Safe Travels Pod

Safe Travels Media
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Hear from the folks that live, breathe and know the national parks best. All episodes, including vlogs, are available on our YouTube channel @safetravelspod. __ Safe Travels is a media network that sits down with park rangers to discuss unique areas of each park. The goal of each episode is to help educate current and future visitors on ways to stay safe and keep the park healthy.

  1. Petrified Forest National Park: Route 66 & Park History with Historian Bill Parker

    3D AGO

    Petrified Forest National Park: Route 66 & Park History with Historian Bill Parker

    In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, I’m joined by Bill Parker, Chief of Resources and Park Historian at Petrified Forest National Park, for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the historical and logistical forces that have shaped one of America’s most iconic desert landscapes. Bill takes us beyond the park’s famous petrified wood and into the human stories tied to Route 66, early automobile tourism, and the rise of roadside Americana in northern Arizona. We dive into how Holbrook, Arizona helped inspire Pixar’s Radiator Springs, the significance of the historic REO Mountaineer, and why Petrified Forest remains one of the few national parks where Route 66 still runs directly through protected land. As Chief of Resources, Bill also explains the real-world challenges of preservation—from decades of petrified wood theft to the long-term impacts of highways, railroads, and modern transportation corridors on fragile cultural and natural resources. This episode offers a rare look at how infrastructure, tourism, and conservation intersect inside the National Park Service. Bill is an institution at Petrified Forest National Park, I'm grateful that he joined the podcast! ______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    59 min
  2. Petrified Forest National Park: Archeology & Human History with Archeologist Jon Hardes

    JAN 2

    Petrified Forest National Park: Archeology & Human History with Archeologist Jon Hardes

    Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most significant archeological landscapes in the United States, preserving evidence of human history that stretches back over 13,000 years. While the park is often associated with petrified wood and Triassic-era fossils, its cultural resources tell an equally powerful story about long-term human interaction with the land. In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, I’m joined by Lead Archeologist and Park Ranger Jon Hardes for an in-depth conversation on archeology at Petrified Forest National Park and why the park plays a critical role in understanding the culture of descendent communities in the region. We also explore Jon’s area of expertise in zooarcheology, a field that uses animal remains to help interpret past human behavior and environmental conditions. Finally, our discussion touches on how human relationships with natural landscapes have changed over thousands of years and what archeological evidence can reveal about those changes.______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    51 min
  3. Petrified Forest National Park: Dinosaurs, Paleontology & Geology with Paleontologist Adam Marsh

    12/26/2025

    Petrified Forest National Park: Dinosaurs, Paleontology & Geology with Paleontologist Adam Marsh

    In this episode, we explore the world of paleontology at Petrified Forest National Park with Park Ranger Adam Marsh, the park’s Lead Paleontologist. Known worldwide for its colorful petrified wood, Petrified Forest National Park is also one of the most important paleontological sites in the United States, preserving exceptionally well-preserved Triassic-era fossils dating back more than 200 million years. Ranger Adam Marsh breaks down what paleontology is, why fossil preservation at Petrified Forest is so unique, and how the park plays a leading role in modern paleontological research. We discuss major fossil discoveries at Petrified Forest National Park, including ancient reptiles such as phytosaurs and rauisuchians, and how these finds help scientists better understand prehistoric ecosystems, mass extinctions, and the evolution of life on Earth. Adam also shares his personal path to becoming a National Park Service paleontologist and what it’s like to study fossils in one of the most scientifically significant national parks in the world. This conversation highlights why Petrified Forest National Park paleontology is critical to understanding the Triassic Period and the early history of dinosaurs and their relatives. Topics Covered: Paleontology at Petrified Forest National ParkGeology of the regionTriassic fossils and prehistoric lifePhytosaurs, rauisuchians, and ancient reptilesWhy Petrified Forest is a global paleontology hotspotFossil preservation and scientific research in national parksLife as a National Park Service paleontologist______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    1h 3m
  4. Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Geology, Wildlife & Human History with Park Ranger Jake Denton

    12/19/2025

    Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Geology, Wildlife & Human History with Park Ranger Jake Denton

    In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, we visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas and sit down with Interpretive Park Ranger Jake Denton to explore the park’s geology, wildlife, and human history. Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet, and protects the world’s most complete example of a fossilized Permian-era reef—one of the most significant geologic features in North America. Ranger Jake breaks down how this ancient reef formed, what wildlife thrives in the park today, and why the Guadalupe Mountains are so important to conservation and scientific research. This conversation offers a deeper look into one of Texas’s most underrated national parks and highlights the rugged beauty and rich natural history of the Guadalupe Mountains. ______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    49 min
  5. Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Geology, Bats and Park Information with Park Ranger Tiffany Rugger

    12/12/2025

    Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Geology, Bats and Park Information with Park Ranger Tiffany Rugger

    We’re back! This episode takes us to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in beautiful New Mexico, where we sit down with Park Ranger Tiffany Rugger. Tiffany serves as a Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) Ranger, and she joins us for a wide-ranging conversation covering the park’s incredible geology, its world-famous bat colony, surprising creatures like horsehair worms, essential park insights, and much more. It was an honor to speak with Tiffany—her depth of knowledge and passion for Carlsbad Caverns added so much to this episode. I’m grateful for her work at one of the world’s premier cave systems.______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    59 min
  6. I quit my job for Safe Travels

    10/13/2025

    I quit my job for Safe Travels

    I'm in Bend, Oregon, sitting underneath a starry night sky with a warm fire in front of me.  It's been a month or so since i've shared an episode with you. So I wanted to let you all know what's been going on. Good news: there will be a lot more episodes to come. Thank you endlessly for supporting this podcast. ______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    8 min
  7. Friends of Big Bear Valley: The Story of Jackie & Shadow with Sandy Steers

    09/12/2025

    Friends of Big Bear Valley: The Story of Jackie & Shadow with Sandy Steers

    Sandy Steers is the Executive Director of Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), a non-profit in Big Bear Lake, California, dedicated to protecting and preserving wildlife habitat across the 15-mile Big Bear Valley in the San Bernardino National Forest. At the heart of the valley is an active bald eagle nest—home to Jackie and Shadow. Through FOBBV’s 24/7 livestream camera, millions of viewers around the world have been able to witness the pair’s lives up close, finding joy, education, and even comfort in the process. In this episode, Sandy and I explore the incredible story of Jackie and Shadow, their eaglets Sunny and Gizmo, the challenges bald eagles face in the valley, and Sandy’s own inspiring journey to the mountains that brought her peace. Learn more about Friends of Big Bear Valley and watch the eagle livestream at friendsofbigbearvalley.org It was an honor to sit down with Sandy! I am beyond grateful for her time, and am thrilled that so many people get to connect with nature on a daily basis thanks to Jackie and Shadow. ______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    50 min
  8. NASA JPL: Utilizing National Parks for Space Exploration with Dr. Morgan Cable

    09/05/2025

    NASA JPL: Utilizing National Parks for Space Exploration with Dr. Morgan Cable

    Dr. Morgan Cable is a research scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Her mission is to help answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: are we alone in the universe? In this episode, we explore how NASA uses national parks as analog sites to study the landscapes of other worlds. Dr. Cable explains how these environments provide testing grounds for new technologies designed to operate on different terrains and in alien atmospheres. Named to the American Chemical Society’s “Talented 12” in 2018, Dr. Cable has contributed to some of NASA’s most exciting missions, including Cassini-Huygens, the Mars Perseverance Rover, Europa Clipper, and the Dragonfly mission to Titan. Our conversation also dives into the mysteries of the ocean worlds Europa and Enceladus—their habitability, potential for life, and why they captivate planetary scientists. And beyond her work, we talk about Morgan’s adventurous hobbies, from surfing to mountain unicycling. It was an honor to host Dr. Morgan Cable on the podcast. Her passion, expertise, and energy are truly inspiring, and her contributions to planetary science are nothing short of remarkable. ______________Follow us on social!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetravelspodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safetravelspodYouTube: youtube.com/@safetravelspodSafetravelspod.com

    1h 4m
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About

Hear from the folks that live, breathe and know the national parks best. All episodes, including vlogs, are available on our YouTube channel @safetravelspod. __ Safe Travels is a media network that sits down with park rangers to discuss unique areas of each park. The goal of each episode is to help educate current and future visitors on ways to stay safe and keep the park healthy.

Information

  • Creator
    Safe Travels Media
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Safe Travels Media
  • Show Website
    Safe Travels Pod

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