People. Nature. Big Ideas.

Ronda Lee Chapman, Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land Equity and Belonging Director Ronda Lee Chapman invites you to listen in on thought-provoking conversations that explore our human connection with the natural environment—and how those connections influence culture, the arts, joy, and healing, all while building resilient and vibrant communities. People. Nature. Big Ideas. is produced in collaboration with Pretty Good Productions. 

  1. Jul 22

    Episode 26 - We Remember What We Protect

    What do a 17th-century cow pasture, fourteen timber cabins in Rocky Mountain National Park, a limestone elementary school in Kansas, and a brand-new community schoolyard in Boston have in common? They’re all part of the same story — America’s evolving idea of what deserves protecting, and why. As America marks its 250th year, host Ronda Lee Chapman traces that idea through four eras: Origin, at Boston Common, the nation’s oldest public park; Evolution, at Rocky Mountain National Park, where a 42-acre inholding reveals how unfinished “America’s best idea” remains; Disruption, at the Monroe School in Topeka — a building at the center of Brown v. Board of Education, saved from the wrecking ball; and Revolution, at Boston’s Chittick Elementary, where the students themselves designed the newest kind of public space. Take action: ​Tell Congress to protect the parks, public lands, and historic sites that preserve our full American story → tpl.org/public-policy#take-action  Featured in this episode Brown Revisited, a project of Oyez — brown.oyez.org — The audio of the Brown v. Board The Freedom Trail Foundation — thefreedomtrail.orgFriends of the Public Garden — friendsofthepublicgarden.orgBoston Parks and Recreation — boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreationRocky Mountain National Park — nps.gov/romoBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park — nps.gov/brvbTPL’s Community Schoolyards® program — tpl.org/community-schoolyardsFind a park within a 10-minute walk of home — tpl.orgPeople. Nature. Big Ideas. is a production of Trust for Public Land in partnership with PGP Productions. Executive producer: Thomas Clayton Miller. Editorial director: Deborah Williams. Trust for Public Land Connecting everyone to the outdoors™ tpl.org  | Instagram | Facebook    ...

  2. Apr 14

    Episode 25 - Finding Joy and Belonging on the Mountain

    This month's episode flips the script. PNBI host Ronda Lee takes the hot seat as guest Gabaccia Moreno throws the tough questions. Ronda and Gabaccia met as strangers on a shuttle to Big Sky, Montana, where both were completing their PSIA/AASI instruction certifications through Women of Winter, a program centering women of color in snow sports. Together, they unpack Ronda's decade in the mountains of Utah, the complicated joy of reclaiming spaces that haven’t always felt welcoming to them, the very real cost of access, and the particular power of age diversity on the slopes. Trust for Public Land Connecting everyone to the outdoors™ tpl.org  | Instagram | Facebook    ...

  3. Feb 18

    Episode 24 - Sweet Auburn’s Enduring Legacy

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

  4. 12/08/2025

    Episode 23 - Common Ground, Sacred Ground, and Unity for our Shared Public Lands 

    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™ tpl.org  | Instagram | Facebook    ...

  5. 09/16/2025

    Episode 22 - Trail Ahead: The New Backbone of America’s Economy

    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™ tpl.org  | Instagram | Facebook    ...

  6. 05/29/2025

    Episode 21 - Park Crush Confessions and ParkScore 2025!

    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    ...

  7. 04/25/2025

    Episode 20 - A Podcast Gets Outside, Feels Good, & Spreads Joy

    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    ...

  8. 03/19/2025

    Episode 19 - Breaking Barriers: Opening Outdoors for All

    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    ...

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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Trust for Public Land Equity and Belonging Director Ronda Lee Chapman invites you to listen in on thought-provoking conversations that explore our human connection with the natural environment—and how those connections influence culture, the arts, joy, and healing, all while building resilient and vibrant communities. People. Nature. Big Ideas. is produced in collaboration with Pretty Good Productions. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ronda Lee Chapman, Trust for Public Land
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 People. Nature. Big Ideas.
  • Show Website
    People. Nature. Big Ideas.

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