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Paddling The Blue Podcast

John Chase interviews inspiring paddlers from 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 paddlesports, we have you covered!

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Recent Episodes

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#167 - Katie Carr - Moderate becoming good later kayaking the shipping forecast with Toby Encore
167
June 15, 2026

#167 - Katie Carr - Moderate becoming good later kayaking the shipping forecast with Toby Encore

Today's episode is an encore presentation of a November 2023 interview with Katie Carr about her brother Toby’s ambitious project to kayak in every area of the BBC Shipping Forecast and the books that followed: Moderate Becoming Good Later and Thundery at Times. Katie describes how she turned Toby’s notes and recordings into a book, took up sea kayaking to finish the remaining regions, and relied on the global paddling community while navigating grief and personal growth. Get your copy of Modera
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#166 - Kayaks to Classrooms: Building an Expeditionary Studies Career with the Paddling Professor Steve Maynard
166
June 1, 2026

#166 - Kayaks to Classrooms: Building an Expeditionary Studies Career with the Paddling Professor Steve Maynard

Steve Maynard joins today's episode of the Paddling the Blue podcast to talk about about his journey from sea kayaking instructor to professor of Expeditionary Studies at SUNY Plattsburgh. We discuss how the program works, capstone expeditions, mentoring, and the credentials and experience that shaped his teaching and coaching. The episode also explores some of the paddling dogma in our sport along with some of Steve's favorite paddling venues from Wales to down‑east Maine. Resources: Personal w
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#165 - Crossing Nicaragua: 16 Days of Human-Powered Adventure with Caleb McIntyre
165
May 18, 2026

#165 - Crossing Nicaragua: 16 Days of Human-Powered Adventure with Caleb McIntyre

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 refl
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#164 - Six Ways Around Ireland: Multi‑Craft Ireland Circumnavigations with Rob Henshall
164
May 4, 2026

#164 - Six Ways Around Ireland: Multi‑Craft Ireland Circumnavigations with Rob Henshall

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
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#163 - 25 Years of Keeping Paddlers Warm and Happy with Chris Reed
163
April 13, 2026

#163 - 25 Years of Keeping Paddlers Warm and Happy with Chris Reed

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 eth
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#162 - Four Years, One Canoe, One Happy Dog: The North American Odyssey of Jennifer Gosselin & Pierre Pepin
162
April 6, 2026

#162 - Four Years, One Canoe, One Happy Dog: The North American Odyssey of Jennifer Gosselin & Pierre Pepin

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 sailb
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About the Host

John Chase Profile Photo
John Chase

Host / Producer / Paddler / ACA Instructor / Guide / Speaker

My name is John Chase and I’m a paddler just like you. I enjoy being on the water and making every outing an experience.

When I first started paddling, I used to listen to Simon Willis' podcast titled Sea Kayak Roots (later Sea Kayak Podcasts). Simon stopped recording the podcast in 2015 and for five years I kept hoping someone would bring it back. One day in late 2019, I decided that "someone" needed to be me and Paddling the Blue was born.

Paddling the Blue's first episode was released in February 2020. The group has been phenomenal and we've got listeners in 103 countries across the globe. Thanks to each of our guests for sharing their stories and thanks to you for listening!

In addition to Paddling the Blue, I also maintain the website PaddlingExercises.com, dedicated to helping you become a stronger and more efficient paddler. Visit to learn more about my book, Power to the Paddle: Exercises to Improve Your Canoe and Kayak Paddling. You'll also find a list of my paddlesports training classes, trips, and speaking opportunities.

I am a proud P&H Sea Kayaks Team Paddler, representing the best crew with the highest quality boats. Whether you’re day touring, surfing, overnighting, or heading out on a big expedition, P&H has a boat for you.

I am a Werner Paddles Ambassador and have been a proud Werner paddler for many years. The quality, service, aesthetics, and attention to detail in their equipment is second to none.

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Reviews

Binge-worthy :)

"The global sea-kayaking community is a small world of wonderful people, and in this very well produced podcast, John Chase allows us newcomers to get to know all the seakayaking pioneers, champions, …"

My first time rating an app | March 6, 2022

Outstanding Podcast

"This is an outstanding podcast. Each episode is produced with exceptional quality. I enjoy the content, the guests, and John's interview style. I happened upon it a couple of weeks ago and am working…"

The Kayak Intrepid | Feb. 25, 2023

Great Lakes Sea Kayaking!

"I was searching for sea kayaking podcasts hoping to find some that would find something relatable to my interest and was fortunate enough to find this. It has the exact topics, excellent host, amazin…"

spstewart17 | Aug. 29, 2023
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