Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters

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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Episodes

Friday Sep 06, 2024

Edward W. Gantt, a retired Navy Captain with a unique background, talks story with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney for "Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters." Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Gantt graduated from Howard University and the National Defense University. He served 30 years in the military, first as a door gunner on a Huey helicopter in Vietnam with the Army, then joining the Navy after completing his degree, eventually rising to Navy Captain. He served as a Naval Flight Officer in F-14 TOMCAT squadrons, both in the U.S. and aboard aircraft carriers.
 
After retiring from the military, Gantt became a high school teacher in public schools in Prince George’s County, MD, and Washington, D.C. Passionate about telling underrepresented stories, he joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, an African American Civil War reenactment group, and also serves with the 23rd USCT in Maryland. He is active with The African Americans in the Civil War Era Round Table and serves as Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW).
 
Now, as a historical interpreter, Ed Gantt challenges myths like the “Black Confederate” while embodying period roles. He is a powerful force in sharing history.
 
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/
 
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation  #LivingHistory #LivingHistoryEnthusiast #HistoricalReenactment #HistoryReenactment #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMatters  #AmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanHeritage #BlackStoriesMatter #BlackVoicesInHistory #AfricanAmericanStorytelling #HistoryComesAlive #HistoryMatters #HistoricalInterpretation #ReenactmentCommunity #BringingHistoryToLife #CivilWarHistory #AfricanAmericanHistory #USColoredTroops #54thMassachusetts #BlackCivilWarSoldiers #AfricanAmericansInWar

Friday Aug 23, 2024

A Native of Eatonville, Florida, Christy Coleman grew up in the shadow of African American anthropologist and writer Zora Neale Hurston. As a teenager in 1982, wanting to become an actor, she accepted a summer position as a character actor for an enslaved woman named Rebecca at Colonial Williamsburg.
Her growing enthusiasm for History led her to a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a master’s degree in museum studies.
Becoming the first female Director of African American Interpretation at Williamsburg, Coleman led and participated in a reenactment of a slave auction, which has become legendary.
Coleman later became President of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, and later became the Director of the American Civil War Museum at Tredegar in Richmond, Virginia.
Leaving Richmond in 2019, Christy is now the Executive Director for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
An unstoppable force in Public History and Interpretation, Christy Coleman has an unforgettable story and shares it with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters.
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation  #LivingHistory #LivingHistoryEnthusiast #HistoricalReenactment #HistoryReenactment #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMatters  #ColonialWilliamsburg #AmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanHeritage #BlackStoriesMatter #BlackColonialHistory #BlackVoicesInHistory #AfricanAmericanStorytelling
 
 

Thursday Aug 08, 2024

A Co-Founder of “The Camp Moreno Project” along with her late Husband, Roberto Moreno and former National Park Ranger Bill Gwaltney, Louise Moreno has been a long-term activist promoting sharing the out of doors with Latino communities and families across the United States.
Louise fell in love with the dashing Roberto Moreno and the pair were married after a courtship of only four days. Married for decades, together they had two daughters as well as a number of grandchildren. Sadly, Roberto Moreno passed away in 2020.
Working with Roberto in the Tourism Industry in the Rocky Mountains, Louise joined her Husband in an attempt to get the Ski Business in Colorado to think more and differently about getting Latino children introduced to skiing.
The Morenos created the Alpino Mountain Sports Foundation. As former hoteliers Roberto Lopez Moreno and his wife Louise, created snow-sports and family camping experiences for over 28,100 children and families since incorporating as a non-profit 501(c)3 in Colorado in 2006.
Its signature program became “The Camp Moreno Project,” which was a partnership between the U.S. National Park Service and the Alpino Mountain Sports Foundation.
Camp Moreno provided intensive instructional weekend camping experiences for families of color in Colorado, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California national parks and monuments.
The Foundation also oversaw the Camp Moreno Community Organizing Academy and administered and funded Santiago Banuelos Lopez snow-sports scholarships to deserving middle school and high school athletes who attend schools offering free or reduced lunch programs.
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/page/1/
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #interpretivenaturalists  #heritageinterpretation #LatinosInNature #ExploreYourParks #CampMoreno #NuestroParque #LatinxOutdoors #NatureParaTodos #FamiliasAlAireLibre #VivaLaAventura #DescubreLosParques #LatinosExplore #ConoceTusParques #HikeLatino #CulturaYNaturaleza #UnidosPorLaAventura #ParquesParaTodos

Friday Aug 02, 2024

Lorraine Johnson Coleman was born in the deep south, but also has roots in urban New York City. The proud daughter of a WWII African American U.S. Marine, she appreciates both the bitterness, and the sweetness that is part of growing up Black in America. Her interest in family history, shared stories and her attention to detail of African American Culture has made it possible for her to have lived several lives already. Working in Investment Banking, Lorraine discovered Interpretation even after she had become a Storyteller and her Interpretive exploits have taken her to many places with many organizations. She has done Plenary Sessions for Annual Meetings of the National Association for Interpretation, and has  worked with organizations such as the Kellogg Foundation, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and had her own Storytelling Series on National Public Radio. The author of several books, Lorraine has had a very special career as a storyteller, author and interpreter of African-American culture. 
 
This is Part Two of Lorraine's conversation with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation sharing her appearance on Oprah and becoming a special adviser and performer for Hewlett-Packard and other corporations.  Part 2 - Aug. 2
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation #BlackHistory #BlackCulture #AfricanAmericanHistory #Storyteller #BlackVoices #BlackNarratives #BlackExcellence #BlackStories #OurHistory #CultureKeeper #AfricanAmericanCulture #BlackHeritage #BlackArt

Friday Jul 26, 2024

Lorraine Johnson Coleman was born in the deep south, but also has roots in urban New York City. The proud daughter of a WWII African American U.S. Marine, she appreciates both the bitterness, and the sweetness that is part of growing up Black in America. Her interest in family history, shared stories and her attention to detail of African American Culture has made it possible for her to have lived several lives already. Working in Investment Banking, Lorraine discovered Interpretation even after she had become a Storyteller and her Interpretive exploits have taken her to many places with many organizations. She has done Plenary Sessions for Annual Meetings of the National Association for Interpretation, and has  worked with organizations such as the Kellogg Foundation, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and had her own Storytelling Series on National Public Radio. The author of several books, Lorraine has had a very special career as a storyteller, author and interpreter of African-American culture. 
 
This two part conversation with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation will follow her from her beginning as a freelance storyteller to appearing on Oprah and becoming a special adviser and performer for Hewlett-Packard and other corporations. Part 1 - July 26, Part 2 - Aug. 2
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation #BlackHistory #BlackCulture #AfricanAmericanHistory #Storyteller #BlackVoices #BlackNarratives #BlackExcellence #BlackStories #OurHistory #CultureKeeper #AfricanAmericanCulture #BlackHeritage #BlackArt

Friday Jul 12, 2024

Ten years into his 24-year US Army career, First Sergeant Lee N. Coffee Jr. assumed a carefully researched living history interpretive role as a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier, Sgt. Emanuel Stance, a Medal of Honor recipient during the Indian Wars campaign in the 1870s. 
As a historian and professional speaker, Lee has won awards for over thirteen years, leading week-long Heritage Intervention Programs titled La Salida (The Way Out), Buffalo Soldier Heritage Intervention, The Vaquero Heritage Intervention, and oversaw Old Stories: New Voices. Each multicultural program challenges young (7-12 y.o.) African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Anglo Americans to stay away from gangs and drugs and pursue an education.
 
He shares his unique journey on this week’s Reflections on Interpretation with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman. 
 
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation #BuffaloSoldiers #BuffaloSoldierHistory #BuffaloSoldiersLegacy #BuffaloSoldiersPride #LivingHistory #LivingHistoryEvent #LivingHistoryEnthusiast #HistoricalReenactment #HistoryReenactment #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #BlackMilitaryHistory #MilitaryHistory #MilitaryHeritage #USMilitaryHistory

Friday Jun 28, 2024

John Miller had a long career as manager and interpreter at a fish hatchery in Branson, Missouri, a very popular tourism destination. He has also served in a variety of leadership roles with National Association for Interpretation, including Region 6 Director and more recently Chair of the Nominations Committee. He shares a unique story of a photo of a peanut turtle going viral long before the Internet began sharing images. Join us on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters. 
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/page
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #interpretivenaturalists #interpretivetraining #heritageinterpretation #certfiedinterpretiveguide #certifiedinterpretivehost

Friday Jun 14, 2024

Dr. Rex Ellis created the engaging African-American living history interpretive program at Colonial Williamsburg and went on to become the Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs at the National Museum African-American Museum History and Culture at Smithsonian Institute. Join us at Reflections on Interpretation to learn of his journey from interpreter to curator.
https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/page/1/
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation  #interpretivetraining #heritageinterpretation #Smithsonian #AfricanAmericanMuseum #BlackHistory #HistoryMatters #CivilRights #Heritage #ColonialWilliamsburg #LivingHistory

Friday May 31, 2024

Kim Sikoryak has had a three decade career working for National Park Service as a Ranger, Planner and Trainer. Today on Reflections on Interpretation:Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters, co-hosts Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman chat with Kim about his long and varied career and the importance of excellent interpretation in national parks.
 
https://lnkd.in/gWapDsx3
 
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #interpretivenaturalists #interpretivetraining #heritageinterpretation #NPS #nationalparkservice #interpretiveplanning

Friday May 24, 2024

The Certified Interpretive Guide and Host Courses are no longer certifications through National Association for Interpretation and NAI Certified Trainers have some opinions about those changes. Tim Merriman has Rita Nethersole, Clark Hancock, Mary McCormac, Dr. Phillip Smart and Lisa Brochu as guests in this special edition of Reflection on Interpretation to talk about those changes. 
#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #interpretivenaturalists #interpretivetraining #heritageinterpretation #certfiedinterpretiveguide #certifiedinterpretivehost
 

Reflections on Interpretation - Tim Merriman Hosts

Interpretation is a profession arising from efforts by US National Park Service and other agencies to help their audiences connect with nature, cultural stories and unique events. His podcast brings a world-wide network of colleagues and friends to share their personal stories of working in this ancient profession for indeed, there have always been elders of the tribe sharing their love for the world. The people he interviews are tour guides, park rangers, zoo and museum educators, docents, managers, and communication entrepreneurs. 

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