Friday, October 28, 2005 - 11:11 PM

SLAGA Geocaching Podcast

About SLAGA Geocaching Podcasts
I am Paul Konopacki, a member of SLAGA, the St. Louis Area Geocachers Association. Caching since Aug 16, 2001, I discovered podcasting in 2004 and published the first SLAGA Geocaching Podcast on July 30, 2005.

These podcasts consist of conversations I have with geocachers and land managers - and audio captured at events of interest to geocachers. My focus is around the St. Louis, Missouri area, but I sometimes travel to other cities and states to interview cachers and attend events.

Episodes are published as mp3 files, typically in mono mode; around 30 minutes in length; under 20MB in size; bit rate of 64kbps; sample rate of 44.1k. To contact me about this podcast, send an email to podcast AT geostl.com.

The final episode (#100) of this podcast was published on July 30, 2008.

Subscription Options

Equipment in Action
RSS Feed Validator
Other Geocaching Podcasts

Episode	File Info	Show Notes
Episode #100 (Final)	July 30, 2008 43.4 MB 01:14:02	Join me in reminiscing about the past 99 podcasts. I talk about why I started the podcast, play clips from early episodes and talk to geocachers whose path I have crossed throughout the years. SLAGA Podcast episode #1 Sound-seeing tour of Outdoor Expo SLAGA Podcast episode #2 Interview with Dorkus & Co. SLAGA Podcast episode #6 Roundtable chat with le-roy, Normv, RGS SLAGA Podcast episode #7 Interview with Glenn Nash (*gln) SLAGA Podcast episode #14 Interview with Barry and Dana (tumbleoak) SLAGA Podcast episode #23 Interview with Jan (boasark) and family in Osceola, Iowa SLAGA Podcast episode #24 Interview with sir_zman in Minneapolis, MN SLAGA Podcast episode #32 Interview with BruceS SLAGA Podcast episode #36 Arkansas geocaching trip (series a - i) beep-beep song Latitude-Longitude song SLAGA event images and videos Paul's YouTube videos Paul's Vimeo videos
Episode #99	June 17, 2008 22.6 MB 00:38:30	Part 2 of 2 This is the formal interview with Earl and Lannis. We find out about Earl's involvement in the Cold War, how Earl and lannis met, what got them interested in caving and how to use a cave radio. Lannis takes us through her biggest painful caving experience. We hear what caving in Mexico is like. They talk about how they got into geocaching and relate a story where caving and geocaching hobbies collide. Toxic Mountain - Weldon Springs, Missouri Google View Tom Cravens Meramec Valley Grotto Cave Radio The Chalmette Monument Cache Log about Onyx Cache (archived)
Episode #98	June 17, 2008 16.8 MB 00:35:52	Part 1 of 2 Discussion with Earl and Lannis Hancock. They have been geocaching for years, however exploring caves is their main priority in their retirement years. I meet Earl and Lannis ouside my front door. We drink some wine, talk about maps, gps training and exploring caves. I talk about my experiences with the Missouri Dept. of Conservation in getting caches placed on their land. Earl explains the Meramec Dam that was proposed back in late 1970s, its effect on the environment and the controversy around the proposal before president Reagan canceled the project. During the podcast, when we mentiony MDC, we are referring to the Missouri Department of Conservation, which is the government body responsible for conservation areas in Missouri. When we say DNR, we are referring to the the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for all the Missouri state parks. earlannis Profile WOW - St. Louis - Forest Park 2008 Geocaching in Arkansas State Parks Geocaching in Minnesota State Parks Geocaching in Michigan State Parks Tufa What became of georadio.org? Meramec Basin Project
Episode #97	May 10, 2008 15.3 MB 00:26:05	Audio from the WorldWide Flash Mob III held in Jackson, Missouri. Saturday, May 10th was the day that geocachers all over the world got together for 15 minutes for the 3rd geocaching world wide flash mob event. We start out talking with Cribbage Witch and Hobbit Taz. I arrive at the area where the event is to take place and capture some audio from there. Once the event starts, you will hear the activities. Later, you hear discussion during lunch and during group cache hunting afterwards. WWFM III - Jackson, Missouri Event Images and Video Noon Optimist Club
Episode #96	May 9, 2008 18.4 MB 00:32:09	Elaine and I packed up our audio, digital and video equipment and cached our way from the St. Louis area to Jackson, Missouri. We met up with Greg Franklin, aka spanky joe, and his son Carson, near where the World Wide Flash mob event is to be held tomorrow. The first part of this podcast is audio from our meeting at the park. The second part of the podcast is a formal interview with Greg. spankyjoe Profile Germ-X Mio C310x 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Ball Mill Resurgence Pinecrest Azalea Garden
Episode #95	Apr 26, 2008 20.5 MB 00:35:02	Part 2 of 2 In this episode, we start talking about how Rich worked with the Crestwood City parks Dept. to set up a navigation course with their full cooperation. We talk about my favorite topic, encounters with police. We get philisophical about what we like about the hobby. I go through his list of most famous cache hides, then we finish up the conversation with more of their experiences at MOGA 2008. Whitecliff Cache Course Glass Factory Daryl and Daryl The Safe Cracker Cache
Episode #94	Apr 26, 2008 22.2 MB 00:37:55	Part 1 of 2 Rich is the one of the most well-known geocachers in the St. Louis area. He has been caching since 2001 and instrumental in developing a dialog between local land managers and geocachers. It is his leadership in the creation and implementation of gps receiver training classes and geocaching training classes at the city, county and state level that has helped elevate the St. Louis Area Geocachers Association as an educational resource. In this episode, we find out about Rich and Charlotte's early days in St. Louis and how the SLAGA organization got started. RGS Profile MOGA 2008 Local News Cache Geocaching display at Greensfelder Park
Episode #93	Apr 21, 2008 10 MB 00:16:56	Part 2 of 2 Continuation of my conversation with retired sisters gmalibby and lil sis joe. Libby talks about her fainting spell at the Busch Wildlife Outdoor Expo. The formal interview ends quickly, but then we look through some of the pictures they have taken during their cache hunts, where we hear more stories.
Episode #92	Apr 21, 2008 18.0 MB 00:30:51	Part 1 of 2 Sisters Libby and Jo Anne discovered geocaching after their retirement. With only 4 cache finds, they attended their first MOGA in 2007! Caching together is a joy to them and you will be able to tell that from our conversation. In this episode, we talk about earthquakes, hiking poles, water skiing in Paris and the seminary. gmalibby Profile Lil Sis Jo Profile "Guff" (Mo) Cache
Episode #91	Jan 26, 2008 19.2 MB 00:32:44	Audio from the 2008 SLAGA Winter Potluck event held at Jefferson Barracks County Park. Join me on a few cache hunts with SLAGA members, audio from the event itself and an interview with CinemaBoxers about geocoin design. Disk Golf Any One? CinemaBoxers Profile www.geocoindesign.com
Episode #90	Jan 15, 2008 21.8 MB 00:37:09	Part 2 of 2 Second part of my conversation with JohnTee. Seven Wives Inn Granola Recipe Cape Girardeau, Missouri New Madrid Fault and Iben Browning Ball Mill Resurgence
Episode #89	Jan 15, 2008 20.5 MB 00:35:01	Part 1 of 2 John Taylor (JohnTee) from Cape Girardeau happened to be up in the St. Louis area, so after taking care of some business, he stopped over to my house to eat pizza and record a podcast. Richard Sheffold (RGS) also stopped by and participated in the discussion. JohnTee profile KA200 Emergency Landing web video KA200 Emergency Landing discussion thread Gorilla Glue Plastic Preforms
Episode #88	Dec 24, 2007 20.3 MB 00:34:38	Part 2 of 2 I conclude my conversation with Bob Parry (FrodoB) and Diane Parry (SleuthHounds), geocachers from Washington state. We talk about 'tree hangers', 'cache machines' and a 911 calls to the Seattle police. Cache Machine moun10bike Geocaching Pages
MOGA 2008 Promo	Jan 26, 2008 6.5 MB 00:06:54	At the SLAGA 2008 Potluck event, I had a chance to talk with Mike Griffin about the upcoming geocaching Mega Event called MOGA, now in its 5th year. MOGA 2008 Web Site
Episode #87	Dec 24, 2007 14.9 MB 00:25:26	Part 1 of 2 I record a conversation with Bob Parry (FrodoB) and Diane Parry (SleuthHounds), geocachers from Washington state who were visiting relatives in the St. Louis area during Christmas. Bob talks about meeting his wife in Germany while stationed with the U.S. army. Diane explains their love of dogs. Bob talks about his interest in puzzle caches. FrodoB profile SleuthHounds profile Washington State Geocaching Association
Episode #86	Nov 26, 2007 19.4 MB 00:33:07	Part 2 of 2 In this podcast episode, I conclude my conversation with Jeff Tynan, aka denali. We pick up where we left off from the last episode, talking about mountain climbing and what technology he might use during a climb. Jeff talks about how he first found out about geocaching. We reminesce about caches and cachers that we recall from the early days of the hobby. He tells about being chased by a 90 year old farmer. *gln posted a note for Courtious River Cache
Episode #85	Nov 26, 2007 15.2 MB 00:25:53	Part 1 of 2 In this part, Jeff Tynan (denali) comes to my house for pizza, after a long day of endurance training at West Tyson County Park. Besides being a geocachers, Jeff is an hiker, mountain climber and airline pilot. denali profile Middle Palisades by GPSDave and Denali Flashback, by Barramus ohggrezvyx cipher cache Chubb Trail
Episode #84	Oct 12, 2007 16.3 MB 00:34:42	Part 2 of 2 In this last half of the interview, Elaine and I get a guided tour of the halloween decorations in the Ianyart's and neighbor's yard.
Episode #83	Oct 12, 2007 16.1 MB 00:34:21	On Fri Oct 12, 2007, Elaine and I drive 160 miles from Eureka, Missouri to Sumner, Illinois. Our plan was to cache along the way and them meet up with the Cache Slash Crew around 6:30pm that evening. In the first part of this 2 episode podcast, you will hear a group interview in Gary Ianyart's backyard. We talk about halloween, geocaching and the Cache Slash Fest that will occur the weekend after our interview. 2007 Cache Slash Fest Event Cache (GC14X2C) king-of-halloween profile mike_anderson1492 profile wolf pack 359 profile STP10 & Knttrgrl profile
Episode #82	Oct 3, 2007 18.9 MB 00:32:11	Part 2 of 2 Conclusion of my discussion with Chuck Roberts, aka hid pro quo, who grew up in St. Charles Missouri and now lives in San Diego as an estate planning lawyer.
Episode #81	Oct 3, 2007 16.5 MB 00:33:03	Part 1 of 2 I talk with hid pro quo, who was raised in the St. Louis area, but spends most of his time as a lawyer in san diego, california. He is the son of John Roberts, aka Goshhawk, from St. Charles, who I interviewed in SLAGA Geocaching Podcast - Episode #9. I happened to know that Chuck was in the St. Louis area for a while, so we arranged to meet at my house in Eureka for an interview. hid pro quo profile OB Offshore Mystery Cache 40 on 40 for 40 bookmark list
Episode #80	Sep 29, 2007 13.4 MB 00:22:52	I sit down with Mike and Michelle at the 2007 SLAGA Fall Picnic. I didn't find out until after the recording that Mike and Michelle were engaged to be married! mmeese profile mmapgirl profile
Episode #79	Sep 29, 2007 15.9 MB 00:27:09	Part 2 of 2 Audio and interviews from the annual fall picnic held at Spanish Lake Park in North St. Louis County.
Episode #78	Sep 29, 2007 14.7 MB 00:25:08	Part 1 of 2 Audio and interviews from the annual fall picnic held at Spanish Lake Park in North St. Louis County. Elaine and I showed up early to help set up. Since I bought the new P.A. system, I had to bring it, set it up and train a few people how to use it. You will hear audio that will give you an idea of the activities that occurred during the day and miscellaneous conversations I had with those who attended.
Episode #77	Sep 29, 2007 7.8 MB 00:13:14	This is a conversation I had with Mary Cranor (Stranger Ranger) during the 2007 SLAGA Fall Picnic. I wanted to talk about her work with the St. Louis County Parks Dept. and its relationship with geocaching. Stranger Ranger profile Trail Watch Program A Window on Caching Cache
Episode #76	Sep 27, 2007 17.8 MB 00:30:19	I take my recording equipment over to Walt and Audry's house in a suburb of St. Louis. I set up in their kitchen and we talk about how they met and how geocaching came into their lives. At the end of the formal interview, we sit down for coffee cake and then take a quick tour out into the backyard to see the hydrangeas and hear Walt explain what is the preditor of a hawk. A & W profile
2007 Cache Slash Fest Promo	Oct 12, 2007 4.4 MB 00:07:26	This is a short promo for the upcoming halloween/geocaching event to be hold in Sumner, Illinois on October 20, 2007 at the house of Gary, the KingOfHalloween. This promo gives you an idea of what to expect at the event, what has happened at previous events and is also a sneak peek at the full-length podcast episodes to be published later in 2007. 2007 Cache Slash Fest Event Cache (GC14X2C) Cache Slash Crew Profile Page
Episode #75	Sep 21, 2007 18.3 MB 00:31:14	Part 2 of 2. John and Laurie talk about how geocaching takes them to historical places and how his son doesn't quite get the draw of the hobby. I explain the history of MOGA. They tell me about their near nightmare of a trip to Springfield, Missouri for a camping and caching event.
Episode #74	Sep 21, 2007 18.4 MB 00:31:24	Part 1 of 2. I chat face-to-face with John and Laurie Elfrank in my dining room. They have only been geocaching for six months, but you can feel the drive and dedication in their voices as they talk about how they embraced geocaching as a common interest that allows the two of them to spend quality time together. L Frank Profile Page I'm Soooo Confused Cache Preform Soda Bottles
Episode #73	Aug 23, 2007 26.2 MB 00:44:37	Kevin (K-TEAM), Bernie (HappyKraut) and Paul (konopapw) go on a 10-hour caching spree to see if they could get enough cache finds for Kevin to reach his 5,000th find milestone. We were all able to log 44 caches that day. K-TEAM Profile Page HappyKraut Profile Page konopapw Profile Page The Falls of Monroe County
Episode #72	Aug 05, 2007 14.0 MB 00:29:51	Part 2 of 2. We pick up where we left off talking about a prolific geocacher from Ashville North Carolina called Ozguff, who had a rainy night encounter with a ranger in a St. Louis County park a few years back. We talk about the proposal to implement a cache award program in the St. Louis area where winners would be voted on by SLAGA members. We hear about their favorite caches and how the cache rating system is different out west than in the midwest.
Episode #71	Aug 05, 2007 13.6 MB 00:28:54	Part 1 of 2. Interview with lobocs and yawetag. We talk about using a Garmin Nuvi to find a cache, caching with a 5-month old child in tow and the meaning behind Team S.A.G.E. lobocs Profile Page yawetag Profile Page
Episode #70	Jul 21, 2007 13.4 MB 00:28:39	Part 2 of 2. SLAGA SUMMER PICNIC. Back at the picnic shelter, people have arrived. We eat and play games. I get some interviews, including a guy who heard about geocaching from the KSDK cover story on geocaching that was aired on channel 5 in St. Louis on 7/15/07. Grant's Farm Grant's Trail KSDK Cover Story flash video
Episode #69	Jul 21, 2007 14.5 MB 00:30:57	Part 1 of 2. SLAGA SUMMER PICNIC. I show up at the picnic location early, so I hunt one of the nearby caches. I help set up. I follow along as SkylerDragon gets a lesson in using his GPSr. Whitecliff Park - City of Crestwood Shutterfly images from showme69 marbleboy Frog Legs cache
Episode #68	Jul 07, 2007 13.9 MB 00:29:33	Part 2 of 2. Xeviel explains geocaching to the police and fairy_g takes us through the creative process in developing the 'A Very Faery Geocache Race' event in Warrensburg, Missouri. They both give us their perspective on the SLAGA group and how not to draw attention to yourself when caching. ... Find me a grave man.
Episode #67	Jul 07, 2007 14.1 MB 00:30:09	Part 1 of 2. I meet the guys at an establishment in the Central West End. Xeviel talks about the benefits and pitfalls of traveling around the world on business, faery_g relates the story of his head wound on the way back from geocaching training and Flying Pan explains how discovering his love for the performing arts changed his life. Xeviel Profile Page faery_g Profile Page Flying Pan Profile Page Rainbow Family of Living Light A Very Faery Geocache Race Shutterfly Flash Video
Episode #66	Jun 28, 2007 14.2 MB 00:30:20	Tracy and her son Harley drove from Decatur, Illinois to my house for this podcast. It was a good excuse for them to hunt caches in my area! We talk about MOGA 2007, tribute to Jack Benny in a cache series, her Signal the Frog Tattoo (yes, it's real) and what drives her to find 1500 caches in a 6 month period. Check out their profile page to see how quickly they reached that milestone. Profile Page Central Illinois Geocaching Association Illinois All County Challenge Jack Benny shows on www.archive.org
Episode #65	Jun 24, 2007 13.3 MB 00:28:26	Out of the humid air and into my dining room for a sitdown interview with Brian and Sue Steele of the caching team, SmilingSteeles. We talk about trap shooting, chiggers, living near active train tracks and the cache in Robertsville State Park dedicated to the movie, The Princess Bride. Profile Page As You Wish cache Brian and Sue at MOGA 2006 Missouri's Outdoor Women New Town Webcam Cache New Town, St. Charles
Episode #64	Jun 9, 2007 28 MB 00:39:52 Stereo	Part 2 of 2. Follow along with me as I roam the WOW St. Louis at Forest Park event. I pass by the nature photography and rock climbing classes; sit in on one of the geocaching 101 training classes being presented by SLAGA volunteers. I interview Liz Lyons (first image at right), who is with the Missouri Conservation Dept. and Barb Wilson (second image at right), who is with the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources. WOW St. Louis Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Episode #63	Jun 9, 2007 21.6 MB 00:30:46 Stereo	Part 1 of 2. Follow along as I roam the WOW St. Louis event being held at Forest Park, near St. Louis, Missouri. Hear SLAGA volunteers setting up for the day's training classes. I interview Andrea Putnam (see image at right), who is with the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources. We talk about the 'Trail-of-the-Month' passport program, the purpose behind the WOW events and the possibility of returning the annual MOGA event to Missouri state parks. WOW St. Louis Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources Missouri Dept. of Conservation KATY Trail State Park 1904 Worlds Fair
Episode #62	May 15, 2007 15 MB 00:31:52	Part 2 of 2. The life of a Dungeon Master and a Green Witch.
Episode #61	May 15, 2007 11.6 MB 00:24:38	Part 1 of 2. Finally back in my dining room to interview two relatively new geocachers - CribbageWitch and HobbitTaz. We'll hear the story about the melted cache and inadvertant night caching. CribbageWitch Hobbit Taz
Episode #60	Apr 28, 2007 12.3 MB 00:26:15	Dwayne and I interview some new and experienced cachers who attended the SLAGA spring picnic. Cartoboy123 and carlawarla Two Feds HappyKraut and RGS Skylerdragon Pika Wants Cake
Episode #59	Mar 24, 2007 18.7 MB 00:31:51	This is podcast 3 of 3 from the MOGA 2007 event held at Mark Twain Lake, Missouri, outside of Monroe City and about a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis Missouri. This episode consists of audio from Saturday afternoon and evening, which includes the team competition and award ceremony. Main MOGA web site US Army Corps of Engineers - Mark Twain Lake
Episode #58	Mar 24, 2007 13.7 MB 00:29:19	This is podcast 2 of 3 from the MOGA 2007 event held at Mark Twain Lake, Missouri, outside of Monroe City and about a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis Missouri. This episode consists of audio and interview from Saturday morning, which includes the individual competition. We talk to geocachers who have traveled a long way for the event, and get audio from cachers in the woods and at the finish table. Main MOGA web site US Army Corps of Engineers - Mark Twain Lake
Episode #57	Mar 23, 2007 10.6 MB 00:22:30	Audio from MOGA 2007 - Mark Twain Lake - Indian Creek Recreation Area - Day #1 The next 3 podcast episodes will consist of audio and interviews with MOGA 2007 participants and staff. MOGA was held at Mark Twain Lake, Missouri, outside of Monroe City and about a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis Missouri. Staffed mainly by members of the St. Louis Area Geocachers Association, this was the 4th year in a row the event has been held in Missouri. Event coordinator this year was Mike Griffin who obtained sponsorship of the event through the Army Corps of engineers. Key to selecting the area for the cache was Alan Mehrer, aka Forester Al, member of the ACOE. This episode focuses on Friday, the day before the competition. We cover final event preparation, campers setting up their sites and a pre-MOGA get-together. Main MOGA web site US Army Corps of Engineers - Mark Twain Lake
Episode #56	Feb 25, 2007 13.7 MB 00:29:15	Face-to-face conversation with Michael and Melissa, also known in the geocaching world as Arthur and Trillian. They live in Fulton, Missouri. Elaine and I drove 100 miles one-way to their house on a cold Sunday, geocaching along the way. We talk about Fulton history, the Fairy geocoin, MOGA 2007 and debates on the groundspeak forums. After the interview, we all head out to one of Michael's caches that Elaine and I couldn't get to earlier in the day. Arthur & Trillian Geocaching profile King's Row Arthur Dent character Trillian character Spider Island and The Geocoin Fairy
Episode #55	Feb 24, 2007 14.6 MB 00:31:04	Face-to-face conversation in my dining room with Thystle and Justified, a geocaching team who recently moved to the St. Louis area. Thystle talks about medieval-reenactment and astronomy; Justified talks about ham radio and the telecommunication industry. Thystle Geocaching profile Justified Geocaching profile kb8pxv on www.findu.com
Episode #54	Feb 7, 2007 15 MB 00:32:00	Face-to-face conversation in my dining room with Bob Pratt, aka BBD1. It hasn't been a year since he started caching and he recently passed his 400th find milestone. We talk about bass fishing, competative shooting, motorcycling riding and his kid-friendly cache placements. Geocaching profile
Episode #53	Jan 20, 2007 15.0 MB 00:31:56	Face-to-face conversation in my dining room with Mike Bollinger, aka lazylighting, who works with the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation dept. Mike was in town for a SLAGA geocaching event (yes, it involved eating), so I was able to convince him to take a short detour to my house. We talk about his love for the outdoors, his certification as a 'Leasure Professional' and his initial thought that putting geocaches in Jefferson City parks would be a bad idea. Geocaching profile
Episode #52	Jan 7, 2007 13.1 MB 00:28:00	I travel to Warrensburg, Missouri (outside of Kansas City) to get video and audio of this geocache race, conceived and implemented by Stephen Martin, aka faery_g. I lost some audio from the planning stages of the event due to a technical error on my part, but there is enough audio to fill a regular podcast. Listen as 10 teams of geocachers race to solve puzzles and determine waypoints to be first-to-find. Shutterfly (23 images) Flash Video (5:12 minutes) Web Video (17 MB) (5:12 minutes)
Episode #51	Dec 29, 2006 14.2 MB 00:30:16	Conversation with Mark Feldmeier, aka Sniper1. Mark is a 'special unit' police officer for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. We talk about his work, his hobbies, his night cache, competing in MOGA, and the controversial 'Blue Monkey' cache placement. Geocaching profile