165. Conservation is a Human Right with Bray Beltrán
In episode 165 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss conservation, how the movement needs to change, and how to reframe conservation as a human right. We cover the historical inequities in conservation, how social justice and environmental protection intersect, and what a rights-based approach to conservation could look like in practice. We’ll also discuss ways you can influence policymakers and advocate for a more inclusive conservation movement. This conversation is packed with insights and actionable steps to help us reimagine conservation as a right for everyone, not just a privilege for a few. To help guide our conversation, I had the pleasure of chatting with Bray Beltran. Bray was born and raised in Colombia. He moved to the United States when he was 21 and has been living here for 24 years. Bray is a recent transplant to the mid-Atlantic, but he spent nine years living in the deep South and 13 years in the Intermountain West. Bray earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the US academic system, studying ecology, climate change, and conservation. After school, Bray started his career in conservation and worked on private land protection in the Northern Rockies for 10 years. During this time, Bray started to understand conservation not only within the historical context of American culture but also within the cultural context of 15,000+ years of Indigenous tenure and 500 years of Afro-descendant history in the Americas. Since then, Bray has strived to practice conservation considering the full historical and cultural context of the Americas to make sure our conservation actions and outcomes benefit the whole of society and include the perspectives, histories, and knowledge of historically marginalized communities. Bray is a father, a husband, an only child to his mother, a brother, a cousin, and an uncle to his very large family. He can often be found tending to his garden or enjoying his surroundings near and far. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976
20 Tammi 36min
164. Is an Outdoor Recreation Economy How We Stop Off-Shore Drilling? with Chad Nelsen
First, let me start by saying that the devastation from the wildfires in the LA area is horrific. Our hearts go out to everyone who has had to experience a climate disaster. Unfortunately, these events will likely become more frequent and widespread. We plan to discuss climate disasters more and how to prepare for them in the future, but for now, we will focus on some policies that no doubt influence and fuel climate change. In episode 164 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we discuss offshore drilling. More specifically, we will learn about the intersection between outdoor recreation economies and how activities like offshore drilling impact them. To help explain the scope of this issue, I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Chad Nelsen. Dr. Chad Nelsen is the CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest grassroots coastal and ocean conservation organization dedicated to protecting and enjoying the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches. Chad has over 25 years of experience in ocean and coastal conservation and works at the intersection of advocacy, ocean recreation, and grassroots organizing to confront some of our most pressing challenges, including climate change, plastic pollution, and poor water quality. With a geology degree from Brown University, a Masters in Coastal Environmental Management from Duke University, and an Environmental Science and Engineering doctorate from UCLA, Chad has a strong foundation in science, policy, and management. Through his research at UCLA, Chad became a founder in the field of “surfonomics,” the study of the economic values of surfing and ocean recreation. Chad lives in Laguna Beach with his family and enjoys surfing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and snowboarding with his family. After this interview was recorded, President Biden announced the withdrawal of the entire US East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and gas leasing. Taken under the authority of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, this permanently protects more than 625 million acres of US Waters from any future oil and gas development in 5-year offshore drilling plans developed by the federal government. Surfrider and Chad Nelsen released a statement about this on January 6th: "The Surfrider Foundation applauds the Biden administration for withdrawing these waters from future oil and gas leasing. Offshore drilling is a dirty and damaging practice that harms our ocean as well as communities and businesses while worsening climate change. The President's historic action is a key step toward ending oil and gas drilling in US waters. We call on our federal leaders to take further steps to ensure that all US coasts are protected from this harmful industry," INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ---------------------- Surfrider Foundation Website: https://www.surfrider.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Surfrider/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SurfriderFoundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/surfrider/
13 Tammi 23min
163. Fighting for Outdoor Policy and Protection in 2025 with Adam Cramer
Welcome to the first episode of 2025! I’m stoked to dive into another exciting year of podcast content with all of you, and we have some exciting things planned for the year. So, if you aren’t already, make sure you’re subscribed to our weekly newsletter. Every Monday, with the release of a new episode, I send out an email newsletter with the latest content you can hear and watch and any additional information relevant to our listeners. Last October, we had our first theme month: Climate Month. I enjoyed focusing on one broad topic area and tailoring it to the outdoor industry through a series of expert interviews. So, we are doing that again in January, but this time, our focus is on policy and politics. There’s a lot of stress going into 2025 and many unknowns regarding human rights, land access, the economy, and so much more as we transition into a new administration. We will be talking about most of these topics throughout the month and how they relate to outdoor communities, but we are starting with outdoor policy predictions and how we, as individuals and businesses, can use our voices to take action to protect the people and lands we love. To help guide this conversation, I had the privilege of sitting down and chatting with Adam Cramer. Adam Cramer is the founding Executive Director and present CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups that has breathed new life into the conservation movement by harnessing the outdoor community’s passion for place and combining it with a modern approach to organizing and digital engagement. During his time as CEO, Adam has brought new sensibilities to conservation work that have resulted in hundreds of thousands more acres of protected landscapes, improved management for outdoor recreation, and thousands of outdoor enthusiasts awakened to conservation and advocacy work. He is an avid whitewater kayaker and mountain biker, but is always on the lookout for a good skatepark. Adam lives in Maryland with his wife and two kids. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ---------------------- Outdoor Alliance Website: https://www.outdooralliance.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdooralliance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OutdoorAlliance/
6 Tammi 26min
162. Best of 2024
It’s the final Monday of 2024, and what a year it’s been for the Outdoor Minimalist podcast! In this special round-up episode, we’re celebrating the year’s highlights, including the top five most downloaded episodes. Whether you’re a first-time listener or a dedicated fan who tunes in every Monday, this episode is the perfect way to reflect on our journey together. We’re also taking a moment to celebrate the success of Forever Chemicals, our new investigative podcast series. From becoming the #1 Chemistry podcast in the U.S. to earning a homepage feature on Apple Podcasts during Earth Month, this project has been a labor of love that sparked critical conversations in the outdoor community. Forever Chemicals has been nominated for the Best Sports Documentary Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards! Voting is open until January 13th. Please cast your vote (link below) and help us take home the win. Vote Here: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-documentary-podcast/ As for 2025, there’s even more to look forward to, including the possibility of another new podcast (pending funding)! For now, join us as we revisit the most memorable Outdoor Minimalist episodes of 2024: Top 5 Episodes of 2024: 5. Episode 132: What Skiing Taught Me About Taking Business Risks with Ted Ligety A deep dive into how skiing’s challenges translate into entrepreneurship, featuring two-time Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety. 4. Episode 137: Travel is Not Sustainable with Breanne and Dave KiefnerA critical look at the environmental impacts of travel and how we can rethink our wanderlust to prioritize sustainability. 3. Episode 146: How to Apply Minimalism to Ultralight Backpacking with Glen Van PeskiInsights from the founder of Gossamer Gear on packing light and living with intention on the trail. 2. Episode 122: Becoming Ultralight: A Long-Distance Backpacker’s Lessons in Gear with Sarah Berkely Sarah Berkely shares her journey of ultralight backpacking as a woman and the lessons she’s learned along the way. 1. Episode 120: Building a Healthier Relationship with Food (On and Off the Trail) with Heather KellyOur most downloaded episode of the year! Heather Kelly discusses nutrition, mindfulness, and the intersection of food and outdoor adventure. Thank You for a Great Year! Whether you’ve been with us since day one or are just joining the Outdoor Minimalist community, thank you for making 2024 such an incredible year. This podcast has been a journey of learning, growth, and connection, and we’re so excited for what’s to come in 2025. Let’s keep exploring, learning, and minimizing together. See you in 2025! INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976
30 Joulu 202422min
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Christmas Tree Display [repost]
Happy Holidays outdoor minimalist listeners. I can’t believe this is the third holiday season I get to spend with all of you! To give the team a bit of a break over the next two weeks, we decided to repost one of our most popular and well-loved episodes –The Christmas Tree Display. If you haven’t heard this, you’re in for a treat! Before we get to the special though, I have a few announcements. First, the Forever Chemicals podcast was recently nominated for the Sports Podcast Awards! While we like to think of ourselves as a science podcast, it is an honor to be a finalist in the sports documentary category. We were nominated because we cover the use of hazardous chemicals in sporting equipment and outdoor gear. That said, it would mean the world to us if you took a minute to cast a vote for the Forever Chemicals podcast. The link is in the show notes as well as in all of our social media bios. Voting is open until January 13th and winners will be announced on January 30th. The second announcement I have is that I’ve also included a link to our listener survey in the show notes and will be sending these out in the next few email newsletters. Last year was the first year we tried a listener survey, and it helped us a lot to hear directly from you about the show. Your input helps us create a more impactful show and cover topics and interview guests that interest you most. I’ve made some updates to the listener survey since last year, including the option to have a sit down chat with me, your host so I can hear from you directly and get to know you better. If you’re interested in sharing your thoughts directly with me and scheduling a video call, please fill out the survey in the show notes! With that, thank you again for making this our best year yet, and happy holidays. This Holiday Special: The Christmas Tree Display was written and produced by Meg Carney and edited by Alex Carney. ----------------------------- INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book YOUTUBE: @theoutdoorminimalist LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/EzVMMbvxQdVjGmU26 VOTE HERE: https://www.sportspodcastgroup.com/sports_category/best-sports-documentary-podcast/ ----------------------------- Features Alex Carney as the Narrator, Meg Carney as the PVC Tree, and Jay Stewart as the Farm Tree.
16 Joulu 202412min
161. Conscious Gift Giving and Sustainable Holiday Shopping
The holiday season is here, and with it comes a surge in waste and consumption. In this rare solo episode of Outdoor Minimalist, we explore how to reduce environmental impact during one of the most high-waste times of the year. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, waste in the U.S. increases by 25%, with millions of tons of trash generated from gift wrap, decorations, food waste, and shipping materials. This episode gives you actionable strategies for conscious gift-giving and sustainable shopping, including: Embracing experiences over possessions to create lasting traditions Thoughtful gift ideas like practical items, subscriptions, or goal-oriented presents Supporting local artisans and ethical brands Crafting DIY or secondhand treasures for unique and personal presents Rethinking wrapping paper with reusable or recyclable materials The holidays are an opportunity to spark conversations about sustainability and inspire new traditions that align with eco-conscious values. Listen for practical tips and resources to celebrate joyfully without creating unnecessary waste. Links Mentioned: EarthHero Sustainable Shopping Episode 3: How to Identify Sustainable Product Materials Bonus: Is Wrapping Paper Recyclable? Who Gives a Crap and Reel Toilet Paper Go Green with Alexa INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976
9 Joulu 202415min
160. Reconnecting with Nature Through Outdoor Play with Jen Ball
In the spirit of gift-giving, I want to highlight a book that I believe many listeners would love and cherish with their friends and family. Books are a timeless gift, and supporting small bookstores is something near and dear to my heart– after all, I grew up in one. That’s why I decided to feature Sticks, Stones, and Pinecones: Games to Play in Nature by Jen Ball in episode 160 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast. Jen Ball is lead faculty for the Sustainability Stream, a program that guides students into green sector careers, at Canada’s Humber College. Ball has also been a producer for CBC Radio One, coordinator for the Montreal Fringe Festival, and administrator for the Caravan Tall Ship Theatre Company. A member of the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario, Ball roams the outdoors often with friends and family. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- Jen Ball Humber College: https://humber.ca/staff/announcement/sustainability-spotlight-jen-ball Mountaineers: https://www.mountaineers.org/members/jennifer-ball?ajax_load=1 Bookshop.org (US): https://bookshop.org/p/books/sticks-stones-pinecones-board-and-other-games-to-play-with-nature-jennifer-ball/21189103?ean=9781680517163 Indigo (Canada): https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/sticks-stones-pinecones-games-to-play-in-nature/9781680517163.html
2 Joulu 202423min
159. Climate Change is Impacting Where and How We Ski with Anneka Williams
In this episode 159 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re heading into ski and snowboard season. Now, we don’t have many episodes focused around the snowsports industry (there’s a few, shout out to Ted Ligety and his episode), but as we gear up for winter sports, I wanted to look at how we enjoy our winter season with a more critical lens. We’ve all experienced a rapid change in weather patterns throughout the last 10 years, and skiing is at the forefront of climate change impacts. Warmer winters, shrinking snowpacks, and unpredictable conditions are transforming the sport as we know it. To help us unpack this pressing issue, we’re joined by Anneka Williams. Originally from Vermont’s Mad River Valley, Anneka is a climate scientist and she holds a BA in Biology and Earth and Oceanographic Science from Bowdoin College and an MSc in Climate Change from the University of Copenhagen. Anneka has worked on climate and environmental issues on four different continents and pursued stories and ski lines around the world. Currently, Anneka is based in Salt Lake City, Utah where she works on climate resilience in the energy sector and as a freelance writer. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/ WEBSITE: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/book LISTENER SURVEY: https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976 ----------------- Anneka Williams Website: https://www.annekawilliams.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annekawilliams/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anneka-williams-81215614b/ Email: annekawilliams24@gmail.com ----------------- Episode Resources Season Equipment: https://seasoneqpt.com/ Patagonia Worn Wear: https://wornwear.patagonia.com/ Intergovernmental Panel of the Climate Change: https://www.ipcc.ch/ Climate Central: https://www.climatecentral.org/
25 Marras 202430min
