Work that’s all about connection between people, between ecosystems, and between past and future.

In this first of a two-part conversation about American Prairie, we talk with founder Sean Gerrity about what inspired him to take on one of the largest conservation projects in North America. Sean shares how a lifetime spent outdoors and a background in business led him to the idea of rewilding millions of acres of Montana grasslands. He talks about what it’s like to earn trust in ranching country, how he approaches relationships with tribal nations, and why he calls himself a “possibilist” rather than an optimist. For Sean, this work has always been about connection between people, between ecosystems, and between past and future.

We dig into what it takes to turn a bold idea into a reality that can last. Sean explains the “20-60-20” model he uses to stay focused on the open-minded middle (the folks who are curious but cautious)  and how American Prairie is designed so that no one has to lose for wildlife to thrive. He shares lessons from two decades of hard-earned progress, from community pushback to global inspiration, and what he’s learned about patience, fundraising, and persistence along the way.

Our conversation leaves us thinking about big questions. What does real coexistence look like when people and wildlife share the same ground? How do you build something for generations you’ll never meet? What keeps someone moving forward when the challenges feel endless? And what happens when a wild idea becomes a living, breathing place?

Today’s highlights:

• The vision behind American Prairie and what inspired its creation
• Building trust with ranchers, tribes, and rural communities, responding to critics, and staying focused on progress
• The “possibilist” mindset that drives large-scale restoration and the 20-60-20 rule; how lasting change takes shape
• Global rewilding and the return of wildlife across connected landscapes
• Partnerships that helped turn an ambitious idea into reality
• How people, place, and purpose keep conservation work alive

Links & Resources:

Connect with Sean

Media

• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• The Answers Are Out There Podcast

Books

• Wild on Purpose: The American Prairie Story and the Art of Thinking Bigger – Sean’s new book about how American Prairie began, what it took to build it, and the lessons learned along the way

Initatives 

• American Prairie – A Montana-based nonprofit working to create one of the largest connected grassland ecosystems in North America. americanprairie.org
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Partnered early on with American Prairie through its Northern Great Plains program to support large-scale restoration and species recovery.
• Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Initiative – A major wildlife corridor project connecting ecosystems from Wyoming to Canada, which inspired Sean’s vision for the “Montana Triangle.”
• IUCN World Conservation Congress – A recent global gathering Sean references where conservation leaders shared progress on rewilding efforts worldwide. Read the full report – Scaling Up: Conservation in a Connected World

Places

• American Prairie Reserve, Montana – The heart of the project, spanning public and private lands in north-central Montana where bison and other wildlife are returning.
• Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge – A 1.1-million-acre public lands anchor for American Prairie’s work.
• Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, Montana – A personal reference point for both Bill and Sean, highlighting Montana’s long legacy of large-scale conservation.
• Rockefeller Forest, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California – Bill mentions visiting this grove of ancient redwoods during recording, a reminder of long-term restoration success.

Sean Gerrity is the founder and former president of American Prairie, a bold conservation initiative in Montana working to create one of the largest connected grassland ecosystems ever assembled in the lower 48 states. Starting at the organization’s inception in 2002, he led it for 17 years, guiding its growth from an ambitious vision into an internationally recognized model for rewilding and large-scale conservation.

A lifelong Montanan who grew up in Great Falls, Sean brought his background in business and organizational development to the work of conservation, helping bridge the worlds of ecology, community, and innovation. During his tenure, American Prairie restored habitat across millions of acres, reintroduced bison, and built strong partnerships with ranchers, tribes, and conservation groups.

Sean is the author of Wild on Purpose: The American Prairie Story and the Art of Thinking Bigger. He serves on the Emeritus Board of Directors for American Prairie, the Advisory Councils for African People & Wildlife, the Kratt Brothers Creature Hero Foundation, and Namibia’s Orange River Karoo Conservation Area (ORKCA). A National Geographic Explorer, he continues to advocate for large-scale, community-driven conservation.

He also hosts The Answers Are Out There, a podcast highlighting people around the world who are solving environmental challenges through creativity, persistence, and collaboration. Sean lives in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife, Kayla.

The Wild Idea is independently produced by Wild Idea Media. If you believe conversations like this matter, you can help us keep them going by subscribing, leaving a review, sharing the episode, or signing up for our newsletter at thewildidea.com. Together, we can protect what connects us.