Paddling The Blue Podcast

Daniel Robison recounts his lifelong love of paddling and his expedition to paddle all 315 miles of Florida’s St. Johns River. Join us as we talk about changing ecosystems from swamp to brackish estuary, close encounters with wildlife including alligators and manatees, and the challenges of navigating shallow canals and wide lakes.  About the St. Johns River St. Johns Riverkeeper To Rivers End by...

Today's episode is an encore presentation of a November 2023 interview with Katie Carr about her brother Toby’s ambitious project to kayak in every area of the BBC Shipping Forecast and the books that followed: Moderate Becoming Good Later and Thundery at Times. Katie describes how she turned Toby’s notes and recordings into a book, took up sea kayaking to finish the remaining regions, and relied...

Steve Maynard joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to talk about about his journey from sea kayaking instructor to professor of Expeditionary Studies at SUNY Plattsburgh. We discuss how the program works, capstone expeditions, mentoring, and the credentials and experience that shaped his teaching and coaching. The episode also explores some of the paddling dogma in our sport alon...

Caleb McIntyre recounts a life-changing 16-day (mostly) human-powered crossing of Nicaragua — mixing kayaking and cycling to move from the Pacific to the Caribbean. He describes logistical challenges (customs, transporting kayaks), dramatic lake crossings, time in remote archipelagos, crocodile filled rivers, and the unique culture and people he met along the Rio San Juan. The episode highlights e...

Today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast features Rob Henshall, who has circumnavigated Ireland six times in six different craft — from a Nordkapp kayak to a Contessa sailboat, plus a laser dinghy, a windsurfer, and more. Rob shares how he started on the water, the minimalist gear that carried him around the island, and what kept him going through 66 days and countless challenges. Along th...

Chris Reed joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to share the 25-year story behind Reed Chillcheater, from developing the Aquatherm fabric and UK-based production to creating innovative paddling garments used by kayakers, anglers, mountaineers and the film industry.  Staying small and focusing on what’s important to him has kept the business grounded. The episode also covers Chris...

Jennifer Gosselin and Pierre Pepin quit the rat race, sold everything, and spent four years paddling a canoe across North America with their dog Jasmine by their side, following historic fur trade routes and the Great Loop. Along the way they faced extreme weather, long portages, wildlife encounters, and unexpected kindness from locals. Join us as we talk about their planning and challenges, memor...

Recorded live at Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin, today's episode of Paddling the Blue features interviews with a wide range of guests: activists protecting the Boundary Waters, the team behind the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, international trip operators from Kayak Portugal, organizers of the MR340 endurance race, and makers of paddles and boats sharing design and craft i...

Today's episode was recorded at one of our favorite events, the Quiet Adventures Symposium in Lansing. Today's episode features conversations with paddlers, conservationists, and accessibility advocates across Michigan. Guests include Anna Green, a Junior World Orienteering competitor, Team River Runner, Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, the Flint River W...

Many of us dream of adventures like circumnavigating Ireland and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a pretty lofty goal, and definitely on my list.  And then there’s Urban Heupgen...Urban has unexpectedly found himself on a quest to undertake a bold journey to circumnavigate Europe.  Join me as Urban and I talk about his humble start, how he found himself on this path, and just how big his plans are...

Oscar Scafidi is a schoolteacher turned explorer specializing in Africa. Oscar joins today’s episode to share his expedition to kayak Madagascar’s Mangok River from source to sea. Oscar describes the months of planning, the grueling approach to the source, and the challenges of navigating largely unexplored river sections. Today's episode covers heavy portages, unpredictable terrain, local guides...

Alex Lalonde joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to talk about about his path from packrafting whitewater rivers in Nepal to taking over the iconic Body Boat Blade instruction and guiding company. Alex shares stories from a 40-day Nepal expedition, favorite paddles and venues in the Pacific Northwest, and the challenges of reopening a specialty paddle shop. Karnali river Burrows...

Welcome to today's episode of the Paddling the Blue, featuring guest Eila Wilkinson In this episode Eila discusses her coaching philosophy, Paddle UK pathways and qualifications, the importance of using your feet and core in kayaking, and dramatic expedition stories including surf, rescues and navigation challenges in the Bahamas. Eila Wilkinson Sea Kayaking Andros Island Wolf's Kayaking Club - Ba...

Mike Hammond oversees the Great Calusa Blueway, a nearly 200 mile paddling trail in Florida’s Lee County.  Mike joins today’s episode to talk about the area’s fascinating indigenous history, its interesting utopian history, the beauty of the trail, and why this might be your next paddling destination.  Highlights include the region’s unique subtropical wildlife (manatees, dolphins, shorebirds), th...

In this episode Katrin Tomanek describes how she moved from climbing to kayaking and developed a style of multiimodal trips that combine sea kayaking and cycling to minimize driving. She shares how she learned skills, used careful planning and spreadsheets, and progressed from local trips to big expeditions. Katrin recounts standout journeys including a foggy, remote Lost Coast outing, a 52‑day mo...

Wes Moses operates the Soufriere Outdoor Center in Dominica. Wes joins the show today to talk about the Waitukubuli Sea Trail in Dominica — a 66 km sea kayaking route that highlights volcanic landscapes, sulfur baths, sea arches, snorkeling sites, and vibrant Creole villages. If you’re interested in paddling a Caribbean blue sea with warm water, rugged mountains spilling to the coast, sea arches,...

Paddling Chef Mike Keen shares his solo 3,200‑km kayak journey up the west coast of Greenland, where he lived on a traditional Greenlandic Inuit diet of seal, whale, fish and fermented foods while researchers tracked his health and microbiome. In this episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast, we discuss his preparation, camping and paddling challenges, surprising physical results, the role of ferm...

Endurance paddler Billy Butler joins today's episode to talk about his transition from rivers to sea kayaking, recent record-setting performances, and the training and preparation behind them. The episode covers highlights like the Isle of Wight and Anglesey circumnavigations, a North Sea crossing, upcoming plans including surf ski competitions, and practical lessons for touring and expedition pad...

Lucy Graham is today's guest on the Paddling the Blue podcast. Lucy fostered a love for outdoor and environmental education and guiding programs early on and that led her to undertake the trip of a lifetime along the Inside Passage. She and her friend Mathilde added a twist, making the trip single-use plastic free.  In today's episode, we talk about that trip and her follow up source to sea solo o...

Today’s episode with Mark Evans is a bit backward from our other episodes. Normally we talk about a trip that has already happened. Well, this one hasn’t happened yet and is about to kick off.  Mark Evans brings a vast adventure pedigree, from crossing Greenland, a year in Svalbard, teaching in Africa, and retracing famous routes overland through Africa.  His latest exploration is a second attempt...

In today's episode, John Connolly recounts his 75-day, 1,500-mile solo journey connecting the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and the Maine Island Trail, traveling by canoe and sea kayak through rivers, lakes, portages, and the tidal Bay of Fundy. John describes the trip’s challenges and highlights—upstream paddling, long portages, dramatic tides, wildlife encounters, and community support. ConnellyOu...

Ed Hill joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to share a 1,000-mile canoe vision quest along Canada’s west coast that partnered the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Indigenous communities to celebrate culture and offer alternatives to addiction. The episode explores the physical challenges of the voyage, the restoration of canoe culture, powerful cross-cultural ceremonies and son...

Stuart Munson is a reformed backpacker who discovered paddling as a new way to get to great places. Today we talk about his two-month slow roll exploration of Desolation Sound and Johnstone Strait in Pacific Northwest Canada. Stuart Munson shares his two-month solo sea kayak expedition through Desolation Sound, Johnstone Strait, and the Broughton Archipelago. Stuart shares planning tips, campsite...

Richard Harpham has more than 14,000 miles of human-powered adventures under his belt and he’s not slowing down. Today we talk about two, London to Marrakech by kayak and bike the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way, from the sea conditions off of Casablanca to the bustling Strait of Gibraltar, and a unique twist on a trip that he called the New York Spare Seat Kayak Expedition. Rich...

Stephen Marsh joins today’s episode of the podcast. Many of you may know Stephen as the master artisan behind Big Pond Kayaks. Dive into Stephen's life as a passionate paddler and explore the coastal waters of the Isle of Man, renowned for its vibrant paddling community and beautiful sea kayaking experiences. Discover the inspiration behind Stephen's intricate kayak artwork, the challenges of buil...