Explore With RWD

Come along with natural world photographer Roger W. Downes as he explores and shares the stories of new places, people, causes, wildlife, and cultures.

Episodes

Careers With The Department of Natural Resources

July 27, 2022 • 34 mins

Discover what a career as a wildlife investigator is like as Roger chats with Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Investigator Jason Hadsell about what a routine day is like.

Meanwhile, explore Roger's photography at www.wncphotoart.com.

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Explore The Flowering Bridge of Lake Lure, North Carolina

July 13, 2022 • 29 mins

Come explore the Flowering Bridge of Lake Lure in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. A beautiful botanical garden offering a variety of activities for the entire family.

Visit Online: www.LakeLureFloweringBridge.org

Directions To Garden: https://goo.gl/maps/jYThrjAz97aSqCY9A

View Roger's Photography: www.wncphotoart.com

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Discover The Largest Owl In The World The Eurasian Eagle Owl

July 6, 2022 • 31 mins

Join natural world photographer Roger W. Downes as he chats with Palm Beach Zoo Animal Care Supervisor Callie Carpenter about the largest owl in the world, The Eurasian Eagle Owl.

Learn more about the Palm Beach Zoo: www.palmbeachzoo.org

Shop Natural World Prints: www.wncphotoart.com

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Explore The World of The Sea Otter

March 4, 2022 • 26 mins

One of the most adorable animals in the natural world is the Sea Otter. However, their role in the Pacific Ocean's ecosystem is much more important than what you may know. Join us as we learn about these adorable floating bundles of cuteness with the President and CEO of the Sea Otter Foundation and Trust, Diane Tomecek.

Show Links:

Sea Otter Foundation & Trust
https://seaotterfoundationtrust.org/

Sea Otter Walking On Land Video
https...

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Discover The Rare White Squirrels of The Blue Ridge Mountains

February 23, 2022 • 28 mins

Come discover the rare white squirrels of Brevard, North Carolina. Director of the White Squirrel Institute Katy Rosenbrg shares some fascinating facts about this rare breed, including a somewhat disturbing fact surrounding their diet.

PODCAST LINKS:

White Squirrel Institute
https://whitesquirrelinstitute.org/

Visit Brevard, North Carolina
https://explorebrevard.com/

Roger W. Downes Photography
http://www.rogerwdownesphotography.com
IG:...

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A Deep Dive Into The Grand Canyon

February 16, 2022 • 31 mins

Come truly explore the Grand Canyon's secret fauna, flora, cultures, and history with the Grand Canyon Conservancy's Director of Marketing and Communications Mindy Riesenberg. Mindy will chat about the secret places to hike, the wildly colored wildlife only found in the canyon, the steps being taken by the National Park and Conservancy to help the eleven Native American Tribes surrounding the Canyon, and much more.

Grand Canyon Con...

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The Fascinating World of the Manatee

February 9, 2022 • 37 mins

When European Sailors first came to America they swore they saw mermaids, but these were actually manatees. Now centuries later these gentle giants of the ocean are in real danger. Join natural world photographer and journalist Roger W. Downes as he discovers everything manatee with Save The Manatee Club Manatee Biologist Tiare Fridrich.

You'll be surprised which land mammal manatees are closest related to, plus the amazing plac...

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Whitewater Rafting - What To Know Before You Go

February 2, 2022 • 43 mins

Looking for an outdoor adventure for the entire family? Try whitewater rafting in the Nantahala National Forest of Western North Carolina. Learn what you need to know before you go as Roger chats with Nantahala Outdoor Center Director of Outpost Operations Steven Foy about the basics of navigating your first whitewater adventure.

Links:

Nantahala Outdoor Center
https://noc.com/

River Levels
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Ri...

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Hiking and Camping a Mile In The Sky; Grandfather Mountain

January 2, 2022 • 34 mins

Gratherfather Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina holds a variety of opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast to families wishing to take in amazing mountainous views. Join Natural World Photographer Roger W. Downes as he discovers all that Grandfather Mountain offers with the Director of Education and Natural Resources of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, John Caveny.
Purchase tickets for ...

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Help Save Wildlife At The North Carolina Zoo

August 23, 2021 • 56 mins

Want to help save an endangered species and preserve wildlife on the planet? Then make a trip to the North Carolina Zoo (nczoo.org), because each time you purchase a ticket the proceeds go toward conservation efforts to save endangered species and habitats.
How exactly is that money spent and on which projects? We chat with North Carolina Zoo Public Relations Officer Debbie Foster-Fuchs and Curator of Herpetology Dustin Smith in...

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The Linville Gorge Wilderness: What You Need To Know

May 23, 2021 • 20 mins

The Linville Gorge Wilderness in the Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina is an adventurous location with breathtaking views, fauna, and flora. However, before you venture out onto the trails, there are a few things you need to know. Trekking the Wilderness isn't a walk in the park but it's certainly worth the effort.
Recreation and Trails Program Manager of The Pisgah National Forest Grandfather Ranger District, Lisa ...

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Maintaining A Roadway of Adventure, The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

February 8, 2021 • 44 mins

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular National Parks in the United States with over 16 million visitors each year (a number which triumphs the annual number of visitors to Yellow Stone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon combined). Running from Cherokee, North Carolina to Roanoke, Virginia connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park.
Join us in Episode 18, as we talk with Chief Executive...

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Explore The Stars From PARI

January 24, 2021 • 43 mins

New stars and galaxies are being discovered and researched from deep within the Pisgah National Forest at P.A.R.I. (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute). This 200 plus acre facility helps to make new discoveries which will take us into the stars, while offering educational camps for those wanting to learn more about what is beyond our world. We chat with P.A.R.I.'s Educational Director Melanie Crowson in this episode of Explor...

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How To Bring A Family Together Cheaply

January 12, 2021 • 22 mins

One of the cheapest ways to bring a family together is an afternoon hiking, fishing, or swimming in the National and State Forests and Parks throughout our nation. In Episode 15, Roger shares his story of how an outing with his father in the outdoors helped him to heal their relationship.
Visit us online: http://www.explorewithrwd.com

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This episode is sponsored by
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Saving The Waterfalls You Love

January 4, 2021 • 36 mins

Many of us love to visit waterfalls in our national and state parks and forests. However, a lot of us are not educated enough to avoid being seriously hurt or damaging the delicate ecosystem at each waterfalls they visit. That doesn't have to be the case, join us as we chat with Executive Director of Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina, Kevin Adams on waterfall safety, etiquette, and stewardship.
Learn more: https://www.waterf...

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Movies Filmed In Western North Carolina

December 28, 2020 • 46 mins

Eric Hurley shares his experiences on location as a motion picture extra in The Last of the Mohicans which was shot in the DuPont State Recreational Forest and Chimney Rock State Forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.
Discover other stories from Western North Carolina at www.explorewithrwd.com.

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This episode is sponsored by
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Protecting Pisgah, The Pisgah Conservancy Story

December 19, 2020 • 35 mins

The Pisgah National Forest is an amazing resource in Western North Carolina covering 500,000 square acres just 22,000 acres shy of the neighboring Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But until recently Pisgah didn't have a specific conservancy group working diligently to maintain the forest and her trail like the Smokies. But now, thanks to founder John Cottingham, The Pisgah Conservancy has been born.
John joins us in this episod...

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The Ministry Disguised As A Feed Store

December 13, 2020 • 47 mins

Tony and Terri Fisher operate the Candler Feed And Seed Store on Smoky Park Highway in Candler, North Carolina...
But their store is so much more than pet, garden and farm supplies; they truly operate a ministry out of the store which is always filled with laughter and joy... even on the Christmas Eve night that they sent Santa to jail.
I chat with Tony and Terri about having Santa arrested, how they met in an untraditional fashion...

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Tragedy In The DuPont State Forest

December 4, 2020 • 88 mins

Deep inside the DuPont State Recreational Forest is hidden stories of family tragedy, forgotten places and community unity through it all.
Western North Carolina Author and Historian Patty Stahl shares these amazing stories in this episode of Explore with RWD.

Visit the Friends of the DuPont State Recreational Forest online.

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How The DuPont State Forest Was Born

November 27, 2020 • 63 mins

Each National and State Forest or Park has its own unique history of how it was created. However, the story of the DuPont State Forest is lined in kindness and some outrage together. In this episode we chat with DuPort Forest : A History author Danny Bernstein on how the forest that so many love with it's eight waterfalls, multiple lakes and miles of trails came to be.
Purchase DuPont Forest : A History
Visit The DuPont State Fores...

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Explore With RWD

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Careers With The Department of Natural Resources

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Explore The Flowering Bridge of Lake Lure, North Carolina

Discover The Largest Owl In The World The Eurasian Eagle Owl

Explore The World of The Sea Otter

Discover The Rare White Squirrels of The Blue Ridge Mountains

A Deep Dive Into The Grand Canyon

The Fascinating World of the Manatee

Whitewater Rafting - What To Know Before You Go

Hiking and Camping a Mile In The Sky; Grandfather Mountain

Help Save Wildlife At The North Carolina Zoo

The Linville Gorge Wilderness: What You Need To Know

Maintaining A Roadway of Adventure, The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

Explore The Stars From PARI

How To Bring A Family Together Cheaply

Saving The Waterfalls You Love

Movies Filmed In Western North Carolina

Protecting Pisgah, The Pisgah Conservancy Story

The Ministry Disguised As A Feed Store

Tragedy In The DuPont State Forest

How The DuPont State Forest Was Born

Popular Podcasts

Careers With The Department of Natural Resources

Explore The Flowering Bridge of Lake Lure, North Carolina