Let's make this birthday one to remember.

71 years old (Born on February 27, 1954)

Happy birthday, Gary Evan Knell! From bringing NPR's thoughtful whispers into our daily lives to guiding National Geographic on epic journeys across deserts and oceans—your leadership has truly transformed storytelling. Who else could smoothly transition from public radio’s famous pledge drives (honestly, you made tote bags cool) to making millions dream of explorers' hats?

Today we honor a remarkable Californian whose vision shaped narratives while exploring the bigger questions about our planet. Keep channeling your inner adventurer; you've definitely put yourself "on the map." Cheers—and congrats for doing all this without getting eaten by sharks or falling asleep during those endless funding calls!