“Think of it as a chat around the campfire with old friends after a long day of hard-won natural beauty.”
Two Bourbon Twilight is a sometimes serious, frequently fun, eternally hopeful, and unapologetically candid podcast about conservation. Jamie and Rob dive into all things green (and blue), from behind-the-scenes glimpses of the glamour and the grind, to inspiration and insights from experts, thought leaders, and a handful of rabble-rousers. Perhaps most importantly, Rob and Jamie challenge themselves - and their listeners - to remember that the journey is the reward…and the reward is worth it.
Who goes there?
Robert Rose is a conservationist and educator with a penchant for peeling back layers to uncover the stories and strategies that shape our relationship with nature. As the Executive Director of the William & Mary Institute for Integrative Conservation, Robert navigates the crossroads of science, community, and policy, building partnerships and finding pathways to bridge education and conservation. Although Robert failed spectacularly as a field conservationist, his journey has taken him from remote villages in Cambodia to university classrooms, always driven by a belief that conservation success comes through a blending of good science and an inherent connection to nature. A geospatial expert by training, he’s worked on everything from mapping deforestation to developing geospatial tools that empower communities to protect their lands. In Two Bourbon Twilight, Robert brings his trademark curiosity and authenticity to the microphone. Whether exploring hard truths or celebrating quiet triumphs, his goal is simple: to spark meaningful conversations that connect listeners to the heart of conservation’s challenges and opportunities.
Favorite food: sandwiches
Favorite beverage: Bourbon paired with dark chocolate and a fire pit
Where can we find you on a Saturday?: drinking bourbon with friends around our backyard fire pit
Pets: Callie, the 13-year-old shepherd, husky, knucklehead mix
Curled up in front of a fire on a cold winter night, what music would be turned on: my wife makes the musical decisions for our household…
Sophia Burgess is a sophomore at William & Mary, currently residing in her hometown of Richmond, VA. Always fascinated by the biological sciences, she plans to major in biology and eventually attend medical school to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor (or a pilot, whatever works out in the long run). Producing a conservation podcast is right up her alley, and she’s excited to inspire and challenge listeners to see the beauty in our world and the value in preserving it. Sophia likes a good campfire albeit you won’t find bourbon in her cup….her drink of choice is decidedly the opposite of bourbon.
Favorite band: Music is pretty much my whole personality, and although I listen to a lot, my favorites seem to all be British and/or new wave (The Smiths, Madness, Pet Shop Boys, Fun Boy Three, etc.).
Favorite beverage: Water...does that make me boring?
Favorite thing to do in the summer: The only place you can find me is outside, probably on a walk/run or biking somewhere.
Place in the world you can’t wait to go to: Someplace tropical! I'm tired of only seeing squirrels every time I travel.
Favorite species: I'm partial to anything extinct, like passenger pigeons or the dodo (rest in peace).
Jamie Bechtel enjoys spending her time wrangling big ideas, traipsing or swimming (diving) through wild places, and listening to stories told by anyone and everyone. After a long day in the field, Jamie can be found sipping bourbon (read tequila) around a campfire with colleagues and/or her family, preferably with her beloved German Shepherd, Atlas, curled up at her feet. A lifelong lover of marine conservation and mayhem, Jamie brings equal part insight and irreverence to Two Bourbon Twilight. Don’t expect Jamie to pull punches, shy away from hard truths, or let you off the hook with a half baked justification. Do expect Jamie to wax poetic about the natural world she loves with every fiber of her being and/or her kids. As Jamie likes to say, “everyone has the best kids in the world, I actually do have the best kids in the world.” For her deets/credentials/proof of legitimacy check out her linkedin and/or her new baby…. Last Mile Justice. In the meantime, here is some important information about Jamie:
Pets? Of course. One dog, two ducks, and a beautiful hen-apausal bantam chicken whose egglessness does not bother me in the slightest
Favorite food? Ethiopian. No close second.
Favorite beverage? Tequila. No close second.
Favorite book? Behave/Robert Sapolsky. Close 2nd Determined/Robert Sapolsky
Favorite Fieldwork Location? The next one. And then the one after that.