What does it take to protect towering dunes, alpine tundra, and ancient wetlands—all in one park? In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Compton, Superintendent of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado. Known for its surreal dune field (the tallest in North America), the park also holds rich biodiversity: from subalpine lakes to desert shrublands, all shaped by a powerful, protected watershed. Andrea shares how her early fascination with the natural world—and a caree...
Jun 24, 2025•46 min
In this episode, Pitt shares how a childhood spent under the rule “get outside by 8 a.m. or get a long list of chores” sparked a lifelong love for wild places—and led to a career connecting communities to the outdoors. From founding a kayak school to leading Utah’s Office of Outdoor Recreation, Pitt brings a deep passion to every corner of the outdoor space. We talk about his current role at AllTrails as Head of Social and Environmental Impact, the rise of state-level outdoor recreation offices,...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr
What does it mean to lead the largest national park in the United States—one that’s bigger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Switzerland combined? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ben Bobowski, Superintendent of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in southeastern Alaska. With over 13 million acres of towering peaks, vast glaciers, and deep cultural history, this park is not only massive, but awe-inspiring. Ben shares his journey through the National Park Service—from his beginning...
May 20, 2025•44 min
In this episode, Maddie talks with Claire Smallwood, co-founder and Executive Director of SheJumps, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing participation of women and girls in outdoor activities. Claire shares the story behind SheJumps, her time in Senegal, and how community and storytelling shaped her vision. They explore how outdoor experiences build confidence, why no one is born knowing outdoor skills, and the role of passion and resourcefulness in growing a nonprofit. Claire’s belief: everyone ...
Apr 29, 2025•50 min
In this episode of Who Runs This Park, host Maddie Pellman sits down with Deb Yandala, the longtime CEO of the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. With over two decades of leadership, Deb has grown the Conservancy into one of the most impactful national park friends groups in the country—expanding educational programming, launching arts initiatives like the beloved concert series, and forging deep community connections across northeast Ohio. Deb reflects on her journey from curriculum...
Apr 15, 2025•49 min
Juliana Chauncey, a.k.a. "Chaunce," joins Maddie Pellman on Who Runs This Park: Park Enthusiasts Edition. A long-distance hiker, author, and co-host of Backpacker Radio—the #1 hiking podcast with over 8 million downloads—Chaunce has built a life around adventure, storytelling, and community. In this episode, Chaunce shares how she became a part of Backpacker Radio, the balancing act of a career alongside long-distance hiking and podcasting, and her approach to saying "yes" to opportunities that ...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Biscayne National Park is a world apart—just a short distance from Miami, yet mostly underwater, teeming with vibrant coral reefs, sprawling seagrass beds, and a rich maritime heritage. From hurricanes to habitat restoration, managing a marine park presents unique challenges, and few know that better than Sarah Hopson, the superintendent of Biscayne National Park. In this episode, Sarah shares what it takes to steward a park where 95% of the landscape is water. We dive into coral reef restoratio...
Mar 18, 2025•47 min
Joe Gibson, trail builder, writer, and Founder/Editor of Trail Crew Stories joins Maddie Pellman on Who Runs This Park: Park Enthusiasts Edition to dive into the hidden world of trail design. Joe’s journey into the trail world began with a single volunteer day, leading to a career spent shaping the way people move through landscapes—often without them realizing it. He explains how great trail work is meant to be invisible, drawing a fascinating comparison between Disneyland’s intentional illusio...
Mar 04, 2025•48 min
This episode takes us to Redwood National and State Parks, home to the tallest trees on Earth and some of the most vital old-growth forests left standing. These ancient redwoods, towering over the California coast, create a landscape unlike any other—where entire ecosystems thrive high in the canopy, and every acre plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration and climate resilience. We’re joined by Steve Mietz, the superintendent of Redwood National and State Parks. With a deep passion for conse...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min
Zach Davis, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Trek and co-host of Backpacker Radio, joins Maddie Pellman on Who Runs This Park: Park Enthusiasts Edition. Zach has built a career at the intersection of storytelling and adventure, creating a thriving media platform dedicated to the thru-hiking and long-distance backpacking community. In this episode, Zach shares his personal journey—from tackling the Appalachian Trail as his first-ever backpacking trip to becoming a leading voice in the outdo...
Feb 04, 2025•48 min
This episode takes us to Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah, home to the world’s largest concentration of hoodoos—towering, otherworldly rock formations sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Bryce Canyon’s breathtaking amphitheaters, vivid red and orange cliffs, and pristine dark skies make it a treasure of the National Park system. We’re joined by Jim Ireland, the park’s superintendent since 2021. With nearly 30 years of experience in the National Park Service, Jim’s journey began ...
Jan 28, 2025•54 min
Tim Beissinger and Renee Miller, the dynamic duo behind the social media phenomenon “The Thruhikers,” join Maddie Pellman, host of Who Runs This Park, Park Enthusiasts Edition. With over 2 million TikTok followers and 380K on Instagram, Tim and Renee have captivated audiences with their adventures, expertise, and humor. In this episode, we explore their incredible journey, from thruhiking the Pacific Crest Trail to designing their own trail routes like the Pacific Northwest Circuit. We talk abou...
Jan 21, 2025•53 min
This episode takes us to White Sands National Park in Southern New Mexico, home to the world’s largest gypsum dune field. The brilliant white sands form a stunning landscape shaped by both nature and history, offering a glimpse into the unique ecosystems and cultural heritage of the border region. White Sands, once a National Monument, became a National Park in 2019, marking an exciting chapter in its long history. We’re joined by Marie Frias Sauter, the park’s superintendent since 2012. Marie’s...
Jan 14, 2025•49 min
Kenzie Smith, Christian Outdoor Content Creator, Retreat Host, and Podcast Creator, joins Maddie Pellman, host of Who Runs This Park, Park Enthusiasts. Kenzie is the creative force behind My Valley His Victory, a podcast exploring faith, outdoor adventures, and building authentic community. A self-taught outdoorswoman, Kenzie is passionate about showing that it's never too late to learn outdoor skills—whether that's backpacking, skiing, or overlanding—and proving that adventure can be a pathway ...
Jan 07, 2025•48 min
Erin Sprague, CEO of Protect Our Winters (POW), joins Maddie Pellman, host of Who Runs This Park, Park Enthusiasts. POW is the outdoor movement driving climate action, fueled by the world’s most influential athletes, artists, and brands. With Erin at the helm—an intelligent, passionate, and adventurous leader—POW is tackling the climate crisis through transformative policy solutions and grassroots advocacy. In this episode, we dive into the heart of POW and the remarkable journey of Erin herself...
Dec 17, 2024•52 min
A special in-person episode, recorded at the National Park Friends Alliance Fall Meeting, featuring Yosemite Conservancy President & CEO Frank Dean and Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. Frank and Cicely provide a unique moment for Who Runs This Park by showcasing the incredible partnership between Yosemite and the Yosemite Conservancy, offering insights into the vital relationships between national parks and their friends groups. This fun and laughter-filled conversation ...
Dec 10, 2024•45 min
Sandy Colhoun, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) President, joins Maddie Pellman, host of Who Runs This Park, Park Enthusiasts. NOLS, built on the vision that wilderness is the great equalizer, stands as THE leader in outdoor education—a nonprofit Maddie has been captivated by since taking her first Wilderness First Aid Course in 2022, followed by an unforgettable backcountry skiing adventure in Japan on a NOLS alumni course. You can tell in the interview, Maddie is beyond excited to be ...
Dec 03, 2024•50 min
This episode spotlights Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, through the eyes of its superintendent, Jeremy Sweat. Known for its iconic 630-foot monument, Gateway Arch National Park commemorates America’s westward expansion and serves as a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of its creators. Visitors can explore the story of the Arch's construction—one that took more than three decades to secure funding for—and the complex history of the surrounding area, including the St. ...
Nov 26, 2024•52 min
Collyn “Doc” Nielsen, host of Hiker Trash Radio podcast, joins Maddie Pellman, host of Who Runs This Park for a unique episode. Together they highlight noteworthy moments from each of their podcasts. Maddie highlights conversations with the Grand Teton National Park Superintendent, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve Superintendent, and the Kobuk Valley National Park Superintendent and why these have been some of her favorite conversations thus far. Doc covers an exceptional expeditionist, a...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 9 min
This episode highlights Congaree National Park in South Carolina through the perspective of its superintendent, Greg Hauburger. Known for preserving the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States, Congaree National Park boasts a rich array of biodiversity. Visitors will find towering trees—some of the tallest in the eastern U.S.—and a variety of wildlife, including river otters, bobcats, and alligators. The Congaree River flows through the park, and ...
Nov 12, 2024•48 min
Danielle LaRock and Cassie Yahnian, hosts of the National Park After Dark podcast, join us on the pod today. This was a big moment for me as a longtime fan of NPAD—I was definitely having a fangirl moment! For those who don’t know, National Park After Dark is a podcast for the morbid outdoor enthusiast, sharing stories from our national parks and other public lands that showcase their darker or spookier sides. Danielle and Cassie, both former vet techs, have created a thriving community of morbi...
Nov 05, 2024•53 min
Joe Erato and Mike Van de Bogert, hosts of the Locations Unknown podcast, join us for a lively, laughter-filled conversation. Locations Unknown is a podcast that delves into unexplained and unsolved disappearances in America's wilderness, highlighting some of the eerie circumstances that often accompany these cases, such as search and rescue efforts being hampered by storms and missing individuals being found in semi-conscious states with no memory of their disappearance. In our conversation, we...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 9 min
This episode features Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui, Hawaii, from the perspective of its superintendent, Natalie Gates. Haleakalā National Park is home to the dormant Haleakalā Volcano, whose peak rises to 10,023 feet. Known for its breathtaking sunrise—described by Mark Twain as "the most sublime spectacle"—and excursions into the volcano's crater, the park is both a stunning natural wonder and a deeply sacred place for Native Hawaiians. Natalie, who has served as superintendent...
Oct 22, 2024•40 min
Adam Ruggiero, Editor-in-Chief and Podcast Host at GearJunkie, joins me for a riveting and wide-ranging conversation. From media trips gone wrong to how we should think about AI from a journalism standpoint, this discussion is engaging and exciting. GearJunkie is an online hub for outdoor adventure, offering expert gear reviews, the latest outdoor trends, and inspiring stories for adventurers. Adam shares his experience living and working on a coffee farm in Hawaii, makes a case for journalism s...
Oct 15, 2024•55 min
Check out our BRAND NEW SEGMENT, Park Enthusiasts, with Parks Project CEO and Founder, Keith Eshelman. Parks Project is an outdoor lifestyle brand with purpose. Parks Project gives back to conservation efforts focused on restoring habitats in our parklands and activates communities of volunteers to support parks. In only 7 years, what started as a one t-shirt business, has grown to an assortment of head-to-toe apparel and home goods and more than $2.6 million in donations to over 50 park conserv...
Oct 01, 2024•51 min
Get a sneak peek into the hidden gem that is Lassen Volcanic National Park from the superintendent herself, Roseann Worley. Lassen Volcanic National Park is sometimes referred to as "Little Yosemite." Imagine all the geothermal and natural features of Yellowstone in a more condensed and less populated space—Roseann argues Lassen Volcanic is even better ;). Lassen Volcanic is located in Northeastern California and was the 15th national park established by Congress, in 1916, the same year the Nati...
Sep 10, 2024•40 min
"Sucking Wind" is a term coined by Crater Lake park rangers to describe the moment when someone walks up to the rim of the caldera for the first time and takes a deep breath, overwhelmed by the surreal scene. Today, we have the privilege of interviewing Superintendent Craig Ackerman, the caretaker of this inspirational and sacred place, Crater Lake National Park. Crater Lake National Park is located in Southern Oregon, and the lake itself is the deepest in the U.S. Known as the “Mirror of Heaven...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Rhonda Loh, a local girl from Hawaiʻi, has been working and volunteering at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for over three decades. She has been the superintendent since 2020, with her first day on the job coinciding with an eruption—quite the greeting and way to jump into the role. In this episode, we get firsthand insight into how volcanic activity is monitored and evaluated by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and how they collaborate with the park. We also get a glimpse into how the park is re...
Aug 13, 2024•59 min
Also referred to as the Galapagos of North America, Channel Islands is located 60 miles offshore from Santa Barbara, California and is made up of five islands. The stories Ethan McKinley, Channel Islands National Park Superintendent, shares are jaw dropping at the least -- from capturing golden eagles using helicopters and essentially pillowcases, to implementing a New Zealand designed biosecurity station, and to needing any ranger on San Miguel Island to be trained in unexploded ordnances. Etha...
Jul 30, 2024•47 min
Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are located in Eastern Utah and are both famous on their own accord. Arches is home to the Delicate Arch, which has become a famous symbol of Utah (it is on their license plate) and is one of the most recognized natural formations in the United States. Canyonlands is a much larger park with many opportunities for outdoor adventure through four wheel driving, challenging backpacking, etc. Today’s episode dives into the Lena Pace's (Arches & Canyonlands su...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 5 min
