Episode 168: American Prairie’s Sean Gerrity on the Art of Thinking Bigger to Rewild the Planet
February 20, 2026
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Sean Gerrity, Founder of American Prairie, author of “Wild on Purpose.” (Photo: Torrey House Publishing)
Show Notes
Sean Gerrity – Author of
Sean Gerrity, founder and former CEO of American Prairie, discusses building the largest wildlife reserve in the Lower 48 states — bigger than Yellowstone and Glacier Parks combined. He shares how an “interim CEO” role turned into an 18-year journey, the importance of thinking big, and why money follows great vision, no matter how much it takes.
Sean explains his “possibilist” philosophy: finding possibilities others miss and hunting for solutions globally rather than reinventing the wheel. He offers practical advice for young conservationists on deciding where they fit in the vast landscape of rewilding possibilities, fundraising, dealing with opposition, and how to curate your information diet to stay motivated for the long haul.
Main Topics
- The history of the American Prairie from George Catlin (1836) to today
- The 20-60-20 rule for social change and working with the persuadable middle
- Putting conservation costs in perspective
- Wild Sky Rancher Program: 21 ranching families paid for wildlife-friendly practices
- The Montana Triangle: connecting three major ecosystems via wildlife corridors
- Being a “possibilist” and the difference between creativity and innovation
- The global 30×30 / 50×50 movement and four key strategies for planetary health
- Why liberal arts education matters as much as business acumen and the sciences in conservation
About Sean Gerrity
Sean Gerrity is a conservation strategist and the visionary behind American Prairie, one of the most ambitious ecosystem restoration projects in North America. Born and raised in Great Falls, Montana, Sean spent nearly two decades as the organization’s CEO, transforming a centennial-scale dream into a tangible, 450,000-acre reality in the state’s northeastern grasslands. Now, American Prairie spans over 600,000 acres; when public lands are included in the complex, it’s much more. American Prairie’s goal is to connect 3.2 million acres — that’s enough to support a healthy prairie ecosystem.
A National Geographic Explorer, Sean has dedicated his career to the “art of thinking bigger” — applying business-level innovation to solve the complex sociological and financial hurdles of large-scale rewilding. His influence extends well beyond the American West; he serves on several international advisory boards, including African People and Wildlife and the Kratt Brothers Creature Hero Foundation, where he consults on global initiatives to stabilize and reconnect wild landscapes.
Sean’s work is characterized by a commitment to resilience, long-term philanthropy, and the belief that private-sector innovation is the key to reaching global conservation targets. He currently resides in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife, Kayla.
Extra Credit
- Visit American Prairie.
- Read John Miles’ review of Wild on Purpose.
- Read Sean’s book
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.