RecLess Podcast

Hosted by RecLess Podcast

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Episodes

120

Latest episode

Jun 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

June 12, 2026Episode 71 hr 38 min

RecLess 6 Ep 7 - Emmy Richards, CPRP, Parks & Recreation Director Ashland, VA

RecLess 6 Ep 7 - Emmy Richards, CPRP, Parks & Recreation Director Ashland, VA; discusses her role as a co-founder of the Small Agency Network as part of the National Recreation and Parks Association Connect, serving professionals in agencies representing rural towns and agencies of populations of 30,000 or less. They discuss finding support and connection when the entire full time staff could be one staff member wearing all of the hats for their organization. Support for small agencies is growing with a recurring NRPA magazine column, Small Town Stories, online webinars, the Small Agency network, a scheduled Network meeting at NRPA 2026 in Philadelphia, and sessions geared towards smaller agencies at NRPA. Small Agency Network of NRPA - Join the discussion from NRPA Connect - https://connect.nrpa.org/smallagencyHear more about the Trashed Panda :) - https://youtu.be/sKCn-zJ3bBU?si=RYNCO4sEau8t7DBaShane 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.

June 5, 2026Episode 61 hr 38 min

RecLess 6 Ep 6 - Geordie Emmanuel, CPRP, AFO - Recreation Supervisor, Town of Glastonbury, CT

RecLess 6 Ep 6 - Geordie Emmanuel, CPRP, AFO - Recreation Supervisor, Town of Glastonbury, CT. Recent 2026 Young Professional Externship Program Recipient, Geordie speaks to finding passion in the field, inspiring the next generation of parks and rec professionals, professional sacrifices to serve in the field of parks and rec, the benefits of mentorship, attending NRPA conferences, and stepping into leadership roles.Click here to learn more:American Academy of Parks and Recreation Association Extern Program - https://aapra.org/Programs/Extern-ProgramNRPA's 30 Under 30 Program - https://www.nrpa.org/our-work/awards/30-under-30/Academy Mentorship Program - https://aapra.org/Programs/Mentorship-ProgramShane 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.

May 29, 2026Episode 51 hr 22 min

RecLess 6 Ep 5 - Bryce King, Administrative Services Director, Centerville, UT

RecLess 6 Ep 5, Bryce King, Administrative Services Director, Centerville, UT; speaks to his career in service and the drive that has pushed him to create spaces for others including the Directors Summit - its origin and goal, his involvement with his local Youth Council, persevering through and overcoming difficult job situations, passing his experience on to others, and his passion for community and gathering people together.Click here to learn more: Directors Summit 2027 - https://www.110percent.net/directors-summitYouth Council - https://extension.usu.edu/uyc/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.

May 22, 2026Episode 41 hr 17 min

RecLess 6 Ep 4 - Lakita Frazier, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation at City of Norfolk, VA

RecLess 6 Ep 4 - Lakita Frazier, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation at City of Norfolk, VA speaks to being a mentor, future trends in the field, her role in the Women in Parks network (WiPaR), moving into the world of consulting, navigating politics, and her advice to professionals in the field.Click here to learn more - https://www.womeninparksandrecreation.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.

May 15, 2026Episode 31 hr 43 min

RecLess 6 Ep 3 - Brian Emelson, CPRE, Director of Parks and Recreation, Victor, NY

RecLess 6 Ep 3 - Brian Emelson, CPRE, Director of Parks and Recreation, Victor, NY speaks to a career in a smaller town, making the most of and creating community where you are, and the lasting impact of parks and recreation on a person, professionally and personally.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.

May 8, 2026Episode 21 hr 5 min

RecLess 6 Ep 2-Joleen Stinson, Dir Dane Cty Pks; Matthew Vanderkamp, Rec Dir Mequon-Thiensville ISD

RecLess 6 Ep 2 - Joleen Stinson, CPRP Director Dane County Parks, Wisconsin; Matthew Vanderkamp, CPRP, Recreation Director Mequon-Thiensville School District, WisconsinThis episode was recorded live at the Wisconsin Parks and Recreation WPRA 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show in the Wisconsin Dells, WI.Joleen and Matt speak to stepping into state leadership and volunteer positions that have enriched their professional lives, helped them to make connections, and have kept them in the field. They encourage professionals to get involved and make connections that enrich their lives as they are in the field, speak to their excitement over coming projects, and programs that they have repurposed and marketed for their own agencies. And Rooney joined the guys live from Wisconsin!Click here to learn more - https://www.wpraweb.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.

May 1, 2026Episode 11 hr 27 min

RecLess Season 6, Ep 1 - Vitoria Martin Delgado - Dir General National Parks & Rec Assoc. of Mexico

RecLess Season 6, Ep 1 - Vitoria Martin Delgado - Director General of the National Parks & Recreaction Association of MexicoRecLess celebrates 100 episodes with an international superstar who highlights the differences between what parks and recreation can look like on a world wide scale, the influence of USA parks on the Latin culture and vice versa, and the impact of our industry on citizens around the world. Click here to learn more:ANPR Mexico - https://anpr.org.mxWorld Urban Parks - https://site.worldurbanparks.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.

April 24, 2026Episode 131 hr 3 min

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - Kara Kish and Sarah Sandquist

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - Kara Kish, Director of Parks and Recreation, Loveland, CO; and Sarah Sandquist, Executive Director of the Champaign Park District, Champaign, IL, speak to the differences and similarities of cultivating support systems as high performing females from a married with children and single without children points of view.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 Meredith Lawrence - MPA, CPRE - Parks & Rec Director/Assistant Public Works Director, Mendota Heights, MN.

April 17, 2026Episode 121 hr 1 min

RecLess presents: This Parks &Rec Life - Chase and Kori Ellis

RecLess presents: This Parks &Rec Life - Chase and Kori Ellis. Chase Ellis, CPO, CPRP - Director of Parks and Recreation, Trophy Club, TX and spouse Kori explore a full career, many moves, big kids, and the ups and downs of a parks and rec career.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 Johnathan Skinner, the Director of Parks and Recreation at the City of Lake Elsinore, CA, and inductee into the 2025 California Park & Recreation Society Hall of Fame.

April 10, 2026Episode 111 hr 33 min

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - Meredith Lawrence and John Stutzman

RecLess presents: This Parks & Rec Life - Meredith Lawrence and John Stutzman. Meredith Lawrence - MPA, CPRE - Parks & Rec Director/Assistant Public Works Director, Mendota Heights, MN and John Stutzman, former Recreation and Leisure Services Director, City of Saint Peter, MN speak to how they develop their support system, caretake their mental health, and protect their personal family life as single parks and recreation professionals.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 editor and producer of This Parks & Rec Life, and cohost Shane Mize, Director of Parks and Recreation, Pflugerville, TX.