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The Wild Idea

Wild Idea Media
Public Lands
Conservation
Roadless Rule
Climate Change
Forest Service
Endangered Species Act
Trump Administration
National Park Service
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
American Prairie
National Environmental Policy Act
Appalachian Trail
Bureau Of Land Management
Department Of Interior
Wildlife Management
Southern Environmental Law Center
National Parks
Joshua Tree National Park
Alaska
California

The Wild Idea is an exploration of the intersection of wild nature and our own human nature. The hosts, Bill Hodge and Anders Reynolds, through conversations with experts and thought leaders will dive into the ways that humans have both embraced and impact the function and vitality of our remaining wild places.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes125Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureScience

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Artwork for The Wild Idea

Latest Episodes

This week on The Wild Line, we're tracking the White House's repeal of decades-old off-road vehicle protections on public lands, House appropriations cuts to national parks and the EPA, the collapse of federal conservation program funding for farmers... more

Jaime Loucky is the CEO of the Washington Trails Association, one of the largest trail stewardship nonprofits in the United States. The organization now facilitates more than 160,000 hours of volunteer trail work each year, runs gear lending librarie... more

This week on The Wild Line, we're tracking a new bill to nullify the Gulf of Mexico Endangered Species Act exemption, $67 million in national park entrance fees redirected to Washington, D.C. beautification projects, a steep drop in Forest Service wi... more

The federal lands fight has shifted since Tracy Stone-Manning last sat down with Bill and Anders in June 2025. The workforce cuts she warned about have arrived; the Roadless Rule is days from final rescission; and on the day this episode was recorded... more

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Recent Guests

John Leshy
Legal scholar and author
Author of Our Common Ground; legal scholar
Episode: John Leshy: The Hollowing Out of America’s Public Lands
Gregg Treinish
Founder of Adventure Scientists
Adventure Scientists
Episode: Gregg Treinish & Lara Birkes: Turning Adventure into Conservation Data
Lara Birkes
Executive Director of Adventure Scientists (incoming)
Adventure Scientists
Episode: Gregg Treinish & Lara Birkes: Turning Adventure into Conservation Data
Autumn Gillard
Coordinator for the Grand Staircase Intertribal Coalition
Intertribal Coalition / Grand Staircase-Escalante coordination
Episode: Autumn Gillard & Steve Bloch: Tribal Voices and the Fight to Save Grand Staircase - Escalante
Steve Bloch
Legal director at Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA)
SUWA
Episode: Autumn Gillard & Steve Bloch: Tribal Voices and the Fight to Save Grand Staircase - Escalante
Andrew Young
Staff attorney for the Allegheny Blue Ridge Alliance
Allegheny Blue Ridge Alliance
Episode: The Wild Line: Trump Pulls NPS Nominee, Appalachian Groups Sue Over Corridor H, and the Forest Service Embraces Glyphosate
Dalton George
Mayor of Boone, North Carolina; organizer; Endangered Species Coalition national grassroots
Mayor of Boone; Endangered Species Coalition
Episode: Dalton George: The Hellbender, The High Country, and the Fight to Keep Appalachia Wild
Jessica Howell-Edwards
Guest from Wild Cumberland
Wild Cumberland
Episode: Jessica Howell-Edwards & Dani Purvis: Fighting for the Wild Soul of Cumberland Island
Dani Purvis
Guest from Wild Cumberland
Wild Cumberland
Episode: Jessica Howell-Edwards & Dani Purvis: Fighting for the Wild Soul of Cumberland Island

Hosts

Bill Hodge
Host with a background tied to The Wild Line and Wild Idea Media, focused on wild lands policy and advocacy.
Anders Reynolds
Co-host and policy-focused commentator, appears across episodes discussing public lands, governance, and advocacy strategy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Most Important Nature Podcast

    The four part series on the roadless rule opened my eyes to the importance of roadless and wilderness lands that I had not experienced in the 50+ years I’ve been hiking in roadless and wilderness lands.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jim Medlock
    United States4 months ago
  • You’ve gotta listen to this podcast!

    Every week, you’re going to be learning something new… well, sometimes actually you might be learning something old… from Bill, Anders, and their guests.

    You never know what’s going to be around the next bend.

    Regardless, you’ll be both entertained and better informed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Wild Tberrys
    United States9 months ago
  • Timely and timeless

    This is the most important conversation happening right now about public lands, and I only wish we had been having it sooner. I look forward to every episode drop and I enjoy feeling like I’m in the room with friends. The hosts have great chemistry and even greater passion for our shared public lands. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Meeeeeee is me
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent

    Timely, highly relevant digestible deep dives into the past, present, and future of America’s wild public lands.

    Grade A podcast.

    Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ellen StuHae
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative

    Great guests and insightful topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bob0828
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are consistently knowledgeable and well-prepared.
Insightful and timely discussions that connect policy to real-world impact.
Hosts bring energy, expertise, and a clear passion for wild places.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#68
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#200
Canada/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#249
Australia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#154
Norway/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#232
Denmark/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

John Leshy: The Hollowing Out of America’s Public Lands
Q: How has the approach to public lands evolved through the Great Transition and beyond?
The conversation traces a shift from using lands to fund the government to creating a more inclusive idea of public lands as a national commons that should be held for all citizens, leading to the establishment of parks and forests and ongoing debates about ownership and management.
John Leshy: The Hollowing Out of America’s Public Lands
Q: What was the founding era that set the stage for public lands as a shared resource?
Leshy explains that the original public lands arose from the need to finance and unify a new nation, with the seven colonies ceding western land claims to the national government, creating the initial public lands that later funded infrastructure, education, and expansion.
Jessica Howell-Edwards & Dani Purvis: Fighting for the Wild Soul of Cumberland Island
Q: What are the main threats to Cumberland Island today and how is the organization addressing them?
Threats include the visitor-use plan, land exchanges, increased development, and lighting impacts; Wild Cumberland raises concerns about transparency, carrying capacity, and adherence to the original legislative intent, while engaging communities and supporting public involvement.
Jessica Howell-Edwards & Dani Purvis: Fighting for the Wild Soul of Cumberland Island
Q: How did Wild Cumberland get started and what was the North Star then?
Wild Cumberland began as a volunteer-driven effort recognizing the need to protect wilderness; the North Star has been to advocate for long-term protection and thoughtful management while staying rooted in a sense of place.
Dalton George: The Hellbender, The High Country, and the Fight to Keep Appalachia Wild
Q: What was the mood in Boone around the hellbender listing and the federal amendments act vote, and what made you push forward?
He notes supportive local sentiment but acknowledges national noise and misinformation; the emphasis remained on community health, water quality, and conserving biodiversity, with a focus on real-world recovery and protection.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Wild Idea

What is The Wild Idea about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, issue-driven series centered on wild places and the policies that shape them. Episodes often thread leadership changes, legal battles, and conservation strategy through interviews with guests who are policymakers, advocates, scientists, and nonprofit leaders. Expect accessible explanations of complex public lands debates, deep dives into fire ecology, old-growth forests, and wilderness protections, plus on-the-ground perspectives from tribal voices and local organizers. The show stands out for its long-running engagement with policy, practical advocacy, and a willingness to spotlight both governance challenges and tangible conservation wins, making it a strong fit for listeners who want to understand how national decisions fil... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Wild Idea?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Wild Idea:

1. Outside Podcast
2. The Dirtbag Diaries
3. Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio
4. Wild Ideas Worth Living
5. Planet Visionaries – SEASON 5

How many episodes of The Wild Idea are there?

The Wild Idea launched a year ago and published 125 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Wild Idea?

Recent guests on The Wild Idea include:

1. John Leshy
2. Gregg Treinish
3. Lara Birkes
4. Autumn Gillard
5. Steve Bloch
6. Andrew Young
7. Dalton George
8. Jessica Howell-Edwards

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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