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Tailgate Talks

Donald Forgione
Leadership
Hiring Practices
Workplace Culture
Mentorship
Conservation
Community Engagement
Parks and Recreation
Motivation-Based Interviewing
Interpretation
Recreation
Interviewing Skills
Career Development
Skills and Motivation
Interpretive Tools
Job Applications
Job Descriptions
Visitor Engagement
Nature Conservation
Professional Development
Mental Health

Welcome to Tailgate Talks, weekly talks with former Park Ranger Donald Forgione. Join Donald on the back of his tailgate for a conversation about conservation, recreation, business, and more.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes116Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessManagement

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Artwork for Tailgate Talks

Latest Episodes

Leave No Trace with Mark Eller This episode on Tailgate Talks, Donald Forgione sits down with Mark Eller from Leave No Trace for a conversation about protecting the outdoors through education, stewardship, and personal responsibility.

Mark shares t... more

Out here on the Tailgate, we talk a lot about the future of parks. In this episode, we're getting right to the heart of it—our next generation.

I'm joined by Ivan Levin from the National Park Trust, an organization dedicated to connecting kids and ... more

How many visitors are too many?

It is one of the most important and most misunderstood questions in parks and public lands today. In this episode of Tailgate Talks, Donald sits down with Jonathan Brunjes, Deputy Administrator for the Nevada Divisio... more

In this episode of Tailgate Talks, I sit down with M.J. James, author of Heal the Hustle, for an honest and timely conversation about burnout, productivity culture, and what it really means to live—and lead—well.

Many of us were taught that hustle ... more

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Recent Guests

Mark Eller
Representative of Leave No Trace Organization
Leave No Trace Organization
Episode: Leave No Trace: Far More Than Just Picking Up Trash
Ivan Levin
Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, National Park Trust
National Park Trust
Episode: Connecting Kids to Parks: Partnerships That Build the Next Generation of Stewards
Jonathan Brunjes
Deputy Administrator for Nevada Division of State Parks
Nevada Division of State Parks, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Episode: Loving Our Parks to Death: The Real Conversation About Carrying Capacity
MJ James
Author of Heal the Hustle and Rest and Renew
Author and speaker
Episode: Heal the Hustle: How High Performers Reclaim Health, Purpose, and Joy
Lauren McMillan
First cultural resource manager in Virginia State Parks
Virginia State Parks
Episode: Protecting Stories, Not Just Places: Cultural Resources and Why They Matter
Brent Leisure
Former Director of Texas State Parks
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Episode: Director to Director: Ethics for Park Leaders
Donald Forgione
Host and former Park Ranger
Episode: Director to Director: Ethics for Park Leaders
Kevin Korenthal
Executive Director of the National Association of Park Foundations
National Association of Park Foundations (NAPF)
Episode: Parks, People, & Philanthropy: What Every Park Leader Should Know
Victoria Greear
Area 6 Manager, Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee State Parks
Episode: Raising a Ranger at Heart: One Mother's Story and What Parks Can Learn

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • Insightful & Inspiring

    Donald brings a vast knowledge of parks, conservation and recreation insights to the tailgate talk. He understands the struggles, successes and has advice for tackling it all. Thanks for a great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kjfosh
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Hosts convey authentic public-service perspective and real-world experience.
Content is informative for sponsors seeking credible, impact-driven programming.
Guests bring practical park leadership and conservation insights.
Audience likely values ethics, accessibility, and partnerships in public lands.
High-quality storytelling with actionable tips for park operations.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Protecting Stories, Not Just Places: Cultural Resources and Why They Matter
Q: What role do tribal partnerships play in your work?
They are foundational. Working with tribal nations and artisans ensures authentic representation, informs the master plan, and helps build trust and ongoing collaboration that enhances both preservation and interpretation.
Protecting Stories, Not Just Places: Cultural Resources and Why They Matter
Q: How do you balance preservation with ongoing park operations and public use?
By thinking through alternatives before making changes, including adaptive reuse and looking for options that minimize impact to historic features. The goal is to keep resources visible and meaningful while still enabling modern park functions.
Protecting Stories, Not Just Places: Cultural Resources and Why They Matter
Q: Tell us about the moment you realized cultural resources needed to be a dedicated program in the Virginia State Parks.
It was about creating a new program from the ground up and recognizing that cultural resources belong at the center of planning, education, and interpretation, not on the periphery. This shift allows me to teach staff how to talk about resources and to design experiences that highlight indigenous history and the stories behind built environments.
Wetlands, Wildlife, and Working Together with Ducks Unlimited
Q: What advice do you have for boots-on-the-ground conservationists?
Be ambitious and resilient, find your niche, whether you're a people person or a detail-oriented planner; your efforts on the ground can connect people to conservation and make a real difference.
Wetlands, Wildlife, and Working Together with Ducks Unlimited
Q: How do you balance conservation goals with agricultural and working landscapes?
The approach is to work hand in glove with farmers and ranchers, incentivize good practices, provide technical assistance, and engage NRCS and state programs to align landowner goals with habitat protection.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tailgate Talks

What is Tailgate Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show centers on leadership in public parks, conservation, and recreation, with frequent deep-dives into ethics, partnerships, accessibility, and program design. Notable themes include how parks balance use with preservation, the role of foundations and private-public collaborations in funding, and practical, leadership-focused takeaways for public agencies and nonprofits. Guests come from state parks, national organizations, and conservation groups, offering hands-on expertise in management, education, and legacy-building while sharing actionable strategies for improving visitor experience, accessibility, and community engagement. This mix makes it useful for listeners who want real-world park leadership insights... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Tailgate Talks:

1. The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

How many episodes of Tailgate Talks are there?

Tailgate Talks launched 3 years ago and published 116 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Tailgate Talks?

Recent guests on Tailgate Talks include:

1. Mark Eller
2. Ivan Levin
3. Jonathan Brunjes
4. MJ James
5. Lauren McMillan
6. Brent Leisure
7. Donald Forgione
8. Kevin Korenthal

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.

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