Rob Addington is the Director of the Forest and Fire Program with The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. He and his team are focused on increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration in Colorado to reduce hazardous fuels and promote landscape resilience to natural disturbances such as wildfire as well as climate change.

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You don't have to live in the West to know that the region has been battling ongoing drought, historically large and intense wildfires, and various forms of insect-induced forest devastation. Over the past few years here in Colorado, we've experienced some of the most destructive wildfires in recorded history, and the pine beetle infestation continues to be a source of serious and increasing concern. And Colorado is obviously not alone– there are similar stories of struggling forests throughout all of the Western states.

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While the current conditions may be dire, you'll be happy to know that Rob and his team at The Nature Conservancy are working extremely hard to find collaborative, creative, and effective solutions to the challenges facing our forests here in the West. By partnering with government agencies, Tribal nations, private landowners, various non-profits, and more, TNC has been leading and implementing some of the most innovative forest health work in the country– work that is creating more resilient, healthy landscapes across hundreds of thousands of acres.

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For all the listeners who have been asking for a wildfire and forest health-focused episode, this one is for you. I met up with Rob at the TNC office in Boulder, and he was kind enough to educate me on both the big picture and finer details of all things forest health. You can check out the notes for a full list of everything we discussed, but a few of the topics include: The infamous 2020 wildfire season and the outlook for 2023, the history of land management and how that has affected wildfires, pine beetles, wildfire's effects on water quality, how beavers can play a role in fire mitigation, some specific success stories, business solutions for forest health, the all-important focus on partnerships, post-fire land management strategies, good books, and much more. Be sure to visit the episode webpage for links to everything, including TNC's exciting new Western Division Forest and Fire Initiative.

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A huge thanks to Rob for taking the time to answer all my questions and another huge thanks to TNC for leading all of this important work. I hope you enjoy!

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• Rob Addington
• Colorado Wildfires, Climate Change and Water | TNC
• What Colorado Trailblazers Teach Us About Wildfire Recovery
• Colorado Forests and Beer: OktoberForest
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/rob-addington/

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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.

To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado

---

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 – Discussing the fire season of 2020
• 9:45 – The outlook for the fire season of 2023
• 12:00 – Discussing the variability in Colorado's recent fire seasons
• 14:45 – The causes for Colorado's changing fire seasons
• 17:30 – Exploring, specifically, the role of historic land management and how it impacts fire behavior
• 20:30 – Discussing pine beetles
• 26:00 – How the forest regime progresses in beetle-killed stands without fire, and how changing fire behavior is impacting the forest regime
• 32:00 – How fires impact water
• 39:15 – Discussing potential solution strategies for Colorado's fire situation
• 42:00 – Discussing the importance of managing partnerships in this work
• 44:45 – A specific, fire-related project that Rob is happy about
• 47:15 – Exploring the potential of a for-profit business that is incentivized to thin out fire-prone forests
• 50:30 – Beavers' role in wildfire prevention
• 54:30 – Rob's favorite period of history to read about
• 56:30 – Management strategies for an area that has been wiped clean by fire
• 1:00:30 – Rob's book recommendations

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David Gessner is no stranger to Mountain & Prairie listeners– he's joined me for many episodes and is the author of many of my favorite books, including "All the Wild That Remains," "Leave It As It Is," "My Green Manifesto," and more. His newest book is "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World: Tales of Fire, Wind, and Water," which once again showcases David's unique ability to combine humor, travel, and memoir in service of connecting the reader with the natural world.

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"A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World" chronicles David's journeys around the country, where he finds himself in the middle of an unsettling number of climate disasters– from historic forest fires in the American West to hurricanes on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Eschewing the ubiquitous facts, figures, and policy debates that often dominate climate-focused books, David does what he does best: he tells stories. Specifically, he tells impactful, insightful stories from the front lines of the climate crisis– stories that will stick with the reader for years to come.

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As has been our tradition for several years now, David and I met up in Boulder, Colorado, where he and his family visit each summer. We obviously talk a lot about the book, but as is the case whenever we get together, the conversation flows into many fun and unexpected topics. You can check out the episode notes for a full list of everything we discussed, but some of the topics include: David's recent writing workshop at the Zapata Ranch with his friend, author Craig Childs, the importance of momentum and dailiness in writing, how David's daughter was the influence for the new book, optimism vs. pessimism when reporting current events, thoughts on death and loss, David's good friend, the late Mark Spitzer, the next generation of conservation-minded writers, some book recommendations, the idea of being a "polygamist of place," and much more.

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I'm always happy to have the opportunity to sit down with David for a conversation, so I greatly appreciate his carving out the time. I hope you can check out "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World," and I hope you enjoy this episode.

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• A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World by David Gessner
• David Gessner
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/david-gessner-4/
• Support Mountain & Prairie
• Sign up for Ed's Book Recommendations

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:15 - David's Zapata Ranch retreat
• 6:45 - Discussing the power of "dailiness"
• 7:45 - Whether or not teaching helped in David's practice of writing
• 9:00 - How many books David has written in the past 18 months
• 10:30 - How David knows when an idea becomes a book in his mind
• 16:45 - David's goal for "A Traveler's Guide to the End of the World," including how he balanced stories with statistics and humor with the weight of the subject
• 20:45 - Evaluating how the news of the West is reported
• 27:45 - What David means when he identifies as a "polygamist of place"
• 33:15 - David's relationship with Mark Spitzer
• 39:30 - How David feels about entering a stage in life where his friends are beginning to pass away
• 43:45 - Discussing David's daughter, climate change, and how they figure into "A Traveler's Guide"
• 50:30 - David discusses the various tools he would like to use to face climate change
• 52:45 - Who David thinks will continue the work of the Doug Peacocks of the world
• 56:45 - Discussing the political alignment affiliated with climate change work
• 1:01:30 - David's book recommendations

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Doug Peacock is a legendary environmentalist, writer, filmmaker, and grizzly bear advocate. He's the co-founder of two conversation nonprofits– Round River Conservation Studies and Save the Yellowstone Grizzly. Doug was also the inspiration for the character George Washington Hayduke in his friend Edward Abbey's classic novel "The Monkey Wrench Gang." And to top it all off, he is the author of many classic books, including "Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness" and his most recent award-winning book "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior's Long Trail Home," published by Patagonia Books.

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Doug was born and raised in Michigan, where he grew up obsessed with nature and the outdoors. As a young man, he was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he served as a Green Beret combat medic, an experience that placed him squarely in the middle of devastating violence toward his fellow soldiers, as well as civilian men, women, and children. In 1968, he returned home from Vietnam spiritually broken, mentally unwell, and physically debilitated with malaria. Not knowing where to turn, he headed deep into the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park by himself, where he formed an unlikely bond with the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear. Eventually, he recovered both physically and mentally and, to this day, he credits the grizzly with saving his life. He has spent the last half-century repaying his debt to the grizzly bear, aggressively fighting for their protection and recovery in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond.

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I met up with Doug in Aspen, Colorado, where he was in town for a reading of "Was it Worth It?" at Aspen's only bookstore, Explore Booksellers. Even though I could've talked with Doug for many hours, we managed to jam a lot of stories into this conversation. Some of the topics we discussed include: Why Doug does not carry a gun in grizzly country; why it is important for humans to love and protect a creature as powerful, even dangerous, as a grizzly; his friendships with Edward Abbey, Yvon Chouinard, Jim Harrison, and others, and how each of those high-voltage personalities helped to elevate the others; the death and secret burial of Edward Abbey; why climate changes is such a threat to grizzlies, the challenges and financial realities of a life dedicated to environmental advocacy; his greatest source of pride and greatest disappointment; what is giving him hope now; and Doug reads several passages from "Was It Worth It?'"

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Today, at age 81, you can still feel the fire in Doug's spirit, and his passion for grizzlies is palpable. I was honored to have the opportunity to chat with Doug, and I loved his book "Was it Worth It?" I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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• Doug Peacock
• "Was it Worth It? A Wilderness Warrior's Long Trail Home"
• "Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness"
• Save the Yellowstone Grizzly
• Round River Conservation Studies
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/doug-peacock/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 4:10 - Discussing the picture on the front of Doug's book
• 6:25 - When Doug decided it wasn't fair to be in grizzly country with guns
• 8:40 - How Yellowstone became a part of Doug's life
• 10:55 - How grizzlies provided a much-needed community for Doug after his time at war
• 12:40 - How long it took for Doug to find peace in grizzly country after Vietnam
• 15:10 - Exploring Doug's balance between telling the good stories and being willing to fight for conservation
• 18:10 - Why specifically it is so important for humans to learn to love and protect a creature as powerful, even dangerous, as a grizzly
• 19:40 - How Doug's friends made him a better conservationist
• 21:40 - How Doug's friends balance their very strong personalities
• 22:40 - The importance of ceremony and how Doug handled the passing of his dear friend, Ed Abbey
• 28:40 - Whether or not parenthood changed Doug's outlook on risk and death
• 30:10 - Who or where Doug drew his motivation from
• 32:10 - How Doug managed his lifestyle
• 33:40 - What keeps Doug awake at night, as it pertains to grizzlies
• 36:40 - How Doug became interested in fighting climate change by way of grizzlies
• 39:30 - Where Doug would focus his energy if he were starting his career in conservation now
• 40:25 - Whether or not Doug is an optimist
• 43:40 - What work Doug is most proud of in his life, and where he thinks he may have fallen short
• 46:00 - Doug's friendship with Jim Harrison
• 47:10 - What gives Doug hope
• 48:40 - Doug's mandatory reading

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Chris Hawkins is the Colorado Urban Conservation Manager for The Nature Conservancy, where he leads the organization's efforts in Denver to "solve global challenges like the biodiversity and climate emergencies by supporting and creating more sustainable, efficient ways of living."

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When many people think of The Nature Conservancy, they may envision large-scale conservation efforts across vast grasslands and wild landscapes– but TNC also conducts some of its most innovative conservation work in cities— work that leads to more resilient, healthy, and equitable communities. Chris's work in Denver is a shining example of how nature-based solutions in densely populated urban areas can have positive ripple effects far beyond the city limits.

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Chris was born and raised on the east coast, attended college in Boston, and from the very beginning of his career, he's been focused on service and causes greater than himself. He's worked as a Corps Member of AmericaCorps, as Chief of Staff in New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, and for the past nine years, he's been with the Nature Conservancy. As you'll hear in this conversation, Chris's diverse professional experiences have allowed him to bring a unique and effective perspective to the complex world of urban conservation.

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Chris was nice enough to join me at my dining room table for an engaging and educational conversation about all things urban conservation. We started out by discussing why TNC has chosen to devote its resources and expertise to conservation in cities, and he explains the unique challenges facing cities in the West. We discuss how public health is directly related to people's access to nature, and how the simple-but-not-easy strategy of planting trees in neighborhoods can have huge conservation and public health benefits. As is the case with all of my conservation-related conversations, we discuss the critical importance of relationships, and how Chris has managed to build relationships with a diverse group of Denver residents. We also discuss his professional trajectory, the importance of exporting urban conservation ideas to other cities, and the critical roles of mayors and local leadership. And finally, Chris is a serious history buff, so we have a great discussion about books.

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There is so much fascinating information packed into this episode, and I greatly appreciate Chris's taking the time to share his wisdom with the Mountain & Prairie community. Check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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• Chris Hawkins

• TNC's Urban Conservation Program in Denver

• TNC's Global Cities Program

• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-hawkins/

---

This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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.

To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado

---

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:45 - Why do Chris and TNC work in cities
• 7:00 - Thriving cities in the West and the unique challenges they present
• 9:30 - Whether or not the health benefits of the outdoors have become a larger part of Chris's work recently
• 15:30 - Discussing trees
• 27:45 - How Chris builds relationships in his work in cities
• 33:45 - Specific strategies Chris uses to build trust
• 38:30 - Where Chris grew up and why he became involved in this work
• 43:30 - Discussing the work of city mayors
• 53:00- How ideas that are exported or imported between cities show up in Chris's work in Denver
• 1:00:15 - Chris's book recommendations

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Back in September of 2022, I held the first annual Strenuous Life Retreat at the renowned Zapata Ranch in Colorado's San Luis Valley. The retreat consisted of five days of adventure and education inspired by Theodore Roosevelt's well-known commitment to living "the Strenuous Life." We hiked high into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, rode horses in Great Sand Dunes National Park, and enjoyed world-class meals. And each afternoon, we enjoyed facilitated conversations about land stewardship, conservation, and regenerative agriculture. This episode is a recording of one of those conversations.

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I was honored to be joined by conservation veteran Nancy Fishbein, who serves as Director of Resilient Lands for the Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Nancy has been a long-standing leader in the Western conservation community, so we were all honored that she took time out of her full schedule to join us and share some stories and hard-earned wisdom. The Zapata Ranch is owned by the Nature Conservancy and managed by Ranchlands, so Nancy has a unique insight into the history of the ranch, as well as the importance of conservation in the San Luis Valley.

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We recorded this conversation at the ranch's education center, one afternoon after a morning of horseback riding. The first half consists of me asking the questions, and the second half consists of questions from the retreat participants. We cover everything from the history of the Zapata Ranch to the establishment of Great Sand Dunes National Park, which adjoins the ranch to the north. We talk about the conservation bison herd that calls the ranch home, and some of the ongoing challenges in the San Luis Valley created by water speculation and development. We discuss how mineral rights development can coexist with conservation, the protection of biodiversity on ranches, how TNC and the National Park Service work together, and much more. As you'll hear, everyone in attendance was super engaged and curious about Nancy's work, and it showed in the range of interesting and thoughtful questions.

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I hope this episode will give you a bit of insight into the types of conversations we had at the 2022 Retreat and the kind of conversations you can expect in 2023 and beyond. Colorado is blessed to have so many committed conservationists like Nancy who devote their time and energy to protecting and stewarding these spectacular landscapes, and I can't thank Nancy enough for taking the time to join us.

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If you're interested in joining me for the 2023 Retreat, as of this recording, there are still a few spots left. You can click here to learn more and reserve your spot. Thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy!

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• Nancy Fishbein
• Zapata Ranch
• Strenuous Life Retreat
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nancy-fishbein/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - A quick intro to Nancy
• 5:30 - The story of the Education Center on Zapata Ranch
• 7:00 - How Zapata Ranch first got onto TNC's radar
• 10:00 - How TNC goes about acquiring properties like Zapata Ranch
• 12:15 - Why the previous owner of Zapata Ranch did not charge TNC full fair market value for the property
• 13:30 - The importance of relationships in TNC's work
• 15:30 - What happened after TNC acquired Zapata Ranch
• 18:15 - Explaining a conservation easement
• 20:00 - Why the bison herd on Zapata Ranch were such a focal point of TNC's conservation work there
• 22:15 - Why TNC has chosen to hold onto Zapata Ranch as an owner for so long
• 25:45 - How TNC works with various levels of government agencies
• 27:30 - Nancy's biggest concern for the San Luis Valley
• 29:00 - The most recent scheme to remove water from the San Luis Valley
• 31:45 - Audience questions begin
• 32:00 - Whether or not Nancy wished that TNC had done something different in their acquisition of Zapata Ranch
• 32:45 - Nancy's surprises and lessons learned about Zapata
• 34:30 - Why an easement cannot be put on San Luis Valley's aquifer
• 36:15 - TNC's role in the establishment of Baca Wildlife Refuge and the Great Sand Dunes National Park
• 40:45 - The distinction between a national park and a national monument
• 41:30 - How the TNC navigated purchasing land that was managed by a private company (Rocky Mountain Bison) but on leased state land
• 42:30 - Exploring the potential causality between water export schemes in the San Luis Valley and the establishment of the Great Sand Dunes National Park
• 44:00 - Whether or not there remains the appetite for bipartisan action, such as the kind that led to the creation of the Great Sand Dunes National Park, in our current political climate
• 45:00 - Exploring TNC's support of agriculture as a conservation service
• 43:30 - Whether or not TNC deals with agricultural leases
• 51:30 - How easements impact mineral and mining rights on a property
• 53:30 - How fracking might complicate conservation easements, and whether or not easements are a successful tool for reducing oil and gas development
• 55:45 - How TNC measures success in its conservation work and the preservation of biodiversity on a property, and how they respond to and act on those measurements
• 1:00:55 - What TNC is working on right now in Colorado

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Jesse Griffiths is an Austin-based chef, author, hunter, and fisherman, and he's also the co-owner of Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club and the New School of Traditional Cookery. Jesse's work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times to the Joe Rogan Experience, and he's a regular contributor to Steven Rinella's MeatEater. As an author, Jesse has received great praise for his two books, the James Beard Award-finalist cookbook, "Afield: A Chef's Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish," as well as his most recent title, "The Hog Book: A Chef's Guide to Hunting, Preparing, and Cooking Wild Pigs."

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Born and raised in Denton, Texas, Jesse grew up obsessed with fishing– he loved catching the fish, but he also loved cooking and eating them. As a teenager, he started working in restaurants and became more and more interested in cooking– an interest that he pursued full-time after graduating from high school. Propelled by a deep curiosity and a desire to broaden his perspective, he would save up his money and then travel, studying food and cooking in a wide variety of cultures around the world. Eventually, Jesse combined all of his unique personal and professional experiences and opened his own restaurant, Dia Due, which features food that is "produced in a fair and equitable way, represent(s) local culinary traditions, and support(s) farmers and ranchers who are striving to improve the quality of our food."

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I've been a fan of Jesse's work for many years, so I was thrilled when we were introduced by a mutual friend. Over the course of our hour together, we covered a lot, include: Jesse's upbringing in Texas and his early days in cooking, the importance of international travel, the challenges of getting Dai Due off the ground, the importance of humility and curiosity, a deep dive into wild hogs in Texas, his approach to writing, Jesse's recent obsession with wild turkeys, and, of course, Jesse offers a ton of great book recommendations.

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I loved this conversation and was blown away by Jesse's kindness and humility. I really appreciate his taking the time to chat with me, and I know you'll learn a lot from Jesse's fascinating life story. Enjoy!

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• Dai Due
• New School of Traditional Cookery
• The Hog Book by Jesse Griffiths
• Afield by Jesse Griffiths
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/jesse-griffiths/

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Join Ed for five days on Utah's Green River for his Freeflow Institute Course: PLACE, POWER, PURPOSE

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:15 - Jesse's upbringing
• 7:30 - How Jesse got involved in cooking
• 12:15 - When Jesse first left the USA
• 13:30 - The importance of international travel
• 16:45 - Jesse's mentors
• 24:15 - Getting Dai Due started
• 27:15 - How Jesse learned to be a manager
• 31:15 - The source of Jesse's humility
• 36:15 - Jesse's work with Texas wild hogs
• 50:15 - Jesse's ethos in writing
• 51:30 - Jesse's recent work with turkeys
• 1:01:15 - Jesse's book recommendations

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For today's conversation, I was thrilled to chat once again with Christian Beckwith, a Jackson, Wyoming-based writer, historian, conservationist, and entrepreneur. Christian's latest project is "Ninety-Pound Rucksack: A podcast about the US Army's 10th Mountain Division and the dawn of outdoor recreation in America."

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If you enjoy spending time up high in the mountains here in the American West, then you've surely heard at least a passing mention of the 10th Mountain Division. It's nearly impossible to travel up and down the I-70 corridor here in Colorado without seeing a few references to the 10th. But if you're like me, you probably do not have a sufficient appreciation for the exciting story of how and why the division was formed, and how its creation set the trajectory for climbing, skiing, and recreational outdoor adventure for decades to come.

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Whether you're a climber, skier, or simply a history buff who enjoys diving into untold stories from pivotal moments in our past, then I highly recommend Ninety-Pound Rucksack. The podcast starts out exploring the 1939 Russian invasion of Finland, and how, despite being outmatched on nearly every level, the Fins were able to put up a heroic fight thanks to their ability to efficiently maneuver through cold, snowy, rugged terrain on skis. The story then shifts to America, where a small group of young mountaineers and skiers recognized the importance of mountain warfare and began to lobby the government to focus on this unconventional approach to battle. I won't give any more details away, but the podcast is just the kind of history I love: big adventures, one-of-a-kind characters, and people driven by causes larger than themselves.

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To learn more about Christian's personal background, I'd encourage you to go back and listen to our first conversation from many years ago. Because in this one, we talk all history, all the time– from the backstory of the 10th, to the adventurous young men who dreamed it up, to how that time period affects us still today. Toward the end of the conversation, Christian offers up some valuable wisdom on the need to be tenacious in all creative and entrepreneurial endeavors, and he also has some really great book recommendations.

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Follow the links in the episode notes to listen to Ninety-Pound Rucksack, and please pass the podcast along to any of your history-loving friends. A big thanks to Christian for working so hard to create this podcast and for joining me for another conversation. Hope you enjoy!

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• Ninety-Pound Rucksack
• Christian Beckwith
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/christian-beckwith-2/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:15 - An overview of Christan's background
• 13:15 - How the 10th Mountain Division was established
• 26:15 - How the 10th Mountain Division impacted the development of skiing in the US
• 32:15 - How digging into the history of the 10th impacted Christian's thinking about the present
• 40:45 - Discussing Christian's code switch from adventure writing to engaging history writing
• 45:15 - The podcast's advisory council
• 50:15 - Christian's advice for people who have an idea but feel they are not qualified to pursue it
• 54:45 - Discussing Christian's tenacity
• 57:00 - What can we do to help get the word out about Christian's work
• 1:00:00 - Christian's book recommendations

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Matt Moorhead and Galen Guerrero-Murphy are conservationists who work for The Nature Conservancy on its Southern Highs Plains Initiative (SHPI), a collaboration between five states with the shared goal of protecting the nation's grasslands. The Southern High Plains encompasses approximately 71 million acres across Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The region is home to some of the country's most important grasslands, as well as the people and wildlife who depend on the invaluable shortgrass prairie ecosystem.

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Officially, Matt is TNC's Conservation Business & Partnership Development Advisor and Galen is TNC's Land Conservation Program Manager– but at their core, they are both relationship builders. As you'll hear in this conversation, both Matt and Galen work tirelessly to build long-term, rock-solid partnerships with landowners and conservation partners with the goal of finding win-win solutions that can be mutually beneficial for all parties. Through genuine curiosity, creative thinking, and a deep respect for landowners and their legacy, Matt and Galen have helped to implement lasting conservation outcomes in the Southern High Plains.

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The three of us connected virtually and had a fascinating conversation about grasslands, ranching, buidling relationships, and purpose-driven work. We start out by defining exactly what constitutes the Southern High Plains and why this is such an important region for conservation. We then discuss why the large percentage of private ownership creates such a compelling case for conservation, the need for balancing conservation with various forms of energy development, the current markets around grasslands carbon sequestration, and the all-important role of TNC's partners. We also discuss Matt and Galen's mentors, how they measure conservation success, and some of their favorite books.

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I've considered Matt and Galen to be friends and mentors for many years now, so I was grateful for the opportunity to talk with them on the podcast. Hope you enjoy.

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• More Information: Southern High Plains Initiative
• Full episode notes & links: https://mountainandprairie.com/southern-high-plains/

---

This episode is brought to you in partnership with the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 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 fourth Tuesday of every month throughout 2023, 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.

To learn more about The Nature Conservancy's impactful work in Colorado and around the world, visit www.nature.org/colorado

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:10 - Introductions
• 6:25 - What are the Southern High Plains
• 9:55 - Why the Southern High Plains are so critical in conservation
• 16:10 - How the patchwork of private lands in the Southern High Plains allows Matt and Galen to be effective in their conservation work
• 20:55 - The process of building relationships in private lands conservation work
• 29:10 - Balancing the potential for landowners to earn revenue through energy development with the interest in conserving landscapes
• 35:10 - Where things stand on grassland carbon sequestration as a method of generating both landowner revenue as well as conservation outcomes
• 39:10 - The importance and skills of TNC's partners
• 43:10 - Matt and Galen's mentors
• 50:10 - What progress on the Southern High Plains Initiative would make Matt and Galen happy in 10-15 years
• 53:40 - Matt and Galen's book recommendations

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Walt Morgan is a retired Navy Commander and Navy helicopter pilot, and he's also the founder of Translational Lift Coaching, where he works with individuals and teams to help them reach their full potential. Walt's wide-ranging background as a leader, teacher, student, and parent gives him a unique approach to helping people identify what they are doing well, what they could be doing better, and how to make subtle-yet-powerful adjustments that can lead to lasting change.

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Walt grew up in rural Oregon, where agriculture and working lands were an important part of his upbringing. He attended college on a military scholarship, graduated, and began flying helicopters for the Navy. After 23 rewarding years of service, Walt retired from the Navy and made his way into corporate America, where he quickly discovered his talent and passion for coaching. Today, Walt has combined his innate skills as a coach with his deep desire to help people, and he's created a meaningful second act to his already impressive career.

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I have had the great fortune of being coached by Walt for many years now, and I credit him and his guidance with helping me to identify the beliefs and ideas that are serving me well and to discard those that created friction. As you'll hear in this conversation, several of the insights I gained from Walt's coaching are what led me to leave the real estate business and fully focus on the purpose-driven work of conservation and this podcast. While I generally avoid blabbing about myself in these conversations, I feel that my personal experience with Walt speaks to the power of the work he does on a daily basis with many, many people.

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Walt and I sat down at my dining room table and had a fun conversation about his life and career, including: Walt's upbringing in rural Oregon; his decision to join the military; lessons learned from helicopters, deployments, and decades of service; his experience on the morning of 9/11 and his work in the aftermath; discovering his love of teaching; harnessing youthful wild energy into something productive; becoming a coach; the difference between coaching and therapy; the Enneagram and Integral Coaching methodology; favorite books and music; and much more.

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A big thanks to Walt for taking the time to chat and for his guidance over the years. You can find links to everything Walt is doing in the episode notes, so be sure to click through. Hope you enjoy.

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• Walt Morgan
• Translational Lift Coaching
• Walt on LinkedIn
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/walt-morgan/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - How a saddle made it into Walt's living room (a look into his upbringing)
• 8:300 - Walt's journey in college
• 10:00 - Discussing Walt's hometown of Yoncalla, OR, and the remarkable people connected to it
• 13:45 - Why Walt became involved in the military
• 15:30 - Walt's character pivot from his 19-year-old self to now
• 18:30 - When Walt started at the US Navy post graduate school
• 19:15 - Discussing when flying helicopters became a dream of Walt's
• 21:45 - Whether or not flight school was a means for Walt to channel the negative experiences he was having in his personal life into something productive
• 23:45 - Describing Walt's missions with helicopters
• 28:15 - Where Walt was on 9/11
• 31:00 - Walt's deployments following 9/11
• 34:45 - Walt's spiritual and emotional journey in corporate America, and starting his own business
• 42:15 - People's reactions (including Ed's) to receiving the kind of coaching Walt provides
• 48:15 - Defining Integral Coaching and the process that Ed has specifically worked through with Walt
• 53:30 - The difference between Integral Coaching and therapy
• 56:45 - Exploring the Integral Coaching methodology further, and discussing success stories in Walt's work
• 1:05:15 - Why this coaching strategy is not widespread
• 1:08:00 - How folks can work with Walt
• 1:13:45 - Walt's book and music recommendations

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Kathie Sever is an artist, designer, and the founder of Fort Lonesome, an Austin-based company that creates one-of-a-kind, hand-cranked, chain-stitched western wear. What started with Kathie hand-embroidering garments for friends out of her home has transformed over the years into a globally known fashion brand that is worn by well-known personalities such as Matthew McConaughey and singer-songwriter Nikki Lane. Using decades-old chain stitching machines, Kathie and her team create some of the most intricate and rich designs imaginable, and Fort Lonesome has been credited with the resurgence of Western wear's popularity in fashion circles around the world.

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Kathie was born, raised, and educated in California, but soon after graduating from art school, she took off for Montana, where she worked at a dude ranch. She worked at the ranch off and on for several years, and she took note of how the ranchers brought creativity, craftsmanship, and an artist's eye to so many of their tasks– from welding to sewing to leatherwork. Kathie loved the idea of functional art, and she has since made a career of combining handcrafted artistry with pragmatic design. And now, as the head of Fort Lonesome, she and her team continue to innovate and push the boundaries of functional art with Fort Lonesome's unique brand of what they call Cosmic Western wear.

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I loved this conversation with Kathie and could've talked with her for many more hours. We covered a lot, including Kathie's upbringing in California and how her family affected her artistic trajectory; her experience in Montana and how it laid the foundation for Fort Lonesome; her work as a pastry chef and the challenges of working in the restaurant scene of the 1990s; the power that can come as a result of negative experiences; her growth and evolution as a manager and business owner; how parenthood affected her goals; the pros and cons of working with famous people; the nervous feelings that come with creating art; our shared Enneagram personality profiles; favorite books; and much, much more.

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Whether you're interested in art, fashion, the creative process, entrepreneurship, or balancing a career with the demands of parenthood, you'll glean a lot of value from this conversation. A huge thank you to Kathie for the conversation, and thank you for listening.

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• Fort Lonesome
• Fort Lonesome on Instagram
• Full episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/kathie-sever/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:15 - How Kathie's childhood led her to a career in art
• 9:00 - Kathie's goals as she went into art school
• 10:00 - How Kathie ended up in Montana
• 13:30 - Kathie's takeaways from her time in Montana
• 15:45 - When Kathie started to recognize Western wear as a creative outlet
• 18:30 - Kathie's next steps after working at a ranch in Montana
• 20:15 - When pastry making came into the equation, and exploring the connection between pastry making and art
• 23:30 - Kathie's time in Austin and the misogyny she experienced in the restaurant scene in the late 90s
• 29:00 - Exploring the motivational power of negative experiences
• 32:00 - How having a kid impacted Kathie and how it led to her work with clothing
• 37:45 - Kathie's journey in figuring out the business side of making clothes
• 43:45 - When Kathie realized she was onto a good business idea, and how she balanced managing a small business from home while raising kids
• 1:00:00 - How oil painting impacted Kathie's embroidery work
• 1:03:45 - The first time a celebrity reached out for one of Kathie's pieces
• 1:07:15 - How Kathie balances her vision for her art with that of her clients when making clothes for performers
• 1:11:00 - Whether or not Kathie still feels nervous about putting her art into the world
• 1:18:30 - Kathie's vision for Fort Lonesome in the next 5-7 years
• 1:22:15 - Kathie's book recommendations

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ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE:

• Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes
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• Mountain & Prairie on Instagram
• Upcoming Events
• About Ed Roberson
• Support Mountain & Prairie
• Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts