National Park Stories. One Stamp at a Time.
National Park Stamp Quest is a story-driven podcast about the people, memories, wildlife, history, and unexpected moments held within America’s national parks.
Hosted by Megha Unhelkar, each episode features rangers, conservationists, writers, photographers, explorers, and visitors whose lives have been shaped by these places. The conversations move beyond scenery and travel advice to explore stewardship, survival, identity, wonder, loss, discovery, and the moments that stay with us long after we leave.
Every episode has a stamp moment: sometimes a literal passport stamp, and sometimes the moment a park leaves its mark on a person.
Learn more, explore episodes, and join the journey at:
https://nationalparkstampquest.com/ (https://nationalparkstampquest.com/)
Bonus Stamp 03 | Bonus Stamp: But Is Adam Really Adam? Emily Pennington on Feral
But Is Adam Really Adam?
Some of the best parts of a conversation never quite fit into the main episode.
In this Bonus Stamp with Feral author Emily Pennington, we revisit the relationship at the center of the book and ask a few questions the main episode left behind: Is Adam actually Adam? Did Emily change his name in the book? And with time and distance, how does she feel about him now?
Plus, a little extra banter and a few moments that were simply too good to leave on the cutting-room floor.
Note: Captions are AI-generated and may contain minor errors. Views and opinions expressed are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect those of National Park Stamp Quest.
8 Oct 2026
Episode 07 | Feral: Heartbreak, Healing, and a Year Across 63 National Parks with Emily Pennington
Feral: Heartbreak, Healing, and a Year Across 63 National Parks
What happens when heartbreak sends you searching for something bigger than the life you thought you were building?
In this episode of National Park Stamp Quest, I sit down with Emily Pennington, author of Feral, to talk about the year she set out to visit every U.S. national park and the personal transformation that unfolded along the way.
From Sequoia to Gates of the Arctic, Emily reflects on heartbreak, solitude, reinvention, and the wild places that helped her start over. We talk about the parks that surprised her, the realities of spending a year on the road, what she learned about herself, and why returning to the outdoors became much more than an escape.
It is a conversation about what happens when a journey through national parks becomes a journey back to yourself.
Note: Captions are AI-generated and may contain minor errors. Views and opinions expressed are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect those of National Park Stamp Quest.
24 Sept 2026
Episode 06 | Bears of Katmai: Two Conversations Across the 2026 Season with Katie Stolpestad
Two conversations. Two different points in the season. One very full Katmai story.
A quick note before you listen: this episode merges two separate conversations recorded at different times during the 2026 season. You will hear a change in audio quality and recording setup midway through. Please be patient with the transition. I chose to keep both conversations together because hearing what changed between Katie's season is part of the story.
Katie Stolpestad first went to Katmai for what was supposed to be a short visit. It turned into three seasons at Brooks Camp, following the bears, learning their stories, and becoming part of the strange and wonderful little world around Brooks Falls.
In this episode, Katie and I talk about the bears and cubs that defined the 2026 season, favorite personalities, fishing strategies, unexpected moments, and what it is like to watch Katmai change from one part of the season to another. And, of course, we get ready for Fat Bear Week.
Views and opinions expressed by guests are their own. Subtitles/captions may be AI-generated and may contain errors.
17 Sept 2026
Episode 06 | Inside Katmai with Ranger Sarah Bruce: Beyond Brooks Falls, Bears, Salmo, Fat Bear Week
In this episode of National Park Stamp Quest, Katmai National Park Ranger Sarah Bruce takes us beyond Brooks Falls and into the larger story of Katmai. We talk salmon runs, bear behavior, the ecology that makes this place so extraordinary, and how Fat Bear Week grew into a global phenomenon. Along the way, Sarah shares what visitors often miss, what it is like to experience Katmai as a ranger, and the stories that make this wild landscape unforgettable.
Note: The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the National Park Service or any affiliated organization. Subtitles are AI-generated, so please excuse any transcription errors.
3 Sept 2026
Episode 04 | Yellowstone, Ranger Life, and the Work of Conservation with Liz Crandall
A conversation with Liz Crandall about life in Yellowstone, protecting its people and wildlife, and how her experiences as a ranger continue to shape her conservation work through Rangers of the Lost Park. AI-generated subtitles may contain errors. Views expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of National Park Stamp Quest.
27 Aug 2026
Bonus Stamp 02: Mike B on parks we love and bear safety
Which national parks do we love, which ones surprised us, and which ones might not make the top of the list?
Mike Bezemek and I continue our conversation with a much less serious tour through our national park opinions, favorite places, and a few disagreements along the way. We also get into something considerably more useful: bear safety and what people should actually know before heading into bear country.
A fun bonus conversation for anyone who has strong national park opinions of their own.
20 Aug 2026
Episode 03 | Park Mysteries, Hidden Stories, and the Secrets Beneath Our National Parks
Author and adventurer Mike Bezemek joins National Park Stamp Quest to explore the strange stories, hidden histories, and enduring mysteries found across America’s national parks.
From the depths of Mammoth Cave to unexplained phenomena and stories that rarely make it onto park brochures, Mike shares some of the discoveries behind his book Mysteries of the National Parks and what keeps drawing him toward the unusual corners of our public lands.
We also discuss Mike’s newest project and the remarkable story of Moncacht-Apé, a Native explorer whose reported journey across North America predates Lewis and Clark. Mike is digging into the historical record, retracing the story, and exploring the intriguing mysteries surrounding its possible connection to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
An episode about geology, exploration, forgotten history, strange stories, and the mysteries that keep us curious.
13 Aug 2026
Bonus Stamp 01: Kai and Megha hot takes on Parks!
In this first Bonus Stamp, Kai Tran and Megha trade some very unofficial national park hot takes.
Kai makes a surprisingly strong defense of Gateway Arch, explains why crowds at national parks do not bother him, and argues that every park can mean something different depending on the memory you make there. Megha remains unconvinced about Gateway Arch, but fully agrees that crowded parks are not necessarily a bad thing. After all, these places belong to everyone.
There are fireworks, the Space Needle, overcrowded viewpoints, quiet trails, and a lingering concern that Megha may someday be banned from Missouri.
A lighter, unfiltered detour from our full conversation with Kai.
And for the record: we love all the parks. We just have opinions.
6 Aug 2026
Episode 02 | A Lost Passport, a Patch Collection, and a Life in Parks with Kai Tran
Kai Tran is a conservationist and outdoor enthusiast who has spent much of his life exploring and enjoying national parks and public lands. His essay about losing his National Parks Passport, and miraculously finding his way back to it, captures exactly why these small books can hold so much more than stamps.
In one of the most fun conversations I have recorded, Kai and I talk about his lifelong love of national parks, the memories held inside his passport, collecting patches, and the very serious question of what to do with them all: blanket or jacket?
This episode also became an unexpected companion to my conversation with Chuck Sams, as Kai and Chuck each refer to the other. Listen to both for the full crossover.
Kai’s essay- https://www.npca.org/articles/11367-my-most-prized-possession (https://www.npca.org/articles/11367-my-most-prized-possession)
Views are own. Captions are AI-generated and may contain errors.
6 Aug 2026
Episode 01 | Stewardship, Leadership, and Who the Parks Belong To with Chuck Sams
For the very first episode of National Park Stamp Quest, I talk with Chuck Sams, the 19th Director of the National Park Service. We chat about his life in conservation and public service, funny ranger moments, his favorite national parks, and what it means to care for these extraordinary places. It was such a fun conversation and the perfect way to begin this journey. Also, like an idiot, I kept saying “National Park Services” instead of “National Park Service,” so please forgive me!
Note: Views are our own. AI-generated captions may contain errors, and audio quality may vary in places.
4 Aug 2026
Episode 0 | Welcome to National Park Stamp Quest
There is a small ritual I repeat every time I visit a national park.
I find the visitor center, open my passport, check the date, and press a stamp onto the page. It takes only a few seconds, but that small mark can bring back an entire trip.
After visiting 53 of the country’s 63 national parks, I realized that what stayed with me most was not just the scenery. It was the people I met, the stories I heard, and the moments that made each park feel distinct.
That is why I started National Park Stamp Quest.
This is not a travel podcast. I will not be telling you where to stay or which trail to hike. The show is about the people and stories connected to these places: rangers, writers, scientists, photographers, conservationists, visitors, mysteries, rescues, wildlife encounters, and everything in between.
Sometimes the stamp is an actual passport stamp. Sometimes it is simply the moment a place begins to mean something more.
The podcast launches with Chuck Sams, the 19th Director of the National Park Service.
New episodes every other Thursday at 6 a.m. Eastern.
*National park stories. One stamp at a time.*
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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