Episode #24- Graham Zimmerman

The Climbing Advocate

This month’s guest is Graham Zimmerman. Graham is a professional alpinist, filmmaker, and staunch climate advocate. Through the past couple decades of traveling around the world, prioritizing climbing over everything else, the red flags and telltale signs of a changing environment shifted to the forefront of Graham’s mind. He decided to ramp up his commitment to climbing—and the environment. Graham’s approach to advocacy is rooted in the notion of being an “imperfect advocate.” He acknowledges that he, along with everyone else, is imperfect. But that doesn’t stop him from doing whatever is in his power to raise awareness about our most pressing environmental issues. Graham has used his platforms strategically this year to educate, inform, and ultimately get people out there to vote in the election. Graham shares his experiences and knowledge to give us that gentle nudge to get engaged, imperfections and all. Enjoy! 8:52- Intro & reflection on 2020 11:01- Being awarded a Piolet d’or 20:18- Path to advocacy 29:34- Responsibilities with Protect our Winters 31:07- Experience with Climb the Hill 34:51- Power of storytelling 38:09- Climb the Hill 2020 42:26- Public lands victories 45:53- Public lands policy vs. climate policy 48:13- Evolution of climbing advocacy 49:39- The Outdoor State 54:18- Social media & voting 58:10- Imperfect Advocacy 1:03:55- “My vote doesn’t matter” 1:06:28- Graham’s podcast, “Wildfire” 1:09:43- Books and other resources 1:14:20- Final remarks Graham’s Instagram page: @grahamzimmerman Protect Our Winters: https://protectourwinters.org/ Protect Our Winters Instagram page: @protectourwinters The Outdoor State: https://protectourwinters.org/the-outdoor-state/ An Imperfect Advocate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYiC5XB2Vyg Bedrock Film Works: https://www.bedrockfilmworks.com/home Gnarly Nutrition: https://gognarly.com/ 2020 Climbing Advocacy Conference: https://www.accessfund.org/pages/climbing-advocacy-conference The Climbing Initiative: https://climbinginitiative.org/ Great American Outdoors Act: https://www.accessfund.org/news-and-events/news/victory-climbers-help-pass-great-american-outdoors-act Moab Oil & Gas Leases: https://www.accessfund.org/news-and-events/news/breaking-blm-cancels-plans-to-auction-85-000-acres-around-moab-amid-pressure-from-climbers John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Recreation, and Management Act: https://www.accessfund.org/news-and-events/news/president-signs-public-lands-bill-wilderness-climbing-protections-written-into-law Graham’s & REI’s Podcast Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_0KnWaRZPI&feature=emb_title Harvest the Vote book: https://www.harvestthevotebook.com/ Dune novels: https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Frank-Herbert/dp/0441172717