Those Park Guys Podcast

I sit down with Colton and my brother Tommy Steward in our hotel room in Pioche, Nevada to reminisce on the past five seasons of Rock the Park. We talk about the good moments, the not so good ones and some of our take aways. It's a fun conversation!

To revive the podcast, I talk about how I've come to identify as a highly sensitive person and how that impacts the way that I see the world. Emotions seem to want to take the steering wheel of my life all the time. In this episode, I outline the ways that I choose to maintain a positive attitude in the midst of overwhelming emotion.

I sit down with my friend Greg Piken and discuss the topic of loss and our need to grieve these losses. We talk about some healthy ways to cope in these difficult seasons as well as some of the unhealthy ways. Greg is also the pastor of community life at Journey of Faith church in Manhattan Beach and Torrance, California. If you live in the South Bay area of Los Angeles and are in need of a faith home, check it out. http://www.journeyoffaith.com/

Have you ever felt like you're stuck in a rut? Maybe you feel like you've lost that passion for life. Or maybe you feel like you've never had that feeling before. Jack talks about the steps that he has taken in the last few months to get out of a rut and recapture a sense of confidence, identity and excitement for life.

I sat down with my friend, cinematographer Dane Lawing to discuss the complexities of the modern day nomad. What drives us to travel? Is it a sense of romanticism? Adventure? Or is it escapism? We dive into into these questions as well as our own anxiety and fear to help make sense of this powerful drive inside of us.

Today, we’re having a conversation with Mark Olson, a veteran of the United States Army and a student of Wilderness. Mark shares his perspective on the human need for wilderness and wild places and the humility that it takes to allow nature to run it’s own course. Mark also discusses the difficulties that face veterans when they return home from combat and how nature can be a place of healing and purpose for those who’ve seen combat. We chatted under the stars in the backcountry of Canyonlands National Park. We hope you will be as inspired by Mark as we are.

Jack continues to discuss the topic of brokenness - this time focusing on how to understand our shortcomings and why we do things we aren't proud of. He then dives into another truth discovered in his search for purpose: the importance of serving others.

In the wake of the tragic losses of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, Jack discusses the topic of brokenness, especially as it relates to anxiety and depression. It begins a journey to discover ways of battling your own sense of worry and fear by looking at your own situation through someone else's eyes.

The guys celebrate an incredible achievement: 100 episodes of Rock the Park! They talk about the past, present and future and give insight into some of the most impactful moments on the show.

Jack and Colton celebrate National Park week! They begin by discussing their favorite national parks and why they mean so much. The guys spent some time recently in Olympic National Park helping out the National Park Conservation Association with an annual beach clean up. They talk about the importance of giving back and discuss their own shortcomings when it comes to the issue of giving up plastic. Rob Smith, Regional Director for the NPCA's Northwest Regional Office joins the guys on the show to talk about an issue facing Olympic National Park…one that not seen, but heard. Finally, Jack and Colton give tips on how you can start to take practical steps to start giving back.

Jack and Colton discuss the healing power of nature and the impact that the national parks have had on their own lives. Colton brings up the recent news of an enzyme that was discovered that will actually "eat" plastic. They discuss the potential pros and cons of relying on such an enzyme to rid the ocean of plastic. Jack's brother, Tommy Steward comes on the show to talk about their shared passion for shooting video and gives some insight into the creation of Rock the Park and more. Jack and Colton revisit the issue of the maintenance backlog in our parks and discuss a possible solution. Before the end of the show, the guys have fun revealing a few things that irritate them about each other. Washy's World: https://www.facebook.com/WashysWorld For more about Jack and Colton, visit ThoseParkGuys.com

The guys discuss the power of the "solo" adventure experience as Jack shares how his first trip alone to Death Valley National Park changed his life. They debate the decision to raise the entrance fees in select national parks before welcoming their fried Joe Stone to the show. Joe talks about the thrills of paragliding and how he has learned to be a smarter pilot. Rock the Park's signature tag line: "If we can do it, so can you" is dissected as Joe offers some perspective. Finally, Jack reveals one of the scariest moments that ever took place on the show. It's Raining So What : http://itsrainingsowhat.com/ Joe Stone Foundation: http://joestonefoundation.org/

Colton is now an official resident of southern California and the guys talk about the misconceptions that many people have about Los Angeles. They discuss various outlets for outdoor adventure that are seemingly everywhere in the state of California. Maudie Jordan, an ultramarathon runner comes on the show to talk about the process of running races of 100 miles or more! They talk about the physical toll on the body but also the incredible strength that comes from the sport. Finally, the guys discuss the recent episode of Rock the Park and list their top 3 hikes that they'd like to go on someday. To learn more about Maudie, check out her blog: https://runfreerunwild.wordpress.com/

Jack shares a few stories from his recent trip to New York City. Afterwards, the guys tell the story of a chaotic adventure that unfolded in Katmai National Park after cameras had been put away. One of their good friends, Adam Beard shares some insight and stories about his experience while hiking the entire Appalachian Trail with his girlfriend. Finally, the guys discuss the difficulties of making travel plans in Alaska.

Jack and Colton talk about urban adventure as Jack prepares for an upcoming trip to New York City. They dive into the mysterious and controversial Jean Lafitte, who is the central character of their recent episode in New Orleans. The legacy of the late Stephen Hawking is celebrated before the guys dive into a discussion on how to generate funding for the national parks without sacrificing the many incentives to visit these important places. Rock the Park’s very own showrunner, Heidi Ruen drops by to talk about what goes into making the show. To close out the show, Jack and Colton discuss the balancing act between home life and being out on the road.