Two conversations. Two different points in the season. One very full Katmai story.

A quick note before you listen: this episode merges two separate conversations recorded at different times during the 2026 season. You will hear a change in audio quality and recording setup midway through. Please be patient with the transition. I chose to keep both conversations together because hearing what changed between Katie's season is part of the story.

Katie Stolpestad first went to Katmai for what was supposed to be a short visit. It turned into three seasons at Brooks Camp, following the bears, learning their stories, and becoming part of the strange and wonderful little world around Brooks Falls.

In this episode, Katie and I talk about the bears and cubs that defined the 2026 season, favorite personalities, fishing strategies, unexpected moments, and what it is like to watch Katmai change from one part of the season to another. And, of course, we get ready for Fat Bear Week.

Views and opinions expressed by guests are their own. Subtitles/captions may be AI-generated and may contain errors.

In this episode of National Park Stamp Quest, Katmai National Park Ranger Sarah Bruce takes us beyond Brooks Falls and into the larger story of Katmai. We talk salmon runs, bear behavior, the ecology that makes this place so extraordinary, and how Fat Bear Week grew into a global phenomenon. Along the way, Sarah shares what visitors often miss, what it is like to experience Katmai as a ranger, and the stories that make this wild landscape unforgettable.

Note: The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the National Park Service or any affiliated organization. Subtitles are AI-generated, so please excuse any transcription errors.

A conversation with Liz Crandall about life in Yellowstone, protecting its people and wildlife, and how her experiences as a ranger continue to shape her conservation work through Rangers of the Lost Park. AI-generated subtitles may contain errors. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of National Park Stamp Quest.

Which national parks do we love, which ones surprised us, and which ones might not make the top of the list?

Mike Bezemek and I continue our conversation with a much less serious tour through our national park opinions, favorite places, and a few disagreements along the way. We also get into something considerably more useful: bear safety and what people should actually know before heading into bear country.

A fun bonus conversation for anyone who has strong national park opinions of their own.

Author and adventurer Mike Bezemek joins National Park Stamp Quest to explore the strange stories, hidden histories, and enduring mysteries found across America’s national parks.

From the depths of Mammoth Cave to unexplained phenomena and stories that rarely make it onto park brochures, Mike shares some of the discoveries behind his book Mysteries of the National Parks and what keeps drawing him toward the unusual corners of our public lands.

We also discuss Mike’s newest project and the remarkable story of Moncacht-Apé, a Native explorer whose reported journey across North America predates Lewis and Clark. Mike is digging into the historical record, retracing the story, and exploring the intriguing mysteries surrounding its possible connection to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

An episode about geology, exploration, forgotten history, strange stories, and the mysteries that keep us curious.

In this first Bonus Stamp, Kai Tran and Megha trade some very unofficial national park hot takes.

Kai makes a surprisingly strong defense of Gateway Arch, explains why crowds at national parks do not bother him, and argues that every park can mean something different depending on the memory you make there. Megha remains unconvinced about Gateway Arch, but fully agrees that crowded parks are not necessarily a bad thing. After all, these places belong to everyone.

There are fireworks, the Space Needle, overcrowded viewpoints, quiet trails, and a lingering concern that Megha may someday be banned from Missouri.

A lighter, unfiltered detour from our full conversation with Kai.

And for the record: we love all the parks. We just have opinions.

Kai Tran is a conservationist and outdoor enthusiast who has spent much of his life exploring and enjoying national parks and public lands. His essay about losing his National Parks Passport, and miraculously finding his way back to it, captures exactly why these small books can hold so much more than stamps.

In one of the most fun conversations I have recorded, Kai and I talk about his lifelong love of national parks, the memories held inside his passport, collecting patches, and the very serious question of what to do with them all: blanket or jacket?

This episode also became an unexpected companion to my conversation with Chuck Sams, as Kai and Chuck each refer to the other. Listen to both for the full crossover.

Kai’s essay- https://www.npca.org/articles/11367-my-most-prized-possession 

Views are own. Captions are AI-generated and may contain errors.

For the very first episode of National Park Stamp Quest, I talk with Chuck Sams, the 19th Director of the National Park Service. We chat about his life in conservation and public service, funny ranger moments, his favorite national parks, and what it means to care for these extraordinary places. It was such a fun conversation and the perfect way to begin this journey. Also, like an idiot, I kept saying “National Park Services” instead of “National Park Service,” so please forgive me!

Note: Views are our own. AI-generated captions may contain errors, and audio quality may vary in places.

There is a small ritual I repeat every time I visit a national park.

I find the visitor center, open my passport, check the date, and press a stamp onto the page. It takes only a few seconds, but that small mark can bring back an entire trip.

After visiting 53 of the country’s 63 national parks, I realized that what stayed with me most was not just the scenery. It was the people I met, the stories I heard, and the moments that made each park feel distinct.

That is why I started National Park Stamp Quest.

This is not a travel podcast. I will not be telling you where to stay or which trail to hike. The show is about the people and stories connected to these places: rangers, writers, scientists, photographers, conservationists, visitors, mysteries, rescues, wildlife encounters, and everything in between.

Sometimes the stamp is an actual passport stamp. Sometimes it is simply the moment a place begins to mean something more.

The podcast launches with Chuck Sams, the 19th Director of the National Park Service.

New episodes every other Thursday at 6 a.m. Eastern.

*National park stories. One stamp at a time.*