The River Radius Podcast

Jess Lewis started her company, Wyld Heart Co., to support river runners in the early stages of learning to run rivers. Her work focuses on mindset and heuristics that support personal growth alongside the technical skills needed to get boats down the river, and the mental skills required to grow through the challenges and “stuck on rock” moments that are inevitable for all river runners. She teaches skills for all river crafts, and her favorite and most common teaching setting is in a raft, with her students rowing the boat. We talk through the details of the oar setup she provides, the types of boats she uses, and the various learning styles of her students. Jess believes—and teaches—that even if a river runner has had moments on the river that scared them, or scared their kids who were in the boat, those fears can be worked through and skills can be adapted to support river running that is more prepared and more adaptable to each situation. Jess grew up with river-guiding parents, and at 13 she hiked the full Continental Divide Trail with her family. She describes both of these early life experiences as foundational to the work she does today. GUEST Jess LewisWyld Heart Co.Wyld Heart Blog@wyldheartco SPONSORS Valley Nissan@valley_nissan Down River EquipmentIG @downriverequipmentFB @Down River EquipmentRaftopia April 6-11, 2026In person sale April 11 THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

This episode was recorded live at the America Outdoors annual conference and is a conversation with three members from the Returning Rapids Project in Utah. The Returning Rapids Project is documenting the changes and restoration happening to the reservoir-affected areas of the Colorado River and the San Juan River as Lake Powell continues to recede out of the river canyons it inundated with reservoir waters for the past several decades. The deeper focus of this episode beyond this research project is the powerful observational ability of river guides who work on rivers day after day, year after year, and how they can notice the most minute changes. In the case of the Colorado River and the Returning Rapids Project, it was this guide observation that witnessed a subtle shift to the river. This observation has developed into a powerful project that is learning how rivers recover from life under a reservoir. THUMBNAIL PIC Stephen [email protected]@explorewithmedia GUESTSThe Returning Rapids Project Isabel Adler Davide Ipolito Mike DeHoffMedia about Returning RapidsA Ledge in the River: New feature documented by the Returning Rapids Project Mike Fiebig, American Rivers CONFERENCE HOST America Outdoors2027 Conference Watch this episode on the America Outdoors Youtube Channel SPONSORS Giveaway: "Raft the Last Wild River Sweepstakes" live March 9, 2026 OARS@oars_raftingStillwater & Cataract Canyon HikerCataract Canyon Whitewater Rafting AMERICAN RIVERS@americanrivers THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Rivers are always photogenic, even telegenic, and rivers often become the setting for many films. Each year since 1981, the National Paddling Film Festival (NPFF) has provided a collective presentation of river films. This year’s festival is happening on February 21, live and in person in Kentucky with a virtual streaming option available for the price of a cup of coffee. We have 3 guests bringing us details about the NPFF. Stephanie Hoelscher is the director; Devin Ashley Brown is the featured paddler in the film “Mother River” about her Mississippi River run; and Nishan Thapa is the creator of the film “The Jewel of Wild West Nepal” about paddling the rivers in his home country of Nepal. GUESTSStephanie HoelscherDevin Ashley Brown@afrodiskayakHarvest Film CompanyNishan Thapa@riverratmountainkat@summit_to_sea2026 SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaFILMSNATIONAL PADDLING FILM [email protected]: live & streaming THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Do you ever get those wild ideas about running a river in a unique way, but they just stay ideas, and you kinda always wish you had followed through? This episode is about an idea that became a reality. In November of 2001, 3 people zipped up their drysuits, pulled on their swim fins, strapped their dry bags to river boards, and slid into the Colorado River beginning a 300 mile trip where river boards were their only water craft. Kelley Kalafatich, Julie Munger and Rebecca Rusch floated, swam, kicked and paddled their way in and down the Colorado River, successfully and joyfully, and they have a film documenting this story. The film has just published and they joined The River Radius to have a reunion of sorts and tell their river boarding story 25 years later. THE FILM: "Three Women, Three Hundred Miles: Introduction by Meryl Streep"Producer: Carr CliftonGUESTSKelley Kalafatich TEDXKelley Kalafatich IRFJulie MungerRebecca Rusch websiteInstagramFacebookYoutube SPONSORDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusa EPISODE THUMBNAIL IMAGECarr Clifton ARTICLES"Grand Adventure: River Boarding the Colorado""Three Women, 300 Miles"RIVER BOARDCarlson River Board at NRSChurchhill Swimfins THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Ben Stookesberry paddles kayaks in his home state of Montana, and around the world. In his teen years he learned to make home movies showing off his rollerblading moves, and in college he learned to kayak. Today he blends the paddling and film making as he runs rivers in global settings. He has created deep and lasting friendships in his travels, and returns to rivers again and again, to paddle more stretches, to learn more, and sometimes to engage in protection work. In this episode, Ben talks through all of this with us, and goes into depth about his current paddling and film efforts on the Jatunyacu and Mulatos Rivers in Ecuador.GUESTSBen Stookesberry@benstookesberryBio @ KokatatBio @ Jackson KayakLatest Film: ¡Ay Chihuahua!Diego Robles: @ecuskayaker RESOURCESEcuadorian Rivers Institute@ecuadorianriversSteven Donzinger storySavages, book, by Joe Kane PADDLERS TO FOLLOW@ecuskayaker (Diego)@williehenkel@wyatt_doyle@[email protected]@brookehess@oceansandmountains (Hailey)@pedroolivakaiak@riverratmountainkat@mayuwarmikayak@teepee_boys SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusa THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Podcasting is incredibly unique and fun work that has allowed me to meet so many rivers and river people. And podcasting is a job that I really just created for myself. Yes there are other podcasts and podcasters, but by nature of the work, we are all kind of hidden in quiet places behind microphones and editing screens, so finding a podcasting friend is so helpful. Ed Roberson has built the Mountain & Prairie Podcast and we have become colleagues and friends that can support each other when we have questions and challenges. For this episode, Ed and I decided to interview each other in a single episode and go deeper into our work, and publish it on both of our respective podcasts. Ed is a leading interviewer finding some of the most humble and impactful people of the American West and Ed is in the process of writing his own book. To start off 2026, here is an episode with two podcasters talking about our work, focus and plans for this coming season of episodes. GUESTSEd RobersonMountain & Prairie Podcast websiteOn AppleOn Spotify@mtnprairieSPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusa THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

The Vjosa River in Albania is one of the largest of the last free running rivers in Europe and recently it was protected with the new Vjosa Wild River National Park. The Vjosa sources from the mountains of Greece and flows north through Albania where it meets the Adriatic Sea. Eco Albania has led much of the work to create this National Park and our guest Dr Olsi Nika founded Eco Albania. Dr Nika tells us about this long and beautiful river in his home country, how people in Albania use this river, about life in Albania, and how they did the work to project this river. GUESTSDr Olsi Nika RESOURCESVjosa RiverVjosa Wild River National ParkEco AlbaniaAlbaniaBalkan PeninsulaMediterranean BasinRewinding EuropeVideo: Blue Heart - Eco AlbaniaSPONSORSDenver Area Nissan DealersOver It Raft Covers THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Amidst a flourish of media about Paddle Tribal Waters, a new film has published from Oregon Public Broadcasting & Jessie Sears, giving focus to the 2025 source to sea run completed by the indigenous teens of PTW. The film, “First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath”, is there to meet the paddlers at the Pacific Ocean when they complete their journey, is with them along the river and the film also engages with the families of the paddlers to hear their perceptions of their kid’s work and pursuits. And finally, the film’s producer, Jessie Sears, is a member of the Karuk Tribe from the Klamath River basin, and by creating this film, she is exploring her own connections with this river and these families. The Film: “First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath"Jessie Sears professional websiteInstagramJessie Sears at Oregon Public BroadcastingKaruk TribeOregon Public BroadcastingPaddle Tribal Waters & Rios to RiversNew York Times about Paddle Tribal WatersUnderscore Native NewsInstagramSwiftwater FilmsInstagram River RootsInstagram THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

In the spring of 1980, nine-year-old Bridget Crocker, while playing next to her home river, fell from a downed tree into the cold swollen Snake River — a scary swim that initiated a deep, lifelong relationship with rivers and river people. This year in 2025 her memoir “The River’s Daughter” traces a thalweg of traumas, challenges and joys that played out in both her river life and her family life. Today Bridget hosts retreats and workshops on rivers, guides on special occasions, and is creating her dream life with her family. GUESTBridget CrockerInstagramBookAudio Book RELATED EPISODES FROM THE RIVER RADIUSSexual Harassment in River Guide CultureQueer River Guiding; 1 Professional's ExperienceTools for the River GuideRiver Guide UnionsEndless Summer 1: The Guide LifeEndless Summer 2: A Guide's SunsetEndless Summer 3: Guiding with a Healing Intention ORGANIZATIONS FROM EPISODEA DashAmerica OutdoorsRiver Management SocietyResponder AllianceWhale FoundationRedside Foundation SPONSORS THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Across the United States, 640 million acres of public land belong to all of us — rivers that still run wild, deep canyons, mountain ranges, plains, and deserts. Places where the wild things live. Places we can still visit, explore, and trust that it will be there for generations or an eon. But this year, the push to sell or transfer those lands has surfaced — sometimes openly, sometimes in quieter, less obvious ways. Why is this happening? Who’s behind it? And how do we, as citizens, stand up in simple, effective ways to keep public lands public? Our guest is Land Tawney, from American Hunters & Anglers — a man who comes from a long line of land conservationists. He brings both a historical lens and a practical action plan for keeping these 640 million acres wild, free, and truly ours. GUESTAmerican Hunters and Anglers@americanhuntersanglersLand TawneyMinority Outdoor Alliance@minorityoutdooralliance RESOURCES202-224-3121Switchboard US Capital (call, tell them your zip code, and that you want to speak with your Rep and/or Sen…you might have to call 3 times to get your Rep and both of your Senators) Ambler RoadRoadless Rule, USFSAttempts to sell public landsPREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODESAre Public Lands 4 $ale?The Gila: River, Place, Family(Sen Martin Heinrich)ELECTED OFFICIALS & PUBLIC LANDSUS Senator Martin Heinrich, New Mexico@senatormartinheinrichUS Representative Gabe Vasquez, New Mexico@repgabevasquezUS Representative Betty McCollum, Minnesota@repbettymccollumUS Representative Ryan Zinke, Montana@repryanzinkeUS Senator Steve Daines, MontanaUS Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon@ronwydenUS Senator Jeff Merkley, Oregon@senjeffmerkleyUS Senator John Hickenlooper, Colorado@senatorhickUS Senator Susan Collins, Maine@sensusancollinsUS Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania@repbrianfitzUS Senator John Thune, South Dakota SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaBuddy Boy Adventure Waste Kit@buddyboyusa THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Dr. Adriana Martinez grew up in Eagle Pass, Texas, swimming and playing in the Rio Grande as a part of daily life. 10 years after getting her Ph.D and teaching university classes in fluvial geomorphology, her Texas hometown and home river became the iconic center of the modern immigration debate and the setting for the controversial river buoy border fence. In this episode she tells us about the research she is conducting to learn how the buoy fence in the Rio Grande is impacting this river, and about growing up riverside to an international border. GUESTDr Adriana "Didi" MartinezProfessional Website@thinkingriverthoughts RESOURCESMedia on buoy fence w/Dr Martinez SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaOver It Raft Covers@overitraftcoversFacebook THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Tim Palmer has spent much of his life floating down, writing about, and photographing America’s rivers. With 34 books and scores of awards to his name (including the first-ever lifetime achievement award presented by American Rivers), he’s one of river conservation's most seasoned voices. In this episode, guest host Clark Tate joins Tim to talk about a recent run down the newly dam-free Klamath, his lifelong bond with Pennsylvania’s Youghiogheny River, the origins of America's flood management system, the benefits of giving rivers the room they need to run when the waters inevitably rise, and how increasingly severe floods both reveal our vulnerabilities and offer opportunities. GUESTTim PalmerSeek Higher Ground: The Natural Solution to Our Urgent Flooding CrisisYoughiogheny: Appalachian River (updated edition)Watching the River Run (photo book) HOSTClark Tate@lclarktate SPONSORS Valley Nissan@valley_nissan Natural Systems Design THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

This September brings the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene and the powerful flooding that pounded Southern Appalachia. Incredible work has been to remove the bridges and cars and houses and trees that filled up the rivers. And more work continues today and for the next 18 months to clean up the remaining smaller trash. In this episode we learn about these details and how some communities did not flood because dams were removed prior to Helene, and how more dams are being removed post Helene. Our guests are Hartwell Carson and Andy Hill from Mountain True in North Carolina. GUESTSHartwell CarsonAndy HillMountain True@mtntruefacebookPREVIOUS EPISODES ON HURRICANE HELENEPart 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The SciencePart 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River RescueEPISODE ON RIVERS OF SOUTHERN APPALACHIA 10 Rivers For 2025SPONSORSAmerican RiversAmerican Rivers: Hurricane HeleneAmerican Rivers: Rivers of the United StatesDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusa THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

After incredible collaboration and momentum at the Snake River amongst several tribes and two states to create a legitimate pathway for the 4 Lower Snake River Dams to be breached and therefore allow the anadromous Salmon, Steelhead and Lamprey of the basin to avoid extinction, the collaboration has been cancelled by the current presidential administration. Why? What comes next? Our guests are full of passion and wisdom for this story: Kayeloni Scott from the Columbia Snake River Campaign and Libby Tobey from the Grand Salmon Project. GUESTSKayeloni ScottColumbia Snake River CampaignLibby TobeyGrand Salmon Project FILMS ABOUT SNAKE RIVER"Covenant of the Salmon People""The Grand Salmon"Watch for live events, request a screening in your town RESOURCESColumbia Basin Restoration Initiative "Trump Administration Abandons Deal With Northwest Tribes to Restore Salmon" Pro Publica"Remove the dams. Replace their services. Restore the Salmon." Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association"Snake River Fact Sheet" Idaho Rivers United PREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODES ON SNAKE RIVERSalmon 1: Mountain OriginsSalmon 2: Big Dam Problems & SolutionsSalmon 3: Fighting Extinction Real TimeDam Removal: Updates & Trends SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaBuddy Boy Adventure Waste Kit@buddyboyusa THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

For 40 years, American Rivers has published its annual Most Endangered Rivers list — a powerful statement sparking awareness and action to restore waterways across the country. In this 40th anniversary episode, we talk with Chantel Dominguez from American Rivers to explore this year’s list, river by river, moving through the challenges they face and the tangible solutions for each. We also revisit three rivers from last year’s list to learn about their increasing health and vitality.Thumbnail pic credit: Sinjin Eberle, American RiversEPISODE SPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaOver It Raft Covers@overitraftcoversFB Over It. Raft Covers. EPISODE GUESTChantel DominguezAmerican RiversAmerican Rivers Most Endangered Rivers ListAmerican Rivers MembershipLink to Supportive Action for Each River:Mississippi River Tijuana RiverRivers of Southern AppalachiaPassaic RiverLower Rio Grande RiverRappahannock River Clearwater River BasinSusitna RiverCalcasieu RiverGauley RiverRELATED EPISODESPart 1, Tijuana River, Binational FlowPart 2, Tijuana River, Source of the PollutionPart 3, Tijuana River, SolutionsPrevious American Rivers Most Endangered Rivers List Episodes10 Rivers for 202410 Rivers for 202310 Rivers for 2022 THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Every year, we ask one big question: What is a River? This year, the currents brought us to Dr. Robert Macfarlane—writer & professor—and his newly released book, Is A River Alive?, Dr Macfarlane joined us to explore that very question. From the chalk streams from his home in England to rivers across three continents, Macfarlane pursues his answers. In this episode, we move through his global journey, his new water literacy, and why he calls himself a teacher first. GUESTSDr Robert Macfarlane, University of CambridgeDr Robert Macfarlane, Wikipedia@robgmacfarlaneBook: IS A RIVER ALIVE?Audio Book: IS A RIVER ALIVE?Film: MOUNTAIN narrated by Willem DafoeThe poem Inversaid by Gerard Manley HopkinsRights of NatureUniversal Declaration of River RightsRiver Seine in Paris and a Declaration of River RightsBritain's Premier Nature Writer Cries Us a River SPONSORSNatural Systems DesignIG @naturalsystemsdesignin @natural_systems_designAmerican WhitewaterIG @americanwhitewaterFB @American WhitewaterMembershipJournalRiver Info THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree