America’s National Parks Podcast

America’s National Parks Podcast episodes:

• 04.22.2024

  National Park News | National Parks Get Vandalized, NPS Sued For Not Accepting Cash, New National Monument?

  In this episode, we're taking a look two vandalism incidents in national parks, a lawsuit against the National Park Service over not accepting cash as payment for entrance at some units, some potential new and expanded national monuments, and the...

  
• 04.11.2024

  EXPLORE ACT Returns Filming in National Parks and Expands Access to Public Lands

  In this episode, we're taking a look at the new EXPLORE act, passed by the US House of Representatives and on its way to the Senate, that will establish new bike trails, new accessible trails, ease concessionaire permitting in National...

  
• 04.05.2024

  The Measure of Wonder

  In this episode of America's National Parks, we embark on a journey of comparison and discovery, exploring the grandeur of the natural world through the lens of America's most treasured landscapes. From the towering sequoias of California and the vast...

  
• 03.31.2024

  Poaching in the Everglades

  An entire food chain lives in the Everglades. But throughout its coexistence with man, the Everglades have been threatened by poachers, who disrupt the delicate balance of this important ecosystem.  By Lauren Eisenberg Davis Hosted by Jason Epperson Use promo code PARKS20OFF to...

  
• 03.24.2024

  Designing a National Park Visitor Center for the 21st Century

  The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is one of the greenest buildings in the National Park Service inventory. In this episode, we take a look at how it cools without air conditioners, heats without a furnace, and more. Plus, as park...

  
• 03.15.2024

  National Park News | Biden Proposes NPS Budget, Employee Housing Crisis, & More

  In this episode, we look at the final National Park visitation numbers for 2023, a new budget for the NPS from the White House, an employee housing crisis in the National Park Service, a new look at Gateway Arch National...

  
• 03.12.2024

  Wives into the Wilderness: The Unpaid Force That Shaped National Parks

  In this episode, we delve into the untold stories of the women who lived in the shadows of America's majestic landscapes, their lives intertwined with the national parks we cherish today. The wives of National Park Rangers played a pivotal...

  
• 02.28.2024

  Nature's Palette: Unveiling Arizona's Petrified Forest

  Dive into the heart of Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park, a landscape where the Painted Desert's kaleidoscopic hues meet the ancient, stone-cast logs of the Petrified Forest. This episode takes you through the mesmerizing colors and geological wonders that define...

  
• 02.12.2024

  National Park News | Man Diverts a National Park River, New Shark Species Discovered, Rabies Scare at Saguaro

  In this month's national park news, new-to-science fossils have been uncovered at Mammoth Cave and John Day Fossil Beds, a rabies scare is taking hold at Saguaro National Park, a man gets convicted for diverting the Platte River at Sleeping...

  
• 02.02.2024

  Stiltsville: An Offshore Hideaway at Biscayne National Park

  Set against the backdrop of Miami’s skyline, six structures rise from the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay. Rugged and isolated, these houses on stilts are an unexpected site in the midst of a national park water world that was designated...

  
• 01.26.2024

  Harboring History: The Salem Maritime Site and America's Cultural Treasures

  Salem Maritime is not just any National Historic Site; it’s the first place the National Park Service was tasked with preserving that wasn’t about nature, scenery, or wildlife. Over 160 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, It...

  
• 01.15.2024

  National Park News | Park Service Morale Low, Investigative Ranger Ranks Dangerously Low

  In this month's news round-up, we take a look at some concerns about the ranks of National Park Service employees: morale is lower than that of other federal employees, and Park Service criminal investigators are down by nearly half. Plus,...

  
• 01.08.2024

  Denali, and the Effects of Gold Mining in the Kantishna Hills

  Gold Mining drew the world's eye to the wonders of Alaska. Some of our most treasured landscapes were explored in the first place in the effort to strike it rich. But what are the ramifications of gold mining in our...

  
• 12.29.2023

  Second Only to George Washington

  George Rogers Clark, the twenty-six-year-old commander of the Kentucky Militia, petitioned Virginia governor Patrick Henry to be allowed to take 500 American troops into Kentucky (already annexed to Virginia) to conquer the Northwest for Virginia, and increase the footprint of...

  
• 12.15.2023

  News From The Parks | Navy Rescues Motorcycles from Death Valley, 3 New National Park Sites, Yosemite Reservations Return, More

  In this episode, we share all the ins and outs of Yosemite's new returning reservation system; we share the news about three new National Park Service sites; two motorcyclists took a closed road in Death Valley and had to be...

  
• 12.07.2023

  Vandalism and Capitalism vs Historical Artifacts: Defacement in the NPS

  The defacement at National Park sites goes beyond graffiti, and each layer peeled back raises more questions about what destruction is vs. what a historical artifact is. Somewhere in between the ancient rock markings from the Native Americans and the...

  
• 12.01.2023

  Christmas in Yellowstone

  For this holiday season, we thought it’d be great to revisit short stories we told way back in 2018 about magical Christmases in America’s first national park. Hear the splendor of the holidays in early years at Yellowstone, and discover...

  
• 11.23.2023

  A Dream of Peace

  At the 125th anniversary of the Battle at Gettysburg, Nearing the end of the Cold War, famous scientist Dr. Carl Sagan would re-dedicate the Eternal Light Peace Memorial. The speech, co-written with his wife Ann Druyan, juxtaposed the weapons of...

  
• 11.17.2023

  National Park News | Park Reservations in ’24, a Daring Whale Rescue, and More

  From the reintroduction of timed entry systems at Arches, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks for 2024 to the National Park Service's commitment to increasing female representation in law enforcement roles, a lot is happening across the country's parks. We also...

  
• 11.10.2023

  The Vehicles of Yellowstone

  Imagine the crunch of rock and the creak of leather, the clatter of horse hooves against the stone, and the warm breeze that carries the scent of pine through the open plains. You're not just stepping into Yellowstone National Park;...

  
• 11.06.2023

  Dinosaurs in Situ

  In the northeast corner of Utah, the westernmost entrance to Dinosaur National Monument welcomes visitors along the banks of the Green River, the road separated from the water by desert scrub foliage. The Fossil Discovery Trail snakes through the rugged...

  
• 10.26.2023

  Discovering The Bighorn

  Nestled within the rugged landscapes of Montana and Wyoming, Bighorn Canyon is a testament to nature's artistry and the relentless force of time. Carved by millennia of water erosion from the Bighorn River, this expansive chasm presents a breathtaking tableau...

  
• 10.13.2023

  Changes to Park Passes, Grizzly Attack, Fossil Find, & More | National Park News

  On this month's national park news round-up, a big change is coming to national park passes — beginning in January, the Annual Pass will only have one signature line. We have all the details, plus, a terrible grizzly bear attack...

  
• 10.02.2023

  All Lincoln All the Time

  From birth to death and many intermediate milestones, the National Park Service leads us on an odyssey along the timeline of Lincoln’s life, political career, achievements, and legacy, weaving a ribbon through Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Washington DC, and beyond.  By Lauren...

  
• 09.21.2023

  Hopewell — America’s Newest World Heritage Site

  The most recent session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is taking place right now in Saudi Arabia, and it was just announced that they are inscribing the 25th World Heritage Site in the United States — a group of...

  
• 09.14.2023

  Death Valley Closed for Weeks, Crack in Yosemite, Hiker Found by Webcam, and More | National Park News

  In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the disastrous effects of tropical storm Hilary at Death Valley National Park, a 200' crack that has appeared on a popular climbing route in Yosemite, and more. Sponsored by L.L.Bean - Visit...

  
• 09.07.2023

  Consumption in Mammoth Cave

  Inside Mammoth Cave, people notice that the air seems surprisingly fresh and that their allergies disappear like magic. Observations such as these have been noted for centuries at least. In 1839, the property was purchased by Dr. John Croghan and...

  
• 08.30.2023

  Riding the Rails to Nature’s Wonders: National Parks by Train

  From the allure of the Orient Express to the daily grind of commuter trains, rail travel has always captured our imaginations. But did you know you can journey to some of America's most iconic national parks by train? In this...

  
• 08.24.2023

  The Secret Spy History of Camp David | Catoctin Mountain Park

  Catoctin Mountain Park is one of those National Park Service units that doesn't fit into any category, but its importance in American history could not be any greater. It's home to the famed presidential retreat — Camp David — but...

  
• 08.17.2023

  2 New NPS Units, Lost in Death Valley, Plane Crash in Denali

  In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the new National Monuments, one remembering Emmett Till and the other protecting the area surrounding the Grand Canyon. Plus, two men get lost in Death Valley and hike for miles overnight...

  
• 08.09.2023

  Secret Cities

  As the world experiences Christopher Nolan’s new film, Oppenheimer, the world is taking a new look at the development of this great and terrible weapon under the organization of the Manhattan Project. In this episode, we’re taking a look at...

  
• 07.29.2023

  The Importance of...the Butt

  Set against the backdrop of rolling hills in western Wyoming, Fossil Butte National Monument, like so many other parks, presents a variety of activities. But one exhibit shares the fascinating story of a type of fossil that you probably haven't...

  
• 07.23.2023

  The Kennedys and the Promise of a Better Future for Those Living With Disabilities

  At the close of the 2019 visitor season, the JFK National Historic Site closed its doors, the collections were safely secured, and the site prepared for an extensive facelift. The plan involved the installation of an accessible visitor center, along...

  
• 07.13.2023

  Yosemite Traffic Nightmare, Slew of Deaths in National Parks

  In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the difficult situation at Yosemite, where the timed-entry reservation system is gone for the first year since 2019, causing huge traffic problems. Plus hot weather and roaring waters are taking the...

  
• 06.22.2023

  Women Trailblazers of the National Park Service: Stories of Courage and Conservation

  Embark on an exploration of the remarkable women who blazed trails within the National Park Service. Join us as we delve into the lives of Betty Reid Soskin, Dr. Beatrice Willard, Florence Bascom, and more. From Betty's groundbreaking role as...

  
• 06.14.2023

  Two for the Price of One

  Arizona conjures up images of desert washes, enormous saguaro cacti with arms stretching to the sky, and endless sunshine regardless of the season. But if you travel north to Flagstaff, the environment changes dramatically. Situated at nearly 7000 feet elevation,...

  
• 05.31.2023

  National Park News: Pot Farms Keep Cropping Up In Death Valley National Park

  In this month's national park news roundup, we're covering all the delayed openings and closures caused by the unprecedented winter snowpack in the West. But it's not all bad news — lakes Mead and Powell are rising, and the Colorado...

  
• 05.21.2023

  Yellowstone After the Floods

  In June 2022, the rivers of Yellowstone's Northern Range unleashed a devastating flood, shattering century-long records and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. This natural disaster not only disrupted park operations but also raised important questions about its...

  
• 05.12.2023

  Escape from Alcatraz

  This week, we're setting sail for Alcatraz, the infamous island prison once deemed inescapable. But in 1962, three men dared to challenge this notion and embarked on a daring escape that continues to captivate the world to this day.  Join us...

  
• 05.03.2023

  Lesser Known Founding Fathers

  In this episode of America's National Parks, join host Jason Epperson as we delve into the lesser-known figures of American history and the National Park Service sites dedicated to their lives and contributions. Explore the stories behind the Thomas Stone...

  
• 04.27.2023

  National Park News | Yosemite Braces for Floods, Condors Get Bird Flu, and More

  In this episode, we share the news about upcoming closures at Yosemite National Park due to flooding concerns from snowmelt. Plus, Death Valley goes cashless, condors are dying from a new bird flu, how to get reservations for the annual...

  
• 04.25.2023

  Scaling the Heights: The Evolution and Impact of Rock Climbing in Yosemite

  Dive into the rich history of rock climbing in Yosemite National Park, from its pioneering beginnings to its modern status as a world-class climbing destination. In this episode, we explore the iconic routes, legendary climbers, and groundbreaking techniques that have...

  
• 04.17.2023

  The Mysterious Disappearance of Everett Ruess: Artist, Adventurer, and Enigma

  Join us as we explore the enigmatic life and mysterious disappearance of Everett Ruess, a young artist, poet, and adventurer who vanished without a trace in the remote wilderness of southeastern Utah in 1934. We'll delve into Ruess' life, his...

  
• 04.04.2023

  Nature’s Open Door: Unlocking Accessible Adventures in National Parks

  Discover the beauty of accessibility at America's National Parks in this episode. From scenic drives and picturesque vistas to innovative adaptive activities, we dive into the wonders of national parks for people with mobility disabilities, families with young children, and...

  
• 03.30.2023

  America’s Outdoor Recreation Act

  A new bill in the U.S. Senate is poised to make major changes to federal lands recreation. In this episode, we have all the details. Find the press release, along with the full text of the bill here: https://www.energy.senate.gov/2023/3/manchin-barrasso-introduce-bipartisan-america-s-outdoor-recreation-act   Sponsored by LL...

  
• 03.19.2023

  The Mysterious Lives of Northern Elephant Seals

  This episode of America's National Parks Podcast delves into the fascinating world of the Northern Elephant Seal, including its near-extinction in the 1800s due to overhunting and the subsequent discovery of remnant populations in Mexico. Protective legislation was eventually put...

  
• 03.01.2023

  Agate Fossil Beds

  In the grassy High Plains of Northwest Nebraska, the landscape is punctuated by flat top buttes, and a few isolated landforms reminiscent of the badlands. A layer of sandstone builds the foundation of the area, sitting over a remarkable bonebed. The...

  
• 02.20.2023

  The History of North American Elk in our National Parks

  On today’s episode of America’s National Parks, the comeback story of NorthAmerican elk. Written By Dr. Charlotte HackerAudio Editor and Theme Music: Peter XiongHost: Jason Epperson Sponsored by LLBean www.llbean.com/guideand Campendium www.campendium.com

  
• 02.07.2023

  National Park News: 2023 Parks Budget, Daring Helicopter Rescue

  In this month's news roundup, the National Park Service has set its budget priorities for the year, including repairs from last year's extreme weather events and prevention measures to help keep them from happening again. Plus, a daring helicopter rescue...

  
• 01.18.2023

  Assateague - Beyond the Ponies

  In the stillness of winter, the waves still roll in and out, in and out, slicking the sandy shore of Assateague Island, a narrow thirty seven mile long barrier island which spans both Maryland and Virginia between the Atlantic Ocean...