Park Leaders Show

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Podcast Your Park with Jeff Brown Apr 28, 2015

Show notes

I am on a mission to get parks to start podcasting. Podcasting is a way parks can serve visitors in a new and unique way. To explore the idea of podcasting in parks, I went straight to one of the best podcasters around.

Jeff Brown is the host of the Read to Lead podcast. Read to Lead is recognized as one of the best-produced podcasts. Not only does Jeff Brown have the best voice in podcasting, he is a true professional. Jeff spent 26 years in the radio business and now brings his experience for training radio talent to helping people develop quality podcasts.

In this episode, Jeff coaches us through having a professional on-air presence and how to create a quality show. Jeff also discusses how parks can use podcasts to serve park visitors.

Podcasting holds so much potential for parks to connect to visitors in a manner not available in any other way. Consider what this could mean for your park. You can provide interpretation to more people. You can build a loyal following of people waiting for new content by sharing stories, history, and park information. You can even set up guided tours along popular trails or roads.

You can put a park ranger in the pocket of every park visitor.

Podcasts, or audio content, can even be used to distribute information to all employees, no matter how spread out or far away they may be. Audio content can allow leaders to reach every person on the team, individually, with the same message.

If you want to talk about creating podcasts for your park, please get in touch.

Jeff Brown recommends the following books:

Linchpin by Seth Godin

Die Empty by Todd Henry

Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

You can find Jeff Brown on Twitter or Facebook or his home on the web, Read to Lead.

Being a Seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger Apr 21, 2015

Show notes

Amanda Llanes returns to the Park Leaders Show to talk about her first season as a seasonal law enforcement ranger with the National Park Service. At the time of her first interview, Amanda was a cadet in the law enforcement academy. Now, she has been a seasonal ranger for one year.

Amanda talks about her experience, what she looks forward to in her next seasonal assignment and her career ambitions. This interview with Amanda is the second part of a look at seasonal park rangers with the National Park Service. You can listen to the first episode here.

If you enjoy the Park Leaders Show, would you consider leaving a review on iTunes? You can find the show here.

Life as a Seasonal Park Ranger Apr 14, 2015

Show notes

On the Park Leaders Show, I often talk to leaders in the National Park Service. Chief Interpreters, Chief Rangers and Park Superintendents have all been guests on the show.

The one thing they all have in common is they all started as seasonal park rangers.

That means the future leaders of the National Park Service are seasonal rangers right now.

Kaitlyn Kunce, Seasonal Park Ranger with the National Park Service

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, I talk with Kaitlyn Kunce, and we take a look at the life of a seasonal park ranger.

At the time of our interview, Kaitlyn is a seasonal park ranger at Mesa Verde National Park. Soon, she will be moving to a seasonal assignment at Yellowstone National Park. Moving often and applying for jobs every few months is one of the challenges seasonal park rangers.

The goal of most seasonal park rangers is to get a permanent position with the National Park Service. Competition for permanent positions can be tough, and seasonal rangers look for ways to learn new skills and build their resume.

Kaitlyn writes about her experience as a ranger on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.

The music for the Park Leaders Show is the creation of Jason Harrod. You can find out more about him here.

Developing an Entrepreneurial Spirit in Parks Apr 07, 2015

Show notes

If you have listened to the Park Leaders Show for a while, you know Jack Hartt was a mentor of mine while I was a park ranger. It was my conversations with Jack early in my career which led me to believe that you would enjoy hearing similar conversations with leaders from all over the country.

Talking with people from parks is important, but if we are really going to change the landscape of leadership in parks and recreation, we need to step outside of parks too. In this episode, we reach outside the world of parks again and talk with Ray Edwards. Not only is Ray a successful entrepreneur, but he is also a strong supporter of parks.

Just like Jack Hartt taught me so much about the business of parks, Ray Edwards has taught me about the business of business. I am so much better at what I do because of Ray Edwards.

Ray explains what park systems, individual parks, or park employees can do to foster an entrepreneurial spirit.

Ray is the host of The Ray Edwards Show and author of Writing Riches.

Ray recommends Work the System by Sam Carpenter to learn more about implementing systems.

One Year of Park Leaders Mar 31, 2015

Show notes

After publishing an episode of the Park Leaders Show every week for 52 weeks, the microphone gets turned around. Jared Easley, host of Starve the Doubts, interviews Jody Maberry, the host of the Park Leaders Show.

The usual host of the show answers questions about his career and what Park Leaders is all about..

Jared Easley helped Park Leaders get started by helping the host get started in podcasting. He was the obvious choice to be a guest host of this special episode of the Park Leaders Show.

You can subscribe to the Park Leaders Show on iTunes and Stitcher Radio.

Hosting Concerts in Parks Mar 24, 2015

Show notes

For several summers, with the help of a group of tremendous volunteers, I ran a summer concert series at a park I worked at. We delighted park visitors with between six and nine concerts each summer. Concerts are a great way to bring new visitors to the park, provide more to regular visitors, and bridge a connection between the park and the community. Hosting the concert series, I got to meet many great musicians. Often, they would eat dinner with my family and spend the night at our house. One musician, Dana Lyons, caught my attention because of his devotion to parks and wild places.

Dana Lyons is best known for his song Cows With Guns, but his heart is found in songs with a message.

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Dana and I talk about how to put on a great concert in a park, but we also go much deeper than that.

The song, Cows with Guns, was so popular, Dana is still best know today for the song. But it is a small piece of a large, beautiful body of work. How do you handle yourself, and your career, when you one large accomplishment can cast a shadow over your other work?

We also talk about the removal of the Elwa Dam and the wonderful performing artists, Cabiri.

How to Make a Park "Park-Like" Mar 17, 2015

Show notes

Jack Hartt is deliberate about the experience people have at Deception Pass State Park. He feels a park experience should feel "Park-Like".

Most parks have trees and trails, but it is the experience of the park that brings people back year after year.

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jack Hartt verbally walks us through a park and, area by area, explains what it takes to make a park look and feel like a park.

Whether it is park entrance, restrooms, or park signs, Jack Hartt explains how parks that care can deliver an experience to delight park visitors.

Jack Hartt is now on Twitter. Visit him here and say Hello.

To learn more about Jack Hartt's background, listen to episode 6 of the Park Leaders Show.

Jack is the author of five books, including A Day in the Park with Ranger Jack.

The Art of Work with Jeff Goins Mar 10, 2015

Show notes

Jeff Goins returns to the Park Leaders Show to discuss his new book, The Art of Work.

The Art of Work is a proven path to discovering what you were meant to do. It is about finding your calling and being who you were meant to be.

The book is wonderful. In my opinion, the best work Jeff Goins has done so far. But I admit, I have a personal connection to this book.

I was fortunate enough to have my story, the story of becoming a park ranger and then walking away to something else, is part of this book.

In this interview, Jeff and I talk about how the story of a park ranger fit into the bigger story of a book about finding your calling. On the surface, you may think a story about becoming a park ranger is about finding a dream job and a calling.

It is bigger than that. Being a park ranger is piece of a full life that led me towards work I was meant to do, including Park Leaders. The story is told beautifully by Jeff Goins and I want you to read it.

Believe me, this is a great book. You don't want to miss the offer for a free copy of the Art of Work. You can get it here.

The first time Jeff Goins was a guest on the Park Leaders Show, I told him that I knew a park would step up and make him a honorary Junior Ranger. So far, no park has come forward to do it. Who can help? Please reach out and let's make Jeff Goins an honorary Junior Ranger.

If you like what you hear from Jeff, you might enjoy his podcast, The Portfolio Life. You can also find Jeff on Twitter and Facebook.

Lessons from 30 Years in the National Park Service Mar 03, 2015

Show notes

As a young leader, one of the best ways to build yourself is to learn from established leaders. Someone has already made the mistakes you are going to make, wrestled with the decisions you struggle with, and found the success you are looking for.

Bob Krumenaker is one of those established leaders you should get to know. Bob has over 30 years with the National Park Service and currently serves as the Superintendent of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Bob shares his path through the National Park Service and many of the lessons he has learned.

Bob is one of the key members of the Association of National Park Rangers working on the 2016 World Ranger Congress, which will be in Estes Park, Colorado.

Bob recently served a temporary assignment as the superintendent of Everglades National Park. He shares the challenges and opportunity of leaving your home park to serve at a different park on a temporary assignment. Temporary assignments can be a tremendous opportunity for learning and experience.

If you are in the first half of your career, the advice from Bob Krumenaker can help you adjust and consider how to approach your career.

Check here for more information about the World Ranger Congress.

The Digital Side of Recreation Feb 24, 2015

Show notes

Outdoor recreation is not immune from the growing trend of technology. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all a part of recreation for many people.

A new digital platform, Campstake, is focusing on the digital side of recreation. Brandon Painter, co-founder of Campstake, joins the Park Leaders Show to talk about how the digital side of outdoor recreation can benefit parks.

If you are reading this in email, CLICK HERE to listen to this episode.

The team at Campstake hosts one of the fastest growing Twitter Chats focused on outdoor recreation. #CampChat takes place every Tuesday at 9 PM EST.

You can find out more about Campstake on their website, or by visiting them on Twitter or Facebook. You can also contact Brandon Painter directly at brandon (at) campstake.com.

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