SAM'S FAVORITES EPISODES

Podcasting is incredibly unique and fun work that has allowed me to meet so many rivers and river people. And podcasting is a job that I really just created for myself. Yes there are other podcasts and podcasters, but by nature of the work, we are all kind of hidden in quiet places behind microphones and editing screens, so finding a podcasting friend is so helpful. Ed Roberson has built the Mountain & Prairie Podcast and we have become colleagues and friends that can support each other when we ...

Every year, we ask one big question: What is a River? This year, the currents brought us to Dr. Robert Macfarlane—writer & professor—and his newly released book, Is A River Alive?, Dr Macfarlane joined us to explore that very question. From the chalk streams from his home in England to rivers across three continents, Macfarlane pursues his answers. In this episode, we move through his global journey, his new water literacy, and why he calls himself a teacher first. GUESTS Dr Robert Macfarlane,...

This episode is on site where a beautiful desert mountain river flows through an estuary and into the Pacific Ocean. Before the Tijuana River meets the ocean, it navigates through a dense urban border region with 5 million people. The outcome is a river that is carrying toxic sewage and pollution to the ocean, closing beaches and creating illness in the river and beach communities. This is the first episode in a series about this beautiful place, the epic pollution, and the incredible people who...

Dr Len Necefer opens up 2025 for The River Radius. Len is the mind and perspective I wanted to welcome me and you both into this 6th season of The River Radius. We talk through the relationship of rivers and elections, of books for this year, the work and impact of Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and other river and life layers. Len is the founder of Natives Outdoors, the Sonoran Avalanche Center, runs rivers, is articulate and intelligently humorous. This is the 2nd episode with Dr Len N...

This episode is Part 2 of our live on stage interview with Kevin Fedarko. Kevin joins us to talk through his new book A WALK IN THE PARK. In Part 2 we go into the west end of the Grand Canyon and learn about the events that confound and inspire the messages that emerge in his new book.

The Klamath River 2nd episode. In the Spring of 2025, a group of teenagers from several Tribal Nations of the Klamath River Basin and greater region will descend the newly undammed Klamath River from source to sea. These teens began learning how to kayak in 2022 and 2023, began learning about river policy and fish science, and are bringing their family stories to the river with them. In the summer of 2023 The River Radius spent a week with these young paddlers on the water and on the microphone ...

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...

As spring melt begins to fill rivers in the Western United States, the anticipation is high for big water runoff this season because of the long snowy winter. The River Forecast Centers of the National Weather Service provide forecasting for river flows across the country. This episode talks with the 3 of the Western Forecast Centers to learn about the snowpack and the coming river flows for spring of 2023. EPISODE CONTENT LINKS 13 River Forecast Centers Colorado River Basin Forecast Center Ca...

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.

This episode is the 1st of 2 episodes. Some stories stand the test of time. This is one. 1995, Big Susitna River in Alaska, glacial melt, rains in the canyon. Three friends fly deep into the backcountry with plans of a one day trip on big water. That day their plans changed & 27 years later they all tell the story. Nissan and The Denver Area Dealerships Dealer Locater Link Big Susitna River USGS Gauge on Big Susitna River Helio Courier THE RIVER RADIUS Website Runoff signup (episode newslette...

The Gila River and Gila Mountains of New Mexico have been home for Indigenous people for thousands of years, for colonial Spanish and Mexican people for hundreds of years, and now for all of those folks under the United States since 1912. This river along with The San Francisco River and The Mimbres River were just nominated for Wild and Scenic River protection. This is a river of families, lineages and gathering. GUESTS Nathan Newcomer Guadalupe Cano Patricia Cano Michael Darrow Simon Sot...

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.

Cataract Canyon is welcoming some of its rapids back to the flow of the river as the Colorado River is recovering from a reservoir. A crew of river runners has been there witnessing and documenting the Returning Rapids.