Brought to you from the first, Black-owned radio station in the country!, WERD Studios, this month’s PNBI recording is a very special one. 

Host Ronda Lee traveled to the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia— birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—to celebrate the grand opening of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, where Dr. King, and many other Black leaders, catalyzed the early Civil Rights Movement.

On the third floor, WERD Studios was the movement’s first communications base. In the newly refurbished space, Ronda sits down with an elite panel of guests instrumental in bringing the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge to life. They talk about the origin of the project, the role of the Masons, the history of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood and its future, and what’s next for this important Black historic sight.

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
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As the year draws to a close, People. Nature. Big Ideas. revisits three remarkable efforts—and one defining issue—that embody our mission at Trust for Public Land to connect everyone to the outdoors and reveal the deeper ties between land, community, and purpose. 

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
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We’re living in what some call the golden era of outdoor recreation. Participation is high and outdoor spaces are being recognized; not just as places to visit and play, but as critical infrastructure for our health, our economy, and our democracy.

But this golden era is under threat.

There are real efforts underway to sell off public lands, gut conservation funding, and roll back programs that center equity and climate resilience. If we care about the outdoors—who it belongs to, who it serves—this may be one of the most pivotal moments in our history.

This episode is about that moment. We’ll explore how outdoor recreation is powering jobs, especially in rural communities, shaping identity, and why protecting public access to the outdoors is a national priority.

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
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...

Are you crushing hard on a neighborhood park? Maybe one with rolling hills and super tall trees that sway gently in the summer breeze? Or maybe you’ve got a second crush, too—another park with waterfalls and vistas that just won’t quit? Well, you're not alone! 

On this month’s episode, Ronda takes to the Denver parks to discover the secret (and not-so-secret) “park crushes” local residents have on their favorite outdoor spaces.

And then, Bianca Clarke—Associate Vice President of TPL’s 10-Minute Walk Program & Parks Initiative—shares some takeaways from ParkScore 2025.

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
tpl.org | Instagram | Facebook
...

On April's People. Nature. Big Ideas., you'll learn what makes folks Happiest Outside when a mother/son duo, a delirious birder, and a wellbeing advocate share their stories of joy and connection in the outdoors.

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
tpl.org | Instagram | Facebook
...

In this episode, host Ronda Lee Chapman is at SXSW! Discover how outdoor programs transform the lives of young people of color through experiences in nature, understand historical exclusion from outdoor spaces and ongoing self-exclusion in communities of color, and learn how these programs cultivate strong, resilient, mentally healthy leaders.

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
tpl.org | Instagram | Facebook
...

Ronda celebrates Black History Month by opening her box of family photos, reflecting on family members and others—past and present—who have uplifted their communities and who, amidst the threat of erasure, persist with rigor, joy, and love.  

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
tpl.org | Instagram | Facebook
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This month, we’ve got five audio essays from some of our TPL team members’ favorite outdoor places. Join us in Mexico, California, Texas, and New York City, for this heart-felt audio journey. And check out the video version as well on our YouTube channel.   

https://youtu.be/8HgUecr-nMo

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
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...

It’s year-end, and we’re highlighting three remarkable TPL projects in this month’s podcast. 

In our “People,” segment, we talk with a Philadelphia principal who chased her dream and brought a schoolyard to her community. In our “Nature” segment, we learn about a new wildlife management area—twice the size of Central Park—located just outside downtown Minneapolis. And in our third segment, our “Big Idea,” an old golf course is “rewilded” in fire-prone Marin, California, to create a place of resilience, safety, and community.  

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
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...

This month, People. Nature. Big Ideas. host Ronda Lee Chapman chats with Queta Gonzalez—the outgoing director of Center for Diversity and the Environment—about Queta’s fifteen years working at the intersection of equity and the outdoors. This expansive conversation covers democracy, internalizing DEI at your organization, career tips for those working in the non-profit space, and a revolutionary (or a Big Idea, at least!) new advancement in the role of pay equity. 

Trust for Public Land
Connecting everyone to the outdoors™
tpl.org | Instagram | Facebook
...