What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National Association for Interpretation

26:30

Meet Joli Reynolds - NAI Community Leader

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/10/02

Joli Reynolds is a nature center manager with 20 years of experience in environmental education and interpretation. She currently serves as the director for NAI's Sunny Southeast Region. Joli's most utilized skills include leadership, strategic planning, and creating beautiful spreadsheets. Joli's philosophy on managing interpreters is to train them for challenges and trust them to succeed. She has built a phenomenal team at Quest Nature Center and she is exceedingly proud of each of her staff,

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33:27

Yvette Mendez from the Brookfield Zoo

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/09/17

Yvette tells us about her position at the Zoo and her leadership role in NAI.

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36:54

Julia Pinnix, Visitor Services Manager for Nisqually...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/09/03

Julia Pinnix is the Visitor Services Manager for the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Olympia, Washington. In this episode, Julia shares how growing up around parks helped shape her connection to the outdoors and ultimately led to a career in interpretation spanning nearly four decades. She also discusses the meaningful connections she has made with people from different backgrounds and cultures throughout her career and travels. She is joined by NAI’s Madison Hyatt and Legacy Editor

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38:05

Interpreting LGBTQIA in the UK

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/08/20

Join Norena Shopland, author and historian specialising in the history of sexual orientation and Steve Slack a heritage interpretation consultant and co-author of their recently published best practice guide on LGBTQIA+ heritage interpretation.

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42:49

Paul Caputo's Birthday and Farewell Episode

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/08/06

Paul Caputo is wrapping up his time as NAI’s Executive Director, and this special episode of What’s Up, Interpreters drops on his birthday! Join us as Paul looks back on his 24 years with NAI, sharing stories, memories, and reflections from his incredible journey with this organization. He is joined by Heather Manier and Song Stott.

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28:11

Jamie Hubert: Meet Me in St. Louis

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/07/30

Jamie Hubert is the Interpretive Center Manager at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center in St Charles, Missouri. Prior to her current role, she worked with Missouri State Parks for nearly two decades. She is serving on the committee for NAI 2027 in St. Louis and looks forward to inviting NAI members to her hometown.

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27:46

Jessica Moore: Growing into a Leadership Role

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/06/11

NAI Vice President for Programs Jessica Moore is the Superintendent at Sinks Canyon State Park and Interpretive Lead for Wyoming State Parks. She grew up in Michigan where she started her career as an Interpretive Ranger with the National Park Service, moved to Washington State where she spent 18 years working as an educator at a 725-acre wildlife park, and was hired on with Wyoming State Parks in the fall of 2022. Jessica has had a lifelong passion for nature and conservation and now enjoys

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30:48

Fishing in the City: Richard Munoz

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/03/19

Richard Muñoz is the Coordinator of California Fish & Wildlife's "Fishing in the City" program and the Community Engagement Specialist for the department's North Central Region. Additionally, he received NAI's 2024 Meritorious Service Award, he is the chair of the 2026 NAI Conference in Oakland, and he represents NAI's Justice, Equity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Section in planning the Interpreting Environmental Justice Conference. He joins Song Stott and Paul Caputo to discuss his work on

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29:48

Interpretation in Adventure Tourism: Chris Davis,...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2026/01/08

Chris Davis, Safety and Training Director at Pink Adventure Tours, brings a wealth of experience from the adventure tourism world. He joins NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo to discuss using interpretation to create safe, meaningful, and memorable experiences for visitors and for the interpreters who lead them.

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32:48

The Honorable Robert G. Stanton: NPS's First Black...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/12/18

The Honorable Robert G. Stanton received NAI’s 2025 President’s Award. As the fifteenth Director of the National Park Service, and its first African American leader, Mr. Stanton’s more than 40-year career has advanced interpretation, resource stewardship, and equitable public engagement nationwide. Beginning as a seasonal ranger at Grand Teton National Park in 1962, he rose through the ranks to lead the agency with vision, courage, and integrity.His lifelong advocacy for inclusion and

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35:22

Interpretive Training with Empathy and Awe: Monique...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/12/04

Monique Thompson is the founder of Raindrop Naturalist, through which she trains guides and educators across parks, museums, and cultural sites to move beyond information delivery and into meaningful dialogue. Monique, a prolific NAI trainer, is passionate about mentoring new interpreters, advancing interpretive training worldwide, and helping organizations evolve with empathy and creativity in a changing world.Monique joins Song Stott and Paul Caputo to discuss interpretation and to reminisce

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26:54

Interpretation at Virginia Beach Parks and Rec:...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/10/09

Longtime NAI member Michael Kirschman, director of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, joins to discuss Mount Trashmore and other jewels of the city's park system. Virginia Beach Parks and Rec manages more than 290 parks, 7,000 acres, seven large recreation centers, 185 playgrounds, 200 athletic fields, 14 boat launches, a marina, and the Princess Anne Athletic Complex, and it's Virginia Beach's largest childcare provider through its Before and After School program at 56 elementary schools. It also

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41:27

Interpretation Down Under: Interpretation Australia

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/08/28

Representatives from Interpretation Australia—President Sophie Daniels, Vice President Scott Killeen, and John Pastorelli—join to discuss global trends in interpretation, interpretation in Australia, and what's new with Interpretation Australia.

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27:05

Trans First, Interpreter Second: CJ Greco

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/07/17

CJ Greco (they/she) is a nonbinary transwoman, activist, and naturalist from Chicago, Illinois, who is the guest editor of the current issue of NAI's Legacy magazine, "Interpreting Beyond the Binary." They have been working in informal conservation education for most of their life, starting as a youth volunteer 18 years ago. CJ currently works as the Teen Programs Manager at Lincoln Park Zoo. In 2024, CJ was announced as a part of the North American Association of Environmental Education's

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23:52

Charlotte Giraudo, Interpretation Program Manager at...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/05/23

In this episode, we speak with Charlotte Giraudo, Interpretation Program Manager at the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). As the steward of 57 overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials, ABMC honors the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces. Charlotte shares the profound responsibility of interpreting these global sites, how ABMC utilizes NAI’s professional development programs to strengthen their interpretive work, and the significance of honoring the fallen

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24:37

Interpretive Planning, Design, and the Wayside...

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/05/08

Jim Buchholz, director of the Schmeeckle Reserve at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, joins to discuss interpretive planning, exhibit design, and his popular recurring NAI Conference session, the Wayside Olympics. He is the co-author of several publications, most notably Signs, Trails, And Wayside Exhibits: Connecting People And Places, part of the Interpreter's Handbook Series. Jim has served as a volunteer naturalist, was an outdoor educator at the Outdoor Skills and Education Center,

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24:25

Collaboration at ZooTampa

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/04/25

ZooTampa applies behavioral research to develop interpretive programs co-led by Guest Engagement Guides and Animal Care Staff. Shelly Drummond and Kerry Gray discuss with Song Stott and Paul Caputo how the process improves guest experiences.

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34:23

Three Decades as a Park Naturalist: Howard Aprill

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/04/10

Howard Aprill has had a storied career as a park naturalist with Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee. He shares insights gleaned from nearly 30 years in the field, not to mention a lifetime in a family of interpretation royalty, with Heather Manier and Paul Caputo.

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23:31

Dialogic Nature Guiding: Griffin Bray

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/03/27

Griffin Bray, Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, is a member of NAI's Young Professionals Council who employs dialogic interpretation in nature guiding. He joins to discuss with NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo.

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31:46

Nathan Taxel: Building Community through Interpretation

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National... ·

2025/02/13

Newly elected NAI Board member Nathan Taxel, Interpretive Programs Curator with OC Parks, discusses the role interpretation plays in building community at the NAI regional level, in the profession as a whole, and in our larger communities. Nathan joins NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo to chat about his goals for his first term on the NAI Board.

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