Exploring Washington State Scott Cowan

Nancy Pearl is an American librarian, best-selling author, literary critic, and the former executive of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library. She is known for her work promoting reading and libraries, and is the inspiration behind the popular "Librarian Action Figure".
You will learn:
1. How Nancy Pearl, a retired librarian, used her childhood library to pursue a career in librarianship and how she has gone on to make an impact on the profession. 
2. The story of how Nancy Pearl became the model for the first librarian action figure. 
3. The benefits of listening to audiobooks and how they can enhance the reading experience.
Nancy was a wonderful guest and if you are a fan of books you cannot miss this episode. Great stories of a life filled with reading and storytelling.

This episode features a visit with John Tillison, also known as Park Ranger John.

John grew up in a military family, and moving to Washington state as a kid, he quickly fell in love with the state. He describes himself as the kid that was always outdoors. John spent time in Boy Scouts, achieving Eagle (and yes, our producer Todd agrees that Citizenship in the Community merit badge was a pain). The monthly camping trips with the Scouts introduced him to the many parks and wilderness areas of the state.

First day at work for the Washington State Parks? 101 degrees cleaning up garbage after a raccoon attack.

Here's what I cover with John Tillison in this episode:
1. Exploring the Secret World of Park Rangers: A Day in the Life 
2. Uncovering the History Behind National Parks and Affiliated Sites 
3. Surviving Rattlesnake Bites and Other Outdoor Dangers

John has a wonderful website with tons of information about parks and special sites around Washington. Check it out at https://www.parkrangerjohn.com.

Nancy Croisier joins us to discuss her career educating people about Washington state wines.
A former corporate HR career through a year of layoffs led Nancy to search for a new career that would bring happiness back into her life. She describes how she found her new passion through a local educational opportunity. A love of wine and food pairings led into helping wineries advertise their offerings and educate their customers.
Nancy also accomplishes the unheard of task of getting Scott to acknowledge our neighboring state to the South might actually do something better than Washington.

You will learn:
1. Biodynamic Farming: Discover the “woo woo” of a farming method that uses cow dung, phases of the moon, and teas to create nutrient-rich crops.
2. Washington Wine: Uncover the secrets of the region's high-quality, low-cost wines that are gaining traction in the industry.
3. Wine and Food Pairings: Explore the unique pairings of Washington wines and artisan cheeses that create an unforgettable experience.

Nancy Croisier is a wine writer and marketer from Washington State, turning consumers onto the exceptional wines of Washington and Oregon. She has a certificate in wine and food pairing from the Northwest Wine Academy and has been a wine buyer for a local kitchen shop.

Bob Antone returns to talk Sasquatch and serial killers in Washington state.

Bob and his wife started offering Bigfoot walking tours in 2017. His interest began in his childhood, listening to family members telling stories and then later got his wife interested. They introduce the topic to people on their tours by familiarizing them with some of the names for these beings used by Native tribes and then launching into some of the traditional stories and folklore.
"Whenever children are in danger or being abused or whenever innocence is in danger, these beings, the Sasquatch, the benevolent form, will show themselves." - Bob Antone

No matter where you stand on the issue, Bob is a wonderful storyteller and has researched the subjects for many years. Bob shares some of the historical mentions of Sasquatch which form a documented part of our state history.

You will learn:
1. The connection between serial killers in the Northwest and the subject of Bigfoot/Sasquatch
2. Stories of Bigfoot sightings, including a strange occurrence during a walking tour 
3. The agreement between Bigfoot and the human world to protect and watch out for each other.

Daniel Winker, a passionate treasure hunter, embarks on a journey to explore the captivating and often overlooked world of mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest, a place of great abundance, but also of hidden dangers and cultural heritage.

You will learn:
1. What is the impact of colonial powers on native cultures and their foraging knowledge?
2. How does one safely identify and forage for edible mushrooms?
3. What is the history and culture of the Grateful Dead, and how has it influenced Daniel Winker?

Daniel Winker is a mushroom travel researcher, author and photographer born in Munich, Germany and living in the greater Seattle area. He is the founder of the website Mushroaming, which focuses on the exploration of mushrooms and their ecology.

Meet Kate Evans, a professor of horticulture at Washington State University campus in Wenatchee. Kate oversaw the development of the cosmic crisp apple, you’ll learn more about apples in this episode than you could ever possibly imagine. Kate Evans is an experienced apple and pear breeder. She is known internationally for her research in plant molecular biology and tree fruit breeding.
In this episode, you will learn the following: 
1. What process does a plant breeder use to create new varieties? 
2. How did Cosmic Crisp become one of the most popular apples in the US? 
3. What methods were used to come up with the name 'Cosmic Crisp'?