“Too often today everything is tech and screens… but picking up a book, putting on a pair of glasses, and seeing something really cool is inspiring and fun.” There are episodes that inform and episodes that inspire, and then there are episodes like this one with Dave Bossert that do both while bringing a big […]
Exploring Sacred Landscapes
“National parks are sacred not because of what we build, but because of what we protect.” When Sam Gennawey joins a conversation, you know you’re about to explore the story behind the story. Sam’s latest book, Sacred Landscapes, takes readers on a six-year, 175,000-mile journey through national parks from the lens of someone who’s quite […]
Do You Need Park Experience to Manage a Park
“You don’t have to come from parks to lead in parks. But you do have to embrace the culture, listen, and lead with purpose.” Every so often, an email lands in my inbox that reminds me why I started this show in the first place. In this episode, Phil Gaines and I respond to a […]
Creating Immersive Stories for Park Visitors
“Storytelling is the bridge between awe and understanding—whether you’re in a theme park or a national park.” This episode was a full-circle moment for me. I had the chance to bring my friend Bob Weis, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, into a conversation with the park community. Bob’s legacy of storytelling through immersive experiences […]
Protecting Pucheguin – An Underdog Conservation Story
“When you truly love a place, you do whatever it takes to protect it, even if it takes a decade.” I recently returned from Chile, where I witnessed one of the most inspiring conservation stories I’ve ever encountered. Rodrigo Condeza and Jose Claro are two remarkable individuals who have spent over a decade fighting to […]
Stories Connect People to Conservation
“The only way you’re going to save the world is with a damn good story.” What if the future of conservation hinged less on policy and more on storytelling? That’s one of my favorite takeaways from my conversation with Jeff Parrish, Global Managing Director for Protect Oceans, Lands, and Water at The Nature Conservancy. Jeff […]
The Politics of Public Lands
After a recent expedition to Chile with The Nature Conservancy, I returned home reflecting on a global truth: public lands are political. Whether it’s South America or South Carolina, land conservation stirs up a lot of passion. For many people it’s complexity can also lead to quite a bit of debate. For years, I’ve avoided […]
Parks Role in the Sestercentennial
“Parks protect the land, but just as importantly, they protect the stories that shaped our nation.” My good friend and semi-regular co-host Phil Gaines is back to about a big celebration coming up. You may know Phil as the retired director of South Carolina State Parks. He’s currently also deep into something incredibly meaningful. He […]
The National Parks Classroom
“I’m going to do something that’s connected to the national parks or our or a state park near me so that I can use my knowledge and see the real world impact it has. And that way, I never am stuck in class asking, why is this important? Why on earth do I have to […]
Rethinking Park Restrooms
“We’ve designed the bathroom to be agnostic to the environment in which it goes. There are certainly other operational considerations the further out you go, but there’s really no fundamental limitation as to where we put a throne.” The days of endless maintenance and poorly maintained facilities might just be behind us. While bathrooms in […]