I had the good fortune to go and interview the Grand Canyon Superintendent, Ed Keable, and at the time, I was also allowed to do a tour of the Kolb House. This is a very special place and the story is amazing. It really is a story made for a movie. In fact, I'm surprised it hasn't been mad into one yet because it tells the story of these brothers that came to Arizona in 1901 and 1902, and they set up this photography studio, right on the edge of the Grand Canyon on the South Rim.

It's still there, and we were given access to the property and to get to see and view how they lived in their house from 1904 until Emory dies in 1976. Inside is the photography room, the areas where they would have parties, and some of the most amazing views you've ever seen of the Grand Canyon.

Part of the house is open as a museum, but part of it isn't. And we're going to show you the part that isn't. That's what's special about this and why I wanted to make it into a podcast. This is one of those that I highly recommend watching on YouTube.

It's a pretty compelling story, and I think it's one of those places that you may never get to visit in person. Hopefully this tour via my podcast/video will give you a sense of what it's like and what it would have been like at the turn of the century in Arizona.

This is the kind of podcast I enjoy making the most. It's one of those in the perfect location that's just off the cuff. You see, I went to artist Shonto Begay's studio in Flagstaff. We were picking up some paintings, and it was just a great opportunity to spend some time with him talking about his work, his studio, and things that affect his life. It was actually a very moving interview, and I think you'll feel the same.

Artist studios are sacred places. Shonto's studio is no different and in some ways even more sacred than usual. He shared a couple of extremely personal pieces that are in his studio. Paintings that not only show how he sees the world, but how he views the healing process.

So it's a great video to watch. I know it's a podcast, but if you have the chance, watch it on YouTube. Not only is it a treat to be teleported inside an important artist's studio, but it's so real and in the moment.

At one point he even goes, "oh no, I gotta go put some money in the meter!" We just run down to the street to put money in the parking meter while we were filming because that's what he has to do every day where his studio is. He had been at the studio all day getting his paintings ready for me. I felt so bad I was even prepared to pay his parking ticket.

So this is a very interesting and beautiful podcast with Shonto Begay.

I had a very interesting conversation with Ed Keable, who's Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park. The setting was unbelievable. We literally sat at the Kolb House overlooking the Grand Canyon. Ed was so fascinating though that I could really only focus on his story, and so the canyon just kind of melted away.

He's has a very unique position with an immense amount of responsibility. He had a somewhat unexpected journey to get to be Superintendent because his training was as a lawyer. He worked for the Department of Interior for 23 years before becoming the Superintendent.

He took the job at the beginning of Covid, so he was dealing with big problems from the very beginning. We talk about that, as well as other issues he faced such as the recent Dragon Bravo fire that swept across the North Rim and the ecological trouble facing the Colorado River. In fact, Ed is responsible for 277 miles of the river that passes through the Grand Canyon. He's on three different committees related to the Colorado River. Yet with all of these troubles he's facing, he clearly loves his job, and is clearly very good at it. It is the kind of profession that requires you to do a lot.

I was enthralled for an hour listening to Superintendent Keeble, who is a very sharp, interesting human. I must say, I feel very lucky that we have someone of this quality in charge of such an important place, the Grand Canyon.