Jessica Ilalaole is a New Mexico-based artist who specializes in handcrafted jewelry inspired by the natural world and the landscapes of the American West. Through her online store CobraCult Jewelry, Jessica has built a loyal following of customers and admirers who are drawn to her uniquely stunning designs, as well as her authentic and unconventional lifestyle. Jessica’s personality is a unique mix of confident yet humble, social yet solitary, fiercely independent yet fully devoted to her friends and family-- a special blend of traits that have allowed her to create unique art and one-of-a-kind life. Jessica grew up in Hawaii but now lives on a spectacular property in Northern New Mexico on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Her jewelry studio looks out onto the mountains, and she and her partner Cody are in the process of building an adobe cabin from the ground up. But while the views are spectacular, their lives are currently fully focused on hard work-- home construction, jewelry making, and the day-to-day realities of running Jessica’s business. Their vision and work ethic are extremely inspiring, and it was a pleasure to meet and record this episode at the property. We sat down in Jessica’s studio and had a wonderful and wide-ranging conversation. We started by chatting about the property-- how they decided to move there, how they acquired it, and their plans for it. We then talked about Jessica’s journey as an artist, and when and why she decided to make a go of it as a full-time jewelry maker. We discuss the influence of her parents, her artistic influences, her love of motorcycles and tattoos, and how social media has helped her to grow her business. We also discuss her commitment to positivity, the roots of her independent streak, and she offers some excellent advice for other aspiring artists. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, films, the best advice she’s ever received, and more. Be sure to check the episode notes for links to everything. Hope you enjoy! --- TOPICS DISCUSSED:  3:10 - Jessica describes her property 5:40 - Growing up in Hawaii 8:10 - Being considered a haole 10:10 - Source of Jessica’s independent streak 11:10 - Similarity to parents 15:55 - Early years as an artist and jewelry maker 18:00 - Decision to make jewelry making a full-time job 20:00 - Skills learned from taking jewelry classes 22:00 - Deciding to take become a full-time artist 24:10 - Challenges of working solo while being a social person 25:40 - Relationship with Cody and building their cabin 30:10 - Artistic influences 31:10 - Riding motorcycles 37:00 - Jessica’s connection to tattoos  39:40 - Independent streak revisited 42:00 - Daily routines 44:40 - Exciting personal news! 47:30 - Long-term plans 49:10 - Influences or heroes 51:40 - Meaning of CobraCult 54:00 - Instagram’s role in her business and life 59:30 - Favorite books 1:03:00 - Favorite documentary 1:04:00 - Favorite location in the West 1:05:30 - Best advice ever received 1:09:30 - Advice for aspiring artists  ---- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:  Mountain & Prairie Podcast Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie 

Jessica Ilalaole - Creating Home in the High Desert

Conversations with innovators of the American West. Guests include athletes, artists, adventurers, writers, ranchers, conservationists, entrepreneurs, thought leaders—anyone who’s doing inspired work that contributes to the region’s evolving and complex cultural fabric.

Through informal yet substantive interviews, 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.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

 Logan Maxwell Hagege  is an Ojai, CA-based contemporary artist with modern visions of the American West. Logan is no stranger to longtime Mountain & Prairie listeners—he first joined me on the podcast back in 2019, and he made another appearance in 2022 alongside several other renowned Western artists in an episode recorded live at Maxwell Alexander Gallery’s 10-year anniversary exhibition. In this episode, I reconnected with Logan at his Ojai studio, and we caught up on a long list of fascinating topics, including his upcoming exhibition at the Gerald Peters Gallery in New York City titled   Flowers Will Grow.   -   Since our first podcast conversation, Logan’s artistic career has continued to skyrocket, and his work has earned the acclaim of a growing number of collectors, critics, and journalists. Most recently, his painting titled “Time and Space” won Best in Show at the Autry’s Masters of the American West show. He’s also been featured in all corners of the Western art world, including a recent spread in Western Art and Architecture and collaborations with well-known brands such as Stetson and Pendleton. But perhaps most impressively, he’s accomplished all of this success while being a deeply committed husband and father of two young children.   -   As you’ll hear in this conversation, Logan works extremely hard and is fully committed to exploring new realms of his artistic interests, but he brings balance and calmness to what could easily become an all-consuming obsession. I caught Logan just as he was wrapping up all the final details for his upcoming show, and we had a fun discussion about a wide range of topics, including: The intensity of preparing for a show, accepting the judgment that comes with showing art, his practice of constant doodling, how living in Ojai has changed his approach, the importance of self-talk, Georgia O’Keefe, the idea that perfection is boring, the need for action, and much more. Check out the episode notes for a full list of topics discussed and links to everything.   -   And if you happen to be in New York, the  Flowers Will Grow  exhibition will open with a reception with Logan on Thursday evening, April 18, 2024, and will be on display through May 23rd. There’s a link in the episode notes with all of that information.   -   A huge thanks to Logan for letting me barge into his studio during such a busy time and a huge thanks to you for listening. Enjoy!   ---    Logan Maxwell Hagege  Logan on Instagram    Flowers Will Grow at the Gerald Peters Gallery NYC  Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/lmh-2/   ---  TOPICS DISCUSSED:   2:45 - What the hell is happening in Logan’s studio, and his upcoming show in New York   5:15 - Why Logan is working with a gallery outside of the Maxwell-Alexander Gallery   7:30 - Whether Logan was nervous the last time he showed his art in New York   9:00 - The impact of being able to show more examples of an artist’s work   11:15 - How periods of intensity and external pressure have shaped Logan’s work   12:45 - How Logan’s art has changed since his 2018 show   14:30 - What a Logan’s process looks like when there isn’t external pressure from deadlines   17:45 - Logan’s doodling process   19:45 - The need for action   23:30 - How Logan deals with the fact that unique art will be judged   27:45 - Discussing perfection and how boring it is   28:45 - Who Logan admires   31:15 - Discussing Georgia O’Keefe   32:45 - Discussing Logan’s life in Ojai   40:00 - The importance of retreat for Logan’s art   42:00 - The impact of self-talk   44:30 - Discussing the new gallery   47:45 - Logan’s book and artist 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 

Logan Maxwell Hagege Returns - On Taking Action & Finding Balance

  Dr. Emily Howe is an aquatic ecologist with the Washington state chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and she holds a Ph.D. from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. Her work integrates across ecosystem boundaries, investigating how landscape configuration and management shape cross-boundary relationships for food webs, organisms, and ecosystem processes.   -   At the Nature Conservancy, Emily’s projects stretch from the high peaks of the North Cascades all the way down to the estuary of Port Susan Bay, and her work highlights the interconnectedness of everything from snowpack to salmon populations, forest management to marsh grass health. Much of Emily’s work focuses on understanding liminal spaces– areas in nature where boundaries blend together and where the interactions between ecosystems can be fluid and dynamic.   -   Since the earliest days of European settlement, this area has been subject to a wide variety of threats to the overall ecosystem—aggressive logging, wildfire suppression, attempts to engineer order into the ever-changing estuaries, and more. And with the intensification of climate change, snowfall and its resulting snowpack have decreased, which only exacerbates the negative effects and threats to the ecosystem.   -   But thanks to Emily and her team of stakeholders and partners, there are many, many reasons to be optimistic about the future. Combining cutting-edge science with Indigenous knowledge, Emily and TNC are making great progress toward finding solutions that can help with everything from increasing the depth and duration of snowpack in the Cascades to restoring all-important salmon habitat, and much much more.   -   If you’re a fan of ecology and are interested in how Indigenous wisdom can bolster our 21st-century scientific knowledge, then you’ll love this episode. We start our conversation at sea level, discussing the magic of the tidal ecosystems, then work our way up the into mountains, eventually discussing all things snowpack and forest health.  We talk about TNC’s partnership with the Stilliguamish Tribe, how forest gaps can affect snowpack, snow droughts and El Nino, collaboration with federal agencies, and rising sea levels in the Northwest.  Emily also talks about her career path to becoming a scientist and she offers up some excellent book recommendations.   -   I love the Pacific Northwest, so I greatly appreciate everything that Emily and her partners are doing to keep this region of the West so wild, special, and healthy.  I hope you enjoy.   ---    Dr. Emily Howe   "Water Connects Us All" by Leah Palmer  Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/emily-howe/   --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive.   On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond.   To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org ---  TOPICS DISCUSSED   3:45 - Discussing the history Port Susan Bay Preserve  8:15 - The colonial reasons for the “straightening out” of the complex Stille River System  11:15 - Why TNC became interested in Port Susan Bay  13:15 - Emily’s focus on the Port Susan Bay Preserve  17:15 - Emily’s partnership with Tribal entities around Port Susan Bay Preserve  21:45 - Where and how TNC partners with the federal government on its work on the coast  26:15 - Goals for the Port Susan Bay Preserve  32:30 - How fast the sea level is rising in the Port Susan Bay Preserve  34:15 - The 2015 Pacific Northwest snow drought  38:15 - Emily’s involvement in higher elevation forest management and how it can impact snowpack and water resources  45:00 - Putting Emily’s work above to practice  52:30 - Emily’s personal journey to this work  56:30 - Emily’s book recommendations  1:02:00 - Emily’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. Emily Howe - The Interconnectedness of Mountains, Forests, Rivers, and Estuaries

  Sterling Drake is an award-winning musician whose soulful tunes reflect his deep love of the landscapes, people, and culture of the American West. The media outlet Lonesome Highway probably best described Sterling’s music by calling it a “perfect fusion of western swing, honky-tonk heartache, and dance hall treasures.” But you can’t really confine Sterling’s music to a single, over-arching category– his influences range from country to folk to blues (and more!), and he’s toured everywhere from rural Montana to the swamps of South Florida to the music epicenter of Nashville, Tennesse. And it’s those wide-ranging experiences and influences that make him such a fascinating and thoughtful character and such a fun person to talk with.   -   Sterling’s family has roots in the southeastern U.S., and he was born and raised in Florida. Music was always a big part of his life, but his early interests revolved around the hardcore music scene and his love of drumming. Soon after graduating high school, he decided to head out west, where he began a long stretch of working on various ranches in several different states. Over time, his musical focus shifted from the hardcore world into the roots genre, and he began to capture the attention of audiences at bars, rodeos, and everywhere in between. Today, Sterling is a full-time touring musician, and as I record this, he is preparing for his first European tour. In my mind, Sterling is a perfect example of how a person can successfully meld passion, curiosity, hard work, and respect to create an entirely unique brand of art that resonates with a large, thoughtful audience.   -   I met Sterling last summer at the 2023 Old Salt Festival in Helmville, Montana, and I was instantly struck by his thoughtfulness, sense of humor, and his desire to contribute to the culture of the American West.  So I was glad to finally connect with him for a podcast episode and have an in-depth conversation about his artistic journey. We started out talking about his upbringing in Florida and why he eventually decided to head west. We discuss his time working on ranches, lessons learned from living and working in Nashville, and why he continues to be drawn to Montana. We discuss his most recent EP titled Jereco Sessions, and why he decided to donate all of the proceeds of that project to the nonprofit Western Landowners Alliance. We also discuss Willie Nelson, books, martial arts, straight-edge culture, travel, and much, much more.   -   If you want to see Sterling perform in person and have a chance to hang out with him, I’d encourage you to come to this summer’s Old Salt Festival, which is taking place June 21-23 in Helmville, Montana. Both Sterling and I will be there, and we’re both looking forward to what is guaranteed to be an amazing weekend.   -   Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy!   ---   Sterling Drake   Jereco Sessions  Old Salt Festival  Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/sterling-drake/  Ed's Freeflow Institute Course   ---  TOPICS DISCUSSED:   5:00 - Sterling’s first memory of music   7:45 - Reflecting on Sterling’s childhood in Florida   11:00 - How Sterling became interested in the West, and further discussing Sterling’s upbringing   14:30 - Sterling’s time in Utah   17:30 - Where Sterling’s work ethic comes from   20:00 - How music played into Sterling’s early years out West   22:00 - A brief discussion of martial arts and its impact on Sterling’s life   25:45 - Sterling’s shift into country music   28:15 - When Sterling’s country career started to take off   33:15 - Sterling’s insider take on the Nashville music industry   40:45 - How Sterling became involved with WLA   44:15 - Discussing Sterling’s recent/upcoming album cover   45:15 - Sterling’s upcoming European tour   46:45 - Looking forward to Old Salt Festival   52:30 - Where Sterling may eventually choose to settle down   54:00 - Sterling’s advice to early career professionals and aspiring artists   1:00:30 - Sterling’s book recommendations   1:03:45 - Sterling’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 

Sterling Drake - Roots Music, Ranching, and Giving Back

  Kevin Krasnow is the Conservation Director at the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, a long-standing, highly effective organization whose mission is to “protect the wildlife, wild places, and community character of Jackson Hole.” For more than four decades, the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance has been a staunch advocate for keeping Jackson Hole wild and beautiful, and it has proven to be a nimble and creative protector of the legendary Wyoming valley. The organization has served as a watchdog against poorly planned development, a champion for public land, a community voice that holds elected officials accountable, and much more.   -   Kevin brings a fascinating and diverse professional background to his work at the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance– he’s worked as an Outward Bound instructor, a high school teacher, a college professor, and, most notably, he earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California Berkley. Prior to joining the team at the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, he worked for ten years at the Teton Science Schools in Jackson. As you’ll hear in our conversation, Kevin is a high-level expert in forest and wildfire ecology, and he speaks eloquently about the role of wildfires in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond.   -   When I first headed out West from North Carolina nearly twenty years ago, I moved to Jackson Hole— and I will always have a tender spot in my heart for that particular area. So I was thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with Kevin and talk about all things related to ecology, wildlife, fire, and conversation in Jackson Hole. We started with a deep dive into Aspen trees, and why they are such an important and unique part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. We discussed the Yellowstone Fire of 1988 and how that disaster shaped forest management in the future. We discussed the unprecedented development pressure in and around Jackson, how Kevin and his organization collaborate with a wide range of conservation partners, his professional journey from indirect to direct conservation work, and how his career as an educator informs his work today.   -   If you’ve ever spent time in the Tetons, Yellowstone, or the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, then you’re going to learn a lot from Kevin. Please visit the episode notes for a full list of everything he mentions, and I hope you enjoy!   ---   Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance  Kevin Krasnow  Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/kevin-krasnow/    --- This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and TNC chapters throughout the Western United States. Guided by science and grounded by decades of collaborative partnerships, The Nature Conservancy has a long-standing legacy of achieving lasting results to create a world where nature and people thrive.   On the last Tuesday of every month throughout 2024, Mountain & Prairie will be delving into conversations with a wide range of The Nature Conservancy’s leaders, partners, collaborators, and stakeholders, highlighting the myriad of conservation challenges, opportunities, and solutions here in the American West and beyond.   To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s impactful work in the West and around the world, visit www.nature.org -- TOPICS DISCUSSED:   3:30 - Discussing Aspen trees and how they captured Kevin’s attention   9:30 - Threats to Aspen populations   13:30 - Looking at the Yellowstone Fire of 1988   24:00 - How significantly forestry and attitudes toward fire have changed after the Yellowstone Fire of 1988    28:30 - What brought Kevin to the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance    31:00 - Whether or not COVID has impacted the urgency of JHCA’s work   35:15 - What specific problems Kevin works on at JHCA    39:15 - How Kevin and JHCA have collaborated with The Nature Conservancy   43:00 - Kevin’s switch from “indirect” conservation to “direct”   45:00 - When the outdoors became a part of Kevin’s life   47:15 - Kevin’s early career in experiential education, and how it benefits his career now   52:30 - Kevin’s words for a young person looking for career advice   55:00 - Kevin’s book recommendations   58:15 - Kevin’s parting words of wisdom, and how folks can support JHCA   --- 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 

Kevin Krasnow - Keeping Jackson Hole Wild and Beautiful

  Mike DeHoff is the Principal Investigator at Returning Rapids Project, a one-of-a-kind project that is documenting the recovery of the Colorado River in Cataract Canyon, upper Glen Canyon, and along the San Juan. Back in 1963, the construction of Glen Canyon Dam created Lake Powell, which submerged many of the area’s canyons– turning what were once wild stretches of the Colorado into flat water. Today, the southwest’s ongoing historic drought has caused Lake Powell’s water levels to drop significantly, revealing historic rapids, recently hidden geologic features, and riparian ecosystems that had been deep underwater for nearly fifty years.   -   Returning Rapids began as a personal project for Mike and three of his river-loving friends– Meg Flynn, Peter Lefebvre, and Chris Benson. They began to notice changes in the river created by Lake Powell’s receding waters and started documenting those changes and using historic photographs and documents to better understand the reemerging landscape. Over the years, their work caught the attention of universities, academics, scientists, and government agencies, all of whom were fascinated by what was being discovered deep in those canyons. Fast forward to today, and their work is not only enabling cutting-edge research, but it’s capturing the attention of bigtime media outlets, including a recent feature in Rolling Stone.   -   Mike connected with me virtually from his home base in Moab, Utah, and we had a fascinating discussion about the Colorado River, Lake Powell, and the history of the Returning Rapids project. We started out with a brief history lesson on the drought’s effect on the Colorado River, then we dug into issues such as the mind-blowing amount of sediment created by Glen Canyon Dam. We discussed when Mike and his partners realized that their personal project was capturing the attention of the public, the challenges of garnering attention for lesser-known places like Cataract Canyon, and the idea of combining Lake Powell and Lake Mead. We also talk a lot about Mike’s personal journey with this project, and how his willingness to follow his curiosity, partner with very smart people, take risks, and work extremely hard has had a significant scientific impact. We also discuss books, his mentors, his desire to learn from everyone he meets, and much more.   -   A huge thanks to Mike, Meg, Peter, and Chris for their important work, and for providing such a solid example for all of us who feel drawn to make a difference here in the American West.   ---   Returning Rapids Project   Rolling Stone article on Returning Rapids  Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/mike-dehoff/   ---  This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation.  To whom much is given, much is expected. This value guides the philosophy behind the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation today.  Committed to its cause and infused with an entrepreneurial spirit, Mighty Arrow aims to invest in solutions that take action on climate change to build a more vibrant future, repair relationships from farm to market to table, heal our connection to the lands and waters we call home, and demand a more just and equitable society.   To learn more about Mighty Arrow’s forward-thinking, optimistic, and visionary work here in the American West and beyond, please visit www.mightyarrow.org.    ---    TOPICS DISCUSSED:   3:30 - The drought of the early 2000s and how it started a 20+ year journey for Mike   16:30 - How an entire land mass of Colorado River sediment can be created with no one claiming management or responsibility of it   21:30 - When Mike’s project shifted from a personal interest to an interest of the public   26:15 - The surprising rate that Lake Powell and Cataract Canyon are capable of recovering   34:30 - How Mike garners attention for lesser-known but important places like Cataract Canyon   37:15 - Discussing the idea of combining Lake Powell and Lake Meade   44:15 - Mike’s advice for people wanting to do something similar to he and his team   47:30 - Mike’s powerful appreciation for the people he meets, and his mentors and heroes   50:30 - Mike’s book recommendations   53:45 - Mike’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 

Jessica Ilalaole - Creating Home in the High Desert

Download our free app to listen on your phone