Our Public Lands

In this episode, I interview Josh Osher, Public Policy Director with Western Watersheds Project. Josh provides an in-depth look at the budget reconciliation process and its implications for public lands and federal spending. He explains the difference between annual and 10-year budgets, the appropriations process, and how budget reconciliation allows for changes to spending programs without the 60...

In this episode, I interview Gary Macfarlane and Katie Bilodeau about the threats posed to roadless areas on Forest Service lands. We delve into the history and current challenges faced in conserving these invaluable wildlands. We discuss loopholes in the state-specific roadless rules and their impacts on public lands. Emphasizing the urgency to protect roadless lands as future wilderness areas, G...

In this episode, I speak with Jonathan Ratner from Sage-Steppe Wild. Jonathan discusses the often unnoticed degradation caused by livestock grazing on public lands and shares his experiences working with agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. He recounts eye-opening moments from his conservation career, including detailed monitoring and documentation of ecological dama...

In this episode, I interview Steve Bloch from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) about the looming threats to public lands posed by Senator Mike Lee's Senate budget bill provisions. We discuss Lee's desire to sell millions of acres of federal public lands across 11 Western states, which is part of a broader republican extractive agenda. We also delve into the complexities of the budget r...

In this episode, I interview John Leshy, an influential academic and public servant who has served in multiple presidential administrations in the realm of public lands management and its associated politics. Our discussion covers John’s interest and career progression in public lands, key legislative and administrative milestones, the evolution of public land politics, and the importance of these...

In this episode, I interview Bill Cunningham, a longtime Montana wilderness advocate with a deep and rich history from the 1970s to the present. Bill discusses the intricate legislative battles that framed the preservation of Montana's wilderness, including the Montana Wilderness Study Area Act, protecting the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Complex, the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Bill and his wo...

In this episode, I speak with Matt Rinella, an avid hunter and public lands advocate with the group Hunt Quietly. Our conversation is wide-ranging and touches on a variety of subjects including; livestock grazing, hunter access, social media impacts on the hunter experience, the commercialization of the pastime, trophy hunting, hunting organization shortcomings and misgivings, and much more. Hunt...

In this episode, I welcome Wes Siler back to the program to discuss the ongoing legislative challenges surrounding public lands in Washington D.C. We discuss the implications of potential land sell-offs which could total more than 1/2 million acres in Utah and Nevada, the motives behind political actions by figures like Ryan Zinke, and the efficiency of public land management agencies. We highligh...

In this episode, I interview the Pattiz brothers—founders of More Than Just Parks—to cover a range of pressing issues related to public lands. Will and Jim discuss their personal journey from creating films about national parks and public lands to taking an active role in advocating for the protection of public lands from acute threats under the current political climate. Our conversation is wide-...

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Chad Hanson of the John Muir Project to discuss the unique ecological role of giant sequoias and the critical importance of high-intensity fires for their reproduction. Chad outlines the widespread misunderstanding among policymakers and the public about these majestic trees and forests, emphasizing that low-intensity fires do not provide the conditions needed f...

In this episode, I speak with Ryan Talbott the Pacific Northwest Conservation Advocate for WildEarth Guardians, about their work monitoring the Forest Service and BLM timber sale programs in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Ryan discusses the origins and achievements of the Legacy Roads and Trails program, the impact of recent legislative and administrative changes on forest management, and the p...

In this episode, I interview Char Miller, a historian and professor with a focus on public lands, agencies, and land management. Char discusses the complexities of Gifford Pinchot's philosophy, contrasting it with that of John Muir, particularly around the conservation versus preservation debate. He offers insights into the historical development of public lands in the United States, the inte...

In this episode, I interview Wes Siler. Wes delves into the pressing issues surrounding America's public lands, discussing how privatization efforts threaten public access and ownership. Key examples include the Yellowstone Club, the Crazy Mountains land heist, corner crossing, state efforts to wrest control over public lands, and federal public land sales under the guise of "affordable...

In this episode, I interview Patrick Donnelly with the Center for Biological Diversity along the banks of the Amargosa River in California near Death Valley National Park. Patrick discusses the historical and ongoing impact of human activity, such as mining, and the modern-day pressures of the lithium boom in Nevada. He discusses how the Center is fighting to protect endemic species and the water...

In this episode, I speak with Jimmy Tobias, a seasoned investigative journalist. Jimmy delves into his journey from working summertimes in wilderness in Montana to his current focus on public lands journalism. He discusses his deep passion for public lands issues, the influence of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in uncovering unethical behavior and corruption within governmental agencies, an...

In this episode, I interview Terri Martin with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA). The podcast highlights the reintroduction of the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, which seeks to protect over 8 million acres of public lands in Southern Utah from exploitation. The discussion includes the significance of the act within the broader '30 by 30' initiative aimed at conserving 30%...

In this episode, I welcome back Andy Kerr to discuss Biden’s public lands record and legacy. We also discuss the contrasting environmental policies and actions early in the Trump 2.0 years. Andy delves into Biden's legacy on public lands, examining specific actions like the reinstatement of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monument boundaries and the broader issue of whether...

In this episode, I interview Jennifer Mamola with the John Muir Project. Jenn discusses insights and frustrations with current wildfire policy in Washington, D.C. She stresses the importance of shifting focus from backcountry forest management to home hardening and defensible spaces around communities. Criticizing ineffective policies like the Fix Our Forests Act, she highlights the ecological nec...

In this episode, I interview Roger Long an ecologist and professor. We discuss his career trajectory that led him from computer programming to teaching and focusing specifically on the shrub steppe ecosystem. After switching careers and completing his master's and dissertation, Roger continued studying nitrogen cycling and the impact of cattle grazing on shrub steppe vegetation and wildlife....

In this episode, I interview Zack Porter who discusses the state of public lands and roadless areas in Vermont and across New England. He highlights the ongoing threats from logging and road construction, particularly in the Green Mountain and White Mountain National Forests. Zack emphasizes the ecological importance of these lands for clean water, carbon storage, biodiversity, and habitat protect...

In this episode, I interview Conrad Gowell with the Wild Fish Conservancy. Based in Washington, his organization uses science and law to protect wild fish and ecosystems. Conrad dives into the issues around fishery policies lagging behind scientific knowledge, particularly with endangered species like Chinook salmon. He highlights the challenges with mixed stock fisheries in Alaska and potential d...

In this episode, I interview George Wuerthner, an independent advocate, ecologist, and author to explore what it means for fuels treatments to be effective in wildfire management. George challenges the prevailing assumption that preventing high-severity fires and minimizing tree deaths is inherently beneficial. He argues that high-severity fires create crucial habitats for numerous species, offeri...

In this episode, I interview Dr. Chad Hanson of the John Muir Project. We discuss forest protection, fire ecology, and the deceptive practices of federal land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service. Chad critically examines the Forest Service's narrative around logging disguised as fuel reduction and forest health projects, revealing the detrimental effects on biodiversity, carbo...

In this episode, I interview Dr. Suzanne Fouty and Kami Ellingson, both past Forest Service hydrologists, to talk about beavers. Suzanne and Kami share their insights and experiences about the significance of beavers in ecosystem restoration and water management. Our conversation covers the ecological benefits of beavers, such as water storage, flood mitigation, and habitat complexity, which are e...

In this episode I interview Karen Coulter co-founder of the Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, reflecting on their work since 1991 in Oregon. We discus the escalation of timber sales from thousands to tens of thousands of acres and how logging practices have intensified over the years, often disguised under terms like 'vegetation management' or 'ecosystem resilency projects.'...