Every year, we ask one big question: What is a River? This year, the currents brought us to Dr. Robert Macfarlane—writer & professor—and his newly released book, Is A River Alive?, Dr Macfarlane joined us to explore that very question. From the chalk streams from his home in England to rivers across three continents, Macfarlane pursues his answers. In this episode, we move through his global journey, his new water literacy, and why he calls himself a teacher first.

GUESTS

Dr Robert Macfarlane, University of Cambridge

Dr Robert Macfarlane, Wikipedia

@robgmacfarlane

Book:  IS A RIVER ALIVE?

Audio Book:  IS A RIVER ALIVE?

Film:  MOUNTAIN narrated by Willem Dafoe

The poem Inversaid by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Rights of Nature

Universal Declaration of River Rights

River Seine in Paris and a Declaration of River Rights

Britain's Premier Nature Writer Cries Us a River
 

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Natural Systems Design
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In this episode, we dive into About Damn Time, Dana Romanoff’s powerful film that follows Cindell “Dellie” Dale and a crew of boatwomen as they navigate handcrafted wooden dories down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. They spent 17 days and 277 miles running the river and filming the story. Their journey becomes a vivid exploration of women reshaping a river culture long dominated by men. We ask: How did they work together to tell this story? What wisdom flows from these women to the next generation of dory guides? And why is the dory the most poetic boat ever built to run through the Grand Canyon?

GUESTS
Dana Romanoff

Cindell "Dellie" Dale

OARS Grand Canyon Dories

SPONSORS
Down River Equipment

American Rivers
American Rivers: Take Action
American Rivers: Colorado River in the Grand Canyon
American Rivers: Rivers of the United States

RESOURCES
Grand Canyon National Park
Colorado River
Dory

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Every July, more than 500 paddlers push off from Kansas City down 340 miles of massive Missouri River current, paddling day and night across the state in one of the world’s longest nonstop river races. This is the MR 340, an event of endurance, suffering and transformation. From solo racers chasing records to 10-person canoes grinding it out over four brutal days, every paddler faces the same river. In this episode, we sit down with Kate Mansker, a racer from the very first MR 340 in 2006 who still holds course records, and Steve Schnarr, the race director who steers the chaos behind the scenes. Together, they chart the evolution of the race, the legends it’s created, and what it takes to avoid the Reaper. 

GUESTS

Kate Mansker

Steve Schnarr

SPONSORS

Denver Area NIssan Dealers
@nissanusa
 

River City Outdoors
@outdoorsstl
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Big Muddy Adventures
@paddlestl
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Terrain Magazine
@terrain_magazine
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MR 340 RACE INFO
www.mr340.org

Race tracking

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Article 1:  They Were Magnificent Humans: An Oral History of the First MR340

Article 2:  Missouri River Relief to host 20th annual MR340 race on Missouri River

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Live from the River Management Society’s Annual Symposium in Ashland, Oregon, we bring you a live conversation with Paddle Tribal Waters. This powerful project is paddling the entire length of the Klamath River from its headwaters to the Pacific Ocean during the summer of 2025. We dive into the vision and logistics behind this month-long river journey. Hear how Paddle Tribal Waters is weaving together stories of ecology, culture and river life. 

SPONSORS

Northwest River Supplies
@nrsweb
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American Whitewater
@americanwhitewater
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HOST
River Management Society
RMS Symposium
@rivermgtsociety

GUESTS
Rios to Rivers
Paddle Tribal Waters
@riostorivers
 

Danielle Rey Frank

Amada Lang
@moddss

Ruby Rain Williams 
@rubyrainwilliams

Keeya Wik 
@keeya.wiki

Julian Tohnikyaw Rogers 
@tohnikyaw

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Katie Veteto is a river guide with quiet calculated confidence and a sharp eye for water. Within a few years she was navigating one of the most difficult crafts on the river—the massive sweep boat. NRS's new film Driving Sweep, directed by River Radius Contributing Host Greg Cairns, follows her journey of learning, doubt, and determination as she takes on a role historically dominated by men. Through her story, the film offers a powerful reflection on resilience, mentorship, and making space in wild places.

GUESTS

Katie Veteto
Katie Veteto was born in Southern Utah, raised in the Missoula Valley, and now spends her time in Missoula, MT and Salmon, ID. She grew up seeing the rivers of the West through the joyful lens of community and recreation and continues to guide on rivers in Montana and Idaho. Katie is an elementary school teacher. During Katies time off, you’ll find her romping in the woods with her dog Tuck, swing dancing, knitting hats, writing, or bumping around on a bike. In the Summer you’ll find her somewhere on the Middle Fork of the Salmon.

Greg Cairns
Contributing Host & Film Creator

SPONSORS

NRS
@nrsweb
 

Valley Nissan
@valley_nissan

WATCH THE FILM

YouTube link

Read about the film

GIVEAWAY
Enter Here
@riverradiuspodcast

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Two friends become enamored with R1 rafting and together began running class 5 runs to include waterfalls. Then they decide to spend a summer R1ing and making a river film about their fun. Kenny Beauchamp and Ryan Huck tell their story of being friends, running scary fun water and learning to make a film.  

GIVEAWAY

Enter Here
 

GUESTS

Ryan Huck @hucknstuff29

Kenny Beuachamp @steep_creek_kenny

Film Acct @steep_creek_productions_llc

Website:  www.steepcreekproductions.com

EPISODE SPONSORS

SOTAR

@sotaronthewater

Turtle Box Audio

@turtleboxaudio

Listen Responsibly

Valley Nissan

@valley_nissan

THE FILM:  JUST GET A KAYAK

FILM CREW

Sage Yazzie @nativenaturellc

Music Jackson Corbo on Spotify & Instagram

Drone pilot @anakin_fpv

Thad @thaddeusthefirst
 

FILM SPONSORS

SOTAR

@sotaronthewater

Turtle Box

@turtleboxaudio

Over it Raft Covers

@overitraftcovers

Colorado Water Trust

@cowatertrust

Gili Gear

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River Station Gear

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This is the 3rd and last episode about the Tijuana River. The Tijuana River is a story of trade, immigration and international borders. This is a river that flows across the US Mexico border and carries pollution and sewage. Our guest is Dr Maria-Elana Giner; she served as commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission and upon request of President Trump, she resigned from this position in April of 2025. In this 3rd episode we look for solutions to this epic challenge for the US and Mexico.

CO-HOST

Ramon Chairez
Un Mar de Colores
 

GUESTS

Dr Maria-Elana Giner

IBWC Wastewater Treatment Plant

Letter or Resignation, Dr Giner

New IBWC Commissioner

News on Dr Giner resigning as Commissioner

RESOURCES

Tijuana River

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve 

Tijuana, Mexico

San Diego / Tijuana Metro Area

Navy Seals impacted by Tijuana River

PREVIOUS EPISODES ON TIJUANA RIVER

Part 1, Tijuana River, Binational Flow

Part 2, Tijuana River, Source of the Pollution

SPONSORS

American Rivers
@americanrivers
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Karis Family Foundation

The Buddy Boy
@buddyboyusa

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Many of our favorite rivers run through public land, land that is owned and managed by the Federal Government, and so therefore owned by the citizens of the United States. There is renewed chatter in Washington DC suggesting that major sales of public lands can create significant revenue for the Federal Government. This episode hosts experts on this topic from the Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association, and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition to learn more about who wants this, why this is being considered, what are the benefits, and how listeners can engage in the process.  

GUESTS

Kathy Rinaldi

Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Jack Hurty

Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association

ARTICLES ON TOPIC

Republicans weigh sales of public land in reconciliation

Could federal land be sold to pay for tax cuts?

LINKS TO SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES

Find your House of Representatives Member

Find your US Senator

SPONSORS

The Buddy Boy
@buddyboyusa

Denver Area Nissan Dealers
@nissanusa
 

SURVEY LINK

River Radius Survey

EMAIL SIGNUP LINK

Contact Form

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Do you ever wonder if bots are being used to acquire river permits during the annual cancellation lotteries each year? So do we. So we built a bot to see if it works to secure permits. And we tried talking with rec dot gov to get their input. Check out this episode for a tour of bots, permits, bureaucracy and access to public rivers. 

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2021 EPISODE ABOUT RIVER PERMITS
 

GUESTS

Hayden Blackford

American Whitewater
Kevin Colburn
River Permit Survey Results Preview
Rivers Requiring Permits List

Allocating Recreation with Fairness at the Forefront

Reserve Act

Rec Dot Gov
Are Bots Reserving all the Popular Locations?

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American Whitewater
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Valley Nissan 
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The Tijuana Rivers courses through the City of Tijuana Mexico where 2 million people live.  Several hundred thousand homes in Tijuana are not connected to the city sewage system and this leads to significant pollution of the Tijuana River.  And because the city of Tijuana butts right up to the US Mexico border, the path of the river sewage and the responsibility for managing is not always clear.  This episode goes into Tijuana to learn more about why the pollution exists, where it comes from and the status of various infrastructure tools that manage the pollution. 

CO-HOST

Ramon Chairez
Un Mar de Colores
 

GUESTS

Hernando Duran
Tijuana Verde en Espanol
Tijuana Verde in English

Waylon Matson
4 Walls International

Rosario Jacqueline Moreno

Chris Helmer
City of Imperial Beach

IBWC Wastewater Treatment Plant

Tijuana River

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve 

Tijuana, Mexico

San Diego / Tijuana Metro Area

North American Free Trade Agreement

United States Mexico Canada Free Trade Agreement

SPONSORS

American Rivers
@americanrivers
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Karis Family Foundation

Denver Area Nissan Dealers
@nissanusa

THE RIVER RADIUS

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