National Park After Dark

Audioboom Studios

Hosted by two friends who share a passion for the outdoors and a fascination with what can go wrong there, National Park After Dark is a podcast for the morbid outdoor enthusiast. Tales of death, dark history and tragic events is what NPAD is about, but through the darkness - is light. National Parks have storied histories including epic survivals, inspiring humans and serve as physical reminders of the importance for protecting the planet. Time to lace up those hiking boots and take a walk into the wild. Welcome, to National Park After Dark.

  • 1 hour 57 minutes
    285: A Love Worth Fighting For. Speaking Up For Our Public Lands.
    On Valentine’s Day 4,400 Public Land workers were abruptly and illegally terminated from their positions and since then, news of executive orders threatening to exploit our public lands for their natural resources have been flooding headlines.

    To better understand the gravity of this situation and to hear straight from those most directly effected we are joined by Yosemite and Devils Postpile Ranger Alex Wild, Liz Crandall a field ranger in Deschutes National Forest, and Morgan Smith a Biological Science Technician for the US Forest Service. All three were recently terminated from their jobs due to the recent federal budget cuts.

    They share their love of the outdoors, explain the importance of their jobs, and speak to the dangerous repercussions our public lands will experience as a result of these terminations and extreme staffing shortages.

    How you can help!

    Sign petitions and write to your reps!
    Whitehouse resources:

    Unleashing American Energy


    Unleashing Alaska’s Resource Potential


    Immediate Expansion of Logging Timber (including BLM land, National Forests, and National Parks)

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark

    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.
    AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/npad.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes 
    3 March 2025, 5:00 am
  • 51 minutes 37 seconds
    284: Trail Tales 65
    Today’s stories include dumpster lemons, haunted marathons, national park first dates, night hippos, hero dads and being saved by science. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark


    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    SelectQuote: Use our link to get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS. 
    27 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 15 minutes 51 seconds
    Introducing: CRIME HOUSE TRUE CRIME STORIES
    Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like infamous serial killers, mysterious disappearances, tragic murders, and more. Every Monday, uncover the full stories behind the headlines as host Vanessa Richardson takes you through high-profile investigations like the murder of Gabby Petito, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, and the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories — a Crime House Original — wherever you listen to podcasts. 
    25 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    283: The Year Without a Summer. Mount Tambora National Park.
    On April 10, 1815 the most powerful volcanic eruption in human history was recorded on an island in Indonesia. The ash cloud that formed with its explosion was as large and the entire country of the United States and hovered close to 12 miles above the earth, reaching the stratosphere. The results were catastrophic. It resulted in major climate changes, where in most of the world, summer never came. Wildlife and humans alike were left without sources of food while the landscapes changed around them. Roughly 100,000 people died in the immediately aftermath, but the death toll is estimated to be closer to 1 million around the globe. The time following the eruption has now been remembered in history as, The Year Without a Summer.

    Come see us in Joshua Tree! Buy tickets here.

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark

    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    Blueland:  Use our link to get 15% off your first order.
    Boll and Branch: Use our link to get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets.
    Naked Wines: To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to NakedWines.com/NPAD and use code NPAD for both the code AND PASSWORD.
    Smalls: For 50% off your first order, head to Smalls.com and use code NPAD.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes

    Sources:
    1816 - The Year Without Summer (U.S. National Park Service)

    Taman Nasional Gunung Tambora

    https://www.history.com/news/the-deadliest-volcanic-eruption-in-history#


    https://www.history.com/news/the-deadliest-volcanic-eruption-in-history#


    Mount Tambora and the Year Without a Summer | Center for Science Education .

    Book:Tambora: The Eruption that Changed the World. by Gillen D’Arcy Wood
    24 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 56 minutes 33 seconds
    282: The Port Chicago Disaster. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National
    On July 17th, 1944 the worst home front disaster of WWII unfolded in an instant when a munitions base exploded with the force of 5,000 lbs of TNT just outside of San Fransisco. The catastrophic incident killed 320 people instantly and injured hundreds more. The event resulted in the largest mutiny trial in US Naval History and raised awareness of racial injustice and unsafe working conditions during the war and became a critical event in the Civil Rights Movement.

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark

    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    BetterHelp: National Park After Dark is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off.
    Prose: Use our link for a free in-depth hair consultation and 50% off your first subscription order.
    Rocket Money: Use our link to get started saving.
    IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes 

    Sources:
      NPS, The National WWII Museum, CBS, US Naval Institute, NPS (2), Naval History and Heritage Command, NPS – Golden Gate Cemetery , CBS News, Legal Defense Fund
    17 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    281: Trail Tales 64
    Today’s stories include check ins from the other side, underwater close calls, man ghosts, cases of mistaken identity, cursed Airbnb’s and bodies in the woods. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:


    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark


    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    iRestore: For a limited time only, our listeners get $625 off their iRestore Elite when you use code NPAD at iRestorelaser.com
    Factor: Use our link and code npad50off to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping.
    Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/NPAD and use promo code NPAD today for 10% off your first order.
    Astonishing Legends: Astonishing Legends is available wherever you like to listen to podcasts.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
    13 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 32 seconds
    280: The Park That Almost Never Was. Biscayne National Park.
    The area that is now Biscayne National Park was once considered a wasteland and worthless - but the Jones family, newly freed from slavery, saw the value it had. They purchased three islands there and created both a home and a lucrative business. When business tycoons finally realized the locations monetary worth, they fought hard to gain control of the land to develop high rises and oil refineries. Sir Lancelot Jones wasn’t willing to give up his land, and today remains a large part of why Biscayne National Park exists.

    Come see us live in Joshua Tree National Park! Grab tickets here !

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark

    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    Ollie: Use NPAD to get 60% off your first box of meals when you subscribe today.
    Quince: Use our link to get free shipping and 365-day returns.
    Lume Deodorant: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with
    @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code NPAD at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod
    Zocdoc: Use our link to download the Zocdoc app for free.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
    10 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 5 minutes 20 seconds
    Introducing Blink - Jake Haendel’s Story. Heroin, Secrets. Deadly Betrayal.
    Jake Haendel has been handed a death sentence. He has a terminal progressive disease that's eating away at the white matter of his brain. In six months, he'll be dead. 

    As the months progress, Jake slips into a coma, laying there in total darkness. But something odd has happened... Jake is fully conscious. 

    Nobody knows that he can hear them. They’re certain he's no longer in there.

    With the promise that Jake will never recover, friends and family visit less and less. Until there is just one person left. A person who begins to whisper strange admissions in his ear.

    It is here, helpless in his hospital bed, that Jake realizes what may have gotten him here in the first place. The scariest thing in the room is no longer the potential of dying, but rather, the person sitting right next to him.

    This is Blink, the untold true story and survival of Jake Haendel. 

    Listen to Blink: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/blink-jake-haendels-story/id1779813806
    4 February 2025, 4:00 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    279: Finding Aubrey. Langtang National Park.
    In April of 2010, a young woman from Colorado was living her dream in Asia. At the tail end of her five month solo journey to the continent, Aubrey Sacco elected to embark on a week long trek within Langtang National Park, a place known for its welcoming teahouses, ancient monasteries and incredible scenery.  When she vanished, the longest running search for a missing trekker in Nepal’s history began.

    Listen to Blink !

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark

    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.
    AG1: AG1 is offering new subscribers a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box. So make sure to check out DrinkAG1.com/npad.
    Naturesage: Use our link and code NPAD for 40% off your order.
    Hello Fresh: Use our link to get up to 10 FREE meals and a free high protein item for life.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes 
    3 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 52 minutes 46 seconds
    278: Trail Tales 63
    Today’s stories include ghostly gossip, nature soup, weird places, cursed stories, hellos and goodbyes from beyond and proof that fed bears are dead bears. Outsiders Only bonus stories available for Patreon and Apple Subscribers!

    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:


    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark


    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    SelectQuote: Use our link to get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS. 
    iRestore: For a limited time only, our listeners get $625 off their iRestore Elite when you use code NPAD at
    Minds of Madness: Listen to Minds of Madness wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
    30 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 2 hours 4 minutes
    277: NPAD Turns FOUR
    It’s our birthday (or, anniversary)! Four years ago this week we released out very first episode with zero clue what we were doing. Since then we have covered over 200 stories, gained thousands of friends and made a lot of memories. Today’s episode is a look back to some (hilarious, cringy, sad and happy) moments on our journey here as well as some updates on cases we have covered along the way. Thank you to everyone who has made NPAD so special, we love you - cheers to us all!

    Come see us in Joshua Tree! Buy tickets here.

    Justice for Anton


    For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at:

    Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark
    Twitter/X: @npadpodcast
    TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark

    Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page!

    Thank you to the week’s partners!
    Soul:  For 30% off your order, head to GetSoul.com and use code NPAD.
    Blueland:  Use our link to get 15% off your first order.
    Rocket Money: Use our link to get started saving.
    Smalls: For 50% off your first order, head to Smalls.com and use code NPAD.

    For a full list of our sources, visit npadpodcast.com/episodes
    27 January 2025, 5:00 am
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