The River Radius Podcast

For 25 years, a rule at the United States Forest Service has been in place that does not allow new roads to be built. These roadless areas inside our National Forests total about 59 million acres, and they have remained without roads, without human vehicle traffic, without heavy equipment working to extract natural resources. Inherently, this has protected rivers and their headwaters, their entire basins, their narrow riparian canyons, and all the critters in the water and on the land. In August of this year, 2026, the current US Presidential administration announced in the Federal Register their intent to rescind this rule. This episode hosts Chris Wood who was working directly on the Roadless Rule when it was initiated in 1999 and completed in 2001. Today Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. He talks with the River Radius about why the rule was created, the culture of trees and forests and roads that supported this rule 25 years ago, and also how we can all engage with public comments until September 21 on this topic. GUESTS Chris Wood, CEO & President at Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited RESOURCES Original Roadless Rule Federal Register August 20, 2026 Roadless Announcement Comment at United States Forest Service Comment at TU Comment at American Whitewater Comment at American Rivers Comment at Greater Yellowstone Coaltion Chris Wood from Trout Unlimited in the Wired to Hunt Podcast, with great and longer history of timber sales in US Apple Podcasts Spotify SPONSORS VALLEY AUTO GROUP Landing page at River Radius Landing page at Valley Auto Group Auto purchase includes $500 donation to river group Vehicle can be shipped to you in 48 states OUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVE Grasstops Collective Instagram Facebook Bluesky X THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

Sometime in the 1980s, after reading a hand written note telling him to come up for a river trip, Greg McFadden turned north on a rural highway in Idaho. He had no idea about river running and river culture, nor did he know, that note and river would lead him to become a lifelong river guide and eventually purchase the river outfitter hosting that very first river trip. Today Greg leads a group of 4 full time staff and 38 guides as they take their guests down guided river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho, sometimes all in one long trip. Last year they only hired one new guide, and their crew spans 5 of the named generations. Greg also travels to Washington DC advocating for rivers and river guides, he is a painter with his own downtown gallery, even if it is the size of a van, and he also guides a couple of river trips for a Grand Canyon river outfitter because it feels good and keeps him connected. Greg McFadden Canyons River Company Canyons Booking (Food & Wine Trip) IG @canyons_river_company FB @canyons BIPOC Outdoor Collective Pandion Institute Les Bechdel Susan Bechdel Greg's Art Gallery America Outdoors Fun Luvin' Fleecewear Blue Moon Yurts River Radius Episode with Canyons Founder Les Bechdel, Apple Podcasts Les Bechdel, Spotify SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

Les Bechdel is a river runner, an outfitter, an author of the first comprehensive book on modern river rescue techniques, a kayaker, a husband, a catarafter, a father, a river ranger, a grandfather, an instructor, and a soldier. In the 1980s, river rescue became a more organized and developed concept and practice, and Les Bechdel was at the center of that movement. In 1985, the first edition of the book "RIVER RESCUE" was published with Les and Slim Ray as the authors. The book is now in its 4th edition. Les was selling kayaks during the transition from fiberglass to plastic. Eventually, he moved to Idaho from North Carolina with his family and started a river outfitting company in the Salmon River system that is still thriving today. Beyond all of that, Les is a kind and open man who tells stories of a life shaped by rivers and family. AW Bio Bio article River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater Safety, 4th Edition By Les Bechdel & Slim Ray Les Bechdel "Guidefather" 1996, newspaper article Charlie Walbridge Canyons River Company Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame Bio Bio accident report from American Whitewater, 1981 Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Apple Podcasts Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Spotify SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

Heather Hansman publishes her 3rd book today, " Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love for the Wild ." Heather joins the River Radius as a returning guest to talk about the subjects of her book: Georgie White, Anne LaBastille and Dolores LaChapelle. We also get into her travels to learn about these three people, how going through the complete collection of one person helped clarify details, how writing a book is a multi-year commitment, her own feelings about the book and the nervous tension she rides as her book publication date arrives. Heather is a longtime river runner and river guide, and is the author of the recent article exposing many details about the current river permitting system. Her writing is funny and serious and deep, and our conversation lets her share with us her journey of writing this excellent book about rivers, people, boats, wild places, ecological theories, and the bias that gets in the way of understanding our natural systems. Heather Hansman website "Fierce Country" Book Tour @hhansman "Wreck Dot Gov" (article about the river permit system) Previous River Radius Episode with Heather Hansman Apple Podcasts Previous River Radius Episode with Heather Hansman Spotify SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

Devon Barker-Hicks is an Idaho born and raised river runner, growing up in the Barker family of river outfitters. She is a lifelong public school teacher, a global kayak competitor, and a dedicated advocate and protector of the waters and rivers of Idaho. Her program "Dare to Kayak," brings kayaking to the public schools of Idaho, and a film about that same program premiers on July 22nd in Riggins, ID. She grew up running rivers with her family, working as a guide at the family outfitter company from childhood through her college summers. Today she teaches kayaking through the "Dare to Kayak" program and at her brother's outfitting company. She is considered by her Idaho river peers to be a leader in the knowledge of the rivers of Idaho, and a leader in caring for the rivers and the river runners, and she serves on the Board of Directors of Idaho Rivers United. In addition to all of this, we also talk through her 2020 two-month tour of the entire watershed of the Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands. GUEST Devon Barker-Hicks Dare to Kayak Writing: "The Confluence of Passions on the Canals of Amsterdam" Writing: "The Owyhee Bruneau Canyonlands All Forks Sabbatical" South Fork Salmon, Barker video Barker River Expeditions Southfork Salmon & Idaho Rivers United video BOD @ Idaho Rivers United Film Premiere July 22, 2026 5pm MT Potluck with films to follow Little River Bait & Tackle 7482 US-95, Riggins, ID 83549 Riggins, ID Facebook SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

Each year American Rivers, a national river focused advocacy organization publishes a list of 10 rivers that are beautiful rivers and rivers that want our engagement. These are the rivers of the 2026 Most Endangered Rivers List. American Rivers first published the Most Endangered Rivers List in 1984, and now 41 years later, they still bring to our attention ten rivers of elevated importance. This year's rivers run between 8 and 400 miles in length. My guest again this year is Chantel Dominguez from American Rivers. Chantel brings infectious optimism to the power of highlighting these rivers. GUEST Chantel Dominguez American Rivers| MER LIST 2026 America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2026 Video of AR's MER List 2026 on YouTube Support American Rivers SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

What happens when you invite the best river kayaking athletes from around the world to meet up for a 3-day race on the wild and rowdy Class 5 North Fork of the Payette River under the big sun and blue sky of Idaho? You get the North Fork Championship of 2026. After a multi-year hiatus, one of the favorite races among paddlers and fans is back, now with a solid foundation and strategic stability to return year after year. We talk with the founder of the race, James Byrd, and a board member of the newly established board of directors, Aaron Pruzan. These guests are deeply passionate about this race, paddling, this river, and bringing conservation of rivers to the culture of this wild race, all in a way that keeps stoke on high. THUMBNAIL PIC Photographer: John Webster Paddler: Jen Chrimes GUESTS James Byrd Aaron Pruzan Rendevous River Sports / Jackson Hole Kayak School North Fork Championship FILMS Wild Water, Teaser, 2010 film Several North Fork Championship short films on Vimeo SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

This is our 5th of five episodes with various River Forecast Centers of the United States. In the uppermost northeast corner of the US, the Northeast River Forecast Center is bound on three sides by water: the Great Lakes to the west, Canada's lakes and bays to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The mountains of this region collect this moisture from various weather events and send that water down the river valleys. In this episode we talk with Bill Leatham, a Senior Hydrometeorologist with the Northeast River Forecast Center. This landscape is impacted by its regional waterscape, the hurricanes in the Southeast and even the weather patterns of El Niño and La Niña. What winter weather did they receive? When did their snow melt? Are they experiencing a drought? What type of storms do they expect this summer? GUEST Bill Leatham, Senior Hydrometeorologist Northeast River Forecast Center River Forecast Centers NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NWS National Weather Service SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST Southeast River Forecast Center 2026 - Apple Podcasts Southeast River Forecast Center 2026 - Spotify Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

The Southeast River Forecast Center hosts a landscape that has the Appalachian Mountains in the north, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Gulf of Mexico to its south, has the Florida Peninsula jutting into those ocean waters, and lowlands between the oceans and mountains. Rain and hurricanes are powerful and important parts of the climate in the Southeast and this region has the most rivers of all the River Forecast Center domains. Did this region have a warm and dry March like much of the country did? How was their winter precipitation? What type of summer river flow do they anticipate and what happens here if El Nino is truly the emerging influence? This is the 4th episode in a series hosting interviews with five of the thirteen River Forecast Centers in the US. Our guest for this episode is Haley Stuckey, Hydrometeorological Analysis and Support Forecaster with the Southeast River Forecast Center GUEST Haley Stuckey, Hydrometeorological Analysis & Support Forecaster Southeast River Forecast Center River Forecast Centers NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NWS National Weather Service SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts Colorado River Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science - Apple Podcasts Part 1, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, The Science - Spotify Part 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River Rescue - Apple Podcasts Part 2, Hurricane Helene in Appalachia, River Rescue - Spotify THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

What will the rivers of the Colorado Basin have for flow this year? Many rivers already had one peak in March during the heat dome, and a second peak is expected in May. But as spring in the Rocky Mountains is unpredictable, it is currently snowing and raining in the northern basin. This episode is the third in a series of five interviews with the River Forecast Centers of the United States. Our guest in this episode is Cody Moser, Senior River Hydrologist with the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. We talk through the soil moisture of 2025, the winter of 2026, the March heat dome, the wet spring, and what may happen if El Niño fires up a wet weather pattern for the rest of the year. GUEST Cody Moser, Senior Hydrologist Colorado Basin River Forecast Center River Forecast Centers NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NWS National Weather Service SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts California & Nevada Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

With the unique winter and spring weather events creating a mixed snowpack and melt season, this episode talks with the California Nevada River Forecast Center to learn details about the expected river flows this spring and summer in their region, and to look at what types of precipitation might load up for the summer and fall. This is the 2nd episode in a series of five episodes talking with five River Forecast Centers across the US. The River Forecast Centers are part of the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; they track all precipitation in each river basin, creating flow forecasts based on a variety of parameters. In this time of shifty weather and climate rowdiness, these experts are able to explain how the weather of the past fall and winter will impact river flows today and into the near future. California Nevada River Forecast Center River Forecast Centers NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NWS National Weather Service SPONSORS Poudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Apple Podcasts Columbia Basin Snowpack & River Flow 2026 - Spotify 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

As rivers in the west fill with spring runoff, we begin a series of episodes with various river hydrologists from four River Forecast Centers across the country. In this episode, we talk with the Northwest River Forecast Center in Oregon to learn about this past winter's precipitation and what flows will emerge this spring and summer. This episode is focused on the Columbia River Basin. Our guest is Amy Burke, a river hydrologist from the NWRFC. She explains the impacts of the Atmospheric Rivers and the March heat dome. Following this episode will be companion episodes for many of the river basins popular with river runners. GUESTS Amy Burke Northwest River Forecast Cente River Forecast Centers NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NWS National Weather Service SPONSORS NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation PREVIOUS EPISODES ON RIVER FLOW FORECAST 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2024 Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Apple Podcasts 2023 Western Snowpack & River Flow - Spotify Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Apple Podcasts Atmospheric Rivers 101 - Spotify THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

In the State of Colorado, the couple hundred rivers and several thousand streams are extremely popular for fishing, boating, swimming, all the river things. And while people typically have access to these waterways, the laws on access in the state are not clear and could potentially lock up access when rivers run next to and through private property. Currently two groups are working to secure access for river users and a film, "Common Waters," explores a recent interaction between a landowner and a fisherman that is leveraging a push for legal clarity around this access. Two guests join us to talk through the topic: Hattie Johnson from American Whitewater, and Cody Perry from Rig to Flip. GUESTS Hattie Johnson from American Whitewater Cody Perry from Rig to Flip Thumbnail pic: Cody Perry, Rig to Flip RESOURCES Film: "Common Waters" White paper on Wading and navigability in Colorado Article on opposition to stream access in Colorado Donate to Colorado Access Fund THE 2 GROUPS WORKING ON ACCESS Responsible River Recreation Alliance (Hattie Johnson & AW) Send a letter to your Colorado lawmaker supporting safe and legal river passage Facebook Instagram Colorado Stream Access Coalition (Cody Perry & Rig to Flip) Sign the Petition for boating and fishing/wading access SPONSORS NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation PREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODES ON TOPIC New Mexico's Fenced Off Rivers (Apple Podcast) New Mexico's Fenced Off Rivers (Spotify) THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

Rowing is loosely defined as the act, or the art, of moving a boat through water with two oars, powered by a human. As a professional river guide, Kelsey Pfendler rows boats down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In early May of 2026, she will embark on a 2,500 mile row across the Pacific Ocean from south of San Francisco, California, to the islands of Hawaii. Kelsey will make this journey solo, taking about 80 days. Her vessel, Lily, is built for the task. She has a small cabin for sleeping and reading charts and weather and communicating with her land crew. Why is she rowing solo across the ocean? There are many answers. One answer is to bring attention to the Whale Foundation, a guide support organization focused on Grand Canyon guide health. The other reasons? She tells us why. This is her second Mid Pacific crossing, but the first solo. What she learned on the first crossing brings more depth to the power of the solo crossing. yourowkelsey.com Whale Foundation @yourowkelsey TikTok: @yourowkelsey Tracking Kelsey's first row Lily, Kelsey's boat THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

The waters of the Rio Grande form the entire 1,254-mile border between the state of Texas and Mexico. Some portions of that border are open, with no physical barrier and monitored primarily by surveillance. Other sections have a full wall, with others are slated for new construction. One long stretch through Big Bend is defined by deep, rugged canyons that seem to function as a natural barrier. And it is here that survey crews are working toward the possibility of building a wall. This region is known for the Rio Grande flowing through national and state parks, Wild and Scenic canyons, and vast wildlife areas all consistently remote, powerful river country. Supporting that riverscape is a long-standing river outfitting community. A wall could cut off access to the river for outfitters, for do-it-yourself boaters and potentially disrupt the local economy built around it. River runners, ranchers, residents, and five border-county sheriffs are speaking out about the wall, standing against a wall and for the wild canyon country they call home. In this episode, we talk with Tara Shackelford, an outfitter, and Judge Greg Henington, a former outfitter and current county judge, to understand their connection to the river. GUEST Tara Shackelford Hidden Dagger Adventures @hiddendaggeradventures FB Hidden Dagger Adventures Judge Greg Henington 2020 Texas Highways article featuring Greg Henington SPONSORS American Rivers @americanrivers FB American Rivers Valley Nissan @valley_nissan RESOURCES Rio Grande Big Bend region Big Bend National Park Big Bend Ranch State Park Black Gap Wildlife Management Area Lower Canyons Wild & Scenic Rio Grande Cañón de Santa Elena Flora and Fauna Protection Area Ocampo Flora and Fauna Protection Area Maderas del Carmen The film: "The Border & the Wall" from Fin & Fur Films US Customs & Border Protection, Texas border wall map GROUPS WORKING ON TOPIC No Big Bend Border Wall National Parks Conservation Association REGIONAL MEDIA Big Bend Sentinel Marfa Public Radio PREVIOUS RIVER RADIUS EPISODES The US Mexico Border, the Rio Grande, a Floating Fence Part 1 Tijuana River, Binational Flow Part 2 Tijuana River, Source of the Pollution Part 3 Tijuana River, Solutions THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree

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 Lewis Wyld Heart Co. Wyld Heart Blog @wyldheartco SPONSORS Valley Nissan @valley_nissan Down River Equipment IG @downriverequipment FB @Down River Equipment Raftopia April 6-11, 2026 In person sale April 11 THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link 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 Martin @finding.stephen @explorewithmedia GUESTS The Returning Rapids Project Isabel Adler Davide Ipolito Mike DeHoff Media about Returning Rapids A Ledge in the River: New feature documented by the Returning Rapids Project Mike Fiebig, American Rivers CONFERENCE HOST America Outdoors 2027 Conference Watch this episode on the America Outdoors Youtube Channel SPONSORS Giveaway: " Raft the Last Wild River Sweepstakes" live March 9, 2026 OARS @oars_rafting Stillwater & Cataract Canyon Hiker Cataract Canyon Whitewater Rafting AMERICAN RIVERS @americanrivers THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link 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. GUESTS Stephanie Hoelscher Devin Ashley Brown @afrodiskayak Harvest Film Company Nishan Thapa @riverratmountainkat @summit_to_sea2026 SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers @nissanusa FILMS NATIONAL PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL @npff.paddling Tickets: live & streaming THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link 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 Clifton GUESTS Kelley Kalafatich TEDX Kelley Kalafatich IRF Julie Munger Rebecca Rusch website Instagram Facebook Youtube SPONSOR Denver Area Nissan Dealers @nissanusa EPISODE THUMBNAIL IMAGE Carr Clifton ARTICLES "Grand Adventure: River Boarding the Colorado" "Three Women, 300 Miles" RIVER BOARD Carlson River Board at NRS Churchhill Swimfins THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link 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. GUESTS Ben Stookesberry @benstookesberry Bio @ Kokatat Bio @ Jackson Kayak Latest Film: ¡Ay Chihuahua! Diego Robles: @ecuskayaker RESOURCES Ecuadorian Rivers Institute @ecuadorianrivers Steven Donzinger story Savages, book, by Joe Kane PADDLERS TO FOLLOW @ecuskayaker (Diego) @williehenkel @wyatt_doyle @salmonsourcetosea @elizabeth.tobey @brookehess @oceansandmountains (Hailey) @pedroolivakaiak @riverratmountainkat @mayuwarmikayak @teepee_boys SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers @nissanusa THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newsletter) Instagram Facebook Apple Podcast Spotify Link Tree