Rangers of the Lost Park

45: From Montana US Forest Service Smokejumper to Congress - Sam Forstag

Liz Crandall — Wed, 06 May 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Sam Forstag is an outdoorsy guy! He worked as a smokejumper and wildland firefighter for years with the US Forest Service-- until December of 2025, when he decided it was time to run for Congress. And the amazing part? He's only 31, he's from a working-class lifestyle, and he speaks up for rangers. Oh, and he really cares about public lands.

Visit Sam's website: samformontana.com.
Follow Sam on Instagram: @samforstag.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Now available on YouTube! Watch Rangers of the Lost Park select episodes.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at info@rangersofthelostpark.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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44: American Farmers & What We Eat with Documentary Filmmakers Vivian Sorenson & Lisa Holmes

Liz Crandall — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:45:00 -0700

This week’s episode takes a deep dive into the life of the American farmer– the culture surrounding it, why what we eat matters and how we farm matters, and a new documentary that is just now starting to show screenings: Fork in the Road. I found out about this exciting new documentary from renowned actor and woodworker Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson, for those who need a reminder) online, and I was instantly intrigued! He is one of the Executive Producers for Fork in the Road and makes appearances in the film as well.

Joining Rangers of the Lost Park to talk about this investigative and humanistic film are the two people who are the creatives behind it: Executive Producer and Co-Director Vivian Sorenson and Executive Producer Lisa Holmes! These women are intelligent, creative, kind, and truly wonderful.

We talk about the importance of supporting local farmers and the non-profits directly involved; we talk about finding community and enlightening conversations at the kitchen table; we talk about sea otters and pikas; we talk about Mary and Wendell Berry's involvement in the film-- and so much more!

Visit the Fork in the Road website to learn more about upcoming showings, the farmers and organizations involved, and more: forkintheroaddocumentary.com.

Follow Fork in the Road Documentary film and team on Instagram: @forkintheroaddoc.

Follow Vivian Sorenson on Instagram: @vivstirnyc.
Follow Lisa Holmes on Instagram: @lisaholmesct.

Check out Zero Foodprint: zerofoodprint.org.

Learn more about Wild Child Films: wildchildfilms.net.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Now available on YouTube! Watch Rangers of the Lost Park select episodes.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at info@rangersofthelostpark.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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43: Public Lands & American Hunters and Anglers with Aaron Murphy

Liz Crandall — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Aaron Murphy of American Hunters & Anglers (AHA) is truly a public lands patriot! Since he was young, Aaron has loved the outdoors unconditionally. He served as a Ranger at Yellowstone National Park in the late 90s, he has campaigned and was chief of staff for a Senator, and now he advocates for public lands with AHA on social media and in Washington DC.

Aaron and Liz talk about their shared love for the outdoors, funny stories from our time as rangers, an update on the US Forest Service reorganization (spoiler: it sucks), current public lands issues, and some much needed laughter. Because you can have two truths at once: you can be informed and talk about what is going on, AND find joy through it all.

Follow American Hunters & Anglers on Instagram: @americanhuntersanglers.
Check out their website: americanhuntersandanglers.org.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Now available on YouTube! Watch Rangers of the Lost Park select episodes.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at info@rangersofthelostpark.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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42: Wildland Stories & Creating Community with Firefighter Jesse Hamner

Liz Crandall — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Jesse Hamner is an experienced and knowledgable wildland firefighter with a huge heart. After experiencing great loss in 2025, she embarked on a grand roadtrip around the United States in search of community and healing. Since then, Jesse created "Keep Flaming," a safe space for anyone who feels "othered" in wildland fire (especially queer folk) and seek a supportive community in order to thrive not only in their careers but in their personal lives as well.

Jesse shares raw aspects of her journey throughout her Fire career, who she is at her core and how she dedicates her time to speaking up for herself and for others. She also shares some exciting stories from her time as a firefighter!

Follow "Keep Flaming" on Instagram: @keep.flaming.

Follow Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics & Ecology (FUSEE) on Instagram: @fuseefire.

Follow Hotshot Wellness on Instagram: @hotshotwellness.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Now available on YouTube! Watch Rangers of the Lost Park select episodes.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at info@rangersofthelostpark.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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41: DEBUNKED! Dinosaurs, Fossils & Climate Change with Park Rangers Matt Shreero & Max Scott!

Liz Crandall — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Mattison "Matt" Shreero & Max Scott: two park rangers who are both incredible paleontologists and geologists! Matt and Max join Liz on this jurassic episode of Rangers of the Lost Park to talk about all sorts of cool things. They help debunk some of the big myths we are hearing in the news, they talk about fossils and how old the Earth is (hint: it's older than 6,000 years), and so much more! Come laugh along with us and sit back for an enjoyable episode about science communication, Jurassic Park wrongdoings, and tackling mis- and disinformation.

Follow Matt & Max on YouTube: GeoSplore.

Follow Matt on Instagram: @geosplore.
Follow Matt on TikTok: @GeoSplore.

Follow Max on Instagram: @notoriousnaturalistmax.
Follow Max on TikTok: @NotoriousNaturalist.

Check out the Weird & Dead paleontology podcast.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Now available on YouTube! Watch Rangers of the Lost Park select episodes.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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40: Alligator Alcatraz & the Wild Story of the Everglades

Liz Crandall — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Alligator Alcatraz: remember that? Well, it's still very much a thing. In fact, it is still operating despite the lawsuits and public outcry. And guess what? It's going to be on your radar again very soon.

Did you know that the location of Alligator Alcatraz, the very place that is currently causing ecological destruction, is the reason for the existence of the Clean Water Act, NEPA, and Earth Day? Do you want to know how? Let me tell you a story. You will get to learn all about its fascinating history, the environmental fight that came out of a proposed jetport in the heart of the Everglades, and what Friends of the Everglades is now doing to take action against Alligator Alcatraz.

I'm joined by Eve Samples, the Executive Director for Friends of the Everglades, who gives us an intimate perspective of how to combat Alligator Alcatraz and protect the important ecological diversity of the Florida Everglades.

Take Action: Sign up for Friends of the Everglades' newsletter to keep up to date with what's happening in the Everglades.
Take Action: Visit the "STOP Alligator Alcatraz page and call your Reps & Senators and tell them to speak out against Alligator Alcatraz.

Follow Friends of the Everglades on Instagram: @friendsoftheeverglades.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

Sources:
1. "How a detention center awoke a decades-old environmental fight" - NPR
2. "STOP "Alligator Alcatraz" - America's WORST idea" - Friends of the Everglades
3. "Lawsuit Opposing "Alligator Alcatraz" Points To Federal Ties, Land Disturbance" - National Parks Traveler
4. "Unpacking Florida's immigration trends - demographers take a closer look at the legal and undocumented population" - WLRN Public Media
5. "Trump gets key wins at Supreme Court on immigration, despite some misgivings" - Reuters
6. "Trump says his plan to expel millions of immigrants will be a 'bloody story'" - Independent UK
7. "Denied, detailed, deported: the faces of Trump's immigration crackdown" - The Guardian
8. "America's Everglades - The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States" - National Park Service
9. "Endless Opportunities in Nature's Mosaic" - National Park Service
10. "An Insider's Guide to Everglades & Beyond" - NPCA

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Trail Tales: Ranger Edition with National Park After Dark

Liz Crandall — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Liz is joined by Danielle and Cassie of National Park After Dark Podcast! Together they read and react through Trail Tales (listener stories), all of which are park ranger-themed, and discuss a variety of topics regarding National Parks, public lands, and more.

Last year, 2025, Liz was featured on NPAD's March 3rd episode A Love Worth Fighting For: Speaking Up For Our Public Lands alongside two other rangers who were illegally fired as well.

Cassie and Danielle catch up with Liz on what has happened regarding our Parks, Forests, and more-- plus what we need to pay attention to. Taking action is a community effort, and we can find solace in knowing that so many of us truly care.

Enjoy the view, but watch your back. We are Rangers of the Lost Park, encouraging you to Ranger On!

Listen to National Park After Dark on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts.
Watch NPAD on YouTube.
Follow NPAD on Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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39: Woniya Thibeault - Woman of the Wild & History Channel's Survival Show "Alone: Frozen" Winner

Liz Crandall — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:45:00 -0700

My guest today is someone I am so beyond stoked to talk to. She is a powerful woman who specializes in wilderness skills, traditional lifeways, and ancestral skills. She is an author, a mother, a teacher, a woman of bushcraft, and a lover of nature. Oh, and did I mention she is the first female winner of the History Channel’s show Alone? Yes, my friends, my guest today is Woniya Thibeault.

We talk about her time and experiences from both Season 6 of Alone and Season 1 of Alone: Frozen, of which she won after 50 days alone out in the harsh (and beautiful) Canadian wilderness. Woniya also shares her perspectives as a woman who practices bushcraft and her sense of belonging in nature. What does she wish she had brought with her as an item on the show? What are some of the biggest mistakes she has seen contestants make? What was recovery for her like afterwards? All this and more on this week's very special episode!

Join Woniya for one of her courses: In-person or Online.
Visit Woniya's website: WoniyaThibeault.com.
Follow Woniya on Instagram: @woniya_timelessways.
Order her book: Never Alone.
Check out her YouTube Channel: Buckskin Revolution.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

38: Battling Bananas & Loving Plants with Plant Prof Vikram Baliga

Liz Crandall — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:45:00 -0700

Liz chats with Vikram Baliga - known for his online presence as The Plant Prof and podcast Planthropology - about loving plants and the plant community, wild 5-minute plant hack videos, Big Bend National Park, and more! Vikram also shares that he wishes for folks to find the beauty in the outdoors whenever they can. Yay plants!

Follow Vikram on Instagram: @the.plant.prof.
Listen to his podcast: Planthropology.
Check out his book Plants to the Rescue! (Support your local bookshop!)

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

37: N8ture AL & the Nature Gap

Liz Crandall — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:50:00 -0700

He's back! It's N8ture AL (also known as Alex Troutman)!

Liz and AL catch up since they last spoke in September. AL has worked in conservation as a wildlife biologist for years until last February when he was caught in the crosshairs of the DOGE firings. Since then, he has made it his mission to provide representation for kids and black and brown communities. AL helps ease folks into loving the outdoors and has a warm, earnest personality and heart. Listen to AL's stories about a wolf pack encounter in Alaska, his perspective and expertise regarding communities who are most prone to the "nature gap," and how he is determined to continue working in the conservation field.

Follow AL on Instagram: @n8ture_al.
Check out his website: alextroutman.wixsite.com.

Learn more about nature gaps from The Nature Gap: Communities of Color and Those With Low Incomes Are Bearing the Brunt of America's Nature Loss study by The Center for American Progress, Justice Outside, and Conservation Science Partners.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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36: Out There and Queer Joy with Lance Garland

Liz Crandall — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:45:00 -0800

Lance Garland is an author, climber, father, husband, former Navy SEAL trainee, and has become the first openly gay fireman in the Seattle Fire Department. But who is he at his core? He is kind. He is funny. He is deeply thought-provoking. He is an incredible writer. And, perhaps most heartwarmingly, he is unapologetically himself.

In this episode, we talk about Lance's newest book called Out There: Dispatches from My Personal Wilderness, what it means to embrace queer joy, how nature is healing for all of us, and so much more.

If you enjoy books like Into the Wild by John Krakauer, anything by Jack Kerouac, or adventure novels with complex and beautiful character development, then you need to read Out There.

You can find/order Lance's book Out There: Dispatches from My Personal Wilderness from your local bookstore or online from Amazon Books. Or, you can add it to your TBR on Goodreads.

Visit Lance's Website: LanceGarland.com.
Follow Lance on Instagram: @outtherewithlance.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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35: Music as Resistance with Kirstie Lynn

Liz Crandall — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:50:00 -0800

Music has been used as an act of resistance and protest for generations. You may have heard the saying: "you know times are bad when folk music is getting better." Well, we seem to be living that kind of time period right now. And musicians like Kirstie Lynn are making waves and utilizing music as an outlet for their strife.

With soaring songbird melodies and a voice as clear as a bell, Kirstie Lynn is one to watch in the folk music scene. Drawing inspiration from nature and the human experience, her poetic lyricism and nostalgic songwriting harken back to the folk music revival of the 60’s but with a refreshing feeling of newness. With her vocal training, Kirstie Lynn's voice is free and easy to listen to. Listeners have compared her voice and style to that of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Brandi Carlile, and Judy Collins, but her singing is truly something new and refreshing.

Liz and Kirstie talk about all things music and its colorful past within protest eras. Kirstie shares stories from her past and present, discusses folk artists who inspire her, and how music soothes her soul.

You can find Kirstie Lynn playing either solo or with long-time friend and music partner, Galen Clark, in the Kansas City area.

Follow Kirstie Lynn on Instagram: @kirstietheworsty.
Check out Kirstie Lynn's Website: KirstieLynn.com.
Listen to Kirstie Lynn on Spotify.

Songs played on the episode in order of appearance:

1. "Sweetest Someone" by Kirstie Lynn (2021)
2. "Pray The Snow Melts" by Kirstie Lynn, Galen Clark (2025)
3. "Turn, Turn, Turn" by Pete Seeger (1959)
4. "There But For Fortune" by Joan Baez (1966)
5. "The Time's They Are A-Changin'" by Bob Dylan (1964)
6. "The Fiddle And The Drum" by Joni Mitchell (1969)
7. "Freedom Day" by Max Roach ft. Abbey Lincoln (1961)
8. "Blowin' In The Wind" by Peter, Paul & Mary (1963)
9. "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke (1964)
10. "Eve Of Destruction" by Barry McGuire (1965)
11. "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield (1966)
12. "Ain't I Right" by Marty Robbins (1966)
13. "An Open Letter To My Teenage Son" by Victor Lundberg (1967)
14. "The Fish Cheer / I-Feel'-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" by Country Joe & the Fish (1967)
15. "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" by Pete Seeger (1959)
16. "This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie (1940)
17. "Song About America" by Olive Klug (2024)
18. "Wind Through The Trees (feat. Joseph Nuñez) (Waltz)" by Kirstie Lynn, Galen Clark (2022)

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

34: National Parks with Brazen Backpacker Emily Pennington

Liz Crandall — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:50:00 -0800

Joining Liz is author and journalist Emily Pennington! Not only is Emily super rad-- she is also the first guest who had previously submitted the Submit A Guest form! We talk about her favorite National Parks (of which she has vistited all 63!), vanlife, being a woman in the outdoors, a few bear stories, and more.

Emily was put on her first international flight at 3 weeks old and has been an avid adventurer ever since. To date, she’s hiked on all 7 continents (including Antarctica) and has completed the John Muir Trail, the Annapurna Circuit, the Laugavegur Trail, the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim, the High Sierra Trail, the Inca Trail, and Tasmania’s notorious Overland Track. She’s visited every U.S. national park, and her book Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks, came out in 2023.

Emily has been an active gear tester, photographer, and outdoor journalist for the last 8 years. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Outside Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, Southern Living Magazine, CNN, and Outdoor Gear Lab, among others. When she’s not hunched over her desk writing on a deadline, you can find her nerding out about her favorite hiking boots, eating Ben & Jerry’s, wrestling with her dog Marla, or hiking all over the Rocky Mountains.

Follow Emily on Instagram: @brazenbackpacker.
Check out Emily's band Trouble's Braids and listen on Spotify.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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33: From Ecuador to Washington DC - Andrea Delgado

Liz Crandall — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:50:00 -0800

Andrea Delgado is a fierce and kind leader who immigrated from Ecuador to the United States at a young age. This is someone who has spent nearly two decades operating at the intersection of power, policy, land, and people. She often worked behind the scenes and in rooms where the consequences of decisions ripple across generations.

Andrea is a nationally recognized strategist who has advised the White House, Cabinet officials, unions, NGOs, Tribal Nations, and community leaders. She’s helped pass bipartisan legislation on everything from immigration and farm labor to wildfire, toxic chemicals, and pay for federal wildland firefighters. She’s served at the highest levels of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service, overseeing wildfire management, public lands, and Tribal relations across millions of acres in the Rocky Mountain region.

But Andrea’s story isn’t just about titles or wins. It’s about what it costs to lead with integrity inside massive systems—and what happens when you do. Today, we’re talking about power, public lands, policy, uphill battles, being fired by this administration, resilience, and what it really means to serve.

Check out Andrea's consulting business: Hawkeye Strategies, LLC.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

32: Save the Boundary Waters with Ingrid Lyons

Liz Crandall — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:50:00 -0800

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota is the most visited Wilderness area in the United States, garnering around 150,000 to 250,000 visitors per year. Its vast wilderness extends 150 miles along the U.S.-Canada border, covering approximately 1,098,000 acres with over 1,100 lakes and 1,200 miles of canoe routes, attracting more than 150,000 visitors annually. Now, that is under threat of being changed forever.

A congressional plan to force a Chilean-owned copper mine into the headwaters of the nation’s most visited and beloved Wilderness is moving forward, with Representative Stauber introducing Joint Resolution 140 on Jan 12, 2026. The bill went to the floor for a vote on Wednesday, January 21. It passed 214-208. It now heads to the Senate, and timing is yet unknown.

Joining Liz for this deep dive episode is Ingrid Lyons, the Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters. Ingrid talks about why the Boundary Waters is so special and why everyone needs to care about protecting it. These are OUR public lands and we won't let them be taken away.

TAKE ACTION: Call and email your Senators NOW using the Save the BWCA action toolkit: Call Form & Email Form.

Learn more about Save the Boundary Waters: SaveTheBoundaryWaters.org/
Follow Save the Boundary Waters on Instagram: @savethebwca.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

Have a question for Liz? Want her to answer it on an episode? Fill out the Listener Question Form!

Do you know someone who would make a great guest on the podcast (yourself included)? Fill out the Podcast Guest Request Form!

For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

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31: Concessionaires of National Parks with Kayla Babb

Liz Crandall — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:50:00 -0800

Concessionaires have been around even before the Park Service in what we now know as National Parks. Today, there are nearly 500 concessionaires within our Parks, which mean there are tons of folks who work for them. Liz's dear friend Kayla Babb, whom she worked with for a concessionaire company in Yellowstone National Park in 2015, joins the podcast to talk about her experiences within the Parks and how it differentiates from Park Rangers. They have a lot of laughs and share fun memories together- including a menacing raven named Gunter, whistle pigs terrorizing trash bags, bison run-ins, bear stories, and more! January is Be Kind to Servers Month, so to honor those who work so hard to serve the general public: we hope you enjoy this joyful and thoughtful episode.

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30: Finding Joy in a World of Bad News

Liz Crandall — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:50:00 -0800

In this week's episode, Liz is joined by her sister (and our first returner guest) Sarah. They talk about how the constant circulation of bad news is exhausting and wearing people thin, but that we need to remember to find joy wherever we can. They talk about coping mechanisms and how they, themselves, get through it all. They share belly laughs and cover humorous questions and topics. Sarah shares a harrowing lightning story for Ranger Tea. They try a bizarre Japanese candy and share their reactions. And last but not least, they dive into Coalpail.com, a strange website with a random topic discussion board which includes a man named Freddy's vehement abhorrence to the changes in Blueberry Morning cereal by Post. We hope you enjoy this joyous interruption within a world of bad news!

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29: Digital Advocacy & Getting Outside with Alex Haraus

Liz Crandall — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:50:00 -0800

Alex Haraus is an outdoor and public lands advocate, experienced traveler and an incredible digital creator. We talk about his journey outdoors, his love for the environment and the thought behind Colorado Creator Collective. He gives us the three things that makes content impactful and successful. Alex also shares a mountain lion story and we talk about cool hikes in Iceland - and more! We hope you enjoy this informative and joyful episode!

Follow Alex on Instagram: @alex.haraus.
Follow Alex on TikTok: @alex.haraus.
Subscribe to Alex on YouTube: Alex Haraus - YouTube.

Follow Colorado Creator Collective on Instagram: @coloradocreatorcollective.

Book recommendation from Alex: Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk.

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28: Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026!

Liz Crandall — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 06:50:00 -0800

2025: you were one hell of a year. Going into 2026, Liz & Mikayla are embracing the Year of the Horse with determination and even more amazing things! A completely revamped Patreon, exciting new guests, Ranger Lore episodes, and more! Thank you to all of our listeners for supporting us. We are so happy to have you and will continue encouraging you to Ranger On!

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27: Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

Liz Crandall — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:50:00 -0800

For our last episode of 2025, we bring to our listeners some much needed information on a public lands topic. What would coal mining look like from a National Park? Why is this being proposed? Let's take a deep dive with the Legal Director & Attorney Steve Bloch of Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA)!

Steve talks about how SUWA is working to stop coal mining from being implemented in the 48,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land that would directly affect visitors' experiences in Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef National Parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah. He also tells us his favorite fossils, details an account with a raccoon who stole his food, and more!

Thank you to our listeners for tuning in for our 2025 Rangers of the Lost Park podcast kickoff. We are so grateful for you and plan on ramping up our content even more for 2026. We sincerely hope you have a happy New Year and go in with a new sense of vigor and hope.

Learn more about this issue on SUWA's website.
Follow SUWA on Instagram: @ProtectWildUtah.

Other Sources:

1. U.S. Energy Information Administration: Coal Explained.
2. Stanford University: Q&A: Stanford expert explains why we continue burning coal for energy.
3. @thegarbagequeen on TikTok.

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26: Interview with Chuck Sams - the 19th National Park Service Director

Liz Crandall — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:50:00 -0800

Today’s very special guest is one that many of you may recognize: Charles F. Sams III, who goes by Chuck Sams, is well-renowned in the park ranger community. Chuck is Cayuse, Walla Walla and is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Northeast Oregon, where he grew up. Famously known as the first Indigenous Director of the National Park Service, Chuck served in this important role from 2021 to 2025.

We speak with Chuck about Land Back, the Rights of Nature, what it means to be a good leader, National Parks and park rangers, and more! Chuck shares many words of wisdom and is just a kind-heartened human we appreciate dearly. He even shares not one but three bear encounter stories! We hope you enjoy.

Read more about Chuck Sams as the 19th Director of the National Park Service: NPS.
Watch the Central Oregon LandWatch Livable Future Forum with Chuck Sams here: YouTube.
Watch Chuck Sams' message to rangers on Instagram: @resistancerangers.

Follow Chuck Sams on Instagram: @chassams.

Read about the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation getting 900 acres of land back: Native News Online.

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25: Glaciers & National Parks of Alaska with Ranger Emily

Liz Crandall — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 06:50:00 -0800

Ranger Emily is a park ranger within the wild landscapes of Alaska. She shares her experiences and perspectives with us as an individual who works as an archaeologist in some of the most beautiful National Parks. From glaciers to bear attacks and tribal relationships -- Emily has some incredible stories from her time in the outdoors. She even answers the ever-popular question of: what can I do, as an individual, to help support our rangers right now? And, of course, we talk about Indiana Jones. We hope you enjoy!

Follow Emily on Instagram: @ecaselman89.

Book recommendations by Emily:
1. Pilgrim's Wilderness: A True Story of Faith and Madness on the Alaska Frontier by Tom Kizzia
2. The Sun is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey Into the Alaskan Wilds by Caroline Van Hemert

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24: Interview with Ken Burns - National Parks & Democracy

Liz Crandall — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0800

Joining us for this incredibly special episode is Ken Burns - one of the greatest documentary filmmakers of his time. Ken Burns is known for his epic and historically focused films such as: The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The Vietnam War, The Roosevelts, Prohibition, and, our personal favorite, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Most recently, he meticulously created the 9-years-in-the-making documentary film series titled The American Revolution: An Intimate History, which is now available for streaming on PBS.

We speak about National Parks and the importance of maintaining democracy within the United States and for our public lands. We discuss how we can make a difference and advocate for the environment. We dive into some fun topics like fantasy worlds, what he likes to do when recreating outside, and more.

Thank you, Ken Burns, for continuously advocating for National Parks, public lands, and democracy! We hope you enjoy this episode of Rangers of the Lost Park.

Check out Ken Burns' new documentary The American Revolution - now streaming on PBS, among all his other documentaries, including The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

Follow Ken Burns on Instagram: @kenlburns.
Follow UNUM - a digital destination by Ken Burns that provides historical context to today's issues and sparks conversation on Instagram: @kenburnspbs.

Check out Ken Burns' UNUM website here.

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23: The Responsible "Influencer" - Ashley Petefish

Liz Crandall — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0800

What does it mean to be a "responsible influencer"? How can someone with a prominent social media platform advocate responsibly for the places that they love to showcase online? Ashley Petefish, @ashley.goes.hiking on Instagram and @hiking_adventures on TikTok, has worked tirelessly on her social media platforms in digital advocacy for our public lands. Not only is she a regular volunteer within the bustling public lands of Sedona, Arizona, but she is also the Vice Chair of Oak Creek Watershed Council. Ashley shares with us what it it's like to constantly "go viral," as well as solid advice on what to do and what not to do on social media when highlighting nature and recreation.

Follow Ashley on Instagram: @ashley.goes.hiking.
Follow Ashley on TikTok: @hiking_adventures.

Follow Oak Creek Watershed Council on Instagram: @theoakcreekwatershedcouncil.
Learn more about Oak Creek Watershed Council on their website.

Find out about upcoming guided trips from Ashley: LinkTree.
Have a marriage proposal coming up? Contact Ashley here for information about her new business: SedonaEngagements.com.

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22: Wolf Conservation with Author Leokadia George

Liz Crandall — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0800

Whether we like them or not, wolves are our neighbors and have an ecological impact. We sat down with Monica Stallman, who goes by their pen name Leokadia George, to talk about wolf conservation and her newest book called Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup: Trumpet Becomes a Mom. Leokadia volunteers her time at the Wolf Conservation Center in New York, where she was inspired by one Mexican Gray Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) named Trumpet - so much that she decided to write a children's book series about her. We also have some fun with "Ranger Rankings" and Leokadia tells us a story about a rare bird sighting she experienced!

You can find her Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup series anywhere books are sold. Support your local bookstore and libraries!

Learn more about the Wolf Conservation Center here.
Follow Wolf Conservation Center on Instagram: @wolfconservationcenter.

Learn more about LightHawk Conservation Flying here.
Learn more about the Red Wolf Coalition here.

Find out more about Leokadia George's book at Briley and Baxter Publications website.
Follow Briley and Baxter Publications on Instagram: @briley.baxter.books.
Email Leokadia George at: LeokadiaGeorge.Books@gmail.com.

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For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

Please download, subscribe, and leave a review! Thank you for listening!

Sources Cited:

1. Wolf Conservation Center - Wolf Populations
2. USFWS Gray Wolf Questions & Answers
3. USFWS Final Mexican Wolf Recover Plan
4. USFWS Red Wolf Recovery Program

5. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Gray Wolf Species Recovery

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21: Ranger Red & the Borderlands

Liz Crandall — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0800

What's it like to work along the borderlands of the US-Mexico border as a public lands steward? Ranger Red joins us to talk about his experiences as a GIS specialist and physical scientist and has worked for the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. From car chases to jaguars, Red's got some interesting stories to share! We also discuss Senator Mike Lee's newest act against public lands called the "Borderlands Conservation Act" and why it is just another unnecessary attack on Wilderness and fragile ecosystems.

Read about Senator Mike Lee's proposal: Borderlands Conservation Act
See the full text here: Energy.Senate.Gov
Read the SF Gate article: 'Shameless': Utah senator revives crusade against public lands
*In the episode Liz mistakingly said Outside Magazine instead of SF Gate*

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BONUS EPISODE: "Adopt-a-Ranger" with Sandra the National Park Patch Lady

Liz Crandall — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0800

This bonus episode is inspired by Sandra Ramos, our guest and known fondly as the National Park Patch Lady. Sandra is the wizard behind the curtain with "Adopt-a-Ranger" mutual aid initiative, which aims to support rangers who need some joy in these hard times. We also get to know Sandra and hear about her undying love for National Parks and the rangers who care for them.

If you are a ranger (former, current, furloughed, excepted, etc.), whether you're from the US Forest Service, National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, or other relevant agency, we encourage you to sign up with the link below! Once you sign up, Sandra will pair you up with one of the hundreds of kind individuals who signed up to send a care package to a ranger.

If you are not a ranger but wish to support one as a caring member of the community, sign up to "Adopt-a-Ranger" with the link below! More details will be sent afterwards with all that you need to know next.

*This is considered mutual aid and does not violate any ethics laws. No one's personal information will be available for anyone to see publicly.*

Rangers: Sign up HERE to receive a care package from a caring community member.
"Adopt-a-Ranger": Sign up HERE to send a care package to a ranger.

Follow Sandra on Instagram: @nationalparkpatchlady
See original "Adopt-a-Ranger" post here: Instagram

Donate to Association of National Park Rangers: ANPR

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20: New Mexico Wild

Liz Crandall — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0800

This week we talked with New Mexico Wild's Conservation Director, Bjorn Fredrickson about the importance of wilderness protections and some of the legislation that aims to strip these protections. Specifically, the Border Lands Conservation Act introduced by Senator Mike Lee of Utah poses a lot of concerns for conservationists, and people who enjoy and use public lands.

*Disclaimer: The sound is a bit wonky at points in this episode. Apologies for this and hope you still enjoy!

Interested in learning more about New Mexico Wild? You can find their website at nmwild.org and on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
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Sources:

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19: Chaotic Forager Gabrielle Cerberville

Liz Crandall — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0800

The magic of foraging for mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants and so much more is not just a hobby for Gabrielle Cerberville, but a lifestyle. In this episode we discuss the rights of nature, protecting public lands, foraging ideologies, and a fun round of Ranger Ranking questions.

Gabrielle, also known as "Chaotic Forager" on social media, just wrote and published her first book Gathered: On Foraging, Feasting and the Seasonal Life, which she describes as a "guide to fielding" as opposed to a field guide. She wants to help people become comfortable with foraging and to learn more about why it is so good for us!

Gabrielle's book can be found wherever books are sold and is out now! Go give it a read!

Visit Gabrielle's website: gabriellecerberville.com
Follow Gabrielle on Instagram: @chaoticforager
Follow Gabrielle on TikTok: @chaoticforager

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Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

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18: Caves, Bats & Spooky Season with Ranger Hannah Croxton

Liz Crandall — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Bats, caves & rescues, oh my! Ranger Hannah Croxton immerses us in some spooky stories from their time as a US Forest Service Lead Ranger at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Oregon.

Alongside all the other amazing federal workers who protect our public lands, Hannah has experienced the tumultuous uncertainty that plagues the federal workforce this year. She shares what she is doing now, what she's been through as a federal worker in 2025, and how much she loves being a ranger.

Please support our federal workers by sharing this episode and Hannah's story with others. We encourage you to stand up for our public lands and the rangers who work so hard to serve them.

Follow Hannah on Instagram: @hannahcroxton.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

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For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

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17: A Life on Fire: Interview with Author and Former Hotshot River Selby

Liz Crandall — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Author and former Wildland Firefighter River Selby (they/them) wrote and published their memoire Hotshot: A Life on Fire on August 12, 2025. In this episode, River talks about what it was like being a hotshot and wildland firefighter from both a personal and scientific perspective. In Hotshot, readers are taken on a journey through sweltering wildfire action, awareness regarding fire ecology and culture, and River's personal experiences -- which will have you on the edge of your seat!

You can find Hotshot: A Life on Fire anywhere you can buy books. River and ROTLP recommend supporting independent bookstores as a first resort. Audiobook version is available on any audiobook platform as well.

Visit River's Website to learn more: RiverSelby.com.
Follow River on Instagram: @riverselby.
Subscribe to River's Substack: Gathering.

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
Follow ROTLP on TikTok: @rangersofthelostpark.

Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

Got a cool Ranger Tea story? Want Liz to share your interesting outdoors story on the podcast? Fill out the Listener Story Form!

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For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

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16: Fired for Flying the Trans Flag in Yosemite - Interview with SJ Joslin

Liz Crandall — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0700

SJ Joslin (they/them), a bat biologist from Yosemite National Park, was unjustly fired from their dream job by the federal government for flying the trans flag in the park. They were off-duty, left no trace (aka zero damage) and did this purely with good intentions. This was not a demonstration, despite what the Department of Interior stated, but an act of inclusion depicting that trans people belong outdoors, too.

We speak with SJ about what happened on May 20 when they flew the flag and what happened in August when they were consequentially fired for it. SJ also shares about their passions, education, and belief in the Constitution and the right to express Freedom of Speech. We also have some fun and share some silly stories together because, at the end of the day, we want to be joyful despite the adversity thrown our way.

Follow SJ on Instagram: @shannonekj
-DM them for emails of the superintendents and NPS in charge of their firings to tell them to reinstate SJ immediately.

Donate to SJ's GoFundMe to help with legal fees: GoFundMe

Follow ROTLP on Instagram: @rangersofthelostpark.
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Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

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For episode suggestions and feedback, please email Liz at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.

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15: Connect, Strengthen, Represent: Interview with Gaby Rojas of Public Lands Alliance

Liz Crandall — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Have you ever wondered what it takes to support 640 million acres of public lands across the United States? In this episode, Gaby Rojas from Public Lands Alliance explains how nonprofits support our nation's treasures for the future.

Find Public Lands Alliance at publiclandsalliance.org.

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Join Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.

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14: National Parks & Forests Bad Reviews

Liz Crandall — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Join us this week for reviews from National Parks, Monuments, Forests, and more! Liz explains the difference between each type and then dives into the reviews. We hope this silly episode can bring joy to a chaotic week! Thank you to our friends at National Park After Dark for the episode idea.

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13: Public Lands Rule

Liz Crandall — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0700

The Department of Interior proposed to rescind the Public Lands Rule, also known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, on September 10, 2025. This rule codifies conservation as a "legitimate use" of public lands, and in this week's episode Mikayla and Liz explore different uses and their impacts on conservation. Do you think conservation, or "no use", is a legitimate use of our public lands?

Sources Cited in this episode:
1. Conservation and Landscape Health Rule
2. Federal Register
3. Overview of Public Lands Rule
4. Proposed Rescission
5. Resistance Rangers Instagram Post: Instagram vs. Reality
6. BLM About Livestock Grazing
7. BLM Livestock Grazing Overview
8. 7 Ways Oil and Gas Drilling are Bad for the Environment
9. Renewable Energy Article
10. National Recreation and Park Association

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12: Diversity in the Outdoors with Ranger Alex Troutman

Liz Crandall — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Joining us this week is Alex, or Al, Troutman. His passion for fish and wildlife biology, writing and communicating really shines through. As a co-organizer for many Black in X weeks including Black Birders Week and Black Mammalogists Week, Al seeks to increase diversity in nature, celebrate Black individuals and scientists, and awareness of Black nature enthusiasts and diversity in STEM fields. You can support Alex's enthusiasm for nature and Wildlife Forever by checking out his books featuring critters from different states! To connect with Al, follow him on instagram and be sure to visit his website for more information.

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11: Alaska Roadless Area with Tlingít Matriarch Yolanda Fulmer

Liz Crandall — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0700

The Roadless Rule in Alaska has been controversial and succumbed to many changes throughout the last couple of decades. Joining us today is someone who not only lives in Alaska, but has also been fighting for protecting Roadless Areas for years.

Yolanda Fulmer is a Tlingít Matriarch of The Raven Nest House from Glacier Bay, Alaska. She has been a tireless advocate for Indigenous rights, forest protection, and climate justice for over 3 decades. As a representative of Women for Forests and the Tongass Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN International), Yolanda has rallied for the protection of the Tongass National Forest and the codification of the Roadless Rule to ensure the survival of ecosystems, cultures, and food sovereignty in Southeast Alaska. Grounded in her ancestral traditions, Yolanda works to amplify Indigenous women’s voices in environmental policy, ensuring that future generations inherit a thriving, just, and sustainable world.

Tlingít & Haida's mission is to: "Preserve our sovereignty, enhance our economic and cultural resources, and promote self-sufficiency and self-governance for our citizens. In 1935, the Central Council of the Tlingít and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska was established to pursue a land suit on behalf of the Tlingít and Haida people. We evolved out of our people’s struggle to retain our way of life, strongly based on subsistence. Today, we are one of the two federally recognized regional tribes in Alaska. The Tlingít and Haida people are brought together by common interests in protecting, preserving and advocating for the rights of our people, including our rights to claim lands we have used from time immemorial, lands we were given no claim to under the Western concept of land ownership." (Source: Official Tlingít & Haida Website)

To learn more about the Roadless Rule, listen to our previous recording of Episode 5: The Roadless Rule (Apple Podcasts & Spotify).

Follow WECAN International on Instagram: @wecan_intl
Learn more about Yolanda & Women For Forests - Tongass Forest, Alaska here: WECAN Website

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10: Wildland Fire with Riva Duncan

Liz Crandall — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Wildfires are burning more and more drastically each year. The people who serve and protect the landscape and its inhabitants are not only brave but also incredibly vital to have in the workforce.

Speaking with us today is Riva Duncan, who retired at the end of 2020 after 32+ years with the US Forest Service, first as a forester then a wildland firefighter and manager. Shortly after retirement, Riva joined Grassroots Wildland Firefighters advocacy non-profit. She also joined the US Forest Service's International Programs as an emergency management specialist assisting national parks in North Macedonia and the Republic of Georgia and teaching wildland firefighting skills virtually to first responders and military personnel in Ukraine.

Riva shares a crazy story about a bear encounter while fighting fire, Mikayla talks about the time she almost lost her house to a wildfire, and Liz discusses a time she called in a fire she stumbled upon!

Follow Riva Duncan on Instagram: @firechik
Visit Riva's website: RivaDuncan.com

Follow Grassroots Wildland Firefighters on Instagram: @grassrootswildlandfirefighters
Learn more about Grassroots Wildland Firefighters: GrassrootsWildlandFirefighters.com

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9: USDA Reorganization

Liz Crandall — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0700

On July 24 of this year, US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new reorganization effort for the entire USDA, which includes the US Forest Service. By ridding the US Forest Service of all current Regions and, therefore, Regional Offices, things are a bit up in the air about what this will actually look like. Liz takes us into a deep dive of what the USDA reorganization looks like, specifically for the US Forest Service, how this may impact the agency and the American people as a whole, and why it might not be a very good idea.

Sources Cited in this episode:

1. USDA Reorganization Announcement
2. Secretary Memorandum SM 1078-015
3. About the US Forest Service - usda.gov
4. About the US Forest Service - supremecourt.gov
5. USFS Organization
6. USFS Regional Foresters
7. Region 5 - About the Area
8. Field Organization and Administrative History of the National Forest System - forestservicemuseum.org
9. The USDA Forest Service - The First Century
10. Forest Service Regions
11. The Land We Cared For . . . A History of the Forest Service's Eastern Region
12. 8KPAX - Missoula & Western Montana Article
13. Montana Free Press Article
14. Mountain Journal Article
15. The Guardian Article

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8: Bogs & Badgers with Sarah Crandall

Liz Crandall — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Bogs and Badgers, oh my! Joining us for this episode is Liz's sister, Sarah Crandall, who is a botanist and wildland firefighter. We discuss her work caring for rare and sensitive plant species and share funny stories about bogs, badgers, Harry Potter camp, favorite nonessential things to bring backpacking, and more! This is our silliest episode yet, so we hope you enjoy as much as we did.

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @riv.er.fern

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7: Make America Beautiful Again?!

Liz Crandall — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Have you seen the phrase "Make America Beautiful Again" and thought to yourself, "What does that even mean?" Well you're in luck because this week Mikayla explains the two Executive Orders, Making America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks and Establishing the President's Make America Beautiful Again Commission while Liz helps fact-check the fact sheet. The impacts of these directives are also discussed, so get comfy and tune in to learn all about MABA.

Feeling overwhelmed by all the terrible news? Negative news coverage impacts mental health, click here to learn more about how your brain processes this information and what you can do to reduce negative impacts. Enjoy some time in nature and embrace taking a break to rest. If you feel empowered to make change, get involved with a group such as Resistance Rangers and search for volunteer opportunities near you. We will get through this together!

Additional resources used for this episode:

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6: Ranger Alex Wild

Liz Crandall — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Joining us for this episode is Park Ranger Alex Wild! A ranger of 15 years and going, Alex dedicates his life and purpose to protecting the parks, the people, and the landscape.

Learn about what it means to be a ranger, why you should care about National Parks and public lands, and hear some hilarious first-hand ranger stories. Lounging marmots, bears with critical thinking skills, celebrity run-ins, and more!

Follow Alex Wild on Instagram: @ranger_wild.

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5: The Roadless Rule

Liz Crandall — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0700

What is the Roadless Rule? Why is it important? What does it really mean for the American people and the US Forest Service?

Liz takes a deep dive into the Roadless Rule and its controversial history while Mikayla hangs out and eats a cookie.

In short, the 2001 Roadless Rule has quite the reputation within the United States federal government, US states, Indigenous Tribes, and the every day Forest visitor. 58.5 million acres of Inventoried Roadless Areas are established throughout the United States on National Forest Systems Land and, recently, US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the desire and motivation to rescind the Roadless Rule. What does this entail? Why should you care? Let's talk about it.

All resources for this episode are listed below in the order stated in this episode:

1. USFS Roadless Information
2. USDA Press Release
3. US Federal Register
4. Regulations.gov
5. USFS 2001 Roadless Rule
6. Congress.gov Roadless Rule Definition
7. EarthJustice Roadless Rule Timeline
8. USFS Alaska Roadless Rule Public Comments
9. National Institutes of Health 2024 Scientific Study

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4: Hey Mr. Musk, Am I Waste? Interview with Ben Vizzachero

Liz Crandall — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Joining Liz and Mikayla is Wildlife Biologist Ben Vizzachero, who discuss their crazy experiences at the State of the Union (Joint Address) in Washington DC on March 4, 2025, which they attended in-person as the honored guests of specific members of Congress.

Ben (or Benji) shares his passion and love for his work as a biologist for the US Forest Service, including how he got into his field of work and how he continues to fight for his job. He also provides some really fun and interesting facts about several wildlife species, including birds and crabs.

Like Mikayla and Liz, Ben was illegally fired by the Trump administration in February, and has stood up for not only himself but all federal workers who do important deeds to protect our public lands. He even stood up directly to Elon Musk, in person, and to find out what all was said, you'll have to tune in and listen to this special episode!

All views expressed in this episode are our own individual opinions, and do not reflect the views or perspectives of the US Forest Service or any other federal agency workers.

Check out Ben's Instagram: @territory_ranger
Indivisible SYV: @indivisiblesyv

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3: Lawyer-Up! Interview with Andy Vanderheuel & Yvette Piacsek of NFFE

Liz Crandall — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Liz & Mikayla welcome President of the NFFE Executive Board Warner (Andy) Vanderheuel and NFFE General Counsel and Labor Lawyer Yvette Piacsek to a special episode highlighting federal worker legality issues, concerns, and current events. Also discussed is how current federal workers (including rangers within public land federal agencies) can safely and effectively use their voices to highlight their personal perspectives and information they wish to share publicly.

The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) union has a long history of supporting working-class federal employees and their families. They have been integral for current federal workers experiencing hardship instilled by the current administration.

For insight and guidance regarding how rangers and federal employees can carefully elevate their voices, skip ahead to 31:00.

To learn more about NFFE, visit their website at www.nffe.org.
Follow NFFE on Instagram @nffe_union.

To learn more about the Forest Service Council, visit their website at www.nffe-fsc.org.
Follow NFFE-FSC on Instagram @nffe_fsc.

Other Resources Mentioned:
Rise up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network
AFL-CIO
Office of Government Ethics
Workforce Reshaping Operations Handbook

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2: Ranger Danger

Liz Crandall — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0700

In this second episode of Rangers of the Lost Park Podcast, hosts Liz and Mikayla discuss the turbulent experiences of federal public land employees post-January 2020. They highlight the chaos and emotional toll of illegal terminations, probationary firings, and reduced staffing in agencies like the National Park Service and the US Forest Service. The episode features testimonies from affected employees, revealing critical staffing shortages, unsafe working conditions, and the mental health impacts on public servants. Liz and Mikayla share their personal journeys into federal service, the challenges they faced, and their continued advocacy efforts. The episode aims to raise awareness about the struggles these workers endure and emphasizes the importance of supporting public lands and their protectors.

Thank you so much for being here.

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1: Meet Your Rangers

Liz Crandall — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0700

From Oregon to Colorado, two young Rangers have teamed up to advocate for all things public lands and the outdoors. As former National Park Service and US Forest Service field workers themselves, Liz and Mikayla invite you to join them on their new journey to speak up for those who may not be in a position to themselves and shine a guiding light into the raw and real truths behind the agencies and organizations who protect our natural spaces.

This episode consists of introductions and brief dives into the lives of Liz and Mikayla, as well as the acknowledgement of indigenous peoples and stolen land, and a brief explanation of America's Best Idea. How can you help voice your concerns and perspectives regarding public lands? This is explained toward the end of the episode for those who wish to learn more.

We are just getting started and excited to have you here!

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