PODCAST · education
Park Leaders Show
by Jody Maberry
Park Leaders connects the wisdom of Park Managers, leaders in the park system, and thought leaders of the business world with up and coming park leaders. This is the show for Park Rangers, Park Managers, and leaders who want to have an impact. Join host Jody Maberry as he talks to park leaders from all over the world.
Episodes
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The Debate Over Barred Owls
"We humans can really mess things up, but we also have a great capacity to do good as well." Episode Chapters [00:02:21] How Isle Royale shaped Wayne's approach to conservation [00:06:53] Understanding the barred owl's natural range expansion [00:10:14] Questioning whether barred owls are the...
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How to Get Things Done in a Bureaucracy
"Government isn't changed by policies. Government is changed by people." Episode Chapters [00:03:04] Why bureaucracy exists and what it was designed to accomplish [00:07:38] Five practical ways to move ideas forward in large organizations [00:10:19] Why reaching a decision maker is often the...
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Park Rangers Do What Has to be Done
"The administrator's job is to support the people who serve visitors every day." Episode Chapters [00:03:17] Bob McGill reflects on a 35-year career with Nevada State Parks [00:04:57] Discovering that leadership can be a support role [00:07:41] Surpassing milestones as a state park director...
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Managing the Visitor Experience
"You cannot personally make sure every visitor has a great time... but you can make sure at least one visitor has a great experience." Episode Chapters [03:36] Shifting from high attendance to quality visitor experiences [05:33] Complexities of social carrying capacities explored [08:50] Relying…
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Art in Parks
"The best park art helps you feel like you're standing there." Episode Chapters [00:43] Arden Von Hager shares how a childhood outdoors connection shaped his life and art [02:28] How Arden's artistic talent was recognized and developed into a career [09:48] Creating national park artwork that...
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Using Technology to Enhance Recreation
"Parks become even more meaningful when you can track the memories you've made there." Notable Moments [00:00:32] Jada Dooling shares her family's goal to visit all 50 states [00:02:28] How a road trip inspired the creation of All Roads Taken [00:05:11] Features that help travelers set goals and...
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Dealing With Depression and Anxiety in Parks
"When someone changes, something has changed in their life." Notable Moments [00:00:02] Why this episode was difficult but necessary to record [00:01:22] Personal experience with depression while working in parks [00:03:25] Lee Cockerell shares his experience with anxiety [00:09:48] The…
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You Don't Pick Your Legacy
"Legacy is not what you leave for people. It's what you leave in people." Notable Moments [00:00:56] How a simple story sparked a deeper look at legacy [00:03:43] Why you don't get to choose your legacy [00:06:32] The difference between leaving something for people vs. in people [00:07:45] Why…
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Enhancing Parks, Museums, and Exhibits
"Technology should enhance the story without intruding on the landscape." Notable Moments [00:01:23] How immersive storytelling helps museums and visitor centers [00:03:36] Approaching historic sites without overpowering artifacts [00:07:22] Why media creates emotional connections for visitors...
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The History of Women Who Worked the Fire Lookouts
"These women helped protect our forests long before most people realized their role." Episode Highlights [00:00:42] Welcoming Allison Martin back to the show [00:02:16] Introducing the history of fire lookouts [00:05:04] Why lookout towers were critical for early fire detection [00:08:33] Women…
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Keys to Good Leadership
"It may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility." Notable Moments [00:02:29] Leadership transitions are creating uncertainty across parks and agencies [00:04:06] Leadership is hard, relentless, and has no finish line [00:09:06] Accountability means owning outcomes, even when they aren't...
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The Moment of Truth for Park Visitors
"You don't get a second chance at a first impression." Notable Moments [00:00:59] Introducing the concept of "moment of truth" [00:02:13] Premises as the "front porch" of the park [00:06:21] Defining product beyond retail [00:09:58] Promises and the purpose of parks [00:16:07] Why people are the...
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Stories From the 1979 Alaska Ranger Task Force
"We were sent to Alaska to show the flag, explain why we were there, and make sure nobody got hurt. None of that was guaranteed." Notable Moments [00:04:26] Why the Alaska Ranger Task Force was formed [00:06:12] Establishing a ranger presence across 60 million acres [00:10:05] Hostility toward...
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Podcasting and Parks
"People don't fall in love with parks because of facts alone. They fall in love when they understand the stories." Notable Moments [00:00:55] Why Allison started a podcast about Indiana State Parks [00:02:32] Discovering a love for the outdoors later in life [00:03:17] How the podcast gained...
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Parks are About Relationships
"Parks are about relationships. With your team, your communities, your partners. That's what sustains leadership over time." Notable Moments 00:01:03 – Lisa shares her unconventional path into parks leadership 00:05:38 – Why relationships are the key to long-term success as a director 00:09:03 –...
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The Role of Media in Wildfires
"When people see fire only as destruction, we miss the opportunity to understand it and to prepare for what's coming next." Notable Moments [00:01:19] Using photography to educate the public [00:02:50] Recognizing public land employees as serving the country [00:07:23] First experience...
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Conservation Through Travel Experiences
"Sometimes one experience is all it takes to awaken a new passion." Notable Moments [00:02] Chris shares his outdoor roots in New Zealand and Australia [00:02:19] How Impact Destinations blends travel and philanthropy [00:03:32] Rhino relocation as a once-in-a-lifetime conservation experience...
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Citizen Conservation with Wolves
"The more we can let people know, the better it is for the wolves, the better it is for our conservation efforts." Notable Moments [00:02:29] How Monica discovered the Wolf Conservation Center [00:03:30] Understanding endangered wolf subspecies and conservation efforts [00:04:18] Role of…
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A Look at the Parks and Restoration Podcast
"When you create a thriving ecosystem you'll have people that are motivated to go and do good work, move your organization forward, and make an impact on the people and resources that you serve." Notable Moments 03:20 – How a riverfront festival connected thousands to conservation. 04:38 –...
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Disruptive Innovation in Parks
"Disruptive innovation in parks rarely starts big. It's often the small changes that reshape how people connect with the outdoors." Episode Highlights 00:42 How a small cooler forever changed camping and visitation. 05:23 – RVs and modern camping units disrupt campgrounds built in the 1930s.…
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Takes from a Wilderness Warrior
"Fear often comes from not knowing. Once you take time to learn, fear can turn into respect." Notable Moments [00:02:22] Doug shares his curiosity-driven adventures in Mexico and Russia. [00:05:00] The challenge of endless progress on a finite planet. [00:07:18] Why wilderness is essential for...
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The Future of National Parks
"Sometimes steady leadership, or keeping the park on course, is the most important thing we can offer." Notable Moments [00:01:00] Jon's work with the Parks Institute at UC Berkeley [00:02:20] International consulting and training park managers abroad [00:04:15] Encouragement for park leaders...
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Law Enforcement in Parks
"Every contact we have is an opportunity to build or destroy a relationship." Notable Moments [00:02:00] – Why law enforcement consistently ranks among the most debated topics in parks [00:06:20] – Chip's background, love for the outdoors, and how nature shaped his perspective [00:08:16] – The...
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The Four Types of Park Managers
"You take care of the people, and they will take care of the park." Notable Moments [00:01:26] Introduction to the four types of park managers [00:02:04] Deep dive into People First management [00:14:24] Park First leadership and its focus on stewardship [00:26:56] Process Driven management…
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Back to the Future of Parks
"Every park has trees and trails. What makes people come back is you." Notable Moments [00:03:05] – Starting the keynote, the outhouse story that sparked an award [00:07:24] – Transition from financial analyst to ranger life [00:14:07] – Pandemic pressure and park visitation boom [00:19:02] –...
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Exploring Parks in 3D
"Too often today everything is tech and screens… but picking up a book, putting on a pair of glasses, and seeing something really cool—it's inspiring and fun." Notable Moments: 00:03 – Dave's early love for camping and the outdoors 04:47 – How 3D photography became part of his storytelling 08:44…
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Exploring Sacred Landscapes
"National parks are sacred not because of what we build, but because of what we protect." Notable Moments [00:00:20.320] Introduction of Sacred Landscapes [00:01:23.010] Sam's unexpected inspiration to write the book [00:08:14.120] The emotional transformation of spending years on the road...
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Do You Need Park Experience to Manage a Park
"You don't have to come from parks to lead in parks. But you do have to embrace the culture, listen, and lead with purpose." Notable Moments [00:02:00] Starting out as a seasonal worker builds a foundation [00:03:40] Promoting park managers without prior experience [00:05:18] Success stories of...
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Creating Immersive Stories for Park Visitors
"Storytelling is the bridge between awe and understanding, whether you're in a theme park or a national park." Notable Moments 01:05 – Bob's national park road trip that shaped his worldview 05:24 – "Recreation" vs. "Re-creation": the true power of parks 06:10 – Walt Disney's advice: walk the…
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Protecting Pucheguin - An Underdog Conservation Story
"When you truly love a place, you do whatever it takes to protect it, even if it takes a decade." Notable Moments 00:01:04 Meeting Rodrigo and Jose 00:02:03 Rodrigo shares how a simple question sparked conservation 00:07:15 Jose explains fighting the first hydroelectric project 00:20:54 What...
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Stories Connect People to Conservation
"The only way you're going to save the world is with a damn good story." Notable Moments 02:13 – Jeff's origin story: how a zoo letter changed his life 04:47 – Radical collaboration and partnerships across conservation groups 06:31 – Story of Pueblo Patagonia and local leadership in Chile 13:16 –...
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The Politics of Public Lands
"A win in conservation is temporary. You'll fight for it again. A loss is permanent." Notable Moments [00:01:03] – Why politics and public land are inseparable [00:04:37] – The impact of the Antiquities Act on land policy [00:06:57] – South Carolina's bipartisan approach to land conservation...
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Parks Role in the Sestercentennial
"Parks protect the land, but just as importantly, they protect the stories that shaped our nation." There are a number of ways parks can contribute to the United States' 250th anniversary. From South Carolina's rich revolutionary history to the roles western parks can play, this conversation...
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The National Parks Classroom
"I'm going to do something that's connected to the national parks or our or a state park near me so that I can use my knowledge and see the real world impact it has. And that way, I never am stuck in class asking, why is this important? Why on earth do I have to learn this?" Notable Moments 03:02...
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Rethinking Park Bathrooms
"We've designed the bathroom to be agnostic to the environment in which it goes. There are certainly other operational considerations the further out you go, but there's really no fundamental limitation as to where we put a throne." Bathrooms in parks are rarely the focus of innovation, but I was...
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Dealing With An Administrative Change
"You have to be ready because change is constant, and you have to be able to adapt and adjust." As the retired director of South Carolina State Parks and a current professor at Clemson University, Phil Gaines has wisdom on navigating administrative changes in park systems that is invaluable. He...
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The Role of Philanthropy in Parks
"Nothing gets done without partners. And in fact, it's way more fun when you get to do it with other people." Philanthropy is a powerful tool that often goes unnoticed in the world of park management. I have the privilege of diving deep into this with Sarah Unz, Vice President of Community...
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Connecting With Nature in the Classroom
"They've done studies observing children in a park. They issue the more organized places like a like a soccer field or basketball court, but the kids always end up on the edges where the trees or the brush is just messing around." Childhood adventures in nature can shape a lifetime of curiosity…
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The History of Public Lands
"After 43 years of doing this, some things didn't sound accurate to me. So I started researching this in in order to to put together a program to go out and really explain what the history of these places are and what is fact and what is fiction." When was the last time you thought about the...
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Creating a City Level Junior Ranger Program
"Signs don't do much. It's the educational programs where you're actually talking to people that are the most effective in changing behaviors." Notable Moments 00:42 Prescott's volunteer-driven, unique park ranger system. 03:26 Code enforcement change to interpretation. 07:07 Leave No Trace signs...
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Honoring Fallen Park Rangers
"We honor our profession and we're proud of what we do to remember those that we lost." Park Rangers often dedicate their life to the preservation of nature. There is another side of the work that is less known; Uncovering the forgotten stories of those who paid the ultimate price. My…
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The Impact of Natural Disasters on Parks
"As a helper, as a as a compassionate individual, you can get compassion fatigue, physical fatigue, and emotional fatigue because it is devastating." Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
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Talking About the Glacier Park Conservancy
"By bringing varied backgrounds into conservation careers, we are ensuring our parks represent all of America." Connect with Doug Email Doug Mitchell Glacier National Park Conservancy Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/…
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A Summer as a Seasonal Park Aide
"I've never been there early enough to see the sunrise, but I've been there late enough to see the sunset. And it does have a really pretty sunset." Notable Moments 02:04 Common Questions from Visitors 06:33 Importance of Seasonal Training 08:02 Day in the Life of a Park Employee 10:12 Family...
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Attention to Details Matter to Park Visitors
"The small stuff is where you create that memory or you create an impression that never leaves them. Attention to those little details really matter." Attention to details isn't just a small matter; it can transform the experience of park visitors. In the latest episode of the Park Leaders Show,...
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Innovative Technology and Conservation
"We need to inspire people, especially young people, with innovation. That is how we can change the world in a positive way. Connect with Viktor Glice website Viktor's Website Viktor on Instagram Resources www.parkleaders.com https://parkleaders.com/about/ Facebook -...
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The Legacy of George Melendez Wright
"Because he died so early, there was no opportunity for him to really grow into what a lot of people think he was gonna become, which was the next director of the National Park Service and one of the leading conservationists in the nation." Key Moments 04:06 Working in conservation, writing about...
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What Has Changed in Parks in the Last Decade
"If you look back over the last 100 years of significant events in America's parks, state, national, local, that, you know, on that list of the top 10 or 15 things that's that's changed the way we manage parks is, how we did the pandemic." Resources www.parkleaders.com...
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Finding Balance in Your Park Career
"Work-life balance means that you're trying to find a way to balance this so you're a complete person and your batteries are recharged." Key Moments 01:10 Peak of park busyness means a ranger is always on as a ranger. 05:29 Balancing work and life in park professions. 09:08 Passion for work...
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Interpreting Freeman Tilden
"Does it really make any difference if you do believe something, but are at the same time intolerant of someone who does not agree or concur in your beliefs?" Key Moments 01:27 Meeting Freeman Tilden. 09:42 Starting a Career with Park Service at age 58. 11:54 Freeman Reevaluates National Park...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Park Leaders connects the wisdom of Park Managers, leaders in the park system, and thought leaders of the business world with up and coming park leaders. This is the show for Park Rangers, Park Managers, and leaders who want to have an impact. Join host Jody Maberry as he talks to park leaders from all over the world.
HOSTED BY
Jody Maberry
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