I’ve spent years hiking, running, and living on public lands. I’ve slept on BLM land when I didn’t have a home, hiked trails maintained by crews that just got laid off, and even worked for the federal government myself. So when I see massive funding cuts to the National Park Service, the BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service, I'm worried what’s at stake—and it’s not just a few overgrown trails.

These cuts mean fewer rangers, fewer fire crews, fewer trail maintenance teams, and fewer resources to keep the places we love open and accessible. Roads to trailheads won’t be graded. Bridges will rot. Outhouses will be locked. When trails go too long without maintenance, they don’t just get rough—they disappear.

And it’s not just the land that’s being affected. The people who dedicate their lives to public service, often choosing passion over a bigger paycheck, are being thrown out of work. Trail crews—many of which give young people a foot in the door to outdoor careers—are being gutted. The people who protect and preserve these spaces are being fired while the richest man in the world brags about playing with a chainsaw.

If you care about trails, outdoor spaces, or even just the ability to drive to a trailhead without destroying your car, now’s the time to pay attention. You don’t have to be an activist, but you should at least know what’s happening to the land that makes trail running, hiking, and adventuring possible. Because if we don’t fight to keep these places funded and protected, we’re going to wake up one day and realize they’re gone.

We are supported by Janji.com and GarageGrownGear.com

Chapters:

00:00 The State of Public Lands and Job Cuts

09:53 Community Engagement and Local Initiatives

20:09 Trail Maintenance and Environmental Impact

25:49 Lighthearted Moments and Listener Questions