This month our guests are Rob and Lori Byron, two MDs devoted to health as its affected by changes in our climate and air quality.

Lori is a career Pediatrician and Rob, An Internist. Through much of their work life they've worked to draw the attention of healthcare professionals to the immediate implications of climate change and air polution. Together they launched a nonprofit, Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate - now going by the name, Montana Health and Climate.

Over the past 7 years their reach has rapidly expanded to serve Montanans across the state who are healthcare professionals with programming extending into schools, communities, neighborhoods and families. Their goal is to raise awareness and enter full collaboration on solutions. Most visionary of their collaborators have been the Native American Tribes. Lori and Rob describe these communities as well ahead in articulating and actualizing priorities for climate health. For Tribes, the health of the land is the health of the people.

Enjoy listening in on this conversation. You're sure to leave with new ideas and perspectives.

You can learn more about Lori & Rob by spending time on their website: Montana Health and Climate. Find stories of programs that are building enthusiasm for climate repair in schools, neighborhoods, and health care centers. Like the Byron's say, "This is the world's greatest group participation project." We can do this!!!!

MUSIC

Americana Instrumental 07. Music by Alana Jordan from Pixabay

Americana Instrumental 01. Music by Alana Jordan from Pixabay

Acoustic Ballad, Optimistic Scape. Music by Dvir Silverstone from Pixabay

Original theme music composed and performed by Gary Ferguson.

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HILFH is an educational project of Full Ecology. Check us out and let us hear from you.

This month, Mary met up with Dr. Beronda Montgomery, a plant biologist, writer, researcher and scholar. Dr. Montgomery works to understand how individuals perceive, respond to, and are affected by the environments in which they live. By investigating the response of photosynthetic organisms (i.e., plants and cyanobacteria) to external light cues, she is able to identify related roles for innovative leaders in human settings.

After over 18 years at Michigan State University as a Foundation Professor in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Beronda served as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean, and Professor of Biology at Grinnell College. In that time, she co-founded the annual Black Botanists Week. Then, since 2025, she's been the Sally Starling Seaver Fellow in Biological Sceinces with Radcliffe Harvard Institute.

In this episode, Mary and Beronda speak of her most recent book, When Trees Testify. As Beronda writes, "Plants don't just passively provide. They also take action. They are masters of adaptation. They 'know' what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environments."

Quite consistent with the rich spirit of her words here, this HILFH conversation was rich and enlivening.

You can learn more about Beronda Montgomery by checking out her books, When Trees Testify and Lessons from Plants. Also spend some time with her website and the additional writings there. Let yourself be informed and inspired by Dr. Montgomery and the love of plants.

MUSIC

Rolled Ankles. Music by Nicholas Panek from Pixabay

Moonlight on Your Hands. Music by Mircea Iancu from Pixabay

Evening Strings. Music by DPStudioMusic from Pixabay

Original theme music composed and performed by Gary Ferguson.

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HILFH is an educational project of Full Ecology. Check us out and let us hear from you.

Known by many as "the most at-large Montanan," Steve Held is a rancher, a civic leader and dedicated advocate for the environment – not to mention a former Hollywood star. This month, he took time out to speak with Mary about how the world looks to him.

Steve's ranch covers 7000 acres at the southeastern edge of the state. It’s a sprawling, magnificent landscape, one that’s been shaping him since he was just a boy. Steve lives a deeply connected life – both to his hometown of 450 people, as well as to rural lands and communities across the state.

He spent 25 years in Hollywood as an actor, but always knew one day he'd return to his homeland. His children were raised on the land. One of them, Rikki Held, joined 15 other Montana youth to become the lead plaintiff in Held v. Montana, a landmark 2023 lawsuit in which they successfully argued all the way to the Montana Supreme Court that the state had violated their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment.

Steve whole-heartedly supported Rikki and her peers in their legal case. He then built on their energy, brilliance and focus to encourage citizens around the state to learn and join in the climate advocacy movement. Steve sees himself as an energized Elder, devoting himself to organizing for social and environmental justice. His focus is clear and steadfast, advocating for fair treatment of the land and its people, animals and waterways.

You can learn more about Steve by reading his substack - Last Best Voice - and by doing the old fashioned thing of checking him out on Google.

And here's a link for learning more about Rikki Held and her fifteen associates in Held v. Montana. https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/montana

Check it out. There’s lots to learn. But the most important thing we can all take away is Steve’s request that we, each and all, do everything we can to become good ancestors. Certainly worth some serious consideration and action.

MUSIC

Inspiring Folk Acoustic Guitar. Music by Music_for_Creators from Pixabay

The River Knows My Name. Music by Diana DiDI from Pixabay

Acoustic Guitar, Primavera. Music by Sound Music from Pixabay

Original theme music composed and performed by Gary Ferguson.