Exploring the National Parks

Ash and John run Dirt In My Shoes, and their podcast Exploring the National Parks has become the go-to audio guide for anyone planning a park visit or just daydreaming about one from the couch. With 138 episodes, a 4.8-star rating, and over 600 reviews, this show has earned a seriously loyal following. Each episode typically focuses on a single national park, and they go deep. Not just the big attractions everyone already knows about, but the trails that are worth the extra effort, the wildlife viewing spots that most visitors walk right past, and the campground that is actually quiet at night. They share personal trip reports alongside practical planning tips like the best time of year to visit, how to handle permit systems, and which park roads close seasonally. One listener summed it up well: they said listening to the podcast felt almost like they had already been to the park before even showing up. The tone sits in a sweet spot between informative and genuinely fun. Ash clearly gets excited about geology and park history, and John balances things out with the practical side of trip logistics. Episodes run between 40 minutes and just over an hour, which makes them ideal for that last stretch of highway before you hit the park entrance. They publish weekly, with new episodes still dropping in February 2026. If your road trip involves any national park stop, this podcast should be queued up before you leave the driveway.