Speaking Of Travel ®

What if the greatest stories on Earth aren’t written in the sky but carved in stone beneath our feet? On this illuminating episode of Speaking of Travel, we shine a light on the extraordinary underground ecosystems that hold the living history of our planet.My guest is David Foster, President and CEO of the American Cave Conservation Association and steward of Hidden River Cave in Kentucky.Once considered one of the most polluted caves in the United States, Hidden River Cave is now a powerful symbol of restoration and hope. More than 40 years of scientific effort, community collaboration, and unwavering commitment transformed a damaged ecosystem into a conservation success story. Located within the watershed of Mammoth Cave International Biosphere Reserve, its recovery reminds us that protecting one place can ripple far beyond what we see.In this heartfelt conversation, David shares why the ACCA chose to go where the problem was, what it truly takes to repair decades of environmental harm, and how working in