Rangers of the Lost Park

SJ Joslin (they/them), a bat biologist from Yosemite National Park, was unjustly fired from their dream job by the federal government for flying the trans flag in the park. They were off-duty, left no trace (aka zero damage) and did this purely with good intentions. This was not a demonstration, despite what the Department of Interior stated, but an act of inclusion depicting that trans people bel...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to support 640 million acres of public lands across the United States? In this episode, Gaby Rojas from Public Lands Alliance explains how nonprofits support our nation's treasures for the future. Find Public Lands Alliance at publiclandsalliance.org. Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark . Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark . Join Patreon...

Join us this week for reviews from National Parks, Monuments, Forests, and more! Liz explains the difference between each type and then dives into the reviews. We hope this silly episode can bring joy to a chaotic week! Thank you to our friends at National Park After Dark for the episode idea. Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark . Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark . Join P...

The Department of Interior proposed to rescind the Public Lands Rule, also known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, on September 10, 2025. This rule codifies conservation as a "legitimate use" of public lands, and in this week's episode Mikayla and Liz explore different uses and their impacts on conservation. Do you think conservation, or "no use", is a legitimate use of our public lan...

Joining us this week is Alex, or Al, Troutman. His passion for fish and wildlife biology, writing and communicating really shines through. As a co-organizer for many Black in X weeks including Black Birders Week and Black Mammalogists Week, Al seeks to increase diversity in nature, celebrate Black individuals and scientists, and awareness of Black nature enthusiasts and diversity in STEM fields. Y...

The Roadless Rule in Alaska has been controversial and succumbed to many changes throughout the last couple of decades. Joining us today is someone who not only lives in Alaska, but has also been fighting for protecting Roadless Areas for years. Yolanda Fulmer is a Tlingít Matriarch of The Raven Nest House from Glacier Bay, Alaska. She has been a tireless advocate for Indigenous rights, forest pro...

Wildfires are burning more and more drastically each year. The people who serve and protect the landscape and its inhabitants are not only brave but also incredibly vital to have in the workforce. Speaking with us today is Riva Duncan, who retired at the end of 2020 after 32+ years with the US Forest Service, first as a forester then a wildland firefighter and manager.  Shortly after retirement, R...

On July 24 of this year, US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new reorganization effort for the entire USDA, which includes the US Forest Service. By ridding the US Forest Service of all current Regions and, therefore, Regional Offices, things are a bit up in the air about what this will actually look like. Liz takes us into a deep dive of what the USDA reorganization...

Bogs and Badgers, oh my! Joining us for this episode is Liz's sister, Sarah Crandall, who is a botanist and wildland firefighter. We discuss her work caring for rare and sensitive plant species and share funny stories about bogs, badgers, Harry Potter camp, favorite nonessential things to bring backpacking, and more! This is our silliest episode yet, so we hope you enjoy as much as we did. Follow...

Have you seen the phrase "Make America Beautiful Again" and thought to yourself, "What does that even mean?" Well you're in luck because this week Mikayla explains the two Executive Orders, Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks and Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission while Liz helps fact-check the fact sheet . The impacts of these directive...

Joining us for this episode is Park Ranger Alex Wild! A ranger of 15 years and going, Alex dedicates his life and purpose to protecting the parks, the people, and the landscape. Learn about what it means to be a ranger, why you should care about National Parks and public lands, and hear some hilarious first-hand ranger stories. Lounging marmots, bears with critical thinking skills, celebrity run-i...

What is the Roadless Rule? Why is it important? What does it really mean for the American people and the US Forest Service? Liz takes a deep dive into the Roadless Rule and its controversial history while Mikayla hangs out and eats a cookie. In short, the 2001 Roadless Rule has quite the reputation within the United States federal government, US states, Indigenous Tribes, and the every day Forest...

Joining Liz and Mikayla is Wildlife Biologist Ben Vizzachero, who discuss their crazy experiences at the State of the Union (Joint Address) in Washington DC on March 4, 2025, which they attended in-person as the honored guests of specific members of Congress. Ben (or Benji) shares his passion and love for his work as a biologist for the US Forest Service, including how he got into his field of wor...

Liz & Mikayla welcome President of the NFFE Executive Board Warner (Andy) Vanderheuel and NFFE General Counsel and Labor Lawyer Yvette Piacsek to a special episode highlighting federal worker legality issues, concerns, and current events. Also discussed is how current federal workers (including rangers within public land federal agencies) can safely and effectively use their voices to highligh...

In this second episode of Rangers of the Lost Park Podcast , hosts Liz and Mikayla discuss the turbulent experiences of federal public land employees post-January 2020. They highlight the chaos and emotional toll of illegal terminations, probationary firings, and reduced staffing in agencies like the National Park Service and the US Forest Service. The episode features testimonies from affected em...

From Oregon to Colorado, two young Rangers have teamed up to advocate for all things public lands and the outdoors. As former National Park Service and US Forest Service field workers themselves, Liz and Mikayla invite you to join them on their new journey to speak up for those who may not be in a position to themselves and shine a guiding light into the raw and real truths behind the agencies and...