Podcast appearances and mentions of nick mott

The American West is burning. We need to adapt. But what does it really mean to live with fire?  Today's guest has spent years trying to answer that question. Nick Mott is an award-winning journalist, podcast producer (Threshold, MTPR's The Wide Open, Fireline), and now author of the book This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat, which he co-authored with Justin Angle, host of A New Angle and a professor at Montana State University's College of Business. Nick joins WLA's Zach Altman for a conversation about fire - where we've been, how we got here and what we can do now. They discuss forest management and insurance markets, prescribed burns and Indigenous fire knowledge, and how community might be the most powerful firefighting tool we've got.  Find the show notes here.  

Nick Mott and Justin Angle have written a practical guide for living with wildfire, including essential history and science, actions you can take to protect your home, and guiding principles for life in an increasingly fiery future. Today, Nick joins us to share a few big ideas from the book.

Since its inception in 1973, the Endangered Species Act has been credited with helping to bring numerous species back from the brink of extinction. But as the country has continued to grow and develop it has also forced us to grapple with balancing the needs of endangered wildlife with the needs of humans. Today on The Sunday Story from Up First, host Ayesha Rascoe is joined by Montana Public Radio's Nick Mott to talk about his reporting on the Endangered Species Act, in a new podcast called The Wide Open, and how we navigate our complicated relationship with nature.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Two days after The Wide Open premiered, host Nick Mott had a grizzly encounter of his own.

The series starts with five billboards outside Livingston, Montana and from there it winds through the half-century saga of the Endangered Species Act. The Wide Open, podcast and radio series from Montana Public Radio and the Montana Media Lab tells the story of our changing relationship with the landmark environmental legislation and how it reveals as much about living with each other as it does about living with endangered species. With me on this episode is Nick Mott, an audio journalist who created and produced the show.  

Nick Mott is an award-winning multimedia journalist who lives in Livingston, Montana. His latest project is a wonderful new podcast called The Wide Open, which he produced in collaboration with Montana Public Radio and the Montana Media Lab. The podcast offers a fresh look into our ever-changing relationship with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and it digs into the history, nuance, and modern-day controversies surrounding what has been called “the most powerful environmental legislation in the world.” Nick explores this devisive topic with deep curiosity and journalistic integrity, and I found the podcast to be amazingly educational and entertaining– which is a rare combo when discussing such a complex piece of legislation. If you're a longtime Mountain & Prairie listener, then many of the topics Nick explores in The Wide Open will be of great interest– grizzly bears, wolves, the environmental history of the West, and more. You'll also hear a few familiar voices, including past podcast guest and living legend Doug Peacock. But what I most appreciated about The Wide Open is how Nick was able to humanize the stories surrounding such a divisive part of Western culture– he features people who love the ESA and people who hate it, but all of them are given the opportunity to share their stories and unique outlooks. In this current cultural moment of hot takes, outrage, and misinformation, The Wide Open is a much-needed return to nuance, curiosity, and civility. As you'd expect from an award-winning podcaster, Nick knows how to tell a great story, so I know you'll enjoy this episode. We start out discussing the history of the ESA and Nick's fresh approach to exploring such a well-known environmental story. We discuss how the ESA is used as a tool to achieve goals other than species protection, how Nick balances the need to make his podcasts both informative and fun to listen to, how he accounts for his own personal biases when telling stories, and how he goes about choosing people to interview. About halfway through the episode, Nick recounts a horrifying recent run-in he had with a grizzly bear, and he discusses how that close call affected his thinking on some of these complex wildlife issues. We also discuss his favorite books, plans for future seasons of The Wide Open, how he deals with negative feedback, wolf reintroduction in Colorado, his professional heroes, and much more. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything, including Nick's other podcasts and his book "This is Wildfire," which he co-authored with Justin Angle. A big thanks to Nick for taking the time, thank you for listening, and please subscribe to The Wide Open– I know you'll really enjoy it! --- Nick Mott The Wide Open "This is Wildfire" by Nick Mott and Justin Angle --- TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:50 - What attracts Nick to specific stories or topics? 6:30 - Nick describes his new approach to examining the ESA. 8:30 - A brief history of the ESA 11:35 - Using the ESA as a tool to save species OR achieve other goals 16:00 - How Nick chooses people to interview and include on the podcast 19:15 - Balancing telling stories that are both entertaining and substantive 22:50 - Accounting for bias in journalism 24:45 - Why Nick includes his own story in the podcast narrative 27:30 - Introvert or extrovert? 28:50 - Did Nick change his mind on anything related to the ESA? 31:30 - How the internet has inflamed the divisiveness of the ESA 33:00 - Nick's recent terrifying encounter with a grizzly 39:00 - The psychological aftermath of the grizzly scare 44:45 - Providing a framework for thinking about wolf reintroduction in Colorado 49:00 - People Nick admires 53:00 - What type of journalism does Nick like the best? 55:00 - Future seasons of The Wide Open? 56:45 - People Nick admires 1:00:00 - Favorite books 1:02:00 - Dealing with negative feedback 1:04:00 - Parting words of wisdom --- ABOUT MOUNTAIN & PRAIRIE: Mountain & Prairie - All Episodes Mountain & Prairie Shop Mountain & Prairie on Instagram Upcoming Events About Ed Roberson Support Mountain & Prairie Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts

This week, MTPR is encoring host Lauren Korn's conversation with podcasters and authors Nick Mott and Justin Angle; the three talk about the nuances of wildfire: ‘This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat' (Bloomsbury Publishing) “offers everything you need to know about fire in one useful volume.”

This week, MTPR is encoring host Lauren Korn's conversation with podcasters and authors Nick Mott and Justin Angle; the three talk about the nuances of wildfire: ‘This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat' (Bloomsbury Publishing) “offers everything you need to know about fire in one useful volume.”

Every wildfire has at least two stories, according to writers Justin Angle and Nick Mott. One story is about the devastation exacted on humans, their lives and property. The other story, sometimes at odds with the first, is about fire's positive impacts on ecosystems. Fire is “something we need to suppress and control,” they write, “yet it's a natural force we need more of.” Angle and Mott's new book “This is Wildfire” is about reconciling those perspectives and finding practical ways to live healthily and sustainably in an increasingly fire-prone world. We'll learn about advances in U.S. forest management and get tips for protecting yourself, your home and your community. Guests: Justin Angle, professor, University of Montana College of Business; co-author, "This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home and Your Community in the Age of Heat" Nick Mott, journalist; podcast producer; co-author, "This Is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat"

This week is the August edition of Incentives & Instincts, a recurring series in which Justin speaks with economist and friend Bryce Ward about some of the broader challenges facing our society. This week, Bryce takes on the role of host to talk with Justin and Nick Mott about their brand new book, This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat. Justin and Nick share their earliest experiences with wildfire and how their perceptions and understanding have changed since then. Bryce asks what the co-authors want the individual reader to take away from the book and also what our broader responsibility is to engage with policy makers on the subject of wildfire. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OzrVUhEGaaeIzXgGku8kTgMEoDmNlog9LsstYfQfhBs/edit?usp=sharing

In the face of record temperatures and dry conditions, wildfires are becoming more and more common. This is Wildfire, a new book by Nick Mott and Justin Angle, provides a historical analysis of the role flames have played in both human and natural ecosystems – and seeks to inform readers how to best protect themselves, their homes, and their communities. As the authors tell Here & Now's Scott Tong, solutions are as far-ranging as keeping gutters clean of debris and actually encouraging more controlled burns.

In Lauren's conversation with podcasters and authors Nick Mott and Justin Angle, the three talk about the nuances of wildfire: ‘This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat' (Bloomsbury Publishing) “offers everything you need to know about fire in one useful volume.”

In Lauren's conversation with podcasters and authors Nick Mott and Justin Angle, the three talk about the nuances of wildfire: ‘This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat' (Bloomsbury Publishing) “offers everything you need to know about fire in one useful volume.”

Every wildfire has at least two stories, according to writers Justin Angle and Nick Mott. One story is about the devastation exacted on humans, their lives and property. The other story, sometimes at odds with the first, is about fire's positive impacts on ecosystems. Fire is “something we need to suppress and control,” they write, “yet it's a natural force we need more of.” Angle and Mott's new book “This is Wildfire” is about reconciling those perspectives and finding practical ways to live healthily and sustainably in an increasingly fire-prone world. We'll learn about advances in U.S. forest management and get tips for protecting yourself, your home and your community. Guests: Justin Angle, professor, University of Montana College of Business; co-author, "This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home and Your Community in the Age of Heat" Nick Mott, journalist; podcast producer; co-author, "This Is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat"

People who are confident and powerful tend to exhibit a few critical behaviors to create that impression of power and confidence. This episode begins with a quick list of things anyone can do to present the image of power to others. Source: Robert Greene author of The 48 Laws of Personal Power (https://amzn.to/3EaogJs) There is compelling evidence that your mind and your thoughts can impact your physical health. It isn't all mystical and magical as you might think. In fact, a lot of it is quite logical and practical – yet it is still amazing, as you are about to discover when you listen to my guest Ellen Langer. She is the first ever tenured female professor at Harvard University and is considered the “mother of mindfulness.” She is author of the book The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health (https://amzn.to/45gn1UO) Wildfires seem to be more destructive than ever before. Flames in forests are scorching about twice as many trees as they did two decades ago, and nearly 100,000 homes, barns, and other structures have gone up in smoke. Plus, wildfires seem to occur in places that never used to have to worry. What is going on and what do we all need to know to protect ourselves? That is what Nick Mott is here to discuss. Nick is a Peabody Award winning journalist, podcast producer and author of the book This is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself Your Home and Your Community in the Age of Heat (https://amzn.to/3P3nO5W). When someone say, “This goes with out saying…” Why are they saying it if it goes without saying? That is one of several phrases people often use that they probably shouldn't. Listen as I reveal some other phrases that we should all avoid if we want to make the right impression on people. Paul Yeager author of “Literally The Best Language Book Ever (https://amzn.to/45CUcBM) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Delete Me helps you keep your personal info private by removing it from hundreds of data broker websites that sell our data online. You tell Delete Me exactly what info you want deleted, and their privacy experts take it from there! It's really that simple to protect yourself. DeleteMe makes it easy! Right Now get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to join https://DeleteMe.com/SOMETHING and use promo code SOMETHING20 Indeed is the hiring platform where you can Attract, Interview, and Hire all in one place! Start hiring NOW with a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to upgrade your job post at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING Offer good for a limited time. Now, your ideas don't have to wait, now, they have everything they need to come to life. Dell Technologies and Intel are pushing what technology can do, so great ideas can happen - right now! Find out how to bring your ideas to life at https://Dell.com/WelcomeToNow If you want to lose weight and keep it off, increase your metabolic efficiency and prevent or reverse health conditions you need to know the truth about why dieting has failed and how to take back control of your body and health! With GOLO you will safely and effectively control sugar cravings, hunger, and minimize muscle loss allowing you to feel good and inspired to reach your goal weight. Learn more at https://golo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EPISODE 1673: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Nick Mott, author of THIS IS WILDFIRE, about how to protect ourselves, our homes and our communities in the age of heat Nick Mott is producer at Threshold, a podcast and radio show. He's also worked as a reporter at Montana Public Radio, where his coverage has earned him accolades from the Associated Press. Through his audio reporting, he's found himself trapping grizzly bears, chasing sled dogs, and tracking lynx via snowmobile - with microphone in hand. His work in audio, photo, and writing has appeared in NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, Outside, PRI's The World, the Mountain West News Bureau, The Washington Post, Kaiser Health News, Alpinist, and more. He's also producer at MTPR's in-house podcast, Richest Hill. He holds an MA in environmental journalism from CU Boulder. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Nick Mott. Nick is an award winning journalist and podcast producer based in Livingston, and the editor of this podcast. Over the last several months he's published a series of articles with High Country News documenting the catastrophic Yellowstone floods that occurred in June 2022. In this episode Justin and Nick talk about the varying devastation of the floods, the politics of floodplains and the pressure the floods brought to bear on an already stressed housing system. Nick talks being evacuated and how he came to report on an event with such personal ties. Justin and Nick also explore the ecological benefits of flooding, and balancing the needs of safety and resilience. Transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gQStyaZ3HKrLrR4IZ5-OHAnT8UKASr4d72uLSwXn480/edit Read Nick's HCN series here: https://www.hcn.org/author_search?getAuthor=Nick%20Mott%20&sort_on=PublicationDate&sort_order=descending

The James Webb Telescope Releases Its First Focused Image This week eager astronomers got an update on the progress of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which launched last December. After a long period of tweaking and alignment, all 18 mirrors of the massive orbiting scope are now in focus.  In a briefing this week, Marshall Perrin, the Webb deputy telescope scientist, said that the team had achieved diffraction limited alignment of the telescope. “The images are focused as finely as the laws of physics allow,” he said. “This is as sharp an image as you can get from a telescope of this size.”  Although actual scientific images from the scope are still months away, the initial test images had astronomers buzzing. Rachel Feltman, executive editor at Popular Science, joins Ira to talk about the progress on JWST, and other stories from the week in science, including plans to launch a quantum entanglement experiment to the International Space Station, an update on the COVID-19 epidemic, and a new report looking at the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. They'll also tackle the habits of spiders that hunt in packs, and the finding that a galloping gait may have started beneath the ocean's waves.    The Climate Crisis Is Driving New Home Improvements A lot of the changes that need to happen to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius need to happen at a huge, international level. But nearly a fifth of carbon emissions in the U.S. come from our homes. Are there things we can do at home to help the climate crisis? And how effective are individual actions? Threshold is a podcast telling stories about our changing environment. And as their fourth season explores what it will take for the world to keep global warming under the crucial 1.5 benchmark, reporter Nick Mott explores what individuals can do to decarbonize their homes. Mott talks to Ira Flatow about his own home improvement project, in a preview of Threshold's next episode.   From Succulents To Bugs: Exploring Wildlife Crime The world of science is surprisingly ripe with true crime stories. Consider case number one: Deep in South Africa's Northern Cape, a rare and tiny succulent grows: the Conophytum. Demand for succulents skyrocketed during the pandemic, as more and more people got into the plant keeping hobby. But these succulents only grow in very specific conditions, and poachers will go to great lengths to nab them. The story is the subject of a recent investigation published in National Geographic. Or case two: It's 2018, and a theft has occurred at the Philadelphia Insectarium, a bug museum and education center. In a daring daylight raid, thousands of creatures were taken from the insectarium—right under the nose of the CEO. No one has ever been charged with a crime. This bizarre big story quickly made the rounds of local and national news, which left out the most interesting details, including a surprise ending. The new documentary series “Bug Out” takes us through the twists and turns of this story, from retracing the events of the day of the heist, to a deep look at the illegal international insect trade. The four episodes of “Bug Out” are available to watch now on IMDB TV and Prime Video.   Joining Ira to chat about these wildlife true crime stories are Dina Fine Maron, senior wildlife crime reporter for National Geographic and Ben Feldman, director and executive producer of “Bug Out.”  

For many Montanans, the Badger-Two Medicine is synonymous with one of the most significant grassroots conservation successes in recent decades. That story is about Blackfeet tribal traditionalists, political leaders, and conservation groups coming together to defeat oil and gas leases in one undeveloped expanse of wilderness in Montana. Now, thecoalition faces thorny questions — what does long-term protection and management of the Badger look like, and who gets to decide?   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Badger-Two Medicine on the Blackfeet Nation's website. Find out about the documentary we referenced, Backbone of the World, here. Listen to “Land Back” by A Tribe Called Red.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Aaron Bolton and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Mara Silvers and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

In 2009, Montana was caught up in a heated national debate over whether terminally ill patients could expedite their deaths by taking lethal, physician-prescribed medication. More than a decade later, the state is still mired in disagreement about medical aid in dying, in part because courts and elected lawmakers have sidestepped the political hot-potato. Meanwhile, individual Montanans are confronting profound and personal questions about death in their own ways — including whether “good” deaths are even possible.    BONUS LINKS: Read former Montana Supreme Court Justice Jim Nelson's reflection on the Baxter decision here. Watch one of the Montana Legislature's 2021 hearings on a bill to prohibit medical aid in dying here.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Mara Silvers. It was edited and produced by Nicky Ouellet, with additional editing and hosting by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

There's not much certainty for the coal industry these days. In Montana, four of the six owners of the Colstrip Power Plant live in states where legislation is requiring companies to wean themselves off of coal energy. Residents of Colstrip — a town that has grown and prospered because of that resource —  fear that any bad news for the industry will be even worse for them. Up against shifting markets and corporate interests, how can advocates for Colstrip ensure future stability for its residents?   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Southeastern Montana Economic Development's diversification strategy for Colstrip. Learn more about what else the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund pays for.  Follow the Montana Legislature's interim study of the Coal Severance Tax Trust Fund.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Melissa Loveridge and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Nick Mott and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

For decades, housing affordability has been a hot-button issue in Bozeman politics, a clear community pain point where the city's elected leaders haven't managed to deliver significant relief. As insider and outsider candidates campaigned for city offices in 2021, housing policy became the election's key issue. The solution, some residents argued, was to elect working class advocates to positions of power. Key to getting the job done, others countered, is experienced, incumbent leadership.    BONUS LINKS:  The One Valley Community Foundation's 2021 Regional Housing Study: onevalley.org/regionalhousing  Follow Urban Institute housing researcher Corianne Scaley on Twitter @CorianneScally   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Eric Dietrich and edited by Nick Mott. It was produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

Whitefish has a reputation as a charming ski destination in Montana's northwest corner that welcomes wayward strays, whether that's for a season or a lifetime. That attitude has helped grow small businesses and local watering holes, and keep friendly faces on the slopes and behind the bar. But in recent years, more and more people have been drawn to the good thing Whitefish has going on. Locals fear that surging popularity — and skyrocketing cost of living — could push out the very characters that make this place so special.   BONUS LINKS:  Read the 2016 Whitefish Area Workforce Housing Needs Assessment here. Watch Gene live his dream here. More vintage Big Mountain footage here and here.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Justin Franz and edited by Nick Mott. It was produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

It's not surprising for Montanans to have plenty of political disagreements. What's more uncommon? Neighbors whispering about each other at grocery stores and disrupting entire public meetings with passionate tirades. Welcome to the era of COVID-19, when debates about public health, personal liberties and science have reached a fever pitch. Those disagreements are tugging at tightly-knit towns and counties, making some residents wonder how their communities will survive in more ways than one.   BONUS LINKS: Read more about the Ravalli County Board of Public Health's COVID-19 policies here. Check out more Kaiser Health News reporting here on public health officials and new pandemic-era regulation passed in different states.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Katheryn Houghton of Kaiser Health News and Alex Sakariassen. It was edited by Mara Silvers, produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Taunya English, Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

By October 2021, all of Montana was in severe drought — the worst the state had seen in decades. But Montana has seen bad dry spells before, forcing ranchers, farmers, conservationists and recreators to confront a collective dilemma: when water is in short supply, how can there be enough for everyone?    BONUS LINKS: Find out more about Montana's new draft drought management plan here. Go here for more on arctic grayling and the effort to protect them.   Shared State a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Shaylee Ragar and edited by Nicky Ouellet. It was produced by Mara Silvers and hosted by Nick Mott. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

In the summer of 2021, Livingston residents Kascie and Dan were preparing for a wilderness float trip in Idaho. Before heading to the river and leaving cell service behind, they stocked up on supplies at Dan Bailey's, an outdoor gear shop. What happened there was caught on video and viewed millions of times. It ignited a political firestorm across the country. That conflict just kept spiraling, providing one example of how today's political disagreements can have far-flung consequences.   BONUS LINKS: Pew Research's Political Typology Quiz can be found here. Follow Prof. Jessi Bennion on Twitter @JessiBennion.    This is the first episode of Shared State, Season 2, a podcast from Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio. This episode was reported by Nick Mott, edited and produced by Nicky Ouellet and hosted by Mara Silvers. Editorial assistance from Corin Cates-Carney, Nadya Faulx, and Brad Tyer. Fact-checking by Jess Sheldahl. Gabe Sweeney is our sound designer.

In June 2020, Chantel Astorga soloed Denali's Cassin Ridge in less than 15 hours, setting a women's record and making the first known ski descent of the Seattle Ramp during the approach. She recalls one particular moment after skiing through a dangerous icefall and spotting an eagle: “I've never seen a large bird in the Alaska Range up that high, and it was thermaling above me, and I had this wonderful sense of peace and calmness… I'd gotten through this thing I was most terrified of, and I did it in as good a style as I could, and as safely as one can do something like that alone.” Today, Astorga makes a living as an avalanche forecaster in Idaho. She received an honorable mention by the Piolets d'Or awards in 2018 for a new route that she completed on Nilkanth (6596m) in India's Garhwal Range with Anne Gilbert Chase and Jason Thompson. In this episode, she talks with Derek Franz about her early days as a climber when she was rope soloing ice climbs and skiing Denali in oversized, second-hand gear, and the path that led to her recent success on the Cassin Ridge. [Photo] Chantel Astorga This episode is brought to you by Rab Equipment. Audio Production by Nick Mott.

Mike Gardner was 16 years old when his father, a respected climbing guide, died while free soloing on the Grand Teton in 2008. Mike has suffered the loss of other loved ones since then, yet he continues to climb and guide in the Greater Ranges as well as the Tetons where he grew up. In that time, he and his partners have completed some impressive fast-and-light ascents using a strategy of “ski-alpinism.” In this episode, Derek Franz interviews him about a remarkable spring 2021 season in Alaska, his formative life experiences, and how those inform the risks that he continues to face as a professional climber. “I don't have a really clear, well-thought-out answer…why I go to the mountains when there's so much hurt and tragedy there for me,” he says, “yet there's so much joy, and the answer lies somewhere in the middle of these paradoxes….” [Photo] Evan Miller This episode is brought to you by Rab Equipment. Audio Production by Nick Mott.

Pete Takeda is a world-renowned alpinist who started climbing on boulders as a kid in Idaho. He has pursued every climbing discipline over the last several decades, from hard free climbing to big wall aid, as well as ice and mixed climbing. His first ascents range from ephemeral mud towers to some of the most impressive peaks in the world. In this episode, Derek Franz interviews one of his childhood heroes on a wide variety of subjects, from climbing and writing, to life philosophy. [Photo] Jeff Rueppel This episode is brought to you by Rab Equipment. Audio Production by Nick Mott.

"Just because it's a view you've seen your whole life doesn't mean it's a normal, healthy forest."See full show notes here, with links to all topics discussed.My guest today is Dr. Justin Angle, creator of the podcast series “Fireline”, which dives into the realities of wildfire in the western USA.Justin is Associate Professor of Marketing at The University of Montana in Missoula. He earned his Ph.D. and MBA from the Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. Justin also produces his own interview podcast called A New Angle.Today we focus on the “Fireline” podcast series, released earlier this year through Montana Public Radio. If you haven't heard it, the seven episodes cover different aspects of wildfire. The series presents multiple points of view with a goal to demonstrate that the topic is complicated and nuanced, and we all have a role to play in finding solutions.Today, we discuss many of Fireline's topics, including:- How wildfire impacts can be both positive and negative, depending on perspective and context. - The complexities of how years of wildfire policy and suppression have affected fire behavior, and how rising temperatures catalyzes more and larger fires. - The growth of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and how that creates more negative human impacts. - Relatively recent research showing that wind-blown embers can be a primary driver to fire spread and a primary risk to homes - not the towering flame front that we often envision. This changes how communities and homeowners need to prepare, which quickly turns into a sociology problem more than a science problem.Any discussion of wildfire is incomplete without investigating human history and influence on wildfire, and Fireline covers indigenous use of fire through the perspective of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes, as well as some fascinating anthropological research.We also review Justin's atypical route to creating the show, and the process and partners he engaged to make it a reality. Fireline was produced at the peak of the pandemic, requiring Justin and his team to pivot multiple times. You may also be interested in my interview with Rick Halsey of the California Chaparral Institute, where we took a deep dive into wildfire behavior, especially in chaparral habitats.Catching Fire by Richard WranghamFire in Paradise - on NetflixLife with Fire - wildfire podcastFireline's Collaborators: Jeff Hull, Nick Mott, Victor Yvellez, Josh Burnham, Aj WilliamsCathy WhitlockJim SeeKimi Barrett Libby and Alex Metcalf Lily Clarke Richard WranghamSteve Pyne - fire historian with several excellent booksTony Incashola Jr and Sr - Father and Son Wildfire Adapted Missoula

Besides free climbing big walls, Madaleine Sorkin devotes herself to social activism, and has been a leader in starting the Climbing Grief Fund through the American Alpine Club. In this interview from April 2021, Derek Franz asks about her first climbing experiences as a teenager; her perspective as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community; how she is coping with the wear and tear on her body after nearly two decades of hard climbing; and also the latest developments with the Climbing Grief Fund. [Photo] Henna Taylor Audio production by Nick Mott. This episode is possible thanks to the support of listeners like you. If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.

Population booms and skyrocketing costs of living are hitting cities all over the state. Park County passed a wide-ranging new growth policy earlier this month designed to deal with the effects it's experiencing locally. Montana Public Radio reporter Nick Mott flew over the area with officials trying to get a handle on what that growth means for Park County.

Anna Pfaff grew up in rural Ohio, running through cornfields, playing softball and showing animals at the county fair, “but I always felt like there was something more out there,” she says of her decision to apply for a nursing job in Denver, Colorado, at age 20. “I had no idea what a climber was, or what rock climbing was,” she recalls of the life-changing opportunity that came when friends invited her on a trip to Indian Creek. There, she discovered a natural ability and interest that culminated with her joining The North Face team in 2016. Alpinist Digital Editor Derek Franz interviewed Pfaff remotely in April 2021 while she was rehabbing a shoulder injury. [Photo] Tyler Stableford Audio production by Nick Mott. This episode is possible thanks to the support of listeners like you. If you enjoyed this episode please consider supporting our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.

 “There needs to be a lot more equity given at tables for indigenous knowledge, and for indigenous knowledge to inform decision making,” says Carolina Behe.   Carolina Behe, John Noksana and Mumilaaq Qaqqaq are all pushing for self-determination across the Inuit homelands, which extend from eastern Russia all the way to Greenland. In this episode, producers Amy Martin and Nick Mott talk with Carolina, John, and Mumilaaq  about sovereignty in the North.    John, an Inuit hunter from Northern Canada and Carolina, the Indigenous Knowledge and Science Advisor for the Inuit Circumpolar Council in Alaska, discuss how food security fits into a bigger picture of Inuit self-determination. Then, we hear from Mumilaaq, who’s addressing that bigger picture on an even larger stage: in Canada’s Parliament.   If you enjoy this episode, please support our independent, nonprofit journalism at thresholdpodcast.org/donate.  

Episode 1 of our new series Fireline drops today. Search for Fireline on any podcast player or visit www.firelinepodcast.org. Today we're joined by writers and producers Nick Mott and Victor Yvellez to get their thoughts on what Fireline is all about...then hear Episode 1: Suppressed in full... Episode 1 show notes: When Lily Clarke arrived at the August Complex Fire, it was a fire of sensational size. The blaze eventually burned more than 1 million acres, becoming the largest recorded wildfire in California history. Across the country in 2020, flames charred an area size nearly 5 times the size of Yellowstone National Park — the largest swathe of land burned since reliable records began. Wildfires across the country are getting bigger, hotter, and more devastating. But what's all this fire really mean — for the west, for firefighters, and for everyday folks? And what's it really like to fight fire on the ground? Lily Clarke fights wildfire for the US Forest Service and received her Master of Science in Systems Ecology from the University of Montana. John Maclean is the author of 5 books about wildfire. Full transcript available here: https://umt.box.com/s/ap7uzb0wki5q3f24wz76dskk4ieg5psf

Healthcare workers in Montana are getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Montana Public Radio’s Nick Mott has more on what the vaccination process will look like as the rollout ramps up.

Before leaving office, Gov. Bullock finalized a document that will guide forestry and logging projects in Montana for the next decade. Montana Public Radio’s Nick Mott has more from just south of Livingston.

Before leaving office, Gov. Bullock finalized a document that will guide forestry and logging projects in Montana for the next decade. Montana Public Radio’s Nick Mott has more from just south of Livingston.

In this episode, Derek Franz narrates “To Look the Bear in the Eye: The Life of Yasushi Yamanoi,” a story by Sartaj Ghuman that was first published in Alpinist 62 (Summer 2018). Yamanoi is among the few who have established new climbs, alone and in alpine style, on 8000-meter peaks. His many significant climbs earned him a Piolet d’Or Asia Lifetime Achievement Award, but the Japanese alpinist is disinclined to self-promote. In this story Ghuman joins Yamanoi as a liaison officer on an expedition in the Zanskar region of India in search of a deeper dialogue with the wild.   [Photo] Yasushi Yamanoi collection This episode is brought to you by Rab Equipment. Audio Production by Nick Mott.

In this episode, Chris Kalman narrates “Less Rich Without You," a story by Nick Bullock that was first published in Alpinist 68 (Winter 2019-20). The story chronicles Bullock's attempt to climb a new route on Minya Konka, a 7556-meter peak in Sichuan Province, China, in 2018. At age 52, on his twenty-fourth expedition, he and Paul Ramsden make their way through the hazardous maze of an icefall amid heavy mist and falling snow—and through the allures and pitfalls of a modern professional climbing life.   Narrated by Chris Kalman. Audio Production by Nick Mott.   [Photo] Nick Bullock   This episode is possible thanks to the support of Rab | The Mountain People.

Some election-relevant bonus content for you today! Shared State is a new podcast collaboratively produced by Montana Public Radio, Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Free Press. It's an important exploration of the critical issues facing Montanans during the 2020 election. Editor Nick Mott and Host Sarah Aronson join Justin to introduce Epsiode 7. More on Shared State: If you've turned on the TV in Montana recently, you've probably been bombarded with advertisements propping up or tearing down candidates for political office. Each contender claims they're the best choice to uphold "Montana values."But what does that mean? Who is that promise for? And how do those unspoken values shape Montana's politics? In the new podcast Shared State, Montana Free Press, Montana Public Radio and Yellowstone Public Radio will bring listeners along for a deeper look at the most important issues on the ballot. The nine-episode series debuts Sept. 8, 2020 and will culminate just before Election Day.Listen on air Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. on Montana Public Radio or Thursdays at 6 p.m. on Yellowstone Public Radio.

How we think about liberty and individualism shapes the fundamentals of politics: how strongly the government should figure into ordinary folks’ lives. Those ideas play a huge role in issues that run the political gamut — from managing public lands, to school choice, to social welfare programs. As November approaches, very particular perspectives on freedom and liberty are getting louder — especially as Montana officials grapple with implementing public health measures as coronavirus spikes in the state.  Montana Public Radio’s Nick Mott explores how we weigh the individual and the collective when we talk about freedom, choice and rights. 

In this Full Value story from Alpinist 60 (Winter 2017-18), David Stevenson gets caught in a storm returning from a hut trip in Alaska and suffers a heart attack, forcing him and his partner to spend a cold night in a shallow snow cave. In the aftermath he discovers a new significance to a haunting experience that happened decades earlier in his childhood home. Narrated by Matthew Richardson. Audio production by Nick Mott. [Illustration] Andreas Schmidt

In this inaugural episode of Alpinist Aloud—a podcast project in which stories from our print magazine are read out loud—James Edward Mills reads his story from Alpinist 60 (Winter 2017-18). In “The Force of the Soul,” Mills recounts the life of Hugues Beauzile, the son of a Haitian immigrant who became one of the most promising young alpinists in France before his death on the South Face of Aconcagua 1995. Produced by Alpinist magazine and Height of Land Publications. Audio production by Nick Mott.

The concept of this episode, compiled by our friend Stefan Rotter, can only be described by matching the artists' list with the explanation he provided us: “Constantly four tracks running (85%), it's like acoustic LSD and I never took it”. The episode features: Roberto Musci, Hanno Leichtmann, Vladislav Delay, Platform, Jon Hassel, Andrew Hill, Muta, Nick Mott, Eloping with the Sun, Luigi Nono, Chris Watson, The Dwarfs of East Agouza, Giuseppe Ielasi, Andrew Pekler, Jingzi Li, Luc Ferrari, Muslimgauze, Terre Thaemlitz, Rapoon, Gesellschaft Zur Emanzipation Des Samples, Jan Bang, Jay-dea Lopez, Takeshi Ueno, Kozutoki Umezo, Triorganico, Groupshow, Pierre Bastien, Akosh S Unit, Arthur Russell, Demdike Stare, Sun Ra, Philip Jeck, Janek Schaefer, Mike Cooper, Barbara Buchholz, Annette Vande Gorne, Moondog, Garry Bradbury, Marcel Duchamp, Bellows, Tim Hecker and more.

In June 2002, a wildfire erupted about 100 miles southwest of Denver, Colorado. What became known as the Hayman Fire burned for over a month, resulting in the death of six people. The fire blazed through nearly 140,000 acres—at the time, the largest fire in the state’s recorded history. It also consumed popular climbing areas, including Thunder Ridge. In this episode, journalist Nick Mott explores the impacts of the Hayman Fire, and what the rising rate of megafires might mean for climbing communities across the country.

Nick Mott is an outdoor guy! He is also a conservationist, climber, and environmental journalist. He is the Assistant Producer for Threshold, the beautifully produced Podcast which uses” stories to explain how humans are changing and being changed by the planet”. We met Nick on the Lions Lair Spur Trail Head in Boulder Colorado with the intention of interviewing him out in nature but it was so windy that we ended up having a sauna-like and somewhat noisy interview in the car! Nevertheless, we managed to learn more about Threshold Season 1 including latest updates, what to expect from Season 2 and more about Nick and his 2018 projects.  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Find the show notes here  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ *** SOCIALIZE WITH US *** Website  Instagram  Facebook   Twitter  YouTube

A special Dispatch Radio Hour featuring best-selling author and Outside Magazine contributing editor Florence Williams and an Airtstream full of talented environmental journalists and adrenaline junkies. Recorded at The Studio (Boulder) with current and former fellows of Boulder’s Center for Environmental Journalism: Florence Williams, Michael Kodas, Zoe Rom and Nick Mott. More at DispatchRadio.com

Nick and Shelby’s Wild Idea: To share about their adventure podcasts, both presented by REI Co-op, and turn the microphone back on each other. The word’s out. REI has been my main partner all year and it’s been an awesome, wild ride. They’re also now in the podcast game with not just with my show, but also a new 8-episode series called Take it From Me, that launches this week. We talk to Nick Mott, who is the producer of the show, share a quick clip, and dive into the unique format and adventurous characters he interviews. Nick is a fellow journalist, writer, photographer, and a rock climber. Originally from Kansas and now living in Boulder, Colorado, he loves the outdoors and sharing stories of people going on badass adventures. He also hosts another show about sustainability and has good tips for anyone who wants to start a podcast.  After I talk to Nick, he turns the microphone back on me. A lot of people have been asking me to share my story, so I talk about why I started the podcast, what I look for in guests, and some key things I have learned along the way. It’s quick episode. Perfect for a fast run, or a short commute. Enjoy. Listen to this episode if:  You love podcasts about the outdoors (which you do, why else would you be here?) You like to get outside. You are looking for an additional wild podcast. You want to start a podcast, or learn more about why I started Wild Ideas Worth Living. For full show notes, including guest links and books mentioned during the episode, visit: http://wildideasworthliving.com/68

Brendan Leonard hates running. Which is why it was surprising when he signed up for a 100-mile race with his best friend. Not only did he figure out how to run 100 miles, he made a documentary film about it. When Brendan isn’t running he’s a writer, illustrator, adventurer and a believer in living a life outdoors. He encourages people to spend more time doing things they love, going to places that make them feel small and remembering to laugh at themselves. In the premiere episode of REI’s podcast, Take It From Me, Brendan is interviewed by host Nick Mott while they run a Colorado trail together. Brendan and Nick talk about what convinced Brendan to sign up for a 100-mile race even though running is low on his list of passions. Brendan outlines what it takes to complete an ultramarathon, and what people can do to prepare (hint: eat a lot). If you want to learn more about Brendan and his love/hate relationship with running, watch his new documentary about running 100 miles with his best friend. Connect with Brendan Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Learn more about running Running gear at REI Running basics How to train for running

Many climbers observe the voluntary climbing ban at Bear Lodge (Devils Tower) in Wyoming during the month of June as their way to show respect for local Native American cultures. In this episode, journalist Nick Mott discusses the voluntary closure with local climbers and Indigenous leaders, to learn more about their views on the history.