News Release

Better Lives, Bitter Lies Podcast Earns National Tilden Award

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NPS

News Release Date: August 27, 2021
Contact: Morgan Smith, 4158596797

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is proud to recognize this year’s recipients of the 2020 Freeman Tilden Award, Anne Monk and Sabrina Oliveros, for their production of the podcast Better Lives, Bitter Lies. After being awarded the Interior Regional level award, Park Guides Monk and Oliveros went on to win the National Tilden Award on August 25, 2021. The Freeman Tilden Award is the highest award presented to an individual National Park Service interpreter. Better Lives, Bitter Lies is a fun and educational audio series that examines untold stories of San Francisco’s waterfront.

Anne Monk and Sabrina Oliveros exemplify the highest degree of capability in interpretation drawing on historical documents, first-hand accounts, literature music, and conversations with experts to examine the ideas of myth and propaganda in the podcast. In this podcast, they curate several primary and secondary sources to bring forgotten voices back to the forefront, giving thousands of listeners proper historical context and exposure to tough topics from the past and present. By forging the relationship between maritime-related histories and current events, Monk and Oliveros spark emotional and intellectual connections, satisfying the park’s audience’s strong desire to hear the untold stories of park heritage. Monk’s and Oliveros’ ability to give voices to underrepresented narratives, often from women and people of color, and reach wide audiences, re-ignite and reframe the narrative of the American experience. These commendable efforts, along with the ability to initiate collaborative and respectful interactions with a diverse array of audiences from different backgrounds, have encouraged listeners to question biases.

Since 1981, the Freeman Tilden Award has been presented annually and recognizes outstanding contributions to the practice of interpretation and education by a National Park Service employee. The award was created to stimulate and reward creative thinking that results in positive impacts upon the preservation of the parks and the visiting public. The award is named for Freeman Tilden, who has inspired generations of interpreters across the world and whose Interpreting Our Heritage continues to be a definitive text for the discipline.

The recipients’ video of the 2020 Freeman Tilden Award is available on the National Park Service’s national awards page: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/tilden-award.htm

Better Lives. Bitter Lies is currently available on the Park’s podcast page:
https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/photosmultimedia/podcasts.htm or on Apple Podcast.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, located at the west end of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, includes a fleet of historic ships, Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and the Aquatic Park Historic District. Visit the park online at http://www.nps.gov/safr; follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ SFMaritimeNPS; and join us on FB @ SanFranciscoMaritimeNHP.

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