Podcast appearances and mentions of Nick Ferguson

In this hour of Cashing Out, Dustin Swedelson is joined by Ryan Reynolds, EstablishTheRun, to preview the remainder of NFL Week 2. Also, joining the show is Nick Ferguson, KOA Radio-Denver, to also preview the rest of NFL Week 2.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Nick Ferguson.

Scientists discover God and call it aliens, climate change is now making us fat (mmkay), and what happened to the Denver Gazette editorial on black lives mattering? Plus the Broncos are getting a new stadium! Benjamin Allbright and Nick Ferguson stop by to talk about it.

Co‑hosts Nick Ferguson and Steve Cieslewicz sit down with Chris Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager at Austin Energy, to unpack how a municipal utility in Central Texas is building a modern wildfire program. Chris traces his career path from California to Texas, then walks through the region's often‑overlooked wildfire risks and how they differ from the West Coast model. The conversation explores Austin Energy's preparation for potential state requirements around utility wildfire mitigation plans, the role of technology (including tools like Technosylva), and the way local vegetation—oak and juniper rather than pines—shapes tactics on the ground. Listeners get a look at operational readiness during red‑flag conditions, how wildfire risk is being woven into routine vegetation‑management cycles, the overlap with WUI codes and defensible‑space responsibilities, and how grid‑modernization efforts support prevention and response. The episode also tackles the politics of tree work after major storms like Yuri and Mara, and closes with Chris's practical advice for utilities standing up new programs in regions where wildfire is a newer concern. A big thank you to the sponsors of this episode, Clear Path Utility Solutions. 

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Nick Ferguson.

Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-4) joins the show to talk about immigration, the "Epstein Files", and her ZIP Code bill about to become law!Also, as I'm broadcasting from Broncos Training Camp, my KOA colleagues (and sports/Broncos experts) Ryan Edwards and Nick Ferguson will (probably) join me during the show.

In this episode of The Utility Vegetation Management Podcast, hosts Nick Ferguson and Stephen Cieslewicz sit down with Floyd Hardin of Salt River Project (SRP) to explore how one of the nation's largest public power utilities is navigating wildfire risk in the unique landscapes of the desert Southwest.Floyd shares how SRP is learning from the wildfire experiences of states like California and Oregon, adapting those lessons to its own operations. The conversation dives into the challenges of managing invasive grass species across desert grasslands, and the balance between fuels reduction and fuels removal in high-risk areas.The discussion also highlights the respectful and collaborative work SRP does on tribal lands, including cultural and regulatory considerations. Floyd explains SRP's “no-reclose” policy during fire season—a bold step in wildfire mitigation—and discusses its practical implications for system reliability and public safety.Listeners will also hear about SRP's innovative defensible space program around distribution poles, its measurable impact on reducing outages and ignition risks, and what the future holds for wildfire prevention efforts.Key Topics Covered:Lessons learned from Western wildfiresWildfire risk in desert ecosystemsManaging invasive species as fuel sourcesSRP's approach to fuels reduction vs. removalCollaborating with tribal nationsImplementing a no-reclose policyDefensible space for distribution polesFuture innovations in vegetation managementWhether you're in a utility, land management, or policy role, this episode offers actionable insights into proactive wildfire mitigation in diverse environments.A huge thank you to the sponsor of this season and episode, Clear Path Utility Solutions.

Nick Ferguson, founder of Homegrown Liberty, is a seasoned homesteader and educator who has been a personal friend of mine for at least a decade now. A long-time Survival Podcast community member, Nick has taught at nearly every Fall Workshop, sharing practical homesteading solutions. His approach focuses on actionable and practical systems solutions, distinct from Permaculture's activist scope, saving clients tens of thousands through smart property design. Nick runs Rare Plant Store (www.rareplantstore.com) for sustainable plants and is building a Texas teaching hub and demonstration site. Nick empowers families to create resilient homesteads, with the ethos of not letting perfect … Continue reading →