Natural Causes

James is joined by Natali Geovia of the Water Protector Legal Collective to discuss the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) and the tremendous damage it could do to protections for the land, Indigenous people, and public health.

https://www.waterprotectorlegal.org/ 

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James talks with Dane Brinkley about Mount Shasta, why it's not a good idea to outsource your planning to the internet, and why we go to the mountains ​.

https://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/posts/pfbid09S8teHAogsxqUS66ManmS8kqBRkTzJtqhBPfL4vH6sKUktKHqsN99Sb7WQ1z5RA6l  
https://krcrtv.com/news/local/three-mount-shasta-climbers-rescued-after-relying-on-ai-to-plan-climb  
https://www.shastaavalanche.org/climbing-advisory  
https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/solo-teen-hiker-hoisted-from-mountain-cliff-after-using-ai-to-plan-route-north-shore-rescue-says-12855671  
https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/two-hikers-rescued-one-hiker-missing-and-a-rescuer-dead-in-separate-incidents-on-mt-baldy/  
https://www.casavalpt.com/  

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James is joined by Molly Conger to talk about what to wear this winter to stay warm in the outdoors, and to discuss how the outdoor media talks about equipment and the issues with that model. Here are some of the things James mentioned in the episode, all with non affiliate links!

https://armsofandes.com/
https://darntough.com/ 
https://www.sitkagear.com/collection/equinox-guard-collection 
https://www.royalrobbins.com/us/en-us/men/featured/mosquito-protection-technology/ 
https://nuyarn.com/ 
https://www.polartec.com/fabrics/insulation/alpha 
https://www.primaloft.com/insulation-products/active-series/active-evolve 
https://pertex.com/fabrics-technologies/quantum-air 
https://kahtoola.com/gaiters/navagaiter-gtx/ 
https://auclairgloves.us/products/hybrid-xc-2-finger-mitts-adult-new-fall-2023 
https://skida.com/products/limoncello-alpine-hat 

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In the second of a two part series James looks at the federal government's response to the Lochiel land defence and where people who care about the land can go from here.

 https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coronado/alerts/border-barrier-construction-closure  
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/lawmakers-demand-transparency-after-us-forest-service-coordinates-with-ice-on-public-lands  
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/labor-day-weekend-family-camping-trip-ends-in-ice-raid/281-fdb42198-76df-4922-ae38-d2e3faf58ca4

https://cochiseregionalnews.substack.com/p/hathway-on-lochiel-only-violent-physical  
https://azsheriffs.org/newsroom/santa-cruz-county-public-safety-open-letter/  
https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R46601/R46601.2.pdf 

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In the first of a two part series, James travels to Lochiel, Arizona, to interview land defenders occupying a historic cottonwood known as grandmother tree in order to prevent the tree being destroyed as part of a two layer border wall being built through the region. 

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For Indigenous People's Day James intorduces an episode of the Nomadcast interviewing Mato Wayuhi. NomadCast is hosted by Caleb “Moose” (White Mountain Apache Descendant) and Cheyanne (White Mountain Apache Enrolled) Endfield from the White Mountain Apache Reservation where the couple went to school, met, had children and now work and create. NomadCast is a show interested in exploring the best of Indian Country. Caleb Suggested listeners who enjoyed this episode might also enjoy:

Lilly Gladstone

One of Indian countries brightest stars. Proof we can sit comfortably at any table.

Doctor’s Orders Solo episode

Why not believe in myself a bit?

Tiio Horn Episode

In person event at Indigenous Pop Culture Expo in Oklahoma. Very fun episode where I made the deer lady laugh.

Alice Qannik Glenn Third Wheel Blues Episode

Fun conversation that flows between topics.

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James looks into the DOJ investigation into egg price fixing and what it can tell us about the way our food system treats animals and people.

Sources:

https://www.justice.gov/atr/media/1450281/dl?inline 
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-unscrambling-the-egg-ma/204490574/  
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cacd.978076/gov.uscourts.cacd.978076.77.0.pdf 
https://climate.law.columbia.edu/content/trump-administration-cancels-contract-bird-flu-vaccine-development  
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/02/26/usda-invests-1-billion-combat-avian-flu-and-reduce-egg-prices 
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU0000708111 
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Poultry/chickegg.php  
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20231204  
https://www.dol.gov/index.php/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20240502  
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6248715/1/united-states-v-ramirez/  
https://www.versova.com/trillium-farms/  
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/labor-trafficker-sentenced-encouraging-illegal-entry-guatemalan-nationals-including  
https://u.osu.edu/osuhtblog/2018/03/02/failed-by-the-government-guatemalan-minors-placed-into-custody-of-traffickers/  
"

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In Part Two of our series on The Wall and the Wilderness, James talks about the cultural and ecological damage done by the border wall and continues his interview with Dr. Christina Aiello about the Peninsular Bighorn ram that was killed by razor wire in the Jacumba mountains.

Sources:

https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=29de9d51905bd175a701b04c24176b46  
https://www-jstor-org.sdmesa.idm.oclc.org/stable/3636811?seq=5 
https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_employer=Atkore 
https://tucson.com/news/local/border/article_a11265b0-17c3-5bed-b50a-72e5d17e1369.html 
https://www.blm.gov/visit/jacumba-wilderness 
https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=29de9d51905bd175a701b04c24176b46 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/08/2025-05992/determination-pursuant-to-section-102-of-the-illegal-immigration-reform-and-immigrant-responsibility 
https://www.enr.com/articles/54215-us-settles-border-wall-suit-against-contractor-fisher-sand-gravel 
https://www.atkore.com/about-us 
https://desertreport.org/a-border-wall-in-the-jacumba-wilderness-area/ 
https://gizmodo.com/trumps-border-wall-torn-apart-by-arizona-monsoon-rains-1847535174 
https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70B01C25F00001112_7014_70B01C23D00000010_7014 
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1666138/000166613826000010/atkr-20260429.htm

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James talks about the ecological disaster that is the border wall and interviews Dr. Christina Aiello about the Peninsular Bighorn ram that was killed by razor wire in the Jacumba mountains.

Sources:

https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=29de9d51905bd175a701b04c24176b46
https://www-jstor-org.sdmesa.idm.oclc.org/stable/3636811?seq=5 
https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_employer=Atkore 
https://tucson.com/news/local/border/article_a11265b0-17c3-5bed-b50a-72e5d17e1369.html 
https://www.blm.gov/visit/jacumba-wilderness 
https://www.usaspending.gov/search?hash=29de9d51905bd175a701b04c24176b46 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/04/08/2025-05992/determination-pursuant-to-section-102-of-the-illegal-immigration-reform-and-immigrant-responsibility 
https://www.enr.com/articles/54215-us-settles-border-wall-suit-against-contractor-fisher-sand-gravel 
https://www.atkore.com/about-us 
https://desertreport.org/a-border-wall-in-the-jacumba-wilderness-area/ 
https://gizmodo.com/trumps-border-wall-torn-apart-by-arizona-monsoon-rains-1847535174 
https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_70B01C25F00001112_7014_70B01C23D00000010_7014 
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1666138/000166613826000010/atkr-20260429.htm 

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James and journalist Jason Dove Mark explain the roadless rule, national forests, and the Trump administration's attempts to strip protections from tens of thousands of acres of public land.

 https://www.regulations.gov/document/FS-2025-0001-223869 
https://www.onxmaps.com/onx-access-initiatives/roadless-rule 
https://morethanjustparks.com/threatened-public-lands-map/ 

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James is joined by Molly to discuss how the Bureau of Land Management is quietly changing its approach to public land management and what it means for approximately 900 bison in Central Montana.

(originally run on It Could Happen Here in May 2026)

Sources:
https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/810541893_202412_990_2025073023621659.pdf 

https://gov.mt.gov/_docs/governor/AmericanPrairieProposedDecisionJanuary162026.pdf 

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-17537.pdf 

https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2026-01-21/blm-cancels-bison-grazing-permits-for-montana-nature-reserve

https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Appeals_Judges_APR_Bison_Grazing_Decision#:~:text=Following%20the%20judge's%20order%2C%20DNRC,appeal%20may%20be%20found%20here. 

https://t.co/HUAyMUnOVi 

https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/06/18/business-leaders-provide-green-behind-conservation-effort/28960843/ 

https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-revokes-american-prairie-bison-grazing-permit

https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/estatetaxfinal.pdf 

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/12/2026-09386/rescission-of-conservation-and-landscape-health-rule  

https://www.blm.gov/about/laws-and-regulations/conservation-and-landscape-health-rule 

https://largetribes.org/2026/02/affirmative-action-for-cattle-tribes-challenge-feds-plan-to-revoke-bison-grazing-leases-on-public-land-media-share/

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James follows up on last week's episode and talked to Miles Gray about what it is like to lose your home in a fire and how people can continue to help fire survivors.

Sources:

https://lacounty.gov/2026/08/04/county-of-los-angeles-fire-department-releases-the-investigative-reports-on-the-cause-of-the-eaton-fire/  
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-19/sce-decomissioned-power-line-eaton-fire-risk  
https://apnews.com/general-news-ffcad08a8ef14fa88df8bacdd9e73883  
https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/08/newsom-wildfire-utility-liability-package/  
https://x.com/WildfireVics1st/status/2078175502523585021  
https://clickstrategies.us/  

Donation Links:

Spokane Immigrants Rights Coalition: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/sirc-community-fund 

Spectrum running the Rainbow Relief Fund: https://spectrumcenterspokane.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate 

Colville Fund: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/cedar-fund-wildfire-recovery-campaign 

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Weeks after more than 600 houses in Spokane burned, James talks to community members about how people prepared, cared for each other, and worried about migration enforcement during the fire evacuations.

Sources:

Aldo Leopold- A Sand County Almanac

 https://www.instagram.com/p/DcBqjR6RdzJ/

Donation Links:

Spokane Immigrants Rights Coalition: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/sirc-community-fund 
Spectrum running the Rainbow Relief Fund: https://spectrumcenterspokane.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate 
Colville Fund: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/cedar-fund-wildfire-recovery-campaign 

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James looks into the recent Cyclospora outbreak and what it can tell us about solidarity, food safety, and where our food comes from.

Sources:

https://newsroom.haas.berkeley.edu/magazine/spring-2026/taylor-farms/  
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/23/billion-dollar-california-salad-company-exploits-undocumented-migrants-say-workers-and-teamsters 
https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-economist-interview-2000790016 
https://www.thefp.com/p/cyclosporiasis-outbreak-lettuce-media?utm_source=publication-search 
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-report-e-coli-outbreak-onions-taylor-farms/ 
https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2026-07-27garciatotaylorfarmsrecyclosporacontaminatedlettuce.pdf 
https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Bruce+Taylor&contributor_employer=Taylor+Farms+ 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/07/2025-14967/requirements-for-additional-traceability-records-for-certain-foods-compliance-date-extension 
https://bsky.app/profile/ufw.bsky.social/post/3msj3j7ordt2w 

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James talks with Molly Conger about the javelina and their installable appetite for golf courses.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65x0RvhJNa8 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/nov/05/conservation.sciencenews   

https://zoologicalbulletin.de/BzB_Volumes/Volume_56_1_2/049_054_BzB56_1_2_Moraves_Jiri_and_B%C3%B6hme_Wolfgang.pdf  

https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/living-with-javelina/  

https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/8e8abbf4-6775-4575-9a10-fedacb7cb2c1 

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Natural Causes is a podcast about the politics and practicalities of going outside in a world on fire, hosted by Dr James Stout. It approaches the outdoors, conservation, agriculture, food sovereignty, fire management and Indigenous land rights as interconnected issues. We want to combine unflinching journalism with unabashed advocacy for the land we all share, and welcome everyone into the outdoors and the fight for our public lands. Our shared wild spaces are under threat like never before, The Trump administration is stripping protections, extractive capitalism and data centers are pillaging out common resources, and climate change is accelerating every day. Now, more than ever, we need serious journalism and serious solidarity that engages people with the struggle to protect these spaces for generations to come. New episodes every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.