Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down again with David Miller, ultramarathon paddler and owner of Rowdy Racoon Paddling and Racing Solutions. We cover so much in this episode from how to build a kayak, an intro into boat modifications and repair, working with carbon fiber, custom trailers, Rowdy Racoon, balanced yokes, under stern versus over stern rudders, his new invention the Ski Dash, and Party Possum. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from David himself on this 65th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Rowdy Racoon Website: https://www.rowdyracoon.com/

Rowdy Racoon IG: @rowdyracoonracing

David’s FB: https://www.facebook.com/david.m.miller.58

David’s email: [email protected]

Ski Dash weight: 8oz

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Esther Wheeler fresh off of her amazing performance in the Race to Alaska finishing in 21 days, 1 hour, and 30 minutes and more impressively being the first ever female to complete the race solo and she did it under human power only. We cover so much in this episode from the Proving Grounds, otters, orcas, and humpbacks, managing fresh water supply in salt water conditions, navigating tides, currents, and rapidly changing weather conditions, camping safely in extreme tidal conditions, making decisions based on instincts versus technology, generosity from strangers, Cape Caution, taking time to feel emotions, and racing for a once a week shuttle. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from Esther herself on this 64th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Esther’s book recommendations:

-Where the Light Gets In, by Ben Crowe

Race to Alaska website: https://r2ak.com/

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with his brother, firefighter, and ultramarathon paddler, Bradley Thomas who is fresh off a 4th place male solo finish at the 2026 MR340. We cover so much in this episode from never really paddling to spring boarding into the Yukon 1000, the science behind zone 2 training, the challenges of 24 hour shift work when training for ultras, hitting rock bottom 20 miles from the finish line of a 1000 mile race, the MR340, the Race Owl app, creatine karaoke for sleep deprivation, being inspired by crew and the paddling community, the pitfalls of trying something new on race day, and as many Big Lebowski quotes we could manage to fit into one episode. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from Bradley himself and this Little Missouri Urban Achiever on this 63rd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Bradley’s book/podcast recommendations:

-Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer

-The Long Walk, by Slavomir Rawicz

-The Meateater Podcast Episode 641: 15 Years of Living Off the Land in Alaska

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Andrew and Kathren Hansen of Hansen Family Services paddle racing safety support team. Andrew is an ultramarathon paddler, volunteer firefighter, and race safety extraordinaire and his wife Kathren started out crewing for him in ultramarathon races and now is part of his race safety team. Just as a short side note we recorded this in 2 sessions and Kathren joined us for the 2nd recording, so I wasn’t prepared to give her a proper intro like I do all of my guests, so that is the reason why the sole focus is on Andrew at the beginning of the show. We cover so much in this episode from racing against yourself, the California River Quest, the Gorge Downwind Champs, SeaStrike machines, race safety training, and being prepared for the worst and unexpected. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from Andrew and Kathren themselves on this 62nd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Hansen Family Services IG: @Hansen_Family_Services

www.rpams.com

https://k38rescue.com

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Jessie Gladish, Canadian Yukon resident, ultramarathon racer of many disciplines and climates, and director of the 2026 Yukon River Quest. We cover so much in this episode from hiking the Chilkoot Pass at age 7, the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra in minus 48 degree temps, the Iditarod Trail Invitational, hazards of the Arctic in winter, a behind the scenes look at directing the Yukon River Quest, a call for and importance of volunteers, and of course the standard book recommendations. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from Jessie herself on this 61st episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Jessie’s book recommendations:

-Polar Dream, by Helen Thayer

-Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell

-Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen

-Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer

-Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer

YRQ IG: @yukonriverquestofficial

Jessie's IG: @jessiegladish

YRQ Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/18vyLPUSua/?mibextid=wwXIfr

YRQ website

https://www.yukonriverquest.com

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Bernard Moyersoen, ultramarathon paddler and adventurer out of Belgium, who is the back-to-back-to-back solo kayak champion in the Yukon River Quest from 2024 - 2026. We cover so much in this episode from expedition paddling in Venezuela, downriver marathon paddling in Scotland, the Loire 725 and Dordogne Intégrale, YRQ race strategies, the pull of the Yukon, and epic training plans. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from Bernard himself on this 60th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Bernard's book recommendation: La Riviere Esperance

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down again with Sean Lougheed, but this time as a solo guest. Sean is a Canadian ultramarathon paddler and Yukon 1000 alum who just took 1st place in the solo canoe division of the 2026 Yukon River Quest and came in just 11 minutes off of record time. We cover so much in this episode from the fire that the Yukon 1000 lights within, longevity in ultra paddling, positive impacts paddling communities can support, risk versus safety equations, flexibility and recovery, heat and hallucinations, the importance of safety checks, reflections on the Yukon Flats, and brainstorming ways to deepen the dot watching experience in ultra racing. 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, but I’ll let you hear it from Sean himself on this 59th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Sean's YRQ Trip Report: https://slougheed.substack.com/p/2026-yukon-river-quest

Sean’s book recommendations:

-Love Big Country, by Mark Fletcher

-Reading the River, by John Hildebrand

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down again with Rod Price out of Florida to catch up on more of his paddling stories as well as a 2026 Suwannee 230 race. We cover so much in this episode from his recent class win in the Everglades Challenge, learning from DNFs, the Pea River Race, setting world records in a dragon boat, hazards from sturgeon, and the Rod’s 2026 Suwannee 230 race recap. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Rod himself on this 58th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Rod’s books:

-If you’d like to order any book Rod has authored he is offering a 2-for-1 deal. To get the deal reach out to him at [email protected].

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Candi Hill and David Miller to chat about their back-to-back mixed tandem victories and course record for the Suwannee 230. We cover so much in this episode from couch to the MR340, the Kansas/Missouri paddling community, going from never met to racing an ultra the next day, navigating swamps, how electrolytes can affect paddling technique, double vs. single blading, sturgeon vs. manatees, and the Pea River race. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Mike himself on this 57th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

Candi’s book recommendations:

-Can’t Hurt Me, by David Goggins

David’s book recommendations:

-Voices on the River, by Walter Havighurst

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Steve Schnarr of Missouri River Relief and the sitting Race Director of the MR340. We cover so much in this episode from the community-centric programs Missouri River Relief provides and how they transform lives as well as the river, the story behind MRR becoming involved with the MR340, how the race has evolved over the years, the MR340 culture of sharing, hallucinating robots, volunteerism and unsung heroes, the Reaper, and the innovative approaches paddlers take to get to the finish line of the MR340. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Steve himself on this 56th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast…

-Missouri River Bookshelf (on Missouri River Relief website) - https://riverrelief.org/resource/mo-river-bookshelf

-Missouri River Relief - https://riverrelief.org/

-MR340 - https://mr340.org/

-Documentary about 2022 MR340 ”Chronicle – Race for the River” by KMBC in Kansas City - https://mr340.org/mr340-documentary/

-Missouri American Water MR340 Facebook Group (soon to be renamed MR340 Community) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/188849561244166

Missouri River Relief Social Media

-Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/missouririverrelief

-Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mo.river.relief/

-YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/MissouriRiverRelief