Best Nationalparks Podcasts (2024)

1
402 Rocky Mountain Field Institute's Jolie NeSmith 44:29

1d ago44:29

44:29

On this week's podcast, Bob interviews Jolie NeSmith, the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI). They talk about her first year at the helm, including challenges and accomplishments, and then move on to discuss the 2024 work season. The review the projects RMFI will be working on, with an update on the multi-year Devils Pl…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Cultural Resource Challenge 42:15

4d ago42:15

42:15

Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas. Will the discussion include destinations that portray aspects of the country’s history, or cultural melting pot? Equati…

51
401 Luis Benitez and How Outdoor Recreation can Save the World 56:41

9d ago56:41

56:41

Bob chats with Luis Benitez, the author of "Higher Ground: How The Outdoor Recreation Industry Can Save The World". The first head of Colorado's Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, and a leader in the outdoor recreation industry, he talks with Bob about the need to change how outdoor recreation in the United States is funded and managed, and how he…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Total Solar Eclipse of the Parks 46:29

11d ago46:29

46:29

Tens of millions of people in the United States will be able to witness a Total Solar Eclipse on Monday as the rare astronomical event cuts a path from Texas to Maine, up to 122 miles wide in some spots. This is a great opportunity to see the exact moment when the moon fully blocks the sun, creating a blazing corona visible to those observing from …

1
400 The Healthy Hiker talks about taking care of our feet 1:06:41

15d ago1:06:41

1:06:41

This week's podcast is all about feet and how to take care of them. Bob is joined by frequent guest Physical Therapist and "Healthy Hiker" Alicia Filley, for an enlightening talk about feet. From common injuries, to how to decipher pain, to socks and shoes, they cover almost anything you'd want to know about feet and hiking. The Healthy Hiker websi…

1
Richard Bangs Returns 1:19:34

17d ago1:19:34

1:19:34

Richard Bangs is back! He joins Brian to share stories of first descents of rivers around the world and promote his new book, The Art of Living Dangerously. Enjoy Richard Bangs!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big AdventuresEntertainment LLC.By Brian Dierker, Richard Bangs, Gavin Boughner, Bill Gloeckler, Margaret Knight

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Music Inspired by the Parks 46:52

18d ago46:52

46:52

With March madness down to the Sweet 16, and Opening Day of Major League Baseball having arrived, we’re going to take a break this week and dive into our podcast archives for this week’s show. This is Kurt Repanshek, your host at the National Parks Traveler. My NCAA bracket was busted the very first day, and while the Yankees won their opening day …

1
399 Terrain Hoppers come to Cheyenne Mountain SP 39:03

23d ago39:03

39:03

On this week's podcast, Bob and Kevin discuss trail projects at two of Colorado Springs' most popular parks; one master plan is being finalized while another is starting. Also Cheyenne Mountain State Park has new Terrain Hoppers for visitors with accessiblity issues; will you able to see the April solar eclipse from Colorado? And finally, in the af…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Padre Island's Sea Turtles 45:41

25d ago45:41

45:41

One of the most popular public events in the National Park System was the release of sea turtle hatchlings, shuffling off into the Gulf of Mexico at Padre Island National Seashore. I say was, because the number of those public events has been drastically scaled back in recent years. The programs featuring the release of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hat…

1
398 CPW update. Also winter driving, choosing footwear and more 31:05

29d ago31:05

31:05

On this week's podcast, Bob and co-host Wild Westendorf discuss the latest developments with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. Also, winter driving, choosing the right hiking footwear and Kevin has another medical scare. Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking…

1
Kelsey Pfendler 1:09:04

1M ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Kelsey Pfendler is about to row a boat from California to Hawaii. She sits down with Brian to talk about the race, her team, and the incredible amount of prep work for such an adventure. Enjoy Kelsey Pfendler!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big AdventuresEntertainment LLC.By Kelsey Pfendler, Margaret Knight, Bill Gloeckler, Gavin Boughner, Brian Dierker

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Polluting the Parks 42:17

1M ago42:17

42:17

Air pollution and climate change impacts can have outsized effects on the National Park System, as well as lesser noticed but just as concerning effects. But are those impacts spread across the entire park system, or clustered around a few? Back in 2019 the National Parks Conservation Association looked at how air pollution and climate change were …

1
397 What's going on with the CPW Commission? 30:33

1M ago30:33

30:33

On this week's podcast, Bob and Kevin talk about Daylight Saving Time, the hubbub over some appointments to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, and why are some hikers and cyclists harrassing construction workers? Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/hikingbob for more information Hiking Bob webs…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | State of the Parks 2024 47:50

1M ago47:50

47:50

While most visitors to the National Park System view the parks as incredibly beautiful places, or places rich in culture and history, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes within the parks, and with the National Parks Service. Traveler editor Kurt Repanshek has closely followed the parks and the Park Service for more than 18 years. Over that…

1
396 Where are the best behaved hikers? 31:14

1M ago31:14

31:14

On this week's podcast, Bob flies solo! He discusses his next major "bucket list" trip, hiking in the desert, where are the best behaved hikers and cyclists. Also, the master plan process is ending for one Colorado Springs park and starting for another one, controversy with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and more. Fishers Canyon Master …

1
Laurie Dyer 45:06

1M ago45:06

45:06

Laurie Dyer can't get enough of the Grand Canyon. She sits down with Brian to chat about how she came to work for the National Park Service, the state of the park, and her ultramarathon hobby. Enjoy Laurie Dyer!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big AdventuresEntertainment LLC.…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | National Park Guidebooks 47:05

2M ago47:05

47:05

With nearly 430 units in the National Park System, of which 63 are National Parks, we all probably could use a little help in planning our adventures into the park system. But do you simply visit a park’s website to plan your trip? Find an online guidebook? Buy a hardcover guidebook? Or simply wing it when you reach your destination? This is Kurt R…

1
395 Meet a US Forest Service Tribal Liaison 55:58

2M ago55:58

55:58

On this week's podcast, Bob talks with Dr. Jason Herbert, the Tribal Liaison with the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC). Dr. Herbert, the first person to hold this position with the PSICC, talks about his previous experiences working with Native American tribes in the southern U.S. prior to worki…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Staying Safe At Hawai'i Volcanoes 44:01

2M ago44:01

44:01

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is such a unique destination in the National Park System. Located on the Big Island, it’s surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, it has rainforests, and it boasts two active volcanoes in Mauna Loa and Kilauea. A visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes comes with a number of options. Do you simply hope to catch an eruption of Kilauea an…

1
394: Bob tries out Cross-Country skiing 44:57

2M ago44:57

44:57

This week's podcast goes back out into the field, as Bob tries out cross-country skiing for the first time. Michael Brothers from the Woodmoor Nordic Cross-Country skiing center gives Bob a quick lesson on how to ski and afterwards, they talk about how well Bob did - or didn't - do. They also discuss the history of the skiing center, and what is av…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Vanishing Treasures 48:32

2M ago48:32

48:32

From the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast and up to Alaska, there are thousands of historic structures and archaeological sites on National Park System landscapes. They range in variety from homesteader cabins to pre-historic cave dwellings. Taking care of these buildings and archaeological sites is a valuable job for the National Park Service, as…

1
393 Winter hiking etiquette, avalanches, mountain lions, and more 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

Co-host Kevin returns for this week's podcast, and he and Bob catch up on recent events. They also discuss winter hiking etiquette, and avalanche danger, mountain lion management, a new El Paso County nature center, movie suggestions and more. CPW SE Region Mountain Lion Management meetings: http://tinyurl.com/mr3wbfpc CAIC: https://avalanche.state…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | Coming to the Aid of Giant Sequoias 52:11

2M ago52:11

52:11

Stand before a giant sequoia tree in Sequoia or Kings Canyon national parks or nearby Yosemite National Park and you’re overwhelmed by their size, and assume they’re impervious to anything that might be thrown at them. But as we learned from wildfires in 2020 and 2021 in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, that’s not the case. The Castle Fire …

1
392 El Paso County Parks 2023 Review, a look at 2024 40:14

2M ago40:14

40:14

On this week's podcast, Bob chats with El Paso County Parks Department Director Todd Marts. They discuss the accomplishments of the department in 2023, and what's ahead for 2024 and beyond. Items discussed include the success of the departments "Trailability" program, Paint Mines Park, the proposed Fox Run Park Nature Center, how the parks are reco…

1
National Parks Traveler Podcast | California Mountain Lions 40:59

2M ago40:59

40:59

Mountain lions are an incredibly charismatic animal on landscapes within, and adjacent to, the National Park System. But they’re seldom seen because of their nocturnal tendencies. There recently was a new report that focused on a comprehensive estimate of mountain lions in California, and the number is much smaller than many had thought it was. To …

1
391 Colorado Springs Parks 2023 Recap & What's Ahead in 2024 59:33

3M ago59:33

59:33

On this week's podcast, Bob chats with Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department Director Britt Haley. They discuss the signifcant accomplishments of the department in 2023, and what's ahead for 2024, including e-bikes, Blodgett and Fishers Canyon master plans, and more. Please consider becoming a patron of this podcast! V…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Nationalparks Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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