Podcast

Dan Bortner, the recently promoted Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, joins me for back to back episodes. Today, we are discussing the historic passing of the Great America Outdoors Act. This is probably the greatest conservation act in a generation, comparable with the legislation previously passed by Teddy Roosevelt. After many years and […]

Dan Bortner, the recently promoted Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, joins me today. With 15 years as a State Parks Director, Dan has transitioned into overseeing not only all of Indiana’s State Parks but the regulatory aspects beyond land holdings as well. At every level of leadership within parks, being surrounded by the […]

Phil Gains, my semi-regular co-host, is with me once again; and today, we are tackling a listener’s question. Special thanks to Sean Bonage for submitting this episode’s question. Sean asks, “What do you think are some of the most critical topics that you think need addressing that could help inspire a graduate student in their […]

Today, Lt. Mark Caughlin, District Manager with Larimer County Department of Natural Resources and President of Parks Law Enforcement Association, joins us to discuss his career pathway. Working within the Colorado county system, Mark explains how his jobs have been impacted by the Fort Collins population boom as well as the coronavirus.  He also talks […]

On this special episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines returns to discuss how the podcast has evolved the past six years. After debuting in April 2014, the Park Leaders Show continues to pursue its niche in educating park rangers on the value of leadership. As Jody explains, there have been many lessons learned […]

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Phil Gaines joins me again as my semi-regular guest host. Today, we are diving deep on employee motivation and how we, as leaders, can help to sustain it, even in trying times. The current landscape of our nation can feel like it is one thing after another. […]

On today’s episode of the Park Leaders Show, we have an old friend joining us. John Griffith has guested on six episodes over the past six years and has been integral in the growth of the show. John is a huge voice in the conservation movement and has worked to educate the masses for many […]

Marnin Robbins, Interpretive Program Manager for the North Coast Redwoods District and California State Parks, discusses his story and the value of interpretation. As Marnin describes, interpretation is a mixture of information exchange and inspiration exchange – a role that helps provide context and meaning for people who visit natural landmarks. While the job covers […]

Our semi-regular guest host, Phil Gains, is back with us to discuss a somewhat controversial topic in park leadership: park rangers & law enforcement.   There are many differing opinions and policies about the role of law enforcement in parks. Expectations and execution vary from state to state. People feel strongly about how and why […]

Phil Gaines returns to discuss how COVID-19 is affecting state parks and what to expect when they reopen. As Gaines explains, it’s possible to stay relevant in global crises like the coronavirus. Despite the social limitations, park leaders can still make decisions that are timeless and timely. The key is knowing what direction to go, […]