By Maddie Pellman
4.7
1212 ratings
The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.
Get a sneak peek into the hidden gem that is Lassen Volcanic National Park from the superintendent herself, Roseann Worley. Lassen Volcanic National Park is sometimes referred to as "Little Yosemite." Imagine all the geothermal and natural features of Yellowstone in a more condensed and less populated space—Roseann argues Lassen Volcanic is even better ;). Lassen Volcanic is located in Northeastern California and was the 15th national park established by Congress, in 1916, the same year the National Park Service itself was founded. The park is a crossroads, featuring all four types of volcanoes and a rich biodiversity, as it lies at the intersection of the southern Cascade Range, the northern Sierra Nevada, and the Great Basin area.
Listen to this episode to learn about the impact of fires on the park, the famous Benjamin Franklin (B.F.) Loomis’s photos of the 1914 and 1915 eruptions, the unique ways people recreate across the seasons in Lassen Volcanic, the role Search and Rescue teams play in the park, and the old ski lift and its archaeological remains. Roseann’s evident love for recreating in Lassen Volcanic shines through in our conversation, and you’ll be inspired to discover this hidden gem for yourself after listening to the episode.
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
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Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
"Sucking Wind" is a term coined by Crater Lake park rangers to describe the moment when someone walks up to the rim of the caldera for the first time and takes a deep breath, overwhelmed by the surreal scene. Today, we have the privilege of interviewing Superintendent Craig Ackerman, the caretaker of this inspirational and sacred place, Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake National Park is located in Southern Oregon, and the lake itself is the deepest in the U.S. Known as the “Mirror of Heaven”, the lake’s deep blue color comes from its purity and clarity. In this episode, you'll learn about the historic journey of how Crater Lake became a National Park, thanks to the heroic and persistent efforts of a single person. You'll learn about story of the "Old Man of the Lake," a 30-foot log that floats vertically around the lake. And, you'll learn about Crater Lake's sister parks in Slovenia and China, the tale of a car in neutral tumbling 1,000 feet into the lake, and a unique biking event called Ride the Rim. After listening, Crater Lake will quickly jump to the top of your bucket list.
Correction Corner
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
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Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Rhonda Loh, a local girl from Hawaiʻi, has been working and volunteering at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for over three decades. She has been the superintendent since 2020, with her first day on the job coinciding with an eruption—quite the greeting and way to jump into the role. In this episode, we get firsthand insight into how volcanic activity is monitored and evaluated by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and how they collaborate with the park. We also get a glimpse into how the park is restoring native rainforests and studying fire ecology. Rhonda’s love for the park is evident as she reminisces about camping under the stars. Her knowledge of the park is extensive, as she holds a Master's in Chemistry and a PhD in Plant Ecology. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, rising from sea level to an elevation of over 13,000 ft. It encompasses two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, includes seven ecological zones, and is home to 54 threatened and endangered species. The park is famous for its recent and historic lava flows, creating an ever-changing landscape. What a unique and magnificent park we got to learn about in this episode from a dedicated and caring superintendent!
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.
Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Also referred to as the Galapagos of North America, Channel Islands is located 60 miles offshore from Santa Barbara, California and is made up of five islands. The stories Ethan McKinley, Channel Islands National Park Superintendent, shares are jaw dropping at the least -- from capturing golden eagles using helicopters and essentially pillowcases, to implementing a New Zealand designed biosecurity station, and to needing any ranger on San Miguel Island to be trained in unexploded ordnances. Ethan McKinley has been superintendent of Channel Islands National Park since 2019 and is one of the park service’s youngest superintendents - go Ethan! I promise you'll be itching for a trip out to the islands soon - it truly is a miracle we have a park with such internationally significant cultural resources and human history, with such pristine and wild wilderness and ecosystems and a wide array of recreation possibilities just off the coast of Los Angeles. As Ethan says, "I feel so fortunate that we're able to provide access to this quality of a national park this close to so many people."
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.
Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are located in Eastern Utah and are both famous on their own accord. Arches is home to the Delicate Arch, which has become a famous symbol of Utah (it is on their license plate) and is one of the most recognized natural formations in the United States. Canyonlands is a much larger park with many opportunities for outdoor adventure through four wheel driving, challenging backpacking, etc. Today’s episode dives into the Lena Pace's (Arches & Canyonlands superintendent) perspective on the park as she ramps up to being superintendent (she has been superintendent since early April 2024). We are lucky to get unique and never before heard insight into her transition, into the partnerships she is maintaining and growing, the trails she is exploring and the Canyonlands districts she is learning about. We also hear about her experience growing up in rural Alaska and her 20+ years of experience as a Law Enforcement ranger. There is a lot of laughing in this episode, not one you want to miss.
Correction Corner (a few mistakes we noticed and wanted to address):
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Episode Specific Links:
You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.
Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, located in northeastern Ohio is a breathtaking expanse of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant wildlife and is unique in its proximity and relationships with surrounding communities/municipalities and its drastic transformation from a place where the river historically caught on fire to a river rich in ecology and opportunities for humans to recreate. Lisa has been superintendent at Cuyahoga Valley since 2021 but has been working at Cuyahoga Valley for almost 25 years, previously serving in a variety of leadership positions and working as a wildlife biologist and her passion for this park is evident in our conversation. Learn about the plans Cuyahoga Valley has for the future, the ways challenges with the scenic railroad were mitigated and resolved and, in the words of the superintendent herself, learn about “the sense of awe [you can] get from a place that just seems ordinary”. Listen for yourself, “because I think you'll be surprised”.
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.
Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Kobuk Valley National Park, located in northwestern Alaska is a fascinating park, with a rich history of caribou hunting and the onion portage and a unique landscape compared to other Alaska parks we have done so far with sand dunes and vast valleys where caribou migrate. In this episode we interview Ray McPadden, Kobuk Valley (and the larger Western Arctic National Parklands) Superintendent, and his story is one for the books. Not only does he manage such a vast landscape with resiliency and intelligence, but he also served in the military (earning a Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, and a medal for valor during his four combat tours) and is an award winning author of two books stemming from his military experience. Full of laughter, awe and just good conversation, this is not an episode to miss as you will get a taste for the rugged and wild lifestyle of living and working in “the bush” and managing a park as remote as Kobuk Valley.
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
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Who Runs This Park is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Zion National Park is globally known for the Narrows and Angels Landing, and in this interview with Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh, not only do we dive into the details behind these famous hikes (including some tips on how to best enjoy the Narrows), but we also uncover facts and stories about Zion beyond its famous hikes. We learn what soundscapes are, talk about the backcountry experiences in the park and learn more about the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service (from Jeff’s experience working in both agencies). Jeff has loved the outdoors since he was a kid, and it is a treat to hear how he turned that love into a career.
Zion National Park is located in southwestern Utah and as mentioned is one of our nation’s most popular national parks known for its steep red cliffs, forest trails, and emerald river. Zion boasts experiences wading through the waters in the canyon all the way to backcountry skiing in the winter in the higher elevations of the park. With more than 90% of the park being backcountry, there is more than meets the eye -- listen in to learn more about one of our nation’s gems.
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Episode Specific Links:
You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
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Who Runs This Park is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
Close your eyes and imagine a wilderness four times bigger than Yellowstone National Park. Imagine a landscape north of the Arctic Circle with rugged mountains, vast expanses of treeless tundra, glaciated valleys, forests and many rivers and lakes. In the winter the weather can dip below -50 degrees Fahrenheit and in the month of June the sun is out for 24 hours. This vast and expansive landscape is the home of Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, where this episode hears from its superintendent, Mark Dowdle.
The sheer remoteness of Gates Of The Arctic, located in Northern Alaska, creates unique management experiences that Mark shares with us, including the mining road debate and the unique Search & Rescue setup given there are no trails or NPS sites within the park boundaries. In this episode, be enchanted by the grandeur of Alaska and learn about a national park you maybe haven't heard of.
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You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.
Who Runs This Park is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
A subterranean park filled with adventures where your boots barely fit through the infamous “mole hole”. This episode explores Mammoth Cave National Park through the lens of its superintendent, Barclay Trimble. Barclay is motivated by experiencing different parts of the country and coming into places that aren’t running as smoothly as they should be. He came from a business background and has had experiences across the country, ranging from Denali National Park up in Alaska all the way to the most eastern point of the continental United States as Superintendent of the Outer Banks Group. Listen to Barclay’s episode to learn how he is managing Mammoth Cave, the world’s longest cave system at 426 miles long, and how he is even making history by discovering new shark species underground.
Mammoth Cave National Park is located in Kentucky and is not only the world’s longest cave system, but is also two parks in one with both the surface and the subterranean. The surface being a great place for kayaking, equestrian use, mountain biking, and hiking and the subterranean being a great place for tours of wide ranging ability and adrenaline levels.
Episode Specific Links:
You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at [email protected] or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com.
Sign up for the Who Runs This Park’s newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark.
Who Runs This Park is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.
The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.
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