Podcasts Culture Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson Nate Schweber - A Forgotten Chapter of American Conservation

Nate Schweber - A Forgotten Chapter of American Conservation

Published: Aug. 5, 2022, 2:05 a.m.

Nate Schweber is an award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in the New York Times, ProPublica, Anthony Bourdain\u2019s Parts Unknown, and more. He\u2019s also the author of the new book \u201cThis America of Ours: Bernard and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild,\u201d which was published in early July 2022. If you\u2019re looking for an engaging and entertaining history book that highlights an often-overlooked era of conservation in the American West, then "This America of Ours" is your book\u2013 as you\u2019ll hear in this conversation, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Nate is a native Montanan who grew up in Missoula and headed east to New York City as a young man to pursue a career in journalism. Despite building a successful life and career in the big city, Nate never lost his love for Montana\u2013 so he made an effort to pursue more stories linked to the people and landscapes of the American West. As he studied and explored the West with his journalist\u2019s eye, he discovered the writings of Bernard DeVoto and was quickly captivated. Fast forward to today, and he has written an amazing book about Bernard and his wife Avis, and how together they were one of the most important and effective forces for conservation in the early 20th century.

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I knew I was going to enjoy "This America of Ours," but it surpassed all of my lofty expectations. While I had definitely heard of the DeVotos, I had no idea of their influence and fearlessness, especially as they faced off against powerful forces that were attempting to sell off vast tracts of our public lands. Nate and I dig into all aspects of the DeVotos\u2019 lives and historical importance, both individually and as a power couple. We talk about why Nate became so obsessed with the DeVotos, and how the DeVotos bridged the gap between Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt\u2019s conservation legacies and the modern-day environmental movement. We discuss the parallels between the public lands battles of today and those of the early 20th century, and how reading history helps us to better understand and process today\u2019s current events. Nate also offers up tons of excellent book recommendations, so be sure to check out the notes for a list of all the topics we discuss and links to everything.

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A huge thanks to Nate for writing such an enlightening book and for taking the time to join me for a conversation. I hope you enjoy.

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TOPICS DISCUSSED

  • 4:00 - How the DeVotos captured Nate\u2019s attention
  • 8:45 - Nate describes the DeVotos' personalities
  • 13:30 - Nate explains how a flood galvanized Bernard DeVoto\u2019s passionate conservation ethic
  • 20:00 - The role road trips played in the DeVotos' lives and work
  • 27:00 - Nate discusses how learning the historical and legal backdrop for conservation colors his understanding of the challenges surrounding conservation and public lands now
  • 32:00 - Nate introduces some of the tangles the DeVotos had with the FBI following accusations that the couple were communists\xa0
  • 38:00 - Nate discusses an important friendship for the DeVotos: Julia Child
  • 44:00 - Nate dives into his process of researching the DeVotos
  • 49:45 - Nate talks about his career and how he ended up moving from Missoula, MT to NY City, and why he stays there now
  • 55:07 - Ed and Nate discuss contradictions in each personality and how they make people more interesting
  • 58:00 - Nate recommends some books
  • 1:03:30 - Nate\u2019s parting words of wisdom

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