Madi Phillips is the leather shop manager for Ranchlands. She was born and raised in the Midwest, was a wrangler at Zapata Ranch, and moved to the Chico Basin Ranch in 2013. Madi has been involved in Ranchlands’ leather shop since its infancy and has helped it grow over the past 10 years to where it is today. Madi is also married to Duke Phillips IV and together they are raising their two children across the landscapes that Ranchlands manages. In this conversation, Jonathan and Madi discuss how she got her start at Ranchlands and what led her to the leather shop. They also talk about how she turned down vet school, moved to the Chico, eventually married Duke IV, and now is raising the next generation of their ranching family. Learn more about Ranchlands Mercantile.  

Jonathan Tullar first joined Ranchlands back in 2009, and he has played an integral role in almost every aspect of Ranchlands’ businesses. He is currently the Foreman of the Wyoming Paint Rock Ranch, and he has extensive experience with Ranchlands’ New Mexico and Colorado operations. In addition to on-the-ground ranching, he’s worked in the direct-to-consumer beef industry and is one of the driving forces behind Ranchlands Meat. Shop Ranchlands Ground Beef Learn more about The Ranchlands Collective

Lynae Risinger is a ranch management apprentice and currently manages the MP Ranch in New Mexico. She started as a ranch intern three years ago on the MP and spent eight months on the Paintrock Canyon Ranch before moving back to the MP, where she has been ever since. She is proud to call New Mexico home and loves to share it with the many faces of Ranchlands, her two dogs and her cat, Boo. Learn more about Ranchlands' Apprentice Program

Oliver Tautkus is a ranch apprentice on Ranchlands’ Paintrock Ranch, our 80,000-acre ranch located on the western flank of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains. Prior to working at the Paintrock, he was an intern down in Texas on our Frying Pan Ranch. Oliver made his way to Ranchlands all the way from his home country of Australia– he moved to the United States in search of adventure, new experiences, and personal growth, and he has definitely found all of that– and more– through his work with Ranchlands. Learn more about The Ranchlands Collective

This is a special podcast episode that features a conversation between the Executive Director of Western Landowners Alliance, Lesli Allison, and Ranchlands’ founder and CEO, Duke Phillips III. Western Landowners Alliance– also known as WLA– is an organization of landowners, natural resource managers, and partners dedicated to keeping working lands whole and healthy for the benefit of people and wildlife. Lesli and her team at WLA support working lands through political advocacy, education, storytelling, events, and more, and they have established themselves as one of the most effective champions for large-scale, private lands conservation. Ranchlands and WLA have been longtime friends and collaborators, and there is a significant amount of overlap between our missions, goals, and philosophies. So it was a great pleasure to connect with both Duke and Lesli to hear their thoughts on the current state of working lands conservation and the outlook for the future. Learn more about The Ranchlands Collective Learn more about The Western Landowners Alliance

Parker Fitzgerald is a photographer and director. He co-founded a Portland-based creative studio with his brother, and they’ve combined their expertise in design, strategy, and visual media to work with an impressive range of clients–from behemoths like Nike and Honda to more niche brands like Leatherman and Pendleton. Learn more about Ranchlands Learn more about Parker's work

Helen Richardson is a photojournalist who has been working at the Denver Post for more than thirty years. Over the course of her long and successful career, she’s covered everything from the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the Southeast Asia Christmas Tsunami to all of the major Colorado wildfires since the 2002 Hayman Fire. Helen has also had a front-row seat to the massive changes in the journalism and media landscapes over the past three decades, and, as you’ll hear in this conversation, she’s been able to successfully evolve and navigate these shifts to continue telling important stories. Learn more about Ranchlands

Mike Giordano is a Ranch Apprentice at the Frying Pan Ranch, a Ranchlands operation located outside of Amarillo, Texas. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Mike grew up with horses and spent much of his teens and all of his college years playing competitive polo. Upon graduation from college, Mike joined the US Army, where he served as a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, 2nd Battalion.  While overseas on deployment, Mike stumbled across a YouTube video that featured Ranchlands, and he decided then and there that he wanted to work with Duke and the rest of the Ranchlands team. He successfully interviewed for the job virtually, while still in Syria, and just a few weeks after leaving the Army, he was on the ground in New Mexico, working as an intern at Ranchlands’ MP Ranch. Learn more about the Ranchlands Collective

Dan Flores is an environmental writer whose work helps us better understand the complex and fascinating history of people, animals, and wild places in North America and beyond. He’s the author of eleven books, including Coyote America and American Serengeti, and he has appeared everywhere from the Joe Rogan Experience to the upcoming Ken Burns documentary on the American Buffalo. His newest book is titled Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in America, and, as you’d expect, it is excellent. It’s a sweeping “Big History” of humans’ impact on the North American landscape– a sobering yet optimistic examination of the ups and downs of people’s ever-evolving relationship with the natural world. If you’re a member of the Ranchlands Collective, then this podcast episode will be a timely addition to the insightful Q&A write-up that Dan so graciously provided for Collective members. In it, he provides some context around an exclusive game-camera video that shows coyotes and ravens scavenging the carcass of a cow on our Frying Pan Ranch in Texas. Given Dan’s expertise on coyotes and his wide-ranging knowledge about the interactions between North American wildlife, this Q&A is a must-read.  Read Dan Flores' Work Learn more about the Ranchlands Collective  

Tammy VerCauteren is the Executive Director of The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, a highly effective conservation organization whose mission is to “conserve birds and their habitats through science, education and land stewardship.” Tammy joined the Bird Conservancy in 1999 as an ecologist, performing research on burrowing owls along the Colorado-Wyoming border. She fell in love with the work and the mission, and eventually assumed the role of Executive Director in 2008. Since then, she has driven the Bird Conservancy’s growth and evolution, making it one the the West’s most effective and collaborative landscape-scale conservation organizations. Birds and healthy bird habitat are of the utmost importance here at Ranchlands. We’ve worked with the Bird Conservancy on our Chico Basin Ranch to establish bird banding stations several times per year. And just a few weeks ago, Audubon certified both the Chico Basin and Paint Rock Ranches as bird friendly habitats. So we were thrilled to have Tammy join us to discuss the importance of bird habitat, challenges facing the grasslands of the West, and how everyone from ranchers to consumers can plan a role in protecting these vital ecosystems. Learn more about Bird Conservancy of the Rockies here. Learn more about Ranchlands bird-friendly beef here.

Teal Blake is a renowned Western artist whose paintings reflect his deep love and appreciation for the tradition of ranching and cowboying. Teal was born and raised in Montana, and he’s spent most of his life entrenched in the worlds of horses, cattle, and ranch life. He’s worked as a professional bull rider, ranch hand, and ranch manager, but at his core, he’s always been an artist. In 2014, Teal was invited to join the Cowboy Artists of America, a legendary organization with a membership that includes many of the West’s most well-known and highly respected painters and sculptors. Teal and his art also have a long history with Ranchlands– he’s attended Ranchlands artist gatherings, and he recently created the artwork for the Ranchlands Collective logo.  Teal is a wonderful storyteller, so we know you’ll enjoy this episode. Ed and Teal discussed his upbringing in Montana and the unique mix of art and cowboy culture that shaped his life. They talk about his time as a pro bull rider, his work on many ranches throughout the West, and why he feels that humility is one of the most important characteristics. They also chat about Teal’s need to get out of the studio and onto the land, the importance of friendships with other artists, the need for full commitment to art, and how putting creative work into the world attracts like-minded creative people. See Teal Blake’s work and connect with him on Instagram Learn more about the Ranchlands Collective

For this week's episode, Ranchlands’ leather shop manager Madi Phillips and Ed headed to Sterling, Colorado, where they sat down with Freddy Z and Duncan Clarke to discuss leatherwork, craftsmanship, and the art of creating useful and beautiful leather goods by hand.   Learn more about CCI here.   Learn more about the National Children of the Incarcerated (CIPs) Scholarship Program here.   Learn more about Ranchlands Mercantile here.

Lauren O’Toole joined the team at Ranchlands back in 2021 when she was hired to work as a Wrangler at the Zapata Ranch. Over the past three years, her role at Ranchlands has continued to evolve, and she’s currently the Events Coordinator for some of our newest ranch vacation offerings, including stays at the MP Ranch in New Mexico and horse-packing trips at the Paint Rock Ranch in Wyoming. Lauren combines her deep connection to horses with her love of travel and outdoor adventure, making her an indispensable member of the Ranchlands team. In this conversion, Lauren discusses how she transitioned from a life and career centered around the ocean and marine biology to her current work in the arid mountains and high deserts of the American West. We discuss her love of travel and her experiences everywhere from Southeast Asia to Hawaii, and she also talks about her recent eight-week horse adventure through Patagonia, Argentina. Connect with Lauren on Instagram and learn more about her Argentina expeditions. Learn more about pack trips at Ranchlands’ Paintrock Canyon Ranch. Learn more about working at Ranchlands.

Nancy Fishbein is the Director Resilient Lands for the Colorado Program of The Nature Conservancy. Nancy’s team is responsible for protecting and stewarding critical lands across the state, as well as ensuring the Chapter’s alignment with the land protection goals of TNC’s Shared Conservation Agenda, including building a network of resilient and connected landscapes. Nancy has served on the Colorado Conservation Easement Oversight Commission and on the board of the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts. Learn more at https://ranchlands.com/ Learn more about The Nature Conservancy at https://www.nature.org/

Dylan Taylor is a ranch apprentice at the Chico Basin Ranch, where he plays an integral role in the success of the 89,000-acre cattle operation. Born and raised outside of Fort Worth, Texas, Dylan had no ranching experience before coming to Ranchlands. In fact, much of his early career was spent in the Texas barbeque scene, where he worked for many years in some of Austin’s most renowned barbeque restaurants and even started his own with some of his best friends. And as you’ll hear in this conversation, he eventually transitioned out of the restaurant business and was hired on as a cook at the Zapata Ranch, which began his tenure at Ranchlands. Learn more about Ranchlands and our Internship Program at https://ranchlands.com/

GL Richardson is a Santa Fe-based painter who translates the rawness, iconography, and motifs of the American West into consequential work that speaks to broader human truths. GL grew up loving art, but as he moved through school, his focus shifted away from painting and toward building a career in the world of advertising. But after college and grad school, while working as an ad man in San Francisco, he grew tired of big city life and the rat race of the advertising world– so he reached out to Ranchlands, was hired as an intern on the MP Ranch, and began a new journey in wide open spaces of the American West. In this conversation, Ed and GL discuss his fascinating journey from advertising to ranching to professional art. They discuss his upbringing in Richmond, Virginia, and why he was so focused on building a career in advertising. They discuss his formative experiences on the MP, and how he went from having absolutely no experience in the ranching world to being an integral member of the Ranchlands team. They also explains how painting re-entered his life while working on the MP, and how he has managed to gain such a foothold in the world of professional art in a relatively short amount of time. Learn more at https://ranchlands.com/ Find GL's Art at https://internetgl.com/  

Upstate New York’s own, Mike Eli LoPinto moved to Nashville on a drunken New Years Eve bet in 2012, from Boone, NC, where he attended Appalachian State University. For the last 10 years he has been on the road, in support of artists which include Nikki Lane, Lilly Hiatt, and Whitey Morgan. He is currently on tour with Chris Stapleton and the All American Roadshow. He lives in Lebanon, TN with his wife Anna and their son, spending his spare time working on music in the studio.  Learn more about Ranchlands: http://www.ranchlands.com

We welcome our founder, Duke Phillips III, back to the podcast to discuss the newest project at Ranchlands: the Collective. The Collective, launching May 1st, is a new opportunity to become a member of Ranchlands and gain deeper access to our mission of perpetuating ranching into the future via exclusive articles, podcast episodes, events, conversations, and experiences on working landscapes. By cultivating a growing group of people around the values of ranching, collaboration, and conservation, we see great potential to rebuild our human relationship with the environment. As Duke says in this episode, "we want people to look at Ranchlands as something that they own, something that belongs to them, that they're on board and that they're making things happen for the higher good." -- Learn more about the Collective and sign up for $5/month at www.ranchlands.com/collective Email us with any questions, comments, or ideas at collective@ranchlands.com

Dr. Bonney MacDonald is a Professor of Western Literature at West Texas A&M University. Bonney’s credentials are as extensive as they are impressive– she holds a B.A. in English and a B.A. in psychology from California State University, an M.A. in American studies from the University of Nottingham, England, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in American literature from Yale University. And at her core, Bonney is a committed and highly skilled teacher, and her love for literature, history, and the West is infectious to everyone who has the pleasure of spending time with her. Learn more about Ranchlands: www.ranchlands.com Sign up for Bonney's Zapata Ranch workshop: https://ranchlands.com/pages/women-horses-the-west

Helen Levi is an artist, potter, photographer, and the owner of Helen Levi Ceramics. Based out of her studio in Queens, New York, Helen produces small-batch dinnerware and pottery that is as unique and beautiful as it is functional. Her ceramics have been featured everywhere from New York Magazine to Vogue, and, as you’ll hear in this conversation, she continues to grow and evolve as an artist and entrepreneur. In this episode, we talk to Helen about everything from her artistic journey to parenthood. We discuss her first love of photography, how she eventually transitioned into professional pottery, her first big break selling pottery, and how she has gone about balancing the growth of her business with her desire to keep it at a manageable size.  We also discuss the role of place in her artistic process, her love of the southwestern United States, the transition from hobbyist to professional potter, how motherhood has changed her outlook, and much more.  

Senator Lucía Guzmán is a lifelong leader and public servant. Born and raised in Texas by immigrant parents, Lucía has led an inspirational life. She studied theology and became an ordained minister, served for many years on the Denver School Board, and served as a Colorado State Senator from 2010 through 2019. In this episode, Lucía discusses her parents’ move from Mexico to the United States, her upbringing in Katy, Texas, and the important role that school played in her life. We discuss her calling into the ministry, and how her faith built a solid foundation for her life in politics. She also explains some of the lessons learned from serving in elected positions, the importance of having respect for those you may disagree with, and why it is critical that we find a way to bridge the rural-urban divide.

Molly Wizenberg is the author of three memoirs, including her most recent book titled “The Fixed Stars.” She also created the James Beard-award-winning food blog Orangette and now writes a Substack newsletter called I've Got a Feeling.  And on top of all that, she’s a wife, a mother of two, and the host of the podcast Spilled Milk. Molly will be leading her second writing workshop at the Zapata Ranch this summer– Food as a Doorway to Memory – thus, Ed and Molly talked a lot about her approach to teaching. She shares some techniques that help writers find their authentic voices, and she talks a lot about other authors and teachers who have positively influenced her journey as a writer. Molly has been riding horses since childhood, so this episode covers both her love of horses and her daughter’s budding obsession with riding.  

Johnny Ortiz-Concha is a chef, artist, and the creator of /shed, an intimate, one-of-a-kind dinner project based in his hometown of Taos, New Mexico. Johnny grew up on the Taos Pueblo and dropped out of college to pursue his dreams of a career devoted to cooking and food. After working in some of the United States’ most highly acclaimed restaurants for seven years, he returned to Taos and started /shed. Through the project’s small-scale dinners, Johnny provides his guests with a deeper, more meaningful connection to the land, food, and culture of northern New Mexico. In this conversation, we discuss his fascinating path– from his family’s rich heritage and lineage, to the first time he connected with food as a boy, to his vision for the future of /shed. We talk a lot about the importance of finding purpose and meaning in one’s work, and his goal of building community through his /shed. To learn more abou /shed, visit their website or Instagram. Revist the article Johnny wrote in January 2022 for The Ranchlands Review, "Mastery."

Alejandro Carrillo is the owner of the Las Damas Ranch located in Mexico’s Chihuahuan Desert. Before becoming a full-time rancher, Alejandro enjoyed a successful career as an IT consultant.  But in 2004, he made the decision to leave the software industry and join his family’s ranching business. Since then, he has revitalized the Las Damas Ranch by implementing holistic management principles–strategies and tactics that have allowed the arid landscape to thrive despite rarely receiving more than 10 inches of rain annually. Alejandro is a highly sought-after speaker and educator on many topics related to holistic management. He’s a gifted teacher, a creative thinker, and a humble leader. --- Topics Covered: 1:50 - Alejandro’s career in IT 4:30 - About Las Damas Ranch 8:50 - When and how did Alejandro learn of Holistic Ranch Management 13:20 - Alejandro’s mentors 16:15 - Management changes to Las Damas  21:00 - How many pastures at Las Damas then and now? 24:00 - How many head of cattle then and now? 25:45 - Working with The Nature Conservancy 29:00 - New challenges Alejandro faces 33:20 - What does Alejandro look for in employees 38:45 - Alejandro’s teaching ability and workshops 44:00 - What does teaching do for Alejandro personally 49:00 - Must read books 52:00 - Why should a lifelong city-dweller care about the land? 55:00 - Common misconceptions 59:00 - What gives Alejandro hope for the future --- RESOURCES: Grasslands Regeneration Project The Savory Institute Jim Gerrish Stockman Grass Farmer Magazine Las Damas Ranch Case Study Grazing for Rain - Alejandro Carrillo Ranch Resilience with Alejandro Carrillo

Conservation photographer and storyteller Mike Forsberg has devoted much of his career to telling stories from North America’s Great Plains, and his work has been recognized by many well-known organizations, including Audubon, National Geographic, and the Nature Conservancy. He’s the author and photographer for several stunning books, and the co-founder of the Platte Basin Timelapse– a one-of-a-kind project that is discussed in detail in this episode. In this episode, Mike and Ed discuss everything from the importance of storytelling in the conservation movement to his career trajectory as a professional photographer. They talk about the significance of the Platte Basin, and the critical role that ranchers and other private landowners play in the region’s ecological health. They also chat about teaching the up-and-coming generation of conservation storytellers, measuring success in the conservation field, his vision for the future of conservation in the Platte Basin, and much more. -- Topics covered: 1:40 - Platte Basin Timelapse  9:25 - Getting the public to engage with less glamorous acts of conservation  15:00 - What are the most promising and challenging aspects of conservation?  21:00 - What keeps Mike up at night? What fuels his drive?  24:30 - How does Mike balance the positive with the negatives of the future? 28:45 - Storytelling and letting a story develop 34:20 - The role that ranchers play in conservation 42:15 - When did photography become part of Mike’s life?  46:00 - Blending photography with conservation  51:00 - Offering advice to the next generation 54:25 - How children have shifted Mike’s perspective 58:00 - Mike’s dream for the future of the Platte Basin Timelapse  1:02 - People, books, and films that have influenced Mike  1:07 - Where can you learn more about Mike’s work?

Wendy Millet is the Ranch Director at TomKat Ranch, a 1,800-acre grass-fed cattle ranch located on the California Coast. Wendy has devoted her entire career to conservation and land stewardship, serving in various capacities at well-known conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. And for the past 10+ years, she’s been helping the team at TomKat achieve its mission “to provide healthy food on working lands in a way that regenerates the planet and inspires others to action.” In this discussion, we covered a range of topics including the history of TomKat ranch and its current agricultural initiatives, the ranch’s commitment to science-based data collection and analysis, what Wendy looks for in potential team members, and a few exciting projects that are in the ranch’s near future. We also talked about Wendy’s personal connection to the land and her career trajectory, including how she fell in love with western landscapes, her love of transcendentalist authors, her professional experiences with both non-profit and for-profit organizations, and much more. -- Topics covered: 00:54 - What is TomKat Ranch? 3:45 - What does regenerative agriculture mean to TomKat? 6:40 - Is there a blueprint TomKat followed for starting a ranch? 9:30 - The partnership between Point Blue and TomKat 15:45 - How much of Wendy’s daily work is influenced by data collected by Point Blue? 18:00 - Keeping everything on the rails at TomKat 19:00 - What does Wendy look for in potential team members? 21:00 - How have California’s recent rains affected TomKat? 23:00 - How Kat Taylor has influenced Wendy 27:00 - How does Wendy focus her conservation efforts on the ranch? 29:00 - Acting as a network for learning 30:45 - Projects that can become a larger movement in the future 33:15 - Wendy’s upbringing and background  35:00 - Ranch vacation in Jackson and Wendy’s return to the West 36:25 - How Wendy’s formal education helped to guide her career 39:00 - Florence Williams and The Nature Fix 40:00 - What has Wendy learned from TNC and The Conservation Fund 43:00 - Wendy’s work in the financial side of the timber industry  44:50 - Wendy’s work with Western Landowners Alliance  47:45 - Young people in agriculture  51:50 - Heroes and mentors of Wendy’s  55:35 - Why should a lifelong city dweller care about the land? 56:15 - Common misconceptions about agriculture and ranching 57:00 - Books and podcasts Wendy recommends  58:26 - What music have you been listening to? 59:30 - What gives Wendy hope for the future

On today’s episode, our guest is the agroecologist, systems thinker, educator, and author Nicole Masters. Originally from New Zealand, Nicole is one of the most well-respected voices on soil health and ecologically responsible grazing practices. She is also the author of the excellent book For the Love of Soil: Strategies to Regenerate Our Food Production Systems. In this conversation, Nicole discusses her life-long connection to nature and the land, her early career that included growing avocados and being a worm farmer, her move from New Zealand to the American West, her process for writing, some common misconceptions about the idea of food scarcity, and much more. -- Topics Covered: 1:25: Nicole’s upbringing 3:10 Traveling, education, and overseas experiences 4:40 When agriculture became a part of Nicole’s life 8:10 Nicole’s first jobs 9:30 Buying a farm and having a child 13:20 Jumping into agriculture head first, Nicole’s gratitude to her father 14:55 What brought Nicole to the United States 19:00 Being an outsider in the American West 22:00 How Nicole defines her work 25:00 Why don’t all ranches use regenerative methods? 30:00 Can ecological responsible practices feed the world? 33:50 Resources for people interested in regenerative soil science 35:00 Nicole’s book “For the Love of Soil” 37:00 Why did she write a book? 40:00 Finding the purpose of one's life 42:20 Advice for young people 45:50 How can people contribute to responsible agriculture 47:00 Where does Nicole see her career in 15 years 51:00 Why should a lifelong city dweller care about the land? 52:00 Common misconceptions about agriculture  53:00 Books Nicole recommends 54:15 What music Nicole has been listening to 54:50: What gives Nicole hope for the future

Jill Soukup reads her short essay, "What Zapata Means to Me," featured on the Ranchlands Journal. Jill Soukup is a celebrated artist and long time friend of Ranchlands. She has been teaching her drawing and painting workshop at the Zapata Ranch for the past 8 years, and visiting the Chico and Zapata ranches to photograph horses for her paintings for at least 18 years.

On today’s episode, Ed connects with the great artist Jill Soukup for a conversation about everything from her professional journey as an artist, to her love of teaching, to the diverse set of influences that fuel her creativity. Jill has been a long-standing member of the Ranchlands community for well over a decade– she teaches one of our most sought-after workshops at the Zapata Ranch, and she’s a frequent visiting artist at the Chico Basin Ranch. Year after year, Jill has demonstrated her ability to not only produce stunning, one-of-a-kind art, but also to teach artists of all skill levels how to fully tap into their own creative potential. Whether you are an aspiring artist or simply a person who loves horses and western landscapes, you’ll appreciate Jill’s outlook and approach to her art. Her curiosity and commitment to creativity are infectious, and we appreciate her taking the time to share some of her hard-earned wisdom with us. --- Topics Covered: 2:45 - Jill’s childhood art business 5:00 - Career choices heading into college 6:30 - Lifelong love of horses 8:30 - Pros and cons of art school 15:45 - How teaching helps Jill’s art 18:15 - Importance of simplicity 20:50 - Learning about horse skeletons 25:20 - The backstory of Jill’s Zapata workshop 27:30 - Painting at the Chico 29:30 - Sources of inspiration 31:30 - Favorite podcasts 36:00 - The business of art 38:00 - Business advice for aspiring artists 40:45 - Jill’s artistic process 47:30 - Artists that Jill admires 50:15 - Thoughts on the evolution of her art career 54:45 - Why should city dwellers care about conservation 57:00 - Common misconceptions about ag 1:02:35 - Favorite music 1:03:45 - What is giving you hope

For this week’s episode, Ed headed over to the Nature Conservancy’s Zapata Ranch in Colorado’s San Luis Valley where he met up with Kate Matheson. Kate is the manager of the Zapata Ranch for Ranchlands, and she is also our Director of Hospitality and PR. Originally from England, Kate enjoyed a successful career in publishing and fashion before a fateful trip to the American West drastically changed her trajectory. After a few years of working on a ranch in Montana, Kate eventually found her way to Ranchlands, where she has been an invaluable member of the team for many years. This was a wonderful conversation about Kate’s fascinating career path, her deep love for horses, and her journey from her home in England to her new home in the American West. We hope you enjoy this episode, and if you have any follow-up questions for Kate, you can email them to podcast@ranchlands.com, and we’ll answer them in a future Q&A episode. Enjoy! --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:20 - Kate’s history with horses 8:00 - School and career post-high school 12:40 - Breaking into the magazine business 18:45 - Kate’s impression of the US before moving here 20:45 - Moving to Montana 26:00 - How did Montana change Kate? 30:40 - Quitting her job and moving back to Montana 34:00 - Meeting the Phillips family 39:54 - Beginning work at Ranchlands 42:15 - How Kate combines her passions with her career 48:00 - Life-changing experiences at Zapata 52:20 - Why should city dwellers care about the land 53:25 - Misconceptions about ranching 54:45 - Resources 55:40 - Sources of hope --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

This is another Q&A episode, this time with the questions being answered by Duke Phillips IV. All of these questions were either submitted via social media or through our podcast-specific email address, podcast@ranchlands.com. Duke answers a wide range of questions, including some specific questions about cattle and the ranching business, the amount of acreage needed to support different size herds, a question from an incoming ranch intern, and a few questions about landing a job with Ranchlands. If you are curious about any of these topics, we know you’ll enjoy this episode. And if you have a question that you’d like us to answer, please email us at podcast@ranchlands.com.  Thanks for listening! --- QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1:20 - Several general questions about cattle and ranching. 5:20 -  How many people are needed to run a ranch? 7:58 - A question from an incoming ranch intern. 11:50 - Questions about the Ranchlands hiring process. 13:50 - Any upcoming exciting plans at Ranchlands? --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

For today’s podcast, Ed sat down with legendary horseman Cam Schryver. Cam has been a great friend of Ranchlands for many years, and he is widely regarded as one of the premiere horsemen in the country. For many years, Cam was the head of the horsemanship program at the world-renowned Thatcher School, and he was also a two-time Extreme Cowboy World Champion. Now, in retirement, he lives and works on his family ranch in Oregon.  Cam’s horsemanship workshops at our Zapata Ranch are some of our most popular events year after year, and riders of all skill levels rave about Cam’s gift as an effective, patient, and gifted teacher. Whether you are a rider or not, I know you’ll be struck by Cam’s authenticity, humility, and quiet confidence, and you just may feel the pull to sign up for one of his workshops in the coming years. Ed and Cam recorded this episode at the Chico Basin Ranch, just after Cam had wrapped up his second Zapata workshop. We were honored to have the opportunity to chat with Cam on the podcast, and we know you’ll enjoy this episode. --- Cam's Zapata Ranch Workshop: Foundations of Horsemanship Cam's Zapata Ranch Workshop: Intermediate Horsemanship --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:00 - How Cam connected with Ranchlands 3:15 - Thacher School explained 5:15 - Why Cam felt a connection with Duke and Duke 6:20 - Cam's early years 10:55 - Working with Thacher School 14:55 - Horsemanship program successes 19:05 - Horse-rider relationships 23:10 - Thacher's camping program 25:00 - Cam's Zapata Workshops 27:00 - Keys to a successful horsemanship workshop 29:44 - More on horse-rider relationships 31:15 - Extreme Cowboy World Championships 35:40 - Current ranch work 37:00 - Cam's integrity 39:00 - How late is too late to begin riding horses? 41:50 - Cam's mentors 45:45 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation?  50:15 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct?  52:25 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship?  55:45 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope? --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

We’re excited to bring you another essay episode, this one featuring our friend and past podcast guest Molly Baldrige. You may remember from our discussion in Episode 6 that Molly wrote a wonderful essay titled "Querencia," which details her deep connection to the MP Ranch. In this short episode, Molly reads "Querencia," and we know you’ll enjoy listening. And if you’d like to read the essay for yourself, there’s a link in the episode notes. --- Read the essay: https://ranchlands.com/blogs/journal/querencia --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

For today’s episode, Duke IV and Ed had the great pleasure of sitting down with Molly Baldrige, who is the owner of the MP Ranch. Located in the rocky juniper pinon hills of central New Mexico cattle country, the MP Ranch has been an important part of Molly’s family history for decades. And as you’ll hear in this conversation, Molly feels a deep, even spiritual, connection to the landscapes and history of the ranch, and she has a strong desire to steward the land in a thoughtful and responsible manner. In 2016, Molly partnered with Ranchlands to take over the management of the MP, so this discussion centers around Molly and Duke’s shared love of this special ranch. We discuss Molly’s family history on the MP, the lasting role of her larger-than-life father’s vision for the ranch, Molly’s interesting career trajectory, and some of the specific stewardship challenges of ranching in arid New Mexico. Both Duke and Ed loved this conversation, and they greatly appreciated Molly taking the time to chat with us.  We know that you’ll enjoy this episode. --- Querencia by Molly Baldrige --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 1:50 How Molly learned about Ranchlands 4:29 Duke's first impression of Monte Prieto Ranch 6:16 History of Monte Prieto Ranch 11:09 Carryovers from Molly's father 13:03 Molly talks about big yearly roping event at Monte Prieto Ranch 14:37 Molly's talks about her father's career and history 18:25 What made Molly's father successful 23:40 Molly's initial vision for Monte Prieto 29:31 The struggles and journey of expanding Monte Prieto Ranch 35:23 The role of the Quincho building 37:19 Molly's experience at the Zapata and Chico with Cam Shriver 47:54 Molly discusses her essay "Querencia" 49:10 Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation?  50:37 What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct?  52:10 Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship?  57:02 When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope? --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

This is the third of three special episodes that we are fitting in between our regular interview-style conversations. You may remember from Episode 5–which featured a conversation between Duke IV and ranch apprentice Brandon Sickel–that Brandon is a talented writer who has written extensively for the Ranchlands journal. In this short episode, Brandon reads his essay titled "Beefmasters: The Bull." We know that you’ll enjoy listening to Brandon read it, but if you’d like to read it yourself, you can follow the link below. https://ranchlands.com/blogs/journal/beefmasters-the-bull --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

This is the second of three special episodes that we are fitting in between our regular interview-style conversations. You may remember from Episode 5–which featured a conversation between Duke IV and ranch apprentice Brandon Sickel–that Brandon is a talented writer who has written extensively for the Ranchlands journal. In this short episode, Brandon reads his essay titled "Beefmasters: The Fertile Cow." We know that you’ll enjoy listening to Brandon read it, but if you’d like to read it yourself, you can follow the link below. https://ranchlands.com/blogs/journal/beefmasters-the-fertile-cow --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

This is the first of three special episodes that we are fitting in between our regular interview-style conversations. You may remember from Episode 5–which featured a conversation between Duke IV and ranch apprentice Brandon Sickel–that Brandon is a talented writer who has written extensively for the Ranchlands journal. In this short episode, Brandon reads his essay titled "Beefmasters: A Philosophy Embodied." We know that you’ll enjoy listening to Brandon read it, but if you’d like to read it yourself, you can follow the link below. https://ranchlands.com/blogs/journal/beefmasters-a-philosophy-embodied --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

For this week’s episode, I headed out to the Chico Basin Ranch to sit down with Duke IV and ranch apprentice Brandon Sickel for a conversation about Ranchlands’ intern and apprenticeship program.   Brandon has been working with us for nearly five years– he started out as a summer intern at the Zapata Ranch and then joined the team in a full-time capacity as part of our Apprenticeship Program at the Chico. When he joined the team, Brandon had almost no experience with cows, horses, or the ranching business. But he did bring a great attitude, a strong worth ethic, and an innate curiosity– characteristics that have made him an invaluable member of our team. In this episode, Brandon and Duke provide a high-level overview of the apprenticeship program, which will serve as an excellent resource for anyone who may be interested in joining our team. Brandon discusses what initially attracted him to a job at Ranchlands, his learning curve as an apprentice, and some specific details of his evolving day-to-day responsibilities at the ranch. Duke talks about the characteristics that make for successful apprentices, what qualities he seeks out in candidates, how he works with apprentices to execute complex grazing plans, and much more. If you’ve ever wondered about what we are looking for in our Ranchlands team members or how to go about getting a foothold in the ranching world with limited experience, then I know you’ll enjoy this episode. --- Work with Ranchlands: https://ranchlands.com/pages/work-with-us --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:22 - How Brandon first heard about Ranchlands 8:00 - What Duke saw in Brandon that led to hiring him 9:54 - Overview of the apprentice and intern program  14:17 - What Brandon's first year was like 17:59 - Scariest experience of Brandon's first year 24:37 - What's changed between Brandon's first year and now 29:28 - How ranching differs in the winter 31:50 - Biggest challenge of the job 34:04 - Common misconceptions and surprises about ranching 37:46 - New skills Brandon has learned while ranching 41:07 - How grazing plans are created and implemented 46:19 - What keeps Duke interested in ranching 47:41 - Why Brandon doesn't have or need a 5-year plan 50:20 - Brandon's book recommendations 52:08 - How Brandon got into writing 55:53 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation?  57:30 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct?  59:27 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship?  1:00:50 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope? --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

For the fourth episode of the Ranchlands Podcast, Duke III and I headed up to Denver to meet with our friend and renowned artist Duke Beardsley. Beardsley is a sixth-generation Coloradan who grew up splitting time between Denver and his family’s eastern Colorado cattle ranch. For as long as he can remember, Duke has been drawing and painting scenes from the American West– ranchers, horsemen, anglers, plants, landscapes, and more. And over his career as an artist, he’s developed a one-of-kind approach to art that captures the west in a contemporary style that is completely his own. Beardsley has been a fixture in our community for many years. His unique brand of western art appears all over our ranches– from the walls of the Chico Basin headquarters to the huge door of our Quonset. And perhaps more importantly, he’s been a trusted friend, collaborator, and mentor to many different generations of the Ranchlands team– especially Duke and Duke. Those who call Beardsley a friend know that he brings optimism, humor, and creative energy to every interaction and relationship. So we’re thrilled to bring you this conversation that highlights his connection with our community, his deep friendship with the Phillips family, and his fascinating approach to art and creativity. --- Duke Beardsley: https://www.dukebeardsleystudio.com/ Episode Notes & Links: https://ranchlands.com/blogs/podcast/4-duke-beardsley --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:50 - How Beardsley first heard of Ranchlands 6:14 - Duke’s first thoughts upon meeting Beardsley 7:47 - Beardsley’s background in ranching 9:00 - Beardsley’s first impression of the Chico Basin Ranch 13:00 - Shared love of hard work and rough conditions 17:45 - What Duke has learned over the years from Beardsley 21:06 - What Beardsley has learned from Duke 23:09 - Why Ranchlands attracts interesting people 25:57 - Learning from the great Cam Schryver 28:19 - How Beardsley “found his voice” as an artist 35:20 - Background information on Duke’s Lineup Riders 39:50 - Duke’s thoughts on Beardsley’s creative process 41:57 - How and why Beardsley takes the road less traveled 44:02 - The value of stepping outside of your own little world 48:18 - Advice to a 25-year-old with dreams of living a creative life 54:00 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation? 56:15 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct? 57:03 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship? 58:40 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope? --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

Every so often, we’re going to record episodes dedicated exclusively to Questions and Answers– episodes that will offer an opportunity for listeners to engage directly with the Ranchlands community. We’re planning to have Q&A sessions with members of the Ranchlands leadership team, interns, apprentices, and even with some of our friends who will be guests on future episodes. For the first Q&A episode, I sat down with Duke and asked him ten questions that had been submitted over the past few months via email and social media. As you’ll hear, we cover a wide range of topics– everything from the specifics of the Beefmaster cattle breed to whether or not Duke watches Yellowstone. Duke’s answers are filled with hard-earned wisdom and lighthearted humor, so we hope you glean some value from this relatively quick episode. To submit questions for future Q&A episodes, you can email us at podcast@ranchlands.com. Let us know what your question is and who from the Ranchlands community you’d like to answer it. We’ll keep a running list of all the questions, and we’ll do our best to answer them in future episodes. QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 2:10 - “I want to work at Ranchlands, but I don’t have any ranching experience. Is there any chance I could ever become a part of the team?” 3:31 - “When and why did you become committed to Beefmaster cattle?” 4:55 - “I’m a recent college graduate with an ag degree and some ranching experience– what traits should I look for in a potential employer? Any specific red flags I should avoid?” 5:38 - “When did you know that you are a good teacher?” 7:45 - “I’ve seen some references to an annual event called Bison Works– what is that?” 9:10 - “Did you ever think that you would be in the bison ranching business?” 10:39 - “I’ve seen online that you use horses, as well as dirt bikes and helicopters, for your ranch work. Is that a common practice on ranches in the West?” 13:00 - “A few years ago, Colter Wall put on a concert at one of your ranches. Is he as cool as he seems to be?” 15:54 - “Why is Ranchlands so closely aligned with artists and the art scene? On the surface, that doesn’t seem to be closely aligned with cattle ranching.” 16:57 - “What is the best time of year to visit the ranch?” 18:07 - “Do you watch Yellowstone?” 19:39 - “I live in Colorado Springs and want to visit the Chico Basin Ranch, what do I need to do to arrange a visit?” --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

For our second episode, we’re going to introduce you to the next generation of Ranchlands– Duke’s children Tess Leach and Duke Phillips IV. Officially, Tess is the Head of Business Development and Duke is the Chief Operating Officer, but those titles fail to capture the all-encompassing responsibilities that they each hold. Both Tess and Duke are heavily involved in Ranchlands’ day-to-day operations and the organization’s long-term vision and strategy. Whether it’s formulating a complex grazing plan or offering a brand new product at the Ranchlands Mercantile, there’s no question that either Duke or Tess played an important role. The three of us sat down at the Chico Basin Ranch and had a fun conversation about their lives and careers at Ranchlands, as well as their visions for the future of the organization. In a little less than an hour, we managed to cover a lot, including their respective career paths that led them into the family business, how they balance work with their young families, managing risk, the importance of flexibility, the reality of working with your sibling, COVID’s effect on the business, and much more. Check out the show notes for a full list of everything we discuss. This is a fun behind-the-scenes peeak into the multi-generational nature of the Ranchlands business, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy getting to know Tess and Duke. --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:00 - Tess and Duke introduce themselves 4:30 - Their respective paths to working in the family business 7:18 - Why they studied non-ag subjects in college 10:23 - The importance of multiple income streams 14:00 - How Duke and Tess think about drought, markets, and flexibility 16:57 - Balancing travel and family obligations 18:05 - COVID’s effect on the hospitality business 20:55 - Details of the apprentice and intern programs 25:07 - Creating and maintaining the Ranchlands culture 30:15 - Teaching and empowering team members 32:05 - Why Ranchlands decided to start a podcast 34:58 - Why such interesting people are drawn to Ranchlands 38:20 - The realities of working with siblings 42:59 - What is the long-term vision of Ranchlands 46:05 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation? 48:20 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct? 51:00 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship? 56:00 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope? ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

For the inaugural episode of the Ranchlands Podcast, it only makes sense to sit down and chat with the man who started it all– Duke Phillips III, the Founder and CEO of Ranchlands. More than 20 years ago and with only 35 cows to his name, Duke moved his family to the Chico Basin Ranch located on the prairie just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Over the course of two decades, Duke, his family, and his growing team have built Ranchlands into a large-scale ranch management business that now stewards 380,000 acres of land across four western states. While Ranchlands’ business has evolved in many exciting and unexpected directions, Duke’s commitment to cattle ranching and conservation has never been stronger. As you’ll hear in this episode, Duke considers conservation to be the primary product that Ranchlands produces. We’re going to use this first episode as an opportunity for you to get to know Duke and learn more about the history of Ranchlands. We talk about the mission and vision of Ranchlands, and why we decided to start a podcast. Duke discusses people’s intellectual and emotional connection to the land, his life-long commitment to ranching and conservation, the fascinating individuals that make up the Ranchlands community, and much more. Thanks so much for tuning in– we’re excited to bring you many more conversations in the coming years. TOPICS DISCUSSED: 2:30 - Why is Ranchlands starting a podcast? 4:36 - What is the mission of Ranchlands? 6:48 - The importance of combining profitable/sustainable business and ranching 8:35 - The various businesses of Ranchlands 10:45 - The ranches currently managed and/or owned by Ranchlands 13:16 - The emotional and intellectual connection to land 14:24 - Duke discusses his career prior to winning the Chico Basin Ranch lease 16:13 - Why Duke decided to pursue the Chico Basin lease 18:45 - How Duke remembers his early days on the Chico 20:30 - The evolution of Ranchlands’ non-traditional business 23:20 - Duke’s cattle ranching philosophy 26:51 - Lessons learned over the years 27:40 - Conservation as a product of ranching 31:40 - Why interesting people are drawn to Ranchlands 35:14 - The long-term vision for Ranchlands 39:45 - Why should a life-long city dweller care about the land, land stewardship, and conservation? 42:14 - What is a common misconception about ranching or agriculture that you’d like to correct? 43:09 - Can you name a few resources that have played a critical role in your understanding of land and land stewardship? 44:55 - Using college to learn how to think 46:18 - When it comes to conservation and land stewardship, what is giving you hope? 48:00 - How can people get involved with Ranchlands? --- ABOUT RANCHLANDS: www.ranchlands.com Ranchlands Mercantile Ranch Stays Ranchlands Meat Stories Questions or comments? Email us at podcast@ranchlands.com!

“Working together to live with the land.” For more than two decades, this credo has guided our work at Ranchlands. Our core business is cattle ranching, but over time it has grown to include education, art, hospitality, craftsmanship, and more. Our mission has evolved organically from our work with the land, and our vision has attracted a fascinating array of friends, partners, and collaborators–people whose work extends far beyond the world of mainstream ranching. The Ranchlands Podcast features conversations with members of our community– discussions about our shared connection to the land, stewardship of natural resources, the pursuit of purpose-driven work, lessons learned, and wisdom earned. We’re excited to share these conversations with you over the coming months and years. Please hit the subscribe button and look for our first three episodes on Tuesday, September 13th. --- www.ranchlands.com