Rewilding Earth Podcast – Episode 154

Title: “The American Southwest” Elevates The Art of Storytelling In Wildlife Films
Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Jack Humphrey
Guest: Ryan Olinger, Wildlife Filmmaker & Conservation Biologist

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jack Humphrey sits down with wildlife filmmaker and conservation biologist Ryan Olinger to discuss The American Southwest, a groundbreaking new wildlife documentary tracing the Colorado River from its headwaters to its delta. The conversation explores the art, science, and grit behind filming rare animal behaviors, the power of narrative to inspire conservation action, and the urgent hopes for the river’s future. Through candid stories from the field and behind-the-scenes insights, Olinger and Humphrey highlight the crucial nexus of science, filmmaking, and activism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Art and Challenge of Wildlife Filmmaking

• Dedication and Biological Insight

  • Olinger emphasizes that the film was only possible thanks to years of biological fieldwork, with both himself and director Ben having research backgrounds. This allowed them to anticipate animal behavior and approach filming with deep respect and empathy for their subjects.
  • Quote: “It takes nothing but pure dedication to tell these stories... and years as biologists.” (03:26)

• Patience and Preparation

  • The film took three years to shoot, including five weeks at Rocky Mountain National Park to capture the iconic elk rut scene.
  • Even with scientific anticipation, luck remains essential: “You can put yourself in the path to be likely struck by lightning, but it doesn't guarantee the lightning is going to strike.” (07:10)
  • Olinger retells the hair-raising moment of capturing the elk fight:
    “Thirteen days go by... and I hear another call come from the other side of the valley. I am like, whoa. Something that's different... And you get one chance.” (08:25–13:18)

Memorable Moments from the Field

• The Elk Fight and Shared Experience

  • Olinger shares the exhaustive thrill and emotional depth of filming the bull elk battle, and the shock of realizing an audience of 500 had gathered behind him as he emerged from his focused crouch.
  • Quote:
    “When that fight finished, I felt like I was in a fight. I was exhausted. I was emotional... I turned around and there were over 500 people lined up on the road behind me.” (13:18, echoed from opening at 00:07)
  • Humphrey highlights how the sequence delivers an unforgettable opening to the film—one that sets a high bar for wildlife cinematography.

• Community & Artistic Camaraderie

  • On sharing the moments:
    “It's such a privilege to get to meet so many other great artists and just conservationists and naturalists in general... I got my own experience, and then also... the enjoyment of knowing all those other people got to see such a phenomenal fight.” (17:29)

The Power of Structure and Narrative

• Building Emotional Connection

  • The filmmakers intentionally lead with a breathtaking elk sequence, knowing audience attention is fleeting and wanting audiences to “put their phones down,” prompting immersion from the start. (19:41)

• Welcoming Curiosity and New Stories

  • Olinger reflects on the depth and density of stories along the Colorado—acknowledging the temptation to expand into a series, as so much remains untold.
  • Quote: “One question leads to five more and one scene or one species leads to five more scenes and ideas that are always stewing...” (22:13)

• “Down the River” Approach

  • Humphrey praises the natural narrative arc of traveling from the river’s source to its delta, connecting disparate stories and species. (23:46)

Depicting Wildlife and Human Impact

• Beavers & Water Management

  • The film provides what Humphrey calls the best depiction yet of beaver science and advocacy, skillfully juxtaposed with the gut-punch of human river control through damming.
  • Quote (Olinger):
    “Beavers do a better job than we ever will. They modify the landscape for water, for the aquifers... so much better than we do. So let's show the audience how incredible, adorable and just engineering masterminds that these beavers are... and then let's show you what we've been doing.” (24:57)

• Bringing Invertebrates to Center Stage

  • Focused storytelling makes the life cycle of the salmon fly surprisingly gripping—even for skeptical viewers.
  • Quote (Humphrey): “I never thought I'd be so caught up in the life cycle of a salmon fly. And I thought this is risky... and you guys pulled that one off too.” (26:57)
  • Olinger details the precise timing and arduous fieldwork required to catch the emergence events: “...three years in a row every single... it only lasts like a day in each part of the river...” (27:28–29:06)

• Humor and Playfulness

  • Blending education with entertainment is key for accessibility; the “baby Duckzilla” sequence is cited as an example of memorable, fun storytelling.
  • Quote (Humphrey):
    “Great job on the baby Duckzilla. I thought, holy crap, these guys know how to have fun too.” (31:05)

Human Impact, Conservation Messaging, and Hope

• Balancing Hope and Hard Truths

  • The film doesn’t shy away from the bleakness of human alterations to the river, but strives to empower rather than overwhelm.
  • Quote:
    “There's tremendous truth in how we have controlled the river. There's also even more hope of how we can let it flow, how we can coexist with it and make it just a conservation success story for all time.” (33:52)

• Actionable Outcomes

  • The filmmakers want viewers to feel inspired to take tangible steps:
    “If we let less than 1% flow annually, it would reach the delta again. And I want people to know that. I want people to think, hey, what can I do?” (33:52)

• Policy and Representation

  • Olinger points to the importance of the upcoming 2026 Colorado River interim guidelines and the need for inclusive voices—especially those of indigenous stakeholders with senior water rights. (33:52)

The Unrivaled Jaguar Sequence

• Unprecedented Footage and Collaboration

  • Capturing wild jaguars in the northern Sierra Madre took eight months of camera trapping in partnership with the Northern Jaguar Project.
  • Quote:
    “Eight months of work came down to a handful of really good days... There's a lot of jaguar footage in there and it's all camera trap stuff, and to be able to tell a story from just camera traps is a real skill.” (41:13–44:08)

• Authenticity & Credit

  • Olinger stresses the crucial behind-the-scenes work of field biologists and local NGOs without whom such footage would be impossible.
  • “Not enough credit is given to the people that are on the ground... it's important for us to highlight that.” (37:53)

• Immersive Theater Experience

  • The jaguar log scratching sequence is highlighted as a knockout moment, demanding a big screen and powerful audio for full impact.
  • Memorable exchange (45:19–46:25):
    • Humphrey: “I want to hear that with some seriously powerful speakers.”
    • Olinger: “Absolutely... you can see their reflection in their eye. I mean, it's... it's a very funny... I think you might have scratched the lens there. That is incredible.”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Emotional Investment

  • “When that fight finished, I felt like I was in a fight. I was exhausted. I was emotional... You spend weeks with an animal and see how things play out. And it's something that I will never forget.”
    — Ryan Olinger, (13:18 / 00:07 and 13:18)

• On Dedication and Hope

  • “It all comes down to just that serious, serious dedication of telling this story to the best of our ability.”
    — Ryan Olinger (03:26)

• On Storytelling Strategy

  • “You have to have something strong in the beginning to make people put their phones down, to make people, you know, keep focus and to keep listening to what you're trying to express...”
    — Ryan Olinger (19:41)

• On Beavers vs. Human Engineering

  • “Beavers do a better job than we ever will... It allows us to not have to make the statement 'beavers are good, man-made dams are bad.' ...It allows you to think about it more... beavers are incredible.”
    — Olinger (24:57)

• On the Impact of the Colorado Story

  • “It blew my mind that I haven't really engaged with this story in a long time..."
    — Jack Humphrey (32:25)

• On Capturing Jaguars

  • “Every single shot we got was only possible because of the Northern Jaguar Project and the work that they've been doing and the camera trapping they've been doing down there... to capture some incredibly intimate moments and incredibly close shots of jaguars and show them in a way, in the wild.”
    — Olinger (37:53)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening Elk Fight Story: 00:07–01:33 and 07:33–13:18
• Making of the Elk Fight Sequence: 07:33–16:26
• Beavers and Water Science: 23:46–26:57
• Salmon Fly Sequence: 26:57–31:05
• Humor & Entertainment (“Baby Duckzilla”): 31:05–32:25
• Human Impact, Hope, and Call to Action: 32:25–36:54
• Jaguar Filmmaking Journey: 36:54–47:11
• Theatrical Release & Distribution Details: 47:36–51:30

How to Watch & Get Involved

• Theatrical Run:

  • The American Southwest opens in 70–75 theaters across the Southwest US from September 5, 2025, for one to two weeks.
  • Meant to be experienced on the big screen, with immersive visuals and sound.
  • “It is incredibly rare... to have an independent film company have a wildlife documentary go to theaters.” (47:36)

• Streaming Release:

  • Available mid-October 2025 on several platforms in the US and abroad. Details forthcoming.

• Engagement and Action:

  • Audiences can sign up at theamericansouthwestfilm.com to find theaters, check for special screenings and Q&As, and participate in conservation advocacy (in partnership with American Rivers).

Closing & Next Steps

The episode wraps on a note of mutual enthusiasm, with both Humphrey and Olinger promising more in-depth follow-up conversations, suggestions for future projects (and a possible “American Southwest 2”), and a shared belief in the power of storytelling to drive real-world conservation victories.

For more information, showtimes, and to take action:
Visit theamericansouthwestfilm.com and rewilding.org/pod/episode-154