The MeatEater Podcast – Ep. 822: Public Lands and Weird Headlines | MeatEater Radio Live!
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Randall Williams (for Steven Rinella)
Featured Guests: Zach Lynch, Chris Allen, Mark Kenyon, regular MeatEater crew
Main Theme: The intersection of public lands advocacy, conservation politics, and the fun, unpredictable world of outdoors weird news.
Episode Overview
This live episode combines MeatEater’s signature blend of conservation talk, wild food, nerdy hunting politics, and irreverent humor. The hosts spotlight emerging grassroots conservation efforts, dissect some truly strange wildlife headlines, explore a heated national debate on public lands, and even bust out a live, AI-assisted "meat theater" performance of Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. Community Q&A and trivia ("Fake News") round out a lively, highly interactive show.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Wyoming Advocacy: Protect Wyoming PAC
[08:01–22:03]
What happened:
- Randall Williams interviews Zach Lynch and Chris Allen, founders of the new Protect Wyoming PAC.
- They clarify they’re a political action committee (not just an advocacy org).
- Motivated by recent anti-public land/anti-public wildlife legislation in Wyoming’s statehouse.
- Their goal: Educate Wyoming voters about legislator voting records and candidates’ stances, regardless of party.
Core Issues of the PAC:
- Keep public lands public: Oppose any transfer or privatization.
- Protect public wildlife: Strongly against transferable landowner tags and privatizing wildlife.
- Science-based management: Wildlife decisions should be made by biologists, not politicians.
Notable Discussion:
-
Anti-constituency attitudes from legislators:
“One of the co-sponsors of that bill said he didn't care that he was going to introduce the legislation again if he had the opportunity. And he didn’t care what the constituents thought. And so it was in that moment, really, that my eyes opened.” (Zach Lynch, 10:29) -
Landowner tag controversy:
“As it is in Wyoming now, ... you cannot sell [landowner] tags to anyone ... but we’ve seen legislation ... that would allow landowners to sell those tags off. ... It completely circumvents the draw system, it doesn’t put money in the state system at all. It just lines the pockets of large landowners...” (Zach Lynch, 15:02)
Encouragement to Listeners:
- Get involved locally, educate yourself on state issues (not just federal).
- “Those folks in Cheyenne or Helena ... often have a greater impact on your ability to hunt, fish and recreate than ... the President... does.” (Zach Lynch, 19:04)
For more info:
Their website (announced during show) and a forthcoming newsletter are the best ways to follow Protect Wyoming PAC.
2. Fake News Game: Odd Wildlife Headlines
[26:15–37:08]
A classic, laughter-filled segment with Randall reading bizarre wildlife headlines—only one is true each round.
ROUND 1 – "A three-legged blank has learned to hunt in a completely unexpected way."
Correct answer: A lion (C)
- “Jacob, an 11 year old lion in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, ... was filmed swimming 1.5 km across a crocodile filled river. The animal lost a leg in a poacher’s snare, but ... managed to adopt an ambush hunting strategy resembling that of leopards.” (Randall Williams, 29:17)
ROUND 2 – "Generations of bearded vultures stashed human treasures…"
Correct answer: Sandal (A)
- “Archaeologists recovered more than 200 human artifacts from historical bearded vulture nests in southern Spain. One ... is a 650-year-old sandal made from woven twigs and grasses...” (Randall Williams, 32:24)
ROUND 3 – "Bolivian river dolphins sometimes dangle blank in their mouths and scientists don’t know why."
Correct answer: Anacondas (B)
- “They saw ... Bolivian river dolphins ... holding an anaconda in their beaks, handling it like it was a plush toy. ... Apart from a single case of cannibalism, no one had ever seen Bolivian anacondas getting killed or eaten by any other wild animal.” (Randall Williams, 34:54)
Notable riff:
Panel’s delight at how random and unguessable the headlines are.
Comment: “It’s almost like it’s a flawed game.” (Phil Taylor, 35:02)
3. MeatEater Community Q&A
[37:22–45:43; 73:46–82:41]
The hosts tackle a variety of listener-submitted questions, including:
- Cooking marmot (“...cook them inside their [skin] with the hair on and everything...”)
- Adding organ meats to burger (“...toss it in there. I’ve thrown like heart in with my burger grind before.”)
- Best Teddy Roosevelt biographies (“If you want something a little lighter, ... read River of Doubt.”)
- Pike fishing in Ireland (“Be careful when you land one. Don’t get slime all over your boat or your clothes. And keep your fingers away from the teeth and gills.”)
- Quail hunting and recipe tips (“Grill them whole, keep the skin on, two per person.”)
- Venison hot dog and punt gun content: “Stay tuned!”
4. Conservation Update with Mark Kenyon (New MeatEater Director of Conservation)
[45:53–59:51]
Mark’s background:
Steeped in whitetail hunting (Wired to Hunt roots), but passionate about conservation and public lands.
Feels “on fire” for the new role: “It's the kind of work I've been dreaming of and working towards for a really long time.” (Mark Kenyon, 47:42)
What the Director of Conservation does:
- Strategic planning: “How do we, at MeatEater, rally our resources and our voice ... to work towards better conservation outcomes?”
- Content focus: amplifying conservation storytelling, news, and education.
- Lining up boots-on-the-ground opportunities for the MeatEater community.
Notable moment:
“It was more painful than anything having to sit here and hear you guys talk about book recommendations and not be able to speak.” (Mark Kenyon, 46:14)
BLM Director Nomination Controversy
[51:18–59:35]
Who: Steve Pierce, nominee for Bureau of Land Management director (oversees 240–250 million public acres).
Why it matters:
Pierce has a long history of supporting federal land transfer or sell-off (not just a one-off comment). “He supported the Jason Chaffetz 2017 bill that would sell off three some million acres of public lands... I could go on and on.” (Mark Kenyon, 52:11)
Conservation community response:
- Strong opposition; over 80 groups sent formal opposition letters.
- “The alarm is being rung. ... I would like him to do so ... with some commitments on the record to not do, to not pursue some of the ideas that he’s voiced support for in the past.” (Mark Kenyon, 56:34)
Listener action item:
Pressure your senators (especially Energy & Natural Resources Committee) to grill Pierce at his confirmation hearing (date TBD).
BHA has a tool for submitting suggested questions.
5. Meat Theater: AI-Generated Hemingway Parody
[63:29–73:39]
The crew performs an AI-generated, dramatically revised live script of The Old Man and the Sea, starring Cory as the inspirational boy, Brody as the fish (with “wholesome 1950s profanity”), and Randall as Santiago.
- “[As the Fish]: ‘You stubborn son of a gun. You should just cut the line. I am stronger than you. Your hands bleed, old man. … Dagnabbit, why must you kill me? I have done nothing to you.’” (Brody Henderson, ~67:37–68:27)
- Audience (and crew) delighted, with running jokes about assigning unfair roles and Brody’s comedic chops as a deeply poetic fish.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I suggested Corey talk about his son’s broken arm, and he seemed reluctant to do so. So I’m just gonna put it out there.” (Randall Williams, 03:17)
- “There are a lot of great advocacy organizations for public lands and wildlife in Wyoming. ... And you know, I remember clearly in Cody, one town hall where one of the co-sponsors of that bill said he didn't care ... what the constituents thought.” (Zach Lynch, 10:29)
- “Wildlife is in the possession of the people of Wyoming, not individual property.” (Zach Lynch, 16:31)
- “Those folks in Cheyenne ... often have a greater impact on your ability to hunt, fish and recreate than ... the President ... does.” (Zach Lynch, 19:04)
- “A three legged blank has learned to hunt in a completely unexpected way.” [Fake news segment riff, 27:52]
- “Jacob ... was filmed swimming 1.5 km across a crocodile filled river ... lost a leg in a poacher’s snare, but managed to adopt an ambush style hunting strategy.” (29:17)
- “It’s almost like it’s a flawed game.” (Phil Taylor about ‘Fake News’, 35:02)
- “I was so excited for that. ... I made Brody a fish mask and I didn’t give it to him. But it’s probably for the best.” (Randall, 73:14)
- “I just like felt for that fish, man, because he really got boned, you know?” (Brody, 81:57)
Important Segment Timestamps
- 02:03 — Show intro, panel introductions, banter about hunting points and young Calkins’ broken arm
- 08:01 — Interview with Zach Lynch & Chris Allen, Protect Wyoming PAC
- 26:15 — “Fake News” headline trivia game
- 45:53 — Mark Kenyon: conservation news, BLM director controversy
- 63:29 — “Meat Theater” performance
- 73:46 — Lightning round listener Q&A
Show Tone & Style
The episode is lively, humor-packed, and a little irreverent, bouncing seamlessly between hard-nosed conservation debate, rural life stories, and wild, quirky news. Authentic camaraderie and playful jabs keep things moving, anchored in real-world concern for public lands and wildlife.
For Further Info
- Protect Wyoming PAC: Website/newsletter for Wyoming public lands advocacy
- Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA): For public lands action tool
- MeatEater Podcast Network: More conservation content, MeatEater social for updates
In summary:
This live episode skillfully mixes fun and activism. The crew undresses a growing threat to public lands, laughs through the oddest wildlife news, and introduces MeatEater’s new conservation leadership. The message: Stay vigilant, get involved locally, and never let conservation get too boring to talk about—or too serious to laugh about.