National Parks Traveler Podcast

National Parks Traveler Podcast

Author: Kurt Repanshek Language: English Episodes: 383
There's a world of stories waiting beyond the park entrance sign, and the National Parks Traveler Podcast is your audio guide to them. Led by Kurt Repanshek, this series goes deeper than trail maps and visitor statistics. It connects the natural wonder you experience firsthand with the crucial, often unseen work happening behind the scenes-the science informing conservation, the cultural histories embedded in the landscape, and the policy decisions that will shape these places for future generations. As the audio companion to the editorially independent nonprofit media organization, this podcast delivers a thoughtful blend of on-the-ground reports, interviews with researchers and park staff, and nuanced discussions about the challenges and triumphs in managing protected areas. You'll hear the sounds of the parks and the voices of the people dedicated to them. Each episode is an invitation to better understand the complex tapestry of ecology, history, and society that makes every national park far more than a scenic destination. Tune in for a regular dose of insight that will deepen your appreciation and perhaps even shape your next journey into America's most treasured public lands.
Episodes
National Parks Traveler | A Pleistocene Burial Ground [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:44
Camels, lions, and mammoths once roamed the landscape around Las Vegas, Nevada. Such was the case during the latter part of the Pleistocene era, which spanned a period of time between 11,000 years and 2.5 million years a…
National Parks Traveler: Rick Ridgeway's Life Lived Wild [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:27
Today we're talking adventures, friendships, and the environment with Rick Ridgeway, who has traveled the world seeking adventure and, along the way, debated and discussed environmental consciousness with his friends, co…
National Parks Traveler Podcast: Exploring Night Skies Over The Parks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:40
It's been said that the night sky represents the other half of the National Park System. It's in the national parks where you can experience some of the darkest skies you'll find anywhere. Our guest this week knows all a…
Traveler's Audio Postcard From The Parks: Feral Hogs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:32
Feral hogs are just one of several species of invasive mammals that are posing immense challenges for national park managers. Unlike invasive insects or reptiles, invasive mammals are often larger and more "charismatic"…
National Parks Traveler | Kīlauea Erupting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:20
Enter the National Park System and you won't come away disappointed when you realize all that awaits you. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it's impossible not to be awed by the volcanism that created the Hawaiian islan…
National Parks Traveler: Now Is The Time For The Traveler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:50
The national parks have never been more popular...or more threatened. Now through the end of the year, we are asking for your support for a fundraising campaign to ensure the National Parks Traveler's ongoing coverage of…
National Parks Traveler | Grand Teton's Crowds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:39
For Grand Teton National Park, this year has, to put it bluntly, been crazy busy. In September the park counted 570,584 visitors, the second-highest tally for that month in park history. Notably, it pushed the park's yea…
National Parks Traveler: Charles Sams, nominee to be NPS director [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:02
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee questioned Mr. Sams this past week during his confirmation hearing. He's an interesting nominee. He's from outside the National Park Service, and if confirmed he would be…
National Parks Traveler: News From Around The National Parks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:11
Editor-in-Chief Kurt Repanshek and Contributing Editor Kim O'Connell discuss news from around the National Park System, from black bear incidents along the Blue Ridge Parkway to a Yellowstone visitor being sentenced to j…
National Parks Traveler Postcard From The Parks: Cumberland Gap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:44
Why visit Cumberland Gap National Historical Park? The gap was the portal to the heart of the country, as Daniel Boone discovered in the 1700s. And it's the one unit of the National Park System where you can take turns s…