How Wild

Excellent story writing, sound design, contemplative topics. One of the best wilderness podcasts out there. I know a podcast is good, when I’m telling my wife about things I’ve learned or contemplated for the first time, at the end of the day.

Really interesting show in the first couple of episodes, especially as they talking about history of these spaces and perceptions of wilderness. However, at any point that the show wanders into defending people that are rude, loud, and obnoxious in the wilderness, it goes off the rails. Let’s be clear, it’s not about being a brown or black person in the wilderness, it’s about being a rude person in the wilderness. Listening to speakers on the trail is NEVER acceptable. It shows that you think you are the most important person there, and not an understanding that this is a shared space. Which actually flies in the face of all of this rhetoric around certain people not being included in outdoor spaces. They are to be shared, equally, respectfully, and it’s not about you. Also, it IS unacceptable to come to a campground with a huge party of people and be loud and obnoxious. This is true if you are white, black, brown, or anything else. It’s indefensible. Being inclusive is wonderful, being forced to tolerate obnoxious behavior is not. If you want to be in the spaces, be respectful. End of story.

This podcast series dove deep into the history of Wilderness in the United States and the current reckoning of its well-meaning but prejudice origins and simultaneously valuable ecosystem conservation. I would be very interested in hearing a second season that perhaps addresses Wilderness in the eastern US. It would be interesting to compare and contrast specific issues and insights. Prescribed burns, for instance, may not be as valuable on this side of the country.

As a frequent backpacker and lifelong visitor to Wilderness (notice the capital W— that has meaning) I was amazed to have already learned so much from these currently released episodes. I liked the production and how all the themes are layered together to form the topic of the podcast. This podcast is a “must share”

The questions raised in the podcast such as: is any place wild? Or is seeking solitude a racist act? Are perhaps worth some discussion but are not profound and they obscure more relevant truths, such as, that wilderness is incalculably valuable. The fact that there is no place on earth unaffected by humans is both sad and unsurprising to everyone. It seems unlikely that many people actually think that there weren’t native Americans in America, including wilderness areas before Europeans arrived. Suggesting that belief exists and is common seems to be a rhetorical device in service of arguments against Wilderness. A primary purpose of the wilderness act is to do our best to save what little is left of the world that is not intensively managed so that every citizen regardless of race or class can receive the immense benefits of these treasures at an exceedingly low cost compared to other forms of recreation. Wilderness also protects non- human nature from our often bumbling even if at times well intentioned attempts to manage it. It’s encouraging to hear the joy and wonder expressed at times in the podcast that comes in response to experiencing natural beauty and wildness. It gives me some hope and helps compensate for narratives that strengthen arguments against protecting Wilderness and wildness.