Endurance paddler Billy Butler joins today's episode to talk about his transition from rivers to sea kayaking, recent record-setting performances, and the training and preparation behind them.

The episode covers highlights like the Isle of Wight and Anglesey circumnavigations, a North Sea crossing, upcoming plans including surf ski competitions, and practical lessons for touring and expedition paddlers.

Lucy Graham is today's guest on the Paddling the Blue podcast.

Lucy fostered a love for outdoor and environmental education and guiding programs early on and that led her to undertake the trip of a lifetime along the Inside Passage. She and her friend Mathilde added a twist, making the trip single-use plastic free.  In today's episode, we talk about that trip and her follow up source to sea solo of the Yukon by canoe.  

Passage Adventures

The Film - Changing Tides

Today’s episode with Mark Evans is a bit backward from our other episodes. Normally we talk about a trip that has already happened. Well, this one hasn’t happened yet and is about to kick off.  Mark Evans brings a vast adventure pedigree, from crossing Greenland, a year in Svalbard, teaching in Africa, and retracing famous routes overland through Africa.  His latest exploration is a second attempt at paddling the coastline of Oman, a country not known for kayaking but surprisingly rugged by land and rich in water.

The trip combines expedition paddling with science and education: eDNA sampling, hydrophone recordings, daily podcast updates, VR 360° imagery and classroom outreach. Mark explains support logistics and the coastal landscapes and challenges he expects to face.

Listeners can follow the journey and access podcasts, live tracking and resources at oman3165.com and via the Oman 3165 podcast feed.

In today's episode, John Connolly recounts his 75-day, 1,500-mile solo journey connecting the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and the Maine Island Trail, traveling by canoe and sea kayak through rivers, lakes, portages, and the tidal Bay of Fundy.

John describes the trip’s challenges and highlights—upstream paddling, long portages, dramatic tides, wildlife encounters, and community support.

ConnellyOutdoors.com

"Dying out here is not an option: PaddleQuest 1000--A 1500 Mile, 75 Day, Solo Canoe & Kayak Odyssey"

"If We're Going to Die, It's Probably Here: Everglades Circumnavigation by Canoe - A 174 Mile, 8 Day Tandem Canoe Exploit" 

Maine Island Trail Association

Northern Forest Canoe Trail

Photo credit: Rafael Gallo

Ed Hill joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to share a 1,000-mile canoe vision quest along Canada’s west coast that partnered the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Indigenous communities to celebrate culture and offer alternatives to addiction.

The episode explores the physical challenges of the voyage, the restoration of canoe culture, powerful cross-cultural ceremonies and songs, and the creation of the Vision Quest recovery program.

Before we get to today’s conversation with Ed,

I shared a trip that I took to Alaska’s Prince William Sound back on episode #50. I’m doing that trip again and if you’ve been considering an intro to Alaska, you can come along too. Experience the beauty of Alaska’s Prince William Sound on this 6 day experience from July 12-18, 2026.  Along with peaks rising 4,000 feet from the sound, you will experience glaciers calving in the distance, catch a glimpse of the area’s diverse wildlife, camp on remote beaches, and more. It’s a small group experience limited to a total group of six and I have two spots remaining.  Learn more at www.paddlingtheblue.com/alaska.

James Stevenson and Simon Osborne at onlineseakayaking.com continue to produce great content to help you evolve as a paddler, and as a coach.   You’ll find everything from basic strokes and safety to paddling in tides, surfing, coaching, documentaries, expedition skills and incident management, and more. If you’re not already a subscriber to Onlineseakayaking.com, here’s your opportunity to get started. Visit onlineseakayaking.com and use the coupon code PTBPODCAST at checkout and you’ll get 10% just for being a member of the Paddling the Blue community.

For those of us who enjoy also paddling whitewater boats, their newest offering is Online Whitewater and they’re also offering the same discount to listeners. Check out onlinewhitewater.com, use the code PTBPODCAST at checkout and explore.     

Enjoy today’s interview with Ed Hill.

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Stuart Munson is a reformed backpacker who discovered paddling as a new way to get to great places. Today we talk about his two-month slow roll exploration of Desolation Sound and Johnstone Strait in Pacific Northwest Canada.

Stuart Munson shares his two-month solo sea kayak expedition through Desolation Sound, Johnstone Strait, and the Broughton Archipelago. Stuart shares planning tips, campsite strategies (including his favorite aerial tent), wildlife encounters with orcas, porpoises, bears, and a humpback, and how he balanced safety and exploration using charts, Gaia GPS, and a Garmin inReach.

YouTube

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Richard Harpham has more than 14,000 miles of human-powered adventures under his belt and he’s not slowing down. Today we talk about two, London to Marrakech by kayak and bike the challenges and triumphs encountered along the way, from the sea conditions off of Casablanca to the bustling Strait of Gibraltar, and a unique twist on a trip that he called the New York Spare Seat Kayak Expedition.

Stephen Marsh joins today’s episode of the podcast. Many of you may know Stephen as the master artisan behind Big Pond Kayaks. Dive into Stephen's life as a passionate paddler and explore the coastal waters of the Isle of Man, renowned for its vibrant paddling community and beautiful sea kayaking experiences. Discover the inspiration behind Stephen's intricate kayak artwork, the challenges of building custom boats, and the beauty of handcrafted designs that make each kayak a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. 

Welcome to today’s episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast! 

I was paddling with some friends recently and someone mentioned Darcy Gaechter. Darcy is an extraordinary adventurer and author of Amazon Woman. Darcy's journey down the Amazon River set a milestone as the first and only woman to paddle the entire length of the river. The paddler I was with was fascinated by Darcy’s story so I thought this would be a great opportunity to bring this one back to the top. In this episode, we explore the challenges, thrills, and fascinating encounters from her epic 148-day expedition where she achieved that milestone.

Learn more about mining's effect on the Amazon at Ecuadorian Rivers Institute

Connect with Darcy:

Join us for an exciting encore episode of 'Paddling the Blue' as as we revisit a fun conversation with Justine Curgenven.

Dive into Justine's incredible journey through Alaska's remote Aleutian Island chain with Sarah Outen. Learn about her preparations, the breathtaking landscapes, and unique wildlife encounters. This episode is packed with inspiration for kayakers and adventurers alike. Plus, discover how Justine's stories continue to captivate audiences and her ongoing contributions to the paddling community.

This episode also features exclusive offers from our partners at OnlineSeaKayaking.com and Online Whitewater to help you make the most of your kayaking adventures.