Who Runs This Park Maddie Pellman

Zion National Park is globally known for its Narrows wading hike and Angels Landing, and in this interview with Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh, not only do we dive into the details behind these famous hikes (including some tips on how to best enjoy the Narrows), but we also uncover facts and stories about Zion beyond its famous hikes. We learn what soundscapes are, talk about the backcountry experiences in the park and learn more about the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service (from Jeff’s experience working in both agencies). Jeff has loved the outdoors since he was a kid, and it is a treat to hear how he turned that love into a career protecting the lands we love so dearly.

Close your eyes and imagine a wilderness four times bigger than Yellowstone National Park. Imagine a landscape north of the Arctic Circle with rugged mountains, vast expanses of treeless tundra, glaciated valleys, forests and many rivers and lakes. In the winter the weather can dip below -50 degrees Fahrenheit and in the month of June the sun is out for 24 hours. This vast and expansive landscape is the home of Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve, where this episode hears from its superintendent, Mark Dowdle.

A subterranean park filled with adventures where your boots barely fit through the infamous “mole hole”. This episode explores Mammoth Cave National Park through the lens of its superintendent, Barclay Trimble. Barclay is motivated by experiencing different parts of the country and coming into places that aren’t running as smoothly as they should be. He came from a business background and has had experiences across the country, ranging from Denali National Park up in Alaska all the way to the most eastern point of the continental United States as Superintendent of the Outer Banks Group. Listen to Barclay’s episode to learn how he is managing Mammoth Cave, the world’s longest cave system at 426 miles long, and how he is even making history by discovering new shark species underground.

“Creating memories is an act of preservation.” Grand Teton Superintendent, Chip Jenkins, is passionate about the impact us as visitors can have in the national parks. By visiting and sharing that we value the outdoors to our families and friends, we are creating stewards of the national parks for generations to come. “The National Park Service cannot care for Grand Teton entirely on its own.” Listen in to Chip’s interview to hear his heart, learn about his extensive experience across our nation’s gems and get a behind the scenes look at the Grand Teton and all that is going on in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a place of international significance.

How did a lawyer become the Superintendent of our nation’s second most visited national park? Listen in to hear how Ed Keable, Grand Canyon Superintendent, transitioned into the National Park Service after serving as the highest ranking civil service lawyer in the Department of the Interior. With a commute along the canyon rim everyday, the vista reminds him of his responsibilities as superintendent and of his first experience at the grand canyon many years before, where he experienced the spirituality and beauty of such an awe-inspiring backdrop. From climate challenges and indigenous affairs to managing deferred maintenance and flying in the occasional helicopter and plane over the canyon, there is never a dull day as Grand Canyon Superintendent.

The National Park Service participated in two SXSW panels & I got to go & “report” on the discussions and attend a few days of SXSW (a tech, music, film & culture conference in Austin, Texas each year) -- truly a dream come true!

This episode documents the two panels plus some fun tidbits and takeaways from my experience meeting National Park Service folks and folks across other governmental agencies and partners (like L.L.Bean & the National Park Foundation). With me documenting both the panels & my experience, this episode stands unique in comparison to superintendent interviews.

Want to learn how the park service is ensuring they are at the forefront of the challenges both the government and the national park service are facing? Want to get a feel for who I am & my heart behind Who Runs This Park? Listen in!!