Following Waters

In this episode of Following Waters , I sit down with Chad Hoover—kayaker, kayak bass fishing pioneer, creator, and one of the most authentic voices in the outdoor world. We cover a lot of ground—kayaking, bass fishing, Chad’s time in the Navy, his artwork, and the books he’s written—but this conversation goes far beyond any one discipline. At its core, this is a raw and honest conversation about...

Lauren Byrd joins Following Waters for a conversation about discovery, resilience, and building community through paddling. Lauren’s roots run deep in the Southeast — growing up spending time in and around the waters of the Smokies. But like many river stories, her path wasn’t linear. After time in the Soldier Recovery Unit, paddling entered her life in a new way — not just as recreation, but as s...

In this episode of Following Waters , Brett sits down with Erik Amason to explore a life shaped by water, discipline, and an unrelenting pull toward risk. Erik grew up paddling on the Potomac River, where his early relationship with whitewater set the tone for what would become a lifelong pursuit of challenge. He devoted years to slalom kayaking, chasing the Olympic dream and committing fully to t...

In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with Marc Hunt , a true keystone figure in the southeastern paddling community, to explore a life shaped by rivers, relationships, and a deep commitment to community well-being—on and off the water. Marc’s story is not one of chasing a predetermined path, but of staying open—listening closely when passion appeared, and having the cou...

In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with Greg Felt for a wide-ranging conversation about rivers, water law, and what it really takes to create durable outcomes for water systems in the American West. Greg lives in Salida, Colorado, where he has been guiding and outfitting fly-fishing trips on the Arkansas River since 1985. His early connection to water came through rec...

Jack (Jay) Ditty is an emergency room physician, lifelong paddler, and the creator of the Safety Break . In this episode, we sit down to explore the intersection of paddling culture, risk, medicine, and responsibility — not from a place of fear, but from experience and care. We talk about Jay’s path into paddling, how years in emergency medicine have shaped his understanding of risk, and why he be...

In this episode of Following Waters , we sit down with Joe Cook of Georgia River Network to unpack one of the most important — and least understood — water access debates in the Southeast: Freedom to Float in Georgia . Georgia is home to some of the most beautiful and biologically rich rivers in the country, yet paddlers, anglers, and river users often find themselves caught in conflict over where...

Bryan Kirk — PB&Js and Big Air Bryan Kirk’s story doesn’t start with podiums or product lines — it starts on the Delaware River , learning moves bit by bit near his grandmother’s farm, building a relationship with water that was patient, playful, and deeply rooted in family. Those early days were followed by long stretches on the Potomac River with his dad, where time together mattered as much...

In this episode of Following Waters , we sit down with Bill Endicott , one of the most influential figures in the history of American paddlesports. Bill’s impact on the sport is hard to overstate. As longtime head coach of the U.S. Canoe/Kayak Slalom Team, he guided American athletes to Olympic medals and international success, helping elevate U.S. slalom onto the world stage. But this conversatio...

In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer speaks with Hattie Johnson of American Whitewater about her roots as a paddler and conservationist—and then dives deep into one of the most pressing river access issues in the country right now: the legal right to float in Colorado. Hattie shares how her personal relationship with rivers led her into conservation work, before walking listeners...

In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with whitewater kayaker Isaac Hull , whose relationship with paddling began unusually early. Sponsored by the age of ten, Isaac effectively grew up alongside the river, learning not only how to paddle but how to navigate identity, expectations, and opportunity within the sport from a young age. The conversation traces how that early...

In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer speaks with Risa Shimoda about her path through whitewater paddling and into river conservation leadership. Risa shares how she learned to kayak as a young adult in the Ohio and gradually developed her skills, becoming part of the early wave of women pushing into more difficult whitewater. She reflects on landmark experiences including pioneer...

Episode Summary In this episode, Brett sits down with Brad Burden , whose whitewater story spans early passion, professional intensity, a two-decade hiatus, and an unexpected return that has brought new meaning, joy, and connection to the second half of life. Brad opens up about his formative days paddling at the NOC, his early rise as a professional kayaker, and the four-year push that culminated...

Episode Summary In this episode of Following Waters , Brett sits down with Jed Hinkley — Olympian, multi-discipline athlete, and national sport administrator — for a conversation that bridges personal journey with the future of competitive paddle sports in the United States. Jed reflects on his athletic beginnings as a six-year-old alpine racer, his transition to Nordic combined by age twelve, and...

Episode Summary In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with longtime paddler, competitor, educator, and conservation entrepreneur Sam Drevo . From his early beginnings in Maryland at Valley Mill Camp to winning the Gorge Games, founding eNRG Kayaking , teaching thousands of new paddlers, and helping steward Rios Lodge on Costa Rica’s Pacuare River, Sam’s life has been def...

Episode Summary Today’s guest is Lisa Raleigh , Executive Director of RiverLink , a nonprofit based in Asheville that champions the health, accessibility, and resilience of the French Broad River and its watershed. A trained geologist and hydrologist with a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Oklahoma, Lisa’s path has wound through nonprofit advancement, outdoor industry communicat...

Episode 7 — Giving Back to the River with Jon Stamper What does it mean to give back to the waterways that have given us so much? In this episode, Jon Stamper—River Cleanup Coordinator at MountainTrue and lifelong paddler—joins Brett to explore the intersection of rivers, community, and stewardship. Together they reflect on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene and what stewardship and resi...

Episode 6 – The Sofi Reinoso Story: Carving a Path from Veracruz, Mexico to the Olympic Stage Show Notes In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with Sofi Reinoso , a two-time Olympian, Pan American Games medalist, and the first Mexican canoe slalom paddler to win a medal at an ICF event. Sofi shares her journey from growing up around the rivers of Veracruz, Mexico, to com...

In this episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with Steve “Steve-O” McKone , director of the Calleva River School in Poolesville, Maryland. Steve-O shares his journey from his first paddle on the George Washington Canal at 19, to becoming a lifelong paddler, teacher, and community builder. Together, Brett and Steve explore: The moment kayaking first captured Steve-O’s imagination...

Episode 4: The Anna Levesque Story Join us for a powerful conversation with paddling and mindset pioneer Anna Levesque , who works to bring a more holistic path to paddling culture through coaching, yoga, breath work, and cultivating awareness. About Anna Levesque Anna is a Canadian paddler, former World Freestyle Kayak medalist, and author of Yoga for Paddling. She founded Mind Body Paddle , blen...

Episode 3: Maps, Memories, and the Currents that Shape Us : Gordon Dalton & the Spirit of Exploration From the rivers of Virginia to backcountry creeks across the country, Gordon Dalton’s life is defined by paddling, wilderness discovery, and thoughtful storytelling. About Gordon Dalton Gordon is a Virginia-based paddler whose passion for rivers began with a canoe in 1989 and his first kayak i...

Episode 2: Kickflips, Currents & Preparation — The Adam Herzog Story From skate parks to the powerful flow of the Stikine River , Adam Herzog shares how intentional preparation and a love for place shaped his journey as a paddler, racer, and wilderness medicine educator. Featured Guest: Adam Herzog Adam Herzog started out skateboarding in Western North Carolina before discovering paddling in h...

Episode 1: the Bobby Miller Story: Paddling, Teaching, and Finding Purpose in the Flow What drives someone to spend their life navigating whitewater? In this premiere episode of Following Waters , host Brett Mayer sits down with professional paddler, teacher, father, and outdoor educator Bobby Miller to explore that question from the inside out. Bobby has been paddling Class V rivers for over two...