Sam Stearns is a forest protection activist from Southern Illinois and has been working to protect the Shawnee National Forest for most of his life. He is the founder of Friends of Bell Smith Springs and a leader in the current movement to create the Shawnee National Park and Climate Preserve.

This year's upcoming 34th Annual Heartwood Forest Council will be held in Southern Illinois over Memorial Day Weekend, May 22nd-25th, 2026. It will be a great opportunity to experience the magic of the Shawnee first-hand, meet up with the amazing folks that make up Heartwood, eat great food, listen to and play great music, do a little dancing, and learn what you can do to make a difference.

Learn more about the Shawnee:

• https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/03/18/on-the-shawnee-forest-money-trail/
• https://commonreader.wustl.edu/hiking-with-the-lorax-of-shawnee-national-forest/
• https://therevelator.org/shawnee-climate/
• https://greatriverslaw.org/2025/10/01/groups-sue-forest-service-over-illegal-road-plan-in-lusk-creek-wilderness/

Donate to Friends of Bell Smith Springs to cover legal expenses: https://gofund.me/15f718f6c

Become a member of Heartwood: https://heartwood.org/support/individual/index.html

Register for the upcoming 34th Annual Heartwood Forest Council, May 22-25, 2026

This interview took place on July 9, 2025. Matt Peters is the current coordinator for Heartwood and a longtime forest protection activist. He founded the Allegheny Defense Project, worked with the Buckeye Forest Council, and now works with local groups in his hometown of Pittsburgh while he continues to work with Heartwood to protect our National Forests.

In this conversation, Matt talks about how Heartwood taught him to effectively challenge timber sales on our National Forests by simply reading the law and getting involved with the public process. He also talks about how our current government is intentionally excluding the public through the use of categorical exclusions, and changes to the National Environmental Policy Act.

Intro music: "Diamond in the Sun" by Robert Hoyt, 1995. Dumpster Diving Across America.

Outro music: "You Can't Go Away" by Andy Mahler, 2025. Andy Mahler & Buffalo Strings.

Listen to Andy's own original music played with Buffalo Strings at Andy Mahler, Buffalo Strings.

Want to donate to Heartwood? Donate here.

This episode is a recording of the keynote address at Heartwood's 34th Annual Reunion on October 3, 2025, which took place at Andy Mahler and Linda Lee's longtime home, the Lazy Black Bear, in Southern Indiana.

Steven Higgs speaks about Andy Mahler's life and the coming to fruition of his coffee table book biography about Andy.

Following his speech, Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder presents an award to Andy on behalf of the State of Indiana. The Circle of Corydon Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the betterment of Indiana and its people, and was handpicked by Indiana Governor Mike Braun to award to Andy.

To purchase a copy of Andy Mahler's Autobiography by Steven Higgs, go here: Andy Mahler and the Hoosier National; The Folk Hero and the Forest He Loves.

Intro music: "Diamond in the Sun" by Robert Hoyt, 1995. Dumpster Diving Across America.

Outro music: "Memories" by Andy Mahler, 2025. Andy Mahler & Buffalo Strings.

Listen to Andy's own original music played with Buffalo Strings at Andy Mahler, Buffalo Strings.

Want to donate to Heartwood? Donate here.

Photo credit of Andy holding book by Steven Higgs: Steven Higgs