325: Literally Redoing the Oregon Trail: An Eccentric Environmental History—w/ Rinker Buck, author and adventurer
Episode 325 of the Reversing Climate Change podcast, hosted by Carbon Removal Strategies LLC, titled "325: Literally Redoing the Oregon Trail: An Eccentric Environmental History—w/ Rinker Buck, author and adventurer" was published on May 23, 2024 and runs 67 minutes.
May 23, 2024 ·67m · Reversing Climate Change
Summary
If you're going to write about the Oregon Trail or the Mississippi flatboat era, why not go gonzo? Does it make for better history or just better bar stories? What can you really learn about change by recreating epic journeys in contemporary times, and what can that teach us about how we live upon this planet?Today, adventurer and author Rinker Buck is on the show to discuss his odysseys. In particular, his flatboat ride from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, and his mulecart passage of the entire Oregon Trail. If you're gasping reading that last sentence, you need to read his books.Obviously, these landscapes have massively changed over the centuries, and their environmental history reflects human wants and desires, some good and others less so. How are they shadows of their former selves, which could you not tell which century you're currently in, and which are making beautiful comebacks? What does it teach us about the country so many of our listeners call home? How does the American experience prepare or fail to prepare us for a climate-changed world?Rinker discusses his particular approach to participatory history, why he doesn't like reenactment as a paradigm, and why he bothers with the Heraclean effort for which some might deem him a "conquistador of the useless."Tune in and learn from Rinker's hard-earned experience and observations!ResourcesRinker's websiteThe Oregon Trail: A New American JourneyLife on the Mississippi: An Epic American AdventureFlight of Passage: A Memoir1883Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian SchlisselFrederick Turner's Frontier ThesisConnect with NoriPurchase Nori Carbon RemovalsNori's websiteNori on TwitterCheck out our other podcast, Carbon Removal NewsroomCarbon Removal Memes on TwitterCarbon Removal Memes on Instagram
Episode Description
If you're going to write about the Oregon Trail or the Mississippi flatboat era, why not go gonzo? Does it make for better history or just better bar stories? What can you really learn about change by recreating epic journeys in contemporary times, and what can that teach us about how we live upon this planet?
Today, adventurer and author Rinker Buck is on the show to discuss his odysseys. In particular, his flatboat ride from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, and his mulecart passage of the entire Oregon Trail. If you're gasping reading that last sentence, you need to read his books.
Obviously, these landscapes have massively changed over the centuries, and their environmental history reflects human wants and desires, some good and others less so. How are they shadows of their former selves, which could you not tell which century you're currently in, and which are making beautiful comebacks? What does it teach us about the country so many of our listeners call home? How does the American experience prepare or fail to prepare us for a climate-changed world?
Rinker discusses his particular approach to participatory history, why he doesn't like reenactment as a paradigm, and why he bothers with the Heraclean effort for which some might deem him a "conquistador of the useless."
Tune in and learn from Rinker's hard-earned experience and observations!
Resources
The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey
Life on the Mississippi: An Epic American Adventure
Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey by Lillian Schlissel
Frederick Turner's Frontier Thesis
Connect with Nori
Nori's website
Nori on Twitter
Check out our other podcast, Carbon Removal Newsroom
Carbon Removal Memes on Instagram
Similar Episodes
Apr 11, 2026 ·37m
Apr 9, 2026 ·9m
Apr 8, 2026 ·7m
Apr 4, 2026 ·42m
Mar 28, 2026 ·48m
Mar 21, 2026 ·64m