The Ranger PamPaw Podcast
Stories, perspective, and park wisdom from a lifetime in the National Parks
Ranger PamPaw Podcast is a podcast from Tezels on the Road about America’s national parks, the stories they hold, and what a lifetime of experience inside the National Park Service can teach us about the places we share.
Hosted by Mark Tezel—known to his grandkids as Ranger PamPaw—the show reflects a transition from active service to reflection, storytelling, and legacy. After nearly four decades with the National Park Service, Mark brings a personal, ranger-honest perspective shaped by years as an interpreter, supervisor, trainer, and servicewide support professional working with parks across the entire National Park System.
Each episode blends park news and context, behind-the-scenes insights, thoughtful storytelling, and practical visitor advice grounded in real experience. Instead of focusing on hype or checklists, Ranger PamPaw Podcast explores why national parks matter—as shared civic spaces shaped by history, stewardship, and people.
This podcast is for park lovers, travelers, history enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how national parks actually work. The tone is conversational, reflective, and earned—the voice of a ranger who has stepped out of the uniform but continues to care deeply about the places it represents.
The Ranger PamPaw Podcast
Latest Episodes
Why Wildlife Doesn't Need Your Help — What Rangers Really Want Visitors to Know
The three most common wildlife mistakes visitors make in national parks are feeding, rescuing, and getting too close. Most people who make them think they're doing something harmless. Some think they're helping. In this episo...
Fire, Flood, and Change: How Parks Adapt Over Time
What does a park on fire look like? Or a river reclaiming its floodplain after a century of dams? Or a glacier you could touch in 2010 that's now out of sight up the mountain? In this episode of the Ranger PamPaw Podcast, ho...
Stories They Don’t Put on the Signs
Every national park has an official story — the one on the signs, the plaques, the brochures. This episode tells the other stories.After five episodes building context and credibility, Ranger PamPaw steps bac...
What I Wish Every Park Visitor Knew — Stewardship, Rules & Real Ranger Advice
Most park visitors want to do the right thing. But wanting to and knowing how aren’t always the same. In this episode, host Mark Tezel — Ranger PamPaw — delivers the practical, honest advice that rangers wish they could give every ...
What Does a Park Ranger Actually Do? — A Day in the Life | S1E4
Ask ten people to describe a park ranger, and you'll get ten different answers. A tour guide. A law enforcement officer. Someone who fixes trails. Someone who works in the visitor center. Here's the thing — they're all right.&n...
