Let's Talk Parks Podcast: Stories of Purpose-Driven Parks and Recreation Professionals

This month is about YOU - the dedicated, selfless, essential employees that make up the parks and recreation profession. We couldn't be more excited to celebrate the work you're doing! Go do amazing things this July!

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

A lot has happened in the last few months, and I'm sure it's impacted your life and your job in ways you could have never imagined. Marissa Moravec joins us this week on the Let's Talk Parks podcast. She talks to us about how now is a critical time to be honest... first, with ourselves, then with our communities, and finally with our agencies/employees. This week's message is so important that we've published a text-version of this episode on the website.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

One thing that is certain is our need to continue growing and developing as professionals even in times of uncertainty. From building your personal brand, pushing through monotony, and finding opportunities outside our typical sphere of parks and recreation there’s never a shortage of ways to continue your development.

We sat down with Brandon Ashe from Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation to get his take on these topics along with finding the confidence to grow and when to take a leap of faith. You’ll never know when opportunity knocks and you might just be surprised where you land.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

Notice anything new around here?  We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to rebrand Becky Talks Parks into Let’s Talk Parks. Now, you might be asking why the rebrand? The short answer is we wanted to make sure you knew the show was about you, the listener, and all the hard work you’re doing out there to make your community the best it can be. The long answer? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out more but we will just say that this is the beginning of a collaborative project designed to give voice to the next generation of purpose-driven Parks & Recreation professionals.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

Have you gotten the hang of remote working yet, or have you made the switch back to the office since quarantine started? This episode was recorded in late April and I meant to get this out sooner!  Hopefully you can find these tips useful as you continue to balance your life and your work, whether you're working in the office or at home.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

This week we look at what it's like to be a woman working in parks and recreation. We explore some of our natural tendencies that don't always serve us, especially when aiming for leadership positions. Join me and Marissa Moravec as we talk about our personal experiences working in the field, and the advice we would give to new professionals as women in the workforce.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

For most of us seeking to advance our career there's no shortage of information available in regards to leadership, management, and team building. While all important there is one topic that is often overlooked in the discussion and that is power. What does it mean to have power in your position and gain more as you advance? How can you effectively use it to lead your team? How do you balance power with responsibility? And how do you work alongside those who themselves hold similar amounts of power if not more? We take a deep dive into these questions and others as we are joined by Cincinnati Parks Director Kara Kish who has been lecturing on the topic at Indiana State University for years. We encourage you to spend some time with this episode as the subject is deep and nuanced. When it’s over ask yourself-If you had the power to make decisions that impacted not only your community but your entire department would you be ready?

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

If you've never heard of What The Rec, you've been missing out!  What The Rec was created by Katherine Dancangelis, who has a passion for Therapeutic Recreation - specifically gerontology (older adults). In this episode, we talk about what she loves about her job, why she started her website, and advice for anyone looking to get into the field. Enjoy! About Katherine: Katherine Darcangelis is the founder/creator of  What The Rec resource and development tools website. She is currently a full-time Recreation Director for an adult day care facility in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She recently finished up a Masters's degree in Nonprofit Management, to better understand how to serve those in the various populations that recreation is utilized. Along with this, she also holds a strong background in Therapeutic Recreation and Human Development; with an emphasis in gerontology. She has a passion for the geriatric field, and a strong desire to propel the recreation/activity profession(s) forward and be at the forefront of geriatric care services. She is a member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, serving on the Student Development Committee, and is head Student Outreach Liaison. Her work has been published on ATRA as well as other recreation platforms, and her What The Rec Facebook community is growing daily. With her knowledge, experience and skill set, she aims to provide you will a resource that empowers you to build the best programs, departments and nonprofit agencies catered to your clients. A recreation professional should have a strong understanding of their own leisure interests & needs. Kate loves reading for leisure, crafting, blogging, and exploring museums.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

The world is changing like we've never seen before. The coronovirus is spreading, and impacting parks and recreation agencies across the country. In this conversation, we have a very raw and uncut discussion about the world as it stands today. Anthony Iracki and I talk about how its impacting parks and recreation services, remote work, mental health, and staying positive throughout it all. This week's blog post isn't super long, I want to make sure this gets out there as soon as possible.  This conversation was recorded on March 12, 2020.  Be sure to click the links and listen to the show on Anchor, Itunes, or any of your favorite podcast players.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

For all intents and purposes the phrase “Personal Brand” is a fancy way of saying the word “Reputation.” However dressed up as it may be, it does not mask the importance of the term nor the weight that it carries. If there's one thing professionals at every stage of their career should be keenly aware of it is their brand, their reputation. Your personal brand is what goes before you always. It’s what others talk about when referring to you. It’s what people like and sometimes disagrees with, about you. A strong personal brand can open doors for you, lead others to you, and allow for new opportunities. Today we will discuss the importance of personal branding and how to build yours if you have not already begun.

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.