Yosemite Can O Peaches

Shawn Reeder is a video artist, a professional photographer, and a professional adventure wedding planner. He is a man whose passion for visual art in a natural setting has clearly paved the way for his life of adventure. 

Shawn's talents led him to Yosemite from Maryland early in his adult life. His evolution continues as he finds multiple outlets to display his talents. Join us on a perch above Tunnel View in Yosemite National Park to hear more of Shawn's amazing story.

Bruce Getty is a professional photographer with an inspirational story of recovery. His recovery began when he bought his first camera. Follow his journey through all its ups and downs with his love of photography being the constant along the way.

Join us as Bruce shares his amazing recollections of his first trip to Yosemite and how that has impacted his life in such a positive way. Bruce now has a large presence on social media and is known for his amazingly dramatic images of San Francisco, New York, and Yosemite National Park. Learn about his process for making photos while also hearing his advice for others who made need help in their own recoveries. 

Jay Sousa has been a professional photographer in Yosemite National Park for decades. He has been on numerous adventures into the Yosemite backcountry, but none was more gratifying than a trip he shared with his son, Jared. 

Jay is also a photography instructor at Merced Junior College. He was also a photojournalist who had the privilege to meet and interview his idol, Ansel Adams in the Adams home. Join us as we walked through El Capitan Meadow discussing several topics including what makes a compelling landscape photo.

Ken Yager knew two things from an early age. He wanted to climb El Capitan and live in Yosemite. Having accomplished both his goals at such an early age, he now dedicates his time to fulfilling other lifelong dreams like establishing a Yosemite climbing museum and organizing the biggest yearly cleanup project in all the national parks.

Ken's Yosemite Facelift project has grown in popularity over the years, and is being recognized by receiving the David R. Brower Conservation Award in 2015. His love for Yosemite is evident and Ken is credited for bringing together many different user groups for this project. He is even regarded by the climbing community as the bridge builder who established significant breakthroughs in relationships between climbers and rangers. This is no small feat considering the rocky relationship that dated back to the early climbing days in the 1950s.

Shelton Johnson relishes his role as one of Yosemite's preeminent ambassadors. He welcomes visitors to the park on a daily basis and treats each one with kindness and warmth. Best known for his role in "National Parks: America's Best Idea", a documentary film by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, Shelton invites visitors of public lands to connect fully with nature and wilderness. His mission is to encourage more people of color to claim their cultural inheritance in national parks.

Shelton is an interpreter of living history, and he shares stories of the fascinating lives of Buffalo Soldiers along with their role in the early years of Yosemite National Park. Join us as we discuss Shelton's influence on visitors to Yosemite, including inspiring a very famous first time camper, Oprah Winfrey. There's so much more he shares as we also received a visit from a black bear in Cook's Meadow.

On November 12, 1958, after working all through the previous night, Warren Harding and two "good steady fellows" named Wayne Merry and George Whitmore reached the summit at sunrise as the first group to ever climb El Capitan. Today, sixty year later, George shares stories of that first ascent. Join us as Mr. Whitmore recounts all the detailed planning necessary to make the impossible possible on that incredible day. 

El Capitan was not George Whitmore's most cherished accomplishments. George dedicated himself to conservation efforts and was instrumental in the protection of the Ansel Adams Wilderness and parts of Sequoia National Park. Hear George's incredible story in this episode.

Yosemite National Park Geologist Greg Stock left the world of academia to find his dream job in one of the crown jewels of the national park system. Greg talks about the geologic history of Yosemite Valley and describes the uniqueness of the formation Half Dome among many other wonders of this popular destination for explorers and scientists alike.

Greg also shares many adventures he takes in the Yosemite backcountry with his wife Sarah and their super talented rock climbing daughter. Tune in to hear more.

Kevin Jorgeson spent his 16th birthday in Yosemite Valley trying to master the Midnight Lightning. He was not successful on that day but returned for his 17th birthday to achieve that goal and has never looked back.  For the fifth Yosemite Can O Peaches episode of Season Two, John DeGrazio interviews accomplished Yosemite rock climber and boulderer, Kevin Jorgeson.

Kevin recalls his memorable journeys through Yosemite from the higher cliffs in this interview from Yosemite Valley. He describes waking up in a portaledge as having an opportunity for coffee with a great view.   

With the wall as a canvas, Kevin also articulates similarities between rock climbing and dance choreography. Jorgeson shares more intimate details of the January 2015 Dawn Wall first free ascent with Tommy Caldwell along with some of the results that have changed his life forever. He also recounts the struggles on the 15th pitch of the Dawn Wall and how it has helped him become a better leader on his current project. Join us for this memorable episode.

Penny Otwell fell in love with Yosemite the first moment she visited Yosemite National Park. Her artistic talents were borne from her love of adventure. For the third Yosemite Can O Peaches episode of Season Two, John DeGrazio interviews Yosemite Artist Penny Otwell.

Join Penny and John as they stroll through Cook's Meadow to recount Penny's wild Yosemite adventures. Listen as she relates to past artists like Chiura Obata and shares his humilty. Penny also explains her process as she shares a part of herself in every artistic expression. 

From running the trails of Yosemite Valley as a member of a local high school track team to driving for a competitive race car team, Kim Lawson has led an extraordinary life in Mariposa County. For the third Yosemite Can O Peaches episode of Season Two, John DeGrazio interviews Kim Lawson of Lawson Studios.

Join Kim and John as they sit on a log over the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. They chatted about Kim's many Yosemite adventures that helped shape her entrepreneurial spirit.