Dale "Greybeard Sanders holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest man to paddle the Mississippi River at 87 years old and plans to re-break the Guinness World Record for being the oldest man to hike the entire Appalachian Trail at 90 years old. He helped me take my canoe off the water this season in Memphis, where I will return to complete the last 600 miles of my coast to coast canoe journey across America next summer.
Dec 08, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 17
I've now made it to Cape Girardeau down on the Mississippi River. This is such beautiful section of the country and the fall colours and weather have been incredible the last few days. En route, I met Keith Allen on the river, an outdoors enthusiast, small town country lawyer, and armchair philosopher. We had a really great conversation about life and transformational change.
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 16
I have now successfully paddled the entire length of the Missouri River. Although my journey continues now down the Mississippi to the Gulf, it's amazing to reflect on that with my friend Bill Behrns, who paddled the whole Missouri last year as soon as he retired. We talk about our shared and differing experiences on this life changing journey down the river, the incredible community of people supporting those who paddle, and many other related topics regarding growth, perspective, and self impr...
Oct 29, 2024•52 min•Ep. 15
It's been a minute since we last touched base. I have now successfully paddled all the lakes on the Missouri River and am on the current proper en route to St. Louis, Missouri. My guest for this episode is Chuck Mackey. Chuck has lived in the mid-west his whole life and is a long time paddling and outdoors enthusiast, boy scout leader, and father. We ended up talking about the Missouri River, overcoming adversity, what leads to a good life, and a lot more. I hope you enjoy and see you down the r...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 14
Welcome back to Season 3 of the Journey to the Heart Podcast! After completing my Back to the Canoe Tour playing music from Bellingham, Washington all the way back to Mobridge, South Dakota, I am now continuing my paddle down Lake Oahe on the Missouri River towards the Gulf of Mexico. Currently I have paddled and portaged my canoe about 2500 miles over the last two summers from the Pacific Coast and now have another 2500 miles to go to reach the Gulf of Mexico. Can't wait to embrace what the riv...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 13
I have now successfully made it across Lake Sakakawea and at last down the Missouri River to Bismarck, North Dakota. My special guest for this podcast is Aaron Butcher, talented long time singer-songwriter, musician, and over all soulful human. Aaron has been to all of the lower 48 American States touring as a musician for various bands and recently wrote three songs for a new project based on recent events in his life, which is a great love story that he has woven together into something very s...
Sep 07, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 12
After weathering a big storm in my tent on the Northside of Lake Sakakawea, I managed to reach Tobacco Gardens, a campground and haven for travellers, families, and outdoor enthusiasts. It is owned and run by an incredible lady called Peggy Hellandsaas whose hospitality and kindness for paddlers of the Missouri River, knows no bounds. After a few days of respite in this little slice of paradise I now feel refreshed and ready to continue my journey across this lake towards Bismarck, North Dakota....
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 11
After a week preparing in Great Falls, Montana. I have finally begun paddling my way down the Missouri River with the first stop in Ft. Benton. Known as the birthplace of Montana. This small town has an incredible connection to the river and the arts. I ended up playing two shows here, one at the Public House and another at Wake Cup Coffee House. That being said, the true gold in this town is its people. Something that continues to amaze me is how many wonderful human beings can be found in comm...
Jul 25, 2023•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 10
I am pleased to announce my return to the river and the beginning of the second season of my canoe journey across America! The following conversation is with Tracy Jerman from Great Falls Montana. A wonderful and wise human being who hosted me when I concluded my paddling for the summer last year, she was kind enough to host me again as I prepared to continue canoeing down the Missouri River towards St. Louis. Hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
Jul 11, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 9
So I have now completed my 400 mile bicycle portage through the Rockies and despite a very old yet sturdy bike without a front derailer, narrow/sometimes treacherous roads, and often steep windy and windy terrain, I had the pleasure of traversing through some incredible mountain passes, soaked in some beautiful hots springs, and met some incredible and inspiring people along the way. Upon reaching Helena, Montana, I was fortunate to be hosted by Jim and Vicky Emanuel, who along with the incredib...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 8
I have now successfully reached Lewiston, Idaho and completed the upstream paddle on my canoe odyssey across the country. It’s hard to put into words what completing this section has meant to me as I have paddled and portaged upstream through breathtaking landscapes, a variety of wonderful communities, and connected with so many amazing people. Now I am transitioning to a 400+ mile bicycle portage over the Lolo Pass and the Bitterroot mountains to Three Forks, Montana. My guest for this episode ...
Aug 30, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 7
After paddling through the rest of the eastern Columbia River Gorge which brought with it a heat wave of 110 degrees or 43 degrees celsius for more than a week. I managed to finally reach the mouth of the Snake River and begin my ascent to Lewiston, Idaho. Which is the end of my upstream canoe journey by river before transitioning to a bicycle portage over the rockies. The following is a conversation with John Macbeth who lives rurally outside of Pasco, Washington. The Snake River is quite remot...
Aug 20, 2022•3 hr 10 min•Ep. 6
After an extended visit in the beautiful town of St. Helens, Oregon, I ended up having to switch gears due to excessive flooding and debris and bicycled 75 miles through Portland to the town of Cascade Locks just above the Bonneville Dam. This ultimately ended up being a blessing in disguise as I was able to explore Portland, Oregon much more extensively on a bicycle as well as riding high up on the bluffs overlooking the beginnings of the Columbia River Gorge. This will be the next chapter of p...
Jul 09, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 5
After a great visit with Chris Algero in Longview, I paddled up through Rainier, Oregon to Prescott Park where I met and visited with the wonderful camp hosts George and Debbie. The current on the Columbia has become very powerful at times. With rough weather and headwinds I need to know when I can paddle and when to wait it out. I had a humbling experience one day on this stretch when I paddled only 200 yards in 45 minutes of maximum effort before needing to return to my campsite. After Prescot...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 4
The following is a conversation with my host in Longview, Washington, Chris Algero, who is a Scientific Technician for the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Originally from New Orleans, Chris moved to the Northwest to live his dream of spending time researching, studying, and working in wild places. An optimistic, insightful, and passionate human being, I really enjoyed speaking with him about life, our relationship with the natural world, self actualization and community.
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 3
The following is a conversation with Javier Sanchez. Co-owner of the Mile 38 Brewery. He and his husband Rex moved to Cathlamet from Seattle a few years ago and are in the process of transitioning out of corporate jobs to build their dream of living on a farm and running a craft brewery/farm to table restaurant full time. They were also kind enough to host my stay in Cathlamet, where I ended up playing my first musical show along the river so far at their Brew Pub.
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 2
Diana Kirk is from Astoria, Oregon. Writer, entrepreneur, business owner, and world traveler, she was kind enough to host me at her air bnb as I prepared to launch my canoe journey across America.
May 25, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 1
