Interview by Hannah Truby
Many of us can think back to a time, likely in our more formative years, when nature sunk its delightful claws into us for the very first time.
Mine was during a rather terrible first overnight backpacking trip. My stepdad, an avid mountain man, wanted to introduce me, an angsty and sour 13-year-old, to the delights of the Great Outdoors. A recipe for success! Naturally, I got my first period during this 3-day excursion - you can imagine how fun this was for the both of us. And while my affinity for the outdoors didn’t happen immediately after our return home, I do credit this trip as being the outing that got me hooked for the long run.
For Maddie Pellman, host and creator of the podcast Who Runs This Park, the seeds were also planted early, during a trip she’d taken to Yellowstone National Park.
“My parents would take me on alpine hikes and swims growing up,” the Texas-native recalls. “But when we visited Yellowstone...it was like seeing another planet.”
The experience proved foundational for Pellman, by instilling within her not just a love for nature, but a piqued curiosity that would only grow as she did.
“It was where I learned that national parks were places that held the grandest of America’s nature and wildlife," she tells me.
During her time at the University of Texas, Pellman visited various national parks around the country with the school’s outdoor club.
“One of the first backpacking trips I ever went on was with the club, in Big Bend National Park,” she recounts. “I was just blown away by the challenge of it, but the reward and beauty, too.
Having earned a Business Administration Degree in Management Information Systems, Pellman secured a reputable corporate job in New York City. Though office-bound by week, her weekends and holidays were spent outdoors.
“I was good at it, but I think it was more-so that it was what society praised,” she says of her position with Google. “But with this podcast, it meant I could do something - create something - that I’d already been pursuing on my own time.”
Pellman’s business degree meant she didn’t just have the desire to one day be her own boss, but the skills to do so. The only remaining ingredient? An idea. And Pellman had that, too.
This podcast is driven by my love for people's stories, my desire to buck the tradition and to live a life full of adventure, she writes.
The mission of Who Runs This Park is simple: to educate listeners by sharing stories that demonstrate the wonders of the national park system.
As a "podcast for nature enthusiasts," the program invites listeners to explore America's National Parks by hearing directly from those dedicated to preserving and protecting them. In each episode, Pellman speaks with National Park Superintendents, who share the lesser-known wonders of their parks, behind-the-scenes stories, and the many adventures and challenges the career brings.
“Driven by a desire to buck the tradition and to live a life full of adventure” - that sounds like a really awesome mission statement. What does that mean to you exactly? How do you pursue it with your podcast?
Maddie: Before this, I was working at Google, a corporate job with great opportunity. But I was itching to do something on my own and be my own boss. When I had the idea for the podcast, it felt like all these pieces naturally came together—things I was good at and loved. It was praised in society, and I received affirmation, but the podcast also highlighted my love for the outdoors, storytelling, and creating something. I had a painting business in college, and I'm motivated by big ideas. I didn't know anything about starting a podcast or interviewing superintendents, but I was excited about figuring it out. Taking that leap of faith was about living boldly and bucking the tradition of a corporate tech job.
I know you have an affinity for the outdoors - what made you choose America’s national parks as the focus for your podcast?
Maddie: I was able to go on some backpacking trips when I joined the University of Texas outdoor club. Our first one was in Big Bend National Park - I was just blown away by the challenge, and the Park's beauty. The idea for the podcast really solidified though when I was visiting my sister in Seattle. We were having dinner with some family friends, one of which is the superintendent of Yellowstone. It was 2022, and they were talking about the recent flood. I just kept asking more questions because it all really piqued my interest. I didn't know what a superintendent was or how national parks were run, but I was enamored by the idea. My family was like, 'Maddie, it's not that big of a deal' [laughs], but I was fascinated.
When did you get this thing off the ground? What was the journey like to get this project out of your head and into a tangible, working, successful podcast?
Maddie: I started writing letters to superintendents a couple years ago. I even made a logo! I wanted to look super professional [laughs]. I started recording interviews from March through June of 2023, releasing episodes starting in September 2023, and since then have been publishing episodes every other week.
Your podcast aims to speak with the superintendents of every national park in America…how close are you to this goal? What’s the goal after you reach it?
Maddie: One way I'm leaning is towards deeper stories from park rangers and people in the field, as well as volunteers at national parks. I want to create a This American Life-style podcast with different anecdotal stories tied to a central theme. Before I run out of superintendents to interview, I want to fill the other week with new content under the same umbrella. The goal is to create a stronger presence in the national park space because I believe this project is unlocking an overlooked area. There's not a lot of content about what goes into running and maintaining our national parks and the stories of the people who work there. Especially with park rangers, there can be some really interesting and unique stories, and I'm hoping to tap into those.
Beyond getting to hear interesting, behind-the-park stories, what do you think viewers will take away from the podcast? What value is there in learning more about our National Parks?
Maddie: Listening to these interviews is like going to an art museum with someone knowledgeable about art. Knowing the backstory enhances the experience and appreciation. By hearing these stories, your appreciation for national parks can only grow. It's amazing to learn what's happening behind the scenes at places like Grand Teton and then visit them yourself.
My conversation with Lieutenant Lisa from Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio was one of my favorites for this reason. The Cuyahoga River, which runs through the park, was so polluted in the 1960s that it caught on fire multiple times. Now, it's a beautifully restored ecological paradise for wildlife and human recreation. It's a really powerful story of recovery and renewal, one I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.
What are some of your biggest takeaways from your interviews with the Superintendents?
Maddie: One thing I take away from every episode is to not overlook certain parks. There's always that emphasis on the crown jewels - the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone - which are amazing. But, some of the most humbling and awe-inspiring interviews come from lesser-known parks. These are parks I knew almost nothing about before the interviews, but each park is preserved and protected for a reason, and their stories should not be discounted.
I think a lot of us have hopes of taking an idea and turning into something tangible - maybe even making a business out of it - but find it so daunting to begin. What advice would you offer to someone in the ideation phase to help turn their vision into reality?
Maddie: First, be honest with yourself about how much the idea is sticking. I've had so many big ideas over my life, but this was the first where I thought, ‘Oh, this would be so cool,’ or ‘this one would be so cool,’ and just getting very enamored by things. And I think I’d say to give it a little bit of time, see if it sticks. For me, this idea was not going away, and it wasn't me forcing it. It literally just got to the point where I was like, "I can't not do something about this."
What, would you say, is your favorite part of getting outside?
Maddie: The way you have to push yourself, especially when it comes to backpacking. I'd say my favorite part of any trip I've done is how a group of friends, or sometimes a random group of people, becomes such a team. You're unplugged, and quickly you develop these really deep and unique relationships.
Lastly, which Park are you most looking forward to visiting next?
Maddie: Gosh, too many. I'd say Voyager up in Minnesota. I've been wanting to go ever since I talked to its Superintendent. Another big dream of mine is doing a river trip in Grand Canyon.
Find Who Runs This Park wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes every other Tuesday. Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube for more Who Runs This Park content.
