Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters

NPS (former) Director Bob Stanton Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

With nearly four decades of experience with the National Park Service (NPS), Robert G. Stanton has an unmatched depth of experience about the Agency from top to bottom.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Robert Stanton’s experience growing up in an African American community and the need to deal with Race and Racism brought a special focus to his life and career.
His career with the NPS began in 1962 when the Secretary of the Interior appointed him as a summer seasonal park ranger at Grand Teton National Park (NP) in Wyoming. He went on to a variety of other jobs including Personnel Management, Public Information Specialist, Management Assistant, Park Superintendent, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Director, Associate Director for Operations, and finally, Director of the National Park Service.
As NPS Director, Stanton actively promoted Diversity within the national park system, increased opportunities for young people, and enhanced NPS public programs to better serve all Americans.
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Connie Rudd, Former NPS Interpreter and Superintendent Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

Born during a snowstorm in Ft. Riley, Kansas, Connie's adventurous spirit was kindled from the start. This early connection to winter led to a passion for sled dog racing with her purebred Samoyed team, a venture she pursued for 20 years across the United States.
Raised in Athens, Ohio, Connie developed a love for reading that sparked her imagination, inspired by stories like “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.” After earning a double major in English and Physical Geography from Ohio University, she continued her education at the University of Illinois, focusing on fluvial geomorphology.
Connie began her career as a GS-3 Dispatcher with the National Park Service at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, later transitioning to roles at Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Parks. In 1991, she became Regional Chief of Interpretation, where she pioneered “Compelling Stories” workshops enhancing storytelling within the Service.
Connie eventually served as Superintendent at several national parks before retiring in 2014. Today, she works as a professional photographer, capturing landscapes and wildlife while promoting conservation and inspiring others to connect with nature.
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John Steinle, Museum Curator and Living History Specialist, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

John Steinle, originally from Hamilton, Ohio, earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Dayton. After several years as a commercial artist, he switched careers to history. He obtained a master’s degree in Museum and Archival Management from Wright State University and worked as a Curator and Archivist at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Cincinnati Historical Society.
In 1992, he moved to Colorado, where he held Director positions at various Ohio museums before becoming the Administrator of the Hiwan Homestead Museum in Evergreen in 1994, under Jefferson County Open Space. Steinle was later promoted to History Education Supervisor and Region Supervisor for the Bear Creek Region, retiring in 2016.
An author of several books on Frontier Forts, Colorado during the Civil War, and Silver Mining, he has been active in living history and reenactments since 1975, participating in groups like the 1st Colorado Volunteers Civil War unit and the American Military Living History Association. He currently serves as the President of the latter, presenting educational programs and taking part in events that commemorate American military history.
Steinle has performed as various historical figures, including Doctor Edward Bancroft, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a 19th Century phrenologist, Indian Agent William W. Bent, and Colorado Senator Henry Teller. He and his wife, Mary, reside in Arvada, Colorado.
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Michael Watson, Former NPS Chief of Interpretation, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

Michael Watson began his career as a High School Intern at a Minute Man Missile Plant, a Mister Softee Ice Cream Truck Driver, 4-H Camp Naturalist, and Naturalist at Burr Oak State Park (OH). After graduating from The Ohio State University (1967), he became a Science Teacher in the Marion (OH) Public School System (1967-1971).
 
His National Park Service career began as a Seasonal Interpreter at Mount Rainier National Park (WA) (1971) before relocating to Everglades National Park (FL) as its Environmental Education Program Coordinator (1976).  He became a Training Instructor at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center (Harpers Ferry, WV) (1981) where he developed and trained NPS Rangers who educate and interpret to park visitors and students. As Director of Interpretation for the National Park Service in Headquarters, Washington, DC (1987-1992), Watson developed policy and guidelines for 3,000+ uniformed Interpretive Park Rangers. From 1992-2006, he returned to the Mather Training Center as its Superintendent. 
 
During his career, he also completed a series of international assignments to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Russia, Austria, and others where he helped develop public interpretation and education, environmental education, and staff training programs in their respective park services.
 
In retirement, Mike is an NPS Volunteer in Parks and has staffed the Museum of the National Park Ranger at Yellowstone NP several summers.
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Rob Pacheco, Hawaii Forest & Trail Founder, Talks Story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney

Rob Pacheco's journey began in California, where he spent his formative years assisting a local beekeeper and fostering a deep curiosity for the nature around him. At the University of Colorado, Rob enrolled in a multi-disciplinary environmental program while beekeeping for researchers studying honey bee genetics. He moved to the Big Island of Hawaii, eager to immerse himself in the world of bees. Along this path, Rob blossomed into an extraordinary naturalist, marked by an insatiable curiosity and remarkable skill. As a student, he discovered his knack for engaging with children through bee programs, igniting a desire to work in education and outreach. In Hawaii, he expanded this passion into children's tours, which evolved into Hawaii Forest & Trail—a company that has become one of the most respected and sought-after experiences in the islands. For over 31 years, Rob has championed interpretation as a foundational value for HFT. Now, as the Founder and CEO, he is entrusting the business to his son and other family members while continuing to share his expertise on the trails, a skilled naturalist and storyteller with countless tales to share.

ET Collinsworth, Cowboy Poet and Storyteller, Talks Story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney

Join Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story for an engaging conversation with author, photographer, mule packer, storyteller, and cowboy poet E.T. Collinsworth. Together, they will explore E.T.'s remarkable life, adventures, and experiences on both sides of the border.
E.T. Collinsworth hails from Tennessee but has deep ties to Chicago and the Czech Republic. After pursuing a traditional education, he ventured to the unconventional Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. There, he embraced a call for adventure, taking a summer job as a cowboy on a cattle ranch in Brazil.
Immersing himself in the culture, E.T. not only learned Portuguese but also honed his skills as a saddle tramp, launching a diverse career that spanned South America, Mexico, and the U.S.-Mexico border. His work with the U.S. Forest Service in support of wildland firefighting, along with his role as a Volunteer-In-Parks for the National Park Service, showcases his commitment to the land and its stories.
A multi-talented individual and an extraordinary storyteller, E.T. Collinsworth draws from his rich experiences to cultivate a unique perspective on languages and a profound empathy for different cultures. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a consummate storyteller whose narratives resonate with adventure and heart.
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Walt Dabney, Former NPS Superintendent, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

Immerse yourself in an enlightening conversation with Walt Dabney, a distinguished former National Park Service Superintendent, NPS Chief Ranger, and ex-Director of Texas State Parks. Walt's illustrious career spans decades, marked by his significant contributions to both our cherished National Parks and the Texas State Parks system.
 
Early in his tenure with the NPS, Walt was entrusted with the unique role of accompanying Freeman Tilden, fondly known as "The Father of Interpretation," as his host, driver, guide, and "adjutant" for a year. This transformative experience saw them journey across the National Park System, engaging in profound daily discussions about life, public lands, and the art of Interpretation.
 
A proud 1969 alumnus of Texas A&M, Dabney dedicated over thirty years to the National Park Service. Post-retirement, he revitalized the Texas State Parks, turning an underfunded system into a well-financed, professional, customer-oriented, and technologically advanced entity. Now, in his second retirement, Walt remains a passionate advocate for the preservation, protection, and enjoyment of Public Lands. Discover more about his insights by watching his video: "The History & Future of America's Public Land with Walt Dabney."
 
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Susan Marie Frontczak, Living History Interpreter, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman

This week on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters our guest is Susan Marie Frontczak. Storysmith® Susan Marie Frontczak's deeply researched Living History programs are the center of her repertoire. In her programs as Marie Curie, Mary Shelley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Irene Castle, Erma Bombeck and Clara Barton, Susan Marie melts, stretches, and reforms the boundaries between theatre, storytelling, and public speaking.
These programs are presented with no imaginary "fourth wall" between the historical figure and the audience. Rather, the audience travels back in time to hear from and converse with the historical personage. Many of these are in the "Chautauqua" format consisting of a monologue in character, followed first by a Q&A with the historical figure, and then a Q&A out of character as the scholar.
Susan Marie has presented over 900 Living History programs in 43 of the United States and nine countries abroad since 2001.

Dr. Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of Smithsonian Institution, Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney

Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Interpreters and Guides was honored to recently interview Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution—and its first African American and first historian to hold the position.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1952 to educators Lonnie II and Montrose Bunch, Dr. Bunch earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in American and African American history from American University. His career began at the Smithsonian while completing his master’s degree, and he has since become a leading figure in museums, education, and interpretation.
Dr. Bunch’s groundbreaking contributions include serving as founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) from 2005 to 2019. There, he led traveling exhibitions and public programs before opening the museum to global acclaim. Previously, he directed the Chicago History Museum, held curatorial roles at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and served at the California African American Museum.
A member of the American Philosophical Society, Dr. Bunch has also contributed to historic preservation, serving on the White House Preservation Commission under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. On May 28, 2019, he was elected Secretary of the Smithsonian, where he continues to shape the future of cultural storytelling.
 
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Juan Castaing, Chilean Interpretive Guide and Trainer Talks Story with Tim Merriman

Juan Castaing, a Chilean Interpretive Guide and Trainer, specializes in heritage interpretation, media and hospitality services. He has been combining ecotourism and communication for more than 20 years. His expertise lies in effectively communicating and managing cultural experiences, particularly those blending nature and culture.
Castaing offers consulting services and workshops to help other guides and organizations develop strong interpretation and destination planning strategies. As a member of various global interpreter associations, he's dedicated to fostering leadership and excellence in the field of heritage interpretation in Chile.
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