Introducing: Natural Causes

**James Stout** (0:01)
Hi, I'm Dr. James Stout. You might know me as a host of the It Could Happen Here podcast. But now, I'm also hosting Natural Causes, a podcast about going outside.
I'm a historian, journalist, and outdoors person. You might know me from my work in conflict and migration. But I grew up with both parents working in agriculture, and since then, I've hiked, climbed, ridden, and paddled all over the world. I've always found healing in nature, and I've always felt most at peace in the wilderness. That's why I'm mad as hell about the people trying to destroy our special places, and the places that are sacred to some of us, just so they can make a quick buck.
In 2026, going outside is political. We've got senators trying to sell off public land, wildfires burning on our big cities, and the Trump administration stripping protections on sacred land from the Southern California Desert to the Arctic Circle. And I'll be bringing you on the ground reporting from both places.
I've written for outdoor publications for more than a decade, and I'm proud of the work we've done. But there are some things that you can't say there now that I can say it. Capitalism is destroying our planet. Public land is stolen land. And I don't think giving 1% of profits to NGOs is going to fix it. I want to combine unflinching journalism with unabashed advocacy for our planet and the people and creatures we share it with, so that future generations can enjoy the same things we do. And I promise you, no top 10 gear lists. So join me as we talk about what cyclospora might tell us about the rights of farmworkers, why the DOJ is suing big egg producers, how your raincoat might be putting forever chemicals in fish, and how we can all benefit from indigenous leadership on fire management and living with fire. We'll have some fun too, like talking about our ungovernable friend the Havelina and their war on golf. I want you to love the outdoors as much as I do, and that means making more people feel safe, comfortable, and welcome in the back country and the front country. So we'll be covering how, when, and where to touch grass, and answering the questions you didn't know to ask.
Listen to Natural Causes on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.