National Park After Dark - podcast cover

National Park After Dark

Audioboom Studiosnpadpodcast.com
Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the wilderness and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks and explore these treasured places in a whole new way - because behind the iconic arches and towering trees lie layered histories, grisly encounters, extraordinary stories of survival, tragic ends and so much more. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope the show will inspire listeners to lace up their own hiking boots and take a walk into the wild to create meaningful adventures of their own.

Episodes

170: Beast-Man of Olympic National Park

John Tornow left the societal world to live a reclusive life within the forests of what today is Olympic National Park. When he is accused of murder, he flees into the thick brush of the PNW, evading capture for months. But is he a villain? or a victim? Antarctica Link: https://www.trovatrip.com/trip/south-america/antarctica/antarctica-with-danielle-and-cassie-mar-2025 We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Ple...

Aug 28, 20231 hr 3 minEp. 170

169: Not Finished Yet. Hwange National Park.

When conservationist Dr. Greg Rasmussen is flying the skies alone above Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, his ultralight plane experiences a malfunction, causing him to crash land in the open African bush. Severely injured, unable to walk and without any food, water or emergency kits he must survive his injuries, the elements – and the predators. Just when he is about to give up, the thought of saving the very animals who could end his life, gave him the will to live. We love our National Parks ...

Aug 21, 20231 hr 1 minEp. 169

168: Trail Tales 34

Today’s stories include mushy moments, thin veils, searching for friends and getting haunted. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Follow our social...

Aug 17, 202357 minEp. 168

167: The Devastating Yellowstone Earthquake.

Today we follow the stories of three families as they struggle to survive the largest earthquake ever recorded in the Yellowstone area. The quake killed 29 people and changed the landscape forever. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon or Apple Subscriptions to gain access to ad-free...

Aug 14, 202350 minEp. 167

166: History, Horror & Haunts ft. Two Girls One Ghost Podcast! Gettysburg National Military Park.

Today we return to Gettysburg - that’s right, we just can’t stay away! We covered Gettysburg before, but not like this! Today we are teaming up with Corinne and Sabrina from Two Girls One Ghost to investigate just what makes Gettysburg one of the most haunted locations in America. Check out part 1 of our chat on Gettysburg HERE to catch up on the stories we shared about the badass women soldiers who fought in disguise and learn how the civil war changed the way death was viewed and handled in th...

Aug 07, 20232 hr 30 minEp. 166

165: Trail Tales 33

Today’s stories include calling 911 on raccoons, aliens in Oregon, swans faking their own deaths, first hand third man encounters and almost but not really murder stories. Cassie also sprinkles in some Flash Trivia to embarrass Danielle! Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re...

Aug 03, 202344 minEp. 165

164: The Spark Ranger. Shenandoah National Park.

It’s been a long time but we are back in Shenandoah National Park! The story of NPS Ranger Roy Sullivan and his repeated run-ins with one of nature’s deadliest forces will have you thinking of lightning every time you hear the phrase – what are the odds? We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on...

Jul 31, 202354 minEp. 164

163: Forager. Field Notes for Surviving A Cult with Michelle Dowd

Today we speak with Michelle Dowd, the author of the newly released book, Forager. Field Notes for Surviving a Cult. Michelle was raised within the boundaries of Angeles National Forest inside of a religious cult her grandfather created. She was raised to believe that the end of the world was near and in turn, was taught to forage off the land, navigate by the stars, and survive. After enduring years of abuse, she finally escaped. Now, after years of healing and moving forward with her life, she...

Jul 24, 20231 hr 26 minEp. 163

162: Park Predators After Dark

Today we are joined by Delia D’Ambra of the Park Predators podcast as she walks us through what chilling cases season 4 has in store and shares her process investigating some of the most horrific true crime cases in the wilderness. Delia is an investigative journalist from North Carolina who started her career in journalism in 2014. She specializes in re-investigating cold case homicides and unsolved crimes. Like all of us, she is an outdoors enthusiast and is currently on a mission to check off...

Jul 20, 202345 minEp. 162

161: Over the Edge. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the nation’s best “hidden” jewels. People venture here to paddle, hike and camp along its rugged, colorful coastline. It’s the perfect destination, until it isn’t. The lakeshore has seen its fair share of recorded deaths since its NPS designation in 1966. The park can be a risky place to be with notoriously rough coastal waters when weather turns, but it wasn’t until 2006 when it saw its first fatal fall. Since then, what truly happened surrounding Jua...

Jul 17, 202355 minEp. 161

160: The California Hoax. Giant Sequoia National Monument.

Today we visit the Giant Sequoias of California and tell the stories of their exploitation to gain recognition at the World's Fair in the United States. The length people went through to cut down some of the largest trees in the world to ship them across the country was extensive, but many questioned whether the trees were real. People laughed at the idea of these enormous trees and when they tried to show them off in hopes of profits, many deemed it all as an unbelievable “hoax.” Come see us li...

Jul 10, 202350 minEp. 160

159: Trail Tales 32

Today’s stories include disembodied voices, justice from beyond, haunted happenings, high adventures and the bestest bark ranger. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus ...

Jul 06, 202355 minEp. 159

158: Get Rich or Die Trying. Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Base National Historic Landmark.

Today we travel to one of the most remote national historic units in the world to solve a mystery, and maybe get rich in the process. When a notorious pirate named Captain Gregory Dwargstof sought out the distant Aleutian Island of Adak to stash his stolen gold, he didn’t count on dying before he could get back to it. Now, over 130 years later, a team is put together to uncover the millions of dollars’ worth of gold not to hoard for themselves, but to pay forward to a community in need. We love ...

Jul 03, 202359 minEp. 158

Listen Now: Suspect "Five Shots in the Dark"

Leon Benson spent more than half of his life, a total of 24 years, in an Indiana state prison for a murder he didn't commit. Despite the lack of physical evidence and a questionable eyewitness identification, he was convicted. But new realities start to come to light when attorney Lara Bazelon takes up his case and is determined to secure Benson's release. Season three of Suspect, co-produced by Campside Media and Wondery, delves into the flaws in the criminal justice system that led to Benson's...

Jun 26, 20236 min

157: The Community ft. LGBT Outdoors. Muir Woods National Monument.

Today we trek into Muir Woods National Monument to explore the decaying community of Druid Heights, once a thriving hub for artists, philosophers and those who felt they couldn’t find acceptance in the world. We look back on what it once was and discuss the controversy surrounding its current preservation, or lack of. But we aren’t alone! We are joined by Justin Yoder, founder of LGBT Outdoors. After our tour of Druid Heights, Justin tells us more about his organization, what inspired him to cre...

Jun 26, 20231 hr 22 minEp. 157

156: Trail Tales 31

Today’s stories include encountering the unexplained, unexpected finds, killer squirrels, coincidence cats and stepping out of your comfort zone. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free ...

Jun 22, 202346 minEp. 156

155: Smokey Bear Origin Story. Lincoln National Forest.

Smokey Bear has been an iconic symbol from the National Forest Service that we can all recognize. He has served as a staple in fire prevention safety education for generations. However, not only is Smokey’s origin story dark, but he was also once a living, breathing, American Black Bear. Stick around for the end of the episode as Cassie's partner Al, a long time wildland firefighter, shares his experiences in the field and tips on fire prevention. We love our National Parks and we know you do to...

Jun 19, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 155

154: The Short Man of Sumatra. Kerinci Seblat National Park.

Stories that make up the world’s collective rich history of legends and folklore are riddled with mysterious creatures. But what if one of these made-up beings jumped right off the page right into our very real world. And what if we looked into the face of that creature, only to discover it is more like us than we could have ever imagined? Today we venture to the island of Sumatra to discuss the Orang Pendek and its alleged last holdout deep within the forests of Kerinci Seblat National Park. We...

Jun 12, 202347 minEp. 154

153: Trail Tales 30

Today’s stories include wildin coyotes, trips from hell, riding the struggle bus, caffeinating bears, surviving storms and train stalkers. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Trammel Evans, please reach out to Joshua Tree Search and Rescue at (909) 383-5652 or email [email protected] Follow, find additional details and spread the word @findtram on all social accounts. We love our National Par...

Jun 08, 202349 minEp. 153

152: The Unlikely Survivors of White Sands.

Wild horses for generations have lived within the fences of White Sands Missile Range, surviving an atomic bomb and other military testing. When the nation finally takes notice of the unlivable conditions they have been struggling in, an experienced veterinarian is brought in to lead their rescue mission. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re list...

Jun 05, 20231 hr 14 minEp. 152

151: Crime or Cryptids ft. Sinisterhood Podcast. Mark Twain National Forest.

Join us on a very special episode as we trek to Missouri! This time around, we get to sit back and learn as we are guided through Mark Twain National Forest by Christie and Heather from Sinisterhood podcast. We talk all about cryptids, mysteries, missing persons and more with amazing company. Be sure to check out Sinisterhood HERE to catch their latest episodes and grab a ticket to one of their upcoming live shows! Make sure to listen to their most recent Freaky Friday episode (dropped 5/19) to ...

May 29, 20231 hr 12 minEp. 151

150: Everything Left to Remember with Author Steph Jagger

Today we welcome Steph Jagger, author of Everything Left to Remember: My Mother, Our Memories and a Journey Through the Rocky Mountains for a conversation about adventure, loss, gain, forgetting and remembering. Following her mother's Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the duo embarked on a grand adventure through three of our nation’s most beautiful national parks and her book is one of grief, celebration, surrender and acceptance. Steph can be found on Instagram HERE and through her website HERE . While s...

May 25, 202353 minEp. 150

149: Missing, Murdered, Massacred. Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

When a family of four vanishes from their campsite in Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, what ensues is one of Oregon state’s largest search and rescue efforts. The discovery of the family leaves more questions than answers and remains one of the Pacific Northwest's longest standing cold cases. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to...

May 22, 202357 minEp. 149

148: An Incredible Rescue. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.

Join us this week in the Alaskan Wilderness to the site of a plane crash on Redoubt Volcano. Four military men find themself stranded for weeks in a place where no rescue team has ventured to before. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus cont...

May 15, 202347 minEp. 148

147: Trail Tales 29

Today’s stories include finding ritual sites, trail advice, flash floods, lack of Plan B’s and snail tales. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free episodes, bonus content, and more. Fol...

May 11, 202358 minEp. 147

146: Spirit or Science? The Third Man Factor.

We’ve all experienced it – the feeling of someone watching us, or in the room with us when we are by all accounts seemingly alone. A shift in the air or a tingle down your spine usually sets off these spider senses. Traditionally, when we think of this feeling, we are afraid. But what happens when this unseen force is helpful? And provides companionship in times of desperation and need, in circumstances of life or death? Today we travel the globe and through time to visit stories of survivors fr...

May 08, 20231 hr 2 minEp. 146

145: The Loose Buckle in the Bible Belt. Hot Springs National Park.

Hot Springs National Park was nicknamed the loose buckle in the Bible Belt for its long history of criminal operations, speakeasies, and mob lore. This episode we conduct a historic tour of the park, visiting the favorite spots of infamous gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become p...

May 01, 202359 minEp. 145

144: Trail Tales 28

Today’s stories include voices on the wind, universal confirmation, memorable engagements, San Luis Valley weirdness and overstaying your welcome. Outsiders Only bonus stories available on Patreon for Apple Subscribers! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you’re listening to NPAD! Become part of our Outsider family on Patreon to gain access to ad-free ...

Apr 27, 202341 minEp. 144

143: The Chosen Ones. Llullaillaco National Park.

Earth’s history is marked with the rise and fall of many great civilizations. All of whom had their own ways of living and thoughts on dying. Today we travel to South America to learn about the Ancient Inca Capacocha ritual and uncover what lies within the world’s highest tombs, and what they can tell us about people of the past. Grab some merch! We love our National Parks and we know you do too but when you're out there, remember to enjoy the view but watch your back. Please take a moment to ra...

Apr 24, 202359 minEp. 143

142: Tooth and Claw: Bears in Yellowstone ft. National Park After Dark

Surprise! We may be on vacation this week, but that doesn't mean we can't bring you a new episode. Please enjoy our recent guest appearance on Tooth and Claw. Tooth and Claw description: Cassie and Danielle from National Park After Dark joined us recently for the first (and hopefully not last) Tooth and Claw Interview Series to talk a little bit about the history of feeding bears in Yellowstone, and then answer a slew of mostly ridiculous questions about themselves, including who between them wo...

Apr 17, 20231 hr 26 minEp. 142
National Park After Dark podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast