Best Joshua Tree National Park Podcasts (2024)

1
Nick Goes West Part 2: Joshua Tree National Park 2:03:26

9d ago2:03:26

2:03:26

In this second installment of the "Nick Goes West" trilogy (because after all isn't everything a trilogy these days?) Nick takes you through everything Joshua Tree National Park! Grab some SPF 70, sunglasses, and make sure you pack a few extra liters of water for this one! As Josh is eager to find out where he came from, Nick is excited to share so…

1
Nick Goes West Part 3: San Jacinto Peak 1:29:16

2h ago1:29:16

1:29:16

It's the final installment of the "Nick Goes West" series and Nick "chases that high" out West to a new literal "high"; the 10,834' peak of Mount San Jacinto, the 2nd highest peak in Southern California! Josh loves TMNT, is disappointed by a new local restaurant, has some deer in the backyard, and Nick runs through everything you need to know to hi…

1
Call of the Blue Crow 28:00

2h ago28:00

28:00

Public-land managers in the US Southwest seem determined to drive the pinyon jay to extinction. A half-century attack on pinyon & juniper high-desert woodland has led to a 78% drop in pinyon jay populations just in the past 50 years. You can take action, and the Pinyon Juniper Alliance is a good place to start. The pinyon jay is the steward of the …

1
Funeral for a Raven 28:00

2d ago28:00

28:00

Tonight we're talking ravens, fishes & loaves, and the soul-crushing indoor indoctrination of the Empire's State Religion. Sir James George Frazer, Pliny the Elder and the Gospel Mark are all involved, whether they like it or not. (And the "Bible Friends" podcast mentioned on this episode can be found here.) Thanks for listening to the show, and fo…

1
Nick Goes West Part 1: San Diego 1:22:06

11d ago1:22:06

1:22:06

Nick is super-tan and back from a 5th wedding anniversary trip in Southern California! Josh debates what to do with poison ivy, coaches tee-ball, the Tiverton Bucket Golf Invitational, and (perhaps) sacrifices his youngest to a giant backyard snake! Nick gives the scoop on where he stayed, ate, drank, visited, and hiked in San Diego on the first in…

1
#158: Three Perfect Days in the Columbia River Gorge 59:11

4d ago59:11

59:11

Carved by the once-wild Columbia River, the Columbia River Gorge is a dramatic canyon that snakes through the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest on its way to the Pacific Ocean. It's an area of stunning natural beauty with endless outdoor adventure options. Using the town of Hood River, Oregon, as our home base, we recently visited the gorge in…

101
Materia Medica: On expedition with botanist-surgeon John Milton Bigelow 28:00

9d ago28:00

28:00

Dr. John Milton Bigelow did not shy away from hard work, challenges, or adventure. At the age of 46, he signed on as surgeon and botanist for the Mexican Boundary Survey, following the U.S.-Mexican War that fulfilled the gold-hungry manifest destiny of the Americans. This adventure took him through the Chihuahuan, Sonoran and Colorado deserts, wher…

1
The Ferocious Foursome 1:11:55

19d ago1:11:55

1:11:55

We did it! We finally had our first remote guest! Tony, AKA Dad Abrantes, AKA the leader of the Ferocious Foursome, joins Nick and Josh to discuss being Portuguese, how he got the boys into golf, meeting Aerosmith, and how he beat Josh in Nick's bracket pool! Nick gets ready to head to California, Josh is wearing a melting teenage mutant ninja turt…

1
#157: Celebrating National Park Week 58:22

26d ago58:22

58:22

Each year, the National Park Service celebrates National Park Week in April. And this year, they’ve planned events from April 20th through April 28th. In this episode, we highlight some of the activities that will happen during National Park Week, give a brief history of the creation of the NPS, and interview our special guest, Jacob Wolfley, who r…

1
Standing With the Giants at Mariposa Grove 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

Mariposa Grove was a sacred grove for millennia before it became part of the Yosemite Grant, lovingly tended by Yosemite Guardian Galen Clark for more than a quarter century. Sacred groves and forests are protected for their spiritual and ecological importance. Such groves are found today throughout India (home of more than a million holy forests),…

1
There's a Tunnel Under the Tea House?! 46:06

1M ago46:06

46:06

Coming off the heels of the eclipse, Nick and Josh are struggling with some technical issues but persevere because the pod must go on! Nick sounds like Mickey Mouse, Josh is Australian, Nick tackles some "local" hikes including The Cliff Walk in Newport, what Josh would do if he had to face his nemesis on the moon, and tunnels in unexpected places,…

1
#156: Mailbag: Visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park and More! 59:34

1M ago59:34

59:34

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: · An overview of some of the closures within the national parks this year, · Suggestions for …

1
Nick's Calendar Winter 2023-2024 Hiking Recap 1:25:43

2M ago1:25:43

1:25:43

It's officially been a year since the first PUDs Podcast has been released and it's time to kick off our second season! Josh is angry about rain-induced traffic, the PUDs Podcast is now a "ranked" hiking podcast, and with the winter solstice just past Nick recaps all his hikes over the 2023-2024 calendar winter. From the White Mountains of New Hamp…

1
The Old, Weird America: Full of Ghosts & Monsters 28:00

2M ago28:00

28:00

On this Easter weekend, let’s do our best to bring back the ghosts, the supernatural. Let us recognize and respect the mysterious entities that come not from some imagined, distant star system in the cold lifeless vacuum of space, but from right here where we experience them! Backroads, mountains, spooky desert trails at dusk. Jesus loved wildernes…

1
#155: Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks Road Trip 1:04:51

2M ago1:04:51

1:04:51

One of the most frequent questions we get from travelers is how to plan a visit to Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton NPs in a single road trip. In this episode, we cover all the details you’ll need to do just that. Without a doubt, these three parks are at the top of our “most spectacular” list. Each has its unique history and landscape, yet th…

1
Spooky Tales for the St. Patrick's Storm 28:00

2M ago28:00

28:00

The pyramids of Guinness 12-packs at our High Desert grocery stores reminded us of St. Patrick's Day coming up, but the grey cloudy skies and green hillsides of the Mojave Desert this month are reminders that the old pagan tales are with us still, wherever the landscape is haunted and strange. And that supernatural entities always gather in their a…

1
Dealing with Loss 1:26:16

2M ago1:26:16

1:26:16

We are the podcast of Pointless-Up-and-Downs, and this week we dive into one of the bigger "downs" that Josh and Nick have unfortunately both already experienced in their lives, losing their Dads. An episode with a somber middle and some cheery ends like a nice PUDs-wich; Josh chats about an awkward trip to the dermatologist, Nick scoops some poop …

1
The Voice of the Desert 28:00

3M ago28:00

28:00

The storms continue, the wildflowers begin to appear, and Chantel our PCT through-hiker probably made it to the Canadian border without any kind of Mountain Monster getting her, which is good. Also: What is the Voice of the Desert? New soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver, written and hosted by Ken Layne. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/dese…

1
#154: Mailbag: Visiting Virgin Islands National Park and More! 56:18

3M ago56:18

56:18

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: · News about a faster way to enter Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, · Update about c…

1
Shaking Off the Cobwebs 55:53

3M ago55:53

55:53

Josh is back and you'll be happy to know his swagger is unswayed!!! Josh talks on what it's like being a Dad for the second time and Nick is happy to be 25% a godparent! The boys catchup on what's been happening with Josh, how Greta Van Fleet is awesome, get serious around some pressures with new Moms, and the reality of the comfort of hospital cou…

1
SPUDs: February 2024 Trip to the Adirondack High Peaks 1:03:52

3M ago1:03:52

1:03:52

Ash and Nick just got back from a trip to the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks, their new favorite place to explore nature outside of their "home"-hiking-turf of New Hampshire! Pull up an Adirondack chair to listen in as they once again fly "Josh-less" and talk about everything ADK, including where to stay, where to eat, a day on the slopes at …

1
#153: The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers in Our National Parks 49:20

3M ago49:20

49:20

Long before the National Park Service was founded, the U.S. Army was put in charge of protecting America’s national parks. One of the groups that played a crucial role in fulfilling this invaluable service to our country was the Buffalo Soldiers: African American officers and enlisted men serving in the Army. When the regimen stationed in San Franc…

1
#152: Dry Tortugas National Park Update 33:50

3M ago33:50

33:50

Dry Tortugas National Park is in a category of its own: pre-civil war fort, 70 miles out to sea with nothing else around it, incredible history, beautiful tropical keys with campsites, and right in the path of the most powerful hurricanes on the planet. Nowhere else can you visit a place with world-class snorkeling and see the rooms where they held…

1
Make It Sacred 28:00

3M ago28:00

28:00

Nothing is sacred unless we set it aside as sacred. As Americans rapidly abandon organized religion — and the formerly sanctified church and temple sites go up for sale as designer homes — where are the places that are truly sacred? The places set aside for contemplation, meditation, festivals, the rituals of life? There ain’t much. Not nearly enou…

1
#151: Hiking in the Palm Springs Area 1:02:22

3M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

This episode is a companion to our previous release, #150: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park. So many travelers to this magical part of Southern California spend time in both Joshua Tree NP and Palm Springs that these back-to-back episodes would be perfect for anyone planning a trip to the area. Today, we’re focusing on hikes in and around Palm S…

1
Among the Stately Trees 28:00

3M ago28:00

28:00

Where's the beautiful part, anyway? Well, start by walking about a mile past the last parking lot or dirt road or residential car-parts dump or informal halfway house or accidental pit-bull breeding farm, and keep going in the direction of the difficult terrain: the hills and the mountains and the boulders. Not the hills covered in radio relay towe…

1
The Typing Life: Warren Zevon, 9/11 & the California Bloggers (With Matt Welch) 35:40

3M ago35:40

35:40

Well here's an episode that fits with the past couple of episodes, as your host Ken Layne dredges up some tales from too many decades as a writer & whatever else. We got our newspaper/podcaster pal Matt Welch on the line to talk about the turn-of-the-century sensation that got everybody very excited for a little while: Weblogs! It sort of became a …

1
#150: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park 59:41

3M ago59:41

59:41

Welcome to our journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of America's national parks! Today is part one of a two-part series about Southern California's desert playground, where we explore the magical and rugged terrain of Joshua Tree National Park. Located about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a world of its own. Wit…

1
SPUDS: Intro to Winter Hiking in the Whites & Gear Talk with Ash 1:32:10

3M ago1:32:10

1:32:10

With Josh absent to become a Dad for the second time, Nick and Ash finally get down to it (after chatting about doing it for the last month or so) with a rather sizable SPUDs on winter hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire! The dynamic hiking duo dive into their own experience winter hiking in the Whites and beyond; covering gear, layering…

1
The Ballad of Mojo Nixon 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

Our old friend and mentor Mojo Nixon passed away this week, after playing a blistering set of rock 'n roll for his fans aboard a hillbilly cruise ship. Tonight, we remember the showman, songwriter and deejay who was a towering figure in American underground culture for a long, long time. RIP Mojo Nixon. With soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver. Suppo…

1
#149: Mailbag: Digging for Diamonds in an Arkansas State Park and More! 48:13

3M ago48:13

48:13

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: · Our thoughts on visiting a state park in Arkansas where a visitor recently found 7-carat di…

1
Josh's Weight Loss Journey 52:28

4M ago52:28

52:28

The boys are sipping on some nice carbonated beverages and Josh is in the final days before his new daughter arrives! Nick is ready to commandeer this podcast talking about his hike of Madison and Adams last weekend, how to pronounce Metallica, Josh dives into his ongoing journey with weight loss, people who run without headphones are crazy, (best)…

1
SPUDs: Nick Reviews His Winter 2023-2024 Hikes So Far... 1:12:57

4M ago1:12:57

1:12:57

Josh dons his interviewer persona as Nick reviews what he's been up to in the White Mountains of New Hampshire since Josh's "Christmas Party"! Take off your pack, brush off the snow, and find someplace cozy, as Josh chats with Nick about his last calendar-Fall hike up to Tom, Field and Willey, kicking off calendar-Winter with a hike of Franconia Ri…

1
#148: Hiking Safety Tips from a National Park Ranger 1:08:19

4M ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Who knows better what could go wrong while hiking in a national park than the people whose job it is to rescue hikers? That’s why we connected with a national park ranger to hear first-hand tips about hiking safety. In this episode, we interview Sara Shoemaker, a law enforcement ranger at Canyonlands National Park (Needles District) in southern Uta…

1
Josh's Big Announcement 1:08:14

4M ago1:08:14

1:08:14

Technical issues be damned! After a botched recording the week previous Josh and Nick are (finally!) back and ready for 2024! The New England Patriots lose their longtime coach, favorite drummers, greased pigs, Nick's wifi connection keeps dying while Josh almost dies in the 93 tunnel in Boston, early PUDs-cations, and why Josh is now recording fro…

1
Horror on the California Backroads 28:00

4M ago28:00

28:00

Tonight we go back three decades, to the strange time when a California newspaper hired a New England psychic to find a little girl who vanished in North San Diego County. This is a a true tale by your host, Ken Layne, who was one of the newspaper reporters working on this mysterious case, along with crime-solving psychic Johny Monti. PLUS: An Asse…

1
#147: The Best of Big Bend National Park 54:29

4M ago54:29

54:29

A national park that started out as a state park more than 90 years ago, Big Bend is often called Texas’ gift to the nation. With over 1,200 square miles of pristine land, this park has a wide range of ecosystems, from sprawling deserts to mountains reaching nearly 8.000 feet. From November to April, the weather is ideal for visitors to hike in sev…

1
#146: Mailbag: How to Get Started Camping and More! 55:35

4M ago55:35

55:35

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: · We reveal our ambitious 2024 New Year’s resolution (and you can join us!), · Our gear sugge…

1
The Hermit's Life 28:00

4M ago28:00

28:00

The hermit habit has persisted throughout the four-plus centuries of North American colonization and up to the present day, including such storied American names as Henry David Thoreau, Huckleberry Finn, Georgia O’Keefe, Marta Becket, and Ted Kazinsky ... and many lesser known characters, remembered today only in newspaper stories from the past cen…

1
SPUDs: Favorite Christmas Movies 42:11

5M ago42:11

42:11

Nick and Josh sit down with Christmas just days away to discuss their favorite Christmas movies! Grab some milk and cookies as the boys run through the movies that make them jolly this time of year on this Christmas Eve SPUDs of the PUDs Podcast! Facebook: PUDs Podcast Instagram: @pudspodcast Twitter: @pudspodcast Email: pudspod@outlook.com Recorde…

1
Gadzooks! It's Solsticetime in the Desert 28:00

5M ago28:00

28:00

Night has fallen on the desert, our first big winter storms soaking the mountains and the coastlines, and now we’re getting it pretty good in the southwestern deserts. There may even be a dusting of snow on the Joshua trees and the Yuccas and the junipers at the higher elevations, here and there. But a wet winter is visiting most of the American Hi…

1
#145 Unique Experiences in the National Parks 1:02:16

5M ago1:02:16

1:02:16

For many visitors, hiking is their go-to activity in the national parks; it is for us. But there are so many other activities the parks have to offer. In this episode, we talk about a dozen or more things you can do in the parks that are unique and amazing. From dogsledding to synchronized firefly tours, the parks offer activities that will thrill …

1
Last Christmas I Gave Josh My Heart 1:08:48

5M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

Christmas is almost here and the boys are getting a little festive! Josh and Nick play some holiday themed "this and that", Josh breaks down his favorite Christmas songs by decade, Nick reviews his favorite Christmas albums, and Nick doesn't like Ariana Grande in this slightly pine-scented episode of the PUDs Podcast!!! Josh Christmas Song Picks: M…

1
SPUDs: A Hike Up Middle Sister & Mount Chocorua 40:56

6M ago40:56

40:56

It's "Wear-Your-Hood-Wednesday"...or wait is it Thursday?! Favorite meals before we get canceled, very realistic looking Santas, Nick recaps his recent post-Thanksgiving hike up Middle Sister for #48 of his New Hampshire 52 with a View, and revisiting the beautiful and majestic Mount Chocorua, on this little SPUDs-y SPUD, of the PUDs Podcast! Faceb…

1
Live From Earth 28:00

5M ago28:00

28:00

Tonight's episode comes to you live from Los Angeles, where Desert Oracle Radio opened the show for "Seattle's Slowest," the legendary group EARTH on its 30th Anniversary Tour for the Sub-Pop album EARTH2, at Glendale's Alex Theater. Sounds by RedBlueBlackSilver, words by Ken Layne. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/desertoracle See omnystu…

1
#144: Five Perfect Days in Saguaro NP and Southern Arizona 58:22

5M ago58:22

58:22

As the temperatures drop up north, it’s time to start thinking about warm-weather escapes. In today’s episode, we have the perfect destination for you: Saguaro National Park and a whole bunch of other incredible public lands in Southern Arizona. Join us as we take you on a journey through both districts of Saguaro NP, Catalina State Park, Sabino Ca…

1
The Party Don't Stop Until the Needles Drop 1:00:41

6M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Nick waits way too long to get his Thanksgiving turkey, Josh sees Billy-B & The Buzzards, the boys' comedy favorites, and Josh should sell Christmas trees on this post-food-coma episode of the PUDs Podcast! Nick's Music Moment Picks for Episode 21: Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band - A Very Special Christmas Do You Hear W…

1
#143: Mailbag: Where to See Moose in the National Parks, and More! 50:00

6M ago50:00

50:00

In our Mailbag! episodes, we answer questions from listeners about the national parks, ranger-led tours, road trips, hiking, camping, backpacking, gear, relationships, and pretty much whatever anyone wants to ask us. In this episode, we cover these topics: · Glacier NP announced their vehicle entrance reservation plan for 2024, · Grand Canyon NP is…

1
Trivia Night in the High Desert 28:00

6M ago28:00

28:00

What's better on a desert Thanksgiving weekend than 10 questions regarding the natural and human history of the Mojave High Desert? Get your pencil and notepaper, and enjoy Desert Trivia Night from Thanksgiving Eve at the Tiny Pony, with spooky November soundscapes from RedBlueBlackSilver. Desert Oracle Radio (c)(p) 2017-2023 http://DesertOracle.co…

1
#142: 20 Incredible Things to See and Do in Southern Utah, Outside the National Parks 1:13:33

6M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Southern Utah is home to five must-see national parks, but if you’re traveling to this part of the American Southwest, you won’t want to miss the other incredible things to see and do. In this episode, we take you to 20 of our favorite places we’ve discovered over the years. Each site is worth exploring, from slot canyons to one-of-a-kind landscape…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Joshua Tree National Park Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide