Best Joshua Tree National Park Podcasts (2024)

1
EP. #106: Revisiting the Paul Miller Case - Joshua Tree National Park 45:38

29m ago45:38

45:38

On July 13, 2018, Paul and his wife were vacationing in California to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary. Before wrapping up their trip, Paul wanted to take one last day hike through Joshua Tree National Park, hoping to get some good shots of the parks Big Horn Sheep. After several hours had passed without Paul's return, his wife alerted the …

1
#159: An Epic Colorado National Park Road Trip Loop 56:17

3h ago56:17

56:17

Join us as we take you on an epic road trip to all four of Colorado’s national parks! These four parks are incredibly diverse, and this trip will have you driving through alpine forests in the Rocky Mountains, hiking up the tallest sand dunes in North America, climbing ladders as you explore cultural treasures, and standing on the rim of a seemingl…

1
Hot Takes on the Apple Music Best 100 Albums 2:18:20

5h ago2:18:20

2:18:20

Coming in hot!!! Nick and Josh are joined by fellow musician, music enthusiast, and friend-of-the-podcast-Spencer, and run down the list of the Apple Music Best 100 Albums! No spoilers in the deets, let's get into it!!! Episode Link: Apple Music 100 Best Albums Facebook: PUDs Podcast Instagram: @pudspodcast Twitter: @pudspodcast Email: pudspod@outl…

1
Slumgullion Stew 28:00

33m ago28:00

28:00

It's hot as hell and we're throwing everything in the hobo stew tonight: Desert-animal antics, Wild West extravaganzas, history's mysteries, William Shatner shot up into space, etc., etc. The soundscapes are by RedBlueBlackSilver and the rest is by your host & underpaid mail-order professional, Ken Layne. This is Episode #224, Slumgullion Stew. Sup…

1
Bursting at the Seams & Back in the Saddle 1:11:35

4d ago1:11:35

1:11:35

The boys are back for a recap of their respective 2024 Memorial Day Weekends and ready to get into it! Josh fights "Bawston" traffic, "The Hiking Peeps" hike Saddleback and The Saddleback Horn in Maine to for the Alzheimer's Association's 2024 The Longest Day 48 Peaks fundraiser and check off two more of the Maine 4000 Footers, Josh tries his best …

1
EP. #105: Interview w/ Danielle & Cassie from National Park After Dark 1:14:00

14d ago1:14:00

1:14:00

In our latest episode, we interview the hosts of National Park After Dark Danielle and Cassie. We cover a wide variety of topics including how they got started and interesting stories from their travels. If you haven't already, we recorded an episode for their show on April 21, 2024. You can listen to that episode here (https://podcasts.apple.com/u…

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

15d 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

21d 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 …

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EP. #104: Jordan Grider - Boundary Waters Wilderness - Minnesota 1:04:33

29d ago1:04:33

1:04:33

April 5th 2019, Search & Rescue discover a disturbing scene while searching for a man who was winter camping deep in the Boundary Waters Wilderness of Northern Minnesota. What they found left the searchers with more questions than answers. Did a horrific accident happen? Was there foul play? Join us this week as we investigate the disappearance of …

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

24d 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
Funeral for a Raven 28:00

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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…

1
Materia Medica: On expedition with botanist-surgeon John Milton Bigelow 28:00

2M 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
EP. #103: Chad Pallansch - Rocky Mountain National Park - Colorado 53:28

2M ago53:28

53:28

September 27th, 2023, an experienced hiker and trail runner planned a 28-mile run in Rocky Mountain National Park, something he had done dozens of times in the past. About 7 miles into his run, he sends a text to his family to check in. This would be the last time anyone would hear from him. Join us this week as we investigate the disappearance of …

1
The Ferocious Foursome 1:11:55

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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
EP. #102: The Palmer Brother - The Alaskan Wilderness 1:10:13

2M ago1:10:13

1:10:13

In this week's episode, we investigate the strange disappearances of the Palmer brothers from Alaska, two siblings who vanished without a trace, their disappearances eerily spaced 11 years apart. What are the chances that such bizarre events could strike the same family twice? Are they related in any way? Join us as we try to figure out what happen…

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

2M 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

2M 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
EP. #101: Maureen Kelly - Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Washington State 49:31

3M ago49:31

49:31

On June 9, 2013, a young woman set out on a spiritual quest in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, leaving behind her companions at Canyon Creek Campground. Embracing nature in its purest form, she ventured into the forest with nothing but her resolve, never to be seen again. Join us this week as we explore the mysterious disappearance of Maureen …

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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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
EP. #100: Ghost Hunting at Chernobyl w/ Extreme Filmmaker Evan B. Stone 2:03:06

3M ago2:03:06

2:03:06

For our 100th episode, Extreme Filmmaker and Co-host of the show SVC Explorers of the Unknown Evan B Stone, is back to tell us about his Ghost Hunting trip to Chernobyl for Syfy Channel's Destination Truth. In 2009, Evan B. Stone, Josh Gates, and their team conducted the first ever paranormal investigation at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disas…

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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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
EP. #99: The Pemberton Incident Part 2 - Daniel Reoch 1:02:15

4M ago1:02:15

1:02:15

In our previous episode, we investigated the mysterious disappearance of Marshal Iwassa, who went missing on November 17, 2019. The chilling discovery of his truck, scorched and deserted in a secluded area north of Pemberton, British Columbia, left us with more questions than answers. This week, our journey continues with Part 2, where we delve int…

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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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
EP. #98: The Pemberton Incident Part 1 - Marshal Iwaasa 1:10:17

4M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

On November 17th, 2019, Marshal Iwaasa, a 26-year-old from Lethbridge, Alberta, made his final known appearance after visiting his mother, before supposedly returning to his Calgary apartment. This visit marks the last confirmed sighting of Marshal before he mysteriously vanished. The subsequent discovery of his burned-out vehicle and scattered per…

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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Joshua Tree National Park Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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