How do we make sure stories spark enough passion to protect the lands that belong to all of us?

Journalist Chris Keyes, former Editor in Chief at Outside magazine and now the founder of RE:PUBLIC, a nonprofit newsroom focused entirely on public lands, joins Bill and Anders for this episode of The Wild Idea. Chris talks about what pushed him to start something new, why independent reporting matters, and how RE:PUBLIC is stepping in to tell the stories that often get overlooked about the 600 million acres of land we all share.

The conversation covers a lot of ground, from the power of investigative journalism to the challenges of raising money for a nonprofit, to why long-form storytelling still has a place even in a world of 30-second clips. Chris also shares some of the experiences that shaped his love of public lands, like cross-country camping trips as a kid and the daily runs he takes in the Santa Fe National Forest.

Together they kick around some big questions: How do you keep people hooked on deeper stories in an era of soundbites? Can nonprofit media create more space for collaboration and truth-telling? How do we keep building coalitions across different user groups? And maybe most importantly, how do we make sure these stories spark enough passion to protect the lands that belong to all of us?

Today, we explore:

• Why public lands coverage matters – how much of the media overlooks these stories, especially with editors based on the East Coast, and why investigative reporting can help people see what’s really happening on 600 million acres of shared land.
• The nonprofit model – what independence looks like outside of ad-driven media, the realities of fundraising, and the challenge of keeping editorial decisions separate from donor priorities.
• Impact through storytelling – why long-form journalism still resonates, how to make it accessible in a fast-paced digital world, and the need to pair deep dives with social content that pulls people in.
• Collaboration across media – how podcasts, newsletters, and nonprofit outlets can “flood the zone” with stories, creating more voices and stronger coalitions around public lands instead of competing with each other.
• The bigger picture – questions of balance in journalism, how to cover policy debates like the roadless rule fairly, and how coalitions can stay connected once the immediate threats fade.
• Personal connection to public lands – Chris’s formative experiences camping across the country and working on trails in Idaho, and how those early moments continue to shape his everyday relationship with wild places.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or at thewildidea.com.

Links & Resources:

Press & Media

• RE:PUBLIC
• Outside Magazine 
• High Country News
• Grist
• Mountain & Prairie Podcast
• Public Domain Substack
• Rock Fight Podcast

Organizations, Coalitions & Campaigns

• National Wilderness Coalition
• Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
• National Wilderness Coalition 

Places and Landmarks

• Rock Creek Park (Washington, DC)
• Santa Fe National Forest (New Mexico)
• Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness (Idaho) 
• National Mall (Washington, DC)
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Minnesota) 

Government and Policy References

• U.S. Forest Service 
• Senate Agriculture Committee
• Roadless Rule 
• Public Lands Rule

Chris Keyes is a veteran journalist and media leader who’s built his career at the intersection of storytelling, conservation, and public lands. He started as an intern at Outside magazine, climbed the ranks through editorial roles, and in 2006 became its editor in chief. Over time he also served as general manager of Outside Inc.’s Outdoor Group, overseeing multiple titles like Run, Backpacker, Climbing, Ski, and Yoga Journal.

After years watching the media landscape change and public lands stories fall through the cracks, Chris left Outside and founded RE:PUBLIC, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to deep, mission-driven reporting on America’s 660 million acres of public land. He’s spoken about wanting to fill the “information vacuum” around public lands, and committed to funding models based on grants, memberships, and partnerships, not ads.

Away from the desk, his roots in the land run deep: early on he worked trail crews in Idaho’s Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, and he remains an active runner in forests around his home. He holds a B.A. in environmental science policy from Duke University.

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.