Conservation photographer and storyteller Mike Forsberg has devoted much of his career to telling stories from North America’s Great Plains, and his work has been recognized by many well-known organizations, including Audubon, National Geographic, and the Nature Conservancy. He’s the author and photographer for several stunning books, and the co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse– a one-of-a-kind project that is discussed in detail in this episode.

In this episode, Mike and Ed discuss everything from the importance of storytelling in the conservation movement to his career trajectory as a professional photographer. They talk about the significance of the Platte Basin, and the critical role that ranchers and other private landowners play in the region’s ecological health. They also chat about teaching the up-and-coming generation of conservation storytellers, measuring success in the conservation field, his vision for the future of conservation in the Platte Basin, and much more.

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Topics covered:

1:40 - Platte Basin Timelapse 

9:25 - Getting the public to engage with less glamorous acts of conservation 

15:00 - What are the most promising and challenging aspects of conservation? 

21:00 - What keeps Mike up at night? What fuels his drive? 

24:30 - How does Mike balance the positive with the negatives of the future?

28:45 - Storytelling and letting a story develop

34:20 - The role that ranchers play in conservation

42:15 - When did photography become part of Mike’s life? 

46:00 - Blending photography with conservation 

51:00 - Offering advice to the next generation

54:25 - How children have shifted Mike’s perspective

58:00 - Mike’s dream for the future of the Platte Basin Timelapse 

1:02 - People, books, and films that have influenced Mike 

1:07 - Where can you learn more about Mike’s work?