Dabbling In Paddleism Podcast

E54: Kendra Leibel and BeaV Vollhaber - Kruger-Waddell Challenge Record Holders

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Kendra Leibel & BeaV Vollhaber two adventurers and ultramarathon paddlers with a preference for unsupported challenges. I first want to give a shoutout to Joseph Gerard who suggested I interview these two last year. We cover so much in this episode from wing nights to backcountry Alaska living, the Everglades Challenge and the Water Tribe, resume building portages, the history of the Voyageurs Highway and the Kruger-Waddell Challenge, paddling under the Northern Lights, navigating by map and compass, seeing penguins in Florida, the importance of a positive attitude and mental fortitude, and the life changing impacts of ultra distance paddling. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Kendra and BeaV themselves on this 54th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast… Kendra’s book recommendations: -Beyond Grit, by Cindra Kamphoff: https://a.co/d/0gNGTSsH -Woman of the Boundary Waters, by Justine Kerfoot: https://a.co/d/0d0tiNsG BeaV’s book recommendations: -My Side of the Mountain, by Jean George: https://a.co/d/03YmdD6F Links: www.bwca.com www.watertribe.com

E53: Matt Taylor & Bobby Johnson Talk Suwannee 230 & AL650

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Matt Taylor and Bobby Johnson, two elite ultramarathon paddlers out of Alabama and Florida, respectively, who have won back-to-back Suwannee 230 titles in ’24 and ’25 as well as the 2025 Alabama 650 as a team. We cover so much in this episode from learning from failure, the Texas Water Safari, broken boats that bring a team together better than Flex Tape, stomach issues and ultimatums, rescuing cats during the Suwannee 230, the Alabama 650, getting stuck on the same dock 2 years in a row due to storms, and paddling to win but more importantly to have a great time in the process. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Matt and Bobby themselves on this 53rd episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast… Also, I just recently launched a website where you can find archives of all episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, see what’s coming down the pike in the “coming soon” section, and you can find a fully curated list of recommended reads from each guest that has come on the show in the Book Club section. You can find all this at dabblinginpaddleism.com. Bobby’s book recommendations: Endurance, by Alfred Lansing - https://a.co/d/02uEzQlv Matt’s book recommendations: Books by Rod Price - https://www.rodpriceadventure.com/home/rods-books/

E52: 2026 California River Quest Recap

In this episode, Chris Thomas gives his firsthand account of the 2026 California River Quest including the conditions, boat selection, and challenges along the course. Additionally, he discusses ways in which listeners can support the show at www.dabblinginpaddleism.com via a new merch store, membership opportunities that come with custom gear that only members will have access to, as well as donations. Website: www.dabblinginpaddleism.com Gear mentioned on this show: -Solite neoprene boots -NRS neoprene pants

E51: Emily McNeil & Trey Reaves - 2026 Everglades Challenge Champs

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Trey Reaves and Emily McNeil, two highly accomplished paddlers who just came out on top in the 2026 Everglades Challenge. After meeting both of these characters in the 2023 Yukon 1000 it was great to sit down with them together and chat about how they both came through for each other in a solid team win in the EC. We cover so much in this episode from the supportive paddling community around Kansas City as well as the Water Tribe, the choose your own adventure aspect of the Everglades Challenge, treacherous aspects of the EC that set this race apart from others, navigation, in-race birthday celebrations, hallucinations and sleep deprivation strategies, and the bond developed between two paddlers suffering together. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Emily and Trey themselves on this 51st episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast… Emily’s book recommendations: The Pursuit of Endurance, by Jennifer Pharr Davis: https://a.co/d/0dUrnct0 Emily’s Social: -FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1869413446655700

E50: Jennifer Fratzke - Ultramarathon paddler, coach, & podcaster

In this episode, Chris Thomas sits down with Jennifer Fratzke, ultramarathon paddler, coach, and podcaster. We cover so much in this episode from the Sea Paddle NYC, the MR340, the importance of the mental aspect of training, fishing as a cross training activity, power napping for performance, the Seventy48 race, YRQ, Alabama 650, paddling for vengeance, the Adirondack Canoe Classic, hypothermia, her coaching work and philosophy, the importance of focusing on technique, the 90% Mental Podcast and Natasha Haine and Jen Kilpatrick. There’s so much more to this episode, but I’ll let you hear it from Jennifer herself on this 50th episode of the Dabbling in Paddleism Podcast… Jennifer’s book recommendations: How Bad Do You Want It?, by Matt Fitzgerald: https://a.co/d/0bpfsPEK Endure, by Alex Hutchinson: https://a.co/d/0c8gaKSK Endure, by Cameron Hanes: https://a.co/d/0eeo3PPy