Riverkeeper Podcast series marks anniversary by looking back at 47 episodes, shared passion for river

On Aug. 19, 2020, as the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association searched for new ways to engage and educate people across an 11,000-square-mile watershed while mindfully navigating through the uncertainties of a pandemic, we published our first podcast conversation.

Dr. David Lieb, an aquatic biologist with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, chatted with Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky about the invasive rusty crayfish and its impact on the greater Susquehanna River Basin.

In the year since, we have produced 47 episodes with a combined runtime of 704 minutes (11.7 hours) chatting with a wide variety of people who share a passion for our river-based resources.

Educators, business owners, biologists, camp directors, environmental nonprofit executives, politicians, researchers, technology and social media influencers, water specialists, a SCUBA instructor, a falconer, a naturalist, a veterinarian, a boat captain and even a few musicians and watershed volunteers. 

The subjects of these podcast episodes have varied in age, too. From a teenager who has made a name for herself in the kayaking and fishing realms to college interns and individuals in their 60s, 70s and 80s.

Despite their backgrounds, these individuals all have a common love for our natural resources and illustrate that really anyone can step up and make a difference in their own communities and social circles. One of the best aspects of our podcast episodes is that you can hear the passion in each of their voices as they share their stories, and that passion can be contagious.

The podcast effort has sparked quite a ripple effect for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, as well. Numerous new contacts and potential volunteers have connected with our association via this project. Three of the people interviewed for podcast episodes have gone on to join our Board of Directors, others have become key volunteers for programs such as our HERYN (Helping Engage our River's Youth with Nature) and Floating Classroom educational programs. Others will be key partners in upcoming projects and initiatives.

One year and 47 episodes into this effort, and the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast series isn't going anywhere. We have more episodes in production that will be coming out in the coming weeks. 

You can keep up with the sessions on our MSRKA Podcast page, where each episode is available before you can find it anywhere else. We also syndicate episodes out to a variety of popular podcast channels, including Spotify, Amazon Music/Audible, the Android App, Deezer, Gaana, the Libsyn Classic Feed, Radio Public and Player.fm.

Looking for a specific episode? Here are links to individual blog posts for each of the 47 episodes to date:

• Wild Trout Man Dr. Joseph Simons III on his video series showcasing wild trout fly fishing and the conservation needed to clean up our waterways and protect our natural resources.
• Eric Skrivseth and Eric Rosengrant, of the Moshannon Creek Watershed Association, talk about their efforts to clean up the waterway over the past year.
• Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation's Bobby Hughes on the widespread issue of Abandoned Mine Drainage.
• Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association intern Danielle Tryon on her background and plans for the future.
• ​Susquehanna University researcher and stream restoration expert Matt Wilson on a variety of local projects.
• Hiawatha Paddleboat captain Mike Strunk on the history of the vessel heading into its 40th season, cool things he gets to see on the river so often and the importance of our Floating Classroom series.
• PSU graduate student and musician William Ryan on his inspirational Songs of the Susquehanna submission and the importance of making changes for the river.
• Susquehanna University intern Morgan Thomas on being one of two summer interns for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.
• Watershed management extension specialist for the Penn State Extension Tyler Groh chats about agricultural and urban stormwater issues.
• PSU graduate research assistant Kathryn Hayden on endocrine disruptors in our waterways.
• DEP aquatic biologist supervisor Douglas Orr on the Black Fly Suppression Program.
• Outdoor educator Lou Ann Gasperine on why young people need outdoor education.
• Master naturalist Jon Beam talks about the importance of vernal pools and how we can better protect them.
• Hellbender researcher Peter Petokas on trends in hellbender populations and how we can protect the species.
• Columbia County Conservtion District water specialist Brittney Hartzell on waterway issues within the county and the importance of stepping up to make a difference.
• PennEnvironment researcher Faran Savitz on a recent study that shows a microplastic proliferation in waterways across the state.
• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership's Corey Ellison on how her organization connects the region's land and water trails.
• Pennsylvania Master Naturalist director Michele Richards on the program and the impact of naturalists with our environmental resources.
• Bass pro and high school educator Casey Magaragle on his fishing exploits, Sneaky Hollow Bait Company and the thrill of coaching students to state and national fishing titles.
• Brenda Sieglitz on the Keystone10 Million Trees Partnership, how trees help clean up our waterways and the need for 1,300 new landowners to come forward for free trees from the program in the next year.
• Former state representative and senator Franklin Kury on his efforts to spark the Clean Water Act and Environmental Rights Amendment, the 50th anniversary of the movement and his new book due out soon. 
• Veterinarian Kathleen Mullen on her study involving sick foals and potential ties to fracking.
• Andrew Dehoff, of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, on the group's 50th anniversary.
• Don Shappelle, musician, on creating river songs with young people and the Songs of the Susquehanna project.
• John Levitsky, water specialist for the Luzerne County Conservation District, on abandoned mine drainage at the Plainsville Borehole Discharge.
• Cain Chamberlin, of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, on the Tunkhannock Creek's nomination for River of the Year.
• R. John Dawes, the creator of the Water Report app that allows anglers and others to share their catches and help us track health trends in our fish species.
• Kathleen Lavelle, of Trout Unlimited, on a unique fish relocation project she helped oversee, trout-based trends in the region and the importance of volunteering
• John Dawes, of the Foundation for PA Watersheds, on assisting smaller watershed groups, acid mine drainage and other waterway threats.
• ProtectNorthernPA.org founder Diana Dakey on her concerns about the production and transportation of liquified natural gas.
• Teen kayaker and angler Lila Oast on how kayaking has opened doors for her.
• Outdoor educator Jon Beam and Audubon member Gary Metzger with an overview of duck species and the threats they face in our watershed.
• Renee Carey of the Northcentral Pa. Conservancy on the importance of preservation and public access.
• Benjamin Hayes, director of Bucknell University's Watershed Sciences and Engineering Program on health of the river.
• Salmon angler Steve Kurian on benefits of clean water and fresh fish.
• Educator Van Wagner on his unique Eels in the Classroom program and the importance of eels.
• Waterkeeper Alliance Executive Director Marc Yaggi on growing up in the Middle Susquehanna watershed and his quest in the fight for clean water.
• Outdoor educator Jolene Connelly on the importance of getting youth and women on our waterways
• Diving instructor Rich Best on trends, treasures and threats under the Susquehanna
• Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers spokesperson Tali MacArthur on the importance of assisting a watershed group
• Falconer Mike Dupuy on raptors of our river and the threats they face
• Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Mike Parker on the agency's efforts during COVID and the historic unexpected start to trout season
• Wesley Forest Camp director Emily Sliski with stories of getting young people engaged with nature at camp and on the Penns Creek
• Professional angler and YouTuber John Oast on how he got his start, what he has learned along the way and observations of the river
• Biologist David Lieb on the concerning trend of exotic crayfish eradicating native species in our watershed and how it is impacting the ecosystem