Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with John D. Chapman III and Dustin Jackson, both out of Alabama to hear about their first attempt at the Alabama 650 this past October. We cover so much in this episode from 75 Hard, the Texas Water Safari, the mindset required for ultramarathon paddling, zone 2 training, 2 alligator encounters, enjoying the moment, dealing with adversity, aqua dumps, cradling a kayak through rapids, hallucinations, support crew going above and beyond, and emotions surrounding the hurricane causing the unplanned early stoppage of the race. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, guest book recommendations, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. Even a $1 per month donation goes a long way to support the show. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from John D and Dustin themselves on this 74th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Dustin’s book recommendations:

-Can’t Hurt Me, by David Goggins

John D’s book recommendation:

-Relentless, by Tim S. Grover

Dustin Jackson’s social links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dustin.jackson.754/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustinezn/

Ready, Set, Goal Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/583014879474236

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-jackson-491787192

John D Chapman’s social links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johndacy_?obrf=bWxsZXNtZjJmczhn&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HqbC6oHnR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/t/N0gEE7wo

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@johndacy?si=WNxyTKGNzoxDijRO

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Jake Paleczny & Crispin Studer, two Yukon locals, to talk about smashing the canoe record in the 2026 Yukon 1000. We cover so much in this episode including how dog mushing transfers over to endurance paddling, the dangers of chasing a great race, 1000 mile race strategy, cold weather training for paddling, the Yukon Flats, ground game efficiency for sleep optimization, the importance of choosing good campsites, headwinds and hypothermia, cheese fuel, and emptying the tank. I should also mention that I massively understated Jake’s previous paddling accomplishments at the top of the show, so Jake… my apologies. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, book recommendations from guests, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. Even a $1 per month donation goes a long way to support the show. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Jake and Crispin themselves on this 73rd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Crispin’s book recommendation:

-The Ultimate Canoe Challenge, by Verlen Kruger and Brand Frentz

This PSA is in support of a fellow ultramarathon paddler, John Wellens, who appeared on Episode #6 of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast. John has just published a book highlighting his source to sea journey on the Mississippi River in which all proceeds will go to support mental health awareness. Click the link below or visit www.dabblinginpaddleism.com via the Book Club tab to find his book titled "Crossing Muddy Waters." All proceeds from his book sales support the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (Note: Links below and on www.dabblinginpaddleism.com are NOT paid Amazon affiliate links)

https://www.amazon.com/CROSSING-MUDDY-WATERS-PADDLE-ENDURE/dp/B0HHGBMMST

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Greg Wingo to recap the 2026 Alabama 650. As you all know the 650 ended early this year due to Hurricane Isaiahs which aimed its wrath at the finish line in Fort Morgan. We cover so much in this episode from the definition of ultramarathon paddling, a brief intro to what the 650 is all about, the highs and lows of crewing the race, the solo women’s category, community race fans, weather forecasting support, the decision-making process regarding the race and an approaching hurricane, race ending terminology, and the high moments of the 2026 Alabama 650. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, book recommendations from guests, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. Even a $1 per month donation goes a long way to support the show. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Greg himself on this 72nd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Instragram:

@greatalabama650

@gregory.wingo

@alabama_scenic_river_trail

Websites:

https://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com/great-alabama-650/

https://roamprojects.com/home.html

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Mike Malone and Ruthie Reaves, two of the 14 person crew team that took care of The Ocho, the OC-8 Riverhawk boat that took 1st place overall at the 2026 MR340. We cover so much in this episode from creative ways to resupply a 55 foot boat in fast moving water, saved by a VHF radio, logistics for crew safety and racer performance, in-race audibles, crewing the MR340 vs. the Alabama 650, ice socks, the importance of downloading offline maps, and barge captain heroes. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, book recommendations from guests, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Mike and Ruthie themselves on this 71st episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Mike’s book recommendations:

-Bad Monkey, by Carl Hiaasen

10th Life Kayaking:

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14mDpsi1xSU/

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down again with Ilia Smirnov for part 3 of his solo Mississippi Speed Record adventure. We cover so much in this episode from very committing days, alligators, Ilia’s crew support Anna and Alyse, the River Angels community, navigating heavy and dangerous commercial traffic, sleep hygiene, hypothermia, relationships with alcohol, Baton Rouge to Mile Zero, and mother nature’s revenge. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, guest book recommendations, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. There’s so much more to this episode, the final episode of an epic 3 part series, but I’ll let you hear it from Ilia himself on this 70th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Ilia’s book recommendations:

-This Naked Mind, by Annie Grace

-Never Finished, by David Goggins

-The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

Ilia’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilia.capefear

Business website: www.capefearadventures.com

Personal website: www.uncomfortablewithin.com

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down again with Ilia Smirnov for part 2 of his solo Mississippi Speed Record adventure. We cover so much in this episode from keeping your world small, rhabdomyolysis, crew support, paddling through 26 locks, navigating big city and barge traffic, strategies for communicating with lock masters, finding campsites, run-ins with military police, and the infamous Chain of Rocks. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, guest book recommendations, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. There’s so much more to this episode, part 2 of a 3 part series, but I’ll let you hear it from Ilia himself on this 69th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Ilia’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilia.capefear

Business website: www.capefearadventures.com

Personal website: www.uncomfortablewithin.com

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Ilia Smirnov, endurance and whitewater paddler and paddle shop owner originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, now living in North Carolina who just smashed the solo Mississippi Speed Record. This is the 1st episode of a 3 part epic series as Ilia and I sat down for nearly 6 total hours on 3 separate occasions. We cover so much in this part 1 episode from buying a paddle shop before he ever paddled before, leveling up to whitewater rafting and paddling, the Green River Narrows Race, kayaking the Grand Canyon solo, physical and mental training, vessel choice for the speed record, attachment to ego and controlling the mind, the headwaters of the Mississippi, how going from pristine wilderness to industrialization affects the mind as well as the land, and formidable lake crossings. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, guest book recommendations, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. There’s so much more to this episode, part 1 of a 3 part series, but I’ll let you hear it from Ilia himself on this 68th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Ilia’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilia.capefear

Business website: www.capefearadventures.com

Personal website: www.uncomfortablewithin.com

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Chris Issendorf for take two of their conversation. In this episode we cover the 2026 Ausable River Marathon, row positioning for the Safari, support crews, using Ai to address in race problems, 100 man cheering sections, a drunk alligator hunter, the demons that creep in during an ultra race and strategies to fight them off, a treaturous open bay crossing, hitting rock bottom 1 mile from the finish line, alcohol and athletic performance, the Texas Water Safari paddling community, and chasing the perfect race. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, a book club tab with guest curated reading recommendations, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Chris himself on this 67th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Chris’s book recommendations:

Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown

Canoe Racing, by Peter Heed and Dick Mansfield

Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall

Chris’s coaching platform: issendorfcanoeandkayak.com

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Chris Issendorf, legendary ultramarathon paddler and 1st ever overall solo champion of the Texas Water Safari in 2026. We cover so much in this episode from seeking out hard things in life, learning from failure, paddling technique, the Ausable River Marathon, Chris’s training evolution, finding the perfect solo boat for the Safari, intentional mental training, the importance of training camps, the story behind him racing solo in the 2026 Texas Water Safari, and the pursuit of perfection. And if you’re enjoying the show please share it, follow it, or visit dabblinginpaddleism.com to find archives, what’s coming soon, a book club tab with guest curated reading recommendations, and ways to support the show through merch, memberships, and more. Of note, we did this episode in 2 takes because we had so much to talk about and that’s how it’s going to be delivered to you in two episodes. There’s so much more to this show, a 1st of a two part series, but I’ll let you hear it from Chris himself on this 66th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…