Best Gut Check Project Podcasts (2025)

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The Wild Line: Advocates on the Hill, Last Day for Roadless Comments 10:55

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3h ago10:55

10:55

This week’s Wild Line comes to you from Washington, DC, where wilderness advocates, recreation leaders, and conservationists gathered for the National Wilderness Coalition’s annual advocacy week. While citizens called for stronger protections, lawmakers pushed new mining bills, a permitting reform framework, and record-setting oil and gas leasing. …

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Conrad Anker: Mountains of Perspective 36:18

2h ago36:18

36:18

In this episode Bill and Anders talk with alpinist and conservation champion Conrad Anker about how his time in the mountains has brought him into the world of activism for people and place. We talk about seeing climate change in real time and how Conrad has worked to support the communities in Nepal. Yes - we talk a bit about mountain climbing and…

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The Wild Line: Chief Links Roadless Rule and Wildfire, BLM Joins the Rescission Party 11:10

7d ago11:10

11:10

This week on the Wild Line we cover testimony from the Chief of the Forest Service, where he attampts to link the popular Roadless Rule to wildfire risk. The Bureau of Land Management announces plans to rescind the Public Lands Rule which has given equal footing for conservation efforts to those held by industry, there were a number of hearings in …

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Brooklyn Bridge Park: From Piers to Parklands 43:00

10d ago43:00

43:00

This week on The Wild Idea, Bill and Anders sit down with Rashid Poulson and Bella Ciabattoni, the horticulture leaders at Brooklyn Bridge Park, to talk about one of New York City’s most surprising wild spaces. What was once a stretch of abandoned shipping piers has become 85 acres of thriving wetlands, meadows, and woodlands along the East River, …

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The Wild Line: Congress Targets Land Management Plans, EPA Silences Critics 12:47

14d ago12:47

12:47

This week on The Wild Line we cover congressional action to scrap resource management plans in three states, authorize the controversial Ambler Road project in Alaska, and to remove protections for the Mexican Gray Wolf. Over at EPA the agency fires employees critical of the Trump administration and the Department of Energy is taken to task by lead…

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Chris Hill: Community Power for Public Lands 36:54

16d ago36:54

36:54

In this episode Bill and Anders talk with Chris Hill, the CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation. Chris highlights CLF's commitment to the National Conservation Lands System and the communities that adjoin these special areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management. They talk about the 25th anniversary of the Conservation Lands System, grass-roo…

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Labor Day: The Human Cost of Federal Cuts 37:42

18d ago37:42

37:42

This Labor Day, we’re turning the spotlight on the people behind our public lands. In this bonus episode, Bill and Anders sit down with three former federal employees who thought they had found their dream jobs in service to the land and the public, only to have those jobs abruptly taken away. Learn more and find the resources mentioned today at ou…

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The Wild Line: Refuge Expansion Stopped, Act Now To Save The Roadless Rule 11:20

21d ago11:20

11:20

This week on The Wild Line, we dig into major developments for America’s public lands. The USDA has extended the comment period on its controversial Forest Service reorganization plan. At the same time, Secretary Rollins has opened public comment on a move to rescind the Roadless Rule, threatening 45 million acres of backcountry lands. In Texas, pl…

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Southern Currents: Environmental Injustice and Energy Innovation in Virginia 35:59

22d ago35:59

35:59

How do we turn the scars of environmental injustice into real innovation for a healthier future? For the fourth part of our Southern Currents series, Bill talks with Josephus Allmond, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, about environmental justice and the push for fair energy solutions in Virginia. Learn more and find the resour…

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Theodore Roosevelt IV: Americans for Alaska 30:27

24d ago30:27

30:27

In this episode, Bill and Anders sit down with Theodore Roosevelt IV, who they call Ted, to talk about Alaska, public lands, and what it means to carry forward a legacy of stewardship. From the North Slope to the Tongass, the conversation reveals a personal history in our 49th state with some critical policy and legislation data in the dialogue as …

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Southern Currents: Appalachia In Recovery 1:13:07

29d ago1:13:07

1:13:07

In this Southern Currents episode, Bill traveled back to Southern Appalachia early in the spring, just months after Hurricane Helene, to trace the impacts of a storm that has reshaped the region’s communities and forests hundreds of miles inland. We sit down with longtime conservation allies, Josh Kelly of MountainTrue, Ben Prater of Defenders of W…

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Kim Bednarek: Community-Led Wins in the Okefenokee 38:00

30d ago38:00

38:00

In this episode Bill and Anders head deep into the Okefenokee with guest Kim Bednarek, the executive director of the Okefenokee Swamp Park. Kim shares the story of how a local community created the park in the 1940s as a way to connect people with the swamp, and how today that mission has expanded into conservation education and community-led advoc…

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The Wild Line: Reprieve for Hawaiian Marine Monument, Red Wolves Take Step Toward Recovery 13:11

1M ago13:11

13:11

Today on the Wild Line we bring you some numbers of hope for Red Wolf recovery, a temporary restraining order on more development at the Everglades detention facility and win for the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. There is also a new map out there that shows the public lands at risk of disposal. These stories and more on this we…

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Southern Currents: Saving the Buffalo River Again...and Again 43:33

1M ago43:33

43:33

In this second Southern Currents bonus episode of The Wild Idea, Bill chats with Stewart Noland, Tommie Kelly, and Martha Morris from the Ozark Society, the group that came together in 1962 to keep the Buffalo River from being dammed and went on to make it America’s first National River in 1972. They swap stories from that fight, like riding the Ju…

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Joe Whitson: Marketing the Wilderness 34:22

1M ago34:22

34:22

Environmental justice scholar Joe Whitson joins Bill and Anders to talk about how our stories about nature shape the land itself. Joe explains his concept of “wildernessing,” the process of making a place look and feel “untouched” through policy decisions, land management, and marketing, even though these landscapes have deep human histories. The c…

1
The Wild Line: Montana Rivers Protected, LWCF Threatened, Louisiana Wetlands Abandoned 12:40

1M ago12:40

12:40

Today we report on the rollback of protections in Alaska’s North Slope, revival of a mining project near the Boundary Waters, and threats to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. We offer some good news with proposed Wild and Scenic River designations in Montana, and some bad news with Louisiana’s cancellation of a landmark coastal restoration proj…

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Southern Currents: Land Loss and Citizen Science on The Gulf Coast 1:26:39

1M ago1:26:39

1:26:39

In this first installment of our special Southern Currents series, Bill travels the Gulf Coast (sadly, without Anders) to explore the crisis of coastal land loss and the role of citizen science in protecting the region's future. We begin in Louisiana with Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Bob Marshall, who has spent decades covering the collapse of…

1
Blain and Monique Anderson: Sailing Alaska's Wilderness Waters 27:46

2M ago27:46

27:46

Join us as we climb aboard the BOB, a 50-foot Catalina sailboat, with Blain and Monique Anderson—a husband-and-wife team navigating the remote waters of Southeast Alaska. As the owners of Sound Sailing, they’ve turned their love of sailing and wild places into a platform for sharing the raw beauty and singular experience found only in Alaska’s coas…

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The Wild Line: Senators Slam USDA Reorg, New Parks Deep in the Heart of Texas 10:48

2M ago10:48

10:48

Today we zoom in on layoffs, restructuring, and reorganizations across multiple departments, and cover wins and losses for wildlife and parks. We also inventory what happened on the hill this week. Find out more about the news mentioned today and links and resources from today's episode at our website, thewildidea.com.…

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Your Hosts Bill & Anders: You Ask - We Answer 52:35

2M ago52:35

52:35

In this special 20th episode of The Wild Idea, Bill and Anders are recording face-to-face for the first time, from the deck of a sailboat in Southeast Alaska. To mark the milestone, they’re answering twenty questions submitted by listeners. The result is a wide-ranging, often hilarious, occasionally serious, and always thoughtful conversation that …

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The Wild Line: USFS Reorg, Massive Cuts to Interior in House Budget Bill, Legal Win for Wildlife 17:38

2M ago17:38

17:38

Today on The Wild Line: A sweeping USDA plan to restructure the Forest Service, a major executive order from President Trump aimed at fast-tracking AI data center development on federal land, the House’s latest Interior budget bill, and a legal win for conservationists. Find the resources mentioned today and more at our website, thewildidea.com.…

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Josh Jackson: The Forgotten Lands Project 38:06

2M ago38:06

38:06

Josh Jackson didn’t set out to become a champion for the Bureau of Land Management. But after stumbling into BLM lands in the deserts of California, he found himself transformed, first by the landscape, and then by the history behind it. In this episode, Josh joins Bill and Anders to talk about The Enduring Wild, his new book exploring California’s…

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Cristina Eisenberg: Humility as a Tool for Protection and Stewardship 50:38

2M ago50:38

50:38

In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Cristina Eisenberg shares her perspective on the growing crisis facing our forests and why meeting this moment will take more than science alone. As the opening speaker for the Ninth American Forest Congress, Cristina reflects on how this historic gathering signals a shift in how we think about forest stewards…

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The Wild Line: Oil Train Rolls in Utah, Merkley Asks for Wildfire Funds, Trump Targets Park History 15:34

2M ago15:34

15:34

This week on The Wild Line: We’re back with a full roundup of what’s happening across all three branches of government, plus a reminder that history is written not just in laws, but in landscapes. We dive into the latest BLM approvals, two new Trump-era executive orders, a small act you can take to help save our National Park signs, and a whole lot…

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Tony Bynum: Conservation Through a Photographer's Lens 44:09

2M ago44:09

44:09

Conservation photographer Tony Bynum joins Bill and Anders for a wide-ranging conversation about photography, sovereignty, wild places, and what it means to tell the truth with an image. Tony's work isn’t just about capturing beauty; it’s about telling the full story of a place, pushing for protection, and reminding us what’s at stake. Today's conv…

1
The Wild Line: Congress Wraps Up Reconciliation, Trump Eyes the Everglades, USDA Considers Nuking NEPA 14:46

3M ago14:46

14:46

Bill and Anders cover the end of the budget reconciliation process which saw the public land sell-off removed, but many more major setbacks for public lands survived. The Forest Service took steps to loosen rules around following the National Environmental Policy Act, and in Montana they ceded management of 200,000 acres to the state through a new …

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Anne Robinson: 'Good News' from the Appalachian Trail 21:22

3M ago21:22

21:22

In this bonus of The Wild Idea, we’re literally taking you to the Appalachian Trail. Anne Robinson joins us from Harpers Ferry, the symbolic halfway point of her 2,200-mile thru-hike, for a conversation about what happens when you step away from your desk and into the woods for months at a time. Anne recently left her job at Southern Environmental …

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The Conservation Alliance: Outdoor Brands Make a Stand 37:20

3M ago37:20

37:20

This week on The Wild Idea, we’re exploring the growing power of outdoor brands to influence public land policy. What happens when the companies that outfit our adventures decide to stand up for the places that make those adventures possible? We’re joined by Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance, and Vince Mazzuca, Directo…

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The Wild Line: Okefenokee Swamp Saved, Trump Targets the Roadless Rule, Lee's Land Sale Hits a Snag 16:57

3M ago16:57

16:57

Bill and Anders break down a big week for public lands. The Okefenokee Swamp is safe from mining, Arkansas banned large hog farms in the Buffalo River Watershed, and Senator Mike Lee’s latest land sell-off push has hit a snag. Major threats remain; the Trump administration moves to repeal the Roadless Rule, putting 58 million acres at risk. Plus, S…

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Chris Wood: Roadless Rule Rescinded 40:06

3M ago40:06

40:06

Chris Wood - the godfather of the Roadless Rule and President and CEO of Trout Unlimited - joins the show to talk about how the Roadless Rule came to be, what it actually does, and why the Trump Administration’s move to undo it threatens some of the most ecologically and recreationally important backcountry we have. From fire mitigation myths to th…

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Martin Nie and Monte Mills: Not Just a Box to Check - Tribal Sovereignty and Co-Management 49:41

3M ago49:41

49:41

What does it really mean to share stewardship of public lands with tribal nations? In this episode, legal scholar Monte Mills, a leading expert on Federal Indian Law, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous cultural protection, and public lands policy expert Martin Nie, whose work focuses on the governance of federal lands and collaborative management a…

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The Wild Line: Wildfire, Broken Promises and Reconciliation 14:01

3M ago14:01

14:01

This week on The Wild Line, we’re tracking three major stories shaping the future of public lands and the communities that depend on them, including a new executive order aimed at “commonsense” wildfire prevention and response. Learn more and find the links and resources from today's episode at our website, thewildidea.com.…

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The New Fix for Chronic Pain with Dr. Arrash Kirkland 59:51

3M ago59:51

59:51

When pain won’t quit, you don’t just manage it—you heal it. In this episode of The Gut Check Project, Dr. Arrash Kirkland—board-certified physiatrist, founder of Nobility Pain Management, and partner with LifeGenix Institute—joins Dr. Ken Brown and Eric Rieger to share how regenerative medicine is changing the way we treat chronic pain. From PRP an…

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Tracy Stone-Manning: Promises Worth Defending 34:12

3M ago34:12

34:12

Tracy Stone-Manning has spent her career at the heart of public lands policy—from field offices and statehouses to the director’s chair at the Bureau of Land Management. Now, as president of The Wilderness Society, she’s carrying that fight forward with a deep belief in collaboration, connection, and the promise our public lands represent. In this …

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The Wild Line: Senate Draft Targets Millions of Acres, DOJ Clears Monument Rollbacks 16:23

3M ago16:23

16:23

This week on The Wild Line, we dive into the latest updates from the Department of Justice, look at Senate drafts impacting public lands and forests, and talk about youth efforts on behalf of Bigfoot, as well as a handful of other important topics. It's been a big week for wilderness spaces—here's what you may have missed. Find out more about today…

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Randy Newberg: The Host of Fresh Tracks Offers Fresh Ideas on Advocacy and Access 44:29

3M ago44:29

44:29

Randy Newberg is one of the most trusted and strategic voices in the sportsman conservation world, and he’s got stories to prove it. In this episode, Randy joins Bill and Anders for a wide-ranging, funny, and deeply personal conversation that moves from his childhood hunting on public lands in northern Minnesota to testifying before Congress and bu…

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The Wild Line: Lee and Daines talk land sales, Interior guts Science and opens Alaska to drilling 10:45

4M ago10:45

10:45

This week on The Wild Line, Senators Lee and Daines revive dangerous land sell-off efforts, the DOI axes key science protections, and Alaska faces a new wave of oil and gas drilling, because apparently, recess doesn’t mean rest for public lands. Learn more and find the links and resources from today's episode at our website, thewildidea.com.…

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Andis Arietta: The Uncertainty Inherent in Wilderness 51:49

4M ago51:49

51:49

What do frozen frogs, machine learning, roadkill, and wilderness ethics have in common? According to evolutionary ecologist Dr. Andis Arietta…everything. In this wide-ranging and mind-expanding conversation, Andis joins us to explore the deep connections between ecology, evolution, climate change, and how (and whether) we manage wild places. Find t…

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The Wild Line: SCOTUS approves mine on sacred ground; Burgum rewrites history 11:51

4M ago11:51

11:51

This week on The Wild Line, despite Congress being on recess, the hits keep coming for public lands, tribal sovereignty, and environmental protections. Find the links and resources mentioned in today's episode on our website, thewildidea.comBy Wild Idea Media

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Jon Jarvis: Are Our National Parks Being Set Up To Fail? 34:59

4M ago34:59

34:59

In this bonus episode of The Wild Idea, we sit down with Jon Jarvis, the 18th Director of the National Park Service, for a wide-ranging and urgent conversation about the future of America’s public lands. Drawing on his 40-year career in the Park Service—from backcountry Alaska to the corridors of D.C.—Jarvis offers a sobering look at current threat…

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Ingrid Lyons: Save the Boundary Waters, Join the National Wilderness Coalition 44:59

4M ago44:59

44:59

What does it take to protect one of the most visited, and most threatened, wilderness areas in America? Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters, Ingrid Lyons, joins us to talk about the fight to defend Minnesota’s beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from dangerous copper mining proposals and the broader movement to reinvigorate wil…

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The Wild Line: Burgum Defends Park Closures, Public Lands Survive Reconciliation (for now) 7:26

4M ago7:26

7:26

This week on The Wild Line, Anders and Bill break down a big development in the ongoing budget reconciliation battle, and what it means for public lands. We dive into the House Reconciliation Bill, the Trump administration’s $5 billion cut to the Department of the Interior’s budget, and more. Find the links and resources mentioned in today's episod…

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Senator Tim Kaine: Walk, Ride, Paddle, Protect! 17:49

4M ago17:49

17:49

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

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Hydrogen Water: Miracle Molecule or Biohacking BS? 46:02

4M ago46:02

46:02

Is hydrogen water just another overhyped health trend—or is it a legit biohack with real science behind it? In this episode, Dr. Ken Brown dives deep into the bubbling buzz around hydrogen-rich water, sparked by health influencer Gary Brecka’s bold claims on Joe Rogan. Skeptical co-host Eric Rieger gets pulled into Ken’s science rabbit hole as they…

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Kaitie Schneider: Wolverines Reissued 42:49

4M ago42:49

42:49

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

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The Wild Line: Bipartisan Pushback on Threats to Public Lands and the Endangered Species Act 16:01

4M ago16:01

16:01

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

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Jose Gonzalez: Show Up and Be Curious 52:03

4M ago52:03

52:03

In this episode of The Wild Idea, we speak with José González, founder of Latino Outdoors and co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath, about identity, community, and redefining what it means to belong in wild spaces. José shares his personal journey from rural Mexico to national conservation leadership, and why the question isn’t just how to get more peo…

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David Gessner: Roosevelt, Resistance and Reclaiming the Wild 44:59

5M ago44:59

44:59

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

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Tim Manley: Grizzlies, Conflict, and Coexistence 44:57

5M ago44:57

44:57

Today we're so excited to welcome Grizzly Bear Management Specialist (retired) Tim Manley to The Wild Idea podcast! In our conversation today, we talk about Tim's pioneering work capturing Grizzly behavior in the wild, the evolution of the Grizzly - Human relationship and interactions, and how human behavior is impacting Grizzly habitat and vice ve…

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Hair Loss—The Hidden Trade-Offs 39:35

5M ago39:35

39:35

Think hair loss has nothing to do with gut health? Think again. In this off-the-cuff, insight-packed episode, Dr. Ken Brown and co-host Eric Rieger dive deep (and hilariously) into the world of male pattern baldness, Propecia, and the surprising role of hormones, enzymes, and even heavy metals in hair health. 🧠 They unpack: Why blocking DHT might s…