Foster Braun

American Road Trip Talk (Podcast)– Barbara Wynns: Weeki Wachee Woes Click here to listen... Click here to download... Weeki Wachee Springs, is a natural wonder innorthwest Florida where "mermaids" have performed under water for millions ofvisitors since it opened shortly after WWII. Right now the very existence of this extraordinary attraction is in danger. Like every state in the union, Florida is trying to save money by cutting costs and outsourcing state services. Weeki Wachee became a Florida state park in 2008 and has been extremely successful since then. But now Florida is threatening to privatize certain park services which many feel would threaten the quality of those services and damage a park that is working perfectly well the way it is. Our guest, Barbara Wynns, became a mermaid at the historic park in the late 60's and still performs regularly as one of the "veteran" mermaids. She is passionate about saving Weeki Watchee from the changes that Florida wants to make. As of this writing (May 3, 2011) Florida is still planning to lump Weeki Wachee together with all the other state parks, cut services and privatize others. Barbara and the other friends of Weeki Watchee declare that the park is making a profit and is working just fine the way it is. So Florida, leave Weeki Wachee alone! If it isn't broken; don't fix it. Urge Florida lawmakers to leave Weeki Wachee Park out of the current package of changes to Florida state parks! American Road Trip Talk (Podcast)– Barbara Wynns: Weeki Wachee Woes Click here to listen... Click here to download... Click here to play Weeki Wachee video http://youtu.be/tBZ_mwINHVA Chautauqua County New York. Come to Chautauqua in June and get ready for summer with a new hobby or skill during Chautauqua in June, a celebration of vacation and lifelong learning, June 3-23, 2011. The three-week festival is packed with more than 50 workshops held in indoor and outdoor settings throughout Chautauqua County, New York - The World'sLearning Center. Feel free to comment, criticize and correct our podcasts because we are always looking to make them better. In particular, if you know of anyone who might make a good subject for these podcasts, please let me know in the comments section. See you soon on the great American Road.

American Road Trip Talk (podcast)- Dr. Steve Cumbaa: Extinction Theatre Click here to listen... Click here to download... Our spring 2011 edition of the American Road Magazine is centered around dinosaurs and their many manifestations along the highways of North America. One of our articles presented The Extinction Theatre, part of the Talisman Energy Fossil Exhibition, housed in the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Canada. Our guest for this American Road TripTalk is Dr. Steve Cumbaa, a paleontologist at the museum and one of the scientific advisors who helped create The Extinction Theatre. He'll describe the show which is actually a truly unique multi-media experience that chronicles the passing of the great thunder lizards and the dawn of a new age for the earth ruled by mammals. Even the museum itself is something of an architectural exhibition! American Road Trip Talk (podcast)- Dr. Steve Cumbaa: Extinction Theatre Click here to listen... Click here to download... Thanks to the Heritage Tractor Adventure for sponsoring this American Road TripTalk. Join over 300 vintage tractors led by Max Armstrong as they travel the scenic byways of the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor from June 11 - 15. Visit HeritageTractorAdventure.com. Illinois ...Mile After Magnificent Mile. Feel free to comment, criticize and correct our podcasts because we are always looking to make them better. In particular, if you know of anyone who might make a good subject for these podcasts, please let me know in the comments section. See you soon on the great American Road.

American Road Trip Talk (podcast)- Dee Helming: Fallen Shoe Tree Click here to listen... Click here to download... The stretch of desert highway between Austin and Fallon, Nevada was home to one of the rarest trees in Americana: the "shoe tree." Actually there are a number of these huge trees draped with Doc Martins, tennies, work boots and all manner of used shoes all across the country. Rather than being treated as smelly, eyesores, they have become beloved roadside shoe shrines. That is why it is so sad that around New Years 2011 tragedy struck the shoe tree on the loneliest stretch of America highway, US 50 near Middlegate, Nevada. Dee Helming of the Austin, Nevada Chamber of Commerce shares the story of the enormous shrine to former footwear and its role in the lonely desert community. American Road Trip Talk (podcast)- Dee Helming: Fallen Shoe Tree Click here to listen... Click here to download... Thanks to the Heritage Tractor Adventure for sponsoring this American Road TripTalk. Join over 300 vintage tractors led by Max Armstrong as they travel the scenic byways of the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor from June 11 - 15. Visit HeritageTractorAdventure.com. Illinois ...Mile After Magnificent Mile. Feel free to comment, criticize and correct our podcasts because we are always looking to make them better. In particular, if you know of anyone who might make a good subject for these podcasts, please let me know in the comments section. See you soon on the great American Road.