What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National Association for Interpretation

What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National Association for Interpretation

Twice a month, the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) brings you conversations with innovators, leaders, movers, and shakers in the field of heritage interpretation.

Episodes

July 3, 2025 28 mins

Storytelling, recordings, and live musical performances provide historical context and universal themes of resistance, struggle, creative self-expression, and freedom with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Rangers Karen Armagost and Jade Perdue share the story with NAI's Song Stott and Paul Caputo.

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Emily Agricola Holtrop of the Cincinnati Art Museum discusses the role of interpretation interpreting art. This episode delves into managing a team of more than 60 volunteers and navigating a turbulent climate, among much else. Emily joins NAI's Heather Manier and Madison Hyatt.

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June 5, 2025 53 mins

Ride along with interpreters who participated in NAI's international un-conference in Morocco, from the streets of Marrakech to the High Atlas Mountains to the Sahara Desert! NAI's Paul Caputo checks in with participants over the course of six days from NAI's first event on the African continent.

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In this episode, we speak with Charlotte Giraudo, Interpretation Program Manager at the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). As the steward of 57 overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials, ABMC honors the service, achievements, and sacrifice of U.S. armed forces. Charlotte shares the profound responsibility of interpreting these global sites, how ABMC utilizes NAI’s professional development programs to strengthen thei...

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Jim Buchholz, director of the Schmeeckle Reserve at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, joins to discuss interpretive planning, exhibit design, and his popular recurring NAI Conference session, the Wayside Olympics. He is the co-author of several publications, most notably Signs, Trails, And Wayside Exhibits: Connecting People And Places, part of the Interpreter's Handbook Series. Jim has served as a volunteer naturalist, wa...

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April 25, 2025 24 mins

ZooTampa applies behavioral research to develop interpretive programs co-led by Guest Engagement Guides and Animal Care Staff. Shelly Drummond and Kerry Gray discuss with Song Stott and Paul Caputo how the process improves guest experiences.

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Howard Aprill has had a storied career as a park naturalist with Wehr Nature Center in Milwaukee. He shares insights gleaned from nearly 30 years in the field, not to mention a lifetime in a family of interpretation royalty, with Heather Manier and Paul Caputo.

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March 27, 2025 23 mins

Griffin Bray, Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota Extension, is a member of NAI's Young Professionals Council who employs dialogic interpretation in nature guiding. He joins to discuss with NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo.

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Dan Jenkins is just two years into his career with Cleveland Metroparks, but he's making his mark with an ambitious webcam program, presenting a session at his first NAI Conference, and winning NAI's annual 5K fun run. Dan joins NAI's Paul Caputo and Song Stott.

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Join Paul and Song with guest Jennifer Chapman, Education Manager with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, as she discusses front-line interpreter daily warm-up exercises and general interpretation within Epcot Animal Experiences at Walt Disney World Resort.

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Newly elected NAI Board member Nathan Taxel, Interpretive Programs Curator with OC Parks, discusses the role interpretation plays in building community at the NAI regional level, in the profession as a whole, and in our larger communities. Nathan joins NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo to chat about his goals for his first term on the NAI Board.

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Jacquie Gilson (she/her) has been involved in the interpretation profession for over 45 years as an interpreter, manager, and researcher. She has worked for municipal, provincial, national, and not-for-profit park and heritage organizations. In 2015, she completed her Doctor of Social Sciences degree after studying inspiration in interpretation for her dissertation. In 2020, Jacquie retired after 8 years as the Interpretation Coord...

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January 16, 2025 29 mins

What role does interpretation play in helping state parks achieve their goals and serve visitors? Emily Jacobs of Washington State Parks and Rob Barrett of Tennessee State Parks join NAI's Song Stott and Paul Caputo to discuss.

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January 2, 2025 27 mins

NAI staff members Madison Hyatt, Song Stott, Heather Manier, and Paul Caputo recap 2024 and look forward to what's to come in 2025.

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The sold-out NAI 2024 conference brought interpreters from around the world to St. Augustine, Florida. NAI's Heather Manier and Emily McCowan spoke with participants and exhibitors during the event.

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It's Thanksgiving Day and we're thankful that Margo Carlock was the executive director for NAI from 2013 to 2020. Margo returns to chat about interpretation, retired life, and her dog Lucky with NAI's Song Stott and Paul Caputo.

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Jim Peters and his son John have been involved in the industry of interpretive graphics since before there were computers to help them complete projects as far away as Saudi Arabia. They join NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo to talk about their decades of work with their companies Interpretive Graphics and Envirosigns, and how the field has changed (or not) in all those years.

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October 31, 2024 34 mins

Kathryn Leann Harris is the Founder & CEO of Interpreting Sports, LLC, which aims to re-center the international sports conversation around empathy, balanced humanity, and authentic connection. Kathryn Leann joins NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo.

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October 17, 2024 23 mins

Volunteers play a critical role at interpretive sites, but until now, NAI has never had a community dedicated to enhancing the skills and experience of interpretive volunteers. On this episode, NAI's Heather Manier and Song Stott chat with Shawna Skinner and Shaunna Costicov-McCombe, the director and deputy director of NAI's brand-new Volunteer Section.

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Cyark uses 3D modeling to provide access to heritage sites around the world, creating virtual experiences for web and mobile as well as immersive experiences for a variety of virtual reality platforms. Cyark Chairman John Ristevski and Vice President of Programs and Development Elizabeth Lee join to discuss the work they do with NAI's Heather Manier and Paul Caputo.

Cyark is an NAI commercial member and the platinum sponsor for the...

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