Meet Christie Aschwanden | Science journalist, author, podcaster, public speaker, executive director of a nonprofit

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christie Aschwanden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christie, how do you think about risk?
If we knew all the outcomes in advance, life would be really boring. Uncertainty and risk are an inherent part of life, and I try to weigh risks by imagining the possible negatives and positives in a given decision and making the choice that best aligns with my values. I’ve found that failure can be a powerful teacher, so I’m often very willing to take a chance at something that might fail if I think that I will learn something from the experience no matter how it goes. When I was starting out as a journalist, a mentor advised me to figure out what I wanted to do and then go do it. That’s essentially what I did, and I was fortunate that it worked for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I host a podcast with my best friend, the poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. It’s called Emerging Form and it’s all about creative process. There are a lot of people producing very professional, money-making podcasts, but that’s not our jam. Emerging Form is a labor of love created by two friends who want to make something meaningful together. We have chosen to keep it as a side project and our only financial ambition is to break even on the money. The podcast allows us to explore creativity with an amazing array of guests who have ranged from painters to novelists, musicians, comics and even a circus performer. What I’ve found is that having a creative outlet that I do just for myself, without any pressure to make money or reach a certain standard, has boosted my creative soul and helped me become more productive in my other work. Doing something creative for its own sake is a potent way to exercise your creative side and this will flow over into the rest of your life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Cedaredge, on the sunny southern slopes of the Grand Mesa in Western Colorado. A visitors to our town would be wise to start with coffee at Molly’s on Main. A walk along the Surface Creek path on the east side of highway 65 is always a nice outing, and I’d follow it with a visit to the gallery at the Grand Mesa Arts and Events Center on our main street. The GMAEC hosts lots of great events, ranging from concerts to plays, a film festival and book talks. You might have lunch at La Familia Mexican Restaurant on highway 65. A trip to our area wouldn’t be complete without an excursion on the Grand Mesa. In summer, there’s great hiking, and more than 200 lakes where you can fish, paddle board or kayak. In winter, the cross-country ski trails maintained by the Grand Mesa Nordic Council provide the best Nordic skiing in Colorado — more than 58km of trails, 40+ groomed for classic and skate skiing. If you prefer to snowboard or alpine ski, Powderhorn still has the friendly feel of old-school Colorado. For dinner, I recommend Lost Mesa Grill. Great lodging choices include Cedaredge Lodge and, if you prefer a B&B style, Maison de Terre. For nightlife, I always love an evening at Sips on Main, a wine bar with a great atmosphere.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give a big shoutout to the Grand Mesa Nordic Council. I’ve been involved in this community-focused nonprofit for almost 20 years. This organization gave me a community and made me feel at home when I moved to Western Colorado in the early 2000s, and I’m fortunate that I’ve now been given the opportunity to lead the organization and ensure that we continue to enrich the wellbeing of our community. Cross-country skiing might seem like a superfluous pastime, but I’ve come to understand that it can be a life-changing force for health and happiness.

Website: https://christieaschwanden.com/

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Image Credits
chris crisman photography