RecLess Podcast

Hosted by RecLess Podcast

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Episodes

137

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

RecLess is a podcast making people smarter and more knowledgeable about the field of parks and recreation. Your hosts are Shane Mize, Jay Tryon, and Tom Venniro; three career-long friends from around the country bringing their own unique and sometimes entertaining perspectives with a surprise guest each episode. Authentic conversation, leadership lessons, thought provoking perspective, and an effort to bring professionals together and educate others. Welcome to RecLess.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 23, 2026Episode 211 hr 20 min

ReRelease RecLess 2 Ep 3 Michael Klitzing Dir of Parks & Rec/Chief Exec, Carmel Clay Parks & Rec

ReRelease RecLess Season 2 Ep 3, Michael Klitzing - Director of Parks and Recreation/Chief Executive Officer · Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, speaks to innovation, cost recovery in parks systems, and what it takes to be a gold medal agency. Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

October 16, 2026Episode 201 hr 4 min

ReRelease RecLess 1 Ep 4 Chris Bass - Director of Parks and Recreation, Douglasville, Georgia

ReRelease Chris Bass - Director of Parks and Recreation, Douglasville, Georgia - talks about working with a younger generation, making connections outside of your local network, and leadership. Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

October 9, 2026Episode 191 hr 36 min

RecLess 6 Ep 19 Season Finale - Host Nate Jaramillo, Rec Supervisor at Clark County, Las Vegas, NV

RecLess 6 Ep 19 Season Finale - Host Nate Jaramillo, Rec Supervisor at Clark County, Las Vegas, NV - former guest and longtime friend of the show hosts the season 6 finale and asks for reflections on Season 6 and questions about the future. Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

September 25, 2026Episode 141 hr 20 min

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - Brian & Pauline Emelson, Dir Town of Victor, Rochester, NY

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - Brian & Pauline Emelson, Director of the Town of Victor, Rochester, NY - they discuss and reflect on their career in parks and recreation, raising their daughter Maeve in the field, coming full circle with mentoring new professionals, and how they have thrived, made memories, and woven their family into the field of parks and recreation. This Parks & Rec Life is a podcast exploring the impact of a parks and recreation career on the lives of the loved ones of a parks professional. Hosted by Hannah Mize, editor and producer of the parks and recreation podcast RecLess, and podcast This Parks & Rec Life, and cohosted by Chase Ellis, director of parks and recreation of Trophy Club, TX. He and his wife Kori are former guests of This Parks and Rec Life.

September 19, 2026Episode 191 hr 13 min

ReRelease RecLess 5 Ep 2 Kristine Stratton - President and CEO of the National Rec & Parks Assoc

ReRelease RecLess 5 Ep 2 Kristine Stratton - President and CEO of the National Recreation and Parks Association reveals behind the scenes insight into site selection for the yearly NRPA conference, consideration and intention behind yearly offerings, and her personal investment and passion in growing parks and recreation professionals across the country. Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

September 11, 2026Episode 181 hr 30 min

RecLess 6 Ep 18 Chris Matthews - Div Dir, Nature Preserve & Nat Resources Mecklenburg Cty Park & Rec

RecLess 6 Ep 18 Chris Matthews - Division Director - Nature Preserves and Natural Resources at Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and Outgoing chair for the CPC - Conference Program Committee for the National Recreation and Parks Association Conference. He speaks to serving on and leading the committee, the session proposal and selection background and process, offers tips and advice to create session proposals that stand out, and highlights the benefits and value of volunteering and networking on the committee and at the NRPA conference. Click here to learn more - https://conference.nrpa.org/ Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

September 4, 2026Episode 171 hr 23 min

RecLess 6 Ep 17 Dale Smith - CEO of Smith Management and Consulting Services

RecLess 6 Ep 17 Dale Smith - CEO of Smith Management and Consulting Services, brings a fascinating conversation about leadership with lessons gathered from more than 30 years in the field of parks and recreation, her broad experience including a Board of Regent Instructor for Supervisors’ Management School operated by NCSU and the National Recreation and Parks Association, a speaker at national, state, and local conferences, as well as a number of state university classrooms. Get ready to take some notes and get schooled in all things leadership! Click to learn more - https://tilt365.com/ Click to learn more - dalesmithconsulting.com Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

August 28, 2026Episode 181 hr 40 min

RecLess 6 Ep 16 Dr. Jadrian Wooten - Author, Podcaster, College Economics Educator at Virginia Tech

Dr Jadrian Wooten - Economics Educator at Virginia Tech - award-winning educator and researcher. He is currently a Collegiate Associate Professor at Virginia Tech and the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Economics. He is the author of Parks and Recreation and Economics and a weekly blog known as the Monday Morning Economist. Professionally he serves as an editor for the International Review of Economics Education. Join us for a fascinating discussion about the future of young parks and rec professionals, connecting with the next generation, and trends and patterns that should be noticed in professional and cultural society. Click here to learn more - https://www.jadrianwooten.com/ Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

August 21, 2026Episode 151 hr 19 min

RecLess 6 Ep 15 Chamreece Diggs, CPRP, Greensboro, NC Community of Rec Services Division Manager

RecLess 6 Ep 15 Chamreece Diggs, CPRP, Greensboro, NC Community of Recreation Services Division Manager, speaks to a life long career in parks and recreation, moving into leadership roles, navigating burnout and imposter syndrome in a healthy way, and programming spaces for her community. Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children. Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie. Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.

August 14, 2026Episode 151 hr 8 min

RecLess ReRelease Season 1 Ep 5 - Roslyn Johnson - Director of Parks and Recreation, Annapolis, MD

RecLess ReRelease 1 Ep 5 - Roslyn Johnson - Director of Parks and Recreation, Annapolis, MD; speaks about the similarities and differences of leadership in small and large agencies, creative professional development for staff, creating staff buy in and her work/life balance in the field of parks and recreation. Shane Mize is the Director of Parks and Recreation in the city of Pflugerville, Texas, where he resides with his wife and children.Tom Venniro is the 12-year Director of Parks and Recreation in Hilton-Parma, New York, where he resides with his wife Melissa, son Jack, and daughters Amelia and Maisie.Jay Tryon is an 19-year park and recreation professional who loves to improve communities and their quality of life. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.