Hosted by two friends who share a passion for public lands and a fascination with what can go wrong there, each week hosts Danielle and Cassie explore the darker side of our National Parks. But it isn’t always chills and thrills. By sharing inspiring tales and their desire for protecting our planet’s wild places, they hope listeners will be inspired to take a walk into the wild and create meaningful adventures of their own.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Go beyond the popular narrative of Chris McCandless's 'Into the Wild' with his sister Corrine's heartbreaking memoir, 'The Wild Truth.' This episode delves into the previously untold history of severe family abuse and infidelity that deeply impacted Chris's life and his decision to escape. It highlights Corrine's unwavering empathy despite her parents' manipulation and her courageous fight to bring the complete truth to light, offering a crucial new perspective on why Chris ventured into the Alaskan wilderness.
Valley of Shadows is a new true crime podcast that digs into a nearly 30-year old secret buried in the California desert. On June 11, 1998, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Aujay set out for a run in California’s Devil’s Punchbowl park — and never came back. Aujay has yet to be found. The Sheriff’s Department rules Aujay’s disappearance a suicide, but friends, family, and fellow deputies insist the story doesn’t add up. Instead, they believe Aujay may have stumbled into the Mojave Desert’...
Today’s stories include prank fails, questionable evidence, bear saviors, damned girls trips, and mountain flavored Disneyworlds. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider ...
In the previous episode, a catastrophic fall high on Siula Grande forced an impossible decision. With Joe badly injured and hanging in space, Simon cut the rope, believing his climbing partner was lost. Now, high in the Cordillera Huayhuash Reserve, both men must attempt to get off the mountain alive. Joe is alone with a shattered leg and no supplies. Simon is stranded high on the face with night closing in and no clear way down. Survival is no longer about the climb, but about whether either of...
High in the Cordillera Huayhuash Reserve of the Peruvian Andes, two British climbers attempt the first ascent of the West Face of Siula Grande. The mountain is remote, unforgiving, and lethal to mistakes. After reaching the summit, a catastrophic accident during the descent forces a decision that places survival and death on opposite ends of a single rope. For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, foll...
Today’s stories include pizza in Zion, getting stalked, mule saviors, mysterious trapezoids, and pooping lake water. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts ...
Not many of us would accept a job that risked life and limb, but for a brief moment in time, young men did just that - just to carry the mail. It may have only been in operation for 18 months, but the legacy of the Pony Express has lasted generations. A 2,000 mile horseback ride from Missouri to California posed risks of all kinds, but with no telegraph wires or trains connecting the coasts, brave men and their trusty steeds stepped up and battled the elements, warring nations and each other to ...
This episode delves into the haunting 1945 Christmas Eve disappearance of five Sodder children after their Fayetteville, West Virginia home was engulfed in a suspicious fire. Despite an official ruling of accidental death, the family's relentless, decades-long search uncovered numerous inconsistencies, eyewitness accounts, and strange occurrences, leading them to believe their children were kidnapped. The hosts discuss the case's perplexing details and lingering questions.
Today’s stories include snubbing trail magic, spider inflicted injuries, railroad watchers and unexplained orbs. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts . Wa...
In July of 1917 a pioneering landscape painter paddled out onto Canoe Lake in Algonquin Provincial Park and never returned. His death was initially ruled an accident, but in the following decades peculiar “evidence” and claims from the locals raised a lot of questions. Theories began to arise that maybe it wasn’t an accident after all. Tom Thomson’s death may have happened nearly 100 years ago, but it remains one of Canada’s most enduring mysteries. For a full list of our sources, visit http://n...
This episode delves into the history of death-defying stunts performed in and around the Grand Canyon, examining how daredevils like R.V. Thomas, Dar Robinson, the Knievels, Bob Burnquist, Yves Rossi, and Nik Wallenda pushed human limits. It also explores the regulatory challenges posed by the National Park Service versus tribal nations' land, and discusses the economic and environmental impacts of these high-stakes spectacles, concluding with a reflection on society's ongoing fascination with extreme live events.
Trail Tales 82 - Today’s stories include cemetery tales, childhood tubing trauma almost felonies and ghostly protectors. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @ nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podca...
This gripping episode recounts the incredible true story of Valdis Bieliauskas, an experienced rafter pinned by boulders in Tasmania's freezing Franklin River. After all conventional rescue attempts fail over 20 grueling hours, Valdis makes the unimaginable decision to have his leg amputated to survive. The narrative details the challenging, on-site surgical procedure and his miraculous recovery from cardiac arrest, culminating in his inspiring resolve to return to the river he nearly died in, highlighting the extraordinary courage of both the survivor and his rescuers.
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we venture into Badlands National Park, where a 1975 shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation left two FBI agents and an activist dead. Leonard Peltier, convicted on questionable evidence and finally released after 49 years, insists his only crime was “being an Indian.” This is a story of defiance, injustice, and the complex fight for Native lands and sovereignty. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD...
Listeners share five gripping "Trail Tales," starting with a paranormal experience at Colorado's Third Bridge, tied to indigenous history and local tragedies. Another story details a challenging 13th birthday backpacking trip fraught with unexpected calamities. Two stories from the Navajo Nation involve surprising encounters with tarantulas and a "river" of snakes. A harrowing account follows, where a solo female hiker navigates a remote trail with a former friend exhibiting disturbing behavior. Finally, a mother recounts her chilling near-miss with a suspected serial killer on Virginia's Colonial Parkway, emphasizing the importance of intuition and safety.
In June of 1877, 800 people were faced with an impossible choice - leave their home or be forcibly removed from it. What resulted was a 126 day 1,500 mile journey across four states by a band of Nez Perce who were attempting to escape forced relocation. They were relentlessly and violently pursued by the U.S. Army, eluding and fighting them for months through mountain ranges and within Yellowstone National Park before ultimately being forced into a corner just 40 miles from Canada - and freedom....
This episode recounts the incredible true story of Truman C. Everts, a 54-year-old bureaucrat who became separated from the 1870 Washburn Expedition in the pre-park Yellowstone wilderness. Stranded for 37 days without supplies, he battled frostbite, burns, wild animals, and extreme hunger, surviving on thistle roots and ingenuity like creating fire with his binoculars. His dramatic ordeal, though marked by controversial post-rescue behavior, ultimately became a nationally celebrated tale that helped garner support for establishing Yellowstone as America's first national park.
Today’s stories include wilderness tripping, formative moments, interrupting crimes and protective spirits. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bo...
Topping every “America’s Most Haunted” list sits The Winchester Mystery House. It’s story has been told time and time again, but do we really know the truth of the woman behind its facade, and have we treated her legacy fairly? In today’s episode, we discuss the forgotten Winchester. For a full list of our sources, visit http://npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparkaft...
We have a special Halloween episode for you this month to celebrate spooky season. We’ve decided to release what would have been a subscribers only episode :) This week we are joined by Patricia, better known as Patches, the creator of The Morbidly Curious Book Club. What began in 2021 as a small online space for readers to share dark and fascinating nonfiction has grown into a worldwide community of more than sixteen thousand members. From plagues and cults to witches, forensics, and haunted pl...
Do you believe in goblins and fairies? Do you believe in their the magic? Well, the Fairy Minister Reverend Robert Kirk did. In 1691 he published "The Secret Commonwealth of Elves and Fairies", a book that described their habits, appearance, and secrets in detail. The following year, Reverend Kirk was found dead on Doon Hill, the alleged entrance to the realm of the fairies. Coincidence? You decide. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group...
Today’s stories include haunted government housing, mystery hair, almost animal attacks, breaking the (leash) law, family trauma bonding and bad shipwreck vibes. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by ...
Graveyards are often portrayed as eerie, haunted places. Today, they’re depicted as places of fear and sorrow, where the living rarely go. But historically, cemeteries were central to community life. Far from being hidden or feared, they were embraced as spaces for reflection, creativity, and leisure. They allowed for open religious expression, inspired art and literature, and helped shape landscape architecture. This week we explore cemeteries and appreciate them for all that they have done to ...
This episode delves into the controversial history of Mount Rushmore, exploring its creation on stolen Lakota land, the broken treaties, and the violent displacement of Indigenous peoples, drawing parallels with the problematic celebrations of figures like Christopher Columbus. It highlights the stark contrast between Mount Rushmore, a symbol of American pride, and the Crazy Horse Memorial, a privately funded monument dedicated to honoring Native resilience and history, emphasizing the ongoing fight for justice and the reexamination of America's past.
Today’s stories include traumatizing rites of passage, calls for help, wedding dress ghosts, missing friends and anonymous letters. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and recei...
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, today’s episode is dedicated to George Meléndez Wright, the first Hispanic person to occupy a professional role in the National Park Service. His life was cut tragically short, but his holistic approach to wildlife management in the National Parks has left an indelible mark. To submit a business for the Outsiders Gift Guide, please email assistant@npadpodcast.com by October 22nd :) For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the l...
When a small Cessna went down in the San Gabriel Mountains in February 1979, eleven-year-old Norman Ollestad was thrust into a fight for his life. Stranded in a blizzard on alpine terrain more than 8,500 feet up, he drew on the skills and grit he’d learned from his father to make his way out. For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @ nationalparka...
Today’s stories include being locked in taxidermy museums, meeting legends, lightning escapes, ghostly hikes and trolling blue butterflies. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers! For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon...
When Jefferey Lendrum was a boy, he loved birds. What began as a childhood passion volunteering for an ornithology program transformed into a life of wildlife crime - scaling cliffs to steal and then smuggle falcon eggs around the world. Despite multiple arrests, steep fines and various investigations - he just couldn’t quit. What motivated him? How did his dedication to birds turn to destruction? This is the story of the “Pablo Escobar of Falcon Eggs”. NEW MERCH AVAILABLE NOW! For a full list o...
Crime doesn’t take a day off. And neither does Crime House Daily. Hosted by self-defense instructor and advocate for victims, Katie Ring, Crime House Daily is coming to you twice every weekday, covering the biggest crime stories as they unfold. Morning episodes give you the need-to-know. The latest headlines, breaking developments, and where things are going next. Evening episodes go deeper. Into the people, the evidence, and the moments that matter most. The pursuit of justice never stops. And ...
