Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Latest Episodes:

Christian Beckwith - Building a Conservation Coalition Feb 14, 2017

Show notes

Christian Beckwith is the executive director of SHIFT, a Jackson Hole-based non-profit that is building a powerful coalition to protect our nation's public lands. By bringing together climbers, skiers, hunters, anglers, land managers, and countless other stakeholders, SHIFT is finding common ground and harnessing these groups' collective power to ensure that public lands—our birthright as Americans—remain safe during this tenuous time in political history. • After a distinguished career in the publishing world which included editing the American Alpine Journal and co-founding Alpinist Magazine, Christian experienced a profound change in priorities when one of his close friends was killed by an avalanche in the Teton backcountry. At that point, Christian decided to focus his resources and energy exclusively on work that makes a "substantive difference in the world." From there he founded the Center for Jackson Hole, SHIFT, and, most recently, the Emerging Leaders Program which brings together a diverse group of early career leaders in conservation. • Christian's career is inspiring in many ways, but I especially admire his willingness to set audacious goals, put himself on the line, and not wait around for permission to make things happen. We dig into all of these topics in our hour-long conversation, and he shares some interesting insights into his career and the future of conservation. We also discuss Christian's early childhood experiences that led him to a career focused on adventure and the outdoors, and he talks about his relationship with Yvon Chiounard and how Chiounard has influenced him both personally and professionally. We chat about Christian's favorite books, documentaries, and how fatherhood has focused his thinking on the importance of conservation. There's a full list of the topics we discuss in the episode notes. • Given the current fights surrounding our public lands, this is a timely and powerful episode. I hope this conversation spurs you to continue educating yourself on threats to our public lands and to take appropriate action to protect them. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/christian-beckwith/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:40 - How Christian describes his work 5:10 - Changing demographics in conservation 8:30 - Genesis of the idea for SHIFT 13:00 - Avalanche in Apocalypse Couloir 15:20 - Christian's decision to shift from publishing to conservation 18:00 - Evolution of SHIFT 20:30 - Importance of encouraging people to fall in love with wild places 21:40 - Overview of the current public land debate 25:40 - How becoming a father changed Christian's mindset 28:20 - Collaborating with non-traditional partners of recreation 31:20 - Defining the word "conservation" 31:50 - Conservation heroes and Yvon Chouinard 35:50 - The importance of Chouinard's internal compass 40:45 - Childhood experiences that led to a career centered around the outdoors 43:10 - First experiences climbing 45:40 - Advice to his younger self 49:30 - Favorite books 51:30 - Favorite documentaries 52:30 - Unexpected activities 54:00 - Christian's most powerful outdoor experience 58:00 - Christian's request of the listeners 59:00 - Connect with Christian and SHIFT online

Tyler Sharp - The Sportsman Storyteller Feb 07, 2017

Show notes

Tyler Sharp is an adventurer, sportsman, conservationist, and world traveler with a gift for telling stories through images and words. While he may be best known for his photography focusing on Americana and Western lifestyle, travel, and adventure, Tyler has built a substantial resume that includes filmmaking, directing, writing, and creative strategy. His work has taken him to some of the most spectacular and far-flung regions of the globe, with an emphasis on East Africa, Montana, and his home state of Texas. • As a devoted hunter and fisherman, Tyler has chased game in some of the world's wildest regions, giving him a global perspective on the importance of natural resources, game management, and sustainable hunting practices. As you'll hear in our conversation, Tyler has thought deeply about the practical and ethical implications of hunting and fishing both abroad and here in the American West. His sincere devotion to conservation and adventure shines through in his work and has made him the go-to photographer for iconic brands such as Filson, Cabelas, and Stetson, to name a few. • Tyler and I met up in Estes Park, Colorado, just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, for a fun conversation that could have gone on for hours. We discussed his beginnings as a professional photographer, which began in earnest when he moved to East Africa just out of college—he's got some intense stories from his travels that include run-ins with lions and leopards. We covered his thoughts on conservation, and how his time traveling abroad has given him a clearer understanding of conservation issues facing the American West. Then the conversation took an unexpected but interesting turn when we chatted about his commitment to Kung Fu (yes, Kung Fu!), meditation, and eastern philosophy. • Be sure to check out the episode notes for the full list of topics covered, because we touch on a lot. This is a wide-ranging conversation that takes many surprising twists and turns. Hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/tyler-sharp/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:40 - How Tyler describes his work 3:40 - Tyler's niche in the creative world 4:25 - Tyler's background 5:35 - Heading to Los Angeles from Texas for college 7:00 - Post college adventures in Africa 8:10 - The shock of moving to Tanzania from LA 10:30 - Learning how to "grease the wheels" in Africa 11:25 - How time in Africa changed Tyler 13:20 - Threat of people versus wildlife 14:10 - Craziest experience in Africa (spoiler alert - it involves a lion!) 20:40 - Showdown with a leopard 22:20 - Transition from Africa to American West 24:15 - His choice to focus in on his passion 26:30 - Specific actions that have allowed Tyler to separate himself from the competition 31:10 - Tyler's personal brand 32:00 - Tyler's conservation ethic 35:00 - Discussion about conservation and hunting 39:00 - Hunters and others coming together to save public lands 40:00 - Details on The Modern Huntsman 41:55 - Blowback from posting hunting photos online 44:35 - Importance of having conversations versus fighting 46:30 - Tyler's definition of "conservation" 50:00 - Kung Fu and other martial arts 52:50 - Physical and mental benefits of Kung Fu 56:00 - Favorite books 1:00:50 - Advice to take better landscape photos 1:03:50 - Favorite place in the West 1:05:30 - Tyler's request of the listeners 1:09:50 - Connect with Tyler online

Connor Coleman - How to Build a Meaningful Life in the West Dec 22, 2016

Show notes

Connor Coleman is the founder of Resiliency Lands, a progressive, conservation-minded land management and advisory group committed to promoting ecological and resource resiliency. Prior to starting Resiliency Lands, he held a variety of positions closely connected to the land, jobs that would be on the wish-list of anyone who loves adventure and the American West—wildland firefighter, cowboy, bison manager, and conservationist, just to name a few. Connor is currently based in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley, and he resides on a spectacular ranch just outside of Carbondale. • You may be surprised to learn that Connor was not born and raised in the West or on ranches. On the contrary, he grew up in Ohio, went to college in North Carolina, and after paying his dues in east coast conservation and earning two master's degrees from Duke, he headed West to focus his energy on western landscapes. Thanks to an insatiable curiosity, a rock-solid work ethic, a service mindset, and a willingness to insert himself into new and uncomfortable situations, Connor has carved out a professional niche for himself in Colorado doing rewarding, exciting, and important work. • Connor's education and unconventional career path can serve as a great blueprint for anyone who loves the American West and wants a life centered around land, conservation, and natural resources. When I was in my early twenties, I would've loved to meet a guy like Connor who could point me in the right direction. So in this episode, we talk in depth about his career and his ability to "put himself out there" to create exciting professional opportunities. We dig deep into his thoughts on conservation in the West, as well as issues related to forest fires throughout the country. Connor loves to read and learn, so he also has tons of great book and film recommendations. • We cover a ridiculous amount of information, so be sure to check out the episode notes for the full list of topics we discuss. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/connor-coleman/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:32 - How Connor describes his work 3:55 - Importance of conserving working ranches 7:55 - Grazing as an important part of conservation 13:40 - Examples of some of Resiliency Land's projects 16:35 - Where did Connor grow up? 18:50 - Connor's decision to make conservation a career 22:45 - Brief history of NC barbecue 25:00 - Early career in conservation 29:10 - Grad school at Duke 30:30 - Difference between conservation in NC versus CO 32:20 - How easterners misunderstand public lands in the west 33:30 - Time as a wildland firefighter 36:30 - Fire policy in the east versus west 40:00 - Longleaf pine book recommendations 41:15 - Adventures at Camp Lejeune 42:20 - Moving out west to work on ranches 45:40 - Challenges of adjusting to the demands of ranch work 48:30 - Working with bison on the Zapata Ranch 49:50 - Bison and bison book recommendations 55:20 - Transition to the Aspen Valley Land Trust 59:20 - Lesson learned working in conservation in different parts of country 1:01:20 - Thoughts on service and giving back to the community 1:06:15 - Favorite books about the American West 1:10:15 - Favorite films 1:12:50 - Surprising activities 1:14:35 - Craziest experience in the outdoors 1:18:45 - Favorite place in the West 1:20:20 - Biggest challenge facing the West 1:23:00 - Connor's request of the listeners 1:25:15 - Connect with Connor online 1:25:55 - Bonus book recommendations!

Taylor Keen - Tribal Truth Seeker Dec 16, 2016

Show notes

Taylor Keen is a teacher, community builder, and Native American thought leader based out of Omaha, Nebraska. His back story is as diverse as it is impressive—he's a member of both the Omaha Tribe and the Cherokee Nation, attended Dartmouth College (BA) and Harvard University (Masters of Public Policy, MBA), and enjoyed a successful stint in corporate America before returning to Nebraska to teach entrepreneurship and management at Creighton University. His most recent undertaking is Sacred Seed, a project with the goal of preserving Native American heritage and history through collecting, growing, and spreading the seeds of corn and other traditional Native American foods. • The writer Wallace Stegner theorized that people generally fit into one of two categories—"Boomers" or "Stickers." Boomers are "those who pillage and run" and want "to make a killing and end up on Easy Street." Stickers are just the opposite—they are "motivated by affection, by such a love for place and its life that they want to preserve it and remain in it." Taylor is the walking embodiment of a Sticker. Given his drive, intelligence, and education, he could've followed the path of the Boomer and pursued any number of careers. But a deep love of his Native American heritage and his community called him back home to teach, lead, and live a life devoted to service of others. It's an inspiring story. • I could've talked to Taylor for hours and I only asked about a third of the questions I had prepared, but we still managed to dig into a wide variety of fascinating topics. We discussed the history and mission of Sacred Seed and where he sees the project going in the future. We talked about his path from the West to the Ivy League, the decisions that led him to transition from corporate America to higher education, and some very interesting Native American history. One of my favorite parts of our conversation was Taylor's recounting the advice he received from his grandfather soon after graduating from Harvard Business School. • This was a very enlightening conversation for me, and I greatly appreciate Taylor taking the time to chat. I encourage you to visit the Sacred Seed website and watch the video—you can find links to everything we discuss in the episode notes on the webpage. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/taylor-keen/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED 2:55 - How Taylor describes his work 4:00 - Sacred Seed Project 5:35 - Early beginnings of Sacred Seed 9:00 - Discovering the importance of seed banking 10:00 - Threats to native seeds from large corporations 11:45 - Difference between Omahas and Cherokees 13:50 - How Taylor found his first ancient seeds 15:55 - How the plants compliment each other, Four Sisters 20:45 - How Sacred Seed has changed Taylor 22:40 - The link between elders and the ancient ways of planting 25:30 - Fall festival 26:45 - Future plans for Sacred Seed 29:20 - Taylor's changing approach to the project—MBA to Holistic thinking 33:45 - Similarities between Sacred Seed and the reintroduction of bison 36:45 - The fight for sustainable agriculture 37:10 - Meaning of Omaha 38:10 - Where Taylor grew up 39:00 - Taylor's journey to the Ivy League 41:15 - Biggest surprise when moving east 43:55 - Harvard graduate school and corporate America 45:35 - Taylor's grandfather's wise advice 49:25 - Discussing Sebastian Junger's Tribe 51:00 - Taylor's thoughts on the importance of tribes 53:50 - Best books for learning about Native American culture 56:45 - Taylor's advice to his younger self 58:00 - Other favorite books 1:02:50 - Taylor's request of the audience 1:06:00 - Connect with Taylor online

Camrin Dengel – Slow Living in the American West Nov 23, 2016

Show notes

Camrin Dengel is a professional lifestyle photographer who lives and works on the quiet side of the Teton Mountain Range in Teton Valley, Idaho. Her work focuses on a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture, hunting, fishing, and life in and around her mountain community. In her work and leisure, Camrin is a devoted proponent of slow living, and she strives to approach her profession and life in a manner that is intentional, simple, meaningful, and positive. • Growing up in Valdez, Alaska gave Camrin a unique perspective and toughness (she calls it "stubbornness") that have allowed her to pursue her passion for art full time, while staying true to her ideals and enjoying a slow-living lifestyle. She attended college on a running scholarship with the intention of becoming an engineer, but decided midway through that art and photography were her true calling. After graduation, she moved straight to Teton Valley where she has built a life and business centered around documenting the people and places that make the American West such a special place to live. • I've spent a lot of time in Teton Valley and can honestly say that Camrin's work captures the landscapes and lifestyle more authentically than any artist I've ever seen. She is obviously a talented photographer, but she is also a super-interesting person who has managed to sidestep a good deal of the "busyness" and distractions that dominate many of our lives. In our conversation, we discuss her career trajectory, and also her love for the community of Teton Valley. We dig deep into the idea of slow living, and she offers some thoughts on ways for people to adopt a slower, more intentional lifestyle. As usual, we discuss favorite books, documentaries, and challenges and opportunities facing the American West. • This is a really fun episode full of lots of great info. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/camrin-dengel/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:30 - How Camrin describes her work 3:50 - Good example of Camrin's work 5:30 - Teton Valley explained 7:25 - How she ended up in Teton Valley 8:30 - Transition from adventure photography to lifestyle 9:50 - Thoughts on slow living 10:45 - Ways to live slowly as effortlessly as possible 13:25 - Being intentional with social media 14:20 - Advice for adopting a slower lifestyle 15:30 - Growing up in Alaska 16:35 - Unique aspects of growing up in Alaska 18:50 - How Alaska shaped Camrin's perspective 20:05 - College years in California 21:15 - From engineer student to artist 23:15 - Time with the Alaska Marine Conservation Council 24:35 - Similarities between fisherman, ranchers, and farmers 27:10 - Camrin's definition of conservation 28:00 - Thoughts on fishing and hunting 31:45 - How Camrin developed the confidence to follow her passion 33:15 - Role models and mentors 35:10 - Other possible career paths 36:45 - Advice to aspiring photographers 39:00 - Photography advice 40:30 - Book recomendations 41:20 - Slow living resources 42:45 - Favorite documentaries 44:20 - Surprising activities 48:00 - Favorite place 49:20 - Ideas for off the beaten path experiences in Alaska 51:00 - The insanity of the Mt. Marathon 55:15 - Biggest challenge facing the American West 57:30 - Request of the listeners 58:50 - Connect with Camrin online

Jason Schlarb - Service, Adventure, and Ultra-Endurance Nov 17, 2016

Show notes

Jason Schlarb is a champion ultrarunner whose notable achievements include winning the Hardrock 100 (2016) and Run Rabbit Run 100 (2013 & 2015), as well as finishing as the top American in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (4th place, 2014). He is also an accomplished adventurer who, among other things, has skied the entire Hardrock 100 course in winter and explored remote regions of Patagonia and New Zealand, all while filming his exploits and then creating engaging, authentic films though his company Schlarb-Wolf Productions. Most impressively, Jason is a veteran who served for 10 years as an officer in the United States Air Force, which included a five-month deployment to Iraq and his earning the rank of Major. • A competitive soccer player for most of his youth, Jason made the switch to running relatively late in the game when he joined the cross country team as a high school senior. But his natural talent for endurance combined with a relentless competitive streak allowed him to walk on to a Division I cross country team, where he excelled throughout his college career. After years of focusing exclusively on road races ranging from 10Ks to marathons, he made the switch to trail running and has never looked back. Jason, his wife Maggie, and son Felix have shaped their lives around the pursuit of a purpose-driven, rewarding, and adventurous lifestyle, and they currently reside on the southern end of Colorado's San Juan Mountains, just outside of Durango. • Jason is a fascinating guy with an infectiously positive attitude, which made for a fun and in-depth conversation. We cover a broad range of topics, including his athletic background, his journey to ultrarunning, and some of his adventures around the world. We discuss his time in the military and how those 10 years of service affect his outlook and approach to sports and life. We chat about his thoughts on competition, mental toughness, and the benefits of positive thinking. Whether you're an athlete or not, there are huge amounts of wisdom to be gleaned from Jason's experiences and perspective. • This was a fun conversation and I really appreciate Jason taking the time to chat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/jason-schlarb/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:48 - How Jason describes his work 4:05 - The Hardrock 100 6:30 - Hardrock 100 course and the San Juan Mountains 10:00 - Jason's early life, growing up as an athlete 12:30 - Transition from soccer to running 13:45 - Balancing competition against others with competition against himself 15:24 - College running career 18:00 - Benefits of a tough college coach 18:35 - Transition from college to the US Air Force 20:00 - Motivations for joining the military 21:10 - Experiences in the military 21:50 - Deployment in Iraq 22:40 - Life post-military 23:30 - Transition to trail running 25:45 - Biggest surprise during Jason's first ultra 27:00 - Military lessons applied to running 30:20 - Mental aspects of running 100 milers 34:35 - Jason's transition to a positive, smiling mental approach 38:20 - Maggie Schlarb's influence on Jason's training 39:50 - Coaching a positive mindset 41:40 - The appeal of endurance sports 42:45 - Jason's annual adventures and films—Skiing the Hardrock, New Zealand, etc. 48:45 - Thoughts on conservation 53:00 - Favorite books 55:00 - Favorite films 57:20 - "Fight Club" and thoughts on the origins of Jason's lifestyle 1:01:20 - Most powerful outdoor experiences 1:05:30 - Jason's request of the listeners 1:07:50 - Connect with Jason online

Larry Yaw - Creating a Sense of Place in the New West Nov 03, 2016

Show notes

Larry Yaw is a renowned architect based in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley whose work connects people with nature using contemporary, sustainable, conservation-focused designs. Growing up in rural Montana gave Larry a deep appreciation for the utilitarian character of ranch homes and their thoughtful integration into the landscape, aspects that form the foundation of much of his work today. Through his design, Larry has demonstrated a unique ability to pay homage to the past while boldly pushing beyond preconceived notions of architecture in the American West. • If I had to use one word to describe Larry it would probably be "adventurous"—a quest for adventure seems to guide all aspects of his professional and personal lives. As you'll hear in our conversation, Larry has traveled the world many times over, sometimes with his full family in tow, seeking out enriching experiences everywhere from the South Pacific to the Swiss Alps. He is also intellectually adventurous, as evidenced by his deep knowledge of history, conservation, Native Americans, and many other subjects related to the West and beyond. Physical adventures are a daily occurrence for Larry, whether it's pedaling single track, stalking trout with his fly rod, hiking in the high mountains around Aspen, or shooting birds on the Montana prairies. All of these experiences provide the fuel that keeps Larry's creative engine firing at turbo speed, decade after decade. • This was a super-fun conversation, and I came away from it inspired and enlightened. We discussed a broad range of topics including Larry's architecture, his creative process, and how he has managed to stay consistently creative for so long. We chatted about his early years in Montana, some of his adventures around the world, and his thoughts on conservation in the American West. Larry is a true student of the West, so he had plenty of book recommendations. There is a lot of great information in this interview, so don't forget to check the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/larry-yaw/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:45 - How Larry describes his work 3:40 - Larry describes his architecture 5:00 - Montana's influence on Larry's work 7:20 - Early years in Montana and Florida 9:00 - College years and path to graduate school 13:25 - Post-grad school early career 15:15 - Decision to move back West 16:30 - Origins of Larry's adventurous outlook 22:00 - International travel's influence on his work 23:55 - Around the world family trip 25:05 - Adventures on Aconcagua 26:22 - Cultural influences of travel 27:10 - Rugged individualism versus community 29:00 - Design for an active, mountain-inspired lifestyle 30:20 - Process versus goals 32:45 - His creative process 34:40 - Evolution of Larry's work 36:30 - Thoughts on conservation 38:30 - Interactions with Native Americans 41:00 - Sustainability and design 42:30 - Interactions with the Blackfeet Tribe 46:30 - "Once Proud" painting series 48:30 - Recommended books on Native Americans 51:15 - Larry's favorite books 55:20 - Favorite documentaries 56:50 - Favorite outdoor and artistic activities 1:01:25 - Craziest outdoor experience 1:04:00 - Favorite location in the West 1:06:45 - Biggest challenge/opportunity facing the West 1:08:55 - Advice to his younger self 1:12:10 - Larry's request to the listeners 1:13:50 - Connect with Larry online

Pat O'Toole - Six Generations of Balanced Ranch Stewardship Oct 25, 2016

Show notes

Pat O'Toole is a rancher who, along with his family, owns and operates the Ladder Ranch, a large-scale cattle and sheep operation that straddles the Colorado-Wyoming border. Pat's wife Sharon's family established the ranch in the Little Snake River Valley back in 1881, and now, six generations later, the family's hard work, thoughtful vision, and a deep respect for the land have made the Ladder Ranch a shining example of the combined effect of productive agriculture and land conservation. • Pat's background is far outside of the norm for many multi-generational ranchers—he grew up in south Florida, majored in philosophy in college, and just before he and his wife enrolled in law school, they decided to return to her family's land to continue in the family business of ranching. Since then, the O'Tooles have not only run a financially successful operation, but they have simultaneously improved wildlife, bird, and fish habitat throughout the ranch. By thinking outside the box and partnering with both non-profit and governmental organizations, the Ladder Ranch has set a new standard for conservation, creative problem solving, and sustainable land stewardship. • We had a fun, in-depth conversation that covered a wide variety of topics that will be of interest to anyone who loves the West, whether you're involved in ranching or not. We discuss Pat's thoughts on cooperation between ranchers and environmentalists, and how the relationship between the two groups is getting stronger and more positive every year. We chat about water in the West, and why it is important to keep water on ranches rather than being sold off to municipalities. We also dig into Pat's unconventional background, his thoughts on the future of land conservation, and of course, favorite books, history, and his favorite location in the West. • Pat is an interesting guy who has thought very deeply on issues related to the American West, including conservation, water, and agriculture. There's a lot of great information in this interview, so I hope you enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/pat-otoole/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:59 - How Pat describes his work 3:41 - History of the Ladder Ranch 4:45 - Discussion of the Homestead Act's effect on settlement 9:07 - Cooperation between ranchers and environmentalists 9:55 - Benefits of grazing cattle and sheep 11:00 - Rotational grazing on the Ladder Ranch 11:55 - Importance of not breaking up ranches 13:00 - "Hopefuls" and "Hatefuls" 14:28 - The "Era of Limits" 19:00 - Pat's personal background 21:55 - TR's creation of Forest Service 23:28 - Amazing feats of past generations 26:00 - Ingraining the conservation ethic in children 28:10 - Pat's role models 30:36 - The Ladder Ranch's community of conservationists 33:00 - Importance of keeping water on ranches 37:00 - Flood irrigation explained 41:25 - Importance of keeping water our current water law in tact 42:30 - Leopold Conservation Award 44:00 - Endangered Species Act 46:50 - Favorite books 49:42 - Ferry Carpenter's ranch library 50:15 - Favorite movies 53:40 - Craziest experience in the outdoors 54:50 - Favorite location in the West 55:22 - History of Battle Creek 57:40 - Pat's request of the listeners 58:50 - Connect with the Ladder Ranch online

Joe Grant - Self-Powered Alpine Adventurer Sep 21, 2016

Show notes

Joe Grant is a highly accomplished professional ultra-runner and all-around endurance athlete who has completed some of the endurace world's most challenging events—several Hardrock 100s, UTMB 100, Western States 100, and Bighorn 100, as well as the Arizona Trail Race (750 miles on mountain bike), Iditarod Trail Invitational 350, and many, many more. He most recently completed the "Tour de 14ers," a solo, self-supported and self-powered link-up of all of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains, by bicycle and on foot. For those of you counting, that's climbing 57 fourteeners, accessed all by bike, in 31 days. • But Joe's career as a professional athlete makes up only a small portion of his personal identity. He is a talented writer and photographer, as well as a voracious reader. He was born in England and grew up in France, so he has a global perspective that gives him a unique point of view. He is obviously driven to pursue challenging goals, yet he has always been focused more on the process than the end result. Joe's athletic achievements seem to combine his desire for continued personal growth with a genuine love of wild places and a strong conservation ethic. • Because he has such a depth of knowledge on so many interesting subjects, talking with Joe solely about running would only begin to scratch the surface. So after a rundown of his recent 14er adventure, we went deep into his thoughts on adventure, endurance, and pushing one's personal boundaries. He talked about his upbringing and how family and friends have helped shape his outlook on life, giving him the confidence to pursue an unconvential, yet extremely fulfilling lifestyle. We of course talked a lot about books, as well as goal setting, daily practices, and his thoughts on conservation. • I'm obviously biased, but I loved this conversation and really appreciate Joe taking the time to chat. I encourage you to check him out on social media, and read some of his columns. If you like people who are passionate, humble, deep-thinking, and all-around interesting, you'll enjoy getting to know Joe. Enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/joe-grant/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - How Joe describes his work 5:00 - Tour de 14ers 7:30 - Thoughts on choosing to travel by bike 8:20 - Self supported bike-packing ethic explained 10:00 - High points of the trip 11:08 - Thoughts on expedition preparation 12:45 - First days of the Tour de 14ers 15:45 - Various challenges during the trip 17:33 - Low point of the trip 20:30 - Techniques for digging out of fatigue-enduced "dark places" 21:25 - Arizona Trail Race 22:45 - More on pushing through fatigue 24:25 - Parallels between mediation and endurance sports 26:41 - Benefits of observing your mind and body from an outside perspective 28:25 - Personal growth through endurance sports 30:20 - Goal oriented versus process/moment oriented 32:40 - Comfort versus happiness 36:30 - Joe's early years in Europe 37:15 - How living internationally shaped Joe's perspective 39:10 - Benefits of gap year travel 43:10 - Lessons learned from international living 44:10 - Story behind Joe's mother running a 100-miler 46:40 - Mentors and role models 48:40 - Joe's reading recommendations 52:15 - Joe's definition of conservation 55:00 - Favorite books about the American West 56:55 - A personal interest that would surprise listeners 57:37 - Craziest outdoor experience 59:50 - Joe's favorite piece of gear 1:01:10 - Favorite spot(s) in the American West 1:02:00 - Biggest challenge facing the American West 1:03:45 - Joe's request of listeners 1:04:40 - Connect with Joe online

Ben Masters - Conservation Through Innovative Filmmaking Aug 27, 2016

Show notes

Ben Masters is a filmmaker and conservationist whose work explores some of the most important conservation challenges facing the American West today. He was the mastermind behind the award-winning documentary "Unbranded," which tells the story of Ben and his three buddies who ride wild mustangs from Mexico to Canada as part of an epic five month-adventure. The film also examines the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse Program, a well-intentioned, but now controversial, government program created to protect the wild horses that roam the western U.S. For those who love the American West, "Unbranded" is one of the best documentaries in recent memory—it combines hardcore adventure with important conservation issues, all while accurately capturing the true beauty of the American West. • Conservation is the common theme running through all of Ben's work, and his passion is fortified with a deep knowledge of natural history, public lands, and policy issues related to the American West. His expertise recently earned him a spot on the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, the group tasked with solving the challenging issues surrounding the program he profiled in "Unbranded." His most recent film, "Pronghorn Revival," is the story of Texas wildlife biologists capturing and relocating a struggling herd of pronghorns (i.e. antelopes). Not one to rest on his laurels, Ben is working hard on more conservation projects to be revealed in the coming months. • When we recorded this episode, Ben was less than a day away from leaving on a multi-week guiding trip to the area around Yellowstone National Park, so I really appreciated him making the time to chat. In just under an hour, we managed to cover a wide range of conservation-related topics: the BLM's Wild Horse Program, invasive species in the American West, thoughts on hunting, as well as Ben's personal background, favorite books, favorite documentaries, and a crazy horse stampede story... with plenty of other intesting subjects thrown in. • If you haven't already, be sure to check out "Unbranded." You'll love it. In the meantime, enjoy my conversation with Ben Masters. ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/ben-masters/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:05 - How Ben describes his work 3:35 - Ben's upcoming adventures 5:40 - Overview of Unbranded documentary 7:45 - Genesis for the idea for Unbranded 9:45 - Overview of the BLM Wild Horse Program 10:15 - Natural history of horses in North America 14:20 - Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act 17:16 - Ben's thoughts solving the wild horse challenge 21:10 - Political challenges surrounding wild horses 23:45 - More North American natural history 24:55 - What "conservation" means to Ben 26:00 - Ben's personal connection to conservation 27:40 - Resources for understanding the history of conservation 29:00 - Conservation challenges facing the West in the next 20 years 32:10 - Ben's thoughts on hunting and conservation 33:45 - Cautionary tale of Texas Screwworms 36:30 - Overview of Pronghorn Revival 38:35 - Favorite books 40:20 - Favorite documentary 41:30 - Ben's work with veterans 42:23 - Hobbies that Ben enjoys 43:48 - How Ben learned the art of filmmaking 45:00 - Craziest outdoor experience 47:50 - Ben's favorite place in the West 48:40 - Ben's request of the listeners 51:30 - Connect with Ben online

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