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The Parks Podcast, host Missy Rentz sits down with Jeanelle Soland and Rob Pelton from the Subaru Leave No Trace traveling team to bust the biggest myths about outdoor recreation. With a staggering 13 billion trips taken into the outdoors each year, human impact is skyrocketing—but the solution isn't rules and shaming, it’s a total mindset shift.

Discover the secret science behind the 7 Leave No Trace Principles (complete with hilarious hand motions!), the shocking environmental truth about why your dog's poop is actually an "invasive species," and how a powerhouse coalition slashed E. coli in a famous Arizona creek by 42%.

Whether you're embarking on a grueling 5-day backcountry trek or just hitting the local swings, this episode is your ultimate guide to becoming an everyday steward of the places we love. Tune in to upgrade your outdoor toolkit, drop the judgment, and learn how to protect the planet—one actionable step at a time!

• Leave No Trace
• Leave No Trace 101 Course
• Leave No Trace - How you can help
• Story on Oak Creek in Arizona
• Leave No Trace Social Media
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • TikTok

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Grab your hiking boots and get ready to journey through the "People’s Park." In this episode, host Missy Rentz welcomes Cinda Waldbuesser, President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), to explore the legendary Appalachian Trail (AT).

Spanning nearly 2,197.9 miles from Georgia to Maine, the AT is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. Cinda dives into the unique "three-legged stool" management system that keeps the trail running—a partnership between federal agencies, the ATC, and an incredible army of over 5,000 volunteers.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Stats: From the 16.9 million visits in 2025 to the elevation gain equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest 16 times.
• Through-Hiking vs. Day-Hiking: Why you don’t need to spend six months in the woods to enjoy the AT, and how the "trail community" supports everyone from casual walkers to "flip-floppers."
• Planning & Safety: Essential tips on using the AT Camp registration, managing food in bear country, and the importance of layering for unpredictable mountain weather.
• History & Heritage: The 1921 vision of Benton MacKaye and the upcoming Trail Days celebration in Damascus, Virginia.
• Recovery & Resilience: How the trail community rallied following the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Whether you’re dreaming of a thru-hike or just looking for a Saturday afternoon escape, this episode is a love letter to one of America’s most iconic public lands.

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What started as a simple Instagram account to document outdoor adventures quickly evolved into a nationwide movement. In this episode of The Parks Podcasat, host Missy Rentz sits down with Justin Yoder, the founder and executive director of LGBTQ Outdoors.

Justin shares the "happy accident" that led to the creation of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that now spans over 23 states with dozens of ambassadors. They dive deep into the unique barriers minority communities face in nature—from the need for visible representation to the simple, grounding act of "touching grass."

Episode Highlights

• The Origin Story: How a personal quest for community in Texas grew into a national organization.
• Breaking Barriers: Why symbols like pride flags and anti-discrimination clauses matter in outdoor spaces.
• Outdoor Fest & Adventure Trips: Details on curated excursions to Glacier, Zion, and Yellowstone National Parks.
• The Power of "Slow Outdoors": Challenging the misconception that you have to be an elite athlete to be "outdoorsy."
• How to Join: Tips on finding local chapters, joining Facebook groups, and becoming an ambassador.

Links from the conversation

• LGBTQ Outdoors Website
• LGBTQ Outdoors Local Chapters

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"I want them to look back and say, 'This was my school'—not just a park I visit."

What if a child’s first classroom wasn’t surrounded by four walls, but by 2,500 acres of wild Maryland landscape? In this episode, host Missy Rentz sits down with Katrina Fauss, Principal Park Naturalist at Black Hill Discovery Center, to explore the transformative power of nature-based education.

Hidden just miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Black Hill Regional Park is more than just a scenic backdrop for hikers and boaters—it is a "hidden gem" serving as a vital reservoir for the region and a living laboratory for the community. Katrina shares how their unique Forest Preschool and "play-first" philosophy are fostering a lifelong sense of wonder in children and adults alike.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Hidden Gem" of Montgomery County: Discover the history of Black Hill, from its 19th-century gold mining roots to its current role protecting 4 billion gallons of emergency drinking water.
• Nature as a Classroom: The philosophy behind Forest Schools and why "playing in the mud" is a critical developmental milestone.
• The "Birth to Death" Continuum: How the park serves every age group, from 10-day-old hikers to 99-year-olds on pontoon tours.
• Wildlife & Recreation: Tips for spotting the resident nesting Bald Eagles, navigating 20 miles of trails, and making the most of Little Seneca Lake.
• The Power of Connection: Why county parks became essential "fabric of life" sanctuaries during the pandemic and beyond.

About Our Guest:

Katrina Fauss is the Principal Park Naturalist at Black Hill Discovery Center. With over a decade of experience in nature-based education, she is a passionate advocate for play-based learning and environmental stewardship.

Resources Mentioned:

• Black Hill Discovery Center: MontgomeryParks.org
• Register for Programs: ActiveMontgomery.org
• Natural Start Alliance: (Resources for finding nature preschools nationwide)
• Association of Nature-Based Educators

Follow The Parks Podcast: For full show notes and links to everything mentioned in today’s episode, visit TheParksPodcast.com.

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Cuyahoga Valley proves that a park doesn't have to be "untouched" to be transformative. Whether you’re there for a high-intensity hike or a quiet glass of wine at a park-hosted vineyard, there is truly something for everyone.

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In this episode of The Parks Podcast, host Missy Rentz sits down with Tara Ross and Nancy Martinz, former National Park Service law enforcement rangers and the creators of the hit podcast Crime Off the Grid.

Forget the salacious horror stories; Tara and Nancy bring decades of real-world experience to the table to discuss the reality of law enforcement in the wild. From the unpredictability of "Ranger Tales" to the complexities of federal jurisdiction, they pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to patrol millions of acres of wilderness.

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In this urgent episode of The Parks Podcast, host Missy Rentz sits down with Sam Chadwick, Associate Director of Save The Boundary Waters, to discuss a critical and unprecedented threat to one of Minnesota’s most iconic landscapes.

Despite a 20-year mining ban enacted in 2023 to protect these pristine headwaters, a new joint resolution in Congress seeks to roll back these protections and pave the way for copper mining. Sam breaks down why this specific type of mining is so dangerous for a water-rich environment, how the "invisible boundary" of a wilderness area offers no protection against downstream pollution, and why the current legislative maneuver is a "dangerous first" for federal land management.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Current Threat: Why the U.S. House has passed a resolution to undo the copper mining ban and what happens next in the Senate.
• Wilderness 101: What makes the Boundary Waters unique—from its "wilderness quiet" status to its status as the most visited wilderness area in the country.
• The Environmental Risk: The difference between traditional iron mining and the high-risk sulfide-ore copper mining proposed for the edge of the wilderness.
• The "Squeaky Wheel" Strategy: Practical tips for calling your senators, overcoming "phone anxiety," and why calling local state offices can be even more effective than calling D.C.
• The Power of Visitation: Why visiting and sharing your love for these places is a vital form of advocacy.

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"How is it we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of Negroes?" (Samuel Johnson) In the shadow of Independence Hall, where the words "We the People" were first penned, stood the executive mansion of George Washington. But while the first President was establishing the traditions of American democracy, he was also orchestrating a secret scheme to circumvent Pennsylvania’s abolition laws and maintain his hold on nine enslaved human beings.

In this series premiere of the "Our Story", host Missy Rentz sits down with John Garrison Marks, author of “Black Freedom in the age of Slavery: Race, Status, and Identity in the Urban Americas.” and the forthcoming book, “Black Freedom in the age of Slavery: Race, Status, and Identity in the Urban Americas.”

In this episode, we explore:

• The President’s House: The "hidden" history of the executive mansion in Philadelphia and why it remains a pivotal site in the National Park system.
• Washington’s Dichotomy: How the man who famously set 123 people free in his will also spent his life actively undermining the freedom of others.
• The Current Conflict: A candid discussion on the recent 2026 executive orders removing slavery-related exhibits from national parks and how citizens are protesting by "bringing the history back" themselves.

About Our Guest

John Garrison Marks is the author of Black Freedom in the Age of Slavery and the upcoming Thy Will Be Done: George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory (April 2026). He serves as the VP of Research and Engagement at the American Association for State and Local History.

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