The Nature Conservancy’s Taylor Hawes

Taylor Hawes directs the Colorado River program at the Nature Conservancy. Before participating in a panel on the river’s future, she talked about her fondness for gluten-free cookies, cheese, and sea kayaking—and her hatred of hypocrisy—in the Zócalo green room.

Q:

What was the last thing that inspired you?


A:

I saw a video last night from a high school about the issues around race. It was an interactive poem by two 10th graders—one Jewish, one black—about their families and their lives. If I were that smart in the 10th grade I’d be pretty happy.


Q:

What’s your favorite water sport?


A:

Sea kayaking.


Q:

What food are you most likely to binge eat?


A:

I can’t eat cookies because I’m gluten-free—so, gluten-free cookies. They’re not as good as the ones with gluten though.


Q:

How much is too much to pay for a haircut?


A:

Seventy-five dollars.


Q:

Flat or sparkling water?


A:

Flat.


Q:

What do you love to hate?


A:

Hypocrisy.


Q:

What surprises you most about your life right now?


A:

That I have grandkids. I have step-grandkids. At age 45.


Q:

What’s your favorite condiment?


A:

Is cheese a condiment? Or ketchup.


Q:

What’s the last board game you played?


A:

Scrabble.


Q:

What’s hanging on your living room walls?


A:

A lot of artwork, and some cool brass stars with the water symbol in the middle.