Where are you based?
I live near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
What topics and places do you cover?
Wildlife is my absolute favorite topic to write about, from polar bears to fruit bats, as well as any type of natural phenomenon that inspires awe—from the aurora to bioluminescence. I love writing about astrotourism, conservation, and the polar regions in particular. Anywhere you can find nature and outdoor adventures, you can find me there writing about it. I have a fondness for walking tours, whether a food tour of Amman, Jordan, a hiking tour of Japan's Shikoku Temple Pilgrimage, or a ferry-and-island hopping route in Ireland. I often write about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, where I live, including Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Idaho, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton national parks. I also write about cities, general travel, food, and a wide variety of other topics.
My background is in science, so I also write about research extensively, with an emphasis on the polar regions, cryosphere, oceans and, of course, wildlife. I love writing about how people can get involved with community science projects and contribute to larger scientific efforts.
What outlets do you usually pitch and write for?
I write for a wide variety of outlets, including National Geographic, Smithsonian, Travel + Leisure, Robb Report, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, and Adventure, among others. I'm always looking for the best home for each story, whether it's a big-name pub or a niche publication that's the perfect fit.
Are you in-house or freelance (or both)?
Freelance
What are your professional pet peeves?
Good communication is so important, and I think clear expectations are key to a successful working relationship, whether it is with an editor or a PR pro or a fellow writer. Patience is also vital. I would say a lack of these qualities would be a professional pet peeve of mine.
It's wonderful how more and more PR pros are successfully educating their clients about why requiring a confirmed assignment in advance of a press trip (or “floating an idea to an editor”) is counterproductive. The best way to gauge a writer's ability to place a story is to look at their portfolio and see what type of work they do and who they write for. My advice would be to trust the process and be patient. Press trips provide great background research that can result in years of coverage, so I think it's best if everyone treats it as a long-term relationship rather than a short-term transaction. I'm still writing about amazing places I visited years ago, and some of the best stories have come out of completely unexpected tidbits that I have uncovered when visiting a place.
In your past professional life, you were …
I was a costumed living history interpreter at Denali National Park's Savage Cabin for a summer, among other state and national park positions I've held over the years. I also spent years working as an environmental educator in museums and science centers, hosting field trips and making presentations in classrooms. I would share nature with kids and show them animals like frogs and snakes, and even help them work up the courage to gently touch a Madagascar hissing cockroach. I also worked in wilderness advocacy for a time, and I've done many other things for short periods of time.
Where would you like to return to?
I'm fascinated by the Arctic, and I'm always looking for any opportunity to return. I'm also itching to get back to Antarctica and explore beyond the Antarctic Peninsula. I adore Japan, and no matter how many times I visit, I always want to go back. I would also love to get back to Africa soon.
What's on your bucket list?
I would love to see a narwhal in the Arctic, pink river dolphins in the Amazon, and go gorilla trekking in Rwanda. I would love to see more bioluminescence in the wild, and I'm always up for an aurora chase.
I'm enchanted by the Arctic, and Baffin Island is high on my list, along with Svalbard, and really just about anywhere up north. I would love to get back to Africa, especially to witness the Great Migration, go gorilla trekking in Rwanda, or explore places like Botswana. I've traveled to the Antarctic Peninsula several times and loved every moment, and I would love to explore other parts of the continent.
My wish list is eclectic, and largely connected to nature. Other destinations on my bucket list include Bhutan, Mongolia, the Amazon and Pantanal, the Atacama Desert, Bolivia, Torngat Mountains, Oaxaca, Kyrgyzstan, Singapore, and Big Bend National Park. That's just a snippet of my ever-expanding travel wish list. Every time I travel somewhere new, I end up adding more places and experiences to my wish list.
Where do you travel for fun?
To truly relax, I like to travel deep into the wilderness where there is no cell signal or Wifi connection and I can completely disconnect. It's rare that I am able to do this for more than a day or two, so I appreciate each opportunity.
I love exploring remote areas, as well as wandering around massive cities. Tokyo is my favorite at the moment, and I'm always looking for more cities to explore.
Your funniest (or most harrowing) travel story is …
A number of years ago, I was reporting on climate research in Greenland, and I was tagging along with some scientists to one of their remote field camps. The plan was to observe some scientific research at a few remote sites, drop the scientists off at their field camp, and I would return back to base with the helicopter in a few hours. However, the helicopter was also the region's Medevac helicopter, and they received a call. It was a whirlwind of unloading the team's scientific equipment and camping gear as fast as possible, and then the helicopter crew and I flew to Greenland's capital city, Nuuk. They dropped me off at the Nuuk airport, picked up the medical team, and went on their mission (everyone ended up being okay, thankfully). I was able to explore the city a bit, and returned back to the base in Kangerlussuaq the following day. After that unexpected overnight detour, I always make sure to have my passport and wallet with me just in case another unexpected adventure comes up.
What advice would you give your younger professional self?
It's a marathon, not a sprint. Experiences you have today might be fodder for stories in the years to come. Focus on long-term relationships with destinations, PR pros, editors, and fellow writers. Be patient with others, and also with yourself, and trust the process.
How best should people contact you?
Email is the best way to reach me. You can find my email on my TravMedia profile.
