National Park Stamp Quest

Megha Unhelkar
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture

National Park Stories. One Stamp at a Time. National Park Stamp Quest is a story-driven podcast about the people, memories, wildlife, history, and unexpected moments held within America’s national parks. Hosted by Megha Unhelkar, each episode features rangers, conservationists, writers, photographers, explorers, and visitors whose lives have been shaped by these places. The conversations move beyond scenery and travel advice to explore stewardship, survival, identity, wonder, loss, discovery, and the moments that stay with us long after we leave. Every episode has a stamp moment: sometimes a literal passport stamp, and sometimes the moment a park leaves its mark on a person. Learn more, explore episodes, and join the journey at: https://nationalparkstampquest.com/

Episodes

  1. 5d ago ·  Bonus

    Bonus Stamp 02: Mike B on parks we love and bear safety

    Which national parks do we love, which ones surprised us, and which ones might not make the top of the list? Mike Bezemek and I continue our conversation with a much less serious tour through our national park opinions, favorite places, and a few disagreements along the way. We also get into something considerably more useful: bear safety and what people should actually know before heading into bear country. A fun bonus conversation for anyone who has strong national park opinions of their own.

    Bonus Stamp 02: Mike B on parks we love and bear safety

  2. Aug 20

    Episode 03 | Park Mysteries, Hidden Stories, and the Secrets Beneath Our National Parks

    Author and adventurer Mike Bezemek joins National Park Stamp Quest to explore the strange stories, hidden histories, and enduring mysteries found across America’s national parks. From the depths of Mammoth Cave to unexplained phenomena and stories that rarely make it onto park brochures, Mike shares some of the discoveries behind his book Mysteries of the National Parks and what keeps drawing him toward the unusual corners of our public lands. We also discuss Mike’s newest project and the remarkable story of Moncacht-Apé, a Native explorer whose reported journey across North America predates Lewis and Clark. Mike is digging into the historical record, retracing the story, and exploring the intriguing mysteries surrounding its possible connection to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. An episode about geology, exploration, forgotten history, strange stories, and the mysteries that keep us curious.

    Episode 03 | Park Mysteries, Hidden Stories, and the Secrets Beneath Our National Parks

  3. Aug 13 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Stamp 01: Kai and Megha hot takes on Parks!

    In this first Bonus Stamp, Kai Tran and Megha trade some very unofficial national park hot takes. Kai makes a surprisingly strong defense of Gateway Arch, explains why crowds at national parks do not bother him, and argues that every park can mean something different depending on the memory you make there. Megha remains unconvinced about Gateway Arch, but fully agrees that crowded parks are not necessarily a bad thing. After all, these places belong to everyone. There are fireworks, the Space Needle, overcrowded viewpoints, quiet trails, and a lingering concern that Megha may someday be banned from Missouri. A lighter, unfiltered detour from our full conversation with Kai. And for the record: we love all the parks. We just have opinions.

    Bonus Stamp 01: Kai and Megha hot takes on Parks!

  4. Aug 6

    Episode 02 | A Lost Passport, a Patch Collection, and a Life in Parks with Kai Tran

    Kai Tran is a conservationist and outdoor enthusiast who has spent much of his life exploring and enjoying national parks and public lands. His essay about losing his National Parks Passport, and miraculously finding his way back to it, captures exactly why these small books can hold so much more than stamps. In one of the most fun conversations I have recorded, Kai and I talk about his lifelong love of national parks, the memories held inside his passport, collecting patches, and the very serious question of what to do with them all: blanket or jacket? This episode also became an unexpected companion to my conversation with Chuck Sams, as Kai and Chuck each refer to the other. Listen to both for the full crossover. Kai’s essay- https://www.npca.org/articles/11367-my-most-prized-possession  Views are own. Captions are AI-generated and may contain errors.

    Episode 02 | A Lost Passport, a Patch Collection, and a Life in Parks with Kai Tran

  5. Aug 6

    Episode 01 | Stewardship, Leadership, and Who the Parks Belong To with Chuck Sams

    For the very first episode of National Park Stamp Quest, I talk with Chuck Sams, the 19th Director of the National Park Service. We chat about his life in conservation and public service, funny ranger moments, his favorite national parks, and what it means to care for these extraordinary places. It was such a fun conversation and the perfect way to begin this journey. Also, like an idiot, I kept saying “National Park Services” instead of “National Park Service,” so please forgive me! Note: Views are our own. AI-generated captions may contain errors, and audio quality may vary in places.

    Episode 01 | Stewardship, Leadership, and Who the Parks Belong To with Chuck Sams

  6. Aug 4

    Episode 0 | Welcome to National Park Stamp Quest

    There is a small ritual I repeat every time I visit a national park. I find the visitor center, open my passport, check the date, and press a stamp onto the page. It takes only a few seconds, but that small mark can bring back an entire trip. After visiting 53 of the country’s 63 national parks, I realized that what stayed with me most was not just the scenery. It was the people I met, the stories I heard, and the moments that made each park feel distinct. That is why I started National Park Stamp Quest. This is not a travel podcast. I will not be telling you where to stay or which trail to hike. The show is about the people and stories connected to these places: rangers, writers, scientists, photographers, conservationists, visitors, mysteries, rescues, wildlife encounters, and everything in between. Sometimes the stamp is an actual passport stamp. Sometimes it is simply the moment a place begins to mean something more. The podcast launches with Chuck Sams, the 19th Director of the National Park Service. New episodes every other Thursday at 6 a.m. Eastern. *National park stories. One stamp at a time.*

    Episode 0 | Welcome to National Park Stamp Quest
  • 6 Episodes

About

National Park Stories. One Stamp at a Time. National Park Stamp Quest is a story-driven podcast about the people, memories, wildlife, history, and unexpected moments held within America’s national parks. Hosted by Megha Unhelkar, each episode features rangers, conservationists, writers, photographers, explorers, and visitors whose lives have been shaped by these places. The conversations move beyond scenery and travel advice to explore stewardship, survival, identity, wonder, loss, discovery, and the moments that stay with us long after we leave. Every episode has a stamp moment: sometimes a literal passport stamp, and sometimes the moment a park leaves its mark on a person. Learn more, explore episodes, and join the journey at: https://nationalparkstampquest.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Megha Unhelkar
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Megha Unhelkar
  • Show Website
    National Park Stamp Quest