Gabe Vasquez is the founder of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project and currently serves as a city councilor in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Gabe has devoted his entire career to advocacy and conservation, specifically for the people and places in the border region of New Mexico. He's worked for Senator Martin Heinrich, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and recently drafted New Mexico's Outdoor Equity Fund legislation, which was the first of its kind in the nation.

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Growing up in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Gabe developed a childhood passion for the outdoors while fishing with his father and learning about hunting from his grandfather. The outdoors has remained a focal point of his life, both professionally and personally, whether advising lawmakers on federal land policies or hunting, fishing, and hiking in the Coronado National Forest. But most importantly, Gabe has made it his mission to ensure that people of all socio-economic backgrounds and races can enjoy the outdoors, and hopefully, one day become advocates for protecting our country's wild places.

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Gabe was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Partners in the Outdoors Conference, a popular gathering of some of the country's foremost experts in conservation and recreation. But because of the COVID pandemic, the in-person conference was converted into a virtual conference. And instead of an on-stage keynote, Gabe is now appearing on this podcast with me! As you'll hear, Gabe's message of balancing conservation and recreation, while ensuring equitable access to the outdoors, is a perfect fit with the conference's theme of cultivating common ground to ensure a sustainable future for Colorado's outdoors.

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This was a fascinating interview, and I left the conversation better informed and inspired by Gabe's leadership and vision. We started out chatting about the formation of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project and talking about the history and mission of the organization. Gabe then discussed lessons learned from his time working with Senator Heinrich, and how a brief stint living and working in Washington DC solidified his love for the West. We discuss New Mexico's Outdoor Equity Fund, and how he played a significant role in creating this historic and cutting-edge, public-private program. We talk in-depth about the importance of getting kids into the outdoors, and the idea of how people need to fall in love with the outdoors before they can advocate for it. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, his favorite place in the West, and Gave offers some timely words of wisdom.

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A huge thanks to Gabe for taking the time to chat, and thank you to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for inviting me to be a part of its virtual conference. Visit the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, including the full conference schedule, which will give you access to all presentations from the virtual conference. There's a ton of exciting and informative content. But in the meantime, enjoy this conversation with Gabe Vasquez.

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• Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project
• CPW's Partners in the Outdoors Conference
• Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/gabe-vasquez/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 4:00 - Gabe’s family connection to the outdoors
• 6:00 - Early job with Senator Heinrich
• 8:30 - Moving to Washington DC
• 11:30 - Back out West, working for the NWF
• 14:00 - Formation of Nuestra Tierra
• 19:00 - Why Gabe chose a service-based career
• 24:00 - Lessoned learned from working with Senator Martin Heinrich
• 30:15 - New Mexico’s Outdoor Equity Fund, explained
• 37:00 - What Outdoor Equity Fund funds
• 32:30 - Alternative funding sources for recreation
• 44:00 - Other states’ response to the Outdoor Equity Fund
• 47:00 - Thoughts on privilege and the outdoors
• 51:00 - Creating new generations of conservationists
• 54:00 - Gabe’s role as a City Councilor 
• 1:04:00 - Favorite books
• 1:10:00 - Favorite place in New Mexico
• 1:14:00 - Parting words of wisdom

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Chris La Tray is a writer, poet, and musician, as well as the author of the award-winning book "One Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large." Chris is also an enrolled member of the Little Shell Tribe—a Native American tribe that was just recently recognized by the United States government, and prior to the recognition was known as the "landless Indians of Montana." Chris's immense talents as a storyteller combined with his unique personal perspective allow him to offer a fresh approach to understanding the complexities of the modern-day American West.

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Chris was born and raised in Frenchtown, Montana, a small blue-collar community located just west of Missoula. Growing up with a deep passion for music, Chris headed to Seattle soon after high school to pursue a career as a professional rock musician, but he eventually made his way back to Frenchtown, where he worked for years in the manufacturing industry. But in 2015, following the death of his father, Chris quit his manufacturing consulting job and went all-in on pursuing his dream of being a full-time storyteller. A few years later, he published One Sentence Journal and has been widely recognized as one of the West's most unique up-and-coming authors.

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Chris and I had an interesting and timely conversation about his career, his life as a writer and musician, and his family's heritage as members of the Little Shell Tribe. We start out by discussing the genesis of his idea for "One Sentence Journal," how writing the book has changed his life, and a few stories from his many years as a professional musician. Then, we talk in-depth about the long-overdue federal recognition of his tribe and his thoughts on how the tribe can move forward. We also discuss how the long-term treatment of his tribe gives Chris unique insights into the current national discussions around race and privilege here in the United States. Chris also offers up a long list of excellent books on a wide variety of subjects related to the West and Native Americans that I know you will all find useful. Links to everything are in the episode notes.

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Thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat, and I encourage you to check out One Sentence Journal. But in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Chris La Tray.

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Chris La Tray

"One Sentence Journal" by Chris La Tray

Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-la-tray/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED

• 6:30 - Influence of Jim Harrison
• 8:40 - Writing practice that led to “One Sentence Journal”
• 11:30 - The amazing community of Montana writers
• 14:30 - The “practice” of creative output
• 16:30 - Decision to leave his manufacturing job
• 19:30 - Early years in Montana and beyond
• 21:30 - Music’s role in Chris’s life
• 24:00 - Becoming a “musician”
• 25:30 - Reading/writing vs music
• 27:00 - Chris’s Little Shell Tribe heritage
• 32:30 - Emotional impact of learning family’s history
• 35:15 - Thoughts on the Little Shell’s federal recognition
• 38:30 - Ideas for the future of the Little Shell Tribe
• 40:00 - Specifics of federal recognition
• 44:00 - How to read to expand knowledge and eliminate blind spots
• 46:30 - Hope for the future?
• 54:00 - Fact and Fiction Bookstore
• 59:00 - Favorite books
• 1:03:30 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:05:30 - Parting words of wisdom

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Rachel VandeVoort is the Director of the Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation, an office that advocates for the outdoor recreation industry and works to leverage its numerous benefits to the state. The office was created in 2016 by Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and he tapped Rachel to be its first director, where she built the office from the ground up. Since then, the office has experienced amazing growth in influence and effectiveness, and it has served as a shining example for other states that have formed similar offices.

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A native Montanan, Rachel has a diverse background that makes her uniquely qualified for her role as Director. She grew up working for her family's river guiding business in and around Whitefish, MT and also spent time as a fishing guide. After graduating from the University of Montana, she worked in a wide variety of industries that are closely connected with land and recreation, including organic farming, skiing, and firearms manufacturing. Thanks to her diverse and deep experience in all facets of the outdoor world, Rachel has had great success finding common ground between sometimes-competing stakeholders to harness the collective power of Montana's recreation industry.

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Rachel was slated to be a keynote speaker at Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Partners in the Outdoors Conference, an annual gathering that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the conservation and outdoor recreation industries. But because of the COVID pandemic, the in-person conference was transformed into a virtual conference—and Rachel's keynote speech was transformed into this episode of Mountain & Prairie. I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Rachel, because her work aligns so well with the theme of the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, specifically, how do we find common ground and mutually beneficial solutions for balancing conservation and recreation.

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We covered a lot in a little over an hour, including the history of her job and the office, the staggering positive economic impacts of the outdoor industry, and ideas around funding conservation through recreation now and into the future. We also talked a lot about Rachel's eclectic background and how all of her varied experiences make her uniquely qualified for her position. Rachel shares some thoughts on finding common ground among competing stakeholders, the importance of understanding history in the West, and the collaborative nature of the outdoor recreation industry. Be sure the check out the episode notes for a full list of topics discussed.

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Big thanks to Rachel for taking the time to chat and to Colorado Parks and Wildlife for partnering with Mountain & Prairie for this series of podcasts. If you have a chance, visit the Partners in the Outdoors website all of the conference content—there's quite a line up of virtual courses and learning opportunities. But in the meantime, enjoy this educational episode with Rachel VandeVoort.

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• FULL EPISODE NOTES: https://mountainandprairie.com/rachel/
• Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation
• CPW's Partners in the Outdoors Virtual Conference

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:45 - Montana Office of Outdoor Recreation explained
• 7:45 - Massive economic impacts of outdoor recreation
• 10:00 - Economic impacts in Montana specifically
• 11:30 - Process of creating the office for Montana
• 12:45 - Outdoor infrastructure in Montana
• 15:15 - The positivity of the recreational economy
• 17:45 - Learning from other states' outdoor rec offices
• 18:45 - How Montana's rec office differs from Colorado's
• 20:45 - Rachel's eclectic background
• 22:45 - Desire to stay in Montana
• 26:00 - First job in organic food
• 29:30 - Starting her job in the firearms industry
• 34:00 - Communication lessons learned from a childhood in recreation
• 37:15 - Techniques for finding common ground between competing stakeholders
• 39:45 - The false premise of "consumptive" vs "non-consumptive" recreation
• 46:45 - Thoughts on Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, and the future of conservation funding
• 54:45 - Collaboration between outdoor rec stakeholders
• 59:35 - Favorite books
• 1:01:00 - Favorite films
• 1:02:45 - Rachel's family history in Montana
• 1:03:45 - Parting words of wisdom

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Chris Burkard is a world-renowned photographer, filmmaker, and storyteller whose work captures the beauty and rawness of some of the earth's wildest places. Whether documenting iconic climbs in Yosemite or frigid surf trips deep in the Arctic Circle, Chris has established himself as a committed artist who is willing to suffer extensively to get the perfect shot. And because of his love and respect for these wild places, Chris is also a committed conservationist, using his artistic skills to showcase the importance of endangered places and effect positive policy changes.

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Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, Chris spent much of his youth exploring the mountains and coastline of his home state. During high school, he fell in love with photography and eventually left college to pursue it as a full-time career. After several years of working to establish himself in the business, Chris’s commitment and hard work paid off—he’s now one of the most sought after photographers for a wide range of clients, from corporations like Apple to independent publications such as "Surfers Journal" or "Modern Huntsman." Chris’s career is a testament to the power of hard work, positivity, boundless energy, and laser-like focus.

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I’ve been a fan of Chris’s for years, so it was a real pleasure to have the chance to chat with him. We both took a break from our respective quarantines and kid-wrangling duties to meet up via Skype for a fun and wide-ranging conversation. The specifics of Chris’s photography career have been documented extensively in audio and print, so I wanted to learn more about what makes Chris tick—why he chooses to suffer in dangerous environments, how he and his wife engrain grit in their two sons, and how he manages to muster positivity during tough times. We also talked a lot about his commitment to conservation, as well as his commitment to working with smaller, independent outdoor publications. And as usual, we discuss favorite books, places in the West, and Chris offers some timely words of wisdom. Links to everything are in the episode notes.

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A huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to chat during such a crazy time. I hope you all enjoy this conversation—it’s a much-need burst of energy and optimism during this challenging time!

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• https://www.chrisburkard.com
• Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/chris-burkard/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - “Pain is a shortcut to mindfulness”
• 7:15 - The process of learning to appreciate pain
• 10:00 - Growing up in California
• 14:00- When photography entered Chris’s life
• 16:00 - Deciding to leave school to pursue photography
• 18:30 - Choosing to be positive
• 22:30 - Thoughts on cultivating grit in children
• 25:00 - Striving to live up to one’s full potential
• 27:15 - Outdoor adventure as a parenting tool
• 29:30 - Re-evaluating risk as a parent
• 36:00 - Training for mental stress
• 37:30- Ultra-endurance bike riding
• 42:00 - Meditation training
• 43:00 - Dealing with the stress of COVID-19
• 46:30 - Work in the conservation world
• 53:45 - Commitment to working with smaller outdoor publications
• 58:30 - Favorite books
• 1:02:30 - Favorite places in the West
• 1:04:45 - Parting words of wisdom

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Dan Prenzlow is the Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the agency charged with managing wildlife, lands, natural resources, and outdoor recreation throughout the great state of Colorado. Dan started with the agency back in 1986 as a District Wildlife Manager and steadily worked his way through the ranks, assuming the role of Director in the spring of 2019. Born and raised in Colorado, Dan has had a lifelong love of recreating in the state's open spaces and wild places, and he has devoted his entire career toward protecting and managing them for the benefit of present and future generations.

Dan and I were scheduled to meet at CPW's annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, an extremely popular gathering that brings together stakeholders from all corners of the conservation and outdoor recreation sectors. The conference has become the foremost opportunity for organizations, businesses, agencies, universities, and more to come together to find common ground and mutually beneficial solutions for balancing conservation and recreation here in Colorado. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic made the in-person conference impossible, but thankfully the amazing team at CPW was able to move the conference online, and this podcast is a part of the new virtual conference.

If you love spending time outdoors, whether here in Colorado or anywhere else, I know you'll glean lots of valuable information from this conversation. Dan and I spend the first half of the conversation discussing some of the specifics around CPW—the organization's history, the success of the Partners in the Outdoors Conference, CPW's important role in private land conservation, and CPW's role as a national leader in balancing conservation and recreation. During the second half of the conversation, we discuss Dan's personal backstory—why he decided to pursue public service as a career, his family's long history of service-minded work, and how he worked his way up to the role of Director. Dan also shares many valuable leadership lessons, including the importance of humility, empathy, and surrounding yourself with a strong team. 

As usual, there is a ton of valuable information in this episode, so I encourage you to check out the episode notes for a full list of the topics we discussed and links to all of the information we reference. And if you’d like more information about how you can participate in Virtual Partners in the Outdoors Conference, that link is in the episode notes as well.  

Thanks to Dan and his team at CPW for all of their important work. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

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Virtual Partners in the Outdoors Conference: https://cpw.state.co.us/partnersconference

Full Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/dan-prenzlow/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:30 - Colorado Parks and Wildlife (“CPW”) described
• 6:50 - CPW’s "Partners in the Outdoors” program
• 11:45 - Colorado’s population boom and its impact on CPW’s work
• 16:00 - CPW as a trusted conservation partner
• 21:30 - CPW’s “Ranching for Wildlife” program
• 26:30 - Partnership successes that can result from adversity
• 28:00 - CPW as a national leader in conservation and recreation
• 22:30 - Dan’s personal journey to CPW
• 37:30 - The importance of service for Dan and his family
• 40:30 - Leadership lessons gleaned from rising through the ranks at CPW
• 45:30 - What characteristics Dan looks for in employees
• 50:45 - Techniques for finding common ground between competing stakeholders
• 57:00 - Favorite books
• 58:50 - Favorite location in Colorado

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Callan Wink is a writer, novelist, fishing guide, and surfer who currently splits his time between Livingston, Montana and Santa Cruz, California. He’s the author of the newly released novel August, as well as the highly regarded short story collection Dog Run Moon, books that I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed. Callan’s writing speaks for itself, but if you’re looking for credentials, he’s got those too—he’s been published in The New Yorker, Men’s Journal, The Best American Short Stories Anthology, and more. He’s also been awarded fellowships by the National Endowment for the Arts and Stanford University, where he was a Wallace Stegner Fellow.

A native of Michigan, Callan moved west soon after high school, where he began guiding on some of Montana’s most renowned rivers. In the ensuing years, writing became more and more of a focus, and eventually, he published Dog Run Moon. Currently, Callan writes seasonally—he guides in Montana during the warm months, then moves to California during the winter, where he focuses exclusively on writing, with surfing filling the remainder of his non-writing time.

Callan and I connected via the internet from our respective quarantines and had a fun conversation about fishing, writing, reading, creativity, and more. We started out talking about his upbringing in Michigan and how fishing eventually led him to build a life in the West. We discuss the pros and cons of his seasonal approach to writing, and how working as a fishing guide helps to fuel his writing career. We talk about the importance of being a keen observer of people, and we also discuss where and how he finds inspiration for his characters. We also talk about his friendship with the legendary author Jim Harrison, and how that relationship has positively affected his life and work.

I encourage you to check out August and Dog Run Moon—I think you’ll enjoy them both. But in the meantime, enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Callan Wink.

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All Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/callan-wink/

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• 3:30 - Callan’s early years in Michigan
• 4:00 - Childhood ideas about the west
• 6:30 - Heading to Montana to fish
• 10:30 - Childhood obsession with reading
• 12:30 - Progress toward becoming a professional writer
• 18:30 - Lessons learned from grad school
• 21:00 - Balancing writing and fishing
• 23:30 - Gathering material for characters
• 30:15 - Callan's writing routine
• 33:30 - How an idea becomes a short story or novel
• 37:00 - How the novel August evolved from a short story
• 39:30 - Outlining versus organic growth of a story
• 43:00 - Jim Harrison’s influence
• 45:45 - Poetry Recommendations
• 51:00 - Callan’s current reading habits
• 54:00 - Advice for aspiring writers
• 58:30 - Favorite books
• 1:00:30 - The magic of Road House
• 1:01:30 - Favorite location in the West
• 1:04:00 - Best advice ever received

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Rebecca Jewett is President and CEO of Palmer Land Trust, a conservation organization that works to conserve land and water resources in southeastern Colorado. Palmer Land Trust is one of the twenty largest land trusts in the nation based on acreage conserved, with over 135,000 acres of land protected in perpetuity.  Rebecca has led the organization since 2014, expanding and diversifying its conservation initiatives and building Palmer into a national force in the land conservation sector.

If Rebecca and Palmer Land Trust sound familiar, it’s because this is Rebecca’s second time on the podcast and I work at Palmer as a Conservation Director. In the midst of this unprecedented COVID crisis, I thought it would be timely to have Rebecca join me again, this time to discuss how the crisis is affecting conservation and how she sees conservation evolving in its aftermath. Once the all-important work of the first responders has been completed, what role will the conservation of working farms and ranches, as well as public recreational open space, play in our recovery and rebuilding? For those of you who love land and the communities tied to it, this is a must-listen conversation.

And if you’re like me and often feel completely overwhelmed with COVID talk, rest assured that this conversation is upbeat and solution-oriented. I imagine you will finish the discussion inspired by the opportunities that our new future holds—and inspiration is something that we can all use more of these days. Rebecca and I cover a lot, including the importance of farming and ranching during this crisis and the role that Palmer plays in supporting agricultural producers. We talk about the need to focus on community building and strong partnerships, as well as the conservation opportunities that could arise post-COVID. Finally, we discuss leadership lessons and how the birth of her daughter has made her a better leader.

Obviously, I’m a big fan of Rebecca’s. And I’m sure that after this conversation, you will be, too. Hope you enjoy the episode.

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Complete Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/rebecca-jewett-2/

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Topics Discussed:

• 3:45 - Palmer Land Trust explained
• 6:15 - Land conservation and COVID-19
• 9:00 - Community as a focus of conservation
• 13:45 - Importance of agriculture in the face of COVID
• 18:45 - Win-Win-Wins that are possible in conservation
• 21:15 - How a diversified “business model” will allow effective conservation post-COVID
• 26:30 - Importance of strong partnerships during COVID
• 30:35 - Importance of storytelling in conservation
• 35:45 - How conservation will evolve in the coming years
• 40:45 - Thoughts on leadership during challenging times
• 47:45 - How motherhood has changed her perspective, professionally and personally
• 53:45 - Importance of optimism in parenting and life
• 56:15 - Good books on parenting
• 57:45 - Other good books
• 58:45 - Favorite podcasts
• 1:00:45 - Parting words of wisdom

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George Hodgin is the founder and CEO of Biopharmaceutical Research Company (BRC), a California-based business with the mission of providing federally legal cannabis for approved researchers in the United States. Prior to starting BRC, George served as a US Navy SEAL officer, leading counterterrorism operations in combat zones such as Afghanistan. And to top it all off, he’s a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the University of North Carolina, where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. With a resume like this, it’s safe to assume that George is a driven, hard-working guy.

From a very young age, George knew he wanted to be a Navy SEAL. So after participating in ROTC during his undergraduate years, he began the Navy SEAL training, also known as BUD/S, immediately after graduation.  After nearly seven years in the SEAL teams, George left the military to pursue his MBA at Stanford. During grad school, while helping one of his SEAL teammates seek treatment for combat injuries, George was shocked by the inability of doctors to advise patients on the use of marijuana for therapeutic, healing purposes. Despite being legal in many states, it is still illegal at the federal level, and therefore unable to be studied by federally approved researchers and doctors. George and his company seek to change this status-quo so that cannabis can be better understood and more widely prescribed as an alternative to opioids and other drugs.

The state-legal marijuana business has its roots in the American West, so I’ve wanted to speak with a cannabis entrepreneur for some time now. George offers excellent insights into the industry, discussing the challenges, governmental roadblocks, and opportunities for optimistic, innovative entrepreneurs. We also talk about why he decided to become an entrepreneur, and why he has consistently chosen some of the most challenging careers imaginable. We talk a lot about his service in the Navy, including the common traits of SEALs, the lessons learned from service, and the challenges of transitioning from the military into civilian life. Since we recorded this episode a few weeks into the Coronavirus crisis, he offers some hard-earned wisdom on how best to deal with high-stress, potentially dangerous situations like the one we all find ourselves in now.

George and I were supposed to record this episode in person, but the Coronavirus had other plans. But we still made it happen-- each of us holed up in our homes and connected via Zoom-- so I hope this episode offers some entertainment and motivation during this challenging time.  Thanks for listening.

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Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/george-hodgin/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 4:00 - BRC explained
• 7:00 - Genesis of the idea for BRC 
• 10:15 - Decision to be an entrepreneur
• 13:00 - Complexity of the cannabis business
• 16:00 - What fuels his passion for BRC
• 18:00 - Early years in NC
• 21:30 - Morehead-Cain Scholarship explained
• 24:00 - Early desire to be a SEAL
• 26:00 - Path from college to BUDs
• 31:30 - Common trait of successful SEALs
• 34:30 - Transition from the Navy to civilian life
• 38:00 - Finding purpose outside of the SEALs
• 43:00 - Military lessons applied to business
• 47:30 - Main business challenge facing BRC
• 53:30 - Thoughts on the Coronavirus
• 57:45 - Favorite books
• 1:00:00 - Favorite Films

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Kyle Richardson is a Colorado-based professional runner and mountain athlete who is best known for his high-stakes, high-speed endurance feats in the Rocky Mountains. Over the past two years, Kyle has set several Fastest Known Time (“FKT”) records in the Colorado mountains—most notably on Boulder’s First and Third Flatirons, as well as the renowned LA Freeway route that stretches from Longs Peak to Arapahoe Peak. Away from his endurance feats, Kyle is a formally trained musician, and he composes original music for filmmakers and outdoor brands such as Black Diamond and La Sportiva.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Kyle’s youth was defined by time in the outdoors with his family and a deep commitment to music and playing the drums. His love of the West’s wide-open spaces led him to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he began to realize his talent for endurance and moving quickly through the mountains. After several years of running and climbing throughout Colorado, he captured the attention of the endurance community with his record-setting time on the LA Freeway, a difficult and exposed route that combines running, scrambling, and rock climbing. Since then, he has earned sponsorships from major outdoor brands that have allowed him to pursue his adventures in the mountains with full focus and intensity.

I met up with Kyle in Boulder, where we had a wide-ranging conversation about his passion for the mountains and music. We started by discussing his athletic career and some of the details around his fastest known times on well-known mountain routes. We also discussed Kyle’s love of the process of training—in both athletics and music—and how his commitment to preparation gives him the confidence to pursue challenging and sometimes dangerous goals. We discuss the common skills required to be great in both endurance sports and music, and Kyle talks about some of the mentors and heroes who have shaped his career. Kyle is a voracious reader, so we talk a lot about books, and Kyle reveals a very interesting personal tie to one of my favorite history books, "Empire of the Summer Moon."

Kyle is humble and thoughtful, and it was a real pleasure getting to know him. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

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Full episode notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/kyle-richardson/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 3:00 - How Kyle describes his athletic pursuits
• 6:00 - Kyle and Fastest Known Times (“FKT”)
• 10:30 - FKTs in the Boulder’s Flatirons
• 16:00 - Training routine
• 18:00 - Growing up in Texas
• 20:30 - Music and how it informs athletics
• 22:50 - Film scoring, composing, and music industry
• 26:30 - Heroes and mentors in the music world
• 28:00 - Drums, running, and excess energy as a kid
• 29:30 - When people began to take note of Kyles running
• 32:30 - Athletic mentors
• 38:30 - Artistic, cerebral aspects to mountain sports
• 39:30 - Assessing risk in the mountains
• 42:30 - Nature making you feel small
• 46:30 - Kyle’s parent’s support for his career
• 48:30 - Running goals for 2020
• 52:00 - Books he’s currently reading
• 54:15 - Favorite books about the West
• 56:00 - Limiting screens and social media
• 57:30 - Favorite location in the West
• 58:45 - Most powerful outdoor experience
• 1:00:25 - Parting words of wisdom

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Daniela Ibarra-Howell is the CEO and a co-founder of the Savory Institute, an organization whose mission is to regenerate the world’s grasslands through holistic management. By restoring and protecting grasslands-- both in the American West and around the globe-- Daniela and her team at Savory effectively address pressing issues such as climate change, economic well-being, and food and water insecurity. Through inspiring leadership, masterful storytelling, and cutting-edge research, Savory is shifting the paradigm around agriculture’s role as a solution to many of the world’s challenges.

Daniela was born and raised in Argentina, and from a very young age, she loved the land, agriculture, and adventure. Her studies of agronomy led her to some of the far reaches of the globe, including New Zealand, where she met her now-husband Jim Howell. After many years managing ranches and working in the trenches of holistic management, they helped to found the Savory Institute in 2009, and Daniela took the reigns as CEO in 2011. Since then, the organization has grown and evolved, and Daniela has become one of the world’s leading voices for Holistic Management.

I was thrilled to finally get the chance to chat with Daniela on the podcast because my guests and I have referenced the Savory Institute so many times over the years. We started by discussing the organization-- its mission, goals, structure, and global reach. We then talk about Daniela’s leadership philosophy and how she values thoughtful action, failing fast, and embracing complexity in all aspects of life. We talk about her upbringing in Argentina, her adventurous personality, and her partnership with her husband, Jim. We also talk about motherhood and how she has managed to balance such a high-performing career with raising two impressive and accomplished daughters. Whether you are interested in agriculture, leadership, or parenting, there are many lessons to be learned from Daniela, so I hope you enjoy!

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All Episode Notes: https://mountainandprairie.com/daniela-howell/

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• 5:00 - Savory Institute explained
• 9:30 - Growth and evolution of Savory
• 14:00 - On taking risks and failing fast
• 16:00 - "Holistic Management” defined
• 18:30 - “Regenerative Agriculture” defined
• 21:00 - Business inertia in agriculture
• 27:00 - Importance of storytelling (and data!)
• 31:00 - Will Harris and White Oak Pastures as storytellers
• 34:45 - Daniela’s upbringing and education in Argentina and beyond
• 40:30 - Meeting Jim in New Zealand
• 44:00 - How managing ranches made her a better leader of people
• 52:00 - Heroes and mentors in business and leadership
• 56:00 - Balancing action and planning
• 1:00:30 - Thoughts on motherhood and raising children
• 1:07:00 - Important books on agriculture
• 1:12:30 - Parting words of wisdom

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This episode is brought to you by the FREEFLOW INSTITUTE. The first ten Mountain & Prairie listeners who register for a 2020 summer course will get $100 off their tuition. Just mention the Podcast when you register. For more information go to freeflowinstitute.com or shoot them an email at [email protected].

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