FOR RIVER GUIDES EPISODES

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...

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 s...

In the spring of 1980, nine-year-old Bridget Crocker, while playing next to her home river, fell from a downed tree into the cold swollen Snake River — a scary swim that initiated a deep, lifelong relationship with rivers and river people. This year in 2025 her memoir “The River’s Daughter” traces a thalweg of traumas, challenges and joys that played out in both her river life and her family life. Today Bridget hosts retreats and workshops on rivers, guides on special occasions, and is creating ...

Katie Veteto is a river guide with quiet calculated confidence and a sharp eye for water. Within a few years she was navigating one of the most difficult crafts on the river—the massive sweep boat. NRS's new film Driving Sweep, directed by River Radius Contributing Host Greg Cairns, follows her journey of learning, doubt, and determination as she takes on a role historically dominated by men. Through her story, the film offers a powerful reflection on resilience, mentorship, and making space in ...

Why have cases of reported bat encounters at the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon drastically increased in the last several years? What are the chances of contracting rabies from a bat encounter? How is the safety of helicopter crews wrapped up in the physical location of a bat encounter? What does the vaccination process look like? In this episode, we utilize the personal story of a river runner's bat bite in the Grand Canyon, the expert perspectives of 2 ecologists, a CDC rabies expert, and ...

Working as a commercial river guide is one of the best jobs, day after day on rivers, helping people enjoy rivers, seeing beauty, having fun, chasing adrenaline. Creating incredible friendships, some of which might last a lifetime. And there can be a dark layer. Sexual Harassment continues to percolate, as it does in many places, in the layers of river guide culture. This episode goes there and learns about sexual harassment in the river guiding culture. We talk with Dr Maria Blevins, long time ...

The river guiding and river running world are sometimes perceived as idyllic and welcoming. When is it something different? Our guest today is an openly gay man, and he share’s his story of working as a river guide and guide company manager for the past decade and how some of that is idyllic, and other parts are full of discrimination. SPONSORS Denver Area Nissan Dealers @nissanusa www.nissanusa.com AED ONE STOP SHOP Volume and Outfitter Discounts THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episo...

In the first episode of 2024, a commercial river guide tells his story of having a massive heart attack while guiding a trip in May of 2023 on the South Fork of the American River in California. This episode is recorded with an audience of river guides and outfitters. Beyond the story is the question of the role of AEDs in commercial river guiding. SPONSORS AED One-Stop Shop Bulk Order Discount Covered With Carrie website CONFERENCE American Outdoors Association Instagram THE RIVER RADIUS Web...

Payson Kennedy at 39 was a career academic, and with his wife Aurelia had four kids, a house, and two cars in Atlanta. After working on the stunt team for the film Deliverance in 1971 and a summer running a raft company, he and his wife decided to leave it all behind and with a good friend, started the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Today, 50 years later, the Nantahala Outdoor Center is one of the most important and successful river guide operations and instruction schools in the river world. SPONSO...

The Native Teen Guide in Training Program held its 12th year of training teenagers from various tribal nations how to work as river guides. This year was the first year that the guide staff for this program was all Indigenous. The River Radius joined the NTGIT program at the boat ramp, campground and river warehouse to hear this story. SPONSORS NRS Website LEAD Program PFDs NRS Duct Tape Diaries Instagram Denver Area Nissan Dealers Instagram Nissan USA Instagram Nissan Worldwide GUESTS Nati...

Losing the Stanislaus River under the New Melones Reservoir made an impact on the people who loved the river. This episode documents three methods that transform the pain of losing a river into proactive measures to further knowledge of, connection to, and action on behalf of rivers not yet lost. This is the companion episode of The Last River Lost.

During the birth of the whitewater boating industry, the Stanislaus River in California quickly rose to popularity. In 1966 a new dam on the Stanislaus would flood this beloved stretch of river. For over a decade, river lovers and guides led campaigns, engaged in nonviolent direct action, and used rafting to let the river speak directly to the hearts of voters and representatives.

An exploration of unions in river guiding. Why aren’t they common? Why do some guides want them? A guide forms a union. One outfitter assesses the viability of unions on multi-day rivers. A guide turned outfitter on the Ocoee River provides healthcare to her guides. A boater turned insurance agent teaches provides healthcare insurance to river guides. EPISODE SPONSORS: Nissan Denver Area @nissanusa Dolores Area Businesses High Desert Life Outdoors @highdesert.life Dolores Outfitters @dolores...

Is it true that lightning can’t strike in the Grand Canyon? How far can lightning travel through water? If it does strike, where is the safest place to be? This episode explores lightning from scientific and risk management perspectives. Grounding theory through personal narratives and best practices, this episode is a tool for any river runner’s stormy trips. ADVERTISING SPONSORS American Whitewater Down River Equipment Raftopia at Down River Equipment GUESTS LAURA HARRIS JOHN BELZ, UNIVERSI...

River Guides have a great life working on rivers, guiding people down fun and beautiful rivers. But what makes that life hard? How do River Guides deal with stress? Responder Alliance is building tools for River Guides and OARS, an outfitter, is putting the tools to work with their River Guides. GUESTS Brooke Edwards Responder Alliance Instagram Courses Promo Code for courses: riverradius OARS Instagram Bruce Lavoie ENDLESS SUMMER EPISODES ADVERTISING SPONSOR Jack's Plastic Welding Instagra...

This is the 3rd and final episode of this cluster about river guides and their health. After an intense journey through guiding and the endless summers, addiction, recovery, and rebuild, we have a conversation with Jon about his modern life. This episode is the story of Dogsmile Adventures, Jon Totten's sailing program with a healing intention, and several other organizations working to support the river guiding community.

This is the 2nd episode in the cluster of 3 episodes about the health of River Guides. After 5 years of guiding rivers in Idaho and sailing charters in the Caribbean, the sun set on the Endless Summer for our guest and he found himself in the cellar of his life. And a friend grabbed onto him. He went to rehab. He returned to his natal roots. Jon helps us understand what life was like for him.

Working as a River Guide is one of the greatest jobs. A job that is almost a vacation. This is the 1st episode in a cluster of 3 episodes about how the guide life can be the best life, and how it can fall into heavy use and abuse of alcohol and drugs, and no longer be a dream job. This is one guide's story of losing the dream and climbing out of the cellar to begin again with a new dream.

Is there a right associated with being able to float down a river and to engage in that joy and risk? What happens when life circumstances create barriers to accessing risk? The National Ability Center (NAC) is a river rafting outfit that focuses on developing access to rivers for all people. We spent a day this summer running a river with NAC and their boats full of participants learning about access. ADVERTISING SPONSOR Nissan and the Denver Area Nissan Dealers website Nissan Instagram Lavab...

For many overnight river trips, the groover has become as common a tool as the PFD. Where did this groover come from, and why is a portable river toilet called a groover. This episode finds the people who were there 50 years ago when the need for the groover emerged, and when the groover itself was created.