Outdoor Minimalist

Wildfires are reshaping the landscapes of the American West—and with them, the way we think about public lands and climate resilience. 

Over the past few decades, fires have grown larger, more severe, and harder to predict. As climate change accelerates and management debates intensify, the stakes couldn’t be higher for our forests.

Today, we’re digging into the science behind these trends and what they mean for the future of our pub...

This week on Public Lands News (Sept 15–19, 2025):

Estes Park, Colorado, gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, has long relied on its outdoor recreation economy.

In fact, just a few years ago, it was outpacing the rest of Colorado in tourism growth.

But in 2025, federal policy changes, including mass firings at federal agencies like the National Park Service, are raising questions:

Will communities like Estes Park be able to weather the storm?

In this episode, we visit Estes Park ...

There is just one week left to comment on the USDA’s intent to rescind the Roadless Rule.

The comment period closes September 19th. As of this recording, more than 78,000 comments have already been submitted to the Federal Register, but we need to keep that momentum going.

Link to Federal Register to Comment on the Roadless Rule: ⁠⁠https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/29/2025-16581/special-areas-roadless-area-conservat...

In the pilot episode of Ecocide, we look at two primary threats to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: mining and climate change.

Spanning over 1.1 million acres of boreal forest, glacial lakes, and winding rivers, the Boundary Waters is the largest wilderness East of the Rockies (and North of the Everglades), and one of the most pristine freshwater ecosystems in the world.

But sulfide-ore copper mining and a rapidly changing...

This week's Public Lands News episode is covering public lands protections, Congressional tools, and new funding announcements, including:

• USDA Proposal to Rescind the Roadless Rule: 45 million acres of national forest at risk, including Alaska’s Tongass; public comment period closes September 19

• Congressional Review Act Threats to BLM Resource Management Plans — with John Ruple, University of Utah

• Department of the Interior S...

We've been tracking the attacks on public lands since January 20, 2025, and while this short episode only covers a few of the main events, hundreds of other things have happened specifically targeting our public lands and waters.

This video only features events through August 12, 2025. The 200th day of Trump 2.0 occurred on August 7th.

See the full timeline* document here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17DXrNFTQJRAHaU6hgO2...

This week on Public Lands News, we’re covering staffing crises, forest protections, and union victories, including:

• National Park Service Staffing Crisis continues — closures, delayed responses, and what it means for visitors

• USDA Move to Rescind the Roadless Rule (21-day comment period) — with Corey Fisher, Trout Unlimited

• Yosemite & Sequoia-Kings Canyon Park Workers Unionize

• Court Orders Closure of “Alligator Alcatraz” ICE De...

While everyone starts their morning a little differently, one thing many people have in common is pouring a cup of coffee. 

But what if I told you that your daily ritual of coffee is more than likely funding mass deforestation, biodiversity loss, and slavery? 

One thing you know is that on this podcast, we vote with our dollar, and what we buy every single day, where we buy it, and who we buy it from, all make a difference in the im...

This week on Public Lands News, we’re tracking urgent comment deadlines and court victories, including:

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, research shows that something as ordinary...

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 fracking wastewater.

• Sneak peek of...

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 episode, launching early September, take...

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 advocacy over product—and still survive?

To...

In this episode, we cover two urgent and unfolding stories:

1. The Trump administration’s rollback of safeguards in the Western Arctic with Andy Moderow from the Alaska Wilderness League

2. 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 comment on development in the ...

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 invisible side of sustainability in outdoo...

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 Relations Director for Climate a...

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 and administrative changes are eroding...

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, gutting water, air, and environmental...