Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson Podcast

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A podcast about the people shaping the future of the American West—its land, communities, and culture. • Hosted by conservationist Ed Roberson, Mountain & Prairie features in-depth conversations with leaders, innovators, and changemakers—conservationists tackling environmental challenges, authors and historians preserving the West’s stories, artists capturing the region’s spirit, entrepreneurs building place-based businesses, outdoor athletes pushing human limits, and more. Through engaging, down-to-earth discussions, Ed explores their journeys, hard-earned wisdom, and lessons learned. • Each episode offers inspiration and insight—whether a story of resilience, a fresh take on conservation, or practical lessons in leadership, creativity, and problem-solving. It’s a space for meaningful conversations about the land, the people, and the ideas shaping the modern West.

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Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics

Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson.

Hosts

Previous Guests

Tony Bynum is a conservation photographer, scientist, and advocate with decades of experience working at the intersection of public lands, Indigenous rights, and environmental storytelling. Based in Montana, his images have influenced national conversations on energy development and landscape protection. He previously worked for the Yakama Nation as a senior scientist and helped shape tribal environmental policy in Washington, D.C. His diverse background includes roles as a cowboy, fly fishing guide, federal program manager, and backcountry wanderer. His guiding principle is 'Don't just love something, do something for it,' which has driven his impactful career and conservation efforts.
Jackie Miller is the Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), an organization dedicated to conserving and enhancing Colorado's land, water, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Carlos Fernández is the Colorado State Director for The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental organization focused on conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends.
Sonnie Trotter is a world-renowned rock climber, father, husband, writer, and the author of the book "Uplifted: The Evolution of a Climbing Life." Over the past three decades, he has built a career as one of the most accomplished climbers of his generation, pushing standards, establishing first ascents, and bringing creativity, humility, and grit to his projects. His book is part memoir and part meditation on movement and meaning, reflecting his thoughtful approach to climbing and life. Sonnie has also been involved with sponsors like Patagonia and emphasizes gratitude and groundedness in his pursuits. His perspectives on parenting, adventure, and living a meaningful life are central themes in his work.
Cassidy Randall is a journalist and author known for her work that explores the intersections of adventure, history, and the natural world. She is the author of 'Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Womens Ascent of Denali', which details the story of six women who became the first all-female team to summit North America's tallest mountain in 1970. Her writing is characterized by meticulous research and a focus on bringing overlooked voices to the forefront of mountaineering history. Cassidy has a deep personal interest in Denali and has carved a path in longform storytelling, emphasizing clarity, depth, and purpose in her writing.
Sara Domek is Wyoming's Migration Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. She grew up in the small town of Kemmerer and later moved to Pinedale, providing her with a unique perspective on Wyoming's working landscapes from both a natural resources and conservation standpoint. With years of experience in nonprofits and agencies, Sara is well-equipped to lead TNC's efforts to protect Wyoming's renowned wildlife migrations. Her work focuses on maintaining migration corridors for species like mule deer, pronghorn, and elk, addressing challenges posed by barriers such as fences, and fostering collaborative conservation efforts among landowners, agencies, and nonprofits.

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ED ROBERSON

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Biography

— MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE —
Podcasts • Books • Strenuous Living • Conservation • The American West

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson.

0:00 1:24:47

Tony Bynum - Showing Up for the Land

Hosts
Ed Roberson
Guests
Tony Bynum
Keywords
conservation photography public lands Indigenous rights environmental storytelling Northern Rockies landscape protection energy development cultural importance of the Northern Rockies tribal environmental policy Western life land and responsibility

Tony Bynum is a conservation photographer, scientist, and advocate who’s spent decades working at the intersection of public lands, Indigenous rights, and environmental storytelling. Based in Montana, his images have helped shape national conversations around energy development, landscape protection, and the cultural importance of the Northern Rockies. His work has been published widely and used by countless conservation organizations to make the case for protecting wild places.

Before photography became his profession, Tony spent many years working for the Yakama Nation as a senior scientist, eventually landing in Washington, D.C., where he helped shape tribal environmental policy at the highest levels of government. But his path was never linear. A born-and-bred Westerner, he’s been a cowboy, a fly fishing guide, a federal program manager, and a backcountry wanderer. His guiding principle—“Don’t just love something, do something for it”—has carried him through an unconventional but deeply impactful career.

In this episode, Tony tells us about his winding path and the values that have guided him along the way. We dig into his time in D.C., his decision to walk away from a conventional career, and the beginnings of his conservation photography—especially his long-running effort to document proposed energy development near Glacier National Park. As you’ll hear, I stepped back a little bit in the conversation and let Tony tell his story in his own words, and the result is a thoughtful and unfiltered look at what it means to live a life rooted in land and responsibility.

You can check out more of Tony’s work by following the link in the episode notes. Thanks so much for listening, hope you enjoy!

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • 2:02 – Intro, where Tony grew up
  • 6:21 – Photography in the early days
  • 9:15 – Just doing interesting things
  • 13:13 – Indigenous and Western takes on science
  • 18:35 – Family dynamics
  • 21:24 – Where the work ethic came from
  • 23:14 – Where Tony didn’t tread
  • 25:48 – Bureaucracy
  • 31:07 – Lessons from the copy room
  • 36:17 – Tony’s purpose in DC
  • 39:01 – And why he had to leave
  • 40:41 – Restarting in Montana
  • 42:46 – Full-time photography
  • 47:07 – A diverse portfolio
  • 50:16 – Film to digital and internet access
  • 56:05 – Finding conservation
  • 58:18 – Energy development near Glacier and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation
  • 1:02:52 – The importance of having a visual context
  • 1:04:04 – Describing the oil and gas map
  • 1:09:51 – Book recs
  • 1:18:04 – Final words

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0:00 1:01:44

Jackie Miller and Carlos Fernández – A Breakthrough Moment for Colorado Conservation

Hosts
Ed Roberson
Guests
Jackie Miller Carlos Fernández
Keywords
conservation Colorado Outdoors Strategy land protection water conservation wildlife outdoor access climate resilience collaborative planning community partnerships environmental challenges

Jackie Miller is the Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and Carlos Fernández is the Colorado State Director for The Nature Conservancy. Both are highly respected leaders in Colorado’s conservation community, and they’ve played pivotal roles in shaping the state’s approach to protecting land, water, wildlife, and outdoor access. While Carlos has joined me on the podcast several times before, this is Jackie’s first appearance, and I was honored to have them both on to discuss one of the most significant conservation developments in recent memory.

Just a few weeks ago, the State of Colorado announced the launch of its Outdoors Strategy—a comprehensive, collaborative roadmap designed to align the state’s conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience efforts for decades to come. Developed through years of planning, dialogue, and consensus-building across hundreds of organizations and communities, the Strategy addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing Colorado’s landscapes and communities. It’s not just a plan—it’s a shared vision backed by actionable goals, clear metrics, and powerful tools for implementation at the local and statewide levels.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the origin of Colorado's Outdoors Strategy, the urgency behind its creation, and the unique collaborative process that brought it to life. Jackie shares how GOCO’s long-standing community partnerships and flexible funding model positioned the organization to lead at a statewide scale, while Carlos explains how the Strategy dovetails with The Nature Conservancy’s science-based goals and priorities. We also explore the Strategy’s three “North Star” goals, the innovative Resource Hub that supports on-the-ground action, and the importance of regional implementation and tribal engagement. It’s a timely, inspiring look at how Colorado is setting a national standard for coordinated, community-driven conservation.

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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.

During the last week of every month throughout 2025, 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

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • 3:03 – Intros, Carlos then Jackie
  • 5:09 – Explaining Great Outdoors Colorado
  • 8:51 – How Jackie got to GOCO
  • 11:37 – Carlos on GOCO
  • 15:29 – Challenges that led to Colorado's Outdoors Strategy
  • 19:04 – Opportunities that the Strategy will address
  • 21:33 – Jackie’s executive summary
  • 27:01 – How the Strategy aligns with TNC’s other goals
  • 29:59 – North stars and measuring success
  • 33:22 – The TNC tools Carlos is excited about
  • 36:34 – Creating urgency to execute a plan
  • 40:14 – Face-to-face
  • 42:51 – Carlos’s thoughts on execution
  • 45:49 – How the plan affects the layperson
  • 47:25 – What did we miss? First Jackie
  • 51:29 – Then Carlos
  • 53:31 – Book recs
  • 57:42 – Wrap up words of wisdom

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0:00 1:05:34

Sonnie Trotter – On Flow, Family, and the Long Game

Hosts
Ed Roberson
Guests
Sonnie Trotter
Keywords
climbing family movement meaning gratitude adventure freedom ambition parenting curiosity effort joy

Sonnie Trotter is a world-renowned rock climber, father, husband, writer, and the author of the new book "Uplifted: The Evolution of a Climbing Life." For the past three decades, Sonnie has built a career as one of the most accomplished climbers of his generation— pushing standards, putting up first ascents, and bringing a sense of creativity, humility, and grit to every project he tackles. His new book is part memoir, part meditation on movement and meaning, and it’s one of the most thoughtful and grounded climbing books I’ve read in a long time.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Sonnie and I talk about the unexpected ways writing has shaped his life, how his approach to climbing has evolved over the years, and what it’s been like to move from living out of a van to raising a family in the mountains of Canada. We also discuss how he’s stayed grounded throughout his career, his relationship with sponsors like Patagonia, and why gratitude— not rage or ego— has been the driving force behind his decades of commitment to climbing.

Sonnie also opens up about how parenting has shifted his perspective on adventure, freedom, and ambition—and how he and his wife are raising their kids in a way that emphasizes curiosity, effort, and joy. Whether you’re a climber, a writer, a parent, or just someone trying to live a meaningful life, there’s a ton of wisdom in this one.

Sonnie’s new book "Uplifted" is out now, and I highly recommend picking up a copy—you’ll find a link in the episode notes, along with links to everything else we discussed. Hope you enjoy both this conversation and the book.  Thanks for listening. 

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • 1:55 - Intro, how Sonnie got into writing
  • 4:58 - Influences
  • 8:30 - Why write this book now
  • 12:40 - Stumbling into the climbing world
  • 17:45 - Into the unknown
  • 20:27 - Origins of drive
  • 25:07 - Climbing’s darkness
  • 27:11 - The road to Patagonia
  • 32:23 - Parent perspectives
  • 36:54 - Becoming a parent
  • 42:35 - Getting kids active (a jiu jitsu segway)
  • 48:13 - Training, nutrition and getting older
  • 52:47 - Race to 9A
  • 56:31 - Book recs
  • 59:29 - Final words of wisdom — get back to work

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0:00 1:13:03

Cassidy Randall – The Untold Story of Denali’s First All-Women’s Ascent

Hosts
Ed Roberson
Guests
Cassidy Randall
Keywords
Denali all-women's ascent mountaineering history journalism adventure resilience storytelling women in climbing

Cassidy Randall is a journalist and author whose work explores the intersections of adventure, history, and the natural world. Her new book, “Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women’s Ascent of Denali,” tells the gripping true story of six women who, in 1970, became the first all-female team to summit North America’s tallest mountain. It's a meticulously researched, beautifully written account that brings long-overlooked voices to the forefront of mountaineering history.

As someone with a deep personal interest in Denali, I was especially excited to read this book and speak with Cassidy. In our conversation, we talk not only about the origins of “Thirty Below” and the individual women at the heart of the story, but also about Cassidy’s career as a journalist— how she got started, the path she’s carved through the world of longform storytelling, and how she approaches writing with such clarity, depth, and purpose. She also shares insights into her research process, the challenge of shaping complex narratives, and the broader importance of telling stories that have too often been overlooked or dismissed.

Whether or not you’ve ever set foot on a glacier, Thirty Below offers a deep dive into universal themes— resilience, purpose, and the human desire to explore. It’s a story about ambition and endurance, but also about complexity, contradiction, and the ways women have long carved space for themselves in places that often excluded them. Cassidy brings these histories to life with nuance and empathy, honoring the individuality of each woman while raising timeless questions about legacy, belonging, and what drives us to push beyond our limits. 

Thanks to Cassidy for writing the book and for taking the time to chat. I hope you enjoy.

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • 2:06 – Intro, how did Cassidy get into Denali?
  • 8:28 – Getting to know Grace
  • 13:08 – Landscape of women in climbing
  • 18:16 – Margaret and her journey with multiple sclerosis
  • 22:39 – Why do people climb mountains?
  • 25:38 – Grace at 88, any discontent?
  • 28:08 – Ed on his experience climbing Denali
  • 31:02 – The process of climbing
  • 37:39 – Adventure for the sake of adventure
  • 42:23 – Writing advice on structure
  • 45:41 – Source change
  • 47:07 – Book writing compared with magazine work
  • 50:36 – Early creativity threads
  • 53:28 – Shifts in the writing industry
  • 55:24 – What is journalism’s role anymore?
  • 1:00:17 – It’s alive! (The content we’re consuming.)
  • 1:01:19 – Denali or McKinley?
  • 1:04:37 – Writer recs
  • 1:08:03 – Pro tips on being a writer
  • 1:10:17 – Wrapping it up

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0:00 1:07:15

Sara Domek – The Science and Story of Wyoming’s Wildlife Migration

Hosts
Ed Roberson
Guests
Sara Domek
Keywords
Wyoming wildlife migration The Nature Conservancy conservation mule deer pronghorn elk migration corridors collaborative conservation cheatgrass wildlife crossings

Sara Domek is Wyoming’s Migration Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. Sara grew up in the small town of Kemmerer and later moved to Pinedale, giving her a rare, firsthand perspective on Wyoming’s working landscapes—both from a natural resources and a conservation standpoint. Her upbringing, paired with years of experience working in nonprofits, agencies, and boots-on-the-ground conservation, makes her uniquely suited to lead TNC’s efforts to protect Wyoming’s world-renowned wildlife migrations.

If you’ve spent any time driving through Wyoming, you’ve probably cruised past some of the most important migration corridors in North America—maybe without even realizing it. Sara and her team are working to keep those landscapes permeable, helping mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and other species continue the seasonal journeys they’ve been making for thousands of years. We talk about the science behind migration, how seemingly small barriers like fences can create big challenges for wildlife, and how collaborative conservation—between landowners, agencies, and nonprofits—can create real, lasting wins.

Sara also shares some fascinating details about Wyoming’s longest mule deer migration, the importance of building trust with local communities, why cheatgrass is a bigger villain than it looks, and how carefully designed wildlife crossings can benefit both animals and people. We also get into her favorite books, why she’s hopeful about the future, and, once again, the simple but powerful idea that success in conservation often comes down to strong relationships.

This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation with someone who truly embodies the spirit of collaborative, community-driven conservation. I hope you enjoy!

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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.

During the last week of every month throughout 2025, 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

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

  • 2:50 – Intro, growing up in Wyoming and valuing natural resources
  • 6:09 – Pinedale and the Wind Rivers
  • 7:15 – Plan after high school
  • 10:37 – Finding TNC
  • 14:16 – Sara describes her job
  • 17:21 – Mule deer and pronghorn migration corridors
  • 21:57 – Fencing and migration
  • 26:25 – Getting the word out about fencing
  • 29:27 – Migration primer: distance, predators and collisions
  • 35:54 – Valley of the warm winds
  • 42:37 – RCPP programs
  • 45:27 – Cheatgrass 101
  • 48:54 – Important partners
  • 51:08 – Prioritizing projects
  • 54:40 – What Sara’s looking forward to
  • 57:57 – Where to learn more
  • 1:00:22 – Book recs
  • 1:03:04 – Parting words

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