In this episode of Safe Travels, I’m joined by Dr. Nick Famoso, Paleontology Program Manager at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, for a fascinating deep dive into one of the richest fossil regions in North America.

We explore the incredible geology of the John Day Basin, how millions of years of volcanic activity helped preserve ancient life, and the remarkable fossil record of prehistoric mammals that once roamed the Pacific Northwest — including some of the earliest horses, ancient rhinos, camels, and dog-like predators that filled a weasel-style ecological niche.

Dr. Famoso also explains why fossil teeth are some of the most important clues paleontologists use to identify species, understand diets, and reconstruct ancient ecosystems.

Whether you’re curious about paleontology careers, fossil hunting science, or the evolution of mammals, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how scientists piece together Earth’s deep past.

Topics Covered

• Geologic history of the John Day Basin
• How volcanoes helped preserve fossils
• Evolution of early horses and mammals
• Ancient rhinos, camels, and carnivorous “dog-weasels”
• Why fossil teeth are critical to paleontology
• What makes John Day Fossil Beds so scientifically important
• Careers in paleontology and working in national parks

About Safe Travels

Safe Travels is a storytelling podcast focused on national parks, public lands, conservation, science, and the people who protect these places. New episodes feature park rangers, scientists, historians, and explorers from across the country.

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Have you ever wondered how a museum is built inside a national park—or what happens to the fossils once they’re discovered?

In this episode of Safe Travels, we go behind the scenes at Petrified Forest National Park with Park Ranger and Museum Curator Matt Smith to explore the art, science, and storytelling behind creating a world-class paleontological and natural history museum.

Matt walks us through how fossils are collected, preserved, cataloged, and interpreted, and we dive into some of the incredible museum and research collections housed at Petrified Forest National Park. From Triassic-era fossils to curated specimens rarely seen by the public, this conversation sheds light on how park collections help scientists study ancient ecosystems while educating millions of visitors.

We also discuss how museum exhibits are designed to balance scientific accuracy, public education, and visual storytelling, and why national park museums play a critical role in conservation, paleontology research, and protecting public lands.

Matt’s passion for paleontology, museums, and the landscapes of Petrified Forest is unmistakable throughout the episode, offering listeners a rare look at the people working behind the scenes to preserve deep time.
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Prairie Dogs, Bats, and Pronghorn: The Living Landscape of Petrified Forest National Park

Prairie dogs make their debut on the Safe Travels Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Park Ranger and Biologist Dylan Schneider to explore the vital role prairie dogs play in shaping the ecosystem of Petrified Forest National Park.

Prairie dogs are far more than charismatic grassland mammals — they are a keystone species, influencing soil health, plant diversity, and habitat availability for countless other animals. Dylan explains how their burrows and behavior help maintain balance across the park’s high desert landscape.

Our conversation also dives into Petrified Forest National Park’s acoustic monitoring program, a cutting-edge research tool used to study and track bat populations throughout the region. By analyzing soundscapes and echolocation calls, park biologists can monitor biodiversity and ecosystem health in ways that are both non-invasive and highly effective.

We also spotlight one of North America’s most fascinating mammals: the pronghorn. Known as the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere, pronghorns have evolved extraordinary adaptations that make them perfectly suited to the open landscapes of the Southwest.

While Petrified Forest National Park is world-famous for its Triassic-era fossils and petrified wood, Dylan reveals a lesser-known story — a park that is very much alive, supporting an incredible diversity of modern wildlife. From grasslands to badlands, the park remains a dynamic and thriving ecosystem shaped by biology, sound, and time.
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In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, I’m joined by Bill Parker, Chief of Resources and Park Historian at Petrified Forest National Park, for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the historical and logistical forces that have shaped one of America’s most iconic desert landscapes.

Bill takes us beyond the park’s famous petrified wood and into the human stories tied to Route 66, early automobile tourism, and the rise of roadside Americana in northern Arizona. We dive into how Holbrook, Arizona helped inspire Pixar’s Radiator Springs, the significance of the historic REO Mountaineer, and why Petrified Forest remains one of the few national parks where Route 66 still runs directly through protected land.

As Chief of Resources, Bill also explains the real-world challenges of preservation—from decades of petrified wood theft to the long-term impacts of highways, railroads, and modern transportation corridors on fragile cultural and natural resources. This episode offers a rare look at how infrastructure, tourism, and conservation intersect inside the National Park Service.

Bill is an institution at Petrified Forest National Park, I'm grateful that he joined the podcast! 
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Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most significant archeological landscapes in the United States, preserving evidence of human history that stretches back over 13,000 years. While the park is often associated with petrified wood and Triassic-era fossils, its cultural resources tell an equally powerful story about long-term human interaction with the land.

In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, I’m joined by Lead Archeologist and Park Ranger Jon Hardes for an in-depth conversation on archeology at Petrified Forest National Park and why the park plays a critical role in understanding the culture of descendent communities in the region.

We also explore Jon’s area of expertise in zooarcheology, a field that uses animal remains to help interpret past human behavior and environmental conditions.

Finally, our discussion touches on how human relationships with natural landscapes have changed over thousands of years and what archeological evidence can reveal about those changes.
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In this episode, we explore the world of paleontology at Petrified Forest National Park with Park Ranger Adam Marsh, the park’s Lead Paleontologist. Known worldwide for its colorful petrified wood, Petrified Forest National Park is also one of the most important paleontological sites in the United States, preserving exceptionally well-preserved Triassic-era fossils dating back more than 200 million years.

Ranger Adam Marsh breaks down what paleontology is, why fossil preservation at Petrified Forest is so unique, and how the park plays a leading role in modern paleontological research. We discuss major fossil discoveries at Petrified Forest National Park, including ancient reptiles such as phytosaurs and rauisuchians, and how these finds help scientists better understand prehistoric ecosystems, mass extinctions, and the evolution of life on Earth.

Adam also shares his personal path to becoming a National Park Service paleontologist and what it’s like to study fossils in one of the most scientifically significant national parks in the world. This conversation highlights why Petrified Forest National Park paleontology is critical to understanding the Triassic Period and the early history of dinosaurs and their relatives.

Topics Covered:

• Paleontology at Petrified Forest National Park
• Geology of the region
• Triassic fossils and prehistoric life
• Phytosaurs, rauisuchians, and ancient reptiles
• Why Petrified Forest is a global paleontology hotspot
• Fossil preservation and scientific research in national parks
• Life as a National Park Service paleontologist

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In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, we visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas and sit down with Interpretive Park Ranger Jake Denton to explore the park’s geology, wildlife, and human history.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet, and protects the world’s most complete example of a fossilized Permian-era reef—one of the most significant geologic features in North America. Ranger Jake breaks down how this ancient reef formed, what wildlife thrives in the park today, and why the Guadalupe Mountains are so important to conservation and scientific research.

This conversation offers a deeper look into one of Texas’s most underrated national parks and highlights the rugged beauty and rich natural history of the Guadalupe Mountains.

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We’re back! This episode takes us to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in beautiful New Mexico, where we sit down with Park Ranger Tiffany Rugger.

Tiffany serves as a Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) Ranger, and she joins us for a wide-ranging conversation covering the park’s incredible geology, its world-famous bat colony, surprising creatures like horsehair worms, essential park insights, and much more.

It was an honor to speak with Tiffany—her depth of knowledge and passion for Carlsbad Caverns added so much to this episode. I’m grateful for her work at one of the world’s premier cave systems.
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I'm in Bend, Oregon, sitting underneath a starry night sky with a warm fire in front of me. 

It's been a month or so since i've shared an episode with you. So I wanted to let you all know what's been going on. Good news: there will be a lot more episodes to come.

Thank you endlessly for supporting this podcast. 
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Sandy Steers is the Executive Director of Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), a non-profit in Big Bear Lake, California, dedicated to protecting and preserving wildlife habitat across the 15-mile Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino National Forest.

At the heart of the valley is an active bald eagle nest—home to Jackie and Shadow. Through FOBBV’s 24/7 livestream camera, millions of viewers around the world have been able to witness the pair’s lives up close, finding joy, education, and even comfort in the process.

In this episode, Sandy and I explore the incredible story of Jackie and Shadow, their eaglets Sunny and Gizmo, the challenges bald eagles face in the valley, and Sandy’s own inspiring journey to the mountains that brought her peace.

Learn more about Friends of Big Bear Valley and watch the eagle livestream at friendsofbigbearvalley.org

It was an honor to sit down with Sandy! I am beyond grateful for her time, and am thrilled that so many people get to connect with nature on a daily basis thanks to Jackie and Shadow. 
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