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PODCAST

Our Public Lands

A podcast about our beloved and treasured public lands where I interview subject matter experts and activists from across the country who are working to protect and advocate for our public lands and their wildlife, wilderness, and cultural values. ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com

society & culture wilderness

All Episodes

65:24

#22 - The Legacy of Public Lands w/ Char Miller

Our Public Lands ·

2025/04/13

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 interconnection between local and federal influences, and the challenges posed by the current political cl...

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74:42

#21 - America’s Public Lands Under Attack w/ Wes Siler

Our Public Lands ·

2025/04/09

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 housing." Wes also addresses broader political failures and the adverse effects of defunding federal land m...

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52:23

#20 - Fighting for Endemic Species in the Great Basin...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/04/04

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 resources that sustain life in the face of increasing industrial interests. We discuss specific l...

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42:18

#19 - Public Domain: A Conversation with...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/04/01

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, and the critical role of investigative journalism in holding power to account. We discuss the backg...

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44:05

#18 - America's Red Rock Wilderness Act

Our Public Lands ·

2025/03/30

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% of land and ocean areas by 2030. Topics covered include the role of local control versus federal oversight,...

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69:54

#17 - Biden’s Public Lands Scorecard and Legacy

Our Public Lands ·

2025/03/16

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 a president can undo national monument proclamations. The discussion draws attention to the procedural...

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74:10

#16 - The F*ck Our Forests Act & D.C. Dysfunction

Our Public Lands ·

2025/03/06

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 necessity of allowing fire-adapted ecosystems to regenerate naturally. Jenn advocates for a communit...

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60:11

#15 - How to Starve an Entire Ecosystem

Our Public Lands ·

2025/02/26

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. His findings underscore the depletion of nitrogen due to cattle grazing, which has critical implicatio...

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68:06

#14 - Protecting New England’s Remaining Wildlands

Our Public Lands ·

2025/02/05

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 protection. Our conversation touches on the challenges of preventing degradation, the inadequacies of cu...

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49:56

#13 - Wild Fish and Old Growth

Our Public Lands ·

2025/01/24

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 detrimental effects on fish populations. He also explores the impact of hatcheries, debates around...

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102:37

#12 - Evaluating the Effectiveness and Ecological...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/01/04

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, offering ecological benefits that are often overlooked. Using examples from various studies, George exp...

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86:33

#11 - The Truth Behind Forest Management: Dr. Chad...

Our Public Lands ·

2024/12/15

In this episode, I interview Dr. Chad Hanson of the John Muir Project. We discusses 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, carbon emissions, and community safety. He advocates for a shift towards more honest public education and...

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94:18

#10 - Beavers & Water Conservation: A Call for...

Our Public Lands ·

2024/12/03

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 essential for both human and wildlife communities. We delve into the historical impacts on waterwa...

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85:43

#9 - Behind the Scenes with Blue Mountains...

Our Public Lands ·

2024/11/17

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.' The conversation also delves into the ineffectiveness of current fire risk reduction strategies, the detrimental imp...

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79:35

#8 - Championing Utah's Wilderness and Wildlife

Our Public Lands ·

2024/10/28

In this episode, I interview Kirk Robinson with the Western Wildlife Conservancy. Kirk shares his deep connection with Utah's environment, public lands, and history. We discuss the Great Salt Lake's environmental issues due to drought and human activities, highlighting the impacts of agriculture, mining, and urban growth. Kirk reflects on his family’s pioneer history, academic journey in philosophy, and passion for conservation. He details his involvement with organizations like the Utah Wild...

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57:21

#7 - Safeguarding the Wilderness Act

Our Public Lands ·

2024/10/05

In this episode, I interview Katie Bilodeau and Kevin Proescholdt from Wilderness Watch. We discuss their organization's mission to preserve the integrity of the wilderness Act, legal enforcement, and challenges to wilderness across the political spectrums. Our conversation delves into the historical context and continuing relevance of wilderness protection, including specific legislative threats and proposals that undermine the integrity of the Wilderness Act itself. Kevin and Katie address ...

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67:51

#6 - Logging, Politics, and Conservation: A Deep Dive...

Our Public Lands ·

2024/09/15

In this episode, I interview Andy Kerr, a main stay of conservation politics and public lands advocacy. Andy discusses his journey into forest conservation, reflecting on key moments in his career, such as the Save French Pete demonstration in 1970, and significant legislative milestones like the Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978. Andy also highlights the impactful yet controversial Northwest Forest Plan, the role of the Forest Service, and the evolving nature of conservation e...

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69:52

#5 - Oregon Coast Conservation

Our Public Lands ·

2024/08/24

In this episode, I interview Paul Englemeyer with the Bird Alliance of Oregon (formally the Audubon Society). Paul and I have an in-depth discussion on the conservation efforts and environmental challenges faced on Oregon's Central Coast. We cover topics such as the Clean Water Act, salmon recovery, the ecological importance of beavers, the impact of hatcheries to wild fish populations, forest management, and the significant role of public lands in conservation efforts. Our conversation also ...

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89:25

#4 - Balancing Grazing and Conservation—Is it Possible?

Our Public Lands ·

2024/08/10

In this episode I interview Laura Welp, Ecosystems Specialist with the Western Watersheds Project. We discuss the significance of our public lands, and the democratic principles that should underpin their management. Our discussion addresses the conflicts between livestock grazing and ecological health, including challenges from invasive species (like cheatgrass) and livestock impacts on native ecosystems. Various land management strategies and restoration efforts are examined alongside polit...

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72:37

#3 - The Gallatin Forest Partnership Exposed

Our Public Lands ·

2024/07/20

In this detailed conversation, I interview Dr. Joseph Scalia III to discuss our journey with the Gallatin Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance (GYWA) based in Bozeman, Montana and the broader challenges facing wilderness preservation. We reflect on our past and present experiences, including efforts to advocate for wilderness designations on public lands in the Gallatin Range and northern Yellowstone ecosystem. We delve into the complexities of environmental advocacy, the influence of big green gr...

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62 results

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