Podcast

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, […]

Our semi-regular guest host, Phil Gains, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks joins us. We are in a historical and unprecedented time. With most state parks closed for an extended period, we will begin to see leaders emerge or be exposed. As leaders, you don’t need to have all of the answers. You need […]

Phil Gaines returns on-site at Lake Tahoe to discuss how to stay relevant in an ever-changing world. Speaking from a local perspective, Phil talks about the importance of taking care of watersheds, providing outdoor recreation, and understanding location. For instance, while water supply is abundant in the southeast, in California the mindset is different since […]

Donald Forgione, former Director of Florida State Parks, discusses his background and what it means to be “Ranger First”. After starting his career as a Park Ranger with Florida State Parks, Forgione transitioned to Director, a role he admits he didn’t expect to land. During this time, he developed a special tagline, “Ranger First”, to […]

On this special episode of the Park Leader Show, Dan Cockerell, and former VP of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World,  talk about how to handle a crisis. Here are four steps to keep in mind while dealing with a crisis: Safety First. Before […]

Jim Bryson, Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Conservation of Tennessee State Parks, discusses the benefit of leaning on your team and the importance of innovation in how you handle communication across your organization.   Joining Tennessee State Parks from a corporate background in marketing research, Jim has discovered how central building a culture of trust […]