Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas Radio Series

We view our series partly as an educational venue to help you understand nature and the outdoors. But it’s also an enjoyable and entertaining way to bring the outdoors indoors.

When you’re stuck in rush hour traffic, we try to bring in a little fresh air and open space. We can’t actually get you out of gridlock physically, but hopefully we can transport you mentally to places with green grass and blue sky through sounds and words, if only for a little while.

Cecilia Nasti- Executive Producer

I credit my Grandmother on my mother’s side for getting me involved in radio — and quite by accident, really. One year for Christmas, she sent all the kids in my family personal transistor radios. I couldn’t believe it. My very own radio. While the newness eventually wore off for my siblings, it never did for me. I took my radio everywhere with me, and always wondered about the people whose voices I heard coming from the tiny speaker. By the time I was in junior high school, I began dreaming of working in radio. Dreams do come true (with hard work and perseverance).

My job as Executive Producer of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Passport to Texas radio series is truly a gift. This job allows me to weave together my love of radio with my passion for nature and sharing what I know with others.

Each day I have the opportunity to interview fascinating people, including wildlife and fisheries biologists, game wardens, park managers and education specialists, who are committed to understanding, protecting and conserving our native wildlife, habitat and cultural resources for current and future generations of Texans. My job is to take what I have learned from them, and share that with you. What could be better?

Alanna Jones — Passport Intern

I am currently a first year journalism graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin with my focus being in print journalism.

Growing up, I’ve always enjoyed writing but had a dream of becoming a doctor. After high school where I studied dental technology, I went to a junior college to study applied science. After a couple of years at junior college, I moved to Prairie View Texas to attend Prairie View A&M University where I enrolled as a Biology student. In my first year of undergrad, I was introduced to newspapers and reporting and decided to change my major to Communications with a minor in English. Soon thereafter, I became a reporter at my school’s newspaper and worked my way up to editor in chief by my senior year.

I was introduced to Passport to Texas while I interned at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Headquarters summer 2007 in the communications division, and was given the opportunity to come back and gain experience with radio.

Although I haven’t always had the opportunity to embrace the outdoors the way I would like as an adult, as a child I was a member of Camp Fire and took part in many summer camps that exposed me to all that nature has to offer. I hope Passport to Texas will give me the opportunity to learn about radio broadcast but also educate me more about the outdoors.

Joe Schaffer– Web Administrator

I’ve been in the business for over 8 years, all the while keeping up with the latest technologies on the web. I have focused on providing the best experience possible for the site visitors and those that own stock in any specific website.

I feel privileged to work for TPWD as it gives me a chance to help people across the state. Working on the Passport site has been especially rewarding for me as I know that this new site will provide people from El Paso to Nacogdoches, and Amarillo to Brownsville a consistent medium in order to enjoy the Passport to Texas program, and additional web enhancements.

Joel Block– Audio Engineer, Production Block Studios

As Project Audio Engineer for Passport to Texas, I’ve been pushing the buttons on Passport for well over a decade now and am starting to get a pretty good feel for how each module should sound. It’s a challenge to produce an entire month’s worth of programs in a single day, but Cecilia and I have truly got it down now and it’s a joy to work on the series.

I’ve been an Austinite since 1969, and am president of The Production Block, a 3-studio recording complex in central Austin that specializes in spoken word projects such as Passport to Texas, Hightower Radio, Earth & Sky, and numerous other state, regional and national projects.

Here’s something you might find interesting: I’m the son of Martin Block, the world’s first disc jockey. It’s true. And, I’m following in my father’s footsteps as host of the Earth & Sky radio series, heard around the world, plus many other voice-over projects.

Bill Harwell — Audio Engineer, Production Block Studios

I’ve been involved in audio production since my college radio days at Southern Methodist University, including on-air announcing at various radio stations, live sound mixing and, since 1978, in the studio at The Production Block in Austin. In the fall, I’m also the game-day producer of the Longhorn Sports Network coverage of University of Texas football.

I enjoy travel, reading, sports, good restaurants, music, and being outside whenever possible. I’m always fascinated by all of the cool things going on in the state parks that we talk about on Passport to Texas…now if I just had a little more free time to check them out!

Benjamin Jansen — CD Duplication, Audion Media

Our friends Ben and Leslie Jansen are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. So, life around the Jansen household is a little hectic right now with sleepless nights and false alarms. Not to mention finishing up the remodel of their home!

When things settle down around the old homestead (ha! not likely), we’ll get Ben to provide us with his bio. Until then, Ben, learn how to function on three hours of restless sleep a night. Goo goo.

Kimberly Conner — Business Manager

I first went to work for Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1995 for the Wildlife Division — a job I had wanted for quite some time. When a career opportunity for my husband came up I sadly left the department after only a year. Four years later when we came back to Austin I knew I wanted to try and work with the department again. As luck would have it, everything fell into place!

I’ve been with the Communications Division, and Passport to Texas, for the past 8 years. All my work is behind the scenes for Passport, and that’s how I like it. I collaborate with Cecilia on the nuts and bolts issues that keep the program on the air — everything from hiring interns and contractors to making sure the budget is balanced.

I like listening to the shows because I find out all kinds of interesting things I had no idea about…sometimes I actually feel like I’m outdoors. I am proud to know I have had a hand in bringing listeners the wonderful and important information covered in the shows.