Hello Ranger

Latest Episodes:

Unearthing Native American History (and Saber-Toothed Tigers) at Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

In the heart of central Georgia lies one of the most unassuming, under-the-radar national park sites in America. In the quaint city of Macon, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park preserves the massive man-made earthen mounds made by Mississippian tribes a millennium ago, in addition to history and artifacts from tribes that came before them and those that came after. Additional topics include terrifyingly epic wildlife, Civil War battles, and serene woodland hikes. Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa Check out recent press for Hello Ranger on AFAR, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post. Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patreon and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," in-depth national park guides, and #NPSDinnerParty recipes inspired by our episodes! To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com #unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Hello Park Predators Jul 11, 2020

Show notes

We're doing something different for this special bonus episode. It's not too often we talk about murder on Hello Ranger, but as big fans of true crime shows, we're super excited to interview host Delia D'Ambra about her brand new podcast, Park Predators. It's the latest from the Audiochuck network (e.g. Crime Junkie, CounterClock, Red Ball, and D'Ambra's going deep on grisly crimes that have taken place in North America's national parks. This one's a must-listen! And then be sure and subscribe to Park Predators anywhere you listen to podcasts.

For updates on Park Predators, follow @audiochuck and @delia.dambra.w on Instagram.

Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa

Check out recent press for Hello Ranger on AFAR, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post.

Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patreon and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," in-depth national park guides, and #NPSDinnerParty recipes inspired by our episodes!

To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com

#unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Allyship and our Mistake with Mount Rushmore Jul 09, 2020

Show notes

Todays episode is one part apology, one part of where we are at, and one part an educational process. On yesterdays episode we missed the mark of the Black Hills and their history. So today we realized we needed to own up to that mistake. Tune in to hear about what we learned in the past twenty-four hours and how we reacted. Native American and Indigenous Artists, Activists, and more to follow. Sarah Sunshine Manning , Ryan Young, Tomás Karmelo Amaya, Allen, Indigenous Peoples Movement, Int'l Indigenous Youth Council, Indigenous Rising,_illuminatives. Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa To get in touch, email us at bradleykrc@gmail.com #unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Finding National Treasure at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

What a perfect coincidence that mere days after the Fourth of July is our episode on one of the most patriotic bucket list destinations in the country: Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Join us as we explore the history of this South Dakota icon, eat some very special ice cream, and gush about our love for the National Treasure movies.   Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa  Check out recent press for Hello Ranger on AFAR, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post.    Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patreon and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," in-depth national park guides, and #NPSDinnerParty recipes inspired by our episodes!  To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com #unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Patreon Exclusive Sneak Peek: Traveling Eats OKC Jul 04, 2020

Show notes

Today we are serving you a taste of what our Patreon Exclusive feed has to offer!

Don't get us wrong. We love a good chicken-fried steak, but Oklahoma City is an underrated food city with a lot more to offer, like whimsical cocktails, red velvet pies, hip pizzerias, sweet potato beers, and tasting menus that you'd sooner expect to find in larger—and more expensive—cities. For this week's episode of "Traveling Eats," we explore the exciting new spots and the old-school classics that make OKC so tasty.

Check out recent press for Hello Ranger on AFAR, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post.

To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com

#unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Tasting the Cultural Gumbo (and the cocktails) at New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

Finally, a national park we can visit with cocktails in-hand! New Orleans has long been one of our favorite cities, for so many reasons. Its omnipresence of live music—on river boats, at boozy brunches, in clubs, on street corners—is chief among them. On our latest trip to New Orleans, we explored more of the city's vibrant musical roots at the jazz museum and throughout the French Quarter and beyond. Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patron and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," in-depth national park guides, and #NPSDinnerParty recipes inspired by our episodes! To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com #unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Hope and Unity Emerge From Tragedy at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

This is the first episode where we've ever audibly cried on mic. But when the topic is the soul-stirring Oklahoma City National Memorial, it's hard not to get teary-eyed, to say the least. Although the memorial and museum are heart-wrenching, it's also deeply beautiful and inspiring, and we walked away with a more optimistic view on humanity. This memorial—and this city—serve as shining examples of resilience, hope, and renewal. Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patron and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," in-depth national park guides, and #NPSDinnerParty recipes inspired by our episodes! To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com #unitedbynature #findyourambassador

White Sands National Park, Where Childlike Wonder and Missile Testing Come Together Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

America's newest national park is the star of this week's episode, as we trek through the largest gypsum dune field on Earth at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. From doodling in the sand to sledding down sloping dunes, there's something whimsical about this hands-on park that really brings out your inner child. Oh, and they also do periodic missile testing at nearby White Sands Missile Range, so if you hear a sonic boom, it's fine.

Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patron and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," in-depth national park guides, and #NPSDinnerParty recipes inspired by our episodes!

To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com

#unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Spiritual Renewal at Saguaro National Park Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

For the first ever episode of Hello Ranger, co-hosts/co-husbands Brad and Matt Kirouac find cactus inspiration at Arizona's Saguaro National Park. While hunkering down in Tucson during the pandemic, we dreamed up the idea of Hello Ranger, launched the website, and recorded our first episode in our makeshift RV studio. Being surrounded by the most iconic of American cacti not only provided plenty of socially distant outdoor action, but it helped drive our vision and motivate us to create. And the metaphors are myriad! Like the tiny saguaro seeds striving to survive against desert strife, our little dream for the Hello Ranger Community blossomed into reality. We can't think of a better national park to kick off our dream-come-true podcast!

To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com   

#unitedbynature #findyourambassador

Say Hello to Hello Ranger the Podcast May 30, 2020

Show notes

Hello and welcome to Hello Ranger, a show about national parks and the communities that make these places so special. We’re your hosts, Brad and Matt Kirouac, and we’re traveling the country in our RV with our little Bark Ranger Finn. Each week, we’ll spotlight a different national park site, delving into history, culture, activities, and occasional antics. From the cacti-filled mountains of Saguaro National Park to the powerful stories of perseverance at Oklahoma City National Memorial, we’re on an epic journey of discovery through travel. And we hope you’ll join us!

Visit our website to learn more about the Hello Ranger Community, keep your eyes peeled for our social app, and to read stories from our Hello Ranger Ambassadors and learn more about the Community. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @hellorangerusa

Want more Hello Ranger? Subscribe to our Patron and unlock loads of extra content, like bonus episodes, “Hello Ranger Happy Hours,” "Traveling Eats," and recipes inspired by our episodes!   

To get in touch, email us at smile@hellorangercommunity.com   

#unitedbynature #findyourambassador #npsdinnerparty