Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert: Why the Offshore Drilling Fight Is Personal

Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert joins Surfrider CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen to confront the federal government's push to expand offshore oil drilling off California, Florida, and Alaska. As the new five-year offshore leasing plan takes shape, they cut through the "energy emergency" narrative, explain why more domestic drilling won't lower prices at the pump, and trace the real cost of oil spills — from Santa Barbara and Refugio to Huntington Beach and Deepwater Horizon — for the coastal communities and taxpayers left paying for them. Ryan shares how Patagonia evolved from funding grassroots groups to suing a sitting president over Bears Ears National Monument, and why he believes outdoor recreation business leaders can't stay silent. Chad breaks down the Coastal Zone Management Act, the battle with Sable in Santa Barbara, and the recent Endangered Species Act rollback. Plus: why paddle outs and community advocacy still move decision-makers, and how you can get involved and take action with Surfrider.