We’ve officially passed the 100-day mark of Trump’s second administration.

In this episode, I break down the sweeping environmental and public lands-related moves made so far, including threats to protections, deregulation, and extractive industry prioritization.

I also recap a leaked Department of Interior draft plan, recent BLM energy project approvals, and a new bipartisan effort in the Senate aimed at extending critical maintenance funding for national parks.

What is Covered:

• 1. A timeline of major environmental and public lands actions from the Trump administration’s first 100 days

• 2. The Department of the Interior’s leaked draft plan and what it means for public lands and extractive industries

• 3. BLM’s recent approvals for oil, gas, solar, and pipeline projects and the backlash from conservation group.

  4. A promising bipartisan Senate bill to extend the Legacy Restoration Fund and invest in national parks infrastructure

• What's not mentioned: NPS internal communications say that up to 1500 people will be fired in the next two weeks.

  Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠)

  Sources:

  BLM Nevada Announces June 2025 Oil & Gas Lease Sale (https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-announces-june-2025-sale-oil-and-gas-leases-nevada)

• BLM Approves Elisabeth Solar Project, Arizona (https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-approves-elisabeth-solar-project-yuma-county)

  BLM Approves Park Mountain Pipeline, Utah (http://blm.gov/press-release/blm-approves-park-mountain-pipeline)

  Outdoor Alliance: America the Beautiful Act Reintroduced (https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/4/30/lawmakers-in-the-senate-reintroduce-the-america-the-beautiful-act)

  NPCA: Bipartisan Bill Extends National Park Maintenance Funding (https://www.npca.org/articles/8297-bipartisan-bill-aims-to-extend-critical-national-park-maintenance-funding)

  Leaked Draft of DOI Strategic Plan (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4165462-Leaked-Draft-DOI-Strategic-Plan/)

As attacks on public lands continue, we are likely still wanting to visit wild spaces and get outside.

But now more than ever, we need to be mindful of how we recreate and be sure we are following Leave No Trace no matter how far we roam.

In this repost episode, I am joined by Shannon Rochelle, the NOLS InterimExpedition and Leadership Education Director and a Leave No Trace Master Educator, as she shares the 7 Leave No Trace principles and ⁠why they are so important⁠ for preserving the beauty of our national parks and other wild spaces.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Leave No Trace

7 Principles: ⁠https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/⁠

How to Remember LNT Principles: ⁠https://lnt.org/remember-the-7-principles-with-this-trick/⁠

NOLS

Website: ⁠https://nols.edu/en/⁠

Shannon Rochelle: ⁠https://www.nols.edu/en/employee_directory/profile/shannon-rochelle/#

In this special Earth Day episode of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss the 2025 theme: Our Power, Our Planet.

While this year's campaign focuses on accelerating renewable energy, it also shines a light on the power of people.

Because the transition to a cleaner, more just world depends on all of us.

From grassroots organizing to transformative climate policy, we explore how individuals and communities are stepping up to meet the moment.

Change doesn’t just come from institutions. It’s sparked by collective action.

In this episode, you’ll hear from:

• Jonathan Cedar, CEO and Co-founder of BioLite

• Aidan Charron, Emily Walker, and Michael Karapetian from EARTHDAY.ORG

• David Gahl from the Solar and Storage Industries Institute

• Jason Walker from the Southwest Regional Development Commission

Whether you're an advocate, an educator, or someone looking for ways to make a difference, this episode offers powerful insights on how to take action in 2025 and beyond.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This episode was written, produced, and hosted by Meg Carney with audio editing and mixing by Alex Carney

In this episode, we outline the timeline for action as Congress prepares to finalize its budget, one that could include the largest public land sell-off in recent history.

With Congress currently in recess (April 14–27), now is the time to raise your voice and make it heard.

You’ll also hear about:

• A new national survey showing overwhelming bipartisan opposition to selling or closing public lands.

• A landmark bill introduced to permanently ban copper-nickel mining near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters.
• The transfer of over 109,000 acres of protected federal land in New Mexico to the U.S. Army, sparking concerns about conservation and border militarization.

• Leaked information outlining additional layoffs coming for park service workers
• The outdoor industry's push to stop Congress from selling off public lands as a part of their budget planning

Key Dates to Remember:

• April 14–27: Congress in recess — ideal time to contact your representatives

• Week of May 5: Land disposal bills expected

• May 9: Final committee budget submissions

• May 16: Budget may be finalized — including potential land sales

What You Can Do:

• Call your reps (especially Republicans)

• Attend town halls

• Write letters and send postcards

• Email them

• Show up and demonstrate if you are able

Resources & Links:

• Survey: 70%+ Oppose Selling Public Lands (https://www.tpl.org/resource/america-needs-more-public-lands-not-less)

• Boundary Waters Bill Coverage – MPR News (https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/04/09/sen-smith-introduces-bill-to-ban-copper-mining-near-the-boundary-waters)

• • Interior Land Transfer – DOI Press Release (https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-interior-transfers-federal-lands-along-new-mexico-border-army-protect)
  • Outdoor Alliance Letter to Congress (https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/approps-2025)

In episode 177 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss what it takes to design high-quality outdoor gear using post-consumer recycled materials—everything from how they differ from virgin fibers to the limitations and challenges of working with them in technical products.

We’ll dig into how a commitment to sustainability shapes product development, where circularity fits into the broader picture, and whether today’s recycling systems are truly scalable for the textile industry.

We also discuss how consumers can better evaluate sustainability claims and what’s next in eco-innovation from brands like Rumpl.

Rumpl’s story began in the back of a van (literally) when its founders found themselves stranded in the cold during a ski and surf trip in California. Wrapped in sleeping bags and sipping whiskey, they realized the performance materials used in technical gear could be reimagined for everyday comfort.

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YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Rumpl

Website: https://www.rumpl.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rumpl

YouTube: @Gorumpl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rumpl/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gorumpl/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gorumpl/

When it comes to protecting our rivers and waterways, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of environmental challenges.

But what if one of the most powerful solutions started in your backyard?

In episode 176 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we explore one simple yet incredibly impactful way to protect local watersheds: preventing stormwater runoff.

I’m joined by Renee Fortner, the Director of Programs for RiverLink, a nonprofit working to protect and restore the French Broad River in Western North Carolina.

Growing up along the New River in North Carolina, she developed a deep love for the outdoors that led her to pursue a biology degree at UNC-Asheville and a master’s in biology from East Carolina University.

With professional certifications in stormwater management and rain garden design, Renee has dedicated her career to protecting the rivers and waterways of Western North Carolina.

Through our conversation today, Renee explains how unchecked runoff—from rooftops, parking lots, and roads—can pollute local waterways, worsen flooding, and harm both wildlife and recreation opportunities. You’ll hear how climate change intensifies these issues and get actionable steps individuals, homeowners, and businesses can take to make a difference in their communities.

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RiverLink

Website: https://riverlink.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/river.link/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiOZfkWSbKgnrflpKe42EcQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverlink