Outdoor Minimalist

Outdoor Minimalist Raising awareness through conversation, information, and mindfulness
Black-Footed Ferret Productions

06/09/2026

Did you know we have a tagline? ⬇️

“Together, we can create a better outdoor space as we recreate.” 🫶🏽

Hear the full conversation Ft. Liz Crandall from in episode 224 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast

Spoiler: Liz asks the most fun questions EVER 🥳💃🏻

Available on all podcast platforms!

06/09/2026

It can feel impossible to find joy when the headlines never seem to let up.
 
From attacks on public lands and environmental protections to growing uncertainty for the people who steward these places, many of us are carrying a constant sense of urgency, grief, and overwhelm.
 
But what if joy isn’t a distraction from the work?
 
What if joy is what sustains us through it?
 
In episode 224 of Outdoor Minimalist, I sit down with podcaster, former U.S. Forest Service employee, and public lands advocate Liz Crandall to talk about resilience and the role joy plays in challenging times.
 
Together, we explore how to stay informed without becoming consumed by the news cycle, the importance of caring for ourselves as we advocate for the places we love, and why local action and community connection matter now more than ever.
 
Liz is the creator and host of Rangers of the Lost Park, a podcast that helps listeners better understand public lands through the stories of the people who work in and care for them.
 
As a former federal employee who was directly impacted by recent workforce cuts, Liz brings both personal experience and professional insight to conversations about public lands. Throughout our conversation, she reminds us that joy is not separate from the work of protecting public lands and that it’s often what makes that work possible.

Listen to our conversation anywhere you find podcasts.

It can feel impossible to find joy when the headlines never seem to let up. From attacks on public lands and environment...
06/08/2026

It can feel impossible to find joy when the headlines never seem to let up.
 
From attacks on public lands and environmental protections to growing uncertainty for the people who steward these places, many of us are carrying a constant sense of urgency, grief, and overwhelm.
 
But what if joy isn’t a distraction from the work?
 
What if joy is what sustains us through it?
 
In episode 224 of Outdoor Minimalist, I sit down with podcaster, former U.S. Forest Service employee, and public lands advocate Liz Crandall to talk about resilience and the role joy plays in challenging times.
 
Together, we explore how to stay informed without becoming consumed by the news cycle, the importance of caring for ourselves as we advocate for the places we love, and why local action and community connection matter now more than ever.
 
Liz is the creator and host of Rangers of the Lost Park, a podcast that helps listeners better understand public lands through the stories of the people who work in and care for them.
 
As a former federal employee who was directly impacted by recent workforce cuts, Liz brings both personal experience and professional insight to conversations about public lands. Throughout our conversation, she reminds us that joy is not separate from the work of protecting public lands and that it’s often what makes that work possible.

Listen to our conversation anywhere you find podcasts.

“There is no democracy without journalism.”These were words spoken by Scott Pelley, on The Interview, a podcast from the...
06/07/2026

“There is no democracy without journalism.”

These were words spoken by Scott Pelley, on The Interview, a podcast from the New York Times.

The interview focuses on the fallout of 60 minutes correspondents, including Scott Pelley, who was fired following a conversation pushing back against political interference in their broadcasting.

Journalism is often seen as an additional branch of democracy. Shining a light onto the truth and one that is needed to keep power in balance.

But when journalists, talk show hosts, and other media personalities are silenced for reporting facts instead of skewing information in favor of a politician, democracy is no longer in place.

The firing of Scott Pelley and gutting of 60 minutes correspondents is one more knock against journalism in the United States, and I thank Scott Pelley for speaking out.

I’ve looked up to him and the 60 minutes team since I was young, and losing what they’ve built is heartbreaking for many reasons.

But perhaps the most alarming reason is that the people in power believe that journalists can be silenced.

The good news is that journalists are raised in the fire of adversity and it is their job to witness all sides of humanity… the good, the bad, and the ugly.

You think firing them will stop them? It makes their voices shine brighter.

06/07/2026

Public lands agencies across the U.S. are facing significant staffing cuts, with the Forest Service and National Park Service reportedly down nearly a quarter of their workforce.

That loss is already raising concerns about wildfire readiness, land management capacity, and the long-term stewardship of public lands.

In this conversation, Rep. Jared Huffman breaks down the new Public Lands Workforce Stability Act, introduced alongside Rep. Joe Neguse, and why lawmakers say these staffing reductions could have real consequences on the ground.

Listen to the full interview in the June 1st episode of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast.

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06/06/2026

Better yet... brands should take responsibility and produce less! It’s not our job to fix their problem, but individual choices can influence market behavior if enough of us make changes.

Hear the full conversation with Eli from The Ground Between Us podcast.

Episode details below:

In this episode, I sit down with Meg Carney, writer, environmental advocate, and creator of Outdoor Minimalist, to explore the future of public lands, conservation, and what it means to build a more sustainable relationship with the outdoors.

We talk through the complexity of public land management in the United States, from policy shifts and environmental regulation to the real-world impacts these decisions have on ecosystems, wildlife, and the people who use these landscapes. Meg also shares her perspective on stewardship, outdoor ethics, and how everyday choices can shape the long-term health of our natural spaces.

This conversation is ultimately about learning how to better understand the land beneath our feet—how it functions, how it changes, and how we can engage with it more thoughtfully as hunters, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Public lands and conservation in the United States
• Environmental policy and regulatory change
• Stewardship and outdoor ethics
• Climate and ecosystem impacts on recreation
• Wildlife and habitat management
• Outdoor minimalism and reducing environmental impact
• The role of hunters, hikers, and anglers in conservation
• Freshwater ecosystems and land use

Listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

06/05/2026

During a House hearing on Thursday, June 4, Representative Emily Randall from Washington questioned Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz’s views on climate change and how it would influence projected management efforts.

The Trump administration cuts that have reduced the agency’s workforce by nearly 6,000 employees (about 16%), including staff qualified to assist with wildfires.

According to the Center for Western Priorities, the Forest Service also treated roughly 35% fewer acres for wildfire risk reduction in 2025 than in 2024.

Schultz also backed efforts to repeal the Roadless Rule, expand logging, eliminate Forest Service research programs, and pursue aggressive suppression of all wildfires, a strategy scientists say can increase long-term wildfire risk.

The administration is currently proposing a 75% cut to the Forest Service budget, including eliminating the agency’s research division.

More to come on this topic in the June 15 episode of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast.

06/04/2026

FACT CHECK: Did the Forest Service fire 10,000 employees? And are Oregon scientists being forced to move to Colorado?

During a June 4 House Natural Resources Committee hearing, Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) challenged Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz over workforce reductions, budget cuts, and the future of the Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Dexter claimed the Forest Service had “fired 10,000 workers.” Schultz disputed that, saying roughly 6,500 employees accepted Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) offers and left voluntarily.

USDA has reported that more than 15,000 employees accepted deferred resignation offers in 2025, including more than 4,000 Forest Service employees.

Additional staff accepted retirement and separation incentives, bringing total Forest Service workforce losses to roughly 6,500 employees.

While those workers were not technically fired, the agency has returned to staffing levels similar to 2017-2018 after years of growth funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

The hearing also focused on the Pacific Northwest Research Station in Portland. Dexter said roughly 250 scientists and researchers are being told to relocate to Fort Collins, Colorado, or risk losing their jobs.

Schultz responded that no employee has been ordered to move, no reduction-in-force notices have been issued, and no one has been told they must relocate to Colorado.

However, he confirmed the Portland headquarters will close.

The station employs about 246 permanent staff, and USDA has announced plans to consolidate research leadership in Fort Collins.

While employees have not been formally ordered to relocate, office closures and relocations often lead to significant employee departures when workers cannot or choose not to move.

Sources: House Natural Resources Committee hearing (June 4, 2026), USDA workforce briefings, Politico, Reuters, USDA reorganization announcements.

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