What keeps you showing up to work when the politics are messy, the budget is tight, and the trail never really ends?

In this episode of Parks and Restoration, Chris and Jeremy explore the power of purpose—your WHY—and why it’s a powerful force for staying motivated, engaged, and resilient in parks, natural resources, and outdoor recreation work.

Drawing inspiration from Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why,” they share personal stories, leadership insights, and practical ways to reconnect with your purpose when the mission feels buried under bureaucracy or invasive species.

If you're feeling stuck, stretched, or just need a reminder of what pulled you into this work in the first place, this one’s for you.

Show notes, transcript, and contact at parksandrestoration.com

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In this episode, I explore how onboarding isn’t just about filling out forms and handing over keys—it’s about shaping culture, boosting retention, and setting your team up for long-term success.

Whether you're bringing on seasonal staff or full-time hires, this episode breaks down the three essential functions of onboarding—belonging, purpose, and clarity—and offers practical, field-tested strategies to help new team members thrive from day one.

Back around the first of the year, I was a (co)guest on the Outliers Edge Podcast hosted by Niiamah Ashong. We discussed some of my "leadership through the lens of ecology" ideas, how it's not good to go it alone, and much more.

Outliers Edge is "a podcast for high-performing unconventional leaders and entrepreneurs (aka Outliers) who use what makes them different to make a difference."

I got permission from Niiamah to share this episode here so I thought I'd break from the norm and share an episode where I'm the one being interviewed.

Enjoy!