Paddling The Blue Podcast

Caleb McIntyre recounts a life-changing 16-day (mostly) human-powered crossing of Nicaragua — mixing kayaking and cycling to move from the Pacific to the Caribbean. He describes logistical challenges (customs, transporting kayaks), dramatic lake crossings, time in remote archipelagos, crocodile filled rivers, and the unique culture and people he met along the Rio San Juan.

The episode highlights expedition planning, risk management, and how packable TRAK kayaks made the trip possible, while reflecting on how the journey rekindled Caleb’s love of adventure and shaped his perspective as a paddler and parent.

Today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast features Rob Henshall, who has circumnavigated Ireland six times in six different craft — from a Nordkapp kayak to a Contessa sailboat, plus a laser dinghy, a windsurfer, and more. Rob shares how he started on the water, the minimalist gear that carried him around the island, and what kept him going through 66 days and countless challenges.

Along the way he recalls near‑misses (including a foggy night with a container ship), close encounters with dolphins, Guinness-courage and pub moments, and the lessons learned across multiple expeditions. 

Chris Reed joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to share the 25-year story behind Reed Chillcheater, from developing the Aquatherm fabric and UK-based production to creating innovative paddling garments used by kayakers, anglers, mountaineers and the film industry.  Staying small and focusing on what’s important to him has kept the business grounded.

The episode also covers Chris's personal paddling experiences, his embrace of the Greenland stick, community-focused business ethics, symposiums and more.

Reed Chillcheater

Jennifer Gosselin and Pierre Pepin quit the rat race, sold everything, and spent four years paddling a canoe across North America with their dog Jasmine by their side, following historic fur trade routes and the Great Loop. Along the way they faced extreme weather, long portages, wildlife encounters, and unexpected kindness from locals.

Join us as we talk about their planning and challenges, memorable human connections that sustained the journey, and what’s next as they build an expedition sailboat to continue voyaging.

Wild Raven Adventure

Recorded live at Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin, today's episode of Paddling the Blue features interviews with a wide range of guests: activists protecting the Boundary Waters, the team behind the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, international trip operators from Kayak Portugal, organizers of the MR340 endurance race, and makers of paddles and boats sharing design and craft insights.

Thanks to Chris Hipgrave and the P&H Sea Kayaks / Pyranha Kayaks team for making space in their booth to record this episode, and of course for building my favorite top quality boats. 

Thank you to the enthusiastic audience who joined me at each of my presentations over the weekend. It’s exciting to see full rooms of smiling faces learning about ways to love paddling even more.  Thank you to all the listeners who stopped by the booth to say hello. I love hearing how Paddling the Blue has inspired and positively impacted you.  And thank you to the Rutabaga Paddlesports team for producing Canoecopia! It’s a pleasure to be part of this wonderful paddling community and I look forward to many more opportunities to connect one to one in the future.

Today's episode was recorded at one of our favorite events, the Quiet Adventures Symposium in Lansing. Today's episode features conversations with paddlers, conservationists, and accessibility advocates across Michigan.

Guests include Anna Green, a Junior World Orienteering competitor, Team River Runner, Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, the Flint River Watershed Coalition, the League of Michigan Bicyclists, and the Michigan DNR Trails team.

While not all of today's topics are paddling related, they're paddling adjacent. I'm willing to bet that you enjoy more hiking, cycling, and more, in addition to your time on the water.  Today's discussions include orienteering at the world level, adaptive paddling programs, volunteer lake and stream monitoring, watershed stewardship, cycling advocacy, inclusive outdoor programming, and state water-trail and trail management efforts—highlighting ways listeners can get involved, protect waterways, and enjoy paddling in the Great Lakes region.

Connect:

Southern Michigan Orienteering Club

USA Orienteering

Flint River Watershed Coalition

Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind

Team River Runner

Michigan Clean Water Corps

League of Michigan Bicyclists

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Many of us dream of adventures like circumnavigating Ireland and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a pretty lofty goal, and definitely on my list. 

And then there’s Urban Heupgen...Urban has unexpectedly found himself on a quest to undertake a bold journey to circumnavigate Europe.  Join me as Urban and I talk about his humble start, how he found himself on this path, and just how big his plans are for the future.

Oscar Scafidi is a schoolteacher turned explorer specializing in Africa. Oscar joins today’s episode to share his expedition to kayak Madagascar’s Mangok River from source to sea. Oscar describes the months of planning, the grueling approach to the source, and the challenges of navigating largely unexplored river sections.

Today's episode covers heavy portages, unpredictable terrain, local guides and communities, wildlife encounters (lemurs, crocodiles and more), and the logistics of carrying a Klepper folding kayak. Oscar also discusses the Guinness World Record process, fundraising for the charity Our Kids, Our Future Madagascar, and his related book and documentary.

Kayaking the Mangoky (Amazon)

Kayaking the Mangoky (YouTube)

KayakingtheMangoky.com

Kayaking the Kwanza (YouTube)

Kayaking the Kwanza (Amazon)

Klepper

Mangoky River

Remove River Expeditions

Our kids our future Madagascar

Alex Lalonde joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to talk about about his path from packrafting whitewater rivers in Nepal to taking over the iconic Body Boat Blade instruction and guiding company. Alex shares stories from a 40-day Nepal expedition, favorite paddles and venues in the Pacific Northwest, and the challenges of reopening a specialty paddle shop.

Welcome to today's episode of the Paddling the Blue, featuring guest Eila Wilkinson

In this episode Eila discusses her coaching philosophy, Paddle UK pathways and qualifications, the importance of using your feet and core in kayaking, and dramatic expedition stories including surf, rescues and navigation challenges in the Bahamas.