We had the pleasure of talking to Mark Jenkins about his passion for Wyoming and the humanities! He is a well-known name around Wyoming and the world. He is a critically acclaimed author and internationally recognized journalist. A contributing writer for National Geographic Magazine he is well known for his love for outdoor adventure travel, getting to know people and cultures around the world. Jenkins has brought a humanities perspective to geopolitics, the environment, and adventure for numerous national and international publications. Thank you Mark!
Emy diGrappa (00:07):
Today we're talking to Mark Jenkins, he is a well known National Geographic writer, [inaudible 00:00:15], outdoor adventurer, and explorer, and now he is with the Wyoming Humanities as our explorer in residence, welcome Mark.
Mark Jenkins (00:25):
Thanks Emi, thanks for having me. As you know, I've, uh, had the opportunity to go on assignment in over 100 different countries, to participate in some 50 different expeditions, and in all of these journeys, I'm deeply immersed in the culture. Whether it's climbing Everest with Sherpas, whether it's, uh, traveling across Afghanistan with warlords, whether it's staying with Buddhist monks in [inaudible 00:00:52], or crossing the Kalahari with bushmen, all these cultural experiences have deeply enriched my life, and they've made me who I am.
Mark Jenkins (01:00):
Now I know we, most of us live in Wyoming 'cause we love the outdoors. Uh, if you're a fly fisherman or woman, you're a climber, it doesn't really matter; you're here because the landscape give you personal growth. But what the humanities provide is community growth. The humanities teach us how to co-exist. They teach us how to understand each other. Now during this time of COVID, we're all struggling, all of us are dealing with this, but what humanities do, they not only bring joy and inspiration to every community, but they teach us how to be creative, how to be resilient, how to find new solutions to new problems.
Emy diGrappa (01:45):
That is exactly why you are the right person to be working for the Wyoming Humanities and just exploring culture the way you've explored the world. So thank you for talking to us today, and remember Wyoming Humanities during [inaudible 00:01:59] Fun Run 2020, thank you.
