Paddling The Blue Podcast
John Chase interviews inspiring paddlers from the US and across the globe doing great things from the seat of a kayak. If you want to learn about sea kayaking destinations, trips, and personalities from the world of paddle sports, we have you covered!
John Chase interviews inspiring paddlers from the US and across the globe doing great things from the seat of a kayak. If you want to learn about sea kayaking destinations, trips, and personalities from the world of paddle sports, we have you covered!
Episodes

Monday Mar 14, 2022
#56-Canoecopia 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Welcome to today’s episode of Paddling the Blue.
Today’s episode is a special edition recorded live from Madison, Wisconsin at the world’s largest paddlesports expo, Canoecopia. This episode features five exhibitors from the show sharing what’s happening with their companies, new products, and the industry.
Darren Bush - Rutabaga Paddlesports/Canoecopia
Stig Larson-Level Six
Jeremy Vore-Red Leaf Designs
Chris Hipgrave-Pyranha and P&H Kayaks
Paul Gerten-Biolite Energy
As a reminder from the last episode, we’re running our anniversary contest again. Congratulations to Suprio Bhattachayra! You’ve won a $50 gift card from Level Six.
Here’s how you can win our next $50 gift card.
Listen to today’s episode for this week’s question and send us your answer. You need to get your answer in by Wednesday, March 23, 2022. I will announce the winner of this episode’s Level Six gift card in episode 57 which releases on March 28, 2022.
Enjoy today’s episode from Canoecopia 2022!
A big thank you to the team at Rutabagas Paddlesports for putting on a fantastic event!

Monday Feb 28, 2022
#55 - Graham Mackereth - A Lifetime of Firsts with Pyranha and P&H
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Graham Mackareth is the founder of Pyranha Kayaks and the Managing Director of Pyranha Kayaks and P&H Sea Kayaks, an inductee into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame and a true pioneer of the sport. In this episode, Graham gives us an insider's view of the history of Pyranha and P&H, their early designs and unique safety features, and how they stay true to their mission.
A thank you goes out to Christopher Lockyer who referred Graham way back in the early days of Paddling the Blue, episode #7.
As a reminder from the last episode, we’re running our anniversary contest again.
In the last episode, I promised that those who answered the hidden question correctly would be entered to win a $50 gift card from our good friends at Level Six. The winner from episode #54 is Bruce Holland from the USA. Congratulations Bruce.
Here’s how you can win our next $50 gift card courtesy of Level Six.
Somewhere in this episode you will find a hidden question about an episode. If you know the answer, click here to answer the question by Wednesday, March 9, 2022. I will announce the winner of this episode’s Level Six gift card in episode 56 which releases on March 14, 2022.
Enjoy today’s episode with Graham Mackareth!
Learn:
Pyranha Kayaks
P&H Custom Sea Kayaks

Monday Feb 14, 2022
#54 - Brian Henry -Creating a kayak legacy with the Big Kahuna
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Monday Feb 14, 2022
Thank you for joining me for today’s episode of Paddling the Blue.
Today’s chat features a pioneer of the sport, Brian Henry. Brian is the founder of Current Designs and he will share stories of the early days of boat building alongside some of the personalities that make our sport what it is today.
We are coming up on the two year anniversary of Paddling the Blue. To celebrate, we’ve got three $50 gift cards from our good friends at Level Six. Here’s how you can win.
Somewhere in this episode and the next two, that means numbers 55 and 56, I will ask a question about a previous guest. If you know the answer, submit it here for a chance to win. For this episode, you need to get your answer in by Wednesday, February 23, 2022. I will announce the winner of this show's Level Six gift card in episode 55.
Enjoy today’s episode with Brian Henry!
Connect:
Ocean River Sports
Photo Credit: Bruce Holland

Monday Jan 31, 2022
#53 - Stuart Trueman - All The Way Around Australia
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Today’s episode will take us to Australia to talk with Stuart Trueman. Stuart’s a man of the world having visited more than 40 countries and paddled in both the Arctic and Antarctic. In this episode, he shares his tale of paddling 17,000 kilometers solo and unsupported all the way around Australia!
A big thank you to Shaan Gresser. Shaan joined the show on episode #44 and she connected me with Stuart.
Enjoy today’s episode with Stuart Trueman!
Stuart Trueman (Facebook)
New South Wales Sea Kayak Club
Expedition Kayaks (Nadgee)

Monday Jan 17, 2022
#52 - Joachim Larssen - Shibby Traveler does Norway both ways
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Monday Jan 17, 2022
Joachim Larssen, also known as the Shibby Traveler, joins me today to share his story of his 233 day solo of the entire coast of Norway, both ways. He’s got a great story of living in the moment, and a whale encounter you won't believe!
Enjoy today’s episode with Joachim Larssen!
Connect:
The Shibby Traveler (website)
The Shibby Traveler (Facebook)
Joachim Larssen (Facebook)
Joachim Larssen (Instagram)
Joachim Larssen (YouTube)
Learn:
Hurtigruten-the Norwegian Coastal Express
Norse kayaks
Level Six
Meet Hvaldimir
Hvaldimir the whale steals Joachim's Go Pro

Monday Jan 03, 2022
#51-Kyleen Austin-Finding yourself in Alaska
Monday Jan 03, 2022
Monday Jan 03, 2022
In today’s episode, we’re going to talk with Kyleen Austin about the restorative power of paddling that she experienced through a trip along the Inside Passage. We’ve talked about the Inside Passage previously, but I think you’ll find this one different and you’ll take away a different perspective.
Enjoy today’s episode with Kyleen Austin!
Connect:
Kyleen Austin
Skamokawa Swamp Opera (Facebook)
Learn:
Inside Passage Facebook group
Dennis Dwyer
Sea Breeze Books and Charts
Sea Kayak Baja
Inside Passage blogs and resources
Books:

Monday Dec 20, 2021
#50 - John Chase and Randy Bauer - Alaska‘s Prince William Sound
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
I've been asked to create an episode featuring "regular people". So, I figured why not, and who's more regular than...well, me?
This one will feature me and my friend Randy Bauer as we share the story of our 10-day trip to Alaska's Prince William Sound.
Enjoy the episode!
Learn:
NOAA Chart 16705-Western Prince William Sound
NOAA Chart 16711-Harriman Fjord
Paddlers Realm
Arctic ERMA ShoreZone imagery shoreline survey
Alaska Marine Ferry schedule
Surprise Cove State Marine Park
Prince William Sound campsites
NOAA Marine Zone Forecast - Whittier, AK

Monday Dec 06, 2021
#49 - Erik Jorgensen - Father and Daughter in the Wilderness for 45 Days
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Erik Jorgensen is an adventurer, author, expedition leader, and most importantly, a father. He's joining us from his home in Denmark. Erik has many amazing trips under his belt, and we’re going to talk about a few with his daughter that have really captivated my attention.
Thank you to listener Henning de Haas for referring Erik. If you have an idea for a future guest, please reach out to me at john@paddlingtheblue.com.
Enjoy today’s episode with Erik!
Connect:
Erik Jorgensen
Learn:
Avannaq http://www.avannaq.no/
Greenland paddle, Gram https://gramkajak.dk/The one Erik uses: https://gramkajak.dk/produkter/delbare-pagajer-i-trae-og-kulfiber/gram-9100t-tredelt-carbonpagaj/
Kayak
Panthera kajak fra Struer Boatshttps://komud.dk/kajakken-panthera-fra-struer-boats-danmark-rundt-i-kajak-hurtigst-muligt/
https://www.thomassondesign.com/en/catalog/my-kayaks/panthera
Monday Nov 22, 2021
#48 - Moulton Avery - Cold Water Safety
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Monday Nov 22, 2021
Today’s episode features one of the world’s most recognized advocates for cold water safety, Moulton Avery. Moulton will share how he got his start in the world of water safety, how we can keep ourselves safe, busts a few myths about cold water, and gives his best advice on how we can represent safe paddling to the paddling community.
Enjoy today’s episode with Moulton!
Learn:
National Center for Cold Water Safety
NCCWS Facebook page
Video: Cold Shock, Swimming Failure, and Incapacitation
Air and water temperature myths
Connect:
Contact Moulton
Donate to the National Center for Cold Water Safety

Monday Nov 08, 2021
#47 - Mike Stout - Five Times Across Lake Michigan Solo
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Monday Nov 08, 2021
Today’s episode takes us to my home waters of the Great Lakes. We will be talking with Mike Stout about his journey as a paddler leading to his unprecedented five crossings of Lake Michigan.
You'll find links below to Mike's trip write-ups for the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior crossings.
Learn:
The Northland Adventurer
Lake Michigan 2016
Lake Michigan 2020
Lake Michigan June 10, 2021
Lake Michigan June 27, 2021
Lake Michigan July 13, 2021
Lake Superior
Connect:
Contact Mike



