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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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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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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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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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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Join our Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.
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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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Join our Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.
For episode suggestions and feedback, please email us at rangersofthelostpark@gmail.com.
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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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Join our Patreon! Become a Ranger Friend for bonus content and to join an incredible community.
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Please download, subscribe, and leave us 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
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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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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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.
Interested in learning more about New Mexico Wild? You can find their website at nmwild.org and on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!
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Sources:
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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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.
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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.
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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
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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 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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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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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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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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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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