• Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

  • By: Ed Roberson
  • Podcast

Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

By: Ed Roberson
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  • Summary

  • 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.
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Episodes
  • Joe Whitworth - On Unrelenting Effort, Blazing Your Own Trail, and Taking Action

    Joe Whitworth - On Unrelenting Effort, Blazing Your Own Trail, and Taking Action
    Dec 10 2024
    Joe Whitworth is the President and CEO of The Freshwater Trust (“TFT”), an innovative and action-oriented conservation organization whose mission is to preserve and restore freshwater ecosystems. With a focus on technology and an all-star staff made up of scientists, attorneys, GIS experts, systems analysts, and more, TFT is pioneering the next generation of conservation by focusing on quantifiable results. Back when I was a Conservation Director here in Colorado, I had the great pleasure of partnering with TFT on a project involving water rights and irrigated farmland, and I was blown away by the organization’s ability to quickly put complex ideas into action for the benefit of land, water, and communities. Joe was born into a large midwestern family, and from an early age, his grandfather, who was a farmer, played a foundational role in his understanding of land, water, and conservation. After high school, Joe moved east to attend Dartmouth, where he played football, and then he eventually moved West to attend law school. Along the way, he began to focus his professional efforts on doing work that made the world a better place. After several stints at several different organizations, he took the reins of the organization that would eventually become The Freshwater Trust. Joe has now been at the helm of TFT for more than two decades and has grown the organization’s budget tenfold during his tenure. He’s focused, action-oriented, innovative, and very serious about solving big, complex conservation problems in the West and beyond. As you’ll hear, Joe and I share many common interests in everything from history to reading to conservation to rivers, and, perhaps more importantly, I connect deeply with many of Joe’s core values around hard work, following your own path, and taking action. So, it’s no surprise that we had such a fun conversation. We start out talking about Joe’s grandfather, Joe’s journey from the Midwest to the Ivy League, and how he adjusted to life at Dartmouth. We talk about his early years working as a non-profit consultant and the series of events that led him to The Freshwater Trust. We discuss the ultimatum that led to TFT’s impressive growth, the type of people who thrive as staff members, and he gives an overview of their BasinScout technology. We discuss the future of environmentalism, technology’s role in solving environmental challenges, favorite books, and much more. As I said, I’ve been a fan of TFT for many years, so I was so glad to finally have this opportunity to chat with Joe about his personal and professional operating systems. I hope you enjoy. --- The Freshwater TrustJoe WhitworthFull episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/joe-whitworth/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - Joe’s grandfather and his lasting influence9:00 - Unexpected blessings from a broken femur13:00 - Adjusting to the Ivy League culture16:15 - Next moves after Dartmouth21:30 - Living like a monk and figuring out next steps25:30 - “The world is designed to make you shut up and get in line.”28:45 - Law school and beginnings at the Freshwater Trust29:00 - Revamping The Freshwater Trust34:00 - The board’s reaction to Joe’s plans for the future39:00 - The importance of making hard decisions43:45 - The magic of The Freshwater Trust team47:45 - An overview of BasinScout51:15 - A foundational BasinScout case study58:30 - Ideas and areas of focus on the horizon1:01:00 - The importance of taking action1:03:30 - Next phase of environmentalism1:06:00 - How TFT’s values meld with Joe’s personal values1:09:00 - Expectations of new team members1:12:00 - The TFT model of handing off new ideas and innovation to partners1:16:00 - Favorite books --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • Jesse Smith – A Regenerative Approach to Land and Life

    Jesse Smith – A Regenerative Approach to Land and Life
    Dec 3 2024
    Jesse Smith is the Director of Land Stewardship at the White Buffalo Land Trust, which is a global hub for regenerative land stewardship, ecological monitoring and research, education, and more. Jesse brings a unique perspective and a diverse set of experiences to his work in regenerative agriculture– his early interest in architecture led him to pursue an education in design, which then led to a career in product design and visual communication. But over time, he became interested in combining his artistic sensibilities with his love of the land, science, and permaculture, and soon thereafter began his journey in the world of family farming, food production, and education. Jesse is now a leader in the world of regenerative ag, and, as you’ll hear, he has a real gift for communicating the art and science of land stewardship. This conversation was recorded in November of 2024 on stage at the REGENERATE conference– one of the country’s foremost gatherings of regenerative agriculture practitioners and thought leaders. REGENERATE is a collaboration between the Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, and the American Grassfed Association, and the conference attracts fascinating people from all over the world to share knowledge, build community, and create a culture of resilience and regeneration. Despite sitting on stage in front of an auditorium full of people, this conversation felt much more like a fun one-on-one discussion between two friends. We covered everything from Jesse’s winding path into the world of agriculture to some of the more technical details around land monitoring and certifications. We discussed the natural disasters in Jesse’s community that highlighted huge problems in the local food systems, which eventually led to the creation of the White Buffalo Land Trust. We discussed how Jesse prioritizes his work when there are so many urgent challenges to address, and he shares his experiences with big business’s growing interest in regenerative ag. We talk about the Japanese concept of Ikigai, transforming inspiration into action, advice for building a career in regenerative ag, favorite books, and much more. We also allowed ample time for Q&A from the audience, which I know you’ll enjoy. Jesse mentions tons of useful resources so be sure to visit the episode notes for a full list of topics we discussed and links to everything. A huge thanks to the team at REGENERATE for inviting me to the conference, thank you to Jesse for chatting with me and offering so much wisdom, and thanks to you for listening. The episode starts out with an introduction from Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, who is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition and a past Mountain & Prairie podcast guest. Hope you enjoy! --- Jesse SmithWhite Buffalo Land TrustFigure Ate FoodsREGENERATE conferenceQuivira CoalitionHolistic Management InternationalAmerican Grassfed AssociationFull episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/jesse-smith/ --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - An introduction from Quivira’s Executive Director, Sarah Wentzel-Fisher4:45 - Ed’s introduction8:00 - Jesse’s early years and path into conservation12:15 - Recognizing the community need that led to the creation of the White Buffalo Land Trust16:00 - How does Jesse prioritize his work at the White Buffalo Land Trust21:45 - Thoughts on big business’s interest in regenerative agriculture27:05 - The complexity of regenerative certifications32:45 - Predictions about the future of regenerative certifications35:30 - Advice for people who want to work in regenerative ag41:00 - Translating inspiration into action45:30 - Audience Q&A: How do stories and on-the-ground experiences help to change people’s minds?50:43 - Audience Q&A: Why is the burden on regenerative producers to get certifications to prove that they are doing it correctly?54:15 - Audience Q&A: Thoughts on the new administration bringing regenerative practitioners into the FDA?59:20 - Audience Q&A: How do we create more accessibility around regenerative ag?1:03:10 - Audience Q&A: How does regenerative ag play a role in procurement by institutional buyers?1:05:00 - Audience Q&A: What is the source of people’s disconnection with food and what is one step to bridge that gap?1:08:20 - Audience Q&A: What are some planning strategies to help balance stewardship and profitability1:12:05 - Audience Q&A: What is the lay of the land when it comes to certifications across a broad range of markets?1:16:15 - Jesse’s book recommendations --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All EpisodesMountain & Prairie ShopMountain & Prairie on InstagramUpcoming EventsAbout Ed RobersonSupport Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Nichole Barger – Science as a Catalyst for Human Connection

    Nichole Barger – Science as a Catalyst for Human Connection
    Nov 27 2024
    Nichole Barger is an ecologist, former university professor, and the current deputy chief scientist and lead global scientist for The Nature Conservancy. She earned her master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her PhD from Colorado State University, and her career has included extensive time researching, teaching, and practicing on-the-ground, frontline conservation on issues including land degradation, restoration, and more. Prior to assuming her current position at TNC, she was the research director of the Canyonlands Research Center located at the Dugout Ranch, which you may remember as the subject of a Mountain & Prairie episode back in August of 2024. Given her distinguished career as a scientist, you might be surprised to learn that Nichole never considered pursuing science as a vocation until the second half of her time in college. She grew up in small-town Indiana, and, although she was extremely curious, a great student, and a voracious reader, she was not particularly enamored with science and didn’t know anyone who worked as a scientist. But during college, a supportive-yet-casual comment from one of her professors planted the seed that science could be an option. Fast forward to today, she has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers, she co-chairs the Science Policy Interface group of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and she leads many of TNC’s cutting-edge science initiatives. As you’ll hear, Nichole brings a deep level of empathy, curiosity, and open-mindedness to all of her work as a scientist. Whether she’s teaching, researching, or working with conservation stakeholders, she never loses sight of the importance of human connection. We spent the first half of the conversation discussing lessons learned from her nontraditional path into the world of science, including a two-year stint where she left college to travel and explore the United States. We discussed her renewed focus on academics when she returned to school, and the moment that professor planted the seed that eventually grew into her career in science. We discuss teaching versus research, how she evolved as an educator and mentor to college students, and when she decided to apply her talents to TNC’s mission. We discuss TNC’s incorporation of Indigenous wisdom and science into its work, human health as a conservation initiative, and the importance of face-to-face human interactions. She also offers some excellent book recommendations and ideas for remaining optimistic and action-oriented during challenging times. There’s so much wisdom packed into this episode, so be sure to check out the episode notes for a complete list of topics and links to everything. A huge thanks to Nichole for the great conversation and thank you for listening. --- Nichole BargerTNC’s science workFull episode notes and links: https://mountainandprairie.com/nichole-barger/ --- 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: 4:00 - Nichole’s upbringing and early years7:45 - Taking a non-traditional path and her parents’ reaction9:30 - Lessons learned from her two-year break11:00 - Books read in high school that gave Nichole confidence to follow her own path12:30 - Returning to school with a renewed focus15:30 - Advice to college students who are trying to find their way in the world18:15 - Her journey to becoming a successful scientist20:30 - Research versus teaching22:45 - Lessons learned from years of teaching26:30 - When and how TNC became a professional focus29:30 - Nichole describes her current job at TNC31:15 - Incorporating Indigenous knowledge into TNC’s science work40:00 - The importance and power of weaving in Indigenous knowledge43:00 - Human health as a conservation initiative47:00 - “Doom and Gloom” is not a motivating strategy50:00 - Online resources for news and science (that won’t make you crazy)52:00 - The importance of physcially being with other people53:15 - The most exciting project Nichole is working on55:00 - What can the average person do to take action and make a difference59:00 - Book recommendations1:03:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All ...
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    1 hr and 6 mins

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