The River Radius Podcast

After leaving a blooming career in the world of credit unions, Kayeloni Scott is deeply involved in the work to free the dammed waters of her home river, The Snake River. Kayeloni was raised in Idaho and comes from river people and she says in this episode that a river for her is "home". Kayeloni today is the Executive Director of the Columbia Snake River Campaign and has developed the RUN Conference, Rise Up Northwest in Unity, which will have its 4th annual event this October. And Kayeloni, along with other indigenous women, is presenting in Se' Si' Le, The Return of the Matriarchy, on a tour this fall. Kayeloni talks through catching her first fish with her Dad, her valuable relationship with her Grandma, floating down the Klamath River to the ocean with her Mom and Paddle Tribal Waters, and how matriarchy weaves through all things.   Columbia Snake River Campaign Instagram @columbiasnakeriverFacebook "Ever Flowing" - a short film by Columbia Snake River CampaignNez Perce TribeSe' Si' Le, Seven Sisters, Return of the MatriarchyArticle at Idaho Rivers UnitedSPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyX   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Riverhorse Nakadate is the author of a new book, "Water Lines: A Life on Marshes, Rivers, Seas, and in the Rain." He is deeply connected to fish and fishing, even as he casts his rod less and less. He has led a life of travel in pursuit of fishing and surfing that has taken him to waters in rivers, lakes, marshes and oceans around the world. It also seems he travels in pursuit of opportunities to meet people through random exchanges involving food and conversation. His book is a collection of short stories from his life exploring wild places, airports, and roadside food stands. These stories of fish and water life get mixed with his passion for music, which has led him to editing a guitar magazine, playing music and befriending some of the most legendary musicians. And this is all in parallel with his day job as a public school teacher.  Thumbnail Image Tony Czech @tczechGUESTSRiverhorse NakadateAll his films are on his website aboveBook:  WaterlinesRESOURCESFilm: "Low and Clear" SPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyX   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

For 25 years, a rule at the United States Forest Service has been in place that does not allow new roads to be built. These roadless areas inside our National Forests total about 59 million acres, and they have remained without roads, without human vehicle traffic, without heavy equipment working to extract natural resources. Inherently, this has protected rivers and their headwaters, their entire basins, their narrow riparian canyons, and all the critters in the water and on the land. In August of this year, 2026, the current US Presidential administration announced in the Federal Register their intent to rescind this rule. This episode hosts Chris Wood who was working directly on the Roadless Rule when it was initiated in 1999 and completed in 2001. Today Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. He talks with the River Radius about why the rule was created, the culture of trees and forests and roads that supported this rule 25 years ago, and also how we can all engage with public comments until September 21 on this topic.  GUESTSChris Wood, CEO & President at Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited RESOURCESOriginal Roadless RuleFederal RegisterAugust 20, 2026Roadless Announcement Comment at United States Forest ServiceComment at TUComment at American WhitewaterComment at American RiversComment at Greater Yellowstone Coaltion Chris Wood from Trout Unlimited in the Wired to Hunt Podcast, with great and longer history of timber sales in USApple PodcastsSpotifySPONSORSVALLEY AUTO GROUPLanding page at River RadiusLanding page at Valley Auto GroupAuto purchase includes $500 donation to river groupVehicle can be shipped to you in 48 statesOUTDOOR ALLIANCE & GRASSTOPS COLLECTIVEGrasstops CollectiveInstagramFacebookBlueskyX  THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Sometime in the 1980s, after reading a hand written note telling him to come up for a river trip, Greg McFadden turned north on a rural highway in Idaho. He had no idea about river running and river culture, nor did he know, that note and river would lead him to become a lifelong river guide and eventually purchase the river outfitter hosting that very first river trip. Today Greg leads a group of 4 full time staff and 38 guides as they take their guests down guided river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho, sometimes all in one long trip. Last year they only hired one new guide, and their crew spans 5 of the named generations. Greg also travels to Washington DC advocating for rivers and river guides, he is a painter with his own downtown gallery, even if it is the size of a van, and he also guides a couple of river trips for a Grand Canyon river outfitter because it feels good and keeps him connected.    Greg McFadden Canyons River Company Canyons Booking (Food & Wine Trip) IG @canyons_river_company FB @canyons BIPOC Outdoor Collective Pandion Institute Les Bechdel Susan Bechdel Greg's Art Gallery America Outdoors Fun Luvin' Fleecewear Blue Moon Yurts   River Radius Episode with Canyons FounderLes Bechdel, Apple PodcastsLes Bechdel, Spotify   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

Les Bechdel is a river runner, an outfitter, an author of the first comprehensive book on modern river rescue techniques, a kayaker, a husband, a catarafter, a father, a river ranger, a grandfather, an instructor, and a soldier. In the 1980s, river rescue became a more organized and developed concept and practice, and Les Bechdel was at the center of that movement. In 1985, the first edition of the book "RIVER RESCUE" was published with Les and Slim Ray as the authors. The book is now in its 4th edition. Les was selling kayaks during the transition from fiberglass to plastic. Eventually, he moved to Idaho from North Carolina with his family and started a river outfitting company in the Salmon River system that is still thriving today. Beyond all of that, Les is a kind and open man who tells stories of a life shaped by rivers and family. AW Bio Bio article   River Rescue: A Manual for Whitewater Safety, 4th EditionBy Les Bechdel & Slim Ray Les Bechdel "Guidefather" 1996, newspaper article Charlie Walbridge Canyons River Company Southern Appalachian Whitewater Hall of Fame Bio Bio accident report from American Whitewater, 1981 Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Apple Podcasts Payson Kennedy, episode on The River Radius, Spotify   SPONSORSPoudre River Fund NRS NRS PFD for Whale Foundation Whale Foundation     THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteRunoff signup (episode newsletter)InstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree