What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National Association for Interpretation
Twice a month, the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) brings you conversations with innovators, leaders, movers, and shakers in the field of heritage interpretation.
Episodes
James "Jay" Gardner Harrison III is a descendant of two American Presidents, William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison, as well as English colonists Harmon Harrison and his cousin John Rolfe, who arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, in the early 1600s. He works as a Community Programs Assistant with the Museum Learning & Programs department of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washingt...
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.
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,...
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.
Von Harden is the president and founder of the International Association of Tour Directors and Guides (IATDG), as well as the vice president of college access programs with CE Tours. Von has been working in the student travel industry for more than a quarter century. Von focuses on connecting students from underserved communities with tourism opportunities.
Von joins NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo to discuss the intersection...
André Copeland, Interpretive Programs Manager at Brookfield Zoo Chicago and an NAI Lead Trainer, has been an active NAI member since 2004. He will be a keynote speaker at NAI 2025 in Virginia Beach, addressing perspective and perception in interpretation. André has more than 30 years’ experience working in the zoological field which includes animal care, program development and management, frontline interpretation, in...
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 ...
Sebastian Frankenberger, president of the World Federation of Tour Guide Associations (WFTGA), joins to talk about the role of interpretation in tourism around the world, and how interpretation organizations and tourism organizations might partner in the future. NAI's Song Stott and Paul Caputo host.
Gaynell Brady, CIG, is the Owner/Educator at Our Mammy’s. In her role, she develops and implements programs that teach participants about Louisiana African American genealogy and history, using her own family tree. Gaynell holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Southern University at New Orleans. She joins NAI's Song Stott and Paul Caputo to discuss her personal connection to Hurricane Katri...
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.
Natalie Teboul, MFA, MSEd, is a "teacherpreneur" in San Diego, and the inventor of Traveling Miss T.’s Math Maps©. She tutors all grade levels and subjects, and is passionate about creating engaging curriculum, implementing best education practices, and most importantly, shaping tomorrow's thinkers and leaders. When she’s not traveling the world by Coordinate Plane, or tutoring, Natalie loves to tap dance, hike, and cook...while li...
As the Outdoor Programs Leader for Naventure in Florida, Corian Yandel is responsible for overseeing all outdoor recreation activities to ensure that the 350,000 annual visitors who recreate at 11 locations in the Ocala National Forest, have a fun, knowledgeable, and safe time recreating responsibly. Corian has a background in fitness and nutrition (she founded Peak Performance Fitness Facility in Wisconsin in 2015), ...
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 ...
Storytelling, recordings, and live musical performances provide historical context and universal themes of resistance, struggle, creative self-expression, and freedom with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Rangers Karen Armagost and Jade Perdue share the story with NAI's Song Stott and Paul Caputo.
Emily Agricola Holtrop of the Cincinnati Art Museum discusses the role of interpretation interpreting art. This episode delves into managing a team of more than 60 volunteers and navigating a turbulent climate, among much else. Emily joins NAI's Heather Manier and Madison Hyatt.
Ride along with interpreters who participated in NAI's international un-conference in Morocco, from the streets of Marrakech to the High Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert! NAI's Paul Caputo checks in with participants over the course of six days from NAI's first event on the African continent.
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 thei...
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, wa...
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.
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.
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com