Hello everyone! We have exciting news - we are bringing the Let's Talk Parks podcast BACK, this time with the support from BerryDunn! My hope is that you continue to feel inspired and motivated to make a difference in your communities by listening to these stories. I'm personally both excited and relieved for this support so I can focus on having amazing conversations with Parks & Recreation professionals like yourself. I think you'll hear in the first episode (releasing 9/15) that we now ha...
Sep 13, 2022•4 min
Link to donate to the CPRA fundraiser for Parks & Recreation Professionals who lost their home in the Marshall Fire: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTM1NDI1 Throughout the podcast, we've asked a consistent question: How can we raise the bar to make a positive difference in the communities in which we work? But collectively as we've all reached the end of our ropes, we're all really, stinkin' tired. And I'm starting to reject the idea of constantly needing MORE and BETTER. Wh...
Jan 14, 2022•14 min•Season 4Ep. 15
There are so many phrases thrown around in the field of Parks and Recreation, but "best practice," may be one that we finally retire. In this episode, Marissa sits down with Jason Elissalde to talk about why that term can be detrimental to our success. Thank you to our sponsor, Landscape Structures for sponsoring this episode. Learn more, find a playground consultant, and earn CEUs by visiting playlsi.com. Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram --...
Dec 09, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In this episode, Becky sits down with Jill Moore, Inclusive Play Specialist at Landscape Structures, to discuss what a playground really means to be inclusive. We talk about the definition of accessible versus inclusive (and why they're so different!). Jill opened my eyes to our need to involve people of all backgrounds and abilities to the table when it comes to planning and designing our parks. There is so much to learn when designing our parks to be safe spaces for our children to take risks ...
Dec 03, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Did your agency pivot to virtual programs during the height of the pandemic? Are you still using those programs today? On this episode, Nate Bibat, Senior Naturalist at the Dunes Nature Center, comes on the Let's Talk Parks show to share how his organization was able to quickly pivot to online environmental education programs. He shares the various tools and methods they used for the hundreds of students in their programs - including making videos on YouTube, launching a podcast, creating virtua...
Nov 18, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this episode, Dustin Graham and I talk about the risks and rewards of intentional playground design. We talk about how we can make our playgrounds more inviting, and share some examples of different parks across the country that have used their cultural heritage as part of their community space design. While the audio version will give you a taste of this topic, you’ll want to head over to the video to SEE these parks and truly experience them for yourself! https://youtu.be/-Z8spRYJtGQ Thank ...
Nov 11, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This is a quick preview to a new upcoming series on the podcast about how to make our parks and playgrounds more inclusive and innovative. I can't wait to share these new interviews with you soon! Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-dunlap/ Connect with Marissa on LinkedIn--> https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-morave...
Nov 04, 2021•4 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In this episode, Marissa and Becky talk about how imposter syndrome has impacted them throughout their careers. If you think that you've suffered from this, be sure to tune in for how this might affect your work within the parks and recreation field. This episode was inspired by Jai Cole from Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission who had a recent session at NRPA about this topic. Here is the link to the recent article about imposter syndrome from HBR magazine and some strategies...
Oct 28, 2021•36 min•Season 4Ep. 10
The answer is yes! Marissa went through middle school, high school, and college assuming that she would never need to get in front of a crowd to present information. She was totally wrong and gets on the mic during this episode to explain the times you may be faced with public speaking and what you can do to overcome that hurdle. Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on Link...
Oct 21, 2021•14 min•Season 4Ep. 10
The field of parks and recreation is very seasonal. But so are you! In this episode, Becky talks about how to embrace the season of your career wherever you are. Whether you've been feeling burnt out or in need of a change, hopefully you find a bit of peace in knowing that it's all a part of your rich and unique career experience. :) Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on ...
Oct 14, 2021•17 min•Season 4Ep. 9
So many agencies rely on the mailed recreation guides to get out seasonal information to their residents. But as budgets change, you may want to consider alternatives that can save you money and time. Be sure to tune in to hear five creative alternatives and ideas to the mailed recreation guide. Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.co...
Oct 07, 2021•15 min•Season 4Ep. 8
PODCAST REPLAY - Throwback! In this episode, Marissa sits down to talk with Dr. Jeremy Robinette from Western Illinois University about educating our communities about Parks and Recreation. I think so many of us ended up falling into this field. We didn't know that this was a profession until we were in college, or maybe we were already graduated from college and had a degree in something else. This episode is how we educate our communities about what we do and how to encourage more people to ge...
Sep 30, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Feeling inspired from conference? It's this time of year when Fall is just around the corner - and the NRPA conference arrives - that we typically feel a rush of new energy and inspiration. But what happens when you get *all the ideas* and you're not sure how to actually move them forward? In this episode, Becky talks about the four steps that she takes to turn inspiration into action. From reflecting on your conference experience, to organizing those ideas, to taking inventory of everything tha...
Sep 23, 2021•17 min•Season 2Ep. 7
With the help of over 20 women in parks and recreation, we’ve compiled an awesome list of tips and advice for those who may be attending conference for the 1st (or 100th) time. In this episode, Marissa and Becky go over these tips, focusing on three primary areas – networking, planning ahead, and taking action. While this year will look different, especially if you're attending virtually, it will certainly be memorable. Try to make the most of it! Thank you so much to the Women in Parks & Re...
Sep 16, 2021•33 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Maintaining our parks and facilities is at the core of providing quality experiences for our community members. In many of our parks and recreation agencies, we need to "take care of what we have" before building new amenities. But oftentimes, the most important details fall through the cracks. The system for communicating, tracking, and analyzing the productivity of our maintenance in our parks just isn't up to par. The solutions are either too big, too expensive, or don't fit the needs for our...
Sep 09, 2021•39 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Marissa sits down with Kate Darcangelis from What the Rec to discuss all things active adults, or as many refer to them as: seniors. Marissa and Kate are both passionate about working with this age group and hope to encourage young and seasoned professionals to give this age group a try. There are so many benefits to working with this age group, so take a listen! Learn more about Kate from What the Rec -->> https://whattherecofficial.com/ Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letst...
Sep 02, 2021•38 min•Season 4Ep. 4
This week on the podcast, Becky jumps on the mic to talk about how to best utilize your strengths and interests to do more of what you love in your job. While many of our roles in Parks and Recreation allows you to be a "Jack of all Trades" - there can be benefit and opportunities to specialize. If you've been thinking of narrowing your focus in your career, take a listen and reflect on where this new perspective might be able to take you! Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkpa...
Aug 26, 2021•24 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In collaboration with Cort Jones from Open Space Radio and Paul Gilbert from Strategic Leadership, this episode is about podcasts in the field of Parks & Recreation. We talk about why we are so passionate about podcasting, the different types of resources in the field, and how this information sharing is truly raising the bar. Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on Lin...
Aug 19, 2021•47 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode, Marissa and Becky share a preview of what's to come for the rest of 2021 - and how we see the field of Parks and Recreation adapting and raising the bar. Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect on Becky on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-dunlap/ Connect with Marissa on LInkedIn--> https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-moravec-cprp/...
Aug 12, 2021•23 min•Season 4Ep. 1
We're wrapping up season 3 with an episode about FUN. In this episode, Marissa and Becky discuss ten different ways to have more fun at work. Join our newsletter and follow us on Instagram for more content like this! Be back in August!
Jul 15, 2021•26 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Marissa sat down with Corrine Daut, Recreation Coordinator at Raymore Parks and Recreation to discuss the challenges and advantages of hiring entry level staff...and sometimes their parents too. This episode came about when Marissa was reading through a thread on the Women in Parks and Recreation Facebook page. The discussion was about interviewing and hiring seasonal staff after their parents had involved themselves in the application process. Even as younger professionals ourselves, we can som...
Jul 08, 2021•21 min•Season 3Ep. 22
It's in our DNA to want more influence. Especially as Parks & Recreation professionals, we want our voice to be heard. We want our share our ideas, relay insights from our patrons, and be respected as a leader in our agencies. Too often, we wait for a promotion or status to decide that we have *enough* power to influence. But as Chris Dropinski points out in this week's episode, real power is something that is earned, not given. "Effective influencing is a skill and a very valuable one; powe...
Jul 01, 2021•51 min•Season 3Ep. 21
When you work in local government, you are bound to run into complaints and less-than-positive feedback. That's just part of the territory as a Parks and Recreation professional. But if you're someone who truly cares, It can be hard not to personalize their comments. In this episode, I go over 6 tips around how to overcome public complaints so that you can use them as motivation and learning experiences.
Jun 24, 2021•39 min•Season 3Ep. 19
In this episode, Marissa and Becky discuss how we have found success in moving ideas forward in the field of Parks and Rec. We talk about the barriers of red tape, the surprising pros and cons of it, and how to move past it. We hope this episode is useful if you've been wanting to make progress on an idea or program, but haven't made traction. Sometimes just changing your mindset can give you new energy and perspectives to keep going.
Jun 17, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 18
It seems I've been getting more questions about being a consultant in the field, so in this episode I talk about why you might consider moving into a consultant role. As a project consultant for GreenPlay LLC for the last five years, I feel very fortunate to work for a company that provides a great and supportive workplace culture. Although every role is different, I wanted to share my own personal experience so you can see if it might be a good fit for you....
Jun 10, 2021•22 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Today I want to talk about something that I think is really important, but I couldn't really find anyone talking about this at all. Its the idea that sometimes it's ok to be disengaged at work. As a supervisor, you never want your employees to disengage. But if you are a high achiever, intentionally disengaging can be a good thing. It can prevent you from burning out. It can prevent you from making irrational decisions.It can prevent you from resenting your job. Engagement has to do with how mot...
Jun 04, 2021•20 min•Season 3Ep. 18
In this episode, Marissa and Becky talk about fresh ideas for recruiting seasonal employees. Check out all of the ideas that we talked about on our blog: https://letstalkparks.com/fresh-ideas-to-recruit-seasonal-employees/
May 27, 2021•45 min•Season 3Ep. 16
How many times over the last year have you gotten an urgent phone call or email that needed your attention right away? Probably way more than you ever imagined. We hope that as work relaxes into summer (or at least as things get a little more predictable), you have the chance to move out of the urgency that has been 2020. Instead, in this episode, we talk about what it would look like to focus on what’s important rather than urgent. Although *urgent* and *important* sound very similar, they refl...
May 20, 2021•36 min•Season 3Ep. 15
In this episode, Katie Garrett and Becky sit down to talk about the important of mindfulness in Parks & Recreation. If you've been struggling with burnout, overwhelm, or exhaustion then this episode is for you! So often, professionals that are deemed "essential" become overworked when budgets, timelines, or resources get tight. Parks and Recreation Professionals have been asked to step up in new ways - many of them more demanding than ever. How do you keep your cool and stay calm when everyt...
May 13, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Women in Leisure Services (WILS) was started in 1935 as Chi Kappa Rho, a sorority for women in the field of parks and recreation by Helen I. Pontius. She believed that women engaged professionally in the various fields of recreation could come together to promote unity of purpose, high standards of achievement, and a better understanding and appreciation of related endeavors for the attainment of professional goals. Such a group could also provide an opportunity to foster friendship and sociabil...
May 06, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 13
