Outdoor Minimalist

The outdoor industry talks a lot about sustainability. But what happens when a jacket or sleeping bag finally reaches the end of its life? Even materials that can be recycled aren't always easy to use again. Building a circular system is more complicated than collecting old gear and turning it into something new. It requires specialized recycling processes, supply-chain coordination, and a wil...

With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, how can we make sure our votes reflect our values? In this episode, we explore why civic engagement matters and how understanding climate science, environmental policy, and candidates’ records can help us make more informed decisions at the ballot box. Featured guests: Alex Lee, Director of Science and Education at Protect Our Winters Lindsey Halvorson,...

Freeze-dried meals are a backpacking staple, but their story began long before they landed in outdoor gear stores. In this episode, we explore how freeze-dried food evolved from an innovative preservation technology into one of the most recognizable categories of backpacking food. We trace the history of Oregon Freeze Dry, the company behind Mountain House, and examine how military contracts, spac...

Last week, I attended the annual Outdoor Media Summit in Asheville, NC. It is the largest gathering of outdoor media professionals in the country, and during the show, I asked media, brands, PR, and others in the industry a range of questions. One of the main questions I asked journalists and other media was: What do you think is missing from outdoor media today, and how do you think we can fix it...

Tick-borne illnesses are, unfortunately, something many of us who love spending time outdoors have a personal relationship with.  If you haven’t had one yourself, you likely can think of someone you know who has had one. And I questioned putting out an episode on tick-borne illnesses in late Autumn, but then I remembered an article that I wrote a couple of years back about how tick season is not o...

In this week's public lands news briefing, we only had time for two stories: 1. Minnesota DNR cancels one of Twin Metals' mining leases in the Rainy River watershed just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ft. Pete Marshall, communications director at Friends of the Boundary Waters Friends of the Boundary Waters Minnesota Voter Guide: https://friendsaction-bwca.org/2026-endor...

When you hear the brand name Mammut, what product do you think of? I wouldn’t be surprised if most of you said: Ropes.  Founded in 1862 in Switzerland, the company initially produced ropes primarily for agriculture.  It wasn’t until the 1950s that the company shifted focus to mountaineering ropes and began trading under the name Mammut in 1952. While Mammut has expanded its product offerings subst...

In this week's public lands news briefing, we are covering three main stories: 1. The first data center approved on public lands near Boulder City, Nevada, was halted by a federal judge for not following proper environmental review. 2. The Travel Management Rule enters a scoping period for repeal, adding more stress to the Forest Service ft. Tom Delehanty, a senior attorney with Earthjustice’s...

Something I’ve always loved about human-powered adventures is that they can teach you a lot about what you really need to live a happy, fulfilled life. Access to safe and easy biking routes and walking paths is also an avenue to building community. But integrating human modes of transit isn't always easy in the United States. In many ways, our limited access to biking and walking is by design....

In this week's public lands news briefing, we are covering three main stories: 1. Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order using the power he has to help protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but the fight is not over yet. This action is somewhat complicated and has caused some confusion, so I break down what it really means and what we need to do next. 2. Minin...

When the political moment feels overwhelming, what role do public lands actually play?  Are they a luxury issue or something more fundamental to democracy itself? These are some of the core questions at the root of our conversation today, but much of what we need to know to protect our public lands might actually come from the history of these lands themselves.  Will De Man is a Michigan-based edu...

The Bureau of Land Management recently approved the Townsite Data Center, a project that would construct a data center on 88.5 acres of public land near Lake Mead in southern Nevada, marking this as the first approved data center on federal public lands. After skipping the environmental review process, the BLM announced the project as part of the Trump administration’s effort to accelerate permitt...

Last week on the show, we covered major changes to the Endangered Species Act here in the United States, including the rescission of the definition of "harm."  Simply put, this means that habitat destruction would no longer be classified as harm to an endangered species, opening the door to activities such as logging and other forms of extraction and development.  The problem with this i...

In this week's public lands news briefing, we cover three stories: 1. Fires in Northern Minnesota continue to burn, including in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ft. Aaron Kania, retired Forest Service Ranger in the Kiwishiwi District 2. The 10-mile buffer zone around the Chaco Canyon National Historical Park could be revoked, and the comment period ends on July 29th ft. Keegan King, foun...

In 2024, the world generated an estimated 120 million metric tons of textile waste. That's the equivalent of every person on Earth throwing away about 33 pounds of clothing and other textiles in a single year.  If it’s easier to picture, 33 pounds- that's equivalent to roughly 30 to 50 pieces of clothing per person in a single year. And the vast majority of those textiles will never become...

This week in the Outdoor Minimalist public lands news briefing, we're unpacking three stories: 1. At the end of June, the Forest Service proposed a rule that could limit when the public has a say in Forest Service decisions. Article that inspired the first segment: ⁠https://ourpubliclandsandwaters.substack.com/p/forest-service-moves-to-reduce-public⁠ 2. New pressures form to develop the Copper...

Dr. Bronner's has long been considered the gold standard of sustainable soap. It's a staple in outdoor kits, zero-waste homes, and camping gear lists thanks to its versatility, plant-based ingredients, and reputation for environmental responsibility. But how much of that reputation actually holds up under closer scrutiny? In this collaborative episode with the hosts of Greening Up My Act ,...

In this solo episode, I reflect on my experience attending the Switchback Event and unpack a question I can't seem to shake: Can an industry built on perpetual growth truly call itself a climate leader? I explore why climate communication often falls short—even within companies that publicly champion environmental values. And this episode also takes a more nuanced look at the historical values...

This episode was originally posted on November 13, 2023. In episode 112 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we will be talking a whole lot of shit. Our focus today is on a topic that I care deeply about, and I spend a lot of time thinking about it because I have three large dogs: dog poop. More specifically, we discuss why we should all pick up our dog’s poop and the best ways to dispose of it once...

In this week's public lands news briefing, we covered four stories: - Mike Lee pushes the latest effort to repeal the Roadless Rule, a landmark conservation policy protecting 58 million acres of national forest land. - Department of Homeland Security waived dozens of environmental laws to accelerate construction through the Big Bend Region for an updated border wall. - Ed Stierli from the Nati...

It can feel impossible to find joy when the headlines never seem to let up. From attacks on public lands and environmental protections to growing uncertainty for the people who steward these places, many of us are carrying a constant sense of urgency, grief, and overwhelm. But what if joy isn't a distraction from the work? What if joy is what sustains us through it? In episode 224 of Outdoor M...

In this week's public lands news briefing, we cover three stories: 1. Republican-controlled Congress includes mining leases for Twin Metals in Northern MN in the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill 2. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture signed a new agreement that could allow the use of M-44 devices on BLM-managed lands once again ft. Broo...

In episode 223 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we explore the connection between outdoor literacy, geography education, and environmental stewardship with educator and creator Natalie Teboul, also known as Traveling Miss T. Natalie shares how her Math Maps curriculum helps students engage with public lands through hands-on mapping activities, making outdoor education and spatial literacy more a...

Episode 140 featuring Sydney Stephens was originally posted on July 1, 2024. This episode is a repost. Now, two years later, hearing how to safely interact with bears feels more relevant than ever. We're seeing the vilification of predators under the Trump administration in Alaska, Minnesota, and beyond. These animals are just trying to survive, and perhaps it is time that we humans learn how...

This week’s public lands news briefing covers: 1. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum returns to Congress to defend the Trump administration’s FY27 Interior budget proposal 2. The Department of the Interior transfers 1.4 million acres in Alaska’s Dalton Utility Corridor to the State of Alaska with John Gaedeke 3. Alaska’s controversial Mulchatna bear control program continues amid ongoing legal challen...