Natural Causes

About Natural Causes

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, 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, from climate change, the Trump administration, and extractive capitalism. 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 weekly.

Publisher

Cool Zone Media & iHeartPodcasts

Category

news · science

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

7 Aug 2026

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 of 11 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Nomadcast takeover for Indigenous Peoples' Day

   Host James interviews Mato Wayuhi on Nomadcast, exploring the best of Indian Country and celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day.

2. 

   5 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Cracking the Case on Egg Corruption

   Host James investigates the DOJ's egg price-fixing probe, revealing insights into the food system's treatment of animals and people.

3. 

   28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Coming Flood

   Host James discusses the border wall's cultural and ecological damage, interviewing Dr. Christina Aiello about a ram killed by razor wire.

4. 

   21 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Wall and the Wilderness

   Host James discusses the border wall's ecological impact and interviews Dr. Christina Aiello about a ram's death, revealing the wilderness's vulnerability.

5. 

   14 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   What's the Roadless Rule and Who Wants To Scrap It?

   Host James and journalist Jason Dove Mark discuss the Roadless Rule, its importance for national forests, and efforts to remove protections from public lands.

6. 

   7 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Did Donald Trump Ban Buffalo?

   Host James interviews Molly about the Bureau of Land Management's policy shifts impacting Montana bison and public land management.

7. 

   31 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Losing Everything: How Communities Recover From Fire When Politicians Abandon Them

   Host James speaks with Miles Gray about community recovery after fire when politicians fail, offering insights for continued support.

8. 

   24 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Go Now: How to Prepare for Fire Evacuation

   Host James interviews community members about their experiences preparing for and supporting each other during fire evacuations.

9. 

   17 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Who Is Behind America's Cyclospora Summer?

   Host James investigates the Cyclospora outbreak, revealing insights into food safety and supply chains in this interview.

10. 

    17 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

    No Golf No Masters: Celebrating Our Ungovernable Peccary Friends

    Host James interviews Molly Conger about the surprising impact of javelinas on golf courses and their wild nature.

11. 

    7 Aug 2026

    Introducing: Natural Causes

    Dr. James Stout explores the interconnected politics and practicalities of outdoor access, conservation, and land rights in a world facing environmental challenges.

Inside a recent episode

Nomadcast takeover for Indigenous Peoples' Day

Published 12 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] But then in one year we got two of them, you know, like Rutherford falls and reservation dogs is crazy. It's so crazy, man. It's amazing. It's the best. It's the best thing. It is. I mean, it's like the, I just think the, I want to say it's, it's almost the, the luxury of trust in terms of how these different, companies and these different kind of things that we're gatekeeping for a long time are trusting Native and Indigenous voices. And it takes something like a Rutherford Falls or like a Res Dogs to kind of be the – I don't know, to be the impetus to get things to be started. And yeah, it's super dope and I love it. […]

Who has been a guest on Natural Causes

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mato Wayuhi
• Christina Aiello
• Jason Dove Mark
• Molly
• Miles Gray

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

60 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

104 ratings

Questions about Natural Causes