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In this powerful episode of the Rocky Mountain Channel Podcast, host Claire Molle sits down with two trailblazing content creators—Nelson Holland (@FatBlackandGettinIt) and Alex Haraus—whose passion for the outdoors is matched only by their dedication to protecting it. From going viral on TikTok to speaking at major events like SXSW, Nelson and Alex are redefining what it means to be environmental advocates in the digital age.

Nature Filmmaker, Nick Mollé, talks about his powerful new PBS documentary, Water: The Sacred Gift, and why he thinks people should rethink their relationship with water and consider the broader implications of climate change on wildlife, ecosystems, and communities.  Producer, host, and writer Nick Mollé has spent over 30 years documenting the Rocky Mountains, along with exotic destinations from Alaska to Costa Rica and Australia. His work combines serious purpose with a touch of humor, earning him numerous awards, including a Regional Emmy nomination for his documentary The Living Dream: 100 Years of Rocky Mountain National Park.  Nick’s productions with American Public Television include WildSide with Nick Mollé: Costa Rica and the A Walk in the Park with Nick Mollé series, which features Nature of the Beasts, Rivers of the Rockies, and Birds Without Borders. He also produced Solar Car: The Secrets of Ra7, which showcases the Solar Challenge race across Australia, with an introduction by Robert Duvall.  His latest project, Water: The Sacred Gift, explores environmental changes in a mountain watershed, integrating indigenous perspectives and raising important questions about our role in preserving natural habitats. Nick credits his success to close collaborations with filmmakers John Goerner and Sean Doherty. Together, they aim to showcase the beauty and significance of natural environments, hoping to inspire their preservation.  Nick lives in Estes Park, Colorado, with his wife MaryBeth and daughters Lauren and Claire, where they own and operate The Rocky Mountain Channel. 

Professional wildlife, travel and nature photographer, Dawn Wilson, talks with Brett Wilson about adventures, travel, AI and growing up with a camera in her hand.  Dawn Wilson is a professional and award-winning nature photographer specializing in images and stories about wildlife of high latitudes and high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Dawn's text and photography have appeared in more than 800 regional and national publications.   In addition to her editorial work, Dawn can be found leading wildlife photography workshops around North America.

Since 1998, Scott Rashid has spent countless hours researching and rehabilitating birds of prey. He has worked with a variety of bird species from hummingbirds, sparrows, and finches to eagles, hawks, and especially owls. He specializes in an area in the north side of Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’ve ever seen any videos of him rescuing and working with owls and other birds, I’m sure you will agree he leads a fascinating life. He is the Director of (CARRI) the Colorado Avian Research and Rehabilitation Institute here in Estes Park, Colorado. With 7 books out to his name to date, not only is he a naturalist, ornithologist, researcher and author, but he is a martial artist, chef, musician and visual artist as well. Scott is a friend of ours here at the Rocky Mountain Channel and has appeared in Nick Molle´’s recent documentary Nature of the Beasts. It is such a treat to have him here on our podcast!

Brett Wilson has a fascinating conversation with nature photographer and author, Erik Stensland, about his journey from Europe's Balkan Peninsula to the beauty and solitude of Rocky Mountain National Park.  His books and stunning mountain and desert images are breath-taking, reaching deep into the heart and parallel the human soul, tying Nature in with our own humanity. They have won several national awards, including Best Travel Book of the Year, Best Nature and Environment Book of the Year, and Best Inspirational Book of the Year. He has spent nearly twenty years celebrating the beauty of the natural world through photography and encouraging all of us to listen to the whisper within that calls us to a deeper life. Along with his Images of the Desert Gallery in New Mexico, he owns Images of RMNP based right here in Estes Park, Colorado at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. One of the most kind, humble and thoughtful people on the planet, we are proud to welcome Erik Stensland to the show.

We have a very special guest with us today who is definitely no stranger to Estes Park. In fact, perhaps for many folks who visit, he is Estes Park! Raised right here in Estes, this singer, songwriter and guitarist has been playing professionally since he was 15 years old. He specializes in original folk and western music. In 2001, he performed for the president of the United States during his visit to Colorado. In 2008 he performed for the Democratic National Convention in Denver. A year later he received the Hawaii Music Award. He also was awarded the All-Around Cowboy entertainer at the Aspen Lodge Cowboy Poetry gathering. To date, he has recorded 24 albums featuring his original music that reflects what he loves about nature and the western lifestyle. All of this, and, he is a veteran United States Coast Guard officer as well. We are talking about none other than our good friend Brad Fitch

Brett talks with Linda Ballou, author of the novel EMBRACE OF THE WILD which was inspired by Equestrian Explorer Isabella Bird. Our guest today has been Blessed with a double dose of genetic wanderlust, and loves to explore. At thirteen her pioneering parents took her to Alaska where she became firmly grounded in nature. Linda’s articles have appeared in American Fitness, Northwest Travel Magazine, and Morning Calm the inflight magazine for Korean Air. She is a regular contributor to Travel World and Real Travel Adventure--both prominent e-zines. Over the last decade, she has kayaked from island to island in the Sea of Cortez, hiked, biked and kayaked around New Zealand and Costa Rica, and ridden on horseback into the untrammeled mountains of the wild west of North America and Ecuador. These adventures, and more, are brought to life in her book Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales. In Lost Angel in Paradise she shares 32 of her favorite daytripsalong the coast of California. Enjoy her travel articles at www.lostangeladventures.com She received the 2021 Equus Film and Arts Fest Winnie Winner Award book Embrace of the Wild inspired by the indomitable Isabella Bird.

Rocky Mountain National Park Public Affairs Officer, Kyle Patterson, talks with Brett about this year's timed entry system and how it can mitigate impact on the environment. 

Mikaela Fundaun, Curator of Interpretation at the Estes Park Museum, shares stories about some of the remarkable women in Estes Park's history.  Three of the women featured in this episode include Eleanor Hondius and the story of her role in the founding of the Estes Park Women's Club, Joephine Hupp who owned and managed four of Estes Park's downtown hotels as well as a popular cafe, and finally pioneering entrepreneur Anna Wolfrom who homesteaded land near Lily Lake that she used to construct and operate a popular teahouse for passing travelers. 

Estes Park local, world-class climber, and climate advocate, Tommy Caldwell, is interviewed. He’s a professional rock climber who made the first ascents of some of the hardest sports routes in the country, including Kryptonite with a grade of 5.14c/d and the world's first 9a+/b route, Flex Luthor, at the Fortress of Solitude, Colorado in 2003.  In January 2015, Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson completed the first free climb of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan. At the time, their 19-day ascent was considered by some as the hardest successful rock climb in history. At the time their 19 day ascent was considered by some as the hardest successful rock climb in history. In 2015, National Geographic called Caldwell "arguably the best all-around rock climber on the planet".

How do you manage a wildfire that’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before?  In 2020 when the two largest wildfires in Colorado history surrounded the town of Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park’s Fire Management Officer, Mike Lewelling, relied on twenty years of planning and fire treatments in Rocky along with a dream team of multiple fire agencies and our very own Alpine Hotshots crew to help save the town from burning.  However, those two things alone wouldn’t have saved Estes Park from the fast moving East Troublesome Fire.  It was a rare weather event on the morning of October 22, 2020 that ultimately kept the fire from entering town, and it reminded Lewelling of a quote he once read from renowned chemist and microbiologist, Louis Pasteur.  “Chance favors the prepared mind.” The video version of this Podcast includes rare and never before seen photos and videos from the 2020 wildfires and  is available  to subscribers of our Rocky Mountain Channel Streaming Service. (Available on Roku, Apple TV, FireTV, Android, AndroidTV and iPhone.)

There are over 360 miles of hiking trails in RMNP, not to mention many more in the surrounding areas of Estes Park and the Roosevelt and Arapaho National forests.  That’s more than one mile for every day of the year.  Whether you’re an avid hiker or a family with young children and elders to consider, Rocky has something for you. So what kind of hiking adventure do you want to choose?  You may not have thought of it before, but when preparing for a high altitude trail adventure it can be helpful to be a little mindful and ask yourself, “How do I feel today?  What do I want out of this hike?  What is my body up for?’ and “What kind of adventure do I want to experience?”

One of the many things that make Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes so special is the variety of options you have when planning your trip. In this episode  we give you mountains of helpful tips, hints, and straight-out advice on where to stay and how to book your reservations for staying in Estes Park.

In this episode, Brett Wilson sits down with Emmy nominated filmmaker, Nick Molle, to talk about his new PBS documentary, "Nature of the Beasts"! "A Walk in the Park with Nick Mollé: Nature of the Beasts" is a soul searching dive into the effects of climate and crowding in the pristine wilderness of a national park. Starring among others, the lovable Pika, Beasts examines environmental changes in quality and the experience with a concept that may surprise some viewers. As with his previous work, Nick displays his love of music as he weaves the soundtrack through this film including original work crafted by him and his creative team. 

Brett Wilson talks with Estee Rivera from the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Estee Rivera is the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy.  Estee Rivera Murdock hails from Washington, D.C., where she worked for the National Park Service (NPS) for more than eight years. Estee manages the Rocky Mountain Conservancy as a whole, working with their partners, directing organization goals and priorities and advising managers. She interacts directly with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Board and provides on-the-ground feedback to guide board decisions. The Video Podcast version of this episode is available on the Rocky Mountain Channel Streaming Service. (Available on your favorite device.)