A New Angle

Allan Savory was born in Zimbabwe and educated in South Africa. Through his experiences in game ranching, he developed the philosophy of holistic management. In 2009, Allan, his wife Jody Butterfield and several colleagues founded the Savory Institute in Boulder, Colorado, an international network of leaders committed to putting holistic management into practice.

In this conversation, Allan discusses his observations of land degradation and biodiversity loss and the importance of properly managing livestock. He critiques the overemphasis on fossil fuels in climate change conversations and points out a need for systemic policy change to manage land, economy, and institutions.

Transcript available here.

This week, our Incentives & Instincts series with economist Bryce Ward continues, with an exploration of the dynamics between what we want and what we need in today’s capitalist society. Bryce and Justin dive into how markets cater to our desires but often at the expense of our essential needs, and discuss the resulting impacts on health, social connect…

Christian Beckwith is a former editor of the American Alpine Journal and the co-founder of Alpinist Magazine. His current project, Ninety-Pound Rucksack, is a deep exploration of the 10th Mountain Division. In this episode, Christian discusses how the 10th was formed in response to the U.S.’s need for mountain infantry during WWII, and how the legacy of that outdoor training later influenced the development of skiing and climbing in postwar America.

Transcript available here.

This is a narrated version of a recently published Substack post.

Melissa Sevigny is an award-winning science journalist at Arizona Public Radio and author of the amazing new book Brave the Wild River, which won the 2023 National Outdoor Book Award for History in Biography. In this episode, Justin and Melissa discuss how she came across the story of Lois Jotter and Elzada Clover, two women who made history by mapping the botany of the Grand Canyon during a 1938 expedition, the challenges they faced as women in science, and some of the current environmental challenges facing the Grand Canyon.

Transcript available here.

Steve Arveschoug is the executive director of Big Sky Economic Development in Billings and an advocate for leaders to embrace vulnerability and mental well-being.

In this episode, Steve discusses the turning point that led him to seek help for work-related stress, the boundaries he sets to prioritize emotional health, and why he believes leaders have a responsibility to raise these conversations in their organizations and communities.

Transcript available here.

In 2022, Eliza Donahue was caught in an avalanche while backcountry skiing. The accident left her with serious physical injuries, as well as mental and emotional trauma. In this episode, Justin speaks with Eliza and clinical social worker Justin Short, who founded a support group for those who’ve experienced loss in the outdoors like Eliza has. They discuss the cumulative nature of trauma, the emotional aftermath of a harrowing accident, and the healing role of community.

Transcript available here.

Will Cockrell is the author of the book Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World, a fascinating history of the guiding industry on the world’s highest peak.

In this episode, Justin and Will discuss how his book challenges misconceptions about Everest, the evolving role of Sherpas, and why this mountain holds such a firm grip on our psyche.

Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zt-grVJHMMEnOSebKku9le5ZAyNhTE1-1sWwkGHD6UQ/edit?usp=sharing

Its pledge week on Montana Public Radio, so we wanted to explore the news gathering and reporting process at MTPR with News Director Corin Cates-Carney.

In conversation with Justin and economist Bryce Ward, Corin describes public radio’s approach to delivering informative, accurate and place-based news that serves the interests of MTPR’s listeners.

Transcript available here.

Priya is an interdisciplinary ecologist and artist with an extensive background in multimedia storytelling and a passion for connecting with the natural world through art.

In this week’s episode, Justin and Priya cover environmental justice, the writing process, and the need to sit with both hope and despair. Priya also shares one of their poems, Untitled Poem About Fire.

Full transcript available here.