In this episode, I sit down with Tom Opre — filmmaker, storyteller, and founder of the ⁠Shepherds of Wildlife Society⁠, a nonprofit dedicated to reconnecting people and wildlife through powerful documentary films.

Tom has spent his career behind the camera, capturing stories of rural areas and the people who call them home. Over the years, he’s witnessed a growing disconnect between rural communities and urban audiences when it comes to conservation. His belief is simple but bold: protecting land and wildlife isn’t just about “rewilding” — it’s about humans actively managing resources and preserving centuries-old livelihoods so future generations can thrive.

A Different Kind of Storytelling

Through the Shepherds of Wildlife Society, Tom is on a mission to tell those stories and spark honest conversations about what conservation really means.

To bring this vision to life, Tom has directed three amazing, critically-acclaimed documentaries:

⁠Killing the Shepherd⁠

An award-winning film following a small African village led by a woman chief fighting back against poaching and poverty. Screened at global festivals and even the U.S. Capitol, the film has sparked real conversations about conservation and social justice.

⁠The Last Keeper⁠

Set in the Scottish Highlands, this documentary dives into how modern government policies are displacing long-standing rural communities and threatening the Scottish landscape.

⁠The Real Yellowstone⁠

Tom’s newest project tells the story of the American West’s ranchers, outfitters, and conservationists caught at the crossroads of tradition and modern land pressures. It’s the raw, real-life version of what Taylor Sheridan dramatized in Yellowstone — as Tom says, “this is real life.”

Here’s the exciting part: The Real Yellowstone is hosting an ⁠exclusive digital streaming event⁠. This event will vanish after September 15th. No replays. No second chance. Don’t miss the chance to see it!

Tom and I went so deep in our conversation that this is a two-part special:

Part 1 (last episode): We explore Killing the Shepherd and The Last Keeper — covering everything from rural Africa’s fight for survival to Scotland’s historic tensions between landowners and city dwellers.

Part 2 (this episode): We dive into The Real Yellowstone and talk about the sacrifices of progress, the rancher’s way of life, and why these stories matter for the future of both land and wildlife.

If you love filmmaking, history, conservation, or just real-world stories with real stakes — you’ll want to hear this one.

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