7 Paddling Podcasts for Your Playlist

In this long winter of pandemic-induced discontent, podcasts have the power to take you where you just can’t physically go. An epic kayak run on the Indus in Pakistan. A wintry day trip on Wilson Creek in North Carolina. Best of all, you can take in these vistas without more screen time. Just sit back (or get outside) and listen. 

Several paddling podcasts have kept me pleasantly distracted this winter while I’ve slogged through long(ish) runs on icy roads down to our local river and back. Some of these podcasts have been going for years, and some are new on the scene. All have different perspectives, different vibes, and different stories to tell by and about people in the paddling community. And every once in a while, they show up on each other’s shows as guests. (It’s a small world.)

Here’s a quick rundown of paddling podcasts that will put you in a river state of mind, even if paddling season is still weeks away where you live. 

Eddy Out 

New on the paddling podcast scene, Eddy Out was launched in late 2020 by Natali Zollinger and Brittany Parker, co-founders of RVR 2 RVR, which offers instruction in whitewater stand-up paddling as well as immersive retreats in Costa Rica (as pandemic conditions permit, presumably). Now hosted solely by Zollinger (Parker will drop in for some episodes but is focused on college coursework), the podcast features conversations with people across the river running community. Guests have included Grand Canyon commercial dory boatwoman Ote Dale, Badfish co-owner and whitewater park engineer Mike Harvey, and American Rivers Southwest River Protection Director Mike Fiebig. 

Zollinger and Parker also interviewed Antoinette Lee Toscano and Lily Durkee, co-founders of Diversify Whitewater (here’s our post on Diversify Whitewater), which led to a collaboration with Toscano, who started WhitewaterTV on the XOTV platform. You can catch Eddy Out in video format on WhitewaterTV. 

Zollinger takes a 360 approach to her interviews, diving with her guests into discussions of relationships, spirituality, Mercury in retrograde—in addition to straight-up paddling talk. Just like any good late-night session with friends on the river. 

Hammer Factor 

Hammer Factor was not on my radar until we talked with Antoinette Lee Toscano for the Diversify Whitewater post and she mentioned that she would be a guest on the show. Launched in 2017, Hammer Factor is hosted by John Grace (Green Race Director), Louis Geltman (policy director at Outdoor Alliance), and John Weld (co-owner of Immersion Research). Some reviewers of Hammer Factor have dropped comments complaining about the political bent of this show, and indeed the episode I listened to could have been subtitled Pod Save America’s Rivers. (And I say that with love—I hope Deb Haaland gets confirmed to lead the Interior Department, too.)

After discussing current affairs, the team brought Toscano on to discuss her video calling out a previous episode that lumped kayak manufacturer Liquid Logic in with other retailers that have jumped on the diversity bandwagon. Toscano pointed out how Liquid Logic has proactively supported Diversify Whitewater. After that lively discussion, and a plan to have Toscano back with DW co-founder Lily Durkee, the guys went on to discuss whitewater boat designs with Chris Hipgrave. The crew always ends with some rants and raves, all highly entertaining.

Paddling Adventures Radio

Launched in 2017, Paddling Adventures Radio is a weekly podcast (262 episodes and counting) covering canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddling, and rafting on the waterways of Canada. Hosted by Sean Rowley and Derek Specht, the discussion is wide-ranging. One episode I listened to recently was focused on Algonquin Provincial Park, with guest Randy Mitson from Algonquin Outfitters. (It included a long diatribe about paddling in incessant wind—I get it.) Their episode descriptions capture the typical scope of conversation. From the February 25 episode notes: “Aleksander Doba; Pocket Outdoor Rebrands; Earthworms Are an Invasive Species; John’s 48-State Paddle Plan.”

Though the Paddling Adventures Radio team does touch on all sorts of paddling—and they collectively have varied outdoor experience with hiking, skiing, and other pursuits—canoe tripping seems to be their main jam. Given that canoeing doesn’t get much focus in the U.S. paddling world, if you are keen on canoeing, give this one a listen. 

Questions You Never Thought to Ask

The monthly (more or less) podcast Questions You Never Thought to Ask is “Kayakers talking about kayaking with whitewater kayakers,” hosted by Seth Ashworth. The most recent episode I listened to was an interview with Johnny Chase, paddling buddy of Dane Jackson, and—as Ashworth described in the episode notes—”possibly the luckiest unlucky person I have ever spoken to.” (You’ll have to tune in to the episode to hear about near-misses with ankle injuries and snake bites.) 

Although I’m not a hard-core kayaker, I spend a probably unacceptable amount of time watching folks like Nouria Newman do heart-flipping drops on Instagram. The episode with Chase was a spellbinding discussion of what it’s like to paddle the Indus River in Pakistan, which he did in fall 2019 with Jackson, Evan Moore, and Carson Lindsay. (Jackson did a successful descent of the Malupa rapid on the Indus during that trip.) Ashworth is a great interviewer, and Chase is a great storyteller. Close your eyes and listen, and you’ll be right there with the crew as they calculate the odds.

River Radius

River Radius is superbly produced: Focused theme for each episode, different perspectives, woven together in a cohesive presentation with tight editing. According to the podcast’s web site, host Sam Carter had a river-related talk show on public radio station KSJD. His mission is to “capture the culture of those running rivers, working on and with rivers, using water from rivers, and preserving the quality of rivers.” Carter has been a river guide, BLM ranger, backcountry guide, teacher, and professional development trainer. His breadth of experience contributes to the journalistic feel of the River Radius podcasts: He tracks down people who can help answer our big questions about river running and sheds some light.

For example, I encourage anyone who feels like the river permit lottery is rigged to listen to episode 4, “River Permits.” Carter talks to people at Rec.gov and at the permitting offices at Dinosaur National Monument (Yampa and Lodore section of the Green), Salmon-Challis National Forest (the “Four Rivers”—Middle Fork of the Salmon, Selway, Hell’s Canyon of the Snake, and the Salmon), and Grand Canyon National Park. Spoiler: The reason you feel like you never get lucky in the lottery is the exponential rise in river permit applications. The odds just aren’t in our favor. Hats off to Carter for his informative, deep-dive podcast sessions. 

River Talk

Hosted by Zach Collier (owner of Northwest Rafting Co.), Priscilla Macy (newly appointed executive director of the Oregon Outfitter and Guides Association), and Erik Weiseth (managing partner of Orange Torpedo Trips out of McCall, ID), River Talk is “an attempt to intelligently talk about rivers and whitewater paddling.” One topic this crew returns to often—and isn’t covered much in other podcasts—is river safety. They’ve talked with an M.D., Chris David, about wilderness medicine for whitewater paddlers. In another episode, I came away with some good whitewater safety books and tips for rescue ropes. And they had Clay Williams of Green Tongue Adventures on to talk about rescue vests.

One of my favorite episodes was the interview with Adam Edwards (arborist, photographer, videographer, model, diversity and inclusion advocate, whitewater kayaker—among other avocations). Edwards laid out in plain terms what it’s like to feel unwelcome while pursuing outdoor adventures as a member of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community. He talks about his work with Just Add Water Project (which encourages diversity, equity and inclusion in paddlesports) and Melanin Base Camp, and mentions Diversify Whitewater (coming back full circle here). And toward the end of the show, Edwards pitches in on the Gear of the Week talk, giving me a foot gear tip I’d never considered since discovering Astrals: the Hoka Arkali. 

Waterbound

Kicking off each episode with one of my favorite Old Time tunes and the sound of a beer cracking open, Waterbound is a comfortable, rambling discussion between paddling friends Linc Stallings (a raft guide) and Ted Whisenhunt (weekend paddler) in the Southeast. The conversations can be meandering: A recent episode that was sort of about buying the right shuttle vehicle started way back in time with a discussion of the relative merits of the Dodge Colt and extensive laments about the demise of the standard transmission. For me, their trip reports are clutch: I spent a few years paddling in the Southeast back in the day, so their tales of weekend escapades on the Chattooga, Nantahala, Tellico, and other gems take me right back to those laurel-covered banks and mist hovering over the water. 

Continuing the theme of podcasters interviewing podcasters, Whisenhunt and Stallings recently had Zach Collier (from River Talk) on as a guest to talk about rowing oar rigs, which has only recently become a thing in the Southeast. Also: A fascinating discussion of what to call an inflatable kayak (a craft they all heartily endorse and respect) to make it more bad-ass. Dial up season 2, episode 12, to hear the nominations.  

Paddling podcasts to get you through

For those of us in the Rocky Mountain region, spring seems a long time coming these last few weeks, but paddling season will arrive eventually. In the meantime, while you’re rearranging your boating gear, listen to one of these podcasts for a new perspective, paddling safety tips, or just some soothing conversations about cars and boating gear. 

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