• Toby Merriman, Matt Villamaino, Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman Talk Story about AI in Interpretation
    Jun 28 2025

    Matt Villamaino, Bill Gwaltney, Toby Merriman, and Tim Merriman gather on Zoom to explore the role of Artificial Intelligence in heritage interpretation—with a focus on authenticity, ethics, and emerging opportunities. Toby Merriman, MFA, serves as Assistant Director of the Center for Virtual Expression at Southern Illinois University, where he supports faculty in integrating AI, virtual reality, and gamification into teaching and research. This dynamic discussion examines how these technologies might enhance both interpretive training and the design of meaningful visitor experiences.

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    46 Min.
  • Marc Blackburn, NPS Historian and Interpreter, Joins Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation!
    Jun 14 2025

    Born and raised in California, Marc Blackburn’s love of history led him to the Pacific Northwest, where he earned a B.A. in history from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Inspired by a passion for teaching and the complexities of the American experience, he pursued graduate work at Temple University in Philadelphia. There, under the mentorship of the renowned historian Dr. Russell F. Weigley, Marc earned a Ph.D. with a focus on modern American military and diplomatic history.

    What began as a summer job in 1987 as a seasonal park ranger at Independence National Historical Park turned into a lifelong calling. Over more than three decades, Marc has brought history to life in some of America’s most iconic and meaningful places—from the Klondike Gold Rush site in Seattle to the battlefields and sacred lands of the Nez Perce, and from the volcanic landscapes of Lava Beds and Tule Lake to the solemn grounds of Colonial National Historical Park, where he currently serves as Manager of Visitor Experience and Community Engagement.

    Now based in Virginia’s historic Tidewater region with his wife, Marc continues to share stories that connect people to the past, illuminate the present, and inspire stewardship for the future.

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    33 Min.
  • Matt Villamaino Joins Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney Today on Reflections on Interpretation
    May 30 2025

    Matt Villamaino has worked in the interpretive field for over 15 years, not counting the dinosaur museum he and a friend started in his basement at age 8. He currently works for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation as the Regional Interpretive Coordinator for the Central Region. He is a Certified Interpretive Trainer, Planner, and Heritage Interpreter and has worked and done training in iconic places like the USS Constitution, Pilgrim Memorial State Park and Springfield Armory NHS in living history and interpretive roles.

    https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

    #timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation

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    50 Min.
  • David Larsen's Legacy for Interpretive Training
    May 15 2025
    David Larsen (1960-2011) was a National Park Service Interpretive Ranger who became the Manager of Interpretive Training with National Park Service (NPS) at The Mather Employee Development Center. After many years as a frontline interpreter at sites such as the the Vietnam Memorial and Harper's Ferry National Historic Park, David stepped up to become a leader in Interpretive thought, philosophy, and training.

    Bill Gwaltney, Connie Rudd, and Kim Sikoryak were colleagues and collaborators with David during his training years and knew him well. Tim Merriman interviews the trio on “Reflections on Interpretation” about the enduring impact David's philosophy on training and the conceptual framework of Interpretation that has impacted the entire profession of heritage interpretation.

    Thanks is due NPS for our use of short clips of David speaking via a series of 5-videos available on youtube.com. We highly recommend you watch the entire series of about one hour and fifteen minutes. David's excellent interactive book entitled “Meaningful Interpretation” published by the Eastern National Cooperating Association is available through the association.

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    1 Std. und 10 Min.
  • Tim Merriman is interviewed by Bill Gwaltney about the HEART Train the Trainers Program
    May 2 2025

    Today Tim Merriman is interviewed by Bill Gwaltney about the HEART Train the Trainers Program. This innovative new training program for the fundamentals of the interpretive approach to communication began in October of 2024 and is now being used by many experienced trainers as a more affordable approach to training new hires, seasonal guides, docents and other frontline workers at parks, zoos, museums, nature centers, historic sites and tour companies. It includes the application of Artificial Intelligence in development of new programs, tours and presentations. Available now at

    https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

    or by YouTube at

    https://youtu.be/ObEolw2Bd74

    #heritageinterpretation #timmerriman #interpretivetraining

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    23 Min.
  • Toby Merriman Talks Story about Artificial Intelligence with Interpretive Trainers
    Apr 18 2025

    Toby Merriman is the Acting Director of Center for Virtual Expression at Southern Illinois University (SIU). He and his staff assist faculty at SIU in the uses of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Gamification in teaching university students, who so readily employ these new tools. Join Monique Thompson, Clark Hancock, Rosemary Prince, Angel Burns, Matt Villamaino, Joanna Robinson and Tim Merriman in an hour and 8 minutes of Questions and Answers about the uses of these new tools in training interpreters, guides and the many people who employ an interpretive approach to communication.

    #timmerriman #heritageinterpretation #interpretivetraining

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    1 Std. und 9 Min.
  • Trainers Talk Story on Reflections on Interpretation with Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney
    Apr 7 2025

    Interpretive Trainers are our guests this week on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters. Karin Hostetter, Robert Smith, Jamie Hubert, Clark Hancock, Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman discuss the economic changes affecting training, the challenges of training large numbers of docents, seasonal workers and frontline staff and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on training. Join us for a lively conversation on your favorite audio platform.

    https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

    #timmerriman #heritageinterpretation #ParkPreservation #interpretivetraining

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    1 Std. und 15 Min.
  • NPS (former) Director Bob Stanton Talks Story with Bill Gwaltney and Tim Merriman
    Mar 21 2025

    With nearly four decades of experience with the National Park Service (NPS), Robert G. Stanton has an unmatched depth of experience about the Agency from top to bottom.

    Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Robert Stanton’s experience growing up in an African American community and the need to deal with Race and Racism brought a special focus to his life and career.

    His career with the NPS began in 1962 when the Secretary of the Interior appointed him as a summer seasonal park ranger at Grand Teton National Park (NP) in Wyoming. He went on to a variety of other jobs including Personnel Management, Public Information Specialist, Management Assistant, Park Superintendent, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Director, Associate Director for Operations, and finally, Director of the National Park Service.

    As NPS Director, Stanton actively promoted Diversity within the national park system, increased opportunities for young people, and enhanced NPS public programs to better serve all Americans.

    https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

    #timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #AmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanHeritage #BlackStoriesMatter #BlackVoicesInHistory #AfricanAmericanStorytelling #HistoryComesAlive #HistoryMatters #HistoricalInterpretation #BringingHistoryToLife #AfricanAmericanHistory

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    50 Min.