Ryan Busse is a Montana-based conservationist, public lands advocate, and former top-performing firearms executive. He's also the author of the new book "Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America," which has received advanced praise from everyone from Publishers Weekly to Senator Jon Tester. Ryan is a life-long hunter and angler, as well as a proud gun owner, and he brings a unique, nuanced perspective to our country's ongoing debate about guns and the Second Amendment. "Gunfight" is in no way an "anti-gun" book-- rather, it's an insider's examination of how and why the firearms industry transformed from a sportsman-centered business into a politically driven machine that uses decisiveness and fear to grow profits exponentially. From a broader perspective, "Gunfight" helped me to understand how we ended up at this bizarre moment in history-- a moment defined by anger, misinformation, tribalism, and binary thinking. - Ryan was born in western Kansas and grew up on his family's ranch, where most of his childhood was centered around hunting, fishing, and a close connection to the land. After college, Ryan focused his energy on building a career in the sporting goods industry, first working for an optics company and then moving into the firearms business. Ryan found his calling as a gun salesman, and, over the course of his career, he helped transform a small firearms company named Kimber into an internationally recognized brand. But as you'll hear in our conversation, Ryan's advocacy for public lands and conservation created a rift between him and the firearms industry-- a rift that eventually exposed the industry's authoritarian power structure that does not tolerate independent thinking or deviations from industry dogma. Ryan refused to be bullied or told what to think, and he eventually quit his lucrative job selling guns and decided to tell his story and that of the industry's transformation. The result is his book "Gunfight," which we are discussing here today. - I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of "Gunfight," and I was thrilled to have a chance to discuss it with Ryan. We started out talking about his upbringing on his family's Kansas ranch and how his father introduced him to the writings of conservation luminaries, including Aldo Leopold and Theodore Roosevelt. We then discussed his life-long love of hunting and guns, and why he chose to pursue a career in the gun industry. We discussed the exact moment when he realized that his personal devotion to public lands was at odds with his industry's stance and the unraveling that occurred over the course of the following years. We talk about why gun sales soar during Democratic administrations, the industry's shift from hunting rifles to assault rifles, some very disturbing stories from industry events, Ryan's public land advocacy, the positive influence of his wife, and much more. - I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, and I learned a lot. I really appreciate Ryan taking the time to chat, and I hope you find it enlightening. Be sure to check out the episode notes for a complete list of topics and links to everything we discussed. Enjoy! --- Ryan Busse "Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America" - Bookshop & Amazon Episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/ryan-busse/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:00 – Ryan’s background 8:30 – Ryan discusses his father and his impact on Ryan’s conservation ethic 12:45 – Ryan talks about what he was like in high school 15:00 – Ryan discusses when he felt like his role in the firearms/optics industry was a good career path for him 17:00 – Ryan tells the story of the experience that made him second guess his career 22:00 – Following his falling out with the leaders in firearms industry, Ryan explained why he stayed in the industry 26:00 – Ryan describes an uncomfortable moment when he went to an NRA conference 32:30 – Ryan describes a moment where a journalist showed up to an interview armed with an AR-15 37:30 – Ryan discusses the phenomenon that gun ownership/purchases sky rocket during Democratic presidential administrations 41:30 – Ryan explores why gun enthusiasts or industry personnel may disagree with him 45:30 – Ryan talks about his wife 48:00 – Ryan talks about Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and his role with them 1:02:30 – Ryan’s book recommendations 1:05:00 – Ryan’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 

Mountain & Prairie Podcast

Ryan Busse - Standing His Ground

Lesli Allison and Tuda Libby Crews join me to discuss the critical role of private and working lands in achieving durable conservation outcomes in the United States. Lesli is a founding member and the Executive Director of the Western Landowners Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advances policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes, and native species. Tuda is a rancher and owner of Ute Creek Cattle Company, a conservation-focused ranching operation in northeastern New Mexico that has been in Tuda’s family for more than 200 years. Whether discussing on-the-ground stewardship practices or the intricacies of federal conservation policy, Lesli and Tuda are uniquely qualified to offer informed and thoughtful perspectives on all aspects of private land in the West. - While ranchers, farmers, and conservation stakeholders have long understood the critical importance of private land stewardship and conservation, the Biden administration’s 30x30 conservation goal has brought the topic to the forefront of American politics and mainstream media. 30x30 has prompted challenging conversations about what it means to conserve land, and it has sparked healthy debates about the government’s role in private land stewardship. 30x30 is a bold initiative and its implications for private landowners, particularly agricultural producers, are enormously complex-- we’ll never find sufficient answers in pithy Tweets or surface-level news stories. So, I was excited to have Lesli and Tuda join me for an hour-long conversation about 30x30 and private lands’ role in large-scale conservation. - Lesli, Tuda, and I connected via Zoom and enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation, covering everything from Tuda’s family history in New Mexico to some of the intricacies of the 30x30 initiative. We started out discussing the vital role private lands play in conservation and environmental health here in the United States. Tuda talks about her family’s process of restoring her family’s ranch in New Mexico and the many environmental benefits that they have experienced. We obviously dig into 30x30, discussing its pros and cons and its opportunities and challenges. We talk about the importance of garnering local support for all land-related initiatives, and they each discuss their thoughts on the odds of success for an initiative as ambitious as 30x30. And as usual, they each offer up some excellent book recommendations that I think you’ll enjoy. - Please check out the episode notes for a full list of topics we discuss and links to all of the information we reference. Enjoy! --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with Colorado State University’s Salazar Center for North American Conservation. https://salazarcenter.colostate.edu/ --- Western Landowners Alliance Ute Creek Cattle Company 2021 International Symposium on Conservation Impact Full episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/lesli-tuda/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:40 – Lesli’s introduction 6:25 – Tuda’s introduction 9:55 – Lesli discusses private lands’ role in conservation 13:25 – Tuda describes her ranch and her family’s conservation work there 19:40 – Lesli talks about performing private land conservation work at scale 24:40 – Tuda describes her process of arriving at creative land stewardship solutions 28:55 – Lesli and Tuda discuss 30 by 30 39:40 – Lesli discusses means of protecting agricultural property from subdivision 44:10 – Nodding towards public land conservation efforts, Leslie and Tuda discuss was to garner public support for private land stewardship efforts 51:40 – Lesli and Tuda talk about how they see our odds for success in these efforts 55:40 – Book recommendations 59:40 – Lesli mentions what WLA is doing from a media perspective --- 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 

Lesli Allison & Tuda Libby Crews - Durable Conservation in the West... and Beyond

Hampton Sides is a historian and New York Times bestselling author who is best known for his engaging works of narrative nonfiction, including the books “Blood and Thunder,” “Ghost Soldiers,” “On Desperate Ground,” and more. His latest project is an ebook and audiobook titled “THE EXOTIC: Intrigue and Cultural Ruin in the Age of Imperialism,” which details the life and unbelievable adventures of a man named Mai, who was the first Polynesian to set foot on British soil. “The Exotic” is much shorter than Hampton’s previous books but much longer than a magazine article, giving the reader a chance to enjoy Hampton’s one-of-a-kind historical storytelling in only a few hours of reading. - Longtime listeners of Mountain & Prairie will remember Hampton’s two previous appearances on the podcast. The first was an in-depth discussion of his book “Blood and Thunder” and the history of the American West, which was recorded live and on stage at the Aspen Institute. In his second appearance, we focused on his writing and research process, and his career progression from journalist at Outside Magazine to becoming a best-selling historian. Today’s conversation takes us far beyond the American West, everywhere from remote islands in the South Pacific to King George’s court in England. So if you’re a fan of adventure, history, and profiles of Indigenous people who have often been overlooked by mainstream history, you’ll love this book. - Hampton and I connected virtually and had a fun conversation about the book and his process for writing it. We talked a lot about Mai’s unbelievable journey from Polynesia to England and back again, as well as the opportunities and challenges of exploring history from an Indigenous perspective. We talked about Hampton’s process for researching the book and how COVID has forced him to adjust his usual approach. Hampton was actually in the South Pacific researching the book in March 2020 when the pandemic hit, which, as you’ll hear, added an extra layer of adventure to an already adventurous trip. And as usual, Hampton offers up some great book recommendations that I think you’ll enjoy. - “The Exotic” is available exclusively on Scribd, which is an online service that gives you instant access to ebooks, audiobooks, articles, podcasts, and more. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Scribd over the past few weeks, and I’d encourage you to give it a shot. You can access it for free for 30 days by following the link in the episode notes or on this episode’s webpage. And I’m not being paid for this endorsement-- I’m just a fan of what Scribd is doing and the unique forms of writing that they are bringing to the world. - I hope you enjoy this episode, and I hope you’ll invest a few hours reading “The Exotic.”  And if you haven’t already, go back and listen to my past episodes with Hampton-- they are fun and educational conversations.  Thanks so much. --- “The Exotic” by Hampton Sides 30-day free trial of Scribd Hampton’s first and second M&P episodes Episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/hampton-sides-3/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – How Mai got Hampton’s attention 11:45 – Hampton discusses who Mai was 22:00 – Hampton walks us through what Mai did while he was in England 31:30 – Hampton explains what happens when Mai returns home 36:30 – Hampton describes doing his research while COVID-19 took off and discusses how the pandemic affected his writing 43:30 – Hampton talks about Captain Cook 51:15 – Hampton’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 

Hampton Sides - Tales from a Most Excellent Adventure

Luke Smithwick is a professional alpinist, ski mountaineer, and mountain guide best known for his cutting-edge climbs and descents in the world’s wildest mountain ranges. Luke is based in Victor, Idaho, in the shadow of the legendary Teton Range, but he spends large portions of each year deep in the Himalayas, guiding clients on remote peaks or pursuing personal climbing and skiing objectives on 7-8,000-meter peaks. He is currently hard at work on a multi-year skiing project called The Himalaya 500, which is his personal quest to ski 500 aesthetic ski lines throughout the greater Himalayan Range. - Luke was born and raised in North Carolina, and he moved to Colorado, where he attended CU Boulder and studied environmental biology and cultural anthropology. When not in class, Luke immersed himself in outdoor sports and soon began working as a guide-- first a river guide on Colorado’s Upper Arkansas River and then a climbing guide. After graduation, Luke completely committed himself to the mountains, and his adventures have since taken him everywhere from the Alaska Range to his current work in the Himalayas. His company, Himalaya Alpine Guides, focuses on trips to some of the lesser-known (and less crowded) peaks in the Himalayan Range, where his clients can enjoy completely unique climbing and cultural experiences that cannot be found on more mainstream, well-known mountains. - Luke and I went to high school together back in the mid-1990s, and I was a couple of grades ahead of him. After graduation, we lost touch but have reconnected during the past few years thanks to shared interests and common friends. I was so happy that he joined me on the podcast, because I had lots of questions about how a guy from small-town North Carolina has become one of the world's most accomplished Himalayan skiers. We had a wonderful conversation, discussing everything from his career trajectory to this season’s climbing objectives. We talked about how he picks ski lines, how climate change is affecting the Himalayas, the unique nature of his guiding company, how he trains, why he has made his home in the American West, and his deep respect for the people, history, and cultures of the Himalayas. - I loved catching up with my old friend Luke. I was blown away by all he has accomplished in the past 20 years, and I have the utmost respect for his understated, humble approach to life, learning, and adventure. Be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything we discussed. Enjoy! --- Luke Smithwick Himalaya Alpine Guides The Himalaya 500 Episode Notes with Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/luke-smithwick/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Luke walks us through his trajectory post high school and how he became a professional outdoor guide 7:30 – Luke talks about his work and his guide company in the Himalayas 9:45 – Luke explains why he focuses on a deep understanding of mountain ranges instead of just the principle summits of a range 13:15 – Luke discusses how he finds his clientele 15:30 – Luke explains the importance of local relationships for his business 17:45 – Luke discusses his project, the Himalaya 500 21:15 – Luke explains how he picks his ski lines 23:00 – Luke talks about the information age and its impact on the availability of “secret spots” 25:00 – Luke talks about the people he has met in his travels around the Himalaya 27:45 – Luke talks about how current action in Afghanistan may affect his work 28:45 – Luke discusses the impacts of climate change that he sees in his work 32:00 – Luke explains how he trains for his work and play in the mountains in order to make it a sustainable lifestyle 36:00 – Luke talks about his current 8,000 meter peak goal 39:00 – Luke discusses how he balances humility and the need for self-promotion in his field 44:45 – Luke talks about training for alpine trips in his forties 48:00 – Luke talks about his family 49:15 – Luke discusses his hometown and the significance of Boy Scouts in his upbringing 51:30 – Luke’s book recommendations 53:30 – Luke’s film recommendations 54:30 – Luke talks about the most powerful experience in his life 56:45 – Luke’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 

Luke Smithwick - A Life in High Places

Shane Doyle is a Montana-based scholar, teacher, and community advocate whose work focuses on the history and heritage of Native American tribes of the Northern Great Plains. Shane is an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke Nation (also known as the Crow Tribe), and he holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. His unique personal and professional experiences, combined with his deep curiosity and seemingly endless energy, have made Shane a well-known leader in many fields, including education, land use advocacy, and the arts. - Shane grew up in Crow Agency, Montana, and he did not have an interest in history until college, when a road trip with a professor opened his eyes to Montana’s rich Native American past. From that moment onward, Shane’s curiosity has continued to grow, and he has built his career around making Native American history a cultural mainstay in everything from Montana’s educational system to governmental land management decisions. Whether designing educational curriculums, making films, or singing Northern Plains tribal music, Shane is always focused on serving his community. - Whether you’re a long-time listener or this is your first episode, I know you’ll enjoy getting to know Shane. We started out discussing his youth on the Crow reservation, and he talks about that fateful road trip when he fell in love with history. We talk about his family and the important life lessons that he learned from his grandmother. We discuss the history of the Apsáalooke, and the importance of the Crazy Mountains from a cultural and historical perspective. We also discuss his consulting business Native Nexus, some of his film projects, and his plans for the future. And Shane obviously has plenty of excellent book recommendations, so be sure to check out the episode notes for links to all of those. - As you’ll hear in this conversation, Shane is doing so much excellent work and has many more projects in the pipeline. I’ll look forward to a part 2 with Shane in the future so we can hear updates on everything that he’s working on. Hope you enjoy! --- Native Nexus Shane's film: Awaxaawippíia: The Crow Nation’s Sacred Ties Full episode note and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/shane-doyle/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 – Shane’s childhood and how he pursued Indigenous history in his youth 7:45 – Shane describes how he engaged in studying the Indigenous history of Montana 10:30 – Shane discusses Asaalooke Nation history  14:30 – Shane discusses his thoughts regarding a history of broken treaties 18:15 – Shane talks about the service element of his work 21:00 – Shane discusses the significance of the Crazy Mountain Range, including his own experience fasting in that mountain range 27:15 – Shane explains the regularity of his meditation ceremonies  30:15 – Shane mentions some resources for people interested in Northern Plains Indigenous culture 34:00 – Shane discusses the book he is writing, Messages from Medicine Wheel Country 38:00 – Shane talks about his film regarding the Crazy Mountains 41:45 – Shane explains how folks can get involved in the protection of the Crazy Mountains  43:30 – Shane discusses his business, Native Nexus 47:15 – Shane talks about where he thinks his career is going next 51:45 – Shane’s book recommendations 55:45 – Shane’s film recommendations, as well as some films he feels less enthusiastic about 1:01:30 – Shane’s parting words of wisdom --- This episode is brought to you by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and its Montana-based AMB West Philanthropies, both of which embody the values-based approach to philanthropy and business of their Chairman Arthur M. Blank. --- 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 

Shane Doyle - Reverence for the Past, Hope for the Future

Antonia Malchik is a Montana-based writer and essayist, and she’s also the author of the book “A Walking Life: Reclaiming Our Health and Freedom One Step at a Time.”  She has written for publications including The Atlantic and High Country News, she also writes a regular Substack newsletter titled “On the Commons,” which I highly recommend. Antonia thinks deeply about a wide range of topics, including community, conservation, the environment, private property, the West, books, and more. She has a true talent for writing about complex subjects in an engaging, in-depth manner that both educates and challenges the reader. - Antonia grew up in northwest Montana-- her mother was a multigenerational Montanan and her father was a first-generation immigrant from the former Soviet Union. Her family heritage combined with her innate curiosity gave Antonia a unique perspective on the world that informs all of her work. She has lived in Moscow, Vienna, Australia, and other far-flung regions, but she has always been drawn back to the landscapes of her home state of Montana, where she currently lives with her husband and two children. - I’ve been a long-time fan of Antonia’s work, so it was a pleasure to finally have her join me on the podcast. Just as her work covers a broad range of topics, so does this conversation-- we discuss everything from Russian history to her Montana ancestors to her long-standing commitment to the craft of writing. We talk about why she has chosen to not participate in social media, and how she manages to consume online news and media without becoming overwhelmed. We talk a lot about her writing process, her thoughts on publishing her work,  and her approach to exploring and writing about potentially controversial ideas. We obviously talk about her book “A Walking Life,” as well as how the act of walking can contribute to strong communities, mental health, and physical well-being. And finally, Antonia is known for her excellent book recommendations, and she offers up some great ones-- be sure to check the episode notes for links to all the books and authors she mentions. - I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and can’t thank Antonia enough for all of her hard work. Hope you enjoy. --- Antonia Malchik On The Commons "A Walking Life" by Antonia Malchik Full episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/antonia-malchik/ --- Freeflow Institute - Special M&P Offer: https://freeflowinstitute.com Bill deBuys episode --- 5:00 – Antonia explains why she was left on the streets of Moscow and told not to get lost. 8:45 – Antonia reflects on moving to a completely different culture during a time when international relations were tense. 14:15 – Antonia recommends resources for understanding Russian history. 18:15 – Antonia reflects on the Montana side of her family and on the idea of pioneering. 23:00 – Antonia explains how and why she chooses to write.  27:45 – Antonia explores how she puts potentially controversial ideas out into the digital commons as well as explains when she decides to engage with people who disagree with her and comment on her writing.  31:30 – Despite anxiety regarding putting her work out for public viewership, Antonia reflects on why she still writes. 35:30 – Antonia and Ed discuss creating for the sake of continuing to create and the merits of not waiting for permission to create.  43:15 – Antonia explains, as a curious person, how she controls the constant influx of information that can occur through social and informational media. 49:00 – Antonia discusses her book, A Walking Life.  55:15 – Antonia talks about walking as it relates to mental health. 1:07:45 – Antonia’s favorite books about the West.  1:15:30 – Antonia’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 

Antonia Malchik - Exploring Culture & Complexity

Nickolas Butler is an award-winning writer and novelist who has published five books, one of which is the wildly popular, award-winning "Shotgun Love Songs." His most recent novel is titled "Godspeed"-- a fast-paced, thriller of a book that is set in and around Jackson Hole, Wyoming. While the novel has all of the components that make for a great story-- action, suspense, wild landscapes, complex characters-- it also touches on many of the challenges facing the modern-day West, including income inequality and rural gentrification. From the first page of "Godspeed," I was hooked, and I stayed up way too late for several nights in a row finishing the book. - For all of Nick’s accomplishments as a novelist, his path to becoming a full-time writer was not an easy one, nor was he an overnight success. He spent many years working a variety of jobs, including as a telemarketer, meatpacker, and Burger King maintenance man. And as you’ll hear him discuss in this conversation, it was during his stint working as a liquor store clerk that he decided to fully commit to the craft and profession of writing. Fast forward to today, and his focus, commitment, and hard work have paid off-- not only is he a successful full-time writer, but also a devoted husband and father of two. - Nick and I recorded this conversation just a few days after the publication of "Godspeed." I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of the book prior to our conversation, and I can’t say enough great things about it. So we obviously talked a lot about the book-- his process for writing it, how the book highlights present-day challenges facing the West, and how he went about developing the plot and the characters. We discussed his journey as a writer and artist-- how and why he views writing as a craft, the importance of hard work, and how he keeps his competitive fire burning, even after experiencing so much success. We also talk a lot about family and community, which are two subjects that Nick and I are both very passionate about. And finally, Nick offers up a ton of excellent book and author recommendations, as well as some wise parting words. - Big thanks to the great writer, angler, and past podcast guest Chris Dombrowski for introducing me to Nick. Check the episode notes for the full list of everything we discuss and links to all of the books and authors that nick mentions. And I encourage you to pick up a copy of "Godspeed"... you’ll love it. --- Nickolas Butler "Godspeed" by Nickolas Butler Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nickolas-butler/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Nickolas compares his most recent book release with his first release. 9:30 – Nickolas discusses how he handles reviews of his work 13:45 – Nickolas explains how he balances creating art with treating writing as a job, like a craftsman 16:00 – Nickolas discusses his most recent novel, Godspeed, and how the story came to him 21:00 – Nickolas talks about the process of a story gathering in his mind, and generally how long it takes. 22:30 – Nickolas discusses how he comes to know a place to write about it so well.  25:45 – Nickolas reads a passage from Godspeed and explores the challenges surrounding housing in the West and beyond.  32:00 – Nickolas explores the way he crafts stories in his writing, and how it leads to empathy in his most recent novel.  36:45 – Nickolas describes the role of meth and addiction in Godspeed.  38:30 – Nickolas talks through the pace and process of writing Godspeed.  41:15 – Nickolas discusses some of his current projects.  42:45 – Nickolas looks back on his career before being a writer. 49:30 – Nickolas discusses his transition from early career to writing career.  52:15 – Nickolas talks about how he keeps his “fire going” in his career.  55:00 – Nickolas talks about teaching work ethic to his children.  58:00 – Nickolas identifies his literary icons.  1:00:45 – Nickolas’s favorite books about the West.  1:03:00 – Nickolas’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  

Nickolas Butler - The Craft of Creativity

Nicole Morgenthau is a Utah-based professional photographer whose work depicts the people and places of the American West in a completely unique, one-of-a-kind style. While she has been involved in many aspects of the photography business throughout her career, Nicole may be best known for her portraits of a wide range of western characters-- from cowgirls to mountain men, from professional athletes to mountain-town ski bums. And her creative pursuits don’t stop with photography-- Nicole is also the owner of Sandstone Sky Jewelry, a business in which she makes and curates a variety of stunning jewelry, much of which has its creative roots in Native American culture. - Nicole was born and raised on the east coast, just outside of New York City. As a kid, she loved western movies and dreamed of moving out of the humid New Jersey suburbs and into wide-open, arid landscapes of the American West. After high school, she made the move West for college, first in Colorado and then to Montana State, where she studied photography. And immediately after graduating, she dove headfirst into the photography business, first as an assistant to several commercial photographers and then as her own boss. Since then, her work has been featured by well-known brands such as Patagonia, "Outside," "Men’s Journal," the "New York Times," and more. - Nicole and I connected a few weeks ago and had an insightful discussion about everything from the photography business to jewelry making to overcoming creative blocks. We started out by discussing her childhood in New Jersey, her desire to move West, and how she decided to take that leap. We then talked about her journey as a professional photographer-- the ups and downs, the evolution of the business, and how she found her voice as a portrait photographer. We talked about her jewelry business and how it compliments photography, both creatively and financially. And toward the end, she offers up some excellent music recommendations, wise parting words, and an inspiring quote from Anthony Bourdain that I think you’ll appreciate. - Be sure the check the episode notes for links to all the people and places Nicole mentions. This was a fun chat, and I hope you enjoy. --- Nicole Morgenthau Sandstone Sky Jewelry --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 - Growing up in New Jersey 5:30 - First trip to the West 7:30 - Decision to attend college in the West 9:00 - Childhood beginnings in art and creativity 10:45 - Nicoles first years in professional photography 12:30 - Working as an assistant 14:00 - Going out on her own 18:00 - Importance of toughness 19:00 - Finding her "voice" as a photographer 24:00 - What's the key to good portrait photography 26:30 - Photography influences 28:45 - The evolution of her photography 31:30 - Nicole's jewelry business, Sandstone Sky Jewelry 37:00 - Inspiring interactions while making jewelry 39:30 - Techniques for remaining calm despite being Type A 42:000 - Musical influences 45:00 - Advice to aspiring creatives 50:00 - Upside of education and workshops 54:00 - Parting words of wisdom 59:30 - Parting quote --- 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 

Nicole Morgenthau - Curiosity & Creativity

Adam Gall is a hunting guide and owner of Timber to Table Guide Service, a guiding company focused on helping hunters of all skill levels put wild, healthy, and delicious meat on their tables. Based out of the small town of Hotchkiss on Colorado’s Western Slope, Timber to Table offers multi-day hunts on both public and private lands, offering top-notch instruction on everything from the intricacies of elk hunting to the technical skills needed to properly and efficiently process the meat. Adam is highly regarded by many of my friends and past podcast guests and praised as an outside-the-box thinker, so I’m thrilled to finally have him join me for a conversation. - Adam’s professional background gives him a unique perspective on wildlife, land management, and wild places in the American West-- he worked as a wildland firefighter, a wolf biologist, and a high school science teacher before devoting himself to full-time guiding. He has also been involved in a variety of volunteer initiatives, ranging from leadership positions with groups like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to advisory roles on issues such as the wolf reintroduction in Colorado. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Adam thinks deeply and independently on a wide range of land and wildlife issues, and he offers his ideas respectfully and thoughtfully-- something we could all use a little more of these days. - I connected with Adam while he was on a family vacation in rural Montana, and we had a wide-ranging conversation that we probably could’ve continued for hours. We started out chatting about his upbringing in Michigan and how he fell in love with hunting despite coming from a family of non-hunters. We talked about Timber to Table-- how the guide service came to be, the challenges of running his own business, and his commitment to ethical hunting practices. We talked a lot about wolves and the wolf reintroduction in Colorado, and Adam offered some new thoughts that differ from some of my past podcast guests. He also describes the skills needed to be a great hunter, recommends some of his favorite books, and offers some wise parting words. - This was a thought-provoking conversation that provided a new perspective for me on several important topics, so I hope you enjoy it. --- Timber to Table Guide Service Timber to Table on Instagram Full Episode Notes and Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/adam-gall/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:30 – Adam talks about where he grew up 9:45 – Adam explains how hunting became a part of his life 12:30 – Adam describes his guide service, Timber to Table Guided Service, which provides an educational and holistic hunting and butchering experience 19:30 – Adam talks about balancing his work and home life 23:30 – Adam talks about how he got into wolf biology prior to his guiding work and dives into the controversy that surrounds them 39:15 – Adam discusses his role in the Stakeholder Advisory Group as a part of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wolf reintroduction work 44:30 – Adam’s resources for learning more about wolves  47:00 – Adam gives advice on how to get started in hunting 52:45 – Adam discusses what makes an excellent hunter 57:15 – Adam’s book recommendations 1:02:30 – Adam’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 

Adam Gall - A Reverence for Wildlife & Wild Places

John Branch is a Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist with the New York Times and the author of the brand new book "Sidecountry: Tales of Death and Life from the Back Roads of Sports." He is also the author of "The Last Cowboys: A Pioneer Family in the New West," which is one of my favorite books about the modern-day challenges facing ranching families in the American West. Whether he’s reporting on the historic ascent of the Dawn Wall on Yosemite’s El Capitan, reconstructing a deadly avalanche in the Washington backcountry, or describing the financial realities of the cattle ranching business, John’s has one of the most unique and engaging voices you’ll find anywhere in print. - Growing up in Colorado, John never had serious childhood dreams about a career in writing or journalism. He studied business at CU Boulder and graduated fully focused on pursuing jobs in the business world. But after several years of building a successful career with retail-focused companies, John found himself dreaming of a career as a writer. So, in the mid-1990s, with minimal writing experience under his belt, he applied to graduate school, was accepted, and officially began his journey as a journalist. Fast forward to 2013, and John won the Pulitzer Prize for his New York Times article titled Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek. - In our modern-day, frenetic world that is overflowing with articles and information, I’ve found that John’s work rises above the fray and sticks with me for many years after my first reading. While he has reported on many well-known sports figures such as Tommy Caldwell or even Kobe Bryant, John says he enjoys finding meaning in less-flashy tales, telling the stories of “ordinary people tangled up in something extraordinary.” So in this conversation, we talk about his commitment to uncovering these little-known stories-- from his on-the-ground reporting to his process of sitting down at the keyboard to write. We also dig into some of his favorite outdoor-related stories, his new book Sidecountry and his older book The Last Cowboys, and his unconventional path into journalism. We talk about reporting from the top of El Capitan, his process of writing Snow Fall, his heroes and mentors, and much more. Finally, John offers up some great book and music recommendations, and well as timely advice for aspiring creatives. - I’ve been a fan of John’s for many years, so I can’t thank him enough for taking the time to chat with me. I encourage you to find copies of "Sidecountry" and "The Last Cowboys," and keep an eye out for everything he writes for the Times. Check the notes for links to everything we discuss. Hope you enjoy. --- John Branch Sidecountry: Tales of Death and Life from the Back Roads of Sports The Last Cowboys: A Pioneer Family in the New West Full Episode Notes & Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/john-branch/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 – John discusses his childhood, education, and career shift from business to journalism 10:00 – John discusses his family’s reaction to his change in career 11:15 – John explains how he ended up in Colorado Springs 12:00 – John describes his climb through the journalism world 14:30 – John explains how he caught the attention of the New York Times 16:30 – John explains why he feels his career transition worked 19:00 – John describes the kind of stories he looks to tell in his writing and how he knows when there is a story in front of him worth digging into 25:00 – John explains how he builds trust with the subjects of his stories 27:00 – John describes his most recent book, Side County 32:15 – John describes his writing process 38:30 – John describes his editing process and explains how he still gets nervous about submitting his work 43:15 – John talks about the importance of journalism now more than ever 46:15 – John talks about how he manages the constant influx of information in his job 48:45 – John talks about his ideal writing environment 50:00 – John identifies several of his writing heroes/role models 53:00 – John talks about how he differentiates between which stories should be told in articles and which should be told in books 56:15 – John discusses his musical tastes 59:00 – John’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  

John Branch - Seeking the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Matt Barber and Joel Doub are the owners of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, one of the West’s most renowned custom fly rod companies.  I was introduced to Matt and Joel nearly three and half years ago and was quickly fascinated by their entrepreneurial journey and Tom Morgan Rodsmiths’ storied history in the fly fishing world. As longtime listeners may remember, I recorded a podcast with Matt and Joel in January of 2018, about a year after they had purchased the company from Tom and Gerri Morgan. In that conversation we talked in depth about the history of the company, Matt and Joel’s unconventional backgrounds, and their plans for the future of TMR-- it was a fun conversation that led to a great friendship between all of us. - But in the more than three years since I published that episode, Tom Morgan Rodsmiths has grown in size and scope, and Matt and Joel have continued to evolve as business owners.  They’ve enjoyed highs that include being featured in the New York Times and steadily growing their sales year over year. But they’ve also faced unexpected challenges, most notably a global pandemic and its far-reaching supply chain and economic effects. But thanks to their creativity, planning, complementary skill sets, and unwavering commitment to the values of the founders Tom and Gerri Morgan, Matt and Joel have thrived as entrepreneurs and built wonderful lives for their families in Montana. - A quick, one-time snapshot of any entrepreneurial venture can never provide the full, vivid story of a company and its owners, so I wanted to bring Matt and Joel back on the podcast to give us an update and share some of their hard-earned wisdom and lessons learned. We talked a bit about the specifics of the fly fishing business, but most of the topics we discussed were around resilience, teamwork, marketing, managing complex work, and maintaining a positive attitude-- actionable advice that almost anyone could put to use in business or creative endeavors. You don’t need to listen to our first episode to glean value from this one, but it’s worth a listen too, so there’s a link in the notes to access that episode if you’d like. - Be sure to check out the Tom Morgan Rodsmiths website and follow them on social media-- links to everything are in the notes. They will be celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary in the coming weeks and offering some special, one-of-a-kind products that will be of interest to anglers and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. Thanks to Matt and Joel for the inspiring conversation, and I hope you enjoy! --- Full Episode Notes and Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/tmr-2/ https://tommorganrodsmiths.com TMR on Instagram TMR on Facebook Matt & Joel's First M&P Episode David Gessner Virtual Event --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:30 – Introduction to Matt and Joel 11:30 – Update on the progress of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths 16:15 – Matt and Joel discuss the benefits and challenges of co-owning a business 12:15 – Matt and Joel discuss how they navigate owning Tom Morgan Rodsmiths while respecting the legacy of its founders 27:45 – Matt and Joel talk about coverage they received from the New York Times 31:45 – Matt and Joel explain their thoughts and practice of marketing their products 38:15 – How Matt and Joel stay organized to manage the many, many challenges of running a business 49:30 – Matt and Joel discuss generosity in their work and lives 53:15 – Matt and Joel talk about living in Montana, having recently moved there 56:15 – Matt and Joel’s book recommendations 58:45 – Matt and Joel’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  

Matt Barber & Joel Doub, Part 2 - Tales from an Entrepreneurial Adventure

Max Wenerstrom is a blacksmith and craftsman best known for creating hand-forged knives that balance a beautiful aesthetic with practical durability. Max started blacksmithing at the age of 15, became obsessed with the craft, and quickly demonstrated an elite talent for creating one-of-a-kind knives. His passion led him to study under a 17th-generation Japanese bladesmith, who began teaching Max the art of forging knives in the Japanese tradition-- a labor-intensive, time-honored method of creating some of the world’s sharpest and most durable knives. - I was introduced to Max by my friends at Ranchlands, one of the West’s most respected ranch management companies. Max was participating in a residency at Ranchlands’ 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch, where he was offering blacksmithing demonstrations and forging a specific model of knife developed in partnership with Ranchlands. It’s a knife created specifically for ranchers-- designed to be used on horseback for everyday work and high-stakes situations. So when the folks at Ranchlands told me about Max, I drove out, and we sat down for an inspiring conversation. - Max is only 21 years old, and as you’ll hear in the interview, I was blown away by his maturity, work ethic, and commitment to quality. But aside from my endless amazement with his age, we covered a ton of interesting topics. We chatted about his beginnings in the craft, and what led him to study with world-famous Japanese bladesmith Murray Carter. We discussed his dedication to creating the highest quality products, how he pushes himself to constantly improve his craft, and the hard work involved in both. We discuss how he started building his business during high school and how it has grown and evolved in recent years. We talked about his partnership with Ranchlands, the process of making a knife, his deep love of the West, and advice for anyone seeking to begin a deliberate practice of craftsmanship. - I really loved this conversation and appreciated Max taking the time to chat. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to Max’s website and to the specific Ranchlands-inspired knife that we discussed. I hope you enjoy! --- Max Wenerstrom Wenerstrom Forge Ranchlands-Inspired Remuda Knife Full episode notes with links: https://mountainandprairie.com/max-wenerstrom/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:15 – When Max started forging knives 11:35 – Why Max start smithing at such a young age 13:45 – When Max realized he had a talent for bladesmithing 16:30 – How Max ended up using his bladesmithing at Ranchlands 23:30 – Max discusses his mentality in bladesmithing, why he values quality in his knives, and how he pushes himself to improve his craft 26:00 – Max walks us through the process of making a knife 29:15 – Max talks about what you need if you are interested in starting bladesmithing 32:30 – Max discusses what made his teacher, Murray Carter, such a good teacher 34:15 – Max highlights other craft-makers he admires 37:30 – Max discusses his plans for the future of his craft 43:00 – Max discusses knife sharpening, care, and styles of knives  53:15 – Max identifies the West as a source of inspiration  1:00:45 – Max’s parting advice --- 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  

Max Wenerstrom - Timeless Craftsmanship

Dr. David Hewitt is the Executive Director of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, an organization widely recognized as the leading wildlife research organization in Texas. The Institute is located on the campus of Texas A&M - Kingsville, and its mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of Texas wildlife. Dave and his team at the Institute are focused on applied science-- research and science that is useful, actionable, and tightly focused on helping land managers meet their goals. - Dave was born and raised in Colorado and followed in his grandfather’s footsteps to become a wildlife biologist. After earning his undergraduate degree from Colorado State, his education and research took him to many different corners of the United States, and in 1996 he landed at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. For the past 25 years, Dave has been fully focused on the flora and fauna of Texas, and many of his projects have positive ripple effects on land management throughout the American West and beyond. Whether discussing the management of ocelot, restoration of native grasslands, or the history of the Institute, Dave’s enthusiasm for the natural world is palpable and inspiring. - Dave and I had a fun discussion about the Institute’s past, present, and future, as well as his fascinating career path. We started out discussing the Institute’s namesake, Caesar Kleberg, and why Caesar is known as the father of Texas wildlife conservation. We then discussed why the huge proportion of private land in Texas makes the state so unique from a land and wildlife management perspective. We also dug into several of the Institute’s success stories, including its work with ocelots and native grasses throughout the state. Then we chatted about Dave’s personal background-- his impressive educational journey, his love of teaching, and his vision for the future of the Institute. - If you enjoy learning about wildlife, native plants, and the people who have devoted their lives to protecting them, then you’ll love this episode with Dave. There’s a ton of fascinating information in this conversation, so be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Enjoy! --- Dr. David Hewitt Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute CKWRI Film --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with EXPLORE RANCHES. Explore Ranches was born out of a desire to share some of the most wild and scenic places in the world with others. We offer authentic outdoor experiences and access to charming ranch homes on some of the world’s least explored private lands. In return for enabling access to these natural treasures, we are making new connections between our guests and land owning partners. In the process, we are all contributing to a network of open space that not only benefits wildlife but the very food we eat, water we drink and air we breathe. Whether you are one of our guests, a ranch partner or one of our guides, at Explore Ranches we are all on an endless journey to find our place in the wild. www.exploreranches.com --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 5:00—Dave discusses the story of Caesar Kleberg. 14:00—Dave explains the differences between land management in Texas and states Colorado or Montana. 16:30—Dave explains the type of research that goes on at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. 19:30—Dave discusses victories during his tenure with CKWRI. 22:30—Dave discusses building trust with private landowners in wildlife conservation. 24:45—Dave dives deeper into the CCWRI Ocelot Program.  32:00—Dave discusses the varied opinions regarding the Endangered Species Act. 37:45—Dave discusses the CKWRI Grasslands program. 47:00—Dave walks us through his career path. 53:30—Dave explains how he balances his research with his teaching.  57:00—Dave projects where he thinks the CKWRI is headed in the future.  1:00:30—Dave’s book recommendations. 1:03:00—Dave’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 

Dr. David Hewitt - The Science of Wildlife Conservation

Marci McLean and Cora Neumann are joining me for another episode of my ongoing series called New West Dispatches. In each New West Dispatch, I break from the normal Mountain & Prairie format of discussing a guest’s personal experiences, influences, and life story, and instead we spend the hour diving deep into a specific, timely issue that is creating challenges in the American West. The goal of these episodes is to offer a clear-eyed examination of a pressing issue, then to highlight the people and ideas that are helping to solve these sometimes-overwhelming problems. These episodes are meant to educate and provide actionable information, while also offering hope and optimism in the face of challenges. - In today’s New West Dispatch, we’ll be discussing COVID’s impact on Native communities in Montana and throughout the American West. Marci and Cora are uniquely qualified to discuss this topic, as they have been on the front lines of Montana’s public health response to the devastating effects of COVID across tribal lands. Marci grew up on the Blackfeet Nation and currently serves as Executive Director of Montana Native Vote, an organization with the mission of building leaders in Montana’s Indian County. Cora Nuemann is a PhD-level public health expert and the founder of We Are Montana, an organization that supports public health leadership across rural and Native Montana. In early 2020, when it became clear that COVID was a true threat, Marci and Cora teamed up and took action, offering much-needed education, funding, and support to combat the virus in Native communities. - We had an enlightening and educational conversation, and I am so grateful to Marci and Cora for joining me to share their experiences and wisdom. We start out by discussing both Marci and Cora’s backgrounds, and how they decided to take action as the pandemic descended on Montana. We talk about the specific factors that made this pandemic so devastating to Native communities and why Native Americans suffered the highest death rates of any community in the United States. We discuss the Native response to the pandemic-- what worked, what didn’t, and some specific success stories.  And we also talk about vaccine rollout and how Marci and Cora see the next year playing out. Finally, they both offer up some excellent book recommendations on Native American history, culture, and current events. - The notes for this episode are even more robust than usual, so be sure to check them out for links to articles, resources, and further information on everything we cover. Thanks again to Marci and Cora for their hard work and focus on this important issue. I hope you enjoy and learn as much as I did! --- Full Notes & Links: https://mountainandprairie.com/marci-cora/ Montana Native Vote We Are Montana @coralneumann @mcleanpollock @we.are.montana @westernnativevoiceofficial @indigenousvote --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 4:00 – Introductions 13: 15 – When did Cora and Marci know when COVID was going to be a big impact on their communities 20:45 – What worked in communicating public health in Cora and Marci’s community 24:00 – Reflections on how Indigenous communities responded to information coming from the Trump administration regarding COVID 27:15 – Why Indigenous communities are so vulnerable in pandemic scenarios like COVID 33:45 – Cora and Marci discuss the extensive work they have done in and around Indigenous communities in Montana regarding public health and COVID.  40:30 – The vaccine rollout progress in and around Indigenous Montana communities 42:00 – How do we get to the new normal 43:30 – How can people help in these efforts 47:45 – Book recommendations 51:15 – 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 

NEW WEST DISPATCH - Marci McLean & Cora Neumann on COVID's Impact on Native Communities

Brendan Leonard is a prolific writer and artist who is best known as the creator of Semi-Rad.com. He’s also the author of a brand new book titled “I Hate Running and You Can Too: How to Get Started, Keep Going, and Make Sense of an Irrational Passion.” The book offers motivation and witty insights into the sometimes-crazy pastime of running. And Brendan knows a thing or two about running irrational distances-- he’s completed multiple 100-mile ultramarathons, ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks, directed the film How to Run 100 Miles, and co-hosts the Off The Couch Podcast, which features interviews with runners of all stripes. - Through his books, filmmaking, and writing on Semi-Rad.com, Brendan offers a unique perspective into the world of outdoor recreation and adventure. Rather than focusing on the mind-blowing feats of super-elite athletes, Brendan’s work highlights the passion and determination of regular people who enjoy pushing themselves hard in the outdoors. Brendan has also perfected the ability to draw larger life lessons from these outdoor adventures-- lessons that can be applied to creative endeavors of any kind. You don’t have to be a runner or mountain athlete to glean actionable wisdom from Brendan’s work, and I personally credit Brendan’s influence with helping me to grow and evolve Mountain & Prairie. - Brendan and I connected a few days before the release of his new book and had a fun and wide-ranging conversation about everything from running to reading, from Ted Lasso to Matthew McCountahey. We started out by discussing his new book I Hate Running and You Can Too-- how the book came to be, the process of writing it, and how its lessons can be applied to writing or other creative pursuits. We then discussed some of his own running achievements, including running 52 marathons over the course of 52 weeks and the life lessons he learned from that year-long commitment. We talked about the fallacy of looking for hacks in running or life, some of Brendan’s creative heroes, the importance of vulnerability, the process of finding his creative voice, recent good books, and much more. - If you’re the type of person who likes to push yourself creatively or physically, this episode is full of wisdom and insight that you can put to use immediately. I’d also encourage you to check out Brendan’s new book, and really all of his work-- check out the links in the episode notes or just head to Semi-Rad.com.  Huge thanks to Brendan, and I hope you enjoy. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 6:00 – Brendan discusses his latest book, I Hate Running and You Can Too 10:00 – Brendan discusses his progression as a runner 18:15 – Brendan talks about his experience running 52 marathons in 52 weeks 27:00 – The lessons Brendan learned from 52 marathon challenge 33:00 – Brendan explains how becoming a runner influenced other areas of his life 36:30 – Brendan discusses his claim that “there are no hacks” in running (or life) 42:00 – Who Brendan looks up to 50:30 – Brendan explores the process of finding his voice 55:30 – Brendan discusses vulnerability and the process of sharing his own experiences in his writing 1:02:30 – Brendan’s book recommendations 1:07:30 – Brendan’s parting words of wisdom --- Semi-Rad.com "I Hate Running and You Can Too" by Brendan Leonard "How to Run 100 Miles" All of Brendan's Books Brendan's first M&P episode --- SPECIAL OFFER for Mountain & Prairie listeners: Freeflow Institute is a Montana-based organization that builds opportunities for creativity, space, and access to wild places for writers, artists, and leaders of all backgrounds. Freeflow eliminates the barrier between you, your ideas, and your environment by bringing emerging and established writers, leaders, artists, and communicators together into wild landscapes. The first ten Mountain & Prairie listeners who register for a 2021 Freeflow program will get $100 off their tuition. Just mention the Podcast when you register. https://freeflowinstitute.com --- 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 

Brendan Leonard, Part 2 - On Running, Creating, & Other Irrational Passions

Interviews with innovators of the American West. Guests include writers, ranchers, athletes, artists, adventurers, conservationists, entrepreneurs—anyone who’s doing inspired work that contributes to the region’s evolving and complex cultural fabric. Through informal yet substantive conversations, conservationist Ed Roberson introduces you to these fascinating characters, giving you a better understanding of their careers, influences, and outlooks, as well as a deeper appreciation for life in the American West.

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Mountain & Prairie Podcast

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