The Parks Podcast

The Parks Podcast
  • 5.0 (30)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Biweekly

The Parks Podcast will take listeners on a journey to regional, state and national parks around the United States. We will learn why the parks were created and explore planning your own visit to parks.

  1. What Playing Outside Teaches Us — Resilience, Mindfulness, and the Gift of Nature (Episode 73)

    2d ago

    What Playing Outside Teaches Us — Resilience, Mindfulness, and the Gift of Nature (Episode 73)

    Send us Fan Mail Everything you learn outside follows you home. The resilience to own a mistake in front of your team. The ability to sit with discomfort without shutting down. The capacity to notice something beautiful you've walked past a hundred times. Jesse Tubb, founder of GRIT Adventures and former active duty Army officer, joins The Parks Podcast to talk about what nature actually teaches us — and how the lessons from playing outside translate directly into the rest of life. He works with youth, veterans, grieving military families, sports teams, and corporations — using adventure racing and mindfulness-based resilience skills to help people build confidence, regulate emotions, and reconnect with themselves through the outdoors. In this episode: — What GRIT Adventures is and how it started during the pandemic — Why our devices are the biggest barrier keeping people from going outside — The somatic experience of getting lost in the woods — and why it's actually valuable — The eating meditation Jesse does with kids in detention centers that reframes what it means to be connected to the earth — Why we over-parent in the real world and under-parent in the digital world — and what it costs kids — The healing power of communal outdoor experiences for veterans and military families — The 5% problem — why outdoor marketing targets extreme athletes when 95% of users just want to take a walk — Micro adventures — how to start with 10% outside your comfort zone — Creeking — and why it might be the perfect entry point for anyone Resources mentioned: — GRIT Adventures: gritadventures.com — TAPS: taps.org — Wounded Warrior Project Odyssey: woundedwarriorproject.org — The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt: anxiousgeneration.com — Jesse's eating meditation: https://youtu.be/-uVj0Zqhb_k?si=iKu5g76F8ogldpDb Support the show

    37 min
  2. DC Triumphal Arch — What You Need to Know Before June 15

    Jun 12

    DC Triumphal Arch — What You Need to Know Before June 15

    Send us Fan Mail The public comment window on the proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch in Washington DC closes June 15. I sat down with Priya Jain, Chair of the Heritage Conservation Committee for the Society of Architectural Historians, to talk about what this proposal actually involves, why it threatens one of the most historically significant viewsheds in the country, and why your comment matters even when it feels like the decision is already made. Submit your comment before June 15 at parkplanning.nps.gov Follow the journey. 🌲 Support the show

    17 min
  3. Cook Park (Atlanta) - Episode 71

    Jun 8

    Cook Park (Atlanta) - Episode 71

    Send us Fan Mail In 2002, a flood pushed six feet of stormwater and sewage into the living rooms of families in Atlanta's Vine City neighborhood. Sixty families were displaced. The infrastructure had failed them for decades. Twenty years later, that same land is home to one of the most remarkable urban parks in America. Cook Park is a 16-acre green space in the heart of Atlanta that holds 10 million gallons of floodwater, restored tree canopy to a historically underinvested neighborhood, and gave a community at the center of the civil rights movement the park it always deserved — complete with statues of John Lewis, Andrew Young, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., murals honoring the neighborhood's rich cultural history, and climbing boulders designed by the hands of local kids. Jay Wozniak, Director of Georgia and Alabama Parks at Trust for Public Land, spent six years orchestrating the community engagement, design, and construction of Cook Park. He joins The Parks Podcast to talk about what it takes to build a park that's equal parts engineering marvel and community love letter — and why your local neighborhood park might be more powerful than you think. In this episode: How a catastrophic 2002 flood became the catalyst for Cook ParkThe cooperative model that made it possible — city, donors, nonprofits, and community working togetherWhat the Vine City community asked for and how Trust for Public Land delivered itThe 10-minute walk mission and why access to parks is a public health issueHow to visit Cook Park and what to bringWhy Hurricane Helene put the park to the test — and it passed Links in this episode: Trust for Public Land — Cook ParkTrust for Public Land — Cook ParkCook Park — Atlanta Area ParksThe Alliance for Cook ParkSupport the show

    36 min
  4. Leave No Trace w/Subaru "Leave No Trace" Traveling Team, Jeanelle & Rob - Episode 70

    May 18

    Leave No Trace w/Subaru "Leave No Trace" Traveling Team, Jeanelle & Rob - Episode 70

    Send us Fan Mail Leave No Trace comes up in almost every episode of The Parks Podcast — but what is it really? Most people think it means pack out your trash and pick up after your dog. It's so much more than that. Jeanelle Soland and Rob Pelton, members of the Subaru Leave No Trace traveling team, join The Parks Podcast to walk through all seven principles, explain the science behind each one, and make the case for why this framework applies whether you're heading into the backcountry or sitting on a park bench in your neighborhood. In this episode: — What Leave No Trace actually is — and why it's a global nonprofit, not just a slogan — All seven principles, explained with the science behind each — Why dog waste on a trail is ecologically invasive — even if a bear's waste isn't — Social trails — what they are, how fast they form, and why they matter — The Oak Creek, Arizona study: 400+ social trails closed, E. coli reduced by 42% over five years — How to become a certified Leave No Trace educator — Leave No Trace Daily Life — a new course coming in 2026 — What you can do right now to support public lands — 13 billion outdoor trips per year in the US — and why every choice compounds Get started: — Free 101 course: lnt.org — Newsletter: lnt.org — Educator certification: lnt.org/training — Volunteer: lnt.org/volunteer Support the show

    42 min
  5. Appalachian Trail with Cinda Waldbuesser (Episode 69)

    Apr 27

    Appalachian Trail with Cinda Waldbuesser (Episode 69)

    Send us Fan Mail Grab your hiking boots and get ready to journey through the "People’s Park." In this episode, host Missy Rentz welcomes Cinda Waldbuesser, President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), to explore the legendary Appalachian Trail (AT). Spanning nearly 2,197.9 miles from Georgia to Maine, the AT is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Cinda dives into the unique "three-legged stool" management system that keeps the trail running—a partnership between federal agencies, the ATC, and an incredible army of over 5,000 volunteers. In this episode, we discuss: The Stats: From the 16.9 million visits in 2025 to the elevation gain equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest 16 times.Through-Hiking vs. Day-Hiking: Why you don’t need to spend six months in the woods to enjoy the AT, and how the "trail community" supports everyone from casual walkers to "flip-floppers."Planning & Safety: Essential tips on using the AT Camp registration, managing food in bear country, and the importance of layering for unpredictable mountain weather.History & Heritage: The 1921 vision of Benton MacKaye and the upcoming Trail Days celebration in Damascus, Virginia.Recovery & Resilience: How the trail community rallied following the impacts of Hurricane Helene.Whether you’re dreaming of a thru-hike or just looking for a Saturday afternoon escape, this episode is a love letter to one of America’s most iconic public lands. Support the show

    28 min
  6. LGBTQ Outdoors (Episode 68)

    Apr 13

    LGBTQ Outdoors (Episode 68)

    Send us Fan Mail What started as a simple Instagram account to document outdoor adventures quickly evolved into a nationwide movement. In this episode of The Parks Podcasat, host Missy Rentz sits down with Justin Yoder, the founder and executive director of LGBTQ Outdoors. Justin shares the "happy accident" that led to the creation of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that now spans over 23 states with dozens of ambassadors. They dive deep into the unique barriers minority communities face in nature—from the need for visible representation to the simple, grounding act of "touching grass." Episode Highlights The Origin Story: How a personal quest for community in Texas grew into a national organization.Breaking Barriers: Why symbols like pride flags and anti-discrimination clauses matter in outdoor spaces.Outdoor Fest & Adventure Trips: Details on curated excursions to Glacier, Zion, and Yellowstone National Parks.The Power of "Slow Outdoors": Challenging the misconception that you have to be an elite athlete to be "outdoorsy."How to Join: Tips on finding local chapters, joining Facebook groups, and becoming an ambassador.Links from the conversation LGBTQ Outdoors WebsiteLGBTQ Outdoors Local ChaptersSupport the show

    44 min
  7. Black Hill Discovery Center - Montgomery Parks (Episode 67)

    Mar 30

    Black Hill Discovery Center - Montgomery Parks (Episode 67)

    Send us Fan Mail "I want them to look back and say, 'This was my school'—not just a park I visit." What if a child’s first classroom wasn’t surrounded by four walls, but by 2,500 acres of wild Maryland landscape? In this episode, host Missy Rentz sits down with Katrina Fauss, Principal Park Naturalist at Black Hill Discovery Center, to explore the transformative power of nature-based education. Hidden just miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Black Hill Regional Park is more than just a scenic backdrop for hikers and boaters—it is a "hidden gem" serving as a vital reservoir for the region and a living laboratory for the community. Katrina shares how their unique Forest Preschool and "play-first" philosophy are fostering a lifelong sense of wonder in children and adults alike. In this episode, we discuss: The "Hidden Gem" of Montgomery County: Discover the history of Black Hill, from its 19th-century gold mining roots to its current role protecting 4 billion gallons of emergency drinking water.Nature as a Classroom: The philosophy behind Forest Schools and why "playing in the mud" is a critical developmental milestone.The "Birth to Death" Continuum: How the park serves every age group, from 10-day-old hikers to 99-year-olds on pontoon tours.Wildlife & Recreation: Tips for spotting the resident nesting Bald Eagles, navigating 20 miles of trails, and making the most of Little Seneca Lake.The Power of Connection: Why county parks became essential "fabric of life" sanctuaries during the pandemic and beyond.About Our Guest: Katrina Fauss is the Principal Park Naturalist at Black Hill Discovery Center. With over a decade of experience in nature-based education, she is a passionate advocate for play-based learning and environmental stewardship. Resources Mentioned: Black Hill Discovery Center: MontgomeryParks.orgRegister for Programs: ActiveMontgomery.orgNatural Start Alliance: (Resources for finding nature preschools nationwide)Association of Nature-Based EducatorsFollow The Parks Podcast: For full show notes and links to everything mentioned in today’s episode, visit TheParksPodcast.com. Support the show

    31 min
  8. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Episode 66)

    Mar 23

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Episode 66)

    Send us Fan Mail Cuyahoga Valley proves that a park doesn't have to be "untouched" to be transformative. Whether you’re there for a high-intensity hike or a quiet glass of wine at a park-hosted vineyard, there is truly something for everyone. Support the show

    43 min
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5
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

The Parks Podcast will take listeners on a journey to regional, state and national parks around the United States. We will learn why the parks were created and explore planning your own visit to parks.

Information

  • Creator
    The Parks Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Parks Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Parks Podcast

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