July 7, 2023 • 22 mins
Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler, the first female CEO of the National Geographic Society, joins App State Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball in the podcast studio to discuss the journey that led her to her current position. She shares her thoughts on the importance of higher education and the history of the Society’s National Geographic magazine, as well as a few of her favorite National Geographic Explorers.
Show Notes
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/our-leadership/
Transcript
Lee Ball:
Welcome back to another episode of Find Your Sustainability, where we talk to many of the world's experts about sustainability and what the heck that means. On today's episode, we spoke with Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler, who is the CEO of National Geographic. Jill was on App State's campus for the 11th annual Appalachian Energy Summit, and it was my pleasure to have a chance to interview her on the podcast. As Chief Executive Officer at the National Geographic Society, Dr. Tiefenthaler oversees the development and implementation of the society's mission driven work and programmatic agenda. She leads our global community of explorers, scientists, innovators, educators, and storytellers in our mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Jill sits on the Society's board of trustees and the Board of National Geographic Partners. To read more about Jill, you can find a link to her bio on our show notes. Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler, welcome back to North Carolina.
Jill Tiefenthaler:
Thanks. It's great to be back, Lee. It's fun to be with you today.
Lee Ball:
You did your graduate work at Duke, you were the provost at Wake Forest and more recently you were the president of Colorado College for nine years. How's it feel being back on a college campus and especially back in North Carolina?
Jill Tiefenthaler:
Well, it's wonderful to be back on a campus. It's one of the things I miss most about leaving higher ed and being in my new role at National Geographic is the dynamism and excitement of a college campus. And back when I was college president and provost too, I used to teach every year, so I really miss teaching and being in the classroom and that interaction with students, especially. It's also great to be back in North Carolina, especially up here in Boone. I used to enjoy escaping the heat of Winston-Salem and coming up here and hiking and camping. I have very fond memories of my time both at Duke and Winston-Salem.
Lee Ball:
Yeah, it's funny, I go to Winston-Salem and I tell people that, "Yeah, we just came here for the day." They're like, "Oh my gosh, it's so far away." I'm like, "No, it's not. You should be coming here often."
Jill Tiefenthaler:
Yeah, just a couple hours.
Lee Ball:
What role do you think higher education plays or can play to help promote the type of education that is in line with Natural Geographic's mission?
Jill Tiefenthaler:
Well, I think higher ed is critical. I'm obviously a true believer in getting students to have awareness of these critical issues. And now more and more, I think they have that awareness through the media and through high school education, but they really still need those skills to figure out how to put them to work. To get the work done, we need to do both for climate change and biodiversity loss. I think they see the urgency. I also hope higher education really focuses on solutions, because I don't want our students to feel hopeless about the future. I want them to feel hopeful and motivated, inspired to make the change that we need to see in the world.
Lee Ball:
Yeah, that's definitely something that we focus on here is engagement opportunities, and I'm a real big believer that it
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Welcome back to another episode
of Find Your Sustainability,where we talk to many of the world's
experts about sustainabilityand what the heck that means.
On today's episode, we spoke with Dr.
Jill Tiefenthaler,who is the CEO of National Geographic.
Jill was on App State's campus forthe 11th Annual Appalachian Energy Summit,
(00:27):
and it was my pleasure to have a chanceto interview her on the podcast.
as Chief Executive Officerat the National Geographic Society.
Dr. Tiefenthaler overseesthe development and implementation
of the society'smission driven work and programic agenda.
She leads our global community
of explorers, scientists,innovators, educators and storytellers,
(00:49):
in our mission to illuminateand protect the wonder of our world, Jill
sits on the Society's Board of Trusteesand the Board of National
Geographic Partners.
To read more about Jill,you can find a link to her bio on our show
notes. Dr.
Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler,welcome back to North Carolina.
(01:11):
Thanks. It's great to be back, Lee.
It's fun to be with you today.
You did your graduate work at Duke.
You were the provost at Wake Forest,and more recently,
you were the president of Colorado Collegefor nine years.
How's it feel being back on a collegecampus and especially back
in North Carolina?
Well,it's wonderful to be back on a campus.
It's one of the things I miss most
about leaving higher edand being in my new role at National
(01:34):
Geographic is the sort of dynamismand excitement of a college campus.
And back when I was college president andProvost two, I used to teach every year.
So I really miss teachingand being in the classroom
and that interaction with studentsespecially.
And it's also great to be back in NorthCarolina, especially up here in Boone.
I used to enjoy
escaping the heat of Winston-Salem,and coming up here and hiking and camping.
(01:57):
So I have very fond memories of my time,both at Duke and Winston-Salem.
It's funny, I go to Winston-Salemand I tell people that, yeah,
we just came here for the day like,Oh my gosh, it's so far away.
I'm like, No, it's not.
You should be coming here often.
Yeah, just a couple hours.
What role do you think
higher education plays or can play to helppromote the type of education
(02:17):
that is in linewith National Geographic's mission?
Well,I think, you know, higher ed is critical.
I'm obviously a true believer and,you know, getting students,
you know, to have awarenessof these critical issues.
And now more and more, I think they have
that awareness through the mediaand through high school education.
(02:37):
But they really still need those skills tofigure out how to make put them to work,
to get the work done
we need to do both for climate changeand biodiversity loss.
I think they see the urgency.
So I also hope higher educationreally focuses on solutions
because I don't want our studentsto feel hopeless about the future.
I want them to feel hopeful
and motivated, inspired to make the changethat we need to see in the world.
(03:00):
Yeah, that's
definitely something that we focus on hereis engagement opportunities, and I'm
a real big believer that it does inspirehope when you can get your hands dirty.
Or yeah,when you can see something change, right?
When you can see something get betterand you can see how the power
of collaboration
and community can make that happen,I think it can be really inspiring.
(03:21):
So I love that you're all doing thathands on education opportunities here.
May I ask you a little bitabout your childhood?
Sure.
I'm fascinated by the storiesI get to hear about my guest’s connection
to nature and place.
Is there a memory
or experience from your childhoodthat helped contribute to your development
as such a strong advocatefor the natural world?
Well, you know,I grew up on a farm in Iowa,
(03:43):
so my every day was being partof the natural world.
And in fact, you know,a lot of people as a grown up, I escape
and had to, you know, the naturefor my vacations. As a child,
we escapednature for the city or something.
But, you know, we just sawI was so lucky to grow up
in a very small town on a farm whereevery day we were, you know, out there.
(04:06):
You know, my mom would send usoutside in the morning and shut the door
and say, see at lunch.
And then same thingafter lunch until suppertime.
So I had the opportunity to,you know, love the natural world.
And then as in my adult lifeand especially spending
time in Colorado, in the Westand in North Carolina when I was here,
just the beauty of this countryand the awe of what we have.
(04:30):
And, you know,I think every day that awe inspires me now
today as well to, you know, do the workwe do at National Geographic.
I really applaud the workthat National Geographic
does to really helppeople feel a connection to nature.
It's an important part of of my workand and a personal interest of mine
(04:54):
to try to help people maintain thatconnection, however, however they can.
And I think that you all dosuch a beautiful job
with all the different waysthat you tell stories.
And, you know, thank you so much for that.
Thank you.
We at the Society,we often say that science and exploration
and education are our foundation,but storytelling is our superpower.
(05:16):
And it's sort of one of the thingsthere are so many great organizations
out there doing incredible conservationwork and supporting science and education.
But we really feel like our biggest
comparative advantage is with the brandtelling those amazing stories
so we can get more people to care,more people to be motivated,
more people to be hopefuland to act right. Exactly.
(05:37):
If you're anything like me,
having access to a National Geographicmagazine was like a treasure that
enabled me to explore some of the world'smost beautiful and mysterious places.
Can you share any early memoriesof reading National Geographic magazine?
I can.
So when I was in grade school,I went to this very small
little Catholic grade schoolin Iowa called Saint Bernard School.
There are about 20 kids in a class,and we had a little library
(06:00):
at our grade school,and National Geographic was always there.
And so I always remember grabbing itwhen I was in the little library,
but I particularlyremember in 1977
when King Tut's funerarymask was on the front cover.
And I remember the magazine was propped upso you could see the cover
(06:21):
on one of the shelves.
I remember vividly being drawn to itand just felt
like I was being transportedto another world
when I was reading about Egyptand King Tut and these amazing stories.
So, when I travel the world
on behalf of National Geographic,I hear so many amazing stories from people
about their connection to the magazine,the stories, of course, the photography
(06:44):
and also just sort of, as you said,that inspiration to be somewhere else
in a day, especially in the pastwhen we had very few opportunities
to do that like we do todaywith social media and the Internet.
I remember that one.
Do you? Very well? Yes.
My grandparents had Nat Geo and so
when I would visit them,I would devour them.
My grandfather was a worldtraveler, worked
(07:07):
for a tobacco company as a salesman,and he was from North Carolina.
And he had gone to Egyptwith my grandmother on a vacation.
And so they had
you know, they had brought also, you know,just some gifts and trinkets back to me.
I just rememberjust that kind of wondrous sensation of
not really even being ableto imagine what it was like,
(07:29):
not just being in the culturethat they visited, but just
imagine what it was liketo live way back then
when the pyramids were constructedand just all the historic culture.
Absolutely.
And so it's another way to be inspiredby human ingenuity and what we can do
and to be hopeful about the future,to look at that distant past.
(07:50):
I can't imagine all the incredible placesyou have visited since taking the helm
as CEO of the National Geographic Society.
Is there some place or experiencethat was not on your radar that surprised
you or that you find yourselfstill thinking about?
Well, it's funny, because you were justtalking about Egypt and King Tut
and just in 2022 was the 100th
(08:11):
anniversaryof the discovery of King Tut's tomb.
And so I got an invitationto attend a bunch
of celebrations in Luxorand in Cairo around that time.
And, you know, after seeing that
incredible image as a childand then now getting to go
see it in person, as well as to experiencethe tomb and to enjoy.
(08:32):
You know,I went to a conference specifically
on King Tut's tombwhile I was there in Luxor.
So had both the academicand the amazing experiential opportunities
when I was there. So that was special.
The other thing,it's just I am completely drawn to
is we have a project in the OkavangoDelta in Botswana
(08:53):
and in working in the highlandsof that delta in Angola.
I had the amazing opportunityto be out in the field with our team
last fall as well in September,and to see the work they're doing.
They've done thousands of milesof transects of the rivers
and the land there.
And now we're really working onwith the local communities
(09:15):
a education and preservationof that critical delta, as well as they've
found over 100 new speciesto science in their work there.
So to be out with those expertsand seeing the wildlife
there and the beauty in the birds, oh,the birds were amazing.
It was really a special experience.
I can't imagine. I'm a birder, so.
Oh, the birds were just. You'd love it.
(09:36):
You got to go.
Do you find that the localsare very receptive to your work?
Yes. You know, we're working very hard.
All of our big projectsand all of our grantees.
Part of the requirement is in a planto be working with the local communities.
We're doing much more
to be funding, not, you know,that sort of traditional way of funding
(09:57):
an American to go and look at somethingand to learn and to explore,
but really to work to fund explorersin every country in the world.
So our 6000 now explorers come from
more than 140 countries and we're fundingabout two thirds of our work
is non-U.S.
citizens working in their own regionsaround the world.
(10:17):
When I go with National Geographic,you know, if I have a cap
or a pen or whatever, everybody'slike dying to get National Geographic.
I've only been to one place in the worldwhere when people heard
National Geographic,they didn't recognize it.
That was up in the very northpart of Kenya and the Turkana Basin.
But otherwise, everywhereI go, the National Geographic receives
(10:38):
an incredible reception and people know,like we do the brand and the magazine.
So. Right.
So it sounds like it's
very local, community centricand you work on the capacity building.
Yeah, we know.
You know, National Geographichas been around 135 years.
And, you know, there's been a history
of colonial explorationand imagery exploitation.
We look back on itand it's not we, you know,
(10:59):
aren't proud of everythingthat has always happened.
But the only thing we can dothere is recognize what wasn't
right and move ahead in a new way.
And that's what we're committed to doing.
And we also know that conservationand really
great work is only going to happenif it's led by communities.
These are the people who careand know their places.
Indigenous knowledge being so critical,you know, and you can get amazing
(11:21):
indigenous knowledge together with some ofthe cutting edge sciences developed.
That's what we're hoping.
We will really find the kindof sustainable solutions that we need.
Well, it's incredible.
Along those same lines,is there a National Geographic Explorer
who has particularly inspired you?
Well, you know, I'm here in App State,so I have to say, Baker Perry,
(11:41):
who is now been to
Everest three times, as well as Tupungato in the last couple of years.
And he's such a humble guy, too,but so committed to the work at
National Geographic and such a great modelof an explorer for us. (Baker Perry is) someone
who has this amazing scientific backgroundbut also is truly an adventurer.
And what we're looking for in explorersis that talent and depth of knowledge
(12:03):
and experience,but also that sort of wonder
and awe that, reallywant to be out there in the world
and talking to peopleand educating, right?
So not just talking to other scientists,which is important,
but can't be everythingbecause National Geographic,
as I mentioned before,our superpower is taking that science
and really sharing it with the world in away that we can engage a lot more people.
(12:25):
So I'd say, you know, the work
that Baker has donehere is been a great example of that.
I couldn't agree more.
Have you
had a chance to meet one of my heroes, Dr.
Jane Goodall.
I have had a chance to meet Jane.
She is amazing.
I started my job during the pandemic,
so a lot of my opportunities to meetour explorers was delayed.
(12:48):
But in 2022, a little over a year ago,I had the great opportunity.
We have an exhibit that's been traveling
the country called Becoming Jane,and it's about Jane's journey.
We started in it debuted in the societyin our headquarters in Washington, DC and
it has now been traveling around the countryand then we'll do even around the world.
And so after the pandemic,it reopened in L.A.
(13:11):
and I got a chance to spend time with Janeand tour it and spend some private time
with her as well.
And she is an amazing forceand we're so proud.
We were the first to fund her through hermentor, Louis Leakey,
in Gombe way backwhen and her work with the chimpanzees.
And I've just you know,she is a wonder and how her energy
(13:32):
and what she manages to do today,the number of talks
she's given, the placesshe travels, she's truly an inspiration.
Yeah, she is certainly a she-ro of mine.
We were under contractto have Jane come to campus
and then the pandemic struck
and she was going to come to western
North Carolina and they were going to havemultiple stops.
(13:52):
And she ended updoing a virtual event with us.
Oh, yeah.
She's she's really gotten amazingly goodat that during the pandemic because she
was determined to keep her workmoving forward during the pandemic.
And she did. And
we had kindof like what we're going to do tonight.
We had studentsthat were able to interview her
on her zoom, and she wasjust a force to be reckoned with.
(14:15):
And she's funny and humble.
Yeah, I've gotten to watch her withlittle ones, you know, grade school kids.
And it's magicalto watch her with them, too.
That's when, you know,you really see greatness.
When someone who can resonate with peoplewho have known and watched her since her
earliest work, to little kidsand teenagers and everybody in between.
(14:36):
I've had so many young women tell me thathow inspired they are by Jane.
Her Roots and Shootsprogram is so important to her and.
Absolutely.
they really focus a lot of their attentionon supporting that all around the world.
Yeah, you know,I think that's one of the things
that is true of so many of our explorers.
And Jane is a great example of that.Bob Ballard,
who's the famous oceanographerwho found the Titanic.
(14:58):
He has a big education program.
He works with us as well as Sylvia Earle,
Her Deepness, who also has her hope spot.
And she really iscommitted to education through that.
I think everybody realizesthat we can't do this on our own.
And one of the best ways you can galvanizeothers
is to get that next generationexcited about the work.
(15:19):
We were invited to a fundraiser in Atlantabecause her team wanted to meet us to,
you know, kind of test the waters with us.
And I was able to watch her work the roombecause it was a fundraising event.
And she was just tirelessand she stayed and shook
hands with everyone who wanted to meet herand took pictures.
And it was just so amazing to see
even towards the endwhen people are sitting down,
(15:41):
they were tired and she was just still upand, you know, fundraising.
And it was it was just incredibleto be around her spirit.
So congratulations on
being the first woman to serveas CEO of the National Geographic Society.
Thank you. It'sclearly been a long time coming.
I know National Geographic has featurednumerous women over the years
who have contributed to NationalGeographic's mission of sparking
(16:04):
curiosity, empoweringexploration and inspiring change.
Is there another woman whose workis particularly inspiring to you?
Well, I mentioned two of our incrediblewomen, Jane and Sylvia Earle.
But in addition to that,you know, there's Louise Leakey,
who's the third generationof the Leakey family who is now working in
(16:27):
Kenya and just doing amazing discoveriesfor paleoanthropology
and then some amazing young women,Paula Kahumbu,
who is a Kenyan and is just tirelessly
working for the protection of elephantson the African continent.
She recently was featuredin our National Geographic
series on DisneyPlus called Secrets of the Elephants,
(16:49):
which was produced by explorerat large James Cameron.
And it is so inspiring.
But Paula's also donea series called Wildlife Warriors,
which is for Africans to really get peopleright
there living next to elephants every dayto care and love these animals
because they're the ones, you know,
where the conflict happensand the difficulty happens
(17:10):
and to really get kidsto fall in love with them.
So I'm so inspired by Paula.
And then I have to
mention Tara Roberts, who's one of ourwas our Explorer of the Year last year
in 2022.
And she is a storyteller.
And she...her mission became...
she went to the African-Americanhistory Museum and saw the Divers
(17:31):
With a Purpose work who are diving
scientists and historians and otherswho are diving to understand
and uncoverthe mysteries of those enslaved Africans
who died during shipwrecksin the transatlantic slave trade.
And she, determinedto tell their story, went out and learned to
dive became an expert diver.
(17:51):
And then she just tellsthe most beautiful stories
about this projectin her podcast Into the Depths.
And then last year she becamethe first black woman explored appear
on the cover of National Geographicmagazine again to long coming.
But to see her in her dive suit
and truly a badass, she's amazing.
And we're excited about the projectsthat she has to come in that area as well.
(18:15):
Yeah, I remember that.
I have that issue. It's a great issue.
The National Geographic Societyhas a long and storied history.
What can you share with usabout your organization's future?
A lot of exciting things happening.
We have a new strategic plan “NG Next”
that I helped to developwith the community
when I arrived a couple of years agoat National Geographic.
(18:36):
And the big focus of our strategic planis, you know, doubling down on the support
for our explorers.
We truly believe thatwhen our work is explorer led
and they bring us their best ideas,we will achieve the most we can.
So we are increasingfunding for explorers, but also,
maybe even more importantly,increasing opportunities
(18:56):
for career development,for collaborative work across explorers,
and for amplification on our mediaplatforms and with our partners
at Disney to get their work out even more.
We're also really excitedabout a big renovation of our base camp in
Washington, DC that's now underwayand will be a couple of years.
But we're quadrupling our public spaceand going to include
(19:18):
so many new opportunities,including a public archives experience
and an amazing education center
for kids and families to visitwhen they come to National Geographic
to learn, of course, moreabout our work of our explorers
taking that geographic approachto understanding our world.
Well, I can't wait to visit.
Yeah, I can't wait to have you.
My favorite thingabout the National Geographic Society
(19:39):
is your phenomenal abilityto tell stories.
Is there a story that you would liketo leave us with today?
That's a good question...or another story?
I know, so many stories.
Let me think.
Well, you know,I think I'll just tell a story
maybe of some of our history,because I think it's fun to think
about all these amazing thingsthat we've done.
(20:01):
But National Geographicwas founded in 1888 by 33
gentlemen who came together.You see these pictures of them
all standing around in the Cosmos Clubin Washington, DC,
and they were determined to increaseand diffuse geographic knowledge.
Through the historybecause of amazing leadership.
(20:23):
Alexander Graham Bellsat in my seat at one time.
He was the head of the society,for example, and he even expanded
our mission more and said,we cover the world and all that's in it.
And the idea of really moving away frombeing that original scientific journal
that people had imagined and figuring outhow to talk about the world
(20:43):
to broader audiencesand to take science and complicated
facts and ideas and present them in a waythat can engage everybody.
And I think that's what's so inspiringabout our work, because that's given us
a platform,I think, where the brand is so strong,
so recognized, and it's bipartisanand it's loved by so many
(21:06):
and so I think that the story of thatfounding of
being focused on explorationbut also sharing it
is something...a story that we try to liveand be true to every day
now as we leverage
all the important work that our explorersare doing around the world.
It's almost likeit was Life magazine for the Earth, but
(21:28):
they probably influenced Life magazinebecause they came before Life magazine.
And it's funny because I'm going to talktonight about the controversy that started
in the early 20th century when photosstarted to show up in the magazine.
Right?
Because originally
one of the board members quit becausehe thought it dumbed down the magazine.
And if you think aboutwhat National Geographic is so known for
(21:48):
it’s not just the great narrativeand the science, but of course, the images
that, as we talked about earlier, reallytransported you to another place, a place
that you could never go in the pastbut many of us can't go to today.
And so the beautiful imageryand the awe and wonder
and empathy that, you know,I think that inspires for our world.
(22:09):
Well, Dr.
Tiefenthaler,thank you so much for coming today
to campus to my podcastFind Your Sustain Ability.
And it's just a pleasure having you here.
It's great to be here with you, Lee.
Thank you for inviting me.
Find Your Sustain Ability is a productionof the University Communications
Department and Appalachian State.
(22:30):
It's hosted by Appalachian ChiefSustainability Officer Lee Ball.
For more informationabout Appalachian State sustainability,
check out sustain.appstate.edu.For more podcasts, videos
and articles related to Appalachian State,check out
today.appstate.edu
Welcome back to another episode
of Find Your Sustainability,where we talk to many of the world's
experts about sustainabilityand what the heck that means.
On today's episode, we spoke with Dr.
Jill Tiefenthaler,who is the CEO of National Geographic.
Jill was on App State's campus forthe 11th Annual Appalachian Energy Summit,
(00:27):
and it was my pleasure to have a chanceto interview her on the podcast.
as Chief Executive Officerat the National Geographic Society.
Dr. Tiefenthaler overseesthe development and implementation
of the society'smission driven work and programic agenda.
She leads our global community
of explorers, scientists,innovators, educators and storytellers,
(00:49):
in our mission to illuminateand protect the wonder of our world, Jill
sits on the Society's Board of Trusteesand the Board of National
Geographic Partners.
To read more about Jill,you can find a link to her bio on our show
notes. Dr.
Dr. Jill Tiefenthaler,welcome back to North Carolina.
(01:11):
Thanks. It's great to be back, Lee.
It's fun to be with you today.
You did your graduate work at Duke.
You were the provost at Wake Forest,and more recently,
you were the president of Colorado Collegefor nine years.
How's it feel being back on a collegecampus and especially back
in North Carolina?
Well,it's wonderful to be back on a campus.
It's one of the things I miss most
about leaving higher edand being in my new role at National
(01:34):
Geographic is the sort of dynamismand excitement of a college campus.
And back when I was college president andProvost two, I used to teach every year.
So I really miss teachingand being in the classroom
and that interaction with studentsespecially.
And it's also great to be back in NorthCarolina, especially up here in Boone.
I used to enjoy
escaping the heat of Winston-Salem,and coming up here and hiking and camping.
(01:57):
So I have very fond memories of my time,both at Duke and Winston-Salem.
It's funny, I go to Winston-Salemand I tell people that, yeah,
we just came here for the day like,Oh my gosh, it's so far away.
I'm like, No, it's not.
You should be coming here often.
Yeah, just a couple hours.
What role do you think
higher education plays or can play to helppromote the type of education
(02:17):
that is in linewith National Geographic's mission?
Well,I think, you know, higher ed is critical.
I'm obviously a true believer and,you know, getting students,
you know, to have awarenessof these critical issues.
And now more and more, I think they have
that awareness through the mediaand through high school education.
(02:37):
But they really still need those skills tofigure out how to make put them to work,
to get the work done
we need to do both for climate changeand biodiversity loss.
I think they see the urgency.
So I also hope higher educationreally focuses on solutions
because I don't want our studentsto feel hopeless about the future.
I want them to feel hopeful
and motivated, inspired to make the changethat we need to see in the world.
(03:00):
Yeah, that's
definitely something that we focus on hereis engagement opportunities, and I'm
a real big believer that it does inspirehope when you can get your hands dirty.
Or yeah,when you can see something change, right?
When you can see something get betterand you can see how the power
of collaboration
and community can make that happen,I think it can be really inspiring.
(03:21):
So I love that you're all doing thathands on education opportunities here.
May I ask you a little bitabout your childhood?
Sure.
I'm fascinated by the storiesI get to hear about my guest’s connection
to nature and place.
Is there a memory
or experience from your childhoodthat helped contribute to your development
as such a strong advocatefor the natural world?
Well, you know,I grew up on a farm in Iowa,
(03:43):
so my every day was being partof the natural world.
And in fact, you know,a lot of people as a grown up, I escape
and had to, you know, the naturefor my vacations. As a child,
we escapednature for the city or something.
But, you know, we just sawI was so lucky to grow up
in a very small town on a farm whereevery day we were, you know, out there.
(04:06):
You know, my mom would send usoutside in the morning and shut the door
and say, see at lunch.
And then same thingafter lunch until suppertime.
So I had the opportunity to,you know, love the natural world.
And then as in my adult lifeand especially spending
time in Colorado, in the Westand in North Carolina when I was here,
just the beauty of this countryand the awe of what we have.
(04:30):
And, you know,I think every day that awe inspires me now
today as well to, you know, do the workwe do at National Geographic.
I really applaud the workthat National Geographic
does to really helppeople feel a connection to nature.
It's an important part of of my workand and a personal interest of mine
(04:54):
to try to help people maintain thatconnection, however, however they can.
And I think that you all dosuch a beautiful job
with all the different waysthat you tell stories.
And, you know, thank you so much for that.
Thank you.
We at the Society,we often say that science and exploration
and education are our foundation,but storytelling is our superpower.
(05:16):
And it's sort of one of the thingsthere are so many great organizations
out there doing incredible conservationwork and supporting science and education.
But we really feel like our biggest
comparative advantage is with the brandtelling those amazing stories
so we can get more people to care,more people to be motivated,
more people to be hopefuland to act right. Exactly.
(05:37):
If you're anything like me,
having access to a National Geographicmagazine was like a treasure that
enabled me to explore some of the world'smost beautiful and mysterious places.
Can you share any early memoriesof reading National Geographic magazine?
I can.
So when I was in grade school,I went to this very small
little Catholic grade schoolin Iowa called Saint Bernard School.
There are about 20 kids in a class,and we had a little library
(06:00):
at our grade school,and National Geographic was always there.
And so I always remember grabbing itwhen I was in the little library,
but I particularlyremember in 1977
when King Tut's funerarymask was on the front cover.
And I remember the magazine was propped upso you could see the cover
(06:21):
on one of the shelves.
I remember vividly being drawn to itand just felt
like I was being transportedto another world
when I was reading about Egyptand King Tut and these amazing stories.
So, when I travel the world
on behalf of National Geographic,I hear so many amazing stories from people
about their connection to the magazine,the stories, of course, the photography
(06:44):
and also just sort of, as you said,that inspiration to be somewhere else
in a day, especially in the pastwhen we had very few opportunities
to do that like we do todaywith social media and the Internet.
I remember that one.
Do you? Very well? Yes.
My grandparents had Nat Geo and so
when I would visit them,I would devour them.
My grandfather was a worldtraveler, worked
(07:07):
for a tobacco company as a salesman,and he was from North Carolina.
And he had gone to Egyptwith my grandmother on a vacation.
And so they had
you know, they had brought also, you know,just some gifts and trinkets back to me.
I just rememberjust that kind of wondrous sensation of
not really even being ableto imagine what it was like,
(07:29):
not just being in the culturethat they visited, but just
imagine what it was liketo live way back then
when the pyramids were constructedand just all the historic culture.
Absolutely.
And so it's another way to be inspiredby human ingenuity and what we can do
and to be hopeful about the future,to look at that distant past.
(07:50):
I can't imagine all the incredible placesyou have visited since taking the helm
as CEO of the National Geographic Society.
Is there some place or experiencethat was not on your radar that surprised
you or that you find yourselfstill thinking about?
Well, it's funny, because you were justtalking about Egypt and King Tut
and just in 2022 was the 100th
(08:11):
anniversaryof the discovery of King Tut's tomb.
And so I got an invitationto attend a bunch
of celebrations in Luxorand in Cairo around that time.
And, you know, after seeing that
incredible image as a childand then now getting to go
see it in person, as well as to experiencethe tomb and to enjoy.
(08:32):
You know,I went to a conference specifically
on King Tut's tombwhile I was there in Luxor.
So had both the academicand the amazing experiential opportunities
when I was there. So that was special.
The other thing,it's just I am completely drawn to
is we have a project in the OkavangoDelta in Botswana
(08:53):
and in working in the highlandsof that delta in Angola.
I had the amazing opportunityto be out in the field with our team
last fall as well in September,and to see the work they're doing.
They've done thousands of milesof transects of the rivers
and the land there.
And now we're really working onwith the local communities
(09:15):
a education and preservationof that critical delta, as well as they've
found over 100 new speciesto science in their work there.
So to be out with those expertsand seeing the wildlife
there and the beauty in the birds, oh,the birds were amazing.
It was really a special experience.
I can't imagine. I'm a birder, so.
Oh, the birds were just. You'd love it.
(09:36):
You got to go.
Do you find that the localsare very receptive to your work?
Yes. You know, we're working very hard.
All of our big projectsand all of our grantees.
Part of the requirement is in a planto be working with the local communities.
We're doing much more
to be funding, not, you know,that sort of traditional way of funding
(09:57):
an American to go and look at somethingand to learn and to explore,
but really to work to fund explorersin every country in the world.
So our 6000 now explorers come from
more than 140 countries and we're fundingabout two thirds of our work
is non-U.S.
citizens working in their own regionsaround the world.
(10:17):
When I go with National Geographic,you know, if I have a cap
or a pen or whatever, everybody'slike dying to get National Geographic.
I've only been to one place in the worldwhere when people heard
National Geographic,they didn't recognize it.
That was up in the very northpart of Kenya and the Turkana Basin.
But otherwise, everywhereI go, the National Geographic receives
(10:38):
an incredible reception and people know,like we do the brand and the magazine.
So. Right.
So it sounds like it's
very local, community centricand you work on the capacity building.
Yeah, we know.
You know, National Geographichas been around 135 years.
And, you know, there's been a history
of colonial explorationand imagery exploitation.
We look back on itand it's not we, you know,
(10:59):
aren't proud of everythingthat has always happened.
But the only thing we can dothere is recognize what wasn't
right and move ahead in a new way.
And that's what we're committed to doing.
And we also know that conservationand really
great work is only going to happenif it's led by communities.
These are the people who careand know their places.
Indigenous knowledge being so critical,you know, and you can get amazing
(11:21):
indigenous knowledge together with some ofthe cutting edge sciences developed.
That's what we're hoping.
We will really find the kindof sustainable solutions that we need.
Well, it's incredible.
Along those same lines,is there a National Geographic Explorer
who has particularly inspired you?
Well, you know, I'm here in App State,so I have to say, Baker Perry,
(11:41):
who is now been to
Everest three times, as well as Tupungato in the last couple of years.
And he's such a humble guy, too,but so committed to the work at
National Geographic and such a great modelof an explorer for us. (Baker Perry is) someone
who has this amazing scientific backgroundbut also is truly an adventurer.
And what we're looking for in explorersis that talent and depth of knowledge
(12:03):
and experience,but also that sort of wonder
and awe that, reallywant to be out there in the world
and talking to peopleand educating, right?
So not just talking to other scientists,which is important,
but can't be everythingbecause National Geographic,
as I mentioned before,our superpower is taking that science
and really sharing it with the world in away that we can engage a lot more people.
(12:25):
So I'd say, you know, the work
that Baker has donehere is been a great example of that.
I couldn't agree more.
Have you
had a chance to meet one of my heroes, Dr.
Jane Goodall.
I have had a chance to meet Jane.
She is amazing.
I started my job during the pandemic,
so a lot of my opportunities to meetour explorers was delayed.
(12:48):
But in 2022, a little over a year ago,I had the great opportunity.
We have an exhibit that's been traveling
the country called Becoming Jane,and it's about Jane's journey.
We started in it debuted in the societyin our headquarters in Washington, DC and
it has now been traveling around the countryand then we'll do even around the world.
And so after the pandemic,it reopened in L.A.
(13:11):
and I got a chance to spend time with Janeand tour it and spend some private time
with her as well.
And she is an amazing forceand we're so proud.
We were the first to fund her through hermentor, Louis Leakey,
in Gombe way backwhen and her work with the chimpanzees.
And I've just you know,she is a wonder and how her energy
(13:32):
and what she manages to do today,the number of talks
she's given, the placesshe travels, she's truly an inspiration.
Yeah, she is certainly a she-ro of mine.
We were under contractto have Jane come to campus
and then the pandemic struck
and she was going to come to western
North Carolina and they were going to havemultiple stops.
(13:52):
And she ended updoing a virtual event with us.
Oh, yeah.
She's she's really gotten amazingly goodat that during the pandemic because she
was determined to keep her workmoving forward during the pandemic.
And she did. And
we had kindof like what we're going to do tonight.
We had studentsthat were able to interview her
on her zoom, and she wasjust a force to be reckoned with.
(14:15):
And she's funny and humble.
Yeah, I've gotten to watch her withlittle ones, you know, grade school kids.
And it's magicalto watch her with them, too.
That's when, you know,you really see greatness.
When someone who can resonate with peoplewho have known and watched her since her
earliest work, to little kidsand teenagers and everybody in between.
(14:36):
I've had so many young women tell me thathow inspired they are by Jane.
Her Roots and Shootsprogram is so important to her and.
Absolutely.
they really focus a lot of their attentionon supporting that all around the world.
Yeah, you know,I think that's one of the things
that is true of so many of our explorers.
And Jane is a great example of that.Bob Ballard,
who's the famous oceanographerwho found the Titanic.
(14:58):
He has a big education program.
He works with us as well as Sylvia Earle,
Her Deepness, who also has her hope spot.
And she really iscommitted to education through that.
I think everybody realizesthat we can't do this on our own.
And one of the best ways you can galvanizeothers
is to get that next generationexcited about the work.
(15:19):
We were invited to a fundraiser in Atlantabecause her team wanted to meet us to,
you know, kind of test the waters with us.
And I was able to watch her work the roombecause it was a fundraising event.
And she was just tirelessand she stayed and shook
hands with everyone who wanted to meet herand took pictures.
And it was just so amazing to see
even towards the endwhen people are sitting down,
(15:41):
they were tired and she was just still upand, you know, fundraising.
And it was it was just incredibleto be around her spirit.
So congratulations on
being the first woman to serveas CEO of the National Geographic Society.
Thank you. It'sclearly been a long time coming.
I know National Geographic has featurednumerous women over the years
who have contributed to NationalGeographic's mission of sparking
(16:04):
curiosity, empoweringexploration and inspiring change.
Is there another woman whose workis particularly inspiring to you?
Well, I mentioned two of our incrediblewomen, Jane and Sylvia Earle.
But in addition to that,you know, there's Louise Leakey,
who's the third generationof the Leakey family who is now working in
(16:27):
Kenya and just doing amazing discoveriesfor paleoanthropology
and then some amazing young women,Paula Kahumbu,
who is a Kenyan and is just tirelessly
working for the protection of elephantson the African continent.
She recently was featuredin our National Geographic
series on DisneyPlus called Secrets of the Elephants,
(16:49):
which was produced by explorerat large James Cameron.
And it is so inspiring.
But Paula's also donea series called Wildlife Warriors,
which is for Africans to really get peopleright
there living next to elephants every dayto care and love these animals
because they're the ones, you know,
where the conflict happensand the difficulty happens
(17:10):
and to really get kidsto fall in love with them.
So I'm so inspired by Paula.
And then I have to
mention Tara Roberts, who's one of ourwas our Explorer of the Year last year
in 2022.
And she is a storyteller.
And she...her mission became...
she went to the African-Americanhistory Museum and saw the Divers
(17:31):
With a Purpose work who are diving
scientists and historians and otherswho are diving to understand
and uncoverthe mysteries of those enslaved Africans
who died during shipwrecksin the transatlantic slave trade.
And she, determinedto tell their story, went out and learned to
dive became an expert diver.
(17:51):
And then she just tellsthe most beautiful stories
about this projectin her podcast Into the Depths.
And then last year she becamethe first black woman explored appear
on the cover of National Geographicmagazine again to long coming.
But to see her in her dive suit
and truly a badass, she's amazing.
And we're excited about the projectsthat she has to come in that area as well.
(18:15):
Yeah, I remember that.
I have that issue. It's a great issue.
The National Geographic Societyhas a long and storied history.
What can you share with usabout your organization's future?
A lot of exciting things happening.
We have a new strategic plan “NG Next”
that I helped to developwith the community
when I arrived a couple of years agoat National Geographic.
(18:36):
And the big focus of our strategic planis, you know, doubling down on the support
for our explorers.
We truly believe thatwhen our work is explorer led
and they bring us their best ideas,we will achieve the most we can.
So we are increasingfunding for explorers, but also,
maybe even more importantly,increasing opportunities
(18:56):
for career development,for collaborative work across explorers,
and for amplification on our mediaplatforms and with our partners
at Disney to get their work out even more.
We're also really excitedabout a big renovation of our base camp in
Washington, DC that's now underwayand will be a couple of years.
But we're quadrupling our public spaceand going to include
(19:18):
so many new opportunities,including a public archives experience
and an amazing education center
for kids and families to visitwhen they come to National Geographic
to learn, of course, moreabout our work of our explorers
taking that geographic approachto understanding our world.
Well, I can't wait to visit.
Yeah, I can't wait to have you.
My favorite thingabout the National Geographic Society
(19:39):
is your phenomenal abilityto tell stories.
Is there a story that you would liketo leave us with today?
That's a good question...or another story?
I know, so many stories.
Let me think.
Well, you know,I think I'll just tell a story
maybe of some of our history,because I think it's fun to think
about all these amazing thingsthat we've done.
(20:01):
But National Geographicwas founded in 1888 by 33
gentlemen who came together.You see these pictures of them
all standing around in the Cosmos Clubin Washington, DC,
and they were determined to increaseand diffuse geographic knowledge.
Through the historybecause of amazing leadership.
(20:23):
Alexander Graham Bellsat in my seat at one time.
He was the head of the society,for example, and he even expanded
our mission more and said,we cover the world and all that's in it.
And the idea of really moving away frombeing that original scientific journal
that people had imagined and figuring outhow to talk about the world
(20:43):
to broader audiencesand to take science and complicated
facts and ideas and present them in a waythat can engage everybody.
And I think that's what's so inspiringabout our work, because that's given us
a platform,I think, where the brand is so strong,
so recognized, and it's bipartisanand it's loved by so many
(21:06):
and so I think that the story of thatfounding of
being focused on explorationbut also sharing it
is something...a story that we try to liveand be true to every day
now as we leverage
all the important work that our explorersare doing around the world.
It's almost likeit was Life magazine for the Earth, but
(21:28):
they probably influenced Life magazinebecause they came before Life magazine.
And it's funny because I'm going to talktonight about the controversy that started
in the early 20th century when photosstarted to show up in the magazine.
Right?
Because originally
one of the board members quit becausehe thought it dumbed down the magazine.
And if you think aboutwhat National Geographic is so known for
(21:48):
it’s not just the great narrativeand the science, but of course, the images
that, as we talked about earlier, reallytransported you to another place, a place
that you could never go in the pastbut many of us can't go to today.
And so the beautiful imageryand the awe and wonder
and empathy that, you know,I think that inspires for our world.
(22:09):
Well, Dr.
Tiefenthaler,thank you so much for coming today
to campus to my podcastFind Your Sustain Ability.
And it's just a pleasure having you here.
It's great to be here with you, Lee.
Thank you for inviting me.
Find Your Sustain Ability is a productionof the University Communications
Department and Appalachian State.
(22:30):
It's hosted by Appalachian ChiefSustainability Officer Lee Ball.
For more informationabout Appalachian State sustainability,
check out sustain.appstate.edu.For more podcasts, videos
and articles related to Appalachian State,check out
today.appstate.edu
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