Big Adventures with Brian Dierker

Brian Dierker and Steve Carothers are happy to welcome you to The Evolution of Science in the Grand Canyon! This interview series will explore the history of scientific studies, the people who designed them, and their ongoing impacts on policy and recreation in the American Southwest. In this introductory episode, Brian and Steve lay out the scope of the story they'll be telling over the next few months. Please tune in to our next episode, a conversation with Roy Johnson, the shaper of the first studies of the human impact of recreation below Glen Canyon Dam!This episode was supported by generous donations from Steve Carothers and Dave Wegner. Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Liam O'Neill is a river guide, swiftwater rescue instructer, and much more. He sits down with Brian to talk about growing up in the river community, rafting rivers in Idaho, and the harrowing and tragic flood event on the Grand Canyon in 2021. Please enjoy Liam O'Neill! Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Jimmy Grissom joins Brian and Glenn Renk in the studio for a chat. Jimmy is a former river guide, upholsterer extraordinaire, and much more. Enjoy Jimmy Grissom!Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Phil McNichol is a heck of a ski coach. He and Brian chat about how he made his way west for college, drifting into ski coaching, and becoming the ski coach for the US team. Enjoy Phil McNichol!Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Peter Bruce just retired from over 40 years of radio broadcasting. He sits down with Brian to chat about skiing, hosting radio shows, the future of AM radio, and more. Enjoy Peter Bruce!Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Troy Gillenwater has got some stories to tell. He sits down with Brian for a wide ranging chat, from Arizona trails to Tibetan rivers and beyond. Enjoy Troy Gillenwater!Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Kelsey Pfendler returns with a tale to tell. Last visit, she was preparing for her four-woman row across the Pacific Ocean, California to Hawaii. Now she's back to share the story. Enjoy Kelsey Pfendler! Mentioned in this episode:Sponsors: Dave Wegner and Steve CarothersDave Wegner has been a long-time supporter of Big Adventures. He's been in and out of the river for over 50 years as a guide and scientist. Be sure to check out Brian's interview with Dave, Episode 21. Thank you Dave for your support! Steve Carothers and Brian go way back. Steve is a friend of the river as a scientist and researcher. Tune into his episode, number 31! Thank you Steve for your support.

Paul Begovac is a former biologist and current master's ski racer. He and Brian chat about their love of skiing, his work in microbiology, and future adventures! Enjoy Paul Begovac!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Ed Keable is the current superindendent of Grand Canyon National Park. He sits down with Brian with updates on the new and current projects below the rim. Enjoy Ed Keable!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Joseph Day has quite a story to tell. He and Brian sit down to chat about his meandering life and how he ended up living and running a store on the Hopi reservation. Enjoy Joe Day! If you like our show and would like to sponser us, please reach out! [email protected] Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Peter Weiss is a skydiver, river runner, and adventurer. He and Brian sit down to chat about the Colorado River at high water, skydiving in Arizona, and much more! Enjoy Peter Weiss!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Harlan Taney is a kayaker, adventurer, and filmmaker. He and Brian chat about everything from boating the Grand Canyon to chasing waterfalls. Enjoy Harlan Taney!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Mike Boyle is a former river guide and all around adventurer. He joins Brian in the studio to chat about his exploratory trips in South America, New Guinea, and other river trips around the world. Enjoy Mike Boyle!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Ben Perry is a flight nurse and skiier, and happens to be Brian's nephew. He and Brian sit down to chat about growing up in Flagstaff, raising family there, and his career working out of helicopters. Enjoy Ben Perry!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Della Yurcik is a retired (and celebrated) Park Ranger. She and Brian talk about the state of the Grand Canyon, how she got started with the Park Service, and much more! Enjoy Della Yurcik!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Brian and Frank Donald go way, way back. They sit down this week to chat about life in Kayenta, they're time growing up in Flagstaff, and more. Enjoy Frank Donald!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Brian calls Breck O'Neill the "Forrest Gump" of the river community. They chat about Breck's adventure through the river running world, with some skiing and Hollywood sprinkled in. Enjoy Breck O'Neill!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Richard Bangs is back! He joins Brian to share stories of first descents of rivers around the world and promote his new book, The Art of Living Dangerously. Enjoy Richard Bangs!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Kelsey Pfendler is about to row a boat from California to Hawaii. She sits down with Brian to talk about the race, her team, and the incredible amount of prep work for such an adventure. Enjoy Kelsey Pfendler!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Laurie Dyer can't get enough of the Grand Canyon. She sits down with Brian to chat about how she came to work for the National Park Service, the state of the park, and her ultramarathon hobby. Enjoy Laurie Dyer!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Dave Ganci sits down with Brian Dierker and George Bain to chat about his life and desert survival. They explore how he got started in outdoor adventuring, including his time on a tuna boat and climbing in the Grand Canyon. Enjoy Dave Ganci!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Mark Jensen is a long time river runner and businessman out of Salt Lake City. He sits down with Brian to chat about their early guiding days, brine shrimping on the Great Salt Lake, and much more. Enjoy Mark Jensen!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Cecily is an entrepeneur and restaurateur in Flagstaff, Arizona. She sits down with Brian to chat about Arizona and the nature of small businesses. Enjoy Cecily!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Emily Omana Smith is a biologist working in the Grand Canyon. She joins Brian in the studio for a fishy conversation about Humpback Chub, trout and carp, and much, much more. Enjoy Emily Omana Smith!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Nina Swidler and Mike Yeatts are long-time archeologists working with the tribes around the American Southwest. They sit down with Brian to chat about Grand Canyon research efforts, their work with the Hopi and Navajo tribes, and more! Enjoy Nina and Mike!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Don Perry is a former water maintenance supervisor and well driller, and Brian's brother-in-law! He and Brian have a wide ranging conversation about Don's family connection to Billy the Kid, well drilling, Australia, and more. Enjoy Don Perry!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Steve Hatch is the third generation owner/operator of Hatch River Expeditions. He sits down with Brian to talk about growing up on the rivers of the Southwest, his competitive dirt-bike racing, and the state of commercial river running. Enjoy Steve Hatch!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

This is part two of Brian's chat with John Dufficy. Be sure to catch up on part one! In this episode, John continues is stories from his summiting of the seven highest summits of the world. Enjoy John Dufficy!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

PART ONE. John Dufficy is an all-around adventurer. He and Brian sit down to chat about how John got started on his adventurous path, and his summiting of Denali, Aconcagua, and Everest in 1993, on his way to completing the seven summits. This is part one of Brian's conversation with John Dufficy. Stay tuned for more!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Ed Smith is a river runner and skier, celebrating his recent retirement from Northern Arizona University. He and Brian sit down to chat about the early days guiding in the Grand Canyon and the American west, skiing, and much more. Enjoy Ed Smith!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Dave and Mimi Demaree founded Demaree Inflatable Boats (DIB) in 1982. They sit down with Brian to chat about boat building, old types of rafts and whitewater craft, and some of the adventures they've shared. Enjoy Dave and Mimi Demaree!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Ken Phillips is a search and rescue expert who spent 27 years at the Grand Canyon working for the National Park Service. He chats with Brian about his start at the canyon, teaching rescue techniques around the world, and much more! Enjoy Ken Phillips!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Phyllis Hogan is an herbalist and the proprieter of Winter Sun Trading Company in Flagstaff AZ. She sits down with Brian to chat about her journey to the Southwest, ethnobotany, and starting a small business. Enjoy Phyllis Hogan!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Richard Bangs is an adventurer and co-founder of the international guiding company Sobek. Enjoy Richard Bangs!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Ross Garrison is a surfer, river runner, and avid backpacker. He sits down with Brian to chat about his world travels, long distance hikes, and much more! Enjoy Ross Garrison!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

The Grand Canyon brought Jon and Ruthie Stoner together, and it is still a major part of their lives. They sit down and chat with Brian about Ruthie's art, their trips in the Canyon, and their many years working for river companies. Enjoy the Stoners!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Lynn Hamilton is the executive director of Grand Canyon River Guides. She sits down with Brian to chat about her educational path, adventures, and GCRG. Enjoy Lynn Hamilton!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Tim Cooper is a boatman and adventurer out of Dolores Colorado. He and Brian sit down to chat about his first descent of the Little Colorado River, his early days in the Grand Canyon, and much more. Enjoy Tim Cooper!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

George Bain is a Flagstaff-based boatman and adventurer. He and Brian chat about George's many ascents of Grand Canyon summits, his early days on the river, and much more! Enjoy George Bain!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Erica Fareio is an artist, adventurer, and river runner. She and Brian sit down to chat about the beauty of Arizona and her activism through art. Enjoy Erica Fareio!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

David Edwards is a freelance photographer, adventurer and river runner. He and Brian chat about his photo trips to Mongolia, and numerous other adventures in the Grand Canyon and around the globe. Enjoy David Edwards!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Gary Bolton is a long time river runner, guide, and botanist. He and Brian chat about his international adventures, getting his PhD, and much more! Enjoy Gary Bolton!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Mark Lamberson is a skiier, ski judge, and outdoor retail businessman. He and Brian chat about skiing, changes in the industry, travel, and much more. Enjoy Mark Lamberson!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Robert McDonald and his nephew Jim Wilson join Brian in the studio. They chat about growing up in Arizona, hunting, skiing, and much more! Enjoy Bob and Jim!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Chris Louderback is a risk manager/ski patroller at the Arizona Snowbowl. He and Brian sit in a gondola lift and chat about skiing, Alaska adventures, the environment, and much more. Enjoy Chris Louderback!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Jim David is a river runner, chemist, mathematician, and educator. He and Brian chat about early days on the Colorado River, the importance of science education, and the future of the planet. Enjoy Jim David!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.

Christa Sadler is an educator, author, and river guide. She and Brian sit down to chat about science in the Grand Canyon, her books, and adventuring around the globe. Enjoy Christa Sadler!Big Adventures with Brian Dierker is produced with joy by Big Adventures Entertainment LLC.