The Last Wild Places: Tom Murphy on Yellowstone

May 26, 2026

For more than four decades, legendary wildlife photographer Tom Murphy has done what few humans ever will—live inside America’s wildest places, not as a visitor, but as a witness. In this unforgettable episode of Free Thinking with Montel, Montel sits down with the world-renowned Yellowstone photographer, conservationist, adventurer, and storyteller to explore the profound relationship between humans and the natural world. Raised on a 7,500-acre cattle ranch and later drawn into the untamed backcountry of Yellowstone, Tom has spent decades hiking, skiing, and documenting one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth. His breathtaking images have appeared in National Geographic, Audubon, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, and beyond—but his story goes far deeper than photography. Together, Montel and Tom discuss the soul of America’s national parks, the survival of the iconic American bison, the fragile balance between conservation and human expansion, and what wilderness teaches us about solitude, resilience, and perspective. They also explore Tom’s stunning new U.S. postage stamp featuring Yellowstone bison imagery, his upcoming book The Return of the Last Wild Herd, and why preserving wild places may be one of the most important legacies we leave future generations. This isn’t just a conversation about nature.

Tom Murphy website: https://www.tmurphywild.com/

It’s a conversation about America, memory, stewardship—and what happens when the wild disappears.