Outdoor Minimalist

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At the beginning of April, I published an article for SFGATE asking a simple but complicated question: Do clothing take-...
05/11/2026

At the beginning of April, I published an article for SFGATE asking a simple but complicated question: Do clothing take-back programs actually reduce clothing production and fashion’s environmental impact?

After speaking with brands like Levi Strauss & Co., Patagonia, and The North Face, the answer wasn’t exactly clear. Every brand approached take-back and resale differently, with different goals, systems, and definitions of success.

Our guest today, Pancho Gomez, has spent the last two decades working at the intersection of technology, the outdoor industry, and social responsibility.

Most recently, he led the Customer Experience team at Trove, helping build trade-in and resale programs for brands including Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Levi’s, and Carhartt.

So I had to ask him: Are gear and clothing take-back programs actually helping build a circular economy, or are they just another form of greenwashing?

In episode 222 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, Pancho takes us behind the scenes of how these programs operate, what brands gain from them, and whether resale can meaningfully reduce waste in the outdoor and fashion industries.

Listen on all podcast platforms

Human rights are not a political issue. Unfollow me if you think they are.
05/08/2026

Human rights are not a political issue. Unfollow me if you think they are.

The clothing brand TEREN was built on a simple idea: pack less, adventure more. Now, their first hire, Casey Hyde, has s...
05/04/2026

The clothing brand TEREN was built on a simple idea: pack less, adventure more. Now, their first hire, Casey Hyde, has stepped in as CEO to lead the brand’s next chapter.

In episode 221 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, Casey shares how he wore the brand’s Traveler Tee for 60 days and its Traveler Pants for 45 days before washing—an experiment designed to challenge how often we wash, pack, and replace our clothing. 

His takeaway? Most of us are overpacking, overwashing, and overconsuming far more than necessary.

Now, he’s applying those lessons to scaling a brand rooted in the idea of an “evergreen wardrobe,” rather than chasing seasonal trends.

Listen to the full interview in episode 221 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast.

Available on all podcast platforms.

On April 24th, the US Forest Service announced a 45-day comment period on a proposed old-growth logging project in Alask...
05/01/2026

On April 24th, the US Forest Service announced a 45-day comment period on a proposed old-growth logging project in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.

The Twin Mountain II Timber Sale Project would authorize logging across more than 1,600 acres of old-growth forest, producing up to 28.6 million board feet of timber and supporting over 100 jobs, according to federal officials.

The proposal includes multiple alternatives, including a no-action option, and is now open for public input for 45 days, ending June 7th.

Use the first link on my page to make a public comment.
[and yes, you can comment if you live outside of Alaska]

To learn more about how this project connects to the national pressures on public lands, tune into the Friday, May 1, episode of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast where I’m joined by Nathan Newcomer, the Federal Campaigns Manager of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council.

Listen on all podcast platforms.

On April 28, the U.S. Senate voted 52–47 along party lines to advance an en bloc package of 49 nominees, including Steve...
04/29/2026

On April 28, the U.S. Senate voted 52–47 along party lines to advance an en bloc package of 49 nominees, including Steve Pearce for Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

So what does en bloc actually mean?

Instead of voting on each nominee individually, senators vote on a large group all at once. That means controversial nominees can be bundled with less controversial ones, making it harder to track how lawmakers voted on any single person.

According to Michael Carroll of the The Wilderness Society, this process can limit transparency and accountability in confirmations like this one.

🎧 Tune into Friday’s episode for more on en bloc voting, Steve Pearce’s nomination, and what his confirmation means for public lands.

The U.S. Forest Service opened a 45 day public comment on April 24th for a proposed logging project in Alaska’s Tongass ...
04/27/2026

The U.S. Forest Service opened a 45 day public comment on April 24th for a proposed logging project in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.

The Twin Mountain II Timber Sale Project would authorize logging across more than 1,600 acres of old-growth forest, producing up to 28.6 million board feet of timber and supporting over 100 jobs, according to federal officials.

Supporters say the plan is essential for maintaining Southeast Alaska’s timber industry.

Critics argue it could permanently damage ecosystems, wildlife habitat, and subsistence resources.

The proposal includes multiple alternatives, including a no-action option, and is now open for public input for 45 days. Use the first link on my page to make a comment.

Sources: USDA Forest Service press release, Twin Mountain II DEIS, Boat Company press release

Earth Day has always been a difficult time of year for me. While it is a time to celebrate the Earth and all her wonder,...
04/22/2026

Earth Day has always been a difficult time of year for me. While it is a time to celebrate the Earth and all her wonder, it is often hard to see the good through all the darkness.

Then I take a hike and remember all the women who fought to protect these lands long before me: Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, Wangari Maathai, Vandana Shiva, Winona LaDuke, Katie Lee, and so many others.

Earth Day has become a commercialized event where greenwashing runs rampant and harmful corporations cosplay being nice for a month, or even just a day, but what gives me hope is those women who paved the way and showed me what was possible. All the people inching to the frontlines of the climate fight in recent years or even those who are just joining today; each and every one of you gives me hope.

There is so much beauty and wonder in the world, and some days will be harder than others, but today I hope you find time to sit in your sanctuary, wherever that might be.

After all, Earth Day is every day✌🏽💚

In 2023, we released an episode about eco-anxiety that quickly became one of the most listened-to conversations on this ...
04/20/2026

In 2023, we released an episode about eco-anxiety that quickly became one of the most listened-to conversations on this show, and landed us our first award. 

But honestly, that didn’t surprise me. More and more people are feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world—whether it’s the climate crisis, the 24-hour news cycle, political instability, or just the constant sense that everything is happening all at once.

So in episode 220 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, I wanted to revisit that topic, but from a slightly broader perspective with the help of my guest, Laura Hartley.
Laura is a leadership coach & climate activist helping changemakers deepen their impact while living their most thriving life. Fascinated by the relationship between inner and outer change, Laura bridges systems thinking with self-work to empower changemakers with the skills of dismantling capitalism and patriarchy from the inside out.  

Together, we explore how eco-anxiety fits into the wider landscape of burnout, information overload, and the pressure many people feel to personally “fix” the world’s problems. We talk about how our economic and cultural systems—things like individualism, capitalism, and the myth of the lone hero—shape the way we experience stress and responsibility in the climate movement.
But we also explore the other side of that conversation: community, hope, and how reconnecting with each other—and the natural world—can change the way we navigate these feelings.

Available on all podcast platforms

An important note: This episode discusses topics like anxiety, burnout, and emotional responses to climate change. However, neither my guest nor I are trained therapist or mental health professional. This conversation is meant to explore ideas and share perspectives, not provide medical advice. If you’re experiencing severe anxiety, distress, or other mental health symptoms, please consider seeking support from a qualified mental health professional.

The White House has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the Department of the Interior, outlining sweeping...
04/18/2026

The White House has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the Department of the Interior, outlining sweeping changes across the agencies that manage the nation’s public lands, waters, and wildlife.
 
The proposal calls for significant funding cuts, workforce reductions, and a broader shift toward prioritizing energy and mineral development on federally managed lands.
 
The National Park Service would see notable staffing reductions and cuts to operations and maintenance, raising questions about visitor services and park upkeep.
 
The Bureau of Land Management faces steep workforce declines and the elimination of several land management and conservation programs, alongside a continued emphasis on energy development.
 
At the U.S. Geological Survey, proposed cuts target scientific research and environmental monitoring, including the elimination of entire program areas.
 
The Bureau of Reclamation budget scales back water conservation and drought resilience programs, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would see reduced funding for habitat management and the loss of several conservation grant programs.
 
The budget is not final and must still be approved by Congress.
 
In this week’s Friday Public Lands News Briefing, we take a closer look at what these changes could mean for Bureau of Land Management lands in a conversation with Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation.

Listen to the Outdoor Minimalist podcast on all podcast platforms.

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A growing legal battle is unfolding over proposed border wall construction in the Big Bend region of Texas, as the Cente...
04/17/2026

A growing legal battle is unfolding over proposed border wall construction in the Big Bend region of Texas, as the Center for Biological Diversity and its partners filed two lawsuits against federal agencies in April.
 
The most recent lawsuit, filed April 16 in federal court, targets the Department of Homeland Security, arguing the agency unlawfully waived dozens of environmental, cultural, and public lands protections to fast-track wall construction.
 
Plaintiffs, including local landowners, advocates, and the Texas Civil Rights Project, say the administration is exercising powers Congress never explicitly authorized.
 
At the center of the case is the use of legal waivers to bypass cornerstone laws like the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act, raising constitutional questions under the “major questions doctrine,” which requires clear congressional approval for actions with broad economic and political consequences.
 
The lawsuit also highlights on-the-ground impacts: a proposed wall could cut off public access to the Rio Grande, disrupt wildlife migration corridors, and threaten the recreation-based economy that sustains local communities.
 
This filing follows an earlier lawsuit on April 7 against U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which accuses the agency of withholding public records related to wall construction plans. Filed under the Freedom of Information Act, that case seeks basic documents, including maps, emails, and environmental analyses.
 
Together, the lawsuits paint a picture of rapidly advancing plans paired with limited transparency. Federal agencies have issued conflicting maps and statements about where walls would be built, at times showing barriers cutting through both state and national park lands before revising plans to reference undefined “detection technology.”
 
This week on The Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, I speak with Laiken Jordahl about these lawsuits and what they mean for the future of Big Bend.

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