Brad Ryan with McKay Jenkins: GRANDMA JOY AND ME

What began as Brad Ryan's 7.5-year journey with his 85-year-old grandmother to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks together, became a national sensation via media coverage and a large social media following at @grandmajoysroadtrip... and now, a beautiful book!

In Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time, Brad Ryan traces this journey, exploring themes of intergenerational connection, healing, LGBTQ+ identity, and the transformative power of time spent in nature. In divided times, this book is a call to action to relinquish our grievances and reconnect in our national parks—one of the few remaining places in our country where people of all cultures, demographics, and political affiliations can still walk on common ground.

Join us to hear from the author about the book and the experience... and to celebrate Grandma Joy's place in the history books as the oldest person in the world to begin and complete the entire U.S. National Parks circuit at age 93!

Order GRANDMA JOY AND ME here!

Brad Ryan is a veterinarian, wildlife conservationist, social media influencer, and writer from southeastern Ohio. He earned his BA from Miami University in Ohio, an MSc in mammalian biology from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and a DVM/MPH combined degree from The Ohio State University, specializing in wildlife medicine and veterinary public health. For Brad, storytelling is a vehicle for healing—rooted in empathy, inspired by nature, and driven by a desire to help others feel seen and connected. As a keynote speaker, he champions LGBTQ+ inclusion in the outdoors, eliminating stigma around mental health, and the protection of wildlife and public lands. Follow him on Instagram @GrandmaJoysRoadTrip and @DoctorBradRyan.

McKay Jenkins is a writer, professor, restoration ecologist and urban farmer. He has published nine books and many articles and essays about the natural world and social justice. His new book The Maryland Naturalist (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024) is a collection of natural history essays that will serve as the primary text for the Maryland State Master Naturalist Certification Program. His book The Delaware Naturalist Handbook (University of Delaware Press, 2020, co-edited with Susan Barton), serves as the primary text for the Delaware State Master Naturalist Certification Program.

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