
26:45 – Jess discusses his stint working on a ranch at the beginning of COVID, as well as how it changed him
31:15 – Jess talks about how he manages his creative time
35:30 – Jess discusses his relationship with Chris Burkard, as well as why he thinks Chris has been so successful
41:45 – Jess talks about tattoos becoming a part of his life
43:45 – Jess describes his art as he sees it today
44:30 – Jess talks about the artists who inspire him
47:15 – Jess discusses self-criticism in his work
47:45 – Jess talks about how his relationship with Yeti began
51:00 – Jess talks about the times in his artistic career when he has felt like quitting
53:45 – Jess's advice for your creatives
58:45 – Jess's book recommendations
1:00:30 – Jess's parting words of wisdom

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

BONUS EPISODE: Kate Matheson & The Ranchlands Podcast Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

If you're a Mountain & Prairie Patreon supporter, then you probably already know that I recently began hosting another podcast for my friends at Ranchlands. It's called the Ranchlands Podcast, and it features conversations with members of the Ranchlands community. As of today, we're about ten episodes in, and we feel very grateful that the podcast has been well-received and shared widely.

For those of you who have not listened to it, I wanted to share one episode here on Mountain & Prairie. This one features my conversation with Kate Matheson, who is the ranch manager of the Zapata Ranch located in Colorado's San Luis Valley. Kate was born and raised in England and enjoyed a successful career in publishing and fashion before picking up and heading to the American West. It's a cool story.

This was a fun, inspiring conversation that I know will resonate with Mountain & Prairie listeners. If you want to listen to more of the Ranchlands Podcast, you can subscribe to it using the link in the notes or wherever you get your podcasts.

And if you want to hang out with Kate and me at the Zapata Ranch this upcoming summer, I encourage you to check out my second annual Strenuous Life Retreat, which takes place in August of 2023. It's five full days of adventure, learning, conversation, and camaraderie, all in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt's commitment to living the Strenuous Life.

The 2022 retreat was a huge success: We hiked high into the Sangre de Cristo Range, rode horses in Great Sand Dunes National Park and alongside bison and elk on the Medano Ranch. We had discussions about conservation and regenerative agriculture with expert guests, we started each day with strenuous exercise and ended each day with top-notch dinners and a campfire.

The retreat is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to spend five days with a like-minded crew, immersed in one of the West's most spectacular landscapes, pushing yourself hard both physically and intellectually.

But now, without further delay, here's episode nine of the Ranchlands Podcast, featuring the one-and-only Kate Matheson.

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

4:20 - Kate's history with horses
10:00 - School and career post-high school
14:40 - Breaking into the magazine business
20:45 - Kate's impression of the US before moving here
22:45 - Moving to Montana
28:00 - How did Montana change Kate?
32:40 - Quitting her job and moving back to Montana
36:00 - Meeting the Phillips family
41:54 - Beginning work at Ranchlands
44:15 - How Kate combines her passions with her career
50:00 - Life-changing experiences at Zapata
54:20 - Why should city dwellers care about the land
55:25 - Misconceptions about ranching
56:45 - Resources
57:40 - Sources of hope

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Live with the Cowboy Artists of America Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

This is a special episode that was recorded live in Fort Worth, Texas as part of the Cowboy Artists of America's 56th annual exhibition and sale. The show was called "Stories From Around The Campfire," and it was held at the world-renowned Amon Carter Musem of American Art. I was joined on stage by seven influential members CAA community, and we had a panel discussion about the rich history and bright future of the organization. As you'll hear, the event was partly an in-depth, educational discussion about the history of the CAA and western art markets, with the other part being hilarious stories from the organization's past 56 years.

This event was the brainchild of CAA member and my good friend Teal Blake, who joined me on the podcast several years ago. Sitting on stage with me for the event were Fred Fellows, Jody Beeler, Bill Nebeker, Seth Hopkins, Tim Newton, Red Steagall, and Bruce Greene, all of whom are legends in the western art world– you can read more about all of them using the links in the episode notes. Each of these gentlemen brought a unique perspective and distinct experiences to the conversation. But across the board, they all share a deep love of the West, authentic artistic humility, and unwavering respect for the legacy of the CAA.

This conversation winds in and out of many fascinating (and sometimes hilarious) topics. We had great discussions about the creative process, the idea of fully committing to the life of an artist, and how mentorship plays a huge role in the artist's journey. We discussed the CAA's unprecedented longevity in the art world, and how the group's annual trail ride plays an important role in building friendships and strong bonds between the artists. We talk about how the CAA selects new members, and how the organization has evolved artistically over the decades. There is no lack of sense of humor among these guys, so they share plenty of crazy stories about the pranks and practical jokes that they've played on each other over the past 56 years. You can hear from the audience's laughter that everyone in the auditorium was having a great time.

I was honored to share a stage with these seven men, and I greatly appreciate Teal inviting me to be a part of such a special few days. Hope you enjoy!

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Cowboy Artists of America
Episode Notes and Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/caa/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

2:40 - Introduction and gratitude
4:55 - Fred Fellows' journey from Northrop Aircraft to professional artist
13:20 - Jody talks about Joe Beeler's focus and work ethic
15:40 - Bill Nebeker tells one of his world-famous jokes
18:40 - Bill discusses mentorship and art education for the next generation
25:40 - Seth Hopkins discusses the CAA's longevity in the art world
28:10 - Tim Newton discusses how the CA began his journey in the art world
33:10 - Red Stegall talks about his deep respect for the CAA
38:40 - Bruce Greene discusses the balance of being an individual with being a member of a brotherhood of artists
46:25 - Fred discusses the CA trail ride
49:40 - Crazy pranks and funny stories from the trail ride
1:00:40 - What are the criteria for joining the CAA?
1:05:55 - What does the future of the CAA look like?
1:07:40 - Early days of selling western art, before there was a robust western art market
1:10:40 - How does CA pick trail ride locations
1:12:55 - How the CA built the western art market
1:16:10 - How the CA thinks about finding new artists in the future

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