# Rainforest Radicals: The History of Rainforest Action Network w/ Prof. David Benac (G&R 501)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/green-red-podcasts-for-scrappy-radicals-359547/rainforest-radicals-the-history-of-rainforest-action-network-w-prof-david-benac-g-r-501
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/green-red-podcasts-for-scrappy-radicals-359547/rainforest-radicals-the-history-of-rainforest-action-network-w-prof-david-benac-g-r-501.md
Podcast: [Green & Red: Podcasts for Scrappy Radicals](https://stenobird.com/podcast/green-red-podcasts-for-scrappy-radicals-359547)
Published: 2026-06-09T09:19:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/greenandred/episodes/Rainforest-Radicals-The-History-of-Rainforest-Action-Network-w-Prof--David-Benac-GR-501-e3kegce
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/10cb45ac/podcast/play/121110350/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-7%2Ff1cc937b-12c1-fe93-9d57-04bb92ff16e6.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3833

## Resource

🎉 Independent media is more vital than ever. Support Green and Red Podcast at https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast or https://greenandredpodcast.org/donate-to-green-and-red/. Rainforest Action Network (RAN) emerged in 1985, when it took over a fledgling effort to protect rainforests from transnational corporations funding the expansion of tropical cattle ranching. It excelled at using nonviolent, civil disobedience in dramatic campaigns that captured the attention of the public, media, and RAN’s corporate adversaries. In our latest, Scott, joined by guest co-host Laurel Sutherlin, talks with Prof. David Benac (History Dept., Western Michigan University) about his new book on Rainforest Action Network. They discuss it's roots in Earth First!, international forest campaigns and Indigenous solidarity. They also discuss its anti-corporate campaign strategies and the relevance of RAN's campaign work today. Guest Bio// David Benac is an environmental and public historian of the post-WWII United States at Western Michigan University. His research investigates how people act on their perceptions of nature, the science of ecology, and the philosophy of ecocentrism. He is the author of "Rainforest Radicals: A History of Rainforest Action Network and Transnational Organizing," that explores the radical environmental movement of the late twentieth century and the formation of international coalitions of grassroots groups devoted to supporting indigenous rights and environmental protections. Guest Host Bio// Laurel Sutherlin is a naturalist, environmental advocate, and the co-host of the weekly program Nature Nuggets on ⁠Radio Kingston in New York's Hudson Valley. He is also the Director of Strategic Communications at the Rainforest Action Network and a board director…

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