The Wild Idea

Latest Episodes:

Senator Tim Kaine: Walk, Ride, Paddle, Protect! May 22, 2025

Show notes

It’s not every day a sitting U.S. Senator joins us to talk about the places that shaped him. In this special bonus episode, Senator Tim Kaine reflects on his journey across Virginia—on foot, by bike, and by kayak—and how that experience shapes his approach to conservation, policy, and legacy.

See the notes from today's episode and learn more by visiting our website, thewildidea.com

Kaitie Schneider: Wolverines Reissued May 20, 2025

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What happens when you try to bring back a mythic, misunderstood, cold-loving carnivore that most people don't even know is real? You get one of the most fascinating conservation stories in the American West. In this episode, Kaitie Schneider of Defenders of Wildlife joins us to talk about the long-awaited reintroduction of Gulo gulo, the wolverine, to Colorado.

Learn more and connect withKaitie by visiting our website, thewildidea.com

The Wild Line: Bipartisan Pushback on Threats to Public Lands and the Endangered Species Act May 16, 2025

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Welcome to the very first edition of The Wild Line, a new weekly series from The Wild Idea podcast. This show is for all of you who’ve asked to stay informed about what’s happening with our public lands, from Washington, D.C. to your own backyard. Each Friday, we’ll bring you the big stories shaping the future of our wild places, with sharp commentary, context, and some fire.

This week, we’re starting with some catch-up after a whirlwind month on the public lands front. We cover promising legislation in Virginia and Arkansas, the wildfire of bad news coming out of House reconciliation efforts, attacks on the Endangered Species Act, bipartisan resistance to land sell-offs, and the gutting of our public lands workforce.

Find the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website, thewildidea.com

Jose Gonzalez: Show Up and Be Curious May 13, 2025

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In this episode of The Wild Idea, we speak with José González, founder of Latino Outdoors and co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath, about identity, community, and redefining what it means to belong in wild spaces.

José shares his personal journey from rural Mexico to national conservation leadership, and why the question isn’t just how to get more people outside, but why it matters who gets to belong there.

Learn more and connect with José by visiting our website, thewildidea.com

David Gessner: Roosevelt, Resistance and Reclaiming the Wild May 06, 2025

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Today we are in conversation with David Gessner, the bestselling author of multiple books including his most recent release, The Book of Flaco. We talk about his exploration of the American West both on the page and through his own travels, along with the lasting legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and the paradox of land management in the United States.

Connect with David and learn more about this conversation at our website, thewildidea.com

Tim Manley: Grizzlies, Conflict, and Coexistence Apr 29, 2025

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Today we're so excited to welcome Grizzly Bear Management Specialist (retired) Tim Manley to The Wild Idea podcast!

In our conversation today, we talk about Tim's pioneering work capturing Grizzly behavior in the wild, the evolution of the Grizzly - Human relationship and interactions, and how human behavior is impacting Grizzly habitat and vice versa.

Learn more about Tim and find the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website.

Drew Lanham: The Wild We Inherit, The Wild We Imagine Apr 22, 2025

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Today we are excited to be in conversation with J. Drew Lanham, an ecologist, poet, and professor.

We dive into questions of wilderness, who determines the authenticity of an outdoor experience, how Black and Brown people are showing up outside, what the evolving government actions could mean for our common access to wild spaces, and so much more.

Connect with Drew and see the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website.

Greg Aplet: Forests, Fire, and What is Wild Apr 15, 2025

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Today we're welcoming forest ecologist Greg Aplet as we dive into one of the most common points of interest when it comes to the wilderness today: forest fires and how they impact spaces both wild and human.

We talk with Greg about legislation and governmental actions, the costs and benefits of allowing fires to burn, the after-effects of the Smoky the Bear campaign, and how we can further the conversation between everyone impacted by logging, forest fires, and the ecology of the wilderness.

Connect with Greg and see the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website.

Susan Jane Brown: The (Troubled) Future of the United States Forest Service Apr 10, 2025

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In the midst of the current administration's efforts to target public lands for privatization, we invited Susan Jane Brown—who we'll call SJ throughout today's show—to talk about what's happening right now and what it means for all of us, in this bonus episode where we're diving deep into the current threats facing the U.S. Forest Service.

After setting the stage with a framing of the government institutions that protect and caretake our public lands, we get into conversation with SJ about the entire picture of the timber industry and its intersection with public lands, from rural communities to fire management and so much more.

Connect with SJ and see the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website.

Corina Newsome: The Wild All Around Us Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Today we’re joined by wildlife scientist Corina Newsome, as we explore the roots of her passion for birds before diving into how her career has brought her into spaces of seeking environmental justice and equity and helping climate-threatened species survive in a changing world.

Connect with Corina and see the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website.