Go Wildly Podcast

No guest. Just us — and a summer worth talking about. Emily and Heather sit back down together for a summer recap: what they've been up to, what they've learned, and what's been quietly shifting beneath the surface. Emily's been having fun on the river. Heather's been adventuring with her kids and bikes. Together they got invited to attend PitchFest with Title Nine — and that o...

Josh Ward has spent nearly his whole life on the Rogue River. Now part of his job is making sure others get home safely from it. Born on Maui and raised in Grants Pass since age six, Josh is a Southern Oregon firefighter, Swiftwater Rescue Lead, and SRT instructor who came to firefighting by way of culinary school and restaurants. We talk about getting swiftwater rescue recognized inside a structu...

She put a canoe on her vision board. The river called back. Liz Miheve is a BLM park ranger, environmental educator, and Rogue River devotee who followed a series of signs from Minnesota to Southern Oregon — and never really left. Today she introduces people to the landscape she couldn't stop coming back to. We talk about grief and the #deaddadclub, being a green boater and learning how to &qu...

Ryan Thims grew up in Maine, landed in Southern Oregon at 19, and has spent the decades since building adventures in some of the most remote places on earth. His path runs through river guiding on the Rogue, managing a boutique rainforest resort in Honduras for over a decade, leading SOU's Outdoor Program, and launching Rogue Heli Tours in 2020 — a company that combines helicopter access with...

Ashley Drake has spent 15 years turning adventure into a life — and a business. Co-owner of Arrowhead River Adventures in Grants Pass, Ashley runs trips on the Rogue, teaches wilderness medicine, raises two wild kids named Wren and Rosie, and is usually the first voice you hear when you call — unless she's out on the water, which is entirely possible. She grew up in the Portland area and found...

What It Takes to Protect a National Monument with Daniel CollayEpisode 44 | Go Wildly Podcast Daniel Collay grew up on a farm outside Eugene figuring things out for himself. Southern Oregon kept pulling him back — and eventually became his life's work. After studying Environmental Studies and Outdoor Adventure Leadership at SOU, a stint in Portland doing ecological restoration, and years at Wi...

Holding Lightly: Land Restoration, Justice & Reciprocity with Jeanine Moy Episode 42 | Go Wildly Podcast Jeanine Moy has spent decades learning how to read the land. Vesper Meadow is where that work came alive. With a degree in Applied Ecology from Cornell and a Master's in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University, Jeanine's path wound through agroforestry research, plan...

Klamath Dam Removal, Almeda Fire & Building a River Business with Will Volpert Episode 41 | Go Wildly Podcast Will Volpert was born into the river life and continues to choose it. His parents guided and outfitted whitewater in Idaho. By the time he could walk he already knew the sound of a rapid. Today he and his wife Julie run Indigo Creek Outfitters out of Phoenix, Oregon — running day trips...

You Asked, We Answered | Wildly UsEpisode 41 | Go Wildly PodcastIn this episode, Emily & Heather sit down by the river to answer questions submitted by listeners. From embarrassing nature stories, to bucket list activities, to their delusional dreams for the podcast, they answer what you've asked. Active Listener Offers- Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com...

Conservationist of the Year on Rivers, Forests & a Life That Mattered with Julie Norman Episode 40 | Go Wildly Podcast Julie Norman left a career in tech for whitewater, then left whitewater for a 15-year fight to save old growth forests across Southwest Oregon. Julie grew up in Texas, earned a Master's in Computer Science and Educational Psychology from the University of Texas, and at 24...

The Stupid Hike That Changed Everything with Andy NealEpisode 39 | Go Wildly Podcast Andy Neal went from pastor to filmmaker to half a million followers — all thanks to the trails. Known online as @andyfilmsandhikes, Andy is an Oregon-based storyteller, filmmaker, and outdoor creator whose "stupid hike for my stupid mental health" videos struck a nerve with people who needed permission t...

Fly Fishing, Female Fun & Getting Women Outdoors with Meg GrahamEpisode 38 | Go Wildly Podcast She came to Southern Oregon for the rivers. The rivers gave her a lot more than she expected. Meg Graham moved to Southern Oregon in 2016, found whitewater, then picked up fly fishing — and fell completely in love with it. She's also the President and Co-Founder of Southern Oregon Women Outdoors,...

Mountains, Music & Meeting the Moment with Keith Townsend Episode 37 | Go Wildly Podcast Keith Townsend has been on mountains since he was four and making music for over twenty years — and for him, they've always been the same practice. Snowboard coach, climber, surfer, violist, guitarist, and improvising musician based in Southern Oregon. We talk about finding individuality in music, how...

Disability, the Outdoors & the Healing Power of Oregon with Alice Diehl Episode 36 | Go Wildly Podcast Identity is not limitation. Alice Diehl is proof. Actress, puppeteer, advocate, and Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2025 — Alice Diehl lives in Grants Pass and has spent her life redefining what's possible. We talk about disability accessibility, the overlap between disability and homelessness, dis...

50 Years on the River: Whitewater, Dam Fights & the Klamath with Bill CrossEpisode 35 | Go Wildly PodcastBill Cross has been running rivers and fighting to protect them for nearly 50 years. In this episode we talk about his 1977 start, the Save the Stanislaus campaign, Undam the Klamath, what dam removal takes, building coalitions, river access, persevering through slow conservation work, advi...

Favorite Episodes, What's Coming & the Truth About Making a PodcastEpisode 34 | Go Wildly Podcast Emily and Heather close out the first recording block of the season — talking about what it actually takes to make this podcast, their favorite episodes to record, moments that surprised them, and what's still coming for the rest of the year. Active Listener Offers — all still live: Southe...

Episode 33 | Go Wildly Podcast In this episode of Go Wildly, we sit down with Smokey Bear — joined by his handlers Sarah and AJ, Fire Prevention Specialists with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest — for a conversation about fire, forest health, and awareness. We talk about: how Smokey came to be, the growing urgency of fire season, and how everyday people can be better stewards of the places...

The Co-Host Takes the Chair: Meet Heather White Episode 32 | Season 2 Ep 14 | Go Wildly Podcast She's been on this podcast since day one. Today she's the guest. Heather White grew up in Grants Pass with dirt under her feet and a dad who treated the outdoors like a classroom. Hunting, fishing, foraging, rafting the Rogue, backpacking into places without trails — that was just childhood. Tod...

Mountain Biking, Poison Oak & Raising Kids Wildly with Casey Botts | Go Wildly PodcastEpisode 31 | Go Wildly Podcast Casey Botts is a former firefighter, stay-at-home dad, and co-founder of Ashland DEVO , a nonprofit youth mountain bike program serving riders across Southern Oregon. This episode is full of trail stories, practical wisdom, and genuine joy. We talk about: Ashland's ecology a...

Feral Forest Fairy: Fire, Rivers & Falling in Love with Sofie Maciel Episode 30 | Go Wildly Podcast About This Episode She grew up feral in the forest — and never really stopped. In this episode of Go Wildly, we sit down with Sofie Maciel — wildfire educator, whitewater guide, prescribed burn practitioner, trail alliance board member, and self-described forest fairy — for a joyful, wide-rangin...

Rowing Blossom Bar at 15 — Then Jumping Out of Planes with Aaron DeSilva Episode 29 | Go Wildly Podcast About This Episode Some lives are built for movement. Aaron DeSilva's is one of them. In this episode of Go Wildly, we sit down with Aaron DeSilva — Talent, Oregon native, Rogue River guide, former pro motocross athlete, skydiver, firefighter, EMT, scrub tech, and Warrior Impact trip support...

River Stewardship & Outdoor Leadership with Angie BraleyEpisode 28 | Go Wildly Podcast⚠ This episode contains a discussion of a river fatality. Please listen with care. About This EpisodeSome people find rivers. Angie is found by rivers. In this episode of Go Wildly, we sit down with Angie Braley — anthropologist, river guide, conservation professional, and founder of the Applegate Paddling Cl...

🎙 Martial Arts, Mount Whitney & Starting Over in Southern Oregon with Jesse Newell | Go Wildly Podcast Episode 27 | Go Wildly Podcast What does it take to hear a place calling you — and finally answer? In this episode of Go Wildly Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Newell — martial artist, coach, hot rod builder, and Southern Oregon transplant — for a grounded, honest conversation about starting...

🎙 Tides of Grief — Finding Healing, Habit & Meaning in Water with Kylie KuhlmannEpisode 26 | Go Wildly Podcast 🕊 In loving memory of Dylan Works (January 12, 1989 – March 25, 2025). About this Episode What do you do when the ground shifts beneath you — and the only thing that steadies you is water? In this episode, we sit down with Kylie Kuhlmann — farmer, sailor, outdoor educator, and lifelon...

🎙 Go Wildly Podcast — Episode 25: Frances Oyung | How Water Shapes a Life 🌲 About This Episode On this episode, we float the Rogue with Frances Oyung — longtime conservation advocate and retiring Rogue Riverkeeper Program Manager with the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. Frances’ life has revolved around snow, rivers, and wild places since the start. Even after moving to Oakland, California, sk...