Today we speak with Michelle Dowd, the author of the newly released book, Forager. Field Notes for Surviving a Cult. Michelle was raised within the boundaries of Angeles National Forest inside of a religious cult her grandfather created. She was raised to believe that the end of the world was near and in turn, was taught to forage off the land, navigate by the stars, and survive. After enduring years of abuse, she finally escaped. Now, after years of healing and moving forward with her life, she has put out a book detailing her story. In this episode, we all get the chance to know Michelle as we discuss her book, her past, and where she is at in her life today.



You can buy Michelle's book here or at your local bookstore.



We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website.



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163: Forager. Field Notes for Surviving A Cult with Michelle Dowd

Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the outdoors and a fascination with what can go wrong there, National Park After Dark is a podcast for the morbid outdoor enthusiast. Tales of death, dark history and tragic events is what NPAD is about, but through the darkness - is light. National Parks have storied histories including epic survivals, inspiring humans and serve as physical reminders of the importance for protecting the planet. Time to lace up those hiking boots and take a walk into the wild. Welcome, to National Park After Dark.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Sports

Wilderness

True crime

Today we are joined by Derek Abbey, Project Recover’s President and CEO to speak about the organization - a collaborative effort to enlist 21st century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate the nearly 81,000 Americans missing in action since World War II. He lets us in on the important work the project does around the world, and the impact it has on countless families. He also touches on “Angel Taps” and spooky encounters he’s experienced on missions, and agrees that sometimes, help from the other side can lead us in the right direction.



Watch the documentary, To What Remains, HERE and find more information on Project Recover HERE.



We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website.



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223: For the Fallen. Project Recover ft. Derek Abbey.

Today we visit one of the bloodiest battle sites in WWII and tell the stories of the men who lost their lives there. When Pat Scannon discovered many of these men were never found or brought home, he began a search to find them.



We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website.



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Alo Moves: Use code NPAD to get a free 30-day subscription.

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IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.



Resources:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/nps-and-palau-protecting-the-ocean.htm

https://www.coris.noaa.gov/portals/palau.html#:~:text=Palau's%20rich%20marine%20biota%20include,relative%20of%20the%20sea%20cow)

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/44-40603.html

https://www.projectrecover.org/mission-vision-values/



Documentary: The Last Flight Home.



Book: Vanished. The Sixty Year Search for the Missing Men of World War II by Wil S. Hylton

222: Vanished. Finding Missing WWII Soldiers in Palau.

Hundreds of people go missing in US National Parks every year. While many of those cases eventually find resolve, some people, like Joe Halpern, remain missing as the seasons change and the decades pass. Despite the passing of time, loved ones never forget their people who wandered into the woods and were swallowed by the trees - and they’ll do everything it takes to find them.



We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website.



Thank you so much to our partners, check them out!

Skylight Calendar: Get 15% off a Skylight Calendar at SkylightCal.com/PARK

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Sources The Coloradoan, The Way It Was Podcast, PBS, Heavy Casefiles, CBS Colorado, NamUs, GoFund Me, NY Times, Rocky Mountain National Park



Book - Cold Case Chronicles: Mysteries, Murders & The Missing

221: One of Seven. The Disappearance of Joe Halpern. Rocky Mountain

Today’s stories include life saving butterflies, bobcat guardians, hotdog man rescues, baby trail snacks, puke curses, angel friends, madness at Mesa Verde and shitty situations. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!



We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website.



Thank you so much to our partners, check them out!

Quince: Use our link to get free shipping and 365-day returns.

IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.

3 Day Blinds:  For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/NPAD.

BetterHelp: National Park After Dark is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off.

220: Trail Tales 47

Today we are joined by Mike and Joe, hosts of the Locations Unknown Podcast, as we dive into one of Utah's greatest enduring mysteries. Everett Ruess was a poet, artist, and writer who had dreams of leaving modern society behind to live in and explore the American West. When his family stopped receiving letters from him, and no one heard from or had contact with Everett for months - concern mounted. Search parties scoured high and low, but were left with more questions than answers after what they discovered in the process.



Book - Finding Everett Ruess: The Life and Unsolved Disappearance of a Legendary Wilderness Explorer by David Roberts



Follow Locations Unknown on IG @‌locationsunknown_ ,on their website Locations Unknown and subscribe to their podcast wherever you listen!



We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon  or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our socials Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. To share a Trail Tale, suggest a story, access merch, and browse our book recommendations - head over to our website.



Thank you so much to our partners, check them out!

Skylight Calendar: Get 15% off a Skylight Calendar at SkylightCal.com/PARK 

Claritin: Head to claritin.com right now for a discount.

Storyworth: Use our link to get $10 off your first purchase.

Zocdoc: Use our link to download the Zocdoc app for free.

163: Forager. Field Notes for Surviving A Cult with Michelle Dowd

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