In this urgent episode of The Parks Podcast, host Missy Rentz sits down with Sam Chadwick, Associate Director of Save The Boundary Waters, to discuss a critical and unprecedented threat to one of Minnesota’s most iconic landscapes.

Despite a 20-year mining ban enacted in 2023 to protect these pristine headwaters, a new joint resolution in Congress seeks to roll back these protections and pave the way for copper mining. Sam breaks down why this specific type of mining is so dangerous for a water-rich environment, how the "invisible boundary" of a wilderness area offers no protection against downstream pollution, and why the current legislative maneuver is a "dangerous first" for federal land management.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Current Threat: Why the U.S. House has passed a resolution to undo the copper mining ban and what happens next in the Senate.
• Wilderness 101: What makes the Boundary Waters unique—from its "wilderness quiet" status to its status as the most visited wilderness area in the country.
• The Environmental Risk: The difference between traditional iron mining and the high-risk sulfide-ore copper mining proposed for the edge of the wilderness.
• The "Squeaky Wheel" Strategy: Practical tips for calling your senators, overcoming "phone anxiety," and why calling local state offices can be even more effective than calling D.C.
• The Power of Visitation: Why visiting and sharing your love for these places is a vital form of advocacy.

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"How is it we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of Negroes?" (Samuel Johnson) In the shadow of Independence Hall, where the words "We the People" were first penned, stood the executive mansion of George Washington. But while the first President was establishing the traditions of American democracy, he was also orchestrating a secret scheme to circumvent Pennsylvania’s abolition laws and maintain his hold on nine enslaved human beings.

In this series premiere of the "Our Story", host Missy Rentz sits down with John Garrison Marks, author of “Black Freedom in the age of Slavery: Race, Status, and Identity in the Urban Americas.” and the forthcoming book, “Black Freedom in the age of Slavery: Race, Status, and Identity in the Urban Americas.”

In this episode, we explore:

• The President’s House: The "hidden" history of the executive mansion in Philadelphia and why it remains a pivotal site in the National Park system.
• Washington’s Dichotomy: How the man who famously set 123 people free in his will also spent his life actively undermining the freedom of others.
• The Current Conflict: A candid discussion on the recent 2026 executive orders removing slavery-related exhibits from national parks and how citizens are protesting by "bringing the history back" themselves.

About Our Guest

John Garrison Marks is the author of Black Freedom in the Age of Slavery and the upcoming Thy Will Be Done: George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory (April 2026). He serves as the VP of Research and Engagement at the American Association for State and Local History.

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 Welcome to our story, a new series from The Parks Podcast. I'm your host, Missy Rentz. I've shared that I came to the Parks for nature, but I'm really drawn to the history and the stories that make up our parks. It may be one person whose actions led to the creation or expansion of the park, or maybe a unique or endangered animal that calls the park home. Maybe it's a pivotal event that marks our history in unique and meaningful ways. These people, places, and events make up our collective story.

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Journey south of the Equator to explore one of the most remote and culturally rich gems in the National Park System. In this episode, host Missy Rentz sits down with PT Lathrop, the Superintendent of the National Park of American Samoa, to dive into what makes this park a true bucket-list destination.

Spanning three islands—Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta'ū—this park preserves the only paleo-tropical rainforest in the United States and some of the most diverse coral reefs in the world. From "Big Mama" (one of the largest known corals on Earth) to the majestic Samoan flying foxes (fruit bats with three-foot wingspans), PT shares the incredible biodiversity that calls these islands home.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Birthplace of Polynesia: Why American Samoa is considered the cultural heart from which the Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Maori cultures grew.
• A Unique Partnership: How the park operates on land leased directly from the Samoan people, ensuring the preservation of the fa’asamoa (the Samoan way of life).
• The "COVID of Corals": The conservation challenges facing the reefs, including Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease and the impact of terrestrial development.
• Planning Your Journey: Practical tips for visiting, including the best months for whale watching, navigating the outer islands, and why you should pack your own snorkel gear.
• Innovative Interpretation: A look at the park’s new pilot program that allows visitors to request customized tours based on their interests and schedules.

Whether you're an avid hiker looking for rope-ladder adventures on the Fatifati Trail or a marine enthusiast dreaming of the turquoise waters of Ofu, this episode is your guide to the 50th National Park.

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Is your park pass still valid? We’re talking with artist Jenny McCarty about the sticker that shook the Department of the Interior. As the 2026 NPS pass becomes a political lightning rod, we dive into a sticker controversy, the administration's crackdown on modified passes, and the role of art in protecting the spirit of our public lands. The parks didn't ask to be part of the debate—but they’re right in the middle of it.

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Guest: Kate Severson, Program Manager for Interpretation, Outreach, and Partnership

Grab your life jacket and your sense of adventure! In this episode, we head to Northern Minnesota to explore Voyageurs National Park, a landscape defined by its interconnected waterways, ancient geology, and the spirit of the French-Canadian fur traders who gave the park its name.

Host Missy Rentz sits down with Kate Severson to discuss the park’s unique 50-year history and why this "difficult to get to" destination is a must-visit for any national park enthusiast. We dive into the grueling daily life of the historical Voyageurs (who paddled up to 18 hours a day!), the delicate balance of wetland conservation, and the legacy of the artists and conservationists who fought to protect this wilderness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The History of the Voyageurs: Why these "commercial truckers of the 1700s" had to be short, strong, and incredibly resilient.
• Indigenous Roots: How the knowledge and technology of the Ojibwe and Anishinaabe people made the fur trade possible.
• Conservation in Action: What "floating islands" of invasive cattails are and how the park uses fire and machinery to restore native marshes.
• Planning Your Visit: The difference between front country and backcountry camping (hint: they both require a boat!) and how to experience the park in the winter via its famous Ice Road.
• Hidden Gems: From the Ellsworth Rock Gardens to the photography of June Fujita.

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This episode of The Parks Podcast explores the deep connection between our national landscapes and the stories that define us. Host Missy Rentz sits down with Beth English, Executive Director of the Organization of American Historians (OAH), to discuss why preserving "unvarnished" history is essential for our future.

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Step into a cathedral of giants. In this episode of The Parks Podcast, host Missy Rentz journeys to the misty shores of Northern California to explore Redwoods National and State Parks.

Join us as we sit down with Patrick Taylor, the park’s Interpretation and Education Program Manager, to uncover why this park is so much more than just a collection of big trees. We dive into the "arranged marriage" between the state and federal government that keeps the park running, the counter-intuitive science of "cutting trees to save the forest," and the spiritual connection that visitors from all over the world feel when walking among 2,000-year-old sentinels.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The "Basketball vs. Football" Analogy: Understand the physical differences between Coastal Redwoods and Giant Sequoias.
• Redwoods Rising: Why 2/3 of the park was logged before it was protected and how scientists are "thinning" forests to restore them to their former glory.
• The Return of the Condor: The incredible success story of the Yurok Tribe’s efforts to bring the California Condor back to its ancestral home.
• Angel Rings & Clones: The fascinating way Redwoods reproduce and create perfect "fairy circles" of trees.
• Practical Trip Planning: Why you need two different apps to manage your camping and your hiking, and why you should "keep the first thing the first thing."

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Kick off the New Year with First Day Hikes - a day to celebrate in our State Parks all around the United States. In this epsiode we'll learn about the origin of First Day Hike, and all the opportunities to play in parks around the country this January 1.

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Indiana State Parks is kicking off winter with hikes, bird watching, light tours, and more.

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