One of the oldest surviving Inuit kayaks has returned to Canada after spending centuries in the Vatican Museums. What can a hand-crafted kayak, built more than 100 years ago, teach us today?

In this episode, I speak with Darrel Nasogaluak of Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, who was the person that identified the kayak. Drawing on the traditional knowledge passed down by his grandfather, Darrel recognized unique construction details that revealed the kayak's origins. He shares how this remarkable vessel was built, how it was used, and what it tells us about the craftsmanship, culture, and life on the water, in this rich area over a century ago.

We wrap up the episode with a special performance recorded at the 2025 Beluga Summit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJSJ8Hr0RZ8&list=PLorCqAj2t42DwgJVKC4eWZ5QBeTRZ2Upt&index=3

The Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest, stretches about 1,200 miles.

From the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia Canada through Washington and Oregon to the Pacific Ocean.

Neil Schulman is an ocean kayaker, lives in Portland, Oregon, returns to share his journey paddling sections of this remarkable river.

Warren Williamson is a self-taught designer who combined his woodworking

skills and passion for paddling to building unique wooden kayaks.

In this episode, we look into the type of boats he builds and how each

is being used on the water.

Here are some of his designs:

https://www.coroflot.com/idezineit

One of my favorite parts of kayaking is witnessing the ever changing relationship between the land and the sea. At low tide, the shoreline transforms, exposing colorful rock walls, tide pools, and a hidden world that disappears beneath the waves just hours later. Roy Jantzen, author of Wildlife Weekends, joins us to reveal the fascinating lives of the creatures and the incredible and how much they have to adopt to survive.

Canoe Polo, also known as Kayak Polo, originated in Great Britain in the late 19th century. It is a fast-paced contact sport that demands advanced paddling skills, including rolling, edging, boat control, and constant situational awareness.

My guest, Neil Schulman from Oregon, is both an experienced ocean kayaker and a competitive kayak polo player. In this episode, he explains how the skills developed on the polo court can transfer directly to ocean kayaking and help paddlers handle real-world conditions with greater confidence and control.

The Race to Alaska (R2AK) kicks off this Sunday, June 14. About 70 teams will take on the 1,200 km (750-mile) journey from Washington State to Alaska, a race that can take up to three weeks to complete. While most competitors sail, a handful of determined sea kayakers choose to paddle the entire distance.

Scott McDonald from Victoria, did it a few years ago. He shares the skills, preparation, and mindset needed to paddle for three weeks through some of the Pacific Northwest's most challenging conditions.

Find out about the race and the teams here: https://r2ak.com/

Personal goals are what drive us to improve, grow, and get better.

Caroline Ross of Crosscurrents Kayak, lives in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and has set a personal goal to circumnavigate 40 small islands.

So far, she has paddled 186.27 nautical miles (344.97 km). In this episode, she shares the challenges and highlights of this ongoing journey.

https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/

Known for his skill and experience in dynamic coastal environments, Rowan Jones Pardy believes:

"Rock gardening is the intersection where skills, technique, and energy meet."

Growing up on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Rowan is a sea kayak guide and instructor who learned to paddle before he learned to walk.

In this episode, we explore what it takes to paddle confidently in and around rocks.

Real learning happens outside the comfort zone. In this episode, I speak with Caroline Ross, owner of Crosscurrents Kayak on Central Vancouver Island.

Caroline specializes in sea kayak training, including dynamic and moving water courses, and teaches a unique program called underwater, composure helping paddlers build confidence and control in challenging conditions.

https://crosscurrentskayak.ca/

Large herring bait balls can still be seen along parts of the west coast of Canada and the United States. While salmon often gets most of the attention, this time of the year, herring are what truly bring the coast to life: attracting whales, sea lions, seabirds, and countless other marine species.

Roy Jantzen, author of Wildlife Weekends is back to share insights about the herring spawn, the wildlife it attracts, and some fascinating hydrophone surprises recorded beneath the surface.

Listen live to whale's sounds, BC Hydrophone Network: https://whalesound.ca/whales-and-sound/

Orca Lab: https://www.youtube.com/live/_M2WVpSzgCI