Shows
Finding AtoriaTalking 'Bout the Big BoysSend us a textWelcome back to the table! We get to talk about two big names in the ttrpg circles. Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins are two of the biggest names in D&D. These two gents have huge backstories in all things D&D. We have the forever DM and the rules guy. With the amount of time these gents spent gaming, they could call their shots. Both gents spent at least 18 years at WotC, very successfully. These guys are amazing and should at least be looked at by all of the D&D...2025-07-1739 minFinding AtoriaFunky FreshSend us a textWelcome back to the table! Back to Daggerheart, Tori went into a deep dive for the rules/mechanics. Daggerheart is it’s own system and it’s mechanics reflect that. It is NOT a D&D clone. This system takes a lot from other games and takes them and twist into it’s own. Malcom brings in the fact that the resources has some similarities with VTM and Shadowrun. The duality dice brings a new resource into the game with hope and fear. Combat gets into unknown territory with the drop of initia...2025-07-1048 minFinding AtoriaA New Game? Again?Send us a textArcadia and Malcom have lost their Byrd for the week but she was actually supposed to be playing on recording day. They discuss Daggerheart and the splash it is making in the ttrpg world. Daggerheart is the new ttrpg brought to by Darrington Press (Critical Role) and many people have some very strong opinions on them. This was a marked step away from D&D but they are wildly successful in their own right, they are not beholden to WotC. They have been in position to launch their own game without having...2025-07-0347 minFinding AtoriaBeauty is in the Eyes of the BeholderSend us a text Pick an Edition, any edition, we got you covered. Welcome to our first monster comparison! Tori starts us off with her favorite monster, the Beholder! Don't worry, there will be other monster comparisons to com! https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-nc/4.0/88x31.png Rise (Epic, Inspirational, Cinematic) by Artur Aravidi is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Support the showContact Us on...2025-06-2636 minFinding AtoriaTHAC0 Says What?Send us a textThere are receipts and Arcadia gets to GM. Malcolm leads off with the future of ttrpgs and how folks want to customize games even further. Solo gaming has gained traction and folks are moving away from the mechanics. While this may be the future of some gamers, most of us agree that this is not the same thing as gaming at a table with folks. This seems more like a Choose Your Own Adventure or a rpg video game to most of us. This is a way of the story telling aspect...2025-06-191h 03Finding AtoriaInspiration for AllSend us a textMalcom is the GM this episode, and Jess is in the studio with us. Tori wins the initiative roll and brings up what everyone’s characters are based on. Movies, books, and TV shows capture people's imagination and bring ideas to the forefront. Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and He-Man come up in the conversation. Don’t forget The Hobbit as well. Inspiration is found everywhere, and we wanna hear yours too. Arcadia comes back from the break with our favorite fantasy books and how they affect our gaming. What is y...2025-06-1247 min
A Public AffairA Safe, Decent, Affordable Home for Everyone
On today’s show, host Matvei Mozhaev speaks with Maria Foscarinis, a principal architect of the 1987 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the first major piece of federal legislation to address homelessness. They discuss her recent book, And Housing for All: The Fight to End Homelessness in America, which details the impact of homelessness on people’s lives and argues that ending homelessness in the US requires the recognition of housing as a basic human right.
Foscarinis discusses the last four decades of the homeless crisis in the US. She started her career when Regan came...2025-06-1151 minFinding AtoriaBack to the Future (Kind of) With Our Two Favorite Shadowrun ClassesSend us a textArcadia gets to be our GM this round while Tori is still remote because she likes podcasting in her pajamas. Shadowrun is the name of the game in this episode as Malcolm and Tori cover two classes from Shadowrun's Fifth Edition. Tori wins initiative but defers, so Malcolm gets to talk about his favorite class, the Face. This class is the talker of the bunch. They are the ones who get you the jobs, who know a guy who knows a guy, the ones with the contacts and who can make things happen...2025-06-0542 minFinding AtoriaBig News at the Table: Finding Atoria Around the WorldSend us a textMalcolm leads us out in our sweet 16 episode. We're down for laughs, sharing news, and celebrating the TTRPG community joining us at the table around the world. We want to know where you're finding Atoria, and would love to talk with you on our socials. Tori brings us big announcements for our Patreon community, Arcadia tries her hand at pronouncing your hometowns, and Malcolm is ready to ship you your FA merch!Go support our friend Adam ---> www.questsforall.co.ukVisit our Socials to see the merch...2025-05-2948 minFinding AtoriaVampire: The Masquerade Clans: Banu Hakim vs. Clan MalkavianSend us a textMalcolm is the GM today while Tori calls in and is on the air remotely! The ladies cover a couple of clans in VTM for this episode. Arcadia leads off by talking about the Banu Hakim. This clan isn’t one of the most well-known clans in VTM because it's one of the most isolated and isn't part of the Camarilla. The Banu Hakim clan has its own history, caste system, and organization. The Masquerade isn't as necessary for them as it is for other clans, and they've stepped away from most Kindred so...2025-05-2255 minFinding AtoriaNew Toys From the Bros: The Power of the OGL and Creative CommonsSend us a textTori brings the latest and greatest news for Dungeons & Dragons content creators to share with Malcolm and Arcadia. Is this news for the community? What does it mean? Is anything new at the table for lovers of the world's largest TTRPG? Join Tori, Malcolm & Arcadia at the table as they discuss what the update to D&D's System Resource Document means for Third Party D&D content creators. Wizards of the Coast Updates the SRD With 2024 5e Rules: A New Chapter for D&D’s Open Gaming FutureOur...2025-05-1546 minFinding AtoriaDon't Be an Arseling: Best Practices for TTRPG Players and the Art of D&DSend us a textArcadia is our GM this episode, and Jess is back! Tori leads off after losing initiative with the topic of good and bad player characteristics. The number one great player characteristic is being engaged in the game. Remember, you’re working with the GM, not against them, which rings true for most tables. Both GMs and players can work together to make this happen. Sharing the spotlight and letting folks make mistakes are also good PC traits. Telling people they are doing a good job or that something is cool is a good th...2025-05-0859 minFinding AtoriaSchool TTRPG Clubs and Finding Your TableSend us a textWe get to try out new podcasting tech as we have a special guest today calling in remotely. Coel Scheel joins us to talk about his experience with gaming clubs in school. For him, it was a good opportunity to meet more of his fellow gamers and bond over some of the geekier parts of life. He talks about how these high school clubs give kids the opportunity to be a part of the gaming community and access to D&D Beyond, including all of the sourcebooks, minis, character sheets, dice, and...2025-05-0155 minFinding AtoriaHomebrewing for the Classroom and the Importance of LoreSend us a textMalcolm GMs this one and Arcadia has the winning initiative role. Cady talks about how teachers can use TTRPGs for learning and how homebrewing can create the correct platform for teaching specific skills and knowledge. Hack and slash campaigns don't always cut it to teach economics or other subjects. Worldbuilding can be challenging to begin with and takes more consideration than most of us have time for; teachers are amazing and deserve better, period. Tori returns from break to discuss the importance of lore in a TTRPG. Lore is important in both homebrew...2025-04-2453 minFinding AtoriaFurry Vengeance and Game-Based LearningSend us a textMalcolm is our ref for this episode, in which Tori rolled highest on initiative and comes back to the topic of the "Satanic Panic” and how we're now facing its modern re-occurrence in the form of the FURRIES Act, introduced by a legislator in Texas. Due to the vague language of this bill, it can block TTRPG clubs in schools due to “nonhuman behavior.” Arcadia comes back from break with game-based learning and its role in the classroom. This style of learning involves adapting TTRPGs for traditional classrooms and offers multiple ways to engage...2025-04-1741 minFinding AtoriaCharacter Flaws and You Don't Have To Be an Actor To RoleplaySend us a textTori gets to ref this episode and we have a guest! Jess is with us in the studio. Malcolm covers the topic of character flaws. This doesn’t mean nerfing your character, but it does prevent players from munchkining their characters. Flaws also give a character more depth than just being stereotyped heroes. Some examples of flaws include Shadowrun's elf poser and VTM's known corpse, compromised haven, and prey exclusion. Many players include flaws without thinking but for DMs, these can flavor your game in so many ways. Flaws can grow and change al...2025-04-1043 minFinding AtoriaTTRPG Pet Peeves and Character DeathSend us a textArcadia gets to ref this episode. Tori leads off with a list of gaming pet peeves from both sides of the table. Most of the items on that list boil down to just being aware that you're playing a collaborative game; be courteous to your fellow players and to the GM. The GM and the players are not opposing forces; it shouldn't be adversarial. Also, take the time to look at your character sheet! It will have the info you need to play the game and now slow down the game play for...2025-04-0351 minFinding AtoriaMin-Maxxing and Don't Forget About DaveSend us a textArcadia leads off with her shot at the moderator spot. Tori brings up the topic of min maxxing in D&D. Tori is an admitted optimizer when it comes to her builds but strives not to be a problem player. Powergamers, munchkins, min-maxxers, and optimizers can be yproblem children at the table. Min-maxing and optimizing are usually brought up in the build for the PC. Munchkins are problem children regardless. DMs have the ability to tweak the game to mitigate some of that power gaming. Main character syndrome abounds with regards to powergamers...2025-03-2747 minFinding AtoriaSatanic Panic and Gotta Make That Castle PaymentSend us a textTori is in the moderator seat this episode. Arcadia leads off with the Satanic Panic and how D&D got roped into that mishigas. The Satanic Panic took over the US, and D&D was primed to get brought into it. Due to being started at the beginning of the latchkey kids, parents worried about those kids who were without parents constantly being available. The most ironic part of that piece of the story is that those kids getting into D&D, were the good kids. TSR did itself no favors with the...2025-03-2053 minFinding AtoriaDebating Level 1 and Spooky StoriesSend us a textMalcom gets to be the ref this episode. Arcadia comes with the idea that starting at level 1 is the way to go with starting a campaign. This can give players the ability to grow with their characters. This can move the story forward and help the players out with learning their character do's and don’ts. Tori debates this with the fact that playing a level 1 character can kinda suck. Both ladies agree that sometimes those lower levels are highly beneficial to all players. The milestone vs XP conversation comes into the convo as...2025-03-1336 minFinding AtoriaIf You Build It, They Will PlaySend us a textArcadia comes to the table as the ref this session. Malcolm starts the conversation by talking about session 0 and its uses at the table. Session 0 can be a useful tool at a gaming table. This can make sure your “social contract” is good for all members of the table. You can bring up house rules and how they will work in the game. You can also set expectations for both DM and players alike. It helps sort through trigger warnings, likes, dislikes, and setting limits. Back from break, Tori is up next and talk...2025-03-0653 minFinding AtoriaIt Isn't As Hard As You ThinkSend us a textArcadia is the moderator for this one. Malcolm leads off with how “easy” it is to be a DM. He has been our forever DM since the ‘90s. Arcadia has swapped out with him as well. There are tons of DM resources and it may not be as scary as you think. Rule #1 of DMing: if you aren’t having fun, the players probably aren’t either. Letting your players have agency is an important point as well. The players will derail you, I repeat, the players will derail you. But it can be a g...2025-02-2743 minFinding AtoriaInclusion, Friendships, and Therapy?Send us a textTori gets to moderate this episode. Arcadia starts us off with the topic of finding the right table for you. Finding nightmare tables proves the old adage, no D&D is better than bad D&D. Sometimes you gotta kiss a lot of frogs to find the right partner. Finding the right group of people to game with is key because they can turn into lifelong friendships. On the other hand, sitting at the wrong table can sour you on the game as a whole. Arcadia sums up the actual thing about...2025-02-2749 minFinding AtoriaWelcome to the TableSend us a textWelcome to our table! Three friends with over 100 years of combined TTRPG experience decide to talk about one of our favorite pastimes. With Malcolm as our moderator, the discussion begins. Tori breaks into the topic about how the hobby is becoming more accessible and acceptable to the general public. There are many pluses to this change in the gaming community. Due to those changes, there is more inclusivity in the actual game itself. That being said, Arcadia speaks on the other side of that coin. Pay-to-play games have become a widespread phenomenon...2025-02-2343 min
TDA: On The Go PodcastTDA On The Go 58 - Meet The New President (Jerry Deschane)A new year brings new opportunities. In this first episode of 2025, TDA Executive Director Debby Jackson speaks with Jerry Deschane. In addition to his role as the executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Deschane is the current president of TDA. The two discuss the League’s legislative goals for this session, including the hope that the Governor and Legislature can build off last session’s bipartisan progress. They cover a wide range of topics, including the need for different transportation interests to work together to better the entire system, the importance of state highways to local...2025-01-3015 min
Who's in the KitchenWho’s in the Kitchen-Saturday January 11, 2025Philothea hosts Mary Root and Kaia Deschane, discusssing the 50th Anniversary of the Kickapoo Exchange Food Coop in Gays Milla2025-01-1355 min
La Coxxa ChismaLa coxxa chisma CAPITULO 23 RUPTURAS AMOROSASCAPITULO 23.- RUPTURAS AMOROSASEn este miercoles 09 de octubre del 2024 quisimos abordar un tema que todos alguna vez en la vida hemos afrontado, las rupturas amorosas, pero a que nos referimos con ellas, en concreto a los duelos después de terminar una relacion de pareja, noviazgo, matrimonio o aquellas donde tuvimos algún interés romántico.Evocando el poema de la gran escritora Rosario Castellanos, «Ajedrez»Porque éramos amigos y a ratos, nosamábamos;quizá para añadir otro interésa los muchos que ya nos obligabandecidimos jugar juegos de i...2024-10-101h 38
King County Recovery ConversationsInside King County’s Drug Court: A Pathway to Recovery and TransformationJoin host Brad Finegood on King County Recovery Conversations as he delves into the transformative impact of King County's Drug Court program with guests Joe Barsana and Lizzy DesChane. Joe shares his personal journey of recovery through the structured support of Drug Court, highlighting how it reshaped his life through tailored treatments and relentless encouragement. Lizzy, with her vast experience as a Treatment Coordinator, explains the mechanisms of the drug court, praising its combination of accountability and therapeutic support.
This episode’s discussion underscores the importance of viewing substance use disorder through a therapeutic lens rather than a...2024-04-2936 min
Capy's Cozy ChairAuthor Chat Hillari DeSchaneI had so much fun talking with Hillari about her books and all things cozy. I hope you enjoyed listening. Please follow her at her Amazon page https://www.amazon.com/stores/Hillari-DeSchane/author/B07H228PV4. Or on her website www.hillarideschane.com2023-11-2230 min
WTMJ N.O.W.Mayor to (Not Mayor) Jerry DeSchane from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities2023-08-2911 min
Messy TimesCombat Controller Tom DeSchane Shares his Experience in Special OperationsMessy Times is focused on making the American military culture and its people available to a wider audience. Only 7% of Americans are either in the military or family members of our all-volunteer force. Our Enlightentaining Host is privileged to serve on the Board of Directors for the Combat Control Foundation.
Tom DeSchane had a 28-year career in Combat Control, retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant, after entering the Air Force for four years to pay for college. He joins us in the studios to give his perspective on CCT as a career, how this Special Tactics group operates with...2023-07-3047 min
WisPolitics.comLeague of Wisconsin Municipalities' Deschane says this session most consequential in a generationLeague of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane says this session is turning out to be one of the most consequential for local governments in a generation. Several bills are circulating the Capitol to address shared revenue, workforce housing and PFAS "forever chemical" contamination.2023-05-1714 min
WisPolitics Capitol ChatsLeague of Wisconsin Municipalities' Deschane says this session most consequential in a generation League of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane says this session is turning out to be one of the most consequential for local governments in a generation. Several bills are circulating the Capitol to address shared revenue, workforce housing and PFAS "forever chemical" contamination. 2023-05-1714 min
Read by ExampleOne Science is Dependent on AnotherIn this special episode/post, I was joined by Sandy Brumbaum, Reading Recovery teacher leader and consultant, and Denise Johnson, a literacy professor at William & Mary, to kick off the book study for Teaching Readers (Not Reading): Moving Beyond Skills and Strategies to Reader-Focused Instruction by Peter Afflerbach (Guilford, 2022).In our conversation, we responded to and discussed three questions:* What are your greatest concerns about current trends and programs with teaching readers and literacy instruction in general?* Consider examples of effective reading instruction you've observed or participated in. What are the essential components...2022-10-2912 min
Read by ExampleLeaders Need to Know LiteracyBelow are five insights after I read ten thoughtful posts from contributors around my book, Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H.1. Leaders need to know literacy.“Through a lifetime of working in schools, one of my most powerful insights and core beliefs is that teachers must be leaders, and principals must know literacy.” (pg. 1)- Regie Routman, Read, Write, Lead: Breakthrough Strategies for Schoolwide Literacy Success (ASCD, 2014)School leaders knowing literacy should go without saying. But a question I have here is, why don’t more leaders - especially princi...2022-07-3005 min
Read by ExampleCultivating Genius Book Discussion #2We follow up on our previous conversation for Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, I am joined by contributors Gen Arcovio, Ryanne Deschane, Rhonda Precourt, and Carrie Thomas.We used the following three questions to guide our conversation:* What takeaways did you gain from this book?* What questions do you still have?* How have you changed after reading this book?This wraps up the book study. Thank you for your readership and leadership!Relevant Resources* Listen...2021-08-0123 min
Two Bald GuysTwo Bald Guys - Episode #35 - How Local Government Is Changing the Face of AmericaLocal municipalities are facing unique challenges and are charting new courses in policy that used to be dominated by state and national government. From health mandates to broadband initiatives to policing reforms – the significance of local government has grown. This raises the question: How is “Mayberry” meeting the “Beltway”?
Watch this episode of “Two Bald Guys” to hear the answer to that question and more. We were joined by Jerry Deschane, executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, to talk about the changes and challenges local municipalities face in 2021. To learn more about the League of Wisc...2021-04-0946 min
LocalGovMatters#LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 1: The Year Ahead with Mark O'Connell & Jerry Deschane<p>It’s a new year and an election year at that….Join Wisconsin Counties Association Executive Director Mark O’Connell and League of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane as they have a lively conversation with co-hosts Michelle Thompson and Gail Sumi about what lies ahead in 2020 on the legislative front in this inaugural episode of LocalGovMatters […]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://localgovmatters.wicounties.org/localgovmatters-episode-2-the-year-ahead-with-mark-oconnell-jerry-deschane/">#LocalGovMatters 2.0 Episode 1: The Year Ahead with Mark O'Connell & Jerry Deschane</a> appeared first on...2020-01-1500 min
Workforce WavesE20: A New Online Tool For Generating Talent in WisconsinIn this episode you'll hear about the Talent Generator, a new online tool offering smart tips and best practices for creating and sustaining a successful student talent development program. The featured guest is Rebecca Deschane, Talent Initiatives Director, a joint position with WEDC and the University of Wisconsin System.2020-01-1416 min
The ActiveCampaign PodcastEpisode 55: Managing Social Media with Jessie DeschaneActiveCampaign's own social media and community manager provides her take on social media management for businesses and brands.2018-02-2134 min
National Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 29 : Sounds of Congaree National ParkThe sounds of Congaree National Park.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/BhejpKDPV9s" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2011-08-2700 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 28 : Restoring Hetch Hetchy?National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Mike Marshall and Robert Hanna of Restore Hetch Hetchy.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/JWMhiErSBwo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2011-06-2700 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 27 : Interview with Andrew SkurkaNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Adam Skurka.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/UYe1sMf2bPs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2011-03-1500 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 26 : Stonewall Jackson's arm - Interview with John HennessyNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews John Hennessy regarding Stonewall Jackson's arm.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/A-rxJFkf9KE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2010-11-0100 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 25 : Dr. Donna Shaver - Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles in the Gulf of MexicoNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Dr. Donna Shaver regarding the Kemps Ridley sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/NsoKemHOjao" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2010-06-1400 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 24 : Senator Tom Udall - Promoting Our National ParksNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Senator Tom Udall regarding the promotion of our National Parks.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/qxZCRUm3dQo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2010-05-0900 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 22 : Trevor Thomas - First blind person to thru-hike the ATC unassistedNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Trevor Thomas, First blind person to thru-hike the ATC unassisted.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/onzCemvDwZI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2010-04-1800 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 21 : Gerard Baker - Associate Director for American Indian RelationsNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Gerard Baker, Associate Director for American Indian Relations<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/FQIHU9m4-LM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2010-04-1300 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 20 : 15 years since the reintroduction of wolves in YellowstoneNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Doug Smith, project leader of gray wolf restoration in Yellowstone National Park.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/DRKfnto84es" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2010-02-1400 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 19 : Interview with Jon JarvisNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Jon Jarvis, director of the National Parks Service<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/FT88nk2QfjE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2009-10-1300 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 18 : Climate Change Threatens Our National Parks - Conference Call With NRDCNational Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek Participates In Conference Call With NRDC<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/v4OSEhp9oc0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2009-10-0200 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPTP 17 : Interview with Ken Burns - The National Parks: "America's Best Idea"National Parks Traveler Editor Kurt Repanshek interviews Ken Burns<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/0wJ110Xh9dU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2009-09-2700 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 16 : Winter in Yellowstone National ParkNearly every conversation that includes the words "Yellowstone" and "winter" also includes the words "snowmobiles." Well, for a change, I'd like to present this short 3 minute journey into the snowy winter season in Yellowstone National Park, that includes no snowmobiles! (You would have heard them had I left the audio unedited, but at least you want see any in this short movie.) Buffalo still roam, rivers still flow, but the entire place in winter is surrounded in mist and snow, which totally change the outlook on the landscape. And, as my colleague Rich Deline is heard to exclaim at the...2007-12-2000 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 15 : Fran Mainella Speaks About Snowmobiles and ScienceSOUND: Snowmobiles in [url=http://www.nps.gov/yell]Yellowstone National Park[/url].
KURT: At a time when politics in Washington truly are a “contact sport,” we shouldn’t be too surprised when we learn that science has been trumped when it comes to decisions affecting the national park system. Should we be disappointed? Of course. But surprised? Unfortunately not.
These past seven years there long have been suspicions that politics shaped the National Park Service’s position on snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park. Those suspicions gained tremendous weight when I talked with Fran Mainella, who a little over a year ago...2007-12-0100 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 14 : Tallgrass Prairie National PreserveA 3 minute video postcard from a recent visit to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas. I had the privilege of visiting this unit of the parks recently. Park interpreters led a tour of the historic house and barn, followed later by a bus tour of the prairie. I happened to be on the very last bus tour of the season, the next one won't be until April.
The park itself is pretty remote. I was traveling through Wichita and decided to take the side trip. The park is approximately 90 miles (one-way) from Wichita. Considering the drive consumed 3 hours of...2007-11-1900 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 13 : Olympic National Park; Lake QuinaultTake a few minutes out of your day and enjoy a 5 minute video tour of the Lake Quinault region of Olympic National Park. We start with a look at the historic Lake Quinault Lodge. Manager Dave Huber gives us a look around and describes some of the more interesting aspects of the lodge's past. Next, we catch up with Roger Blain, a former ranger with the Park Service, he now provides interpretive tours of the area with the lodge. Roger leads us through the Maple Glade trail, a short nature loop near the lake that contains quite a lot of...2007-10-2400 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 12 : Port Chicago Naval Magazine as ParkEugene Sayles survived the terrible explosion at Port Chicago on the night of July 17, 1944, but many of his colleagues did not. Located near San Francisco California, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine was a place where ordinance was transferred from rail cars to ships during World War II for operations in the Pacific. A small fire led first to a small explosion then 6 seconds later, a massive explosion that was felt up to 500 miles away. The explosion was the largest U.S. home front disaster during World War II, killing 320 men, 202 of whom were African American.
The explosion, work stoppage, and...2007-10-0200 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 11 : Soundscape : Bandelier's Frijoles CreekTake a minute to relax next to the cascading waters of Frijoles Creek in Bandelier National Monument. This short recording was made under the shade of the trees along the picnic road next to the creek. You'll be able to hear some birds chirping along, as well as a child's call about half-way through. And while it is anything but quiet, I think this is the type of natural soundscape that draws people out of the cities in search of the "peace and quiet" found in our national parks.
This podcast was inspired by a website I've just recently stumbled...2007-09-0700 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 10 : Voices from the Hill : Secretary Kempthorne on CentennialSecretary Kempthorne: "this is a giant leap for the National Park Service"
You can hear it in his voice, can't you? Dirk Kempthorne is excited. The Secretary of the Interior announced today a list of 201 projects that are eligible for funding in the first year of the Centennial Initiative. The program could add as much as $2 Billion in new programs and projects for the parks, and $1 Billion for park operations over 10 years. In his remarks that follow, you can hear Mr. Kempthorne crow a little bit at the early success of the program, especially as it relates to the provision...2007-08-2400 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPT 9 : A Park Remark : Nancy Bandley and Park Passport StampsAt the new National Parks Traveler, Kurt Repanshek and I have as a goal to provide original multimedia content about our parks. It's an advantage of the web that we can bring you audio and video programs from time to time. As part of an ongoing series, we'll provide interviews with folks who have special insight on the parks. Today I have a conversation with Nancy Bandley. Nancy has accomplished something very few others have done, she has visited every single unit of the National Park Service, all 391 of them. On her travels to the parks, she collects park passport...2007-08-1400 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastAudio From the Hill : Mary BomarNearly one year ago, on the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service that Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, while visiting Yellowstone National Park, introduced a program which would bring upwards of $3 Billion dollars in new funds for our parks. The ambitious program, called the Centennial Challenge, is geared to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Park Service in 2016. Over the last year, the National Park Service has conducted listening sessions around the country, and talked with their parks to figure out the best programs on which to spend this money. We are expected to hear which programs...2007-08-0300 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastOlympic National Park, Sol Duc ValleySol Duc Valley is part 1 of a three part series about the West Side lowlands of Olympic National Park. Take a drive up the valley and stop at the Salmon Cascades, Sol Duc Hot Springs, and Sol Duc Falls along the way.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/CMgkW21ADc0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2007-07-1700 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastHaunted Hikes in the National ParksIn this third edition of the Park Remark audiocast, I have a phone conversation with Andrea Lankford who is the author of the book Haunted Hikes: Spine-Tingling Tales and Trails from North America's National Parks. Andrea and I have some fun covering some of the scary stories in her book. We also take a few minutes to cover the larger scope of these stories as they relate to cultural resource protection within the National Park Service. Our program starts with a reading from one of the stories in the book.
Anrdea's set up a website with a little more detail...2007-04-2600 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastNPCA Discusses Storm Damage and Listening SessionsLast week I had a chance to sit down and have an interview with Sean Smith, the Northwest Regional Director of the National Parks and Conservation Association. Sean was a lot of fun to talk to, I found him to be very knowledgeable about many park issues. I've edited our conversation down to 11 minutes 30 seconds, but there was a lot of the interview I had to leave on the virtual cutting room floor. Perhaps down the road, I'll reassemble the extras and create another audiocast.
Today's conversation covers two big topics, the November storms which did many millions of dollars...2007-03-2200 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastWashington State Plan to Abolish the FLREAI hope you find the topic for the first show interesting -- if you recreate on federal lands, including the National Parks, it's at least topic that your wallet is already familiar with: entrance fees. I had the opportunity to speak with Washington State Representative Maralyn Chase who has co-sponsored a House Memorial which asks that federal fees collected under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) be abolished in the State of Washington.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/NationalParksTravelerPodcast/~4/MquNE6y-cdg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>2007-03-0800 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastDevils Tower Time LapseThis weekend Devils Tower celebrated its 100th anniversary as National Monument. It is significant, because it was the first federal land to be set aside as a monument by Teddy Roosevelt under the Antiquities Act. Based on the write-up in the Rapid City Journal, it sounds as if there was quite a bit of pomp and circumstance going on. The keynote speaker was Theodore Roosevelt IV. Special guests including the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks Craig Thomas (R., WY) and even a special video welcome from former Wyoming resident Vice President Dick Cheney.
In honor of the...2006-09-2600 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastInterpreter Hasan Davis as YorkI met a lot of folks along the trail who's dedication to the Lewis and Clark story inspired me. In August I introduced you to one of these guys, Craig Rockwell of the Army Corps of Engineers who portrays Captain Clark. Today, I would like to introduce you to a living history interpreter who I think is as talented as anyone I've ever met at his craft. This fellow is named Hasan Davis, he is an educator and makes his home in the St. Louis area but has traveled coast to coast telling the story of York, Captain William Clark's...2006-09-2400 minNational Parks Traveler PodcastInterview with Lewis & Clark InterpreterWhen I was at the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial event in Billings, MT recently, I brought along a portable audio recorder. I had the opportunity to chat with a fellow who has portrayed William Clark across the country at nearly all of the national Lewis & Clark events the last few years. The person's name is Craig "Rocky" Rockwell and he is an interpreter who works for the Army Corps of Engineers. Rocky's got a lot of good stories to share about his experience traveling the trail, and he agreed to share some of them in an informal interview. The...2006-08-1100 min