Ep. 318: Boy Scouts to Scouting America: Scandal, Bankruptcy & 2026's LGBTQ+ Rollback

In this week's "This Is Everything" segment, Zach digs into the history of the Boy Scouts of America — now rebranded as Scouting America — tracing it from its 1910 founding through a devastating sexual abuse scandal that led to a $2.46 billion settlement and 2020 bankruptcy filing. He covers the organization's slow evolution on LGBTQ+ inclusion (gay youth in 2013, gay leaders in 2015, transgender youth in 2017) and girls joining Cub Scouts and the flagship program. The episode culminates in a breakdown of a 2026 controversy: pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the quiet elimination of dedicated spaces for girls, scouts of color, LGBTQ+ scouts, and scouts with disabilities at the National Jamboree. Along the way, Zach shares his own short-lived, badge-stealing Boy Scout career, a failed camping trip in his front yard with the family dog, a brief run in 4-H, and memories of elementary school classmates and his first girlfriend, Brooksie.

Podcast song by SIXFOOT 5: https://www.sixfoot5prod.com

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sixfoot-5/1551774977

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rHMzoU0G0fLhaBsrQiOOY?si=laSZ5hiKTYubJJyhrzf2JQ

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