Shows
All Land is BeautifulE26: Small Land Trust, Big Landscape with Ellie Routt of the Mother Lode Land TrustIn this episode, I sit down with Ellie Routt, executive director of the Mother Lode Land Trust (MLLT), to explore the unique character and on-the-ground work of a land trust serving some of California’s most rural counties—Tuolumne, Alpine, Calaveras, Amador, and El Dorado. Ellie offers a look into the organization’s distinct, community-driven approach to conservation and how it shapes both the land and the people who depend on it.
We talk about their flagship property, the C & C Ranch—more than protected open space, it’s a community hub that hosts programs and partnerships ranging fr...
2026-01-291h 00All Land is BeautifulE25: Flocks and Footnotes: Discussing Prescribed Grazing with Mark Gutierrez of Pilot Creek Ranch In this episode, I sit down with Mark Gutierrez of Pilot Creek Ranch to explore the intricacies of running a prescribed goat and sheep grazing operation in Northern California.
Working across landscapes from El Dorado County to Napa, Mark shares the practical realities and challenges of managing land through targeted grazing. Raised on a citrus grove and shaped by a family legacy of experimenting with sustainable practices, Mark traces his path into the grazing world and how those early experiences informed his approach today. Together, we ruminate (pun very much intended) on the methods and multifaceted benefits of...
2026-01-0158 min
NBN Book of the DayChristopher C. Gorham, "Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi Occupied France" (Citadel Press, 2025)In 1940, with the Nazis sweeping through France, Henri Matisse found himself at a personal and artistic crossroads. His 42-year marriage had ended, he was gravely ill, and after decades at the forefront of modern art, he was beset by doubt. As scores of famous figures escaped the country, Matisse took refuge in Nice, with his companion, Lydia Delectorskaya. By defiantly remaining, Matisse was a source of inspiration for his nation.
While enemy agents and Resistance fighters played cat-and-mouse in the alleyways of Nice, Matisse’s son, Jean, engaged in sabotage efforts with the Allies. In Paris, under th...
2025-09-0948 min
New Books in French StudiesChristopher C. Gorham, "Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi Occupied France" (Citadel Press, 2025)In 1940, with the Nazis sweeping through France, Henri Matisse found himself at a personal and artistic crossroads. His 42-year marriage had ended, he was gravely ill, and after decades at the forefront of modern art, he was beset by doubt. As scores of famous figures escaped the country, Matisse took refuge in Nice, with his companion, Lydia Delectorskaya. By defiantly remaining, Matisse was a source of inspiration for his nation.
While enemy agents and Resistance fighters played cat-and-mouse in the alleyways of Nice, Matisse’s son, Jean, engaged in sabotage efforts with the Allies. In Paris, under th...
2025-09-0948 min
New Books in Jewish StudiesChristopher C. Gorham, "Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi Occupied France" (Citadel Press, 2025)In 1940, with the Nazis sweeping through France, Henri Matisse found himself at a personal and artistic crossroads. His 42-year marriage had ended, he was gravely ill, and after decades at the forefront of modern art, he was beset by doubt. As scores of famous figures escaped the country, Matisse took refuge in Nice, with his companion, Lydia Delectorskaya. By defiantly remaining, Matisse was a source of inspiration for his nation.
While enemy agents and Resistance fighters played cat-and-mouse in the alleyways of Nice, Matisse’s son, Jean, engaged in sabotage efforts with the Allies. In Paris, under th...
2025-09-0948 min
New Books in ArtChristopher C. Gorham, "Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi Occupied France" (Citadel Press, 2025)In 1940, with the Nazis sweeping through France, Henri Matisse found himself at a personal and artistic crossroads. His 42-year marriage had ended, he was gravely ill, and after decades at the forefront of modern art, he was beset by doubt. As scores of famous figures escaped the country, Matisse took refuge in Nice, with his companion, Lydia Delectorskaya. By defiantly remaining, Matisse was a source of inspiration for his nation.
While enemy agents and Resistance fighters played cat-and-mouse in the alleyways of Nice, Matisse’s son, Jean, engaged in sabotage efforts with the Allies. In Paris, under th...
2025-09-0948 minAll Land is BeautifulE24: Advice from the Golden State Naturalist, Michelle FullnerIn this episode, I chat with Michelle Fullner, aka, the Golden State Naturalist, to discuss the convergence of conservation and effective communication through the lens of the All Land is Beautiful perspective and the work of land trusts. The overarching theme of this conversation, at least what I can best summarize, is the inherent opposition between the values of the natural world and those of the technological.
We use Michelle’s origin story in becoming the Golden State Naturalist as a backdrop to discussing the importance of things like understanding the behind the scenes work of protected lan...
2025-08-261h 05All Land is BeautifulE23: Securing Our Fertile Future, with John Currey (Executive Director, Yolo Land Trust)In this episode of All Land is Beautiful, I sit down with John Currey, Executive Director of the Yolo Land Trust, for a deep conversation about the agricultural richness and enduring beauty of Yolo County.
We explore Yolo County’s long-standing farming traditions and how advancements in agricultural technology have transformed operations—improving both efficiency and sustainability. John discusses the critical importance of protecting the county’s irrigated cropland and how these lands are central to the region’s identity, economy, and food security.
A key part of our discussion focuses on California’s complex water manag...
2025-07-291h 03All Land is BeautifulE22: The American River Headwaters Project: Part 1, with Alan EhrgottThis episode of the 'All Land is Beautiful' features the return of Alan Ehrgott, former executive director of the American River Conservancy, to unpack the complexities of a true conservation legacy story, the American River Headwaters Project. This initiative, spanning from 2010 to today, involved the $14 million conservation effort of protecting 10,115 acres of ecologically valuable land along the Sierra Nevada crest, which had previously been owned by an absentee logging company, within the headwaters of the American River. Our conversation delves into the multifaceted efforts of this project, including funding challenges, managing partnerships, and navigating legal and environmental hurdles. It...
2025-07-011h 07All Land is BeautifulE21: Ditch the Desks and Go Outside, with Nic Russo (Education Manager at American River Conservancy)In this episode, I chat with Nic Russo, the Education Manager for the American River Conservancy (ARC), to explore the significance and impact of environmental education in defining places and our connections to them. While previous episodes have been more focused on conservation and restoration, this discussion pivots to the importance of experiential learning, especially in nature, and how it not only compliments the work of land trusts, but acts as a foundation.
We talk about the realities of how limiting such opportunities can turn students into quote unquote robots due to the formulaic, memorization-centric traditional education...
2025-06-0353 minAll Land is BeautifulE20: Operation Magnolia - A Land Protection Victory, with Lisa Lindman (Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust)On this episode I sit down with Lisa Lindman, Executive Director of the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, to discuss the nuances of conservation work within the landscapes of Yuba, Sutter, and Colusa counties. In line with the underlying theme of this podcast, we talk thru the land trust’s work in a diverse agricultural and wildlife-rich region characterized by thriving rice fields that support migratory waterfowl, rolling oak woodlands and rangeland, as well as stunning views extending from the Central Valley to the Cascades; but with the unique addition of a significant military presence, via the Beale Air Fo...
2025-05-0751 minAll Land is BeautifulE19: Looking For Sanity in How We Develop, with Sean Wirth (a Volunteer Environmentalist)In this episode of All Land is Beautiful, join me for an insightful conversation with Sean Wirth, a key figure in multiple environmental organizations and a passionate advocate for intelligent land development. Sean shares his unique perspective, having transitioned from a career in real estate to a focus on conservation, and reflects on significant accomplishments such as the prevention of a major suburban development in critical sandhill crane habitats.
The episode delves into the intricacies of conservation planning, specifically highlighting the South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan, and the indispensable role of volunteerism in driving environmental activism. The...
2025-03-191h 06All Land is BeautifulE18: Protecting Clover Valley: Getting Outside the Comfort Zone, with Jeff Darlington (Placer Land Trust) and John Jackson (Jessup University)In this episode of "All Land is Beautiful," join me as I explore the inspiring collaboration between the Placer Land Trust and Jessup University to preserve Clover Valley, the last untouched natural haven in Rocklin, California. I interview Jeff Darlington, Executive Director of Placer Land Trust, and John Jackson, President of Jessup University, discussing their collective efforts to safeguard this environmentally and culturally significant area.
Clover Valley stands as a remarkable testament to untouched nature, with its thriving ecosystem and deep-rooted cultural heritage, including significant Native American archaeological sites. This discussion sheds light on the decades-long battle...
2025-02-2049 minAll Land is BeautifulE17: The Big Leagues of Bird Conservation, with Xerónimo Castañeda (Audubon California)In this episode of All Land is Beautiful, join me as I sit down with Xerónimo Castañeda, the Program Director of Audubon California's Working Lands Program, where he shares insights into Audubon's mission to preserve bird habitats while fostering coexistence with human activities.
Discover the dynamic functioning of Audubon across its national efforts, state, and local chapters, which allows it to address critical conservation needs effectively. Explore the evolution of the Working Lands program, from hands-on habitat restoration to building community relationships and enhancing conservation through research.
Delve into collaborative efforts like the Migra...
2025-02-0458 minAll Land is BeautifulE16: Beaver Dams are Dam Good Business, with Garrett Costello (Symbiotic Restoration)Building off of Episode 13, Bringing Chaos Back to a Meadow, on this episode I talk with Garrett Costello, founder and owner of Symbiotic Restoration, a growing outfit helping to restore degraded streams and meadows across California specializing in low-tech, process-based restoration (which includes Leek Springs Meadow restoration project). In talking with Garret I wanted to go deeper into the actual business of recreating the work of beavers, starting from assessing the condition of a meadow to installing beaver dam analogs, partnerships, business logistics, and everything in between. The fact is that over the last couple centuries humans have worked...
2024-12-181h 06All Land is BeautifulE15: Look Beyond the Interstate, with Nicole Braddock (Executive Director of the Solano Land Trust)The work of land trusts is dictated by the needs of the landscape and the people that live on it, and on a diverse landscape with diverse people that can look like a lot of different things. While it’s impossible to cover over 30 years of conservation work, on this episode Nicole Braddock, Executive Director of the Solano Land Trust, highlights the successes, both old and new, of the organization. We see how the work of a land trust doesn’t need to stop or be limited to the protection of land, but that through partnerships and engagement can exte...
2024-11-2657 minAll Land is BeautifulE14: More Than Just a Water Trough, with Eric Kellegrew (Sacramento Valley Conservancy)On this episode I talk with Eric Kellegrew, Stewardship Director of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, to walk through the task and effort of developing a well and water trough system at the 4,600-acre Deer Creek Hills Preserve, located in east Sacramento County. A superficially unassuming and honestly uninteresting accomplishment, that is, without context. It turns out this inconspicuous water source provides the means and adds significant capacity to better manage thousands of acres of rangelands, improving cattle management by better dispersing grazing pressure, supplying water for restoration and replanting efforts, and providing a perennial water source for wildlife on...
2024-10-291h 08All Land is BeautifulE13: Bringing Chaos Back to a Meadow, with Cathy Mueller (American River Conservancy)Backpacking along a dusty trail, you come across a meadow—full of life, water, and softness. Leek Springs Meadow, a 92-acre oasis at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Cosumnes River, is the largest meadow in the watershed. Join us in this episode as we delve into the beauty and significance of meadow ecosystems with Cathy Mueller, Stewardship Manager at the American River Conservancy.
Cathy shares her journey from her early days of outdoor adventures to her current role, and we explore the intricate process behind the Leek Springs Meadow Restoration project. This episode hi...
2024-10-0155 minAll Land is BeautifulE12: Finding a Seat at the Table, with Clipped In for LifeThere are so many ways to engage with nature, most of us enjoy a simple stroll through a beautiful place, some prefer that stroll to be experienced from the top of a horse, while others choose to identify every single plant they pass or every bird song they hear. Then there are those who choose the more intense experience, like mountain climbing, whitewater kayaking, trial running, or mountain biking. These different users often find themselves sharing the same natural spaces, especially near cities and denser suburban areas, and can lead to competing interests that sometimes result in conflict when...
2024-09-031h 10All Land is BeautifulE11: Getting the Message Across, with Spencer Davies of Trespasser ProductionsI’ve mentioned before that the land is our common denominator. We may have differing ideas and approaches but generally, at least in my experience on a local and regional level, people are willing to listen, make compromises, and change the way they do things if you take the time to talk through it with them and have it makes sense. My guest on this episode of All Land is Beautiful is Spencer Davies, owner and one of the directors at Trespasser Productions, a production company based out of Placerville, California. Spencer and I connected several months ago working on...
2024-08-031h 08All Land is BeautifulE10: Talkin' About Trails with the Tahoe Rim Trail AssociationOn this episode of All Land is Beautiful, I find myself back on a landscape that needs no convincing of how extraordinary and magnificent it is. I’m talking about the jewel of the Sierra, Lake Tahoe. Around 15 million people visit Lake Tahoe each year, which is roughly three times the number of visitors to Yosemite National Park. Needless to say, this precious resource receives a lot of pressure and yet its beauty almost seems unwavering.
Now I’m just one person and I don’t have the capacity to research and investigate all of the good work wi...
2024-07-091h 15
Life on the Fretboard with Michael WattsScott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)Lord of the Les Paul and Mariscal of the Marshall Stack, Scott Gorham shot to worldwide prominence with the legendary rock band Thin Lizzy. He created what would become known subsequently as "The Twin Guitar Attack" - a harmonised lead guitar style developed alongside players such as Brian Robertson and Gary Moore, driving home the larger-than-life persona of frontman and bass player Phil Lynott. At the height of their powers, Thin Lizzy were a world-straddling colossus of a band - hard rocking for sure but real songwriters, too. And just incredible live! I caught up...
2024-06-181h 08
VH USSeason 16: Episode 4- DEATH CODE NINJA (Featuring Andy Gorham)Find Andy:https://twitter.com/AndrewMGorhamhttps://twitter.com/ScumImperialFind Dirk:https://vhuspodcast.threadless.comhttps://www.patreon.com/vhushttps://twitter.com/VHUS_Podcast
2024-06-1157 minAll Land is BeautifulE9: So You Want to Start a Land Trust?, with Alan Ehrgott (former Executive Director of the American River Conservancy)Most land trusts have a similar story. At some point in time there was a threat to a beautiful and natural place and a few people that lived in that place decided they weren’t going to just sit by and not doing something about it. The beauty of this, in the context of land trusts, is that this story grew into a conservation movement that continues today. The early successes of those people that just wouldn’t sit by grew into organizations, now decades later, that have collectively protected millions of acres across California and beyond.
Alan...
2024-05-281h 20All Land is BeautifulE8: Resiliency and Connection at the San Elijo Lagoon, with Doug Gibson (CEO of the Nature Collective)I had the joy of sitting down with Doug Gibson, CEO of the Nature Collective, to talk about the San Elijo Lagoon and greater San Diego County north coast landscape, and the amazing work that is being done to protect and restore it. We discuss the early history and poor treatment of the San Elijo Lagoon, to the recent completion of a massive restoration improving its habitat and overall resiliency in a changing climate. From there we talk about public access improvements that were packaged and developed along with the restoration, and the importance of giving people the opportunity...
2024-04-2551 minAll Land is BeautifulE7: The Diminutive Yet Very Significant Cosumnes River, with Melinda Frost-HurzelOn this episode we explore water. Humans have gone so far as to physically alter and obstruct the natural processes of really any viable river in California that has potential to provide water for development, agriculture and hydroelectric power, except for one diminutive yet very significant Cosumnes River.
Considering the legal, environmental, and logistical dynamics surrounding water and its use in California, I don’t think you can find one single individual who is an expert on it all. Instead, you find individuals who have done their best to commit themselves to understanding one dynamic better than mo...
2024-03-251h 11All Land is BeautifulE6: Birds, a Common Conservation Language, with Chris ConardOn today’s episode, without any shame, we’re again talking about birds.
I got to sit down with Chris Conard and continue this conversation around wildlife success stories in unlikely places, as well as concerning trends. Chris is uniquely qualified to talk about this as he’s spent the last 30 years working in a very unlikely wildlife refuge, aptly named the Bufferlands, which surrounds a sewage treatment plant in south Sacramento County. In fact, he kind of embodies the All land is Beautiful ethos. He was also involved in the most recent Sacramento County Breeding Bird Atlas...
2024-02-271h 10All Land is BeautifulE5: The American River Conservancy and El Dorado County's First State Wildlife Area2024 is the American River Conservancy's (ARC) 35th anniversary, a year in which the organization celebrates the protection of 30,000 acres of rivers, creeks, oak woodlands, and forests that typify the Upper American River and Cosumnes River watersheds. I talk extensively with Executive Director, Elena DeLacy, to bring perspective on why this is important for both flora and fauna as well as human beings. We also take this opportunity to chat about one of ARC’s legacy projects, El Dorado Ranch, as the organization embarks on the final effort to permanently protect 7,100 acres that will become El Dorado County’s first Stat...
2024-02-061h 12All Land is BeautifulE4: Carbon Farming on PT Ranch, with Molly TaylorOn this episode, I sat down with Molly Taylor of PT Ranch, out in Ione, CA, which is located just an hour southeast of Sacramento in Amador County. After reflecting on the last episode I wanted to get more into the weeds on the Carbon Farm Plans and talk with one of the only people I knew personally who has really gone all in on carbon farming. We talk about the moment the decision was made to take a regenerative approach to managing PT Ranch and focus on carbon; Molly’s somewhat indirect and unanticipated path into managing a ra...
2024-01-181h 11All Land is BeautifulE3: Birds and Beef with Pelayo Alvarez, Director of California Audubon’s Conservation Ranching ProgramAccording to Audubon California, our state has 61 million acres of rangelands that provide food production, carbon sequestration, water infiltration, and habitat for a wide range of species. However, this historic California land use is under threat with an average of 20,000 acres a year being lost to development or crop conversion. This means that in order to protect the birds and ecosystem services of our rangelands, the Audubon Society, and really anyone working in conservation has to work with the ranchers and farmers that own or lease and work those lands. And while there may be some different belief systems...
2023-12-281h 07
What The Hell Is Michael Jamin Talking About?Ep 113 - Actor Chris GorhamOn this week's episode, I have actor Chris Gorham, (Out of Practice, The Lincoln Lawyer, NCIS: Los Angeles and many many more) and we dive into the origins of his career. We also discuss the work-life balance he has with his family and some of the things he wishes more actors were aware of while filming. There is so much more, so tune in.Show NotesChris Gorham on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisgorham/Chris Gorham IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330913/Chris Gorham on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia...
2023-12-271h 18All Land is BeautifulE2: The Tricolored Blackbird, a Complicated Conservation Story with Robert Meese PhD.Today we do a deep dive into one of my favorite bird species, the tricolored blackbird. On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robert Meese, a UC Davis biologist who has spent the last almost 20 years studying this threatened bird species, which I feel symbolizes this notion that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to land conservation and wildlife protection, especially in California’s Central Valley. You’ll learn about the historic plight of the tricolored, the cessation of its decline, and future success, which embodies a complex of environmental and social issues that neither I nor Bob are qualifie...
2023-12-081h 10All Land is BeautifulIntroduction to All Land is BeautifulAll Land is Beautiful is a series of conversations around the obvious, and not so obvious, natural beauty of California and beyond. The motivation and nexus to start this podcast comes from an ever-evolving personal perspective shift on what both contemporary habitat conservation means and looks like. You see, I, like I believe most people come to experience and perceive what’s good and bad for nature (at least the ones that I have interacted with) are of the mindset that the best we can do for nature is to simply remove ourselves from it and the natural of or...
2023-11-2505 minAll Land is BeautifulE1: Rethinking Protection of Plants, Animals, and ”Wild” Places in California with Jaymee Marty, PhD.On this episode of All Land is Beautiful I’m joined by Dr. Jaymee Marty, a biologist based out of the Sacramento Valley, and one of the many insightful and hardworking individuals working to conserve and manage the land, its plants and wildlife throughout the northern California region.
Jaymee is probably best known for publishing a study that scientifically confirmed that cattle grazing in vernal pools, which are seasonal wetlands that host a number of threatened and endangered plant and wildlife species, is not only beneficial but critical to the protection of biodiversity in these ecosystems. A co...
2023-11-251h 06
Tales of Southwest Michigan's PastS2 E90 - Exploring the Life of Charles T. Gorham of Marshall, Michigan 1812 - 1901In this episode I explore the life of Charles T. Gorham from Marshall, Michigan. He was a successful merchant, banker, State Senator who became the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. He is best known for establishing the First National Bank of Marshall, and his story is an important part of the history of Marshall.
For more information on Michael Delaware, visit:
https://michaeldelaware.com
For tickets to the program at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/638951831127?aff=oddtdtcreator
2023-07-2820 min
BUILDTank / buildCAST#20-2022 Dan Gorham and the new Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety Wildfire Prepared Home ProgramIn episode #16 of 2022 I spoke with Fred Malik about the Fortified Construction Program. The FORTIFIED construction method is a voluntary construction standard and program designed to help protect homes against sever weather events. Primarily wind driven damage event. FORTIFIED construction was created from decades of research that the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety or (IBHS) has conducted. Their lab allows for the building and testing of full-size houses in a controlled environment.
In this episode I am learning about a new IBHS program that has just been released and is of great interest to me because...
2022-09-121h 06
FL1 NewsroomJeremy MarshallOntario County Director of Veterans' Services Jeremy Marshall delivers the keynote address at Memorial Day services in Gorham.
2022-05-3005 min