Brad Rassler writes at the intersection of place, culture, and the American West. His work examines how environmental and cultural forces mediate individual and even communal behavior, framing the notion of “play” as fundamentally political and sociological. His writing consistently finds universal themes, making complex environmental and cultural issues accessible to broader audiences while maintaining the depth that subject matter demands.
Rassler brings both insider knowledge and critical distance to subjects ranging from endangered species politics to disappearing poets, to the suicide of his uncle on a Michigan trout stream. His investigations have opened sealed police files, traced the influence of obscure gear designers, and embedded with social media-savvy bush pilots to understand how technology reshapes traditional outdoor pursuits.
Rassler’s reporting appears in Outside, Alta Journal, and other publications. His work has been featured in Longreads’ weekly selections (included in the “Top 5 Stories of the Week” twice, alongside pieces in the New Yorker and others) and nominated twice for National Magazine Awards. He is the founding editor of Sustainable Play, an online magazine exploring the relationship between recreation and environmental stewardship.
Rassler is the founding publisher of The Sustainable Play Reader, publishing original work from distinguished contributors and bringing new life to poetry, fiction, and longform journalism, including Philip Weiss’s masterpiece, “Inside Bohemian Grove,” originally published in Spy magazine.
Rassler lives in Nevada’s Carson Range with his longtime partner, Jane Grossman, where he continues to explore the landscapes he chronicles.
