Rephonic
Artwork for Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast

Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast

Matt and Karen Smith
National Parks
Dry Tortugas National Park
Yosemite National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Sedona
Joshua Tree National Park
Olympic National Park
Southern Utah
Glacier National Park
Camping
Big Bend National Park
Talus Caves
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Canyon
Saguaro National Park
Coconino National Forest
National Park Week
California
Galápagos National Park
Buffalo Soldiers

In Dear Bob and Sue, authors Matt and Karen Smith share stories of their travels to all of the U.S. National Park as well as other spectacular public lands. From adventures gone awry to memorable moments and Q&As from readers, get to know the couple behind the books and get inspired to go on some adventures of your own.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes178Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & CulturePlaces & Travel

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast

Latest Episodes

#175: Great Pizza Places Near National Parks

After over fifteen years of traveling to the U.S. national parks and other public lands, we’ve learned there are a few key pieces of information you need to make a road trip a success. And at the top of ... more

Across our U.S. public lands are more than 130 national monuments, each protecting a unique natural or cultural treasure. In this episode, we’re diving into ten that feel a lot like visiting a national park, but without the crowds.

We share a mix of... more

We recently returned to Pinnacles National Park, a place we hadn’t visited since our first trip in 2013. Situated about 75 minutes south of Monterey, California, Pinnacles is known for its dramatic volcanic rock formations, remnants of a once 8,000-f... more

Having visited all 63 U.S. national parks, we felt it was time to broaden our scope and explore one of the most popular and biologically diverse national parks outside the United States: Galápagos National Park. Located hundreds of miles west of main... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Parkography
ParkographyRV Miles Network
RV Miles Podcast
RV Miles PodcastRV Miles Network
Travel Squad Podcast
Travel Squad PodcastTravel Squad Podcast

Recent Guests

Jacob Wolfley
Intern and aspiring ranger with the National Park Service
National Park Service
Episode: #157: Celebrating National Park Week
Sara Shoemaker
Law enforcement ranger at Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Episode: #148: Hiking Safety Tips from a National Park Ranger

Hosts

Matt Smith
Host and co-author of the series; travels broadly, researches national lands, and weaves storytelling with field experiences.
Karen Smith
Co-host and co-author; blends travel narratives with historical and cultural context from public lands.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Used to be great

    This used to be my favorite podcast. Now they hardly ever release episodes, focusing instead on creating Patreon content. I just unsubscribed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Math Freddy
    United Statesa month ago
  • Lunch break walks with Karen and Matt

    Karen and Matt, I enjoy the conversation and the comedy!! It’s hard to go back to work if the episode isn’t over before lunch is over. I learn a lot about the parks as well as getting a good chuckle and some gasps! Thank you for this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gopmanda
    United States2 months ago
  • Tricia

    I read your books years ago and now that I am retired and have more time, I’m loving your podcasts. We are pretty passionate about the National Parks and other natural lands and your podcasts are a fun and super helpful way to get intel for future trips/hikes. Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AuraiDog
    United States3 months ago
  • Where is the new content?

    It’s a shame because I really enjoy your show but you have NO new content. I’m sure there are new episodes for patrons but nothing on the regular feed. Oh well- guess it’s like the regular world. Pay to play only! Recently relocated to PNW so was looking forward to your tips. Feel like I’ve been ghosted. Be safe and well!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    C Emory
    United States4 months ago
  • Ugh

    Zion info was helpful, but the banter. Felt forced, cutesy.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    NicknameGeneric
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many readers appreciate the combination of humor and informative park insights, with strong affinity for the hosts' passion.
Listener praise highlights engaging hosts, valuable travel tips, and entertaining banter that makes planning trips enjoyable.
Critiques often call for less giggling and more concise, factual information, but still acknowledge overall usefulness and inspiration.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#168: Mailbag!
Q: Do you ever get tired of visiting the National Parks?
No, the hosts are still as excited to visit national parks as they were 15 years ago and appreciate discovering new trails and hidden gems each time they visit.
#143: Mailbag: Where to See Moose in the National Parks, and More!
Q: How do you like to spend all of the time you have in your vehicle as you travel along on your road trips?
Typically, we listen to playlists or talk about our business instead of intellectual podcasts or audiobooks.
#143: Mailbag: Where to See Moose in the National Parks, and More!
Q: Would you suggest that we fly into Las Vegas or Phoenix?
Phoenix is your best bet for a prettier drive with more things to do along the way.
#147: The Best of Big Bend National Park
Q: How much time do you think people should spend on a visit to Big Bend National Park?
The hosts suggest that three days is a perfect duration, but even two days would allow for a lot of exploring.
#149: Mailbag: Digging for Diamonds in an Arkansas State Park and More!
Q: Do you know of any place where we could fairly quickly cross the border into North Cascades National Park?
You can hike on the Bridge Creek Trail to the park border easily accessible from Highway 20.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A travel-forward show centered on U.S. national parks and public lands, blending practical tips for visiting sites with personal travel stories and light banter. Episodes emphasize planning, accessibility, and unique park features, often weaving historical context, local lore, and reader Q&As into a personable, story-driven format. The approach tends to be engaging and informative, with a notable emphasis on outdoor adventure, trip planning, and a warm sense of humor that keeps the content approachable for both first-time visitors and seasoned park enthusiasts.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Exploring the National Parks
2. Parkography
3. RV Miles Podcast
4. Travel Squad Podcast
5. Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 178 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jacob Wolfley
2. Sara Shoemaker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days