Public Lands Podcast

Eight captivating and inspiring stories from our public lands, parks, and waterways, expertly crafted by guest producers.  

An interview with Dr. Christine Marran, the author of Ecology without Culture.

Three visitors tell us about their most memorable park adventures, featuring audio production by University of Minnesota students. Yellowstone, Ho Rain Forest (Olympic National Park), and the US/Canada border on Lake Superior.

The start of a new series: "Park Stories." Visitors to Bryce Canyon National Park, Cabrillo National Monument, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, as well as the coast of Alaska recall special moments on public lands and waterways. Photo of Bryce Canyon by Jon Sullivan, reprinted with permission via Creative Commons License. Thanks, Jon, and all artists that make their work available to the public via Creative Commons. Thanks as well to the two uncredited storytellers for this episode: Robert Poch and Debbie Reiter.

The Friends of the Falls tell us about the history, present, and possible futures of an iconic waterscape in Minneapolis on the Mississippi River, including an act of truth telling and restitution.

A look back at the recent floods in Death Valley National Park and Kentucky opening its state parks to flood refugees, plus recent research regarding "forever chemicals" in rainwater, as well as a look forward to new programming that starts in September.

A look at National Monuments at the local, state, and national level; why their existence is so tenuous and necessary.

As we continue to bridge our interview format from the past several years to more interviews, stories, and policy discussions later this fall, today is about some hopeful and fun stories from and about our public parks, including Ecosia's global search engine, California's attempts to expand and diversify public access to public lands, and a wonderful "What if" event in Kirtland, Ohio.

Three stories--one local (SC, GA), one at the state level (ID), and one national (USA)--illustrate ongoing threats to our public lands.  

An interview with Anjela Barnes, Vice President of the Accokeek Foundation, concerning her organization's efforts to enhance conservation and support cultural heritage work at Piscataway National Park.

A conversation with Cora Berchem of the Friends of Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, Florida. Photo 

Three audio rich stories from Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks, performed and produced by guest hosts.

Sam Coulter interviews Nikayla Barnes about chronic wasting disease in deer.

Guest host Ben Reiter interviews Maddy Witt, Education Supervisor at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. Wolf photo by Derek Bakken, used via permission, Creative Commons.

Professor Olusegun Titus discusses his research and performances in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Germany and the UK, explaining how music amplifies the voices of communities struggling against environmental injustice. 

Three experts from the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) explain their informative research and creative mitigation efforts for dealing with carp. 

Sierra Salato and Mikaela Morris interview the band NUNNABOVE about their environmental musicianship for the Together Alone project, performance for Metro Blooms, new album, as well as their experience on America’s Got Talent.

An interview with musician Alisha Todd from the Gold Coast of Australia. Alisha discusses her music and music videos as well as her upcoming performance for the Together Alone project. 

A quick recap of the past year and an introduction to a special series of upcoming episodes with musicians from the Together Alone project.