Podcasts about National Parks Conservation Association

Chuckwalla Box Canyon in the Chuckwalla National Monument, one of six monuments the Interior Department is considering shrinking. Photo by Bob Wick / Bureau of Land Management. Last year, an estimated 330 million people visited our national parks here in the United States. Tens of millions more visited national wildlife refuges, national forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands, connecting with our wild places, our shared history, and the wildlife these lands protect. Despite broad public engagement with our protected places, public lands have been in the Trump Administration's crosshairs since Day 1 of his second term. The administration has announced far-reaching layoffs at the federal agencies that manage our public lands. It has proposed massive budget cuts to the National Park Service. It has taken action to open protected places to increased drilling, mining, and logging, and has embraced the idea of outright selling public lands. Luke Basulto, the Ruth Hammett California Desert Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, and Josh Hicks, Conservation Campaigns Director for The Wilderness Society, join Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal managing editor Zoe Loftus-Farren to discuss the state of our public lands amid this onslaught. The post Trump's Public Lands Grab appeared first on KPFA.

In this episode, we travel to the Peruvian Andes. We chat with Redd Walitzki, who is an artist, adventurer, and full-time traveler who's spent the last few years slowly meandering through Central and South America on a Royal Enfield Himalayan. We talk about everything from route planning to the scariest things about being a solo traveler to how to afford being on the road full time, and Redd shares some interesting anecdotes from their travels.   Follow Redd  IG: https://www.instagram.com/explo.redd Website: https://www.reddwalitzki.com/   Go Park Yourself shirts: http://thescenicride.com/ Donate to the National Parks Conservation Association: https://www.npca.org/

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest roadway in the U.S. that was planned as a single unit. Its origin is connected to government efforts to provide relief from the Great Depression, and conservation of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Research: "Restoring Western North Carolina's Infrastructure: NCDOT Receives $250 Million in Federal Emergency Relief Funds." National Law Review, 21 Feb. 2025. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A828346450/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=b22cedc8. Accessed 12 May 2025. "The Blue Ridge Parkway." NCpedia. Accessed on May 14th, 2025. https://www.ncpedia.org/anchor/blue-ridge-parkway. “Report In Full of Secretary Work’s Appalachian National Park Committee. “National Parks and Conservation Magazine.” 1924-11-25: Iss 42. https://archive.org/details/sim_national-parks_1924-11-25_42/page/n5/ Averill, Graham. “The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Monumental Drive.” Our State. 9/27/2021. https://www.ourstate.com/the-blue-ridge-parkway-a-monumental-drive/ Buxton, Barry. “Blue Ridge Parkway: Agent of Transition.” Proceedings of the Blue Ridge Parkway Golden Anniversary Conference. Appalachian Consortium Press/Boone, North Carolina. 1986. Coutant, Linda. “Helene Recovery, 7 Months After the Storm.” National Parks Conservation Association. 4/26/2025. https://www.npca.org/articles/8198-helene-recovery-7-months-after-the-storm Coutant, Linda. “Helene: Facing Loss and the Blue Ridge Parkway’s ‘Most Tremendous Challenge’.” National Parks Conservation Association. https://www.npca.org/articles/5459-helene-facing-loss-and-the-blue-ridge-parkway-s-most-tremendous-challenge “Driving Through Time: The Digital Blue Ridge Parkway.” https://docsouth.unc.edu/blueridgeparkway/ Jolley, Harley E., “Blue Ridge Parkway: The First 50 Years,” Appalachian State University Libraries Digital Collections, accessed May 14, 2025, https://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/43667. Landis, Mark. “This 5,600-mile highway route was created to see 12 national parks in the West.” The Sun. 6/13/2022. https://www.sbsun.com/2022/06/13/this-5600-mile-highway-route-was-created-to-see-12-national-parks-in-the-west/ Mitchell, Anne V. “Culture, History, and Development on the Qualla Boundary: The Eastern Cherokees and the Blue Ridge Parkway, 1935-40.” Appalachian Journal , WINTER 1997, Vol. 24, No. 2. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40933835 National Park Service. “Blue Ridge Parkway: Virginia and North Carolina.” From Highways in Harmony online books exhibit. https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/hih/blue_ridge/index.htm Roberts, Brett G. “Returning the Land: Native Americans and National Parks.” Ave Maria Law Review 148 (Spring, 2023). https://www.avemarialaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/v21.Roberts.final38.pdf Speer, Jean Haskell. “’Hillbilly Sold Here’: Appalachian Folk Culture and Parkway Tourism.” From Parkways: Past, Present and Future. International Linear Parks Conference. Appalachian State University. (1987). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1xp3kv8.33 S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “America's Highways 1776-1976.” U.S. Government Printing Office. https://archive.org/details/AmericasHighways1776-1976 Whisnant, Anne Mitchel. “Routing the Parkway, 1934.” Driving Through Time. DocSouth. https://docsouth.unc.edu/blueridgeparkway/overlooks/competing_routes/#footnote9 Whisnant, Anne Mitchell. “A Capsule History of the Blue Ridge Parkway.” Appalachian Voice. 10/11/2017. https://appvoices.org/2017/10/11/a-capsule-history-of-the-blue-ridge-parkway/ Whisnant, Anne Mitchell. “Super-Scenic Motorway: A Blue Ridge Parkway History.” University of North Carolina Press. 2006. Zeller, Thomas. “Consuming Landscapes: What We See When We Drive and Why It Matters.” Johns Hopkins University Press. 2022. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/book.103002 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So much is happening so quickly to the National Park Service. There have been staff reductions, hiring freezes, spending freezes, orders from the Interior Secretary to make sure that visitors find national parks welcoming, no matter what it takes.  Every week seems to bring something new, and quite frankly dire to the National Park Service. Most recently we've heard about the loss of about 60 employees from the agency's Alaska regional office, and there are concerns the Trump administration is going to push through even greater reductions in force for the Park Service. How are those moves impacting the parks and the Park Service? Our guest today is Kristen Brengel, the Senior Vice President for Governmental Affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association. 

The Trump administration's budget and staffing cuts to national parks could mean longer lines, closed visitor centers and fewer search and rescue workers this summer, according to former parks staff and advocates. The cuts are also compromising scientific research and environmental protection, creating what the National Parks Conservation Association calls “a façade of a national park experience.” In California, Yosemite scientists have had to pick up bathroom cleaning shifts; decades-long endangered species studies in the Channel Islands are at risk. Are you planning a visit? We'll share what you should know before you go. Guests: Russell Galipeau, executive council member, Coalition to Protect America's National Parks; former superintendent, Channel Islands National Park Ashley Harrell, National Parks Bureau Chief, SFGATE Neal Desai, Pacific Region director, National Parks Conservation Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent article in the Washington Post described the current administration's attempts to cancel leases for many National Park Service buildings saying that it could save taxpayers millions of dollars. This move came after the firing of about 1000 probationary workers.I wanted to learn more about the National Park Service and how funding cuts will affect visitors this summer, but more than that - about the cultural and historical background of our national parks and the politics affecting them.So I called on Alan Spears to help us out. Alan is currently the Senior Director of Cultural Resources in the Government Affairs department. He serves as the National Parks Conservation Association's resident historian and cultural resources expert. Alan and I talked about his experience when working on a clean-up project that necessitated a helicopter rescue. We discussed the totality of the National Park Service, the number of visitors each year, and how the extent of funding cuts will affect visitors' experience at the parks and the affect it is having on the park workers. We talked about the mission of the National Parks Conservation Association.We discussed the fact that recently there has been an attempt to rewrite and erase part of American history by an executive order to remove content that "disparages Americans". Trump issued an executive order entitled "Restoring truth and sanity to American History". The order directed the Department of the Interior to conduct a review of history monuments, memorials and other properties for "partisan ideology".We briefly touched on the treaty with Tribal lands, mining on public lands, climate change, air quality and what we, as citizens, can do.NPR Interview and Article: Trump wants to restore statues and monuments. Will that happen?https://www.npr.org/2025/03/28/nx-s1-5343613/trump-executive-order-smithsonian-monuments

In this episode, we travel to Hawaii to ride a couple of bucket-list roads on the Big Island and Maui. Photographer Genevieve Davis joins to chat about riding in Hawaii and how to be a good visitor. It's a jam-packed episode for anyone looking to explore paradise on two wheels.  Roads mentioned: Chain of Craters Road (Big Island) Road to Hana (Maui) Kahekili Highway, aka Death Highway (Maui) Haleakalā Highway (Maui) Volcano updates: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/volcano-updates Follow Genevieve: @genevieve_davis  Manta ray tours: @liquidhawaii  Donate to the National Parks Conservation Association: https://www.npca.org/

Decoy is back with a Music News spotlight on Delicate Steve. Also known as Steve Marion, the New Jersey-raised guitarist has played with a wide range of artists including Mac DeMarco, Tame Impala, The Black Keys, and more. But he's not just a sideman: check out these Joe Cappa clips to get to know him and shop Steve gear now at Hello Merch.Plus: Psyko Steve has announced a 10 year anniversary concert series at The Rebel Lounge, featuring Arizona's most legendary bands including Authority Zero, The Maine, Roger Clyne & PH Naffah, The Summer Set, Sacred Reich, Dropout Kings, Breakup Shoes, Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, Madilyn Mei, and more. Plus: some new Hello Merch reprints are raising money for National Parks Conservation Association, get yours now. Call us anytime at 1-877-WASTOIDS. More podcasts and videos at WASTOIDS.com | Follow us on Instagram and YouTube.

America's beloved national parks are under threat of cost-cutting by the federal government. So, In Focus checked in with the National Parks Conservation Association to find out how the nonprofit is continuing to preserve history, especially in Alabama.

Mary Hunter Austin was a U.S. writer known for walking throughout the American Southwest. But her life of activism was far more complicated than brief bios usually mention. Research: "Mary Hunter Austin." Encyclopedia of the American West, edited by Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod, Macmillan Reference USA, 1996. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2330100082/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=6a4f821e. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025. "Mary Hunter Austin." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 23, Gale, 2003. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631008133/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=ceca42e0. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025. #0840: Willa Cather to Mary Hunter Austin, June 26 [1926]. https://cather.unl.edu/writings/letters/let0840 Austin, Mary Hunter. “Earth Horizon.” Houghton Mifflin. 1932. Austin, Mary Hunter. “Experiences Facing Death.” Bobbs-Merrill Company. 1931. Blend, Benay. “Mary Austin and the Western Conservation Movement: 1900-1927.” Journal of the Southwest , Spring, 1988, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Spring, 1988). https://www.jstor.org/stable/40169782 Davis, Lisa Selin. “The Loneliest Land.” National Parks Conservation Association. Spring 2015. https://www.npca.org/articles/942-the-loneliest-land Egenhoff, Elizabeth L. “Mary Austin.” Mineral Information Service. November 1965. https://npshistory.com/publications/deva/mis-v18n11-1965.pdf Fink, Augusta. “I-Mary: A Biography of Mary Austin.” University of Arizona Press. 1983. Hoffman, Abraham. “Mary Austin, Stafford Austin, and the Owens Valley.” Journal of the Southwest , Autumn-Winter 2011, Vol. 53, No. ¾. Via JSTOR. http://www.jstor.com/stable/41710078 Lanzendorfer, Joy. “Searching for Mary Austin.” Alta. https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a8713/searching-for-mary-austin-joy-lanzendorfer/ Online Archive of California. “Austin (Mary Hunter) Papers.” https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c85t3ppq/ Richards, Penny L. “Bad Blood and Lost Borders: Eugenic Ambivalence in Mary Austin’s Short Fiction.” Richards, Penny L. “Disability History Image #3.” 8/30/2005. https://disstud.blogspot.com/2005/08/ Romancito, Rick. “The Image Maker and the Writer.” Taos News. 10/2/2024. https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/columns/the-image-maker-and-the-writer/article_7805f16a-8ab9-5645-9e84-4a189e18ac23.html Siber, Kate. “The 19th-Century Writer Who Braved the Desert Alone.” Outside. 1/22/2019. https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/mary-austin-mojave-nature-writer/ Stout, Janis P. “Mary Austin’s Feminism: A Reassessment.” Studies in the Novel , spring 1998, Vol. 30, No. 1. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29533250 The Ansel Adams Gallery. “Visions of Taos: The Making of “Taos Pueblo” by Ansel Adams and Mary Austin.” https://www.anseladams.com/visions-of-taos-the-making-of-taos-pueblo/ Viehmann, Martha L. “A Rain Song for America: Mary Austin, American Indians, and American Literature and Culture.” Western American Literature , Spring 2004, Vol. 39, No. 1. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43022288 Wynn, Dudley. “Mary Austin, Woman Alone.” The Virginia Quarterly Review , SPRING 1937, Vol. 13, No. 2. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26433922 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Kristen Brengel serves as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). With extensive experience in advocacy and policy, Kristen has been a pivotal voice in the conservation and protection of national parks across the United States. Her work involves lobbying on Capitol Hill, engaging with international media, and championing environmental policies that safeguard public lands and ecosystems. Kristen is a long-time advocate for the protection of public lands, bringing awareness and action to issues impacting national parks and their staff. Episode Summary In this episode, we discuss the recent layoffs affecting the National Park Service and other land management agencies. Featuring Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association, the episode looks into the devastating effects of the recent federal workforce reductions on desert public lands and conservation efforts. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing park staff and the significant measures needed to restore these vital environmental protections. Chris and Kristen explore the impact of thousands of layoffs within the National Park Service and other federal agencies, critically affecting the management and protection of public lands in the desert and beyond. The conversation touches on the importance of seasonal and probationary workers to the National Park Service and how their abrupt terminations are undermining both visitor safety and conservation efforts. Kristen emphasizes the urgent need for public action to support park staff and shares strategies for pressuring Congress to reverse these harmful reductions. Key Takeaways Thousands of employees across federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service, have faced unjustified layoffs, severely impacting public lands protection. The layoffs include significant numbers of seasonal and probationary workers who provide essential services such as search and rescue, impacting visitor safety and park operations. Kristen Brengel emphasizes the critical role of Congress in reversing these layoffs and urges public action to pressure lawmakers to protect public land staff. Despite the bleak circumstances, there are positive discoveries in national parks, such as the finding of a new plant genus, Ovicula biradiata, in Big Bend National Park. The episode advises on the economic and cultural importance of national parks to local gateway communities, highlighting the broader impacts of workforce reductions. Notable Quotes "In just over a week, the Park Service has lost 9% of its staff. It's not like there is a plan in place to handle this decrease in staff." "Parks have a ripple effect on the economy. It's just pure math when you look at the economics of this." "It's not like the Park Service had an alternative plan. It's a dramatic and traumatic cut." "This is not the year to go on a rigorous hike. We want people to be safe, and we're worried about folks going into the summer." Resources National Parks Conservation Association https://www.npca.org/ Contact your Congressional representatives to advocate against federal layoffs in national parks: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative 90 Miles from Needles' donation page: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateBecome a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration says it will hire more seasonal workers than usual to staff the national parks, after laying off hundreds of park employees. But park rangers and other workers at Yosemite, and across the country, are up in arms over their sudden firings, which in many cases will leave them homeless too. This is all part of the Trump-Elon Musk DOGE “government efficiency plan” which has seen tens of thousands of federal employees summarily dismissed over the last few weeks. At Yosemite, angry workers hung an upside down American flag on El Capitan over the weekend, a sign of distress. Yosemite has lost dozens of employees, from naturalists to technical support staff such as its electrician and its locksmith. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area here in the Bay Area is another popular national park hit hard by the cost-cutting move. For more, KCBS political reporter Doug Sovern, along with KCBS Radio anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising, spoke with Neal Desai, Pacific Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association.

This week, Chris shifts focus to recommending several podcasts that align with the mission of desert protection and conservation. Marissa Ortega Welch’s “How Wild” challenges conventional perceptions of wilderness by exploring cultural narratives that shape our understanding of solitude in nature. With Emily Guerin’s investigative series, "California City," listeners uncover the tantalizing history and real estate tales of this less-known Mojave Desert town. Michael Elizabeth Sakas captivates audiences with "Parched," a series that unpacks the critical water shortages plaguing the Colorado River Basin. And Jennifer Errick from the National Parks Conservation Association's podcast The Secret Lives of Parks gets Chris and Luke Basulto out in the field to talk desert protection Highlighting gems from these productions, this episode celebrates the intricate beauty and significance of deserts in contemporary discourse. Key Takeaways: Discover various perspectives on wilderness concepts with Marissa Ortega Welch in "How Wild," which critiques the cultural narratives surrounding solitude and wilderness. Explore the thrilling investigative journey of Emily Guerin's podcast "California City" to explore historical and ongoing real estate dynamics in the desert. Gain insights into the pressing water issues facing the Colorado River Basin with Michael Elizabeth Sakas' comprehensive series "Parched." Hear from Jennifer Errick and Luke Basulto on the newly designated Chuckwalla National Monument and the importance of connecting desert landscapes for better ecological health. Resources: How Wild with Marissa Ortega Welch https://www.howwild.org/ California City by Emily Guerin https://laist.com/podcasts/california-city Parched, Hosted by Michael Elizabeth Sakas https://www.cpr.org/podcast/parched/ The Secret Lives of Parks, with Jennifer Errick https://thesecretlivesofparks.org/ The Border Chronicle https:/theborderchronicle.com Desert Oracle https://www.desertoracle.com/radio/ Desert Advocacy Media Network https://thedamn.org Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trump administration's determination to reduce the size of government regardless of the cost is having a hard impact on the National Park Service.   Last month the agency was forced to rescind job offers to seasonal workers, saw a hold placed on millions of dollars distributed through the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act to address climate change, been told to prepare a reduction-in-force list of employees, and ordered  to "hire no more than one employee for every four" let go.   There was a wee bit of good news late last week, with the decision Friday to allow the Park Service to hire 5,000 seasonal workers. But at the same time, the agency was told to fire 1,000 probationary workers.   Discussing these developments and their impact on the parks and the Park Service are Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, and Phil Francis, chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks. 

Here we are, a week into the second administration of President Donald Trump. It's certainly a time of change, some of which is expected, and some perhaps not. Do we really need to rename North America's tallest mountain, Denali in Denali National Park and Preserve? There is much going on in the federal government, and not all is good. Hiring freezes are underway. There's much talk about reducing the federal budget, which requires cutting agency funding.  To try to gain some clarity on what's beginning to go on and what impacts it might have on the National Park System and the National Park Service, we're joined today by Kristen Brengel, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association.

Change happens…and sometimes it doesn't.   Change certainly is underway in Washington, where the incoming Trump administration is putting its players in position with promises of changing, or maybe upsetting, the status quo.    Against that, the National Park Service continues to face long-standing problems with not enough staff or funding, compounded by National Park System damage from hurricanes, tornadoes, sea level rise, wildfires, just about everything under the sun.   We're going to explore those topics today with Phil Francis from the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks and John Garder and Chad Lord from the National Parks Conservation Association.

It's hard to believe, but it's been four years since Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act and President Trump signed it into law. Under that legislation, the National Park Service has been receiving $1.3 billion a year to pay for tackling the National Park System's maintenance backlog. When the Great American Outdoors Act was passed, it was given a five-year life. That means it will have to be reauthorized next year to keep the program going. It's had wide-ranging impacts, paying for things like roadwork on the Blue Ridge Parkway, new bridges at Yellowstone National Park, improved campgrounds in the park system, and new interpretation. But will the GAOA get renewed, and what's the process to get there? To examine the benefits of the legislation, and talk about the steps being taken to reauthorize the legislation, we're joined today by Eric Stiles, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia, Kristen Brengel, the senior vice president for government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association, and Phil Francis, chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks. 

This episode features a conversation with climate scholar and youth climate activist, Wawa Gatheru. It was recorded in July 2024.Wawa is the founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, an organization dedicated to empowering Black girls, women, and non-binary people across the climate sector.Wawa works to bring climate justice to the mainstream, and in addition to her work at Black Girl Environmentalist, is a popular climate content creator, focused on debunking climate nihilism, highlighting the unique contributions of Black environmental leaders, and equipping her audience with what they need to get involved in climate action.In 2019, Wawa was named the first Black person in history to receive the prestigious Rhodes, Truman and Udall scholarships for her environmental scholarship and activism.She has since become an inaugural member of the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council of the US EPA, the first federal youth-led advisory board in the US History. She is also a Public Voices Fellow on the Climate Crisis with The OpEd Project, in partnership with the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.Wawa sits on boards and advisory councils for EarthJustice, Climate Power, the Environmental Media Association, the National Parks Conservation Association, Good Energy, and Sound Future.And, for her work alongside other organizers and activists, Wawa has been recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30 recipient, an AfroTech Future 50, a 776 Fellow, Young Futurist by The Root, a Grist 50 FIXER, a Glamour College Woman of the Year, and named a Climate Creator to Watch by Pique Action and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.In January 2023, she even joined Billie Eilish and seven other climate activists on the cover of Vogue.Amongst other things, Wawa and I discussed the largely unsung leadership of African American women in environmental stewardship, the make-up and mechanics of inclusive and participatory movement building, and the need to amplify alternatives to the exclusionary narratives that dominate the climate space and beyond.Additional links:Visit the Black Girl Environmentalist websiteVisit Wawa's personal websiteRead the Vice piece that sent Wawa viralCheck out the digital Vogue cover with Billie EilishRead Wawa's Earth Day 2024 article in VogueFind insights on inclusivity over at the Green 2.0 websiteBattling Petrochemical Expansion in Cancer Alley with Rise St. JamesExplore The Vessel Project of LouisianaDiscover The Descendants Project

Recently I read “The Wolverine Way”, by Douglas Chadwick. It's a book from 2012 that really dives into the lives of wolverines, a small mammal with a cantankerous reputation that the US Fish and Wildlife Service late last year announced would be a threatened species. The book is a fascinating biography, if you will, of wolverines. Chadwick has an engaging writing style and Glacier National Park provides a fascinating backdrop for the story, two things that keep the story flowing.  One thing that he mentions that struck me is how important Glacier National Park is for the wolverines survival. He notes that the surrounding national forests offer much the same habitat that wolverines need, but points out that the national forests don't provide the same protection from hunting and trapping that national parks do.  Of course, with wolverines gaining protection under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species, the animals will have the same protections in national forests and other public lands.  Still, do we sometimes take for granted the protections that national parks provide for species that are either losing habitat elsewhere, or don't have the same protections from hunting and development that the parks provide? To continue this discussion, we're joined by Kent Redford, who runs Archipelago Consulting, through which he helps individuals and organizations improve their practice of conservation, and Bart Melton and Ryan Valdez from the National Parks Conservation Association. Bart is a senior director of NPCA's Wildlife Program, while Ryan is the Association's Senior Director for Conservation Science and Policy. 

Spur a discussion about traveling to a national park for a vacation and odds are that it will revolve around getting out into nature, looking for wildlife, perhaps honing your photography skills, or marveling at incredible vistas. Will the discussion include destinations that portray aspects of the country's history, or cultural melting pot?  Equating national parks with nature is obvious, but making a similar connection with history and culture might not be so obvious. And maybe that lack of appreciation for America's culture and history explains why the National Park Service has been struggling with protecting and interpreting those aspects of the parks. The National Parks Conservation Association has just released a report calling for a Cultural Resource Challenge, one that asks for a hefty investment by Congress in the Park Service's cultural affairs wing. We explore that report in today's episode with Alan Spears, NPCA's senior director for cultural affairs.

Air pollution and climate change impacts can have outsized effects on the National Park System, as well as lesser noticed but just as concerning effects. But are those impacts spread across the entire park system, or clustered around a few? Back in 2019 the National Parks Conservation Association looked at how air pollution and climate change were impacting parks. They have updated that study with the latest data from the National Park Service, and the current state of affairs remains concerning. To discuss NPCA's findings, we've asked Ulla Reeves, the interim director of NPCA's Clean Air Program to join us. 

Oftentimes, people go to a national park to clear their minds and get some fresh air, but a new study reveals that nearly all of the 399 key national park sites are experiencing high levels of human-caused ozone pollution. Four parks right here in California take the top spots with the worst air in the nation. Joshua Tree, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks, and Mojave National Preserve experience poor air quality regularly. That exposure poses a great risk to visitors, employees, as well as plants and animals.  For a closer look, KCBS Radio news anchors Bret Burkhart and Patti Reising spoke with Natalie Levine, National Parks Conservation Association's Interim Campaigns Director of the Clean Air Program, which is the non-profit behind the report.

Host Bill McGeeney is joined by freelance writer, Lauren Collee, astronomer, Tim Brothers, and film maker, Tara Roberts Zabriski.See Full Show Notes, Lighting Tips and more at LightPollutionNews.com. Like this episode, share it with a friend!Bill's Picks:It's autumn everywhere except under this streetlight, Be Smart.The Small Town That Turned Christmas Lights Into an Economic Miracle, Ruth Simon and Dave Cole, The Wall Street Journal.City of Davis looking for better ideas to light up streets, James Yalor, CBS News Sacramento. Streetlight Color Temperatures our Community Cares About, City of Boulder.Power outage and environmental justice in Winter Storm Uri: an analytical workflow based on nighttime light remote sensing, International Journal of Digital Earth.An inventory of human light exposure behaviour, Scientific Reports.In rural California, bright Santa Tracker spotlight divides a community, Clare Fonstein, San Francisco Chronicle. Maine's Penobscot Watershed Is Too Important to Allow Mining, Linda Coutant, National Parks Conservation Association.Influence of COVID-19 on night-time lights in Czechia, Journal of Maps.Support the showLike what we're doing? For the cost of coffee, you can become a Monthly Supporter? Your assistance will help cover server and production costs.

In this episode, host Chris Clarke discusses the successful fight against a proposed glamping project called Flamingo 640 in the California desert. Clarke is joined by community member Caroline Partamian, former president of the Homestead Valley Community Council Justin Merino, and Luke Basulto from the National Parks Conservation Association. They discuss the negative impacts the project would have had on wildlife, traffic, and the peaceful atmosphere of the area. Through community organizing and advocacy, they were able to successfully defeat the project. Tune in to learn more about their efforts to protect the desert landscape. Save our Deserts Website is here. Listen to Other Desert Radio here.Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mount Rainier National Park is the most recent unit of the National Park System to announce that you'll need a reservation to enter the most popular areas of the park during the busy summer months. At the same time, Shenandoah National Park has announced that a pilot program it's been running for two years for access to Old Rag will be permanent going forward. Reservation systems to get into national parks are controversial. Many folks argue they hinder spontaneity in travel, others like the assurance of knowing they can get into a national park such as Arches, or Rocky Mountain, or Glacier, at a specific time on a specific day.   To explore the issue of reservations systems in the parks, we're joined today by Cassidy Jones, the senior visitation manager for the National Parks Conservation Association who keeps an eye on these programs, how they're operating, and whether they make a difference. 

We're closing out the year with a look back at some of the top stories around the National Park System, and involving the National Park Service. We opened this look back a week ago, with Kristen Brengel from the National Parks Conservation Association, and Mike Murray from the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, discussing issues involving the National Park Service, and outside impacts affecting the National Park System. Today, in the second half of this discussion, we're focusing on natural resource issues in the parks.

The past year has been a trying one for the National Park Service, and for many of the units in the National Park System. For the agency, employee morale continued to be a major issue as housing, pay, and leadership remained sore spots for many who worked for the Service. On the ground, climate change continued to impact parks, from sea level rise and more potent storms, to wildfires, and hotter and dryer conditions that adversely affected vegetation, wildlife, and facilities. With time running out on 2023, and 2024 on the horizon, we're going to be taking a look this week and next at many of the top stories that played out, or are playing out, across the National Park System and the National Park Service. Joining us for the conversation are Mike Murray, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, and Kristen Brengel, the Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association.

It's been six years since an oil company headed out across the marl prairie of Big Cypress National Park with vehicles weighing as much as 30 tons to search for oil reserves. Signs of that work continue to show on the prairie, despite stringent National Park Service requirements for restoring the landscape after the searching was completed. Located to the north of Everglades National Park, Big Cypress is a “split estate” – the Park Service owns the surface of the more than 720,000-acre landscape, while the mineral rights are privately owned – energy exploration and possible development were allowed in the preserve's enabling legislation. But how that exploration is allowed to be performed can be a matter of contention. While the National Park Service sounds mostly satisfied with the restoration work done by Burnett Oil, the National Parks Conservation Association strongly disagrees. The park advocacy group just released a 24-page report, “Speaking Up For The Swamp,” that points to remaining scars from that exploration work on the preserve. We'll be back in a minute with Melissa Abdo, NPCA's Sun Coast regional redirector, to discuss that report.

A leader brings the weather, and in this episode, President and CEO of American Rivers, Tom Kiernan, gives us a warm summer day (with a cool breeze) and a ton of enthusiasm. T. A. and Tom K. discuss how nature has the capacity to hold us in times of stress, loss, and deep personal struggles. We hear the heartbreaking and uplifting story of how Tom Kiernan has become a devoted protector of open spaces and wild places. And we reflect on the peace that nature offers us all – the reconnection and the renewal. We learn about our rivers, why we need them, the threats they are facing, and what American Rivers is doing to help.  Tom K. urges us all, “Follow your passions. Figure out what really excites you.”  T. A. asks us, “What would it look like if you combined your true passion with what the world truly needs?” Join us and get inspired to do your part to protect the natural world.  About Tom Kiernan: Tom Kiernan (he/him) became President and CEO of American Rivers in February 2021, leading the 78 staff that make American Rivers the nation's most trusted and influential river conservation organization. Throughout his career, Tom has been dedicated to protecting the nation's lands and waters, diversifying the conservation movement and advancing innovative solutions to benefit people and nature.  Before joining American Rivers, Tom led the American Wind Energy Association for over seven years, growing the organization and advancing a clean energy policy agenda to fight climate change. As President of the National Parks Conservation Association from 1998-2013, he increased the annual budget from $16 to $35 million and led a capital campaign exceeding the $125 million goal. With his team, he established the Community Partners Program at NPCA in 1999 – one of the first diversity programs of any major conservation organization.   Tom developed a love for rivers at a young age, growing up on the Potomac River in metropolitan Washington, DC. He co-founded the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center on the Arkansas River in Colorado and worked at North Carolina's Nantahala Outdoor Center guiding trips throughout the Southeast. Today, Tom is an avid rower who spends time on the Potomac River most mornings.  He received a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford's Graduate School of Business.  Read more about American Rivers. Magic & Mountains is hosted by T. A. Barron, beloved author of 32 books and counting. Carolyn Hunter is co-host. Magic & Mountains Theme Song by Julian Peterson.

Summary: Chris discusses the challenges that the deserts will face in 2024, including increased utility scale development of renewable energy, the threat of lithium mining, and the continuation of border policies that waive environmental laws. Chris emphasizes the need for accurate advocacy for the deserts and challenges the misconception that the desert is a defective version of other ecosystems. He introduces the Desert Advocacy Media Network and highlights the importance of support to continue their work in providing accurate information and promoting desert protection. Key Takeaways: 2024 will bring challenges for the deserts, including increased utility scale development and the threat of lithium mining. The Desert Advocacy Media Network aims to provide accurate information and challenge misconceptions about the desert. Support is needed to hire sound editors, pay freelance reporters, and promote the podcast through targeted advertising. Quotes: "We have no lack of work to do. We just need to be able to do that work." - Chris Clarke "Please consider helping us make the Desert Advocacy Media Network the place people turn to when they want to learn more about the desert and how to protect it." - Chris Clarke How to Donate Use the podcast's Patreon account at 90milesfromneedles.com/patreon Text "NEEDLES" to 53-555 Visit our Facebook page at https://facebook.com/ninetymilesfromneedles to donate via Network For Good Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was just over a month ago when the federal government was staring at the possibility of a shutdown. Well, little seemingly has changed in the ensuing four weeks, other than that the House of Representatives has a new speaker in Mike Johnson from Louisiana, and the full chamber has settled on its budget numbers for fiscal 2024…which started back on October 1.   While most national parks likely will close if there is a government shutdown on November 17, what is more pressing for the National Park Service is what budget numbers Congress will settle on for the current fiscal year and whether President Biden will go along with them.   Our guests today are John Garder, the senior director for budget & appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association, and Mike Murray, a long-time NPS employee and superintendent who now serves as chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks. They're here to discuss the current situation facing the Park Service and Park System.

About The Guest(s): Obi Kaufmann is an artist, author, and naturalist known for his California Field Atlas series. His latest book, "The Deserts of California," explores the biodiversity and ecological systems of California's deserts. Summary: Obi Kaufmann joins hosts Chris Clarke and Alicia Pike on the "90 Miles from Needles" podcast to discuss his latest book, "The Deserts of California." The book is part of his California Field Atlas series, which aims to explore the how of ecological systems rather than the what or where. Kaufmann shares his fascination with the complexity and diversity of California's deserts and the importance of celebrating and understanding their biodiversity. He also discusses the challenges of conservation and preservation in the face of development and exploitation. Kaufmann emphasizes the need for a democratic approach to finding solutions and the power of combining data and love in stewardship efforts. The conversation touches on the changing nature of the deserts, the importance of oral tradition and sharing knowledge, and the role of beauty and art in inspiring curiosity and hope. Key Takeaways: The California Field Atlas series aims to explore the how of ecological systems rather than the what or where. The deserts of California are full of biodiversity and ecological complexity, challenging the perception of them as empty spaces. Conservation efforts require a combination of data, love, and understanding to address the challenges of development and exploitation. The deserts are a moving target, constantly changing and adapting to new conditions. The power of beauty and art lies in its ability to inspire curiosity and hope. Obi Kaufmann's podcast with Greg Sarris, Place and Purpose, can be found here: https://www.placeandpurpose.live/ Order The Deserts of California here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-deserts-of-california-a-california-field-atlas/19407146?ean=9781597146180 Quotes: "The complexity is where the truth is. When things get too simple, too generalized, we miss so much." - Obi Kaufmann "The desert is doing so much heavy lifting for both of those goals [conservation and carbon zero]." - Obi Kaufmann "Democracy is having this conversation right now here." - Obi Kaufmann "The desert itself is an indicator landscape, if you will. It's a litmus test of our stewardship." - Obi Kaufmann "Acceptance of the natural cycles and patterns in nature brings peace and understanding." - Alicia Pike "The combination of data and love is a powerful force for conservation and preservation." - Obi Kaufmann Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second time in five years, and the third time in the past decade, the United States government was poised to shut down this weekend because of an impasse in the House of Representatives over how to fund the government. And, as a result, the National Park System was poised to shut down. Indeed, by the time you're listening to this episode, the parks might already have been closed and visitors already in them being told how soon they must exit. Different administrations in Washington take different approaches to whether to shut down the parks or keep them open during a government shutdown. Back in 2013 the Obama administration elected to close the parks. Five years ago, the Trump administration decided to keep them open, albeit with skeleton Park Service staffs. To learn more about the impacts of government shutdowns on the National Park System, both physical and financial, we're joined today by Bob Krumenaker, a recently retired Park Service veteran whose last position was superintendent of Big Bend National Park, and John Garder, the senior director for budget & appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association.

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal  First –   Mary Kaszynski of the group VoteVets and Tyler Koteskey of Concerned Veterans for America discuss the first anniversary of the PACT Act – the V-A health care program for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Then - Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tamar Hallerman discusses the Fulton County, Georgia investigation into possible 2020 election interference by President Trump – and timing of any potential indictments. Plus -with summer 2024 in full swing - Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association discusses the state of America's national parks      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many people mistake the landscape of Everglades National Park for a swamp, full of mosquitos and razor-sharp sawgrass. Technically it's a wetland, home to a stunning array of wildlife and beloved by visitors and conservationists alike. But that view of the Everglades as a treacherous and hostile place informed more than a century of efforts to tame and transform the landscape in ways that are still playing out today.In this episode of “Field Trip,” Washington Post reporter Lillian Cunningham tells the story of how the water flow through South Florida was radically altered to make the region more habitable for people. Then, how that unintentionally disrupted one of the country's most important ecosystems. And finally, why we're racing to unravel those mistakes today. We'll meet Jerry Lorenz, an Audubon Society scientist who's spent more than three decades trying to protect his beloved roseate spoonbills and other species of birds. We'll journey by fan boat across the marshes with Houston Cypress, a member of the Otter Clan in the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and an advocate for Everglades restoration, and Durante Blais-Billie, an environmental and Indigenous rights advocate from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. We'll learn about the legacy of environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas and how groups like the National Parks Conservation Association and the Captains for Clean Water are following in her footsteps today.And we'll hear from Eva Velez of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about what went wrong originally and what it now means to approach engineering “with nature.” We have incredible photos for this series. You can see them and find more on the National Parks here. “Field Trip” would not have been possible without the support of Washington Post subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can unlock a special deal as a listener to this series. Your first four weeks are free when you sign up here.

To talk about the area's history, connection to the civil rights movement and legacy, The 21st was joined by the assistant superintendent of the park and a regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association.

While spring is slowly giving way to summer in many parts of the country, with visitors gaining more and more access to the National Park System, a stand-off in Washington over the country's debt ceiling very likely would greatly disrupt operations in the parks. It was just a decade ago that a federal budget sequestration, that is a forced cut across all federal agencies budgets as part of the Budget Control Act, led to closed campgrounds, Sunday closures of National Park System units, and 900 permanent positions that went unfilled. For the National Park Service, the sequestration led to a 5% budget cut that also led to a reduction in invasive plant control at the parks, a reduction in maintenance of fences and building repairs, science and research activities, and natural resource monitoring. In Washington today, House Republicans want to see some pretty stiff budget cuts in return for agreeing to raise the debt ceiling. According to the New York Times, one outcome, if the funding cap's proposal put forth by the Republicans is approved, would be a 51% reduction in the Interior Department's budget. How devastating might that be to the National Park Service and the National Park System? We're going to explore that question with Mike Murray, chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, and John Garder, senior director of Budget and Appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association. 

(bell and breath)(muffled sound of ocean waves)This recording filters out all high and mid-range frequencies that I captured of ocean waves at Canaveral National Seashore in Florida, on March 23, 2023 around midnight while doing an impromptu soundwalk with colleagues from the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology conference Listenng Pasts - Listening Futures.Why did I do this? I invite you to sit with the loss of these upper and mid frequencies as a metaphor for the loss of biodiversity on earth.I don't mean to inflict undue pain hereIn any way. Rather my point is to invite you to sit with this sound. To sit with the trouble, as Donna Haraway would say.And I suggest you try to avoid enjoying it as an aesthetic experience or getting used to it as the new normal.It's not normal.Luckily all I have to do to bring back the high frequencies is turn a button and you could experience the rich splendour of this soundscape…but I'm not going to do that.What does ecological loss sound like where you live?*Thanks to the Atlantic ocean for allowing me to record your waves and to filter your sounds in order to help raise awareness within human communities about the perils of our behaviour to your great waters and all of its living beings. I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this episode. (including all the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation and infrastructure that make this podcast possible).My gesture of reciprocity for this episode is to the National Parks Conservation Association. *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODESHere is a link for more information on season 5. Please note that, in parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and it's francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' which are 'short, practical essays for those frightened by the ecological crisis'. To subscribe (free of charge) see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. You'll also find a podcast version of each a calm presence posting on Substack or one your favorite podcast player.Also. please note that a complete transcript of conscient podcast and balado conscient episodes from season 1 to 4 is available on the web version of this site (not available on podcast apps) here: https://conscient-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes.Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on conscient podcast social media: Facebook, X, Instagram or Linkedin. I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Claude SchryerLatest update on April 2, 2024

President Joe Biden is expected to designate Avi Kwa Ame a national monument, but the action will have to wait. Tribes and environmental organizations pushed for the federal designation for a number of years before President Biden expressed his intentions to protect the 450,000 acre site last November. The White House announced he would make the trip to the Nevada location to formally make the designation this week, but subsequently cancelled those plans. Today on Native America Calling, we get an update on the status of the sacred space also known as Spirit Mountain with Alan O'Neill, advisor for the National Parks Conservation Association and founder of Get Outdoors Nevada, and Taylor Patterson (Bishop Paiute), executive director of the Native Voters Alliance Nevada.

To talk about the area's history, connection to the civil rights movement and legacy, The 21st was joined by the assistant superintendent of the park and a regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association.

On this Episode, MHD and co-host, Chavonne Taylor, speak with historians Dr. Jessica Kim and Esperanza Sanchez about the little-known African Ancestry of Los Pobladores, the founders of Los Angeles. Jessica Kim, PhD, is an associate professor of history at California State University, Northridge.  She specializes in the history of the American West, the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, urban history, and public and digital history.  Her book, Imperial Metropolis: Los Angeles, Mexico, and the Borderlands of American Empire, 1865-1941, was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2019. The book explores the rise of Los Angeles and investment in Mexico. Esperanza Sanchez is the Associate Curator at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. She holds a Master of Arts in History with a focus on public history and a Bachelor of Arts in History with an emphasis on US, Europe, and Latin America foreign relations, and a minor in sociology, both from California State University, Northridge. She previously held archival, curatorial, and educational positions at the Autry Museum of the American West, the Museum of Latin American Art, and California State University, Northridge. In 2016, as part of the CSUN Public History Program, Professor Kim along with her students, including Esperanza at the time, collaborated with El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the USC-Huntington Institute on California and the West, as well as the National Parks Conservation Association on an exhibit that emphasized the role of individuals of African descent in the founding of Los Angeles. The exhibition, titled Forgotten Founders: The Hidden African Ancestry of Los Angeles, highlighted the unique, diverse, and often overlooked LA history. Resources: www.csun.edu/calendar/events/forgotten-founders-hidden-african-ancestry-la www.jessicamichellekim.com LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes exhibitions:  LA Starts Here! (lapca.org/exhibition/la-starts-here/) afroLAtinidad: mi casa, my city (lapca.org/exhibition/afrolatinidad-mi-casa-my-city/)

There is a wide acceptance that we have drifted too far away from nature, and that we need to pull closer. Many have called for 30 by 30 - conserving 30% of nature by 2030. The 2022 State of the Birds Report pointed out that more than half of bird species normally found in habitats as diverse as forests, deserts and oceans in the United States are in decline. Climate change is a major factor in those declines, but human development also plays a key role by chewing into wildlife habitat and creating biological islands.  How do we reverse declines in wildlife and in wildlife habitat? Can we prevent Yellowstone, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Rocky Mountain National Parks, and other large Western landscape parks from turning into biological islands? Today we're going to explore the problems, and possible solutions, with Elaine Leslie, who was the National Park Service's Chief for Biological Resources before retiring, and Bart Melton, who leads the National Parks Conservation Association's Wildlife Program. 

When unprecedented flooding roars through a national park, shredding major roads that access that park, it rightfully could be pointed to as the top story in the National Park System. And while Yellowstone National Park was that park, not only the flooding, but the lack of human casualties, and rapid recovery rank that story as arguably the top one in the National Park System in 2022. But that wasn't the only major story that came out of the parks this year. Today we're looking back at some of the top stories across the National Park System in 2022. To help us identify them, we've asked Kristen Brengel, the National Parks Conservation Association's Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, and Mike Murray, Chairman of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks to join us.

It's been quite a year in the National Park System when the subject turns to unexpected bills. There was the historic flooding that hit Yellowstone National Park in June, monsoonal flooding that struck Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve later this past summer, and even flooding at Vicksburg National Military Park that caused significant damage.  It's well known that the National Park Service doesn't have the financial resources and staffing that it needs on a daily basis to keep the National Park System not just running, but well maintained. As a result, we shouldn't be too surprised when natural disasters such as flooding, wildfires, and even droughts strike and generate repair bills in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Dollars that the National Park Service doesn't have just sitting in a bank account, ready to pay for repairs.  Today we're going to explore the unexpected costs that have descended on the National Park Service, and how to pay for them, with John Garder, the National Parks Conservation Association's senior director for budget and appropriations. 

As winter approaches, the slow season is setting in across the National Park System, which makes it a good time to take measure of some issues that are confronting both the parks and the National Park Service. We've invited Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, and Mike Murray, the chair of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks.

In our first rogue episode, Vic & Mi honor the incredible story of Mamie and Emmett Till as we reflect on the abc series Women of the MovementEmmett Till Legacy FoundationMamie Till Mobley FoundationNational Parks Conservation AssociationEmmett Till Interpretive Center: “Racial Reconciliation Begins By Telling The Truth”Women of the Movement on ABC and Let the World See Documentary series by ABC/Huluhttps://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2018/08/21/emmett-till-carolyn-bryant-donham-recant-quote-missing/1017876002NAACPSources: Excerpts from, The Death Of Innocence,The Story of the Hate Crime that Changed America, Biography, Simeons Story: An Eye Witness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett TillDevery S. Anderson, author of Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement, in December 1996Emotional support is available. Text STEVE to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor provided by Crisis Text Line, in partnership with The Steve Fund. Message & Data rates may apply. Bonus Content for the Homies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surprise listener Rant calls Jessica on the carpet. Then she introduces Dana to the horror of Schmear Boards! ***CLEANSING BREATH*** Dana Corner - WHAT THE WHAT CORNER https://www.odditycentral.com/news/student-tries-to-cheat-on-law-school-exam-with-intricately-etched-bic-pens.html Jess Corner - ANIMAL INSTINCTS CORNER https://newsforkids.net/articles/2022/10/04/scientists-learn-that-dogs-can-smell-stress/ Dana Rave - Grounds and Hounds Coffee Company https://groundsandhoundscoffee.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-rOaBhA9EiwAUkLV4u7AZE7C3lmlFpAlQbEysDp5pG2DvrjuARp5n7O_AU4gAEP2azQM7RoCK8cQAvD_BwE  To our four-legged friends, each day is a new adventure, full of possibilities and excitement. Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. was born out of our passion to give back to the animals who selflessly provide us with so much happiness. 20% of all profits generated by Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. are used to fund innovative and impactful rescue programs throughout the country. We strive to support the hard-working organizations and volunteers who fight for our friends day in and day out, and we promise to deliver an amazing cup of coffee along the way! All Grounds & Hounds green coffee 100% Arabica, specialty grade coffee. After sourcing our green coffee from the top growing regions around the world (Peru, Colombia, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua), we then let our master roaster go to work. Our coffees are small batch roasted and require the skillful hand of our roast master to create the perfect beans for the perfect brew. We have a chance to do something great, and we would love for you to join us. Jess Rave - The Landmark Project https://thelandmarkproject.com/pages/sustainability We support Smokey Bear's Wildfire Prevention Education fund by donating 10% of our Smokey Bear profits! As part of Landmark Presents, we also collaborate every month with an artist to sell a fine art print in which 100% of the proceeds benefits the National Parks Conservation Association.

This week marks 67 years since the trial of Emmett Till's murderers, a miscarriage of justice that focused the attention of the world on the tiny town of Sumner, Mississippi, galvanized international outrage and grief, and sparked leaders of the Civil Rights Movement to act. Today, advocates want to see the courthouse where the trial took place preserved as a national park site and want to continue to use the story of the Till tragedy as a way to facilitate conversations around race and racism and further healing in the community and beyond.Host Jennifer Errick features insights from Alan Spears, NPCA Senior Director of Cultural Resources; Benjamin Saulsberry, Public Engagement and Museum Education Director for the Emmett Till Interpretive Center; and Dr. Percy Washington, educator and pastor of the Sweet Canaan Church of God in Christ, on the history of this shocking hate crime, what the culture was like in Mississippi before and after the tragedy, and how advocates now are preserving Till's story and using it to work toward truth and justice.This episode was produced by Jennifer Errick with help from Todd Christopher, Bev Stanton and Kyle Groetzinger. Additional assets by Eric Barese and Jeff Taylor.Original theme music by Chad Fischer.Learn more about the Emmett Till Interpretive Center at Emmett-Till.org.The Secret Lives of Parks is a production of the National Parks Conservation Association. With more than 1.6 million members and supporters, NPCA is the nation's only independent, nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to protecting national parks. Learn more at npca.org