Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters

Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters

timfmerriman

Episodes 95
Avg. Duration 51m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (4)
Since Apr 2023
Latest Episode Apr 2026

Outreach Signals

Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
66%
Hosting
feed.podbean.com

About This Podcast

Tim Merriman talks story with heritage interpretation professionals from all over the world. In his 50+ year career as a heritage interpreter, Tim has been a park ranger, nature center director, and national recreation area research manager. From 1995 to 2012, he was Executive Director of National Association for Interpretation, the professional organization for guides and interpreters in the United States. He has been a motivational speaker, trainer, and planner in 26 countries and all 50 states in the US, sharing his love for communicating with the public about valued places, people and stories in natural and cultural heritage settings.

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Recent Episodes

Greg Gnesios, NPS and Orbridge Travel Naturalist, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

Apr 24, 2026 43m

Join Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney as they talk story with Greg Gnesios about his diverse career in NPS, BLM and Orbridge Travel. For 27 years Greg was a ranger/naturalist with the National Park…

Alan Alex Marti, Safari Guide, Talks Story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney in the Serengeti

Mar 20, 2026 48m

Alan Alex Marti is more than a safari guide, he is a cultural bridge and storyteller shaped by the landscapes and traditions of northern Tanzania. Of Maasai and Iraqwi heritage, Alan represents just…

Susan Langdon, NPS, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation

Mar 06, 2026 49m

With more than 32 years of experience in interpretation with the National Park Service, Susan brings a depth of wisdom shaped by service, leadership, and a passion for meaningful connection. Her…

Dominic Cardea, NPS Retired, Talks Story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney

Feb 20, 2026 53m

Dominic Cardea (Dom) recently retired after a 34 year National Park Service career spent turning big ideas—geology, history, culture, and community—into invitations to be curious. He helped shape and…

Karen Cucurullo, NPS, Joins Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation

Feb 08, 2026 39m

Join us for a powerful conversation with Karen Cucurullo, a seasoned leader with nearly 35 years in the National Park Service. From Manassas to Death Valley, Karen has served in diverse roles, from…

Heather Holm, California State Parks Director of Interpretation and Education, Talks Story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney

Jan 23, 2026 37m

Heather Holm is the Chief of the Interpretation and Education Division of California State Parks and is the guest of Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story…

Daniel Martinez, NPS Pearl Harbor Historian and Interpreter Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

Dec 21, 2025 38m

Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney talk story with Daniel Martinez on Reflections on Interpretation. For historian Daniel Martinez, history isn’t just something to study—it’s something you feel. After 44…

Gary Candelaria Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation

Dec 05, 2025 39m

Gary Candelaria brings a lifetime of dedication to America’s public lands to this episode of Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters. Raised in Los Angeles and…

Costa Dillon Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation

Nov 21, 2025 45m

Costa Dillon is a retired National Park Service ranger and park superintendent who worked in more than a dozen parks in his 35-year career including as Superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Park,…

T. Lindsay Baker, Historian and Author, Talks Story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney on Reflections on Interpretation

Nov 07, 2025 39m

Join Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney for a fascinating conversation with T. Lindsay Baker, a historian of the American West who doesn’t just write about the past, he’s lived it. Author of more than…

Tim Merriman Talks Story on Reflections on Interpretation: What is the Purpose of Heritage Interpretation?

Oct 24, 2025 12m

For more than fifty years, I’ve been asking one question: What is the purpose of heritage interpretation? Early in my career, a few key experiences set me on a path of reflection—a path that has…

Dr. Robert Powell and Dr. Marc J. Stern Talk Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation

Oct 10, 2025 48m

Dr. Robert Powell’s research at Clemson University focuses on informal STEM education, interpretation, protected area management, and sustainable tourism. He has led multiple NSF-funded national…

Celeste Bernardo, Retired NPS Superintendent, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

Sep 26, 2025 34m

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Celeste Bernardo, who devoted 35 years to the National Park Service (NPS), building bridges between people, places, and heritage. With a career spanning…

Toby Merriman, MFA, of SIU Center for Virtual Expression, Talks Story about AI with Tim Merriman

Sep 12, 2025 39m

Toby Merriman, MFA, works each day as Assistant Director of Center for Virtual Expression at Southern Illinois University in assisting faculty in understanding how AI, VR and Gamification may improve…

Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman Talk Story about ABMC and Training

Sep 01, 2025 37m

Today on Reflections I am talking story with my podcast co-host, Bill Gwaltney, who recently returned from a trip to western Europe to visit friends from his long career with National Park Service…

Michael Stuckey, CIT, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merirman on Reflections on Interpretation

Jul 26, 2025 42m

Michael Stuckey had a career of many decades with National Park Service working in both natural and cultural history parks in a variety of roles, but especially in interpretation. He tells his own…

Monique Thompson, CIT, Talks Story with Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation

Jul 16, 2025 38m

Monique Thompson, CIT, is a Restorative Justice practitioner, nature enthusiast, and expert in interpretive education. Her programs inspire community connection and inclusivity, with a focus on…

Toby Merriman, Matt Villamaino, Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman Talk Story about AI in Interpretation

Jun 28, 2025 45m

Matt Villamaino, Bill Gwaltney, Toby Merriman, and Tim Merriman gather on Zoom to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence in heritage interpretation—with a focus on authenticity, ethics, and…

Marc Blackburn, NPS Historian and Interpreter, Joins Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation!

Jun 14, 2025 33m

Born and raised in California, Marc Blackburn’s love of history led him to the Pacific Northwest, where he earned a B.A. in history from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Inspired…

Matt Villamaino Joins Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney Today on Reflections on Interpretation

May 30, 2025 49m

Matt Villamaino has worked in the interpretive field for over 15 years, not counting the dinosaur museum he and a friend started in his basement at age 8. He currently works for the Massachusetts…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters have?

Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters has published 95 episodes since April 2023, covering topics in Nature, Places & Travel.

Is Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters still active?

Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 51m.

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