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. You’ll hear from Mikayla Moors, a forestry technician with the Forest Service strike team, Alex Troutman, an environmental protection specialist at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and Liz Crandall, a field ranger in Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest.
Each shares what drew them into public service and what it meant to them to help protect forests, rivers, and wildlife. Mikayla talks about carrying a 50-pound pack across the Rockies and the heartbreak of having permanent positions rescinded. Alex explains how NEPA oversight kept projects from degrading the Chattahoochee, and what it felt like to be blindsided by termination despite strong performance reviews. Liz reflects on falling in love with the outdoors in Yellowstone, the shock of her firing, and the advocacy that followed, including testifying in Washington, DC. Together, their stories reveal the real cost of mass firings on both people and the lands they worked to safeguard.
As you listen, consider: What do we lose when federal workers are cut from the agencies that steward our shared commons? How does chronic understaffing ripple into the health of forests, rivers, and wildlife? Who will be there to put out abandoned campfires, monitor glaciers, or welcome families into the backcountry if these jobs disappear? And on a holiday meant to honor labor, how do we stand with those whose service was cut short?
Today, we explore:
- Labor Day reflections – how the holiday shifted from honoring workers to marking the end of summer, and why it’s important to remember its roots
- Public service on the ground – stories of how forestry techs, rangers, and specialists working long days keep forests healthy, protect rivers, and connect people with nature
- Dream jobs cut short – the impact of sudden firings and rescinded positions on people who thought they had found permanent careers in public lands – people with exemplary performance reviews.
- Life as a probationary employee – what it means to be let go despite no fault of your own, and the uncertainty that comes with temporary status
- The human cost of politics – how federal cuts ripple into people’s lives, from financial stress to lost opportunities and broken trust in the system
- What’s at stake for public lands – the consequences of fewer staff on the ground equal unmonitored fires, overflowing trash, damaged habitats and fragile ecosystems, and a degraded visitor experience.
- Resilience and advocacy – how former employees are speaking out, sharing their stories, and pushing for accountability and change
- Looking forward – why protecting the federal workforce matters for the future of conservation, and the reminder that better leadership and stronger support are possible
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or at thewildidea.com.
Resources and mentions from today’s episode:
Mikayla:
Alex:
Liz:
Organizations, Coalitions & Campaigns
- Resistance Rangers Website
- Resistance Rangers on Instagram
- U.S. Forest Service
- National Park Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Places and Landmarks
- Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
- Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia
- Deschutes National Forest, Oregon
- Yellowstone National Park
- Beartooth Mountains, Montana/Wyoming
- Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
- Peterson Glacier Tsunami, Alaska
Government and Policy References
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- Probationary Employment Rules
Process used to terminate federal employees during their initial service period. - Reduction in Force (RIF)
Formal procedure for federal layoffs, contrasted with the probationary firings described.
Connect with Today's Guests
Mikayla is a passionate outdoor educator who strives to inspire people to connect with nature. After five years working her way up in natural resource management with both small and large agencies, she landed a permanent job as a forestry technician. Earlier this year, she even had offers for two other dream jobs with federal land management agencies.
Everything changed when the Trump administration took office and began dismantling land management agencies. Mikayla found herself on the front lines of activism, attending protests at Rocky Mountain National Park and being invited to Washington, DC by her congressman to speak about the challenges facing the National Park Service and the Forest Service.
She is also the co-host of Rangers of the Lost Park, a podcast she created with Liz Crandall where they dive into the stories, struggles, and successes of America’s public lands.
Alex Troutman is a wildlife biologist, science communicator, and environmental educator with a passion for nature and representation. He has worked with endangered species like Kemp’s ridley sea turtles and Karner blue butterflies, and held roles with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.
Growing up without role models who looked like him in wildlife science, Alex now leads hikes, gives public talks, and uses his platform N8ture AL_ Environmental to amplify Black voices in STEM. His Instagram blends vibrant photography, science, and storytelling to make the outdoors accessible and joyful.
A co-organizer of Black in Marine Science Week, Alex is driven by the belief that “nature is for everyone.” Whether teaching, writing, or exploring with his dog Bella, his work celebrates biodiversity, uplifts underrepresented voices, and inspires future generations.
Liz Crandall, a resident of Bend, Oregon, is now a co-host of Rangers of the Lost Park Podcast. In February, Liz was illegally fired by DOGE from the US Forest Service (after 9 years of federal service), whom she worked for as a Field Ranger on the Deschutes National Forest as a permanent employee. Now, Liz works for a non-profit and aims to stand up against the privatization of public lands, the mistreatment of essential federal workers, and to protect the flora, fauna and outdoor communities of our beautiful country.
Support the Show
The Wild Idea is independently produced by Wild Idea Media. If you believe conversations like this matter, you can help us keep them going by subscribing, leaving a review, sharing the episode, or signing up for our newsletter at thewildidea.com. Together, we can protect what connects us.