Q: Hey, Dave Schlom. Welcome to A News Cafe.com. It’s nice to talk with you again. You never fail to keep us abreast of such interesting information.
But you’ve created something new, free for the public. Do tell.
Thank you. Always enjoy sharing cool stuff with you and your audience.
Then and Now is an audio road guide to the 16 numbered stops along the Lassen Volcanic National Park road, Highway 89. Visitors can download it for free and then play it on their devices while traveling through the park. It focuses on the natural and human history as we celebrate the park’s centennial — hence the title “Then and Now.”
As far as we know, this is the first of its kind in the National Park System.
Q: Impressive. That’s quite a distinction. What led to the creation of this program?
This project was the brainchild of Amanda Sweeney of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Working with her was a lot of fun. We worked together on Sunday mornings via Google Docs. She is a very talented writer and editor. We started with some rough drafts and together, crafted them into broadcast quality scripts. She is the real hero in this project. Along with Matt Shilts from NSPR, he did the engineering and sound editing. I helped write, edit and of course, did the voice work.
Q: So, what was the process like?
I am so glad you asked that! The writing and editing took us several Sundays in late winter. We recorded the sessions at the NSPR studios in Chico and kudos to Beth Lamberson, the new station manager, for that. She is very dedicated to having the station work with worthwhile partners and the National Park Service, in its centennial year is a perfect example.
Recording. Yes. That was mentally grueling. We did all 16 pieces in a 2.5-hour session. Unlike a radio performance, this is something where you can’t make any kind of aural miscue. No “err” or “ummm” which I struggle with a bit when just speaking. And you can’t sound like you are reading aloud (though you are) you have to perform it. I want it to sound like I am just talking to you about what you are seeing and hopefully, it comes across that way.
Plus I had allergy induced gunk throat. Let’s just say I wasn’t “one take Dave” that day. Hot tea really helped in the end.
Q: “Gunk throat”. So that’s what that’s called! See, that’s what I love about print: Gunk throat won’t get in the way of story-telling.
Seriously, though, the process does sound tedious. How did you select what to feature, and was it difficult to limit it to a specific number of clips?
The road guide is based on the existing road guide that contains 16 numbered stops along the Park Highway. So that was predetermined. But what exactly to say about each one? That was the challenge, and that’s where park staff members really stepped up and suggested historical and natural features that could be discussed. The park is one of the oldest in the National Park Service, and has a rich history, so we wanted to incorporate that into each stop.
I also envision that this can be an evolving presentation, and we will likely update it in the future. Things change in the park on time scales from moments to millennia. Sulphur Works is a prime example. It has changed dramatically in the past few years with a fumarole and boiling mud pool that is migrating toward and under Highway 89.
Q: Any surprises; information you hadn’t known?
Gosh, there were so many interesting stories I learned. One of my favorites was one that Amanda Sweeney dug up about 1931. They planned to celebrate the opening of the new highway by putting on a pyrotechnical display on top of the peak while National Park Service Director Horace Albright and lots of dignitaries made speeches in the area around Kings Creek Meadows. It was supposed to simulate Lassen erupting. I can’t imagine anything like that being done today, but those were different times. Well, the display was a fizzle and the wind blew the smoke away from the peak so nothing dramatic was seen. I just found that hilariously informative. I am sure that there was a bit of harrumphing but I like to imagine Superintendent Albright (who was one of the formative leaders of the NPS) saying something like, “…well these things happen. Or in this case…don’t,” and getting a chuckle out of the whole thing.
But each stop has it’s own interesting tale. You’ll have to listen!
Q: Really, I can’t wait. So, let’s say I’m taking a drive and I want to hear these audios. Can you walk me through what I need to do?
Well the key thing is, because of the limited wifi up at the park, is you want to download this at home. You can download it at the Kohm-yah-mah-nee Visitor Center but doing it in advance at home would be best. Just go to the park website here. You can also download it on iTunes or any podcast manager.
Put it on your phone or tablet or put it on a memory stick if your car has a USB port. The easiest way is to just put it on your smartphone and then play it through your car’s audio system for the best sound quality. You could also burn them onto a CD using your computer and play them that way. Once you get up to the park — just select the stop that you are at. For example, if you were coming in from Redding on Highway 44 you would play them in reverse order — starting with stops 16 or 15 and working your way through the park until reaching the Kohm-yah-mah-nee Visitor Center on the Southwest side of the park. Or you can just stop at whatever interests you and play that numbered file.
Q: Dave, I know I’ve told you this before, but you really are a guy of many talents, one of which is that you have a voice born for radio, the perfect companion for your radio shows. Can you tell us a bit about your shows, and any about which you’re particular proud?
Thank you. I think like anyone else, you probably enjoy listening to me more than I do. Amanda asked me if I had listened to all the files and was kind of taken back when I told her, “no.” I listened to just a bit of a couple to make sure the quality was good and that was it. I recorded them so I know what they say! My hope is that visitors enjoy them and that’s all that matters to me. Personally, my favorite voice on NSPR belongs to morning host Sarah Bohannon. That young woman has a beautiful voice that just sounds like, I don’t know, a crystal clear mountain stream. Her voice always makes me feel better — which isn’t easy because I am not a morning person!
As far as the new Blue Dot goes — that’s a bit like asking who your favorite kid is. But I personally really enjoyed our programs about earthquakes. The San Andreas Fault and Cascadia Rising episodes featuring USGS scientist Ken Hudnut were just fascinating to me. Whenever I fly from Sacramento to Los Angeles, I always sit on the west side of the plane so I can see the fault out on the Carrizo Plain. I also love getting to talk to some of my favorite people on YouTube, like Dianna Cowern (Physics Girl) and Phil Plait (the Bad Astronomer). Our show on Dark Skies in The National Parks with Tyler Nordgren was also really cool even though I made a mistake by calling it “Mount Lassen” even though I know it is actually “Lassen Peak.”
As you may know, my collaborator Matt Shilts, an incredibly talented guy who wrote the theme for Blue Dot, is leaving the station to pursue big things in New York. I am really going to miss him. But the show must go on. Or so they tell me. You can always podcast the show here.
And of course it is on iTunes!
I want the show to keep evolving, and would like to find a young co-host who will interact with me and the guests. The goal for Blue Dot is to make it informative and science based but not get too stuffy or serious. One of my favorite things about Bill Nye (also a former guest) is that he brings humor with him into his discussions about scientific topics. Some scientists are gifted communicators and fun to talk to like Sean Carroll while others are not as comfortable just talking to someone about their work. Finding the good communicators is the key. Anyway, along with our sister show Cultivating Place with Jennifer Jewell, I think we have two very high quality locally produced radio programs.
Q: Dave, you covered so much in that last answer. First, no, I didn’t know Matt Shilts was leaving for New York, but I’m not surprised. As you said, he’s a talented guy.
Second, I agree with you about Sarah Bohannon. Beautiful voice.
Third, don’t beat yourself up for calling it Mount Lassen. Luckily for me I had an editor (hello, Greg Clark), who was a stickler about using the correct term, “Lassen Peak” – as well as other things, like never, ever referring to snow as “the white stuff”.
And Jennifer Jewell! We love her. We miss her columns on A News Cafe.com, but it’s nice we can still follow her on NSPR.
Finally, I have listened to all the shows you mentioned, and I have to say, I especially enjoyed the The San Andreas Fault and Cascadia Rising episodes. Kind of scary, but super interesting.
Actually, all your programs are just chalk full of super information. I always learn something, and when you have guests, you ask great questions.
As an aside, can I tell you a secret, Dave? When I first heard your Blue Dot show, it was such a high-caliber program I assumed you were some high-dollar syndicated guy, broadcast here locally. I hope NSPR realizes what a huge asset you are to the station and the north state, because I certainly do. I hope you won’t be running off to New York, too.
OK, I’ll let you stop blushing now. Thanks so much, Dave, for taking time to share this terrific new program with us. You and Amanda put a lot of work into it, and I know park visitors will appreciate it.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Yes. Go to a National Park this summer, and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park System. We have some awesome places you can reach within a few hours: Crater Lake, Point Reyes, Redwoods, Lava Beds and of course, Lassen Volcanic! And if you do, download the audio tour and enjoy it.
Even better, park, get out of your car and go for a walk. You don’t have to do a major hike (although there are lots of great hikes in the park from easy to strenuous), just get out and go for a bit of a stroll and find your own little place of peace and quiet. I have a lot of favorite places to do this along the park road which I will keep to myself (sorry — go find your own!), places where I can park, there is no trail, I just walk about 20 minutes and then the magic of nature always makes me feel better.
That’s great advice, Dave. Thank you. I’ll private message you so you can share a short list of your favorite, off-trail places. Until then, I’ll listen for you on the Blue Dot.
