What’s Up, Interpreters? A Podcast from the National Association for Interpretation
National Association for Interpretation
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Twice a month, the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) brings you conversations with innovators, leaders, movers, and shakers in the field of heritage interpretation.
Available episodes
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4 days ago
Interpretive Planning with Halley Fehner and Scott Vierick
Join seasoned experts in interpretive planning, Halley Fehner and Scott Vierick, as they unravel the intricacies and importance of this process. Halley and Scott highlight the essence of interpretive planning, discussing its role in reevaluating program goals, themes, and future strategies, often spanning several years. They also delve into the challenges of navigating sensitive historical contexts. Tune in for this dynamic conversation hosted by Heather Manier and Song Stott.
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Nov 16, 2023
Live from NAI 2023 in Little Rock, Arkansas!
The 2023 NAI National Conference, "Building Bridges," took place in Little Rock, Arkansas, took place last week, November 7-11. This episode features a series of visits with conference participants who share their conference experience!
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Nov 2, 2023
Ian Beard, Education Director, Historic Arkansas Museum
Ian Beard brings history to life at the Historic Arkansas Museum, where his passion for trades like smithing, printing, cooking, and brewing merge with his skills as an interpreter. If you're heading to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the NAI National Conference this month, you can meet Ian and hear his stories in person at the opening reception—or you can head to the museum, just blocks from the conference hotel!
He joins hosts Paul Caputo and Song Stott on the podcast this week.
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Oct 19, 2023
Budd Wentz, World Traveler, Inventor, Interpretive Microscope Entrepreneur
Budd Wentz is a former creative consultant for the Mr. Wizard television show and a world traveler. He has degrees in mechanical engineering and law, and his childhood passion for building things led him to create the microscope company Wentzcope, a longtime NAI commercial member responsible for optical devices that have appeared in thousands of museums. He joins NAI’s Heather Manier and Paul Caputo to discuss his involvement in interpretation—and the story of Willie the cat, who has appeared in Wentzscope ads since 1988.
Wentzscope is online at wentzscope.com.
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Oct 5, 2023
Interpreting Beer with Ira Bletz
It's Oktoberfest on "What's Up, Interpreters"! NAI Board Member Ira Bletz, recently retired from East Bay Regional Park District, has made a name for himself as "Beer Guy" at NAI conferences for more than a decade. His special event, which tells the story of human civilization through the context of beer, is always a hit at the annual event. Ira joins NAI's Paul Caputo and Song Stott for this episode.
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Sep 21, 2023
Spirit Tawfiq, Creative Antiracism Educator and Director, Roots of the Spirit
Spirit Tawfiq is the closing keynote speaker at NAI 2023 in Little Rock. Spirit has an interpretive background and uses her skillset in now hosting anti-racism workshops in k-12 classrooms, colleges and organizations who are invested in learning, unlearning, and enacting antiracism policies and practices within their respective communities. She joins hosts Song Stott and Paul Caputo to discuss her work on this episode.
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Sep 7, 2023
Cris White, Eclipse Coordinator, Earth to Sky
There will be two solar eclipses visible from the contiguous United States and beyond in the next few years. Cris White’s job is to help interpreters prepare to interpret these unique astonomical events. She joins NAI’s Heather Manier and Amanda Berlinski to discuss her work.
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Aug 24, 2023
Sam H. Ham, Professor Emeritus of Communication Psychology & Conservation Social Sciences
Sam H. Ham is a professor emeritus of communication psychology and conservation social sciences at the University of Idaho. He became a household name for interpreters with his book Environmental Interpretation: A Practical Guide for People with Big Ideas and Small Budgets, which was published in four languages, and more recently, Interpretation: Making a Difference on Purpose. Sam talks with Paul Caputo and Song Stott about the science of communication, his TORE model, and a little bit of baseball.
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Aug 10, 2023
Ronny Alexander Muñoz Blanco, Certified Tour Guide and Travel Director
Ronny Alexander Muñoz Blanco is a professional tour guide in Costa Rica, and served in that role for one particularly daunting audience: NAI's recent International Un-Conference. Ronny joins NAI's Paul Caputo and Song Stott to discuss that event, the challenges of interpreting in multiple settings for international visitors, and the Pura Vida lifestyle.
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Jul 27, 2023
Ahmad Toure, Chief of Interpretation at Virgin Islands National Park
Ahmad Toure has worked for the National Park Service for more than a decade, striving to share important, and most importantly complete stories. On this episode, he discusses that work and his Tilden Award-nominated project with hosts Paul Caputo and Song Stott.
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Jul 13, 2023
Larry Beck, Noted Author and Interpretation Luminary
Larry Beck's scholarship has had an immense effect on the field of interpretation. He is the author or co-author of such notable titles as Interpretation of Cultural and Natural Resources, Interpretive Perspectives, and Gifts of Interpretation: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture, as well as a now 26-part series in Legacy magazine, called "Justice for All." Recently retired after a 43-year career as a professor at San Diego State University, Larry joins hosts Paul Caputo and Song Stott to talk about the past, present, and future of interpretation.
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Jun 29, 2023
Katie Hemann and Grace Teofilo, NAI Young Professionals Council
NAI's Young Professionals Council (YPC) was established to help represent the perspective of new interpreters. Katie Hemann and Grace Teofilo talk about the challenges and opportunities facing interpreters just getting started. This episode is hosted by NAI’s Heather Manier and Emily McCowan.
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Jun 15, 2023
Lucien Meadows, Legacy Magazine Editor
Longtime NAI member, former NAI Conference Chair, and new editor of Legacy Magazine joins hosts Paul Caputo and Song Stott to discuss the future of NAI's premier periodical.
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Jun 1, 2023
Parker McMullen Bushman, NAI President
The debut episode of NAI's podcast welcomes association president Parker McMullen Bushman, who joins hosts Song Stott and Paul Caputo during NAI's International Un-Conference in Costa Rica. Parker shares her story, her perspective on interpretation, and her vision for her tenure as NAI President.
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May 17, 2023
What’s Up, Interpreters? A Trailer
Big things are afoot at NAI, and we're bringing you this podcast to chat about them! We'll talk with movers and shakers and innovators and leaders in the field of interpretation and we'll ask them all, "What's Up, Interpreters?!"
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