The Amazement Meter
Chronic depression and the deaths of a few close friends launched Tyler Dunning on a mission to visit all of the National Parks–to get his head and his heart straight.
He figured out how to support himself by writing for outdoor publications and coordinated logistics to make his way to 53 parks over the course of 8-years. Tyler was on a mission. Until, part way through his project, he lost interest.
“A pang of fear overtook me,” says Tyler, “I’d built an identity around this. I’d turned my outdoor hobby into a makeshift job and into a social expectation. But what happens when the thing you are most known for amongst your cohort—National Park exploration—is no longer rewarding?”
You can find more of Tyler’s work at: tylerdunning.com, or watch his short film about his journey to all the National Parks.
Music: If Walls Could Talk by Jacob Bain & Nis Kotto • Original Scores by Amy Stolzenbach • Happy Little Dance by Ken Christianson • October Morning by Bradley Carter • Unoriginal Sin by Jason Tyler Burton
Tracks provided with permission from the artists.
Poetic, deep, beautiful! His words paint such a vivid picture not only of the views and plants, but of the loneliness and longing to find something to comfort the soul!
Great episode. Anybody know the name of the music that starts at 4:50……..? I googled all the artists in the credits but can’t seem to find it. Amazing piece of stringed music, i need to find it!
Hi Steve, the song is “Happy Little Dance” by Ken Christianson. Glad you liked it!
I must have listened to this a few dozen times now. One of the single best podcast episodes I’ve ever listened to. Thank you!