Steven Rinella talks with Dwayne Estes (aka "The Prairie Preacher") of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, Brody Henderson, Randall Williams, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider. Topics discussed: How parts of Pennsylvania are the South; Steve's thoughts on recent executive orders, DOGE, and cuts to the Forest Service, National Park Service, and more; the double meaning of apophysis; how it wasn't all forest and the myth of the squirrel; the impact of bison on vast prairies and grasslands; lacking the natural predisposition to move easily; the great challenge of getting rid of invasive weeds; how our previous podcast episode on quail stirred feelings; the impact of habitat erosion on the bobwhite quail; "Make America Grassy Again"; donate to the Southern Grasslands Institute; and more. #meateater #fueledbynature This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. ---------------- Check out the gear the MeatEater Crew uses in the field here: https://store.themeateater.com Follow us: Web: https://www.themeateater.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/meateater Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenRinellaMeatEater Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:28 Discussion on Conservation and Federal Policy 05:51 Contextualizing Conservation Conversations 12:49 Understanding Federal Cuts and Their Implications 20:49 The National Debt and Conservation Funding 25:29 The Role of Organizations in Conservation 30:02 Personal Reflections on Conservation Engagement 34:04 The Art of Apophysis in Communication 36:12 Impact of Administration on Public Lands 39:22 Consequences of Federal Cutbacks on Forest Service 40:41 Generational Impact on Public Land Careers 47:06 Introduction to Dr. Dwayne Estes and Grassland Conservation 52:25 Understanding Southern Grasslands and Their Ecology 01:05:03 Balancing Historical Understanding with Modern Conservation Efforts 01:07:50 Building a Team for Habitat Restoration 01:08:19 Exploring Historical Records of Bison 01:10:42 Piecing Together the Original Landscape 01:12:08 The Role of Bison in Grassland Maintenance 01:16:48 Native American Influence on Ecosystems 01:19:58 Evidence of Grassland Species and Ecosystems 01:22:30 Visualizing Historical Landscapes 01:23:27 The Importance of May Prairie 01:28:36 Challenges in Grassland Restoration 01:31:26 Understanding Grassland Types for Restoration 01:35:09 The Role of Active Management in Conservation 01:41:16 The Future of Eastern Biodiversity 01:46:22 Exploring Historical Wildlife and Ecosystems 01:49:11 Understanding Forest Succession and Ecosystem Restoration 01:54:28 Challenges in Grassland Restoration 02:02:00 Scaling Conservation Efforts 02:09:40 Community Involvement in Grassland Restoration