Outdoor Minimalist

Is zero-waste backpacking possible? Well, in a lot of ways, yes, and in some ways, not really.  We saw this play out when a previous guest of ours, one of our earliest guests, actually in episode 37 . In that episode, Ana Lucía (aka Eco) explains how in 2021 she set out to complete a zero-waste thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Now, a few years later, in episode 212 of the Outdoor Minimalist p...

I know I said that we would only be releasing Friday public lands news episodes every other week, but we have a special episode for you today covering two of the most pressing issues regarding public lands policy: the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the BLM and the use of the CRA to roll back a 20-year mining ban in Northern MN.  Why couldn’t we cover them next Friday?  Well, both of these topi...

By now, we know that our society has a problem with plastics.  They seem to have made their way into every aspect of our lives. They’re inescapable, but this is a problem that doesn’t need to last forever. It is a problem we can solve, or at least, that’s what the new book The Problem with Plastic argues.  We’ve been told for decades that recycling would solve the plastic crisis — but it hasn’t. T...

We expected the Senate vote on H.J. Res. 140, which would overturn the 20-year mining ban protecting the BWCA, to occur this week, but it was postponed until after their upcoming recess. The vote could be as early as February 23rd. This gives us more time to contact Senators and ask them to vote no on this resolution. I’ve been posting plenty of resources and scripts to do this on our Instagram @o...

You know full well that I am a dog lover, and I know that many of you are dog lovers, or just pet lovers in general. They are our family, and much like humans, our domesticated pets have a pretty big impact on our planet and the environment around us.  Think about walking into a store like PetSmart, or even your local pet store, there are aisles and shelves lined with single use toys, plastic bone...

Where do we go from here? Where are the leaders? Why does it feel like no one is doing anything? In this solo episode of The Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, we work to dismantle one of the most persistent myths about resistance: that it only looks one way — loud, visible, risky, and centered on a single kind of leader. Drawing on history, journalism, and movement research, this episode explores why su...

A lot has been happening this year already, and while many Americans are focused on ICE terrorizing US citizens in places like Minneapolis, attacks on public lands have not slowed down, they’re just getting less attention. With the limited time we have on the show, we have three interviews for you today.  The first is discussing management changes with greater sage-grouse followed by updates on a...

When we think about environmental impacts in the outdoors, we often focus on things we can see: litter left behind, eroded trails, overcrowded trailheads. But some of the most significant impacts are invisible, and they’re showing up in places many of us consider pristine. In episode 208 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re talking about microplastics in remote wilderness areas and what new re...

Trail work is one of those things most of us benefit from, whether we realize it or not.  The smooth singletrack we ride, the well-marked hiking routes we follow, the trails that stay open season after season despite heavier use and harsher conditions. But behind every trail is a group of people showing up with tools, time, and care for the places they love. In episode 207 of the Outdoor Minimalis...

To kick off our public lands policy conversation this year, we wanted to take a look back at the year we had in 2025 and what we should expect moving into 2026.  Joining me to lead this conversation is Rebecca Gillis. Rebecca is Vice President of Government Affairs & Advocacy at The Conservation Alliance, where she leads the organization’s advocacy and government affairs strategy and helps sha...

What if one of the most widely used pesticides in the world is something most people have never even heard of, despite likely encountering it daily? In episode 206 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast we are discussing neonicotinoids, often called “neonics.”  They’re the most commonly used insecticides in the United States, applied to crops, lawns, gardens, golf courses, and even found in flea and ti...

Happy New Year, and welcome back to the Outdoor Minimalist podcast. After a much-needed hiatus, I’ve had time to reflect on where this show is headed—and how I can better manage the energy and care that go into producing it. With that in mind, I want to share a few updates you can expect as we move through 2026. First, our Monday episodes aren’t changing. We’ll continue releasing weekly expert int...

For over three years, the Outdoor Minimalist platform has been a big part of my existence and growth as a creative and journalist. I've put a lot into the show, especially this year when we added a Friday episode about public lands. But I need a break. With the recent passing of my dog, Ash, I need time to process and grieve the loss of my best friend and biggest inspiration. Ash is the reason...

The Outdoor Media Summit is an annual conference for media, marketers, PR, and brands to come together to collaborate and network. Although I've only attended the last two years, it has quickly become among my favorite industry events because of the intimate settings and ever evolving format. In this episode, Tarin O'Donnell, from the Tarin it Up Podcast, and I recap our experience at the...

In the Outdoor Minimalist public lands news briefing for the week of November 3 - 7, we cover: - Public Lands Rule comment period ending on November 10th Comment Here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/BLM-2025-0001-0001 - The Fight for the Roadless Rule Continues with Josh Hicks from the Wilderness Society - Chaco Canyon in New Mexico is facing rollbacks to protections around the park with Sal...

For decades, the outdoor industry has celebrated innovation through synthetics—lighter, stronger, and more technical fabrics made from petroleum-based materials.  But as we grapple with the environmental costs of producing many synthetic products, is a shift underway?  Wool, waxed cotton, hemp, and other natural materials might be making a comeback —not as a nostalgic throwback, but as brands and...

Here's what happened during the week of October 27 - 31 with our Public Lands: - Mike Lee's three new proposals that threaten public lands with Neal Clark from the Southwest Utah Wilderness Alliance - National Parks remain understaffed, but open during the ongoing shutdown - Over 500 new oil and gas permits were approved during the shutdown period - Trump administration will open the entir...

Depending on where you live, if you’ve ever driven a snowy mountain road or parked your car after a winter storm, you’ve probably seen that familiar crust of salt left behind. It’s easy to think of road salt as just another part of winter, and a simple fix for icy conditions.  But that same salt, once it washes off our roads, has a far-reaching impact on the water we drink and the lakes or streams...

After a week off from our public lands news round-up, we are back with more updates as attacks on public lands continue despite the government shutdown.  The government shutdown has many impacts on our public lands, ranging from our National Parks and Forest Service to the Bureau of Land Management. While we spend a lot of time talking about our parks, BLM lands don’t often get as much attention. ...

In this episode, we visit Y osemite, Joshua Tree, and Sequoia–Kings Canyon to understand how the 2025 government shutdown is affecting park staff, local economies, and conservation efforts across the National Park System. While some parks, like Joshua Tree, appear to be operating almost normally, others are showing the strain. Visitor centers are shuttered, maintenance is delayed, and some rangers...

This week on our public lands news round up for October 6 - 10, we cover: - Government shutdown enters it's 10th day with no end in sight - Mission Ridge ski expansion outside of Wenatchee, WA faces local oppostion ft. Steven Gnam from Friends of Mission Ridge ( https://www.friendsofmissionridge.org/ ⁠ ) - Land management plan repeals in Montana and North Dakota pass in the Senate using the Co...

What if the same determination it takes to climb some of the world’s highest peaks was also the key to tackling some of the world’s biggest chemical threats? That’s the story of today’s guest, Arlene Blum. A pioneering mountaineer who co-led the first women’s ascent of Denali and led the first American ascent of Annapurna I, Arlene later turned her focus toward another steep climb: protecting publ...

In this episode (Sept 29 – Oct 3, 2025): Coal Expansion on Federal Lands – The Department of the Interior announced a plan to open 13.1 million acres to coal leasing Government Shutdown Impacts – Congress’s failure to pass a spending deal triggered a shutdown on October 1. Includes an interview with Brittany Leffel of the Winter Wildlands Alliance. Continental Divide Trail Access Rules – Hikers fi...

When most people think about recreational vehicles– you know, RVs, campers, they picture freedom — the open road, family vacations, maybe even a way of life.  What probably doesn’t come to mind is deforestation in Borneo.  Yet half of all tropical plywood harvested globally ends up in RVs. In episode 199 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we dig into how the RV industry in the United States has be...

What we cover in this episode of the public lands news for the week of September 22 - 26: -Looming government shutdown and the risk of mass layoffs at the Interior Department and National Park Service -Congressional attacks on Western Arctic protections and what’s at stake for the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska with guest Andy Moderow, Senior Director of Policy for the Alaska Wilderness League...