Outdoor Minimalist

This week on Public Lands News, we’re tracking urgent comment deadlines and court victories, including: - Forest Service Reorganization (comment period closes August 26) - Artificial Intelligence & Environmental Permitting — with Barbra Calantas , Environmental Science Associates - Oak Flat Legal Battle — with Dr. Erik Murdock , Access Fund - Offshore Oil & Gas Leasing Schedule Subscribe t...

Coral reefs are often called the “rainforests of the sea.”  They provide habitat for an incredible diversity of marine life, protect shorelines from storms, and support the livelihoods of millions of people around the world.  But reefs are also among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth.  Rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and coastal development all play a role in their decline—and now, res...

We’re back after a short break with an urgent update on threats to U.S. public lands, major environmental policy rollbacks, and ongoing oil and gas fights in New Mexico. Main Topics Covered: USDA’s plan to reorganize and consolidate Forest Service operations. The SPEED Act and its potential to roll back NEPA protections. Oil and gas accountability battles in New Mexico: abandoned wells and frackin...

We're taking a short break from regular episodes while we film our new YouTube series: Ecocide. Ecocide: the destruction of large areas of the natural environment as a consequence of human activity Ecocide is going to be an ongoing investigative video project that explores how extractive industries, like mining, impact wild spaces, clean water access, and outdoor recreation economies. Our first ep...

We can’t shop our way out of climate change. And we definitely can’t rely on capitalism to save the planet. But what happens when a brand tries to flip that script? In the outdoor industry, we’ve seen a rising trend: companies weaving sustainability and advocacy into their marketing. But are those efforts genuine, or just another version of greenwashed consumerism? Can a brand really center advoca...

In this episode, we cover two urgent and unfolding stories: The Trump administration’s rollback of safeguards in the Western Arctic with Andy Moderow from the Alaska Wilderness League The USDA’s plan to rescind the Roadless Rule with Jamie Ervin from Outdoor Alliance These changes could open millions of acres of public lands to industrial development. But there’s still time to take action. Make a...

When we think about reducing the environmental impact of our outdoor gear, we often focus on the materials we can see, like recycled fabrics or plant-based alternatives.  But what about the processes behind the scenes? A significant portion of the climate footprint actually comes from the production process of those materials. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at insulation and the invis...

This week in the Outdoor Minimalist public lands news review, we cover: USDA’s major reorganization plan What it means for the U.S. Forest Service and wildfire response How agency relocations and office closures could impact conservation work Centralization of services like civil rights, tribal affairs, and grants management H.R. 1 “The Big Ugly Bill” with 🎙️ Guest : Justin Meuse, Government Relat...

In episode 190 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re discussing urgent threats facing wildlife protections in the United States: the ongoing dismantling of the Endangered Species Act under the Trump Administration.  The ESA has long been considered the backbone of wildlife conservation in this country, credited with saving iconic species like the bald eagle and the gray wolf.  But legislative a...

From staffing crises in national parks to energy dominance expansion across millions of acres of public land, here’s what you need to know: FY26 Budget Breakdown: The House released its draft Interior-EPA spending bill, proposing deep cuts to conservation, environmental protection, and public lands. Including: $213M cut to the National Park Service, amid a 24% staffing loss 23% EPA budget cut, gut...

Remember when Mike Lee’s 3.3 million-acre land sales were making headlines, what felt like every few seconds?  It was all over social media; every conservation organization was talking about it, and even friends of mine who had never been very civically involved gathered the gumption to call their senators.  Well, despite the fact that as a collective, we rallied together to defeat all three of Mi...

In this week’s episode, we cover sweeping public lands news from June 30 to July 11, including: The "Trump Tax" and what it means for public lands, drilling, and park funding ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text ) The environmental impact of Alligator Alcatraz and community-led legal resistance ( https://www.everglades.org/stop-alligator-alcatraz/ ) SCOTUS rul...

For today’s episode, we’re featuring a conversation Meg recorded with Nick Mucha, one of the editors of Patagonia’s new book: Tools to Save Our Home Planet: A Changemaker’s Guidebook and Patagonia's Senior Director of Environmental Issues and Strategy. This collection brings together wisdom, stories, and strategies from over 50 environmental and justice-focused activists working on the front l...

This week, we’re breaking down one of the biggest public land threats in U.S. history. I sat down with Joshua Axelrod, Senior Policy Advocate at NRDC, to unpack the ongoing federal budget reconciliation process and how it’s being used to mandate the largest public land sell-offs ever proposed. We cover: The latest updates on the proposal to sell 1.2 million acres of BLM-managed land How the Senate...

From greenwashed marketing campaigns to the real, tangible challenges of sourcing natural materials and overhauling entrenched supply chains, creating truly sustainable clothing is no small feat.  And no one knows this better than today’s guests: Meli and Rensso Hinostroza, the sibling co-founders behind Arms of Andes. Born in California and raised between the U.S. and Peru, Meli and Rensso have b...

This week we cover: The Senate budget bill provision to sell 2–3.3 million acres of public land in 11 western states. The broad implications of bypassing environmental review, public comment, and Tribal consultation. New BLM oil and gas lease sales in Colorado, Wyoming, and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska . A timber sale in southern Oregon raising questions about cumulative extraction impact...

We've discussed the many issues with travel on this show before, and while travel is never really that "good" for the environment, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't ever do it.  Instead, I believe that we as travelers can and should find better, more environmentally friendly ways to travel, and the travel industry should lead the way.  That's why in episode 186 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast,...

This week, we take a deep dive into one of the most aggressive and coordinated efforts to undermine public lands protections, clean air rules, and historical integrity at our national parks in years. Key Stories Covered: 🔹 Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill Proposes Sale of 3.3 Million Acres of Public Lands Across 11 Western States https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/6/12/senate-spending-pac...

By now, we’ve all heard the term greenwashing.  But have you ever heard of green hushing?  Greenhushing seems to be a growing trend where businesses, afraid of backlash or political controversy, choose to stay silent about their sustainability efforts or climate positive approaches.  And while it might seem like a safer, quieter path in a polarized world, green hushing can actually hurt your busin...

This week, we cover a relentless wave of threats to America’s public lands and environmental protections. But it’s not all bad news, because we wrap up with some powerful land-back victories, state park expansions, and global actions to #BeatPlasticPollution. Key Topics This Week: 1. Senate Budget Bill Public Land Sales Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) moves to reinstate a provision to sell 500,000+ acres...

Correction: In this episode, the guest mentioned that the EPA was formed in the 1990s. To clarify, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was actually established in December 1970 under President Richard Nixon, in response to growing public concern about environmental pollution. ------------------------ Water is something that intersects with every aspect of our lives, both at home and in...

This week, we break down the biggest public lands headlines you might have missed. We’cover: How public pressure killed a plan to sell off over 500,000 acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah Why the House bill still poses serious threats to national parks, the Arctic Refuge, and Boundary Waters How Trump’s administration is gutting environmental protections while ramping up reckless oil, gas, an...

In this episode, we're doing something a little different: a group breakdown of the new Netflix documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy . This unsettling (and sometimes oddly playful) film looks into the hidden forces behind our consumer culture and how companies manipulate us to buy more, waste more, and stay distracted. We discuss our key takeaways, critiques of the documentary's production...

This week, we’re breaking down a sweeping federal budget package passed by the House on May 22 and what it means for America’s public lands, waters, and environmental protections. In this episode: The public lands sell-offs we stopped — and how grassroots action made it happen. How deep staffing cuts at the National Park Service and Forest Service are hollowing out essential public lands operation...

In episode 182 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we have a conversation about something that every outdoor lover eventually has to reckon with: how do we keep doing the activities we love for as long as possible?  To do that, I’m joined by Linden Loren. Linden is a conservation advocate, co-founder of Camo & Wind, and author of Your Hunting Healthspan: 73 Ways Hunters Can Age Better & Pre...