We cut fast and cut deep in this episode with “notorious anti-ESG lobbyist” Nephi Cole, who helps us dissect the recent wave of federal layoffs that’s hit public lands agencies in the last month. From the Forest Service to National Parks, thousands of public employees have been sent packing. Nephi explains how the unorthodox approach of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is affecting federal agencies, how the administration's approach seems to be changing, and how to cut fat in federal agencies without cutting muscle. 

Politico article on Musk and cabinet secretaries: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/06/trump-cabinet-musk-025093?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

E&E article on federal layoffs: https://www.eenews.net/articles/forest-service-braces-for-up-to-7000-layoffs/ 

Nephi’s piece in the Gazette: https://gazette.com/opinion/perspective-using-guns-to-drive-a-wedge/article_a03febba-0308-11ef-93fd-9f75c65ed8cd.html 

Ridgeline: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55077562-ridgeline

Your Mountain Podcast episode about federal layoffs: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WVy3QO588qsnRlLR7L4qF?si=00a854a83bdb45dd

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From outcome-based grazing to resurrecting Ice Age megafauna, this episode covers the full spectrum of modern conservation. Isaiah Menning, external affairs manager at the American Conservation Coalition, joins us to discuss his research on conservation leasing and the controversial Public Lands Rule. We dive into how giving ranchers more flexibility could lead to better ecological outcomes, why the Biden administration's conservation leasing proposal sparked such fierce opposition in the West, and yes - the very real possibility of wooly mammoths returning to Alaska in the next few years. Whether you're interested in practical public lands policy or just want to hear about the prospect of prehistoric big game hunting, this episode has something for everyone.

Isaiah's Thesis on Conservation Leasing

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David Willms from the Your Mountain podcast joins us for a rollicking ride through the potential public lands policy shifts after the 2024 election. From the fate of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante to the future of conservation leasing, oil drilling, and the controversial mountain lion hunting initiatives, we dive deep into the policy footballs that could reshape America's landscapes. 

Produced by Trout Stream Studios: https://www.troutstreamstudios.com/

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PERC Policy Director Hannah Downey joins us to explain why "fire season" has become as predictable as PSLs at Starbucks - but a lot less enjoyable. From the Ashley National Forest Aspen Project controversy to well-meaning environmental laws accidentally making forests more flammable, Hannah breaks down why forest management is getting trapped between bureaucratic red tape and lawsuit-happy environmental groups. We dive into how Indigenous fire practices got it right centuries ago, why saving trees sometimes means cutting them down, and how some of the environmental attitudes we learned as kids might be doing more harm than good. It's a conversation that's both enlightening and slightly terrifying - kind of like watching a prescribed burn from a safe distance.

Ashley National Forest Aspen Project

Center for Biological Diversity lawsuit

“Good Fire, Bad Fire”

Hannah’s testimony on the Fix Our Forests Act

The Public Lands Policy Podcast is produced by Trout Stream Studios. Music was provided by Gavin Greenwood.

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Gabriella Hoffman, Director for the Center for Energy and Conservation at the Independent Women's Forum, joins me to discuss conservation in the presidential election, including Tim Walz’s conservation cosplay and speculation on why more outdoorsmen and -women don’t run for high office. We also talk about ways to educate the masses on hunting and fishing and hit on the potential impact of Colorado's Proposition 127, which could ban Cougar hunting, on wildlife populations and hunting traditions.

The Sportswoman Show

The District of Conservation Podcast

The Public Lands Policy Podcast is produced by Trout Stream Studios. Music was provided by Gavin Greenwood.

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Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) calls in from the bustling metropolis of Scipio, Utah to discuss her latest work on natural resources issues in Congress. Rep. Maloy brings something rare to Capitol Hill: actual hands-on experience in public lands management. From her days as a soil conservationist to her current role crafting legislation like the FREE Act, Rep. Maloy breaks down how Washington really works (or doesn't) when it comes to Western land management. We dive into the nuts and bolts of permitting, discuss how Congress can make it easier for Good Samaritans to clean up abandoned mines, and look at legislation that would “prove” how American manufacturers are cleaner than their Chinese counterparts. Come for the policy discussion, stay to hear Andrew poorly identify birds.

The FREE Act

The PROVE IT Act

Rep. Maloy’s Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act

The Public Lands Policy Podcast is produced by Trout Stream Studios. Music was provided by Gavin Greenwood.

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