Between the Levees

I'm joined by Mr. George Nelson Jr., a logistics planner (among other things) for Cooper Marine and Timberlands. We talk through his early life growing up around a coal terminal in Mobile, AL, his great grandfather's experience on paddlewheel steamers back in the day, his father's career, his first time on a towboat, and his journey through the industry to today.

Retired Captain David Greer joins me again on the show to talk through the changes he saw in the country, the industry, and the river, itself, over the decades he spent shoving cargo up and down the waterways of the Americas. He'll open up the new show, "The Merchant Mariner Podcast," in early January. The first series on the MMP will focus on the History of Steamboats in the United States. Betwee...

After a 35-year career that started in the early 70s as a watchman for SCNO Barge Line, Mr. Jim Fox joined the industry during college and was called back to it after a brief jaunt as a teacher. After ACBL acquired SCNO barge line, he found himself in Venezuela helping develop an improved river transportation system for their bauxite mine and alumina production facilities with a few previous guest...

Joining me from Paducah, Kentucky, Miguel Spinola shares his incredible story. Born in Madeira off the coast of Portugal, he grew up near the water and was well acquainted with the local maritime industry there. At the ripe old age of 6, he moved with his family to London, England where his life would change for the better and for the worse. He eventually made his way overseas to the finest city o...

Miguel Spinola's full length episode debuts Saturday, 10/5 @ 06:00. In this clip, we cover a question I missed in our main interview, and he comments a bit on the experience interviewing with me here on the show. Stay tuned!

Recorded on July 14, semi-retired Steam Engineer Mark Veum joins me to share memories of some previous podcast guests who'd made up a cast of characters that converged aboard the storied AMERICAN QUEEN. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and still living there today, Mark tells stories of time spent on vessels sailing the Great Lakes, some others down in the Gulf of Mexico, and a few in the passenge...

Recorded on June 23, another New Yorker joins me on the show whose father was a longshoreman on Staten Island. Frank Rivera found himself in boot camp for his 18th birthday looking to become a United States Marine, two decades later he'd become Watchman and Riverlorian on the AMERICAN QUEEN, and is now driving delivery trucks in his semi-retirement. He joins me to discuss his early life in a n...

Charlie and I wrap up a few more questions from last week's episode. He shares some additional insights on his experiences a few years back that led him to his current place in life, how the "good old days" weren't necessarily all that good, and he tells me about Captain Brian Hamilton and the great memories he has of working with him and paying him a visit some years ago. Captai...

Recorded on June 9, Mr. John Fox joins me on the show to talk through his time in the industry from washing barges for SCNO Barge Line to dispatching liquids for ACBL and beyond. His 45 years mostly in shoreside roles has developed in him an appreciation and respect for the industry that supports our way of life, and the people out there on the water that make it all happen.

Charlie joins me again to update us on his life and an array of developing opportunities. He covers, among other things, his physical and mental health, religion, morality, wants and goals, as well as the Veterans Administration and the potential for detox, rehabilitation, and recovery. It's a long one, so buckle up and hear him out. The first 42 minutes or so were recorded with a not so great...

Recorded on June 14, Captain David Dorrell joins me on the show to talk through a storied career in the maritime industry from chemical tows to international shipping. His career began in 1973 with Houston Barge Line and proceeded over the years to see time with Higman, Blessey, Southern, Martin, Crowley, and Florida Marine Transporters. He shares stories from the decades spent out there on the wa...

Charlie joins me once again to get caught up on his life as of late. We begin with a discussion about this podcast, and then he talks about his mother, his health, and the trials and tribulations he's endured while looking for (and finding) some help over the last few months.

Captain William Wright joins me on the show to talk through the usual questions. He's been with Blessey since 2008 and isn't looking back. He discusses his journey to the industry, time on deck, then as a tankerman, and finally in the wheelhouse.

Katelyn Banister joins me finally on the show. I found out about her from Captain James Edwards about a year ago and learned a little more on Facebook when I published the episode with Kim Bockman. Katelyn chronicles her life and experience so far, a few years of which she spent cooking for the boys out there on the water.

Pilot Trainee Karla Evans joins me on the show to discuss her unlikely career out there on the water. From the galley to the wheelhouse, Karla chats through life as a cook, about time spent and lessons learned on deck, and especially now, about her time at the sticks. She's steering for Captain Steve O'Ferrell whose episode debuted last week, and she hopes to be cut loose in January 2025.

Captain Steve O'Ferrell joins me on the show to discuss a career that kicked off in 1985 with Exxon's tankering service. His career took him thereafter to Canal Barge, MEMCO, AEP, ACBL, and most recently, ARTCO. He shares his thoughts on a few previous guests and one that's upcoming next week, his Steers(wo)man Karla Evans.

Retired Mate Steven "Bull" Graham stepped aboard his first vessel in 1989 with Agri-Trans. He remained with Artco following their acquisition of Agri-Trans in 1992 until his retirement in 2022. We discuss a number of experiences from a life on deck, the childhood that led him to the U.S. Navy, a transition to the boats where he was saved by the river, and a number of issues faced by the...

I'm joined on the show tonight by Steersman Leighton Loveless to discuss his developing career having worked for Cheryl K, Houston Fleeting Services (Ingram), and now Central Boat Rentals following around the one and only Kenny Brown. The Throwdown Champ also turns the tables on me at the end of this one. The future shows promise, my friends. Thanks for staying tuned.

Charlie joins me on the show again to catch up on life and talk through his present condition and situation as well as answer an unresolved question from our previous meetings. He shares some more sea stories from his time out there on the water, and we discuss a glimmer of hope for the present.

Recorded on June 7th of this year, freshly cut-loose Pilot Deon Luter joins me to discuss his young career and the opportunities he found in the industry. We talk through the usual questions, some symmetries in life experiences, and we present answers from a young pilot whose passion for the industry is clearly evident.

Joining me from Cairo on the M/V ARDYCE RANDALL, Captain Ty Matheny hops on again to talk more about his life and career in the context of comrades in arms that have been lost to father time, some more of his own experiences, and a few more memories of a career that is still floating downriver these days.

Captain Bert Suarez joins me on the show to discuss a busy and capable career that began in childhood riding steamboats in New Orleans in 1969. His life steered its way onto passenger vessels where his career began, and eventually, onto towboats. He had the honor recently to pilot the M/V AMERICAN QUEEN to her present dockage where she awaits an uncertain fate. We discuss the AQ in depth and chat...

Author Boyce Upholt joins me on the show along with Retired Captain David Greer to discuss his upcoming book, "The Great River," due to release June 11, 2024. We address his introduction to the world between the levees paddling a canoe downriver, his time researching centuries of information to put this book together, and we hear in detail the trials and tribulations set forth by the engineering f...

Aboard the M/V DARIN M. ADRIAN on the Lower, Captain David "Webbie" Webster, high Captain of the M/V DAVID L FIELDS with Marquette, joins me to discuss his 40-year career. From getting his start in the Port of Cincinnati to training the next generation in the wheelhouse, Captain "Webbie" has, indeed, been everywhere. Check him out on YouTube  @Davwbs  And look for him on Facebook with #whereiswebb...

Joining me from a shipyard on the Tennessee River, Chief Bill Shackelford talks through his 45 years out there on the water. From the National River Academy in Arkansas to the deck in St. Louis to the engine rooms of various vessels all across the industry, Chief Bill currently calls the M/V DANNY ETHERIDGE home for half the year.