John Goodwin - "Echoes of the Badge" (Episode 27)

Send us Fan MailJohn Goodwin was a National Park Service ranger for 27 years. He worked Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, Everglades, and Golden Gate. He was struck by lightning twice. He battled PTSD for 10 years. He wrote a book about all of it.And then he got on an Amtrak train, rode it across the country, and stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to read a speech about what rangers give — and what this administration is taking away.John Goodwin joins The Parks Podcast to share stories from Echoes of the Badge, practical advice for visiting parks safely, and exactly what's happening to public land employees right now.In this episode: — What park rangers actually do — the full scope most visitors never see — Two lightning strikes — what the first one felt like and how he made it back to Flamingo — The Golden Gate years and the PTSD battle that followed — Why John is so open about mental health — and what he wants other rangers to know — How John met Missy at the Lincoln Memorial protest — and what he read from the steps — Child safety in parks — the Hug a Tree principle and why a whistle saves lives — What to tell a ranger when you're going on a trail solo — How to plan a park visit right now — longer lines, fewer staff, and what to bring — Why the probationary firings are worse than they sound — losing your house when you lose your job — John's DC protest speech, read in fullThe Lincoln Memorial speech: "I stand before you at this sacred place... A day may come when our public lands are lost, when those sworn to protect them are cast aside and when silence prevails over action. But it is not this day. This day we fight."Links mentioned: — Echoes of the Badge: available at all major booksellers — John / Lightning Ever: @lightningever — Resistance Rangers: @resistancerangersSupport the show