In Episode 0, we introduce you to Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast. Join Dr. Josh Anderson on his journey through the rich and rugged landscapes of North Dakota, where he introduces a wide range of guests involved in conservation efforts.

Listen to Episode 0 to learn how Josh went from a professor of American literature in New England to a conservationist in his home state of North Dakota. Listen to learn how famed American author Mark Twain’s essay “Two Ways of Seeing a River” inspired the podcast, and stay tuned to learn about how Indigenous writers Louise Erdrich, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Layli Long Soldier, Susan Power, and Stephen Graham Jones have inspired Josh along the way.

Episode 0 features music by Matthew Connolly, sound-editing by Anthony Butler, and interview clips with our guests, including John DeVrie and Patrice Delaney of the United Prairie Foundation, Naeem Kalwar of NDSU Extension, Dr. Alison Wallace of Minnesota State University Moorhead, local farmer Steve Enger, Heather Husband of the North Dakota Meadowlark Initiative, and Mike Jacobs, a journalist for The Grand Forks Herald.

Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast is funded in part by a generous grant from the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust.

This episode was produced by Anthony Butler. Theme music provided by Matthew Connolly.

To learn more about the origins of Common Ground: A Prairie Podcast, read Delaney Otto’s feature
article in the Grand Forks Herald.