Podcast
Our Public Lands
Hosted by Adam Bronstein · EN
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
ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
#78 - Evicting Bison from the Public Lands w/ Alison Fox
1w ago00:55:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I interview Alison Fox, executive director of American Prairie, about the organization’s 25-year effort to build a 3.2-million-acre grassland reserve anchored by the 1.1-million-acre Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Ali describes on-the-ground restoration including a bison herd grown from 16 animals to nearly 1,000, fence modification/removal, stream work, junk removal, and prairie dog restoration, plus wildlife successes like swift fox reintroduction and grizzly sightings. Our conversation centers on BLM’s proposed reversal of a 2022 decision allowing bison grazing on seven allotments they lease in Phillips County, introducing a new “production” standard under the Taylor Grazing Act that could affect other bison permittees and tribal herds; American Prairie has protested and is preparing further challenges while contingency-planning for herd relocation. Ali also discuss public access and hunting programs, local reactions and misconceptions, donor criticism, tribal partnerships, and a closing invitation to visit the reserve and the importance of public lands.www.americanprairie.org03:33 Meet Alison Fox04:27 Alison’s Background and Montana05:51 American Prairie Mission06:45 Origins and Why Grasslands Matter08:03 Acreage Breakdown and BLM Leases09:25 On the Ground Restoration Work11:39 Wildlife Comebacks Swift Fox13:23 Rewilding and Grizzly Return15:57 Land Acquisition and Ranching Leases17:48 Anchor Ranch and Public Access20:20 BLM Move to Rescind Bison Grazing24:33 Taylor Grazing Act Production Standard27:01 Precedent Risks and Next Steps28:42 Contingency Plans30:39 Cattle Only Permit Shift31:05 State Land Legal Fight31:47 Tribal Partnerships35:20 Stocking Rate Decisions36:08 Bison Versus Cattle38:10 Donors And Transparency41:55 Local Reception And Critics44:01 Hunting Access Programs46:05 Dispelling Bison Myths49:13 Negative Bison Easements50:15 Working With BLM50:50 Visit American Prairie51:54 Why Public Lands Matter Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#77 - Land Less Film: Old Growth Clearcutting in the Tongass w/ Joshua Wright & Wanda Culp
3w ago00:47:32Tap to summarizeDo you value this program? I am a one-man operation and could use your support! Thank youIn this episode, I am joined by Wanda Culp and Joshua Wright to discuss their new film, Land Less, and the “Landless Bill” (S.2554 / H.R.41), that would transfer 115,000 acres of Southeast Alaska public lands on the Tongass National Forest—about 60,000 currently protected by the Roadless Rule—to new Native corporations created under ANCSA. They describe ANCSA’s corporate model and contend past Tongass transfers, including the 2014 Sealaska Bill and the Alaska Mental Health Trust exchange, have repeatedly led to large-scale old-growth clearcut logging. They criticize major environmental groups like The Nature Conservancy and The Wilderness Society for supporting the bill, warning it functions as a workaround to NEPA and federal oversight, and discuss Sealaska’s cease-and-desist letter over a filmed boardroom scene. www.LandLessFilm.com00:56 Episode Preview Landless Bill02:12 Alaska Land Transfers Context04:04 Meet Wanda and Joshua04:24 Why Make Landless?06:47 Wanda’s Story09:22 Past Tongass Transfer Deals11:41 Why Landless Enables Logging14:41 Big Greens Backlash18:43 Sealaska Cease and Desist28:32 Tribal Governance and Youth34:07 No Public Process After Transfer38:44 Climate Crisis and Extraction41:30 How to Take Action Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#76 - Clearwater Country, Wilderness Values, and Forest Service Restructuring w/ Gary Macfarlane
4w ago01:03:06Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I speak with long-time wilderness advocate Gary MacFarlane. Gary discusses moving from Idaho to France, still active with Wilderness Watch and Friends of the Clearwater, he explains his long connection to the Northern Rockies and why the Clearwater Basin is so special to him, with diverse habitats and notable wildlife history including wolves, grizzly sightings, and the decline of woodland caribou tied to habitat change and human access. Our conversation covers threats to roadless areas, weaknesses and loopholes in the Roadless Rule, and the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. We discuss mechanized recreation, core Wilderness Act protections, and concerns about Forest Service ties to industry, outsourcing, and reorganization harming wilderness stewardship, plus critiques of fire-logging justifications.02:03 Idaho to France Life03:17 Wild Places in France05:29 Why the Clearwater Matters07:29 Inland Rainforest Ecology09:15 Wolves Grizzlies Caribou14:29 Roadless Rule Loopholes16:41 Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act19:26 Politics Jobs and Subsidies24:10 Recreation Versus Wilderness29:54 What Wilderness Protects31:46 Logging Bans Explained32:38 Grazing and Guiding Loopholes34:10 Chainsaws and Trail Ethics36:33 Forest Service Reorg Fallout38:58 Losing Wilderness Professionals45:23 Devolution to State Control47:29 Research Stations and Fire Science50:32 Privatization and Canada Warning53:25 Reform Ideas for New Agencies58:26 Prescribed Fire and Home Hardening Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#75 - Our Next Public Lands Champion in Congress? w/ Ryan Busse
Apr 2300:51:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I speak with Ryan Busse, Democratic congressional candidate running in MT-01. He is currently projected to win the upcoming primary election in early June. On public lands issues in Congress, Ryan argues calls and letters aren’t enough without electoral change, citing the example of the recent vote on the Boundary Waters, and lays out his case as to why he’ll be a strong fighter for public lands in Washington for all Americans. We discuss “collaborative conservation” and Montana public-lands bills that protect limited wilderness acres at the expense of vast swaths of roadless forests. We discuss Montana’s logging past, new economies, the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, restoration jobs, and a wildfire approach focused on home hardening and defensible space rather than backcountry logging.https://busseformontana.com00:34 Guest Intro03:36 Campaign Life on the Road05:17 Boundary Waters Disaster08:10 Public Lands Laws09:40 Zinke and Daines Exit11:57 Hunting Season Sacrifices12:56 Public Lands Campaign Plan15:28 Why Elect True Advocates?17:24 Busse’s Conservation Resume19:13 Democratic Opponents21:20 Public Lands for All Americans23:23 Polls and Montana’s Stakes25:17 Public Lands on the Ballot25:59 Collaborative Conservation27:43 Why Collaboration Fails29:31 Montana’s Collaborative Bills32:45 Roadless Habitat35:43 NREPA and Restoration Jobs37:30 Wild Places Drive the Economy41:30 Lumber Mill Automation and Jobs43:42 Wildfire Science and Home Hardening48:09 Election Stakes Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#74 - What's Next for the Boundary Waters? w/ Ingrid Lyons
Apr 1900:49:19Tap to summarizePlease consider “upgrading” your subscription to support my workU.S. Senate passed H.J. Res. 140 (50–49) to overturn a 20-year mineral withdrawal protecting 225,504 acres in the Boundary Waters’ Rainy River headwaters, sending the resolution to President Trump. Ingrid explains the Quetico-Superior ecosystem’s vulnerability to sulfide copper mining, the history of canceled Twin Metals leases and the 2023 public land order, and argues the Congressional Review Act use is unprecedented and threatens broader public land orders. She outlines next steps including likely issuance of federal mineral leases, expedited federal and state permitting and environmental review, possible litigation, and pursuing permanent protections through federal and Minnesota legislation, while urging supporters to thank supportive senators, hold others accountable, volunteer, donate, and stay engaged.Save the Boundary Waters Action Fund00:56 Senate Vote Fallout02:08 Meet Ingrid Lyons02:49 Why the Boundary Waters Matter05:26 Mining Threat Explained06:51 How Protections Were Won09:48 Withdrawal Area Breakdown11:42 Legislative Attacks Timeline13:34 How the CRA Was Used17:02 Senate Vote and Precedent18:51 Coalition Strength and Vote Count23:23 What Happens Next28:56 How You Can Help33:23 Q and A Begins Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#73 - A Woman Among Wolves w/ Diane Boyd
Apr 1700:48:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I interview Diane Boyd, wolf biologist and author. Diane describes learning wolf trapping and collaring during her early years in Minnesota, then moving to Montana in 1979 during early natural wolf recolonization before the 1995–96 Yellowstone/Idaho introductions. She explains why biologists trap wolves, what radio-collars reveal about pack behavior, reproduction, territories, diet, and genetics, and how wolf management has become politicized. Our discussion critiques state population modeling, increasingly liberal wolf-killing rules, and persistent misinformation blaming wolves for game declines despite elk numbers being high and livestock losses from wolves being small. We also discuss public-lands grazing impacts, nonlethal coexistence tools, fears of escalation to poisoning, and the need for better public communication of science, advocating for public lands, and her new book — A Woman Among Wolves.Diane’s book - A Woman Among Wolves00:56 Episode Preview02:51 Meet Diane Boyd03:24 Hunting Talk05:00 Wolf Origins06:01 Trapping And Collars07:34 Montana Recolonization08:56 Research Questions10:06 Models And Trends11:42 Wolf Hunting Debate15:27 Elk Deer Myths17:22 Grazing And Habitat19:31 Coexistence Tools23:31 People Politics Data25:44 Why Wolves Get Blamed26:49 Control Culture and Old Predator Wars28:53 Common Myths30:52 Hunting Pressure and Poison Fears34:41 Changing Minds With Better Science36:08 Agency Misinformation and Suppressed Research40:10 Grizzlies Next?42:36 Why Wolves Adapt Everywhere45:04 Hope, Tolerance, and Public LandsBy “upgrading” your subscription, can help support my work. Thanks to all my listeners and supporters! Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#72 - Halting the Big Bend Border Wall w/ Bob Krumenaker
Apr 1401:06:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I interview Bob Krumenaker, retired Big Bend National Park superintendent, about the recently proposed Big Bend border wall and its implications. Bob describes Big Bend’s desert, Chisos Mountains, and the Rio Grande riparian corridor, emphasizing biodiversity, cross-border wildlife movement, and the park’s international protected-area status. He argues Big Bend has the lowest illegal crossing activity on the southern border—about 200 apprehensions annually within the park—and says a 30-foot bollard wall would require new roads, towers, lighting, and secondary barriers, harming wilderness character, dark skies, river access, and wildlife. The discussion covers existing surveillance infrastructure, an MOU guiding Border Patrol conduct, prior wall impacts in Organ Pipe and Coronado, and a nonpartisan coalition opposing the wall while supporting less intrusive, cooperative technology. Bob also outlines advocacy steps and links the fight to long-stalled wilderness designation efforts.Thousands in Texas protest against border wall through national park: ‘big love for Big Bend’Sign the Change Dot Org PetitionFive Call - Stop Construction of a Border Wall in the Big Bend RegionCapitol Switchboard Number - (202) 224-3121Keep Big Bend WildNo Big Bend Boarder Wall00:56 Episode Preview02:12 Support the Podcast03:03 Meet Bob Krumenaker03:26 Career Path to Superintendent04:56 Advocacy Inside NPS06:48 Park Service Mission and Management11:43 Pivot to Big Bend Tenure13:57 Big Bend Ecosystems Overview16:30 Sky Islands and Rare Species17:41 Wildlife Comebacks and Connectivity19:49 Crossings Data and Border Patrol Role21:58 Wall Impacts in Other Parks26:00 MOU and Working with Border Patrol27:53 Wall Proposal Timeline and Map Changes33:00 What a Wall Would Build35:20 River Access At Risk36:21 What Smart Wall Means38:57 Surveillance Tradeoffs42:15 How Crossings Really Work45:46 Coalition Against The Wall54:01 Wilderness History And Future01:00:18 How You Can Help01:03:05 Why Public Lands Matter Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#71 - The Life, Legacy and Cancellation of John Muir w/ Harold Wood
Apr 1001:06:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I interview Harold Wood, writer and historian, who specializes in the life and work of John Muir, one of the nation’s most influential and now, controversial, wilderness advocates. Harold discusses his lifelong interest in Muir and explains why his blend of scientific observation and poetic writing remains influential today. He outlines Muir’s role in the wilderness movement and the Sierra Club’s early conservation campaigns. The conversation addresses presentism and claims about Muir’s views of Native Americans. Harold disputes allegations linking Muir to Indigenous removals, racism and eugenics. Harold argues that we have much to learn from the life and advocacy of Muir and that we should come together as conservationists to address the challenges of the present day.John Muir and Native AmericansJohn Muir: Racist or Admirer of Native Americans?Criticizing Muir and misunderstanding the foundation of American nature conservationWho was John Muir, Really?Battle for the Wilderness by Michael Frome 00:56 Episode Overview02:05 Harold Wood Background03:03 Why Muir Matters03:49 Who Was John Muir04:55 Roosevelt Yosemite Trip06:38 Fame and Hetch Hetchy11:18 Sierra Club Origins13:15 Outings and Modern Era16:17 Presentism Explained20:02 Early Native Views23:13 Views Evolve Through Travel26:11 Ecocentric Worldview28:35 Indigenous Land Management31:42 Yosemite Removal Claims33:53 Parks and Displacement36:18 Muir Backlash41:26 Eugenics Claims Rebuttal42:19 Sequoia League Support46:46 Unity Through Grassroots49:42 Wilderness Big Lie56:14 Agency Politics and Wilderness Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#70 - Fighting to Keep Wilderness Untrammeled w/ Kevin Proescholdt
Apr 100:47:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I welcome back Kevin Proescholdt of Wilderness Watch to discuss wilderness policy debates, focusing on large prescribed-burning proposals like the Forest Service plan to burn all 289,000 acres of Illinois’s Shawnee National Forest, including about 40,000 acres of designated wilderness, and a Boundary Waters project proposal to burn roughly 87,000 of Wilderness. Kevin and I dispute claims that Indigenous people broadly burned entire regions and landscapes, citing newer research suggesting more localized burning around village sites and for food cultivation. We argue agencies use false Indigenous fire narratives to justify forest thinning and landscape manipulation. We also critique Claire Boerigter’s recent article: “How protecting wilderness could mean purposefully tending it, not just leaving it alone,” which advocates active management of wilderness.Wilderness, Indigenous land zones and regionality in North American forestsFor Wilderness to remain wild, it must remain unmanipulated02:03 Kevin Proescholdt background04:01 Current wilderness hotspots06:59 Holding the wilderness line12:20 Why wilderness matters15:31 Fire narratives and logging cover18:58 Shawnee National Forest burn proposal21:36 Indigenous burning 24:22 Boundary Waters burn plan25:28 Flawed fire history methods26:46 Habitat loss and species decline27:16 Wilderness Act Misread30:53 Wilderness Pristine Straw Man Arguments35:47 Let Lightning Fires Burn38:14 Why High Intensity Matters40:21 Wildness and Mental Health41:27 Fire Regeneration Perspective Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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#69 - Defending Alaska’s Brooks Range w/ John Gaedeke
Mar 1800:51:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I interview John Gaedeke, who was raised around a remote wilderness lodge near Inuk Lake in the Brooks Range, Alaska, and now helps lead Defend the Brooks Range. Our conversation centers on threats from proposed infrastructure and expanded mineral development, including the Ambler Road and changes to protections along the Dalton Highway corridor, which John says could enable heavy ore trucking, intensify industrialization, and increase risks to rivers, salmon, and caribou while exporting raw copper overseas with limited benefits to Alaskans.01:39 Land Transfers and Oak Flat03:08 Meet John 03:22 Life in the Brooks Range04:16 Winter Travel and Lodge Logistics06:29 Building a Remote Wilderness Lodge08:28 From Hunting to Ecotourism10:15 Why Protections Matter11:40 Extraction Economics and Dividends14:31 Defend the Brooks Range Origins15:33 Brooks Range Extremes and Fragility17:48 Wildlife Encounters Up North20:21 Fishing Inuk Lake22:37 Recreation Changes and Elite Wilderness24:49 Brooks Range Humility25:19 Dalton Corridor Rules27:39 Mining Meets Pipelines28:48 Ore Economics Explained30:42 Roads Change Wilderness32:57 Ambler Road Risks34:59 Litigation And Unknowns38:01 Biggest Red Flags41:51 How To Push Back46:32 Public Lands Giveaway Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe
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