Navigating Neva
Navigating Neva is a podcast all things aquatics. Water Safety, No drowning, Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Instructor, Your Safety Comes First. https://my-store-ca1adf.creator-spring.com/listing/navigating-neva-hoodiehttps://my-store-ca1adf.creator-spring.com/listing/navigating-neva-sticker
Episodes
63 episodes
Natalie Pantaleon
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wesley King sit down with Natalie Pantaleon for a powerful conversation about the evolving intersection of water safety, survival swimming, and nervous system regulation.
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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48:42
Selena Willows: Origin
In this special Navigating Neva series, Nicole welcomes Coach Selena Willows for a conversation about what kids actually need in the water—and how families can choose swim lessons that match their goals.Selena shares her or...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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42:14
Kevin McCarthy
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole Fairfield and co-host Wesley King sit down with Kevin McCarthy of SKWIM to talk about the LifeSavingExpo—where the idea came from, why Kevin felt it needed to exist, and what...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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41:36
Meg Fiske
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Neva Nicole and Wes talk with Meg about a hard truth in aquatics: many facilities say they value adaptive programming, but very few are actually built for it. This conversation goes beyond progra...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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48:50
Steve Grella
Most aquatics pros are exceptional on deck… and nearly invisible online. That’s not just a marketing issue—it affects revenue, hiring, parent trust, and program growth.In this episode of Navigating Neva, host Neva Nico...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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48:38
Chris with Aquafinity
Bulk liquid chlorine tanks are common in municipal and commercial pools—but cracked feed lines, chemical spills, and “acid nearby” realities create risk that too many facilities normalize.Tonight’s episode is not a product pitch. ...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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57:18
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When Safety Is Known, Reported, and Still Ignored
When safety is known, reported, and still ignored, what happens to the lifeguards stuck inside the system?In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes talk with an experienced aquatic professional ...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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57:45
Cameron Balkom
In today’s episode, Cameron shares the full arc of how she became a swim school owner, starting with her own swim story (when and how she learned), moving through her years on swim team, and then into the college chapter where she pivoted...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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45:31
Beth Walker
This week on Navigating Neva, we’re joined by Beth—an aquatics and PE professional whose work spans Physical Education & Aquatics, Driver Education, coaching Women’s Varsity Swimming, Men’s Varsity Swimming
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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36:05
Tyler Daly
In today’s episode of Navigating Neva, Neva and Wes sit down with Tyler Daly, an aquatics leader who blends coaching mindset with real-world deck accountability. Tyler shares his career path—from early aquatics work in Leesburg...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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52:09
Karissa swimhappy
Guest: Karissa (Be Swim Happy)What actually makes swim instruction effective—especially when a student is scared, parents are watching, and staff are stretched thin?In this episode, Nicole and co-host Wes King sit down with Kari...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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47:28
Julie Ann James
From competitive swimming at 5 a.m. to becoming one of the first female surf lifesavers, Julie-ann shares how “work with water, not against it” became a philosophy for teaching and leadership. We also unpack her
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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48:05
Superhero Swim Academy
From one swim lesson to over a million followers. 🎄 Christmas Eve drop.Jacob shares: • How Superhero Swim Academy really started • Why content creation isn’t for the faint of heart • What swim instru...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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44:58
2025 Guest Recap
In this special year-end episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes look back on 2025 through the voices that helped shape it. From lifeguards and swim instructors to nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and advocates, this e...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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40:27
Annabelle McCannon
Drowning isn’t dramatic — it’s silent, fast, and overwhelmingly preventable. In this episode, Nicole and Wes sit down with Annabelle, BSN, to expose the real story behind the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1–4 and the rising...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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50:37
Ryan Greenstein
In this episode, Nicole and Wesley sit down with Ryan Greenstein, Advocacy Program Manager for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, to unpack how Georgia is reshaping water safety through policy, partnerships, and statewide collaboration.
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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41:55
Thanksgiving Eve
“Thanksgiving Eve: Gratitude, Growth, and What’s Ahead for Aquatics”Tonight’s Thanksgiving Eve episode is a warm, reflective conversation between Nicole and Wes — a chance to pause in the middle of a big year and acknowledge how f...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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22:04
Guest: Lindsay Thompson
Tonight Nicole and Wes sit down with longtime friend and aquatics professional Lindsay Thompson, whose journey through lifeguarding, program leadership, swim school ownership, and competitive coaching has shaped a powerful perspective on...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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39:05
Teaching Safety Before Swim Skills
This week on Navigating Neva, host Neva Nicole is joined by Phil Waggott, founder of SplashSave, and co-host Wes King to talk about the most important — and often overlooked — part of water safety: par...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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24:48
Helen Hughes returns for a deeper dive
Helen Hughes returns to Navigating Neva to dive deeper into her philosophy of Purposeful Play—and to give listeners a preview of her upcoming workshop at the Treasure Coast YMCA in Stuart, Florida.In this episode, Wesle...
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35:16
Mini Adventures, Big Impact
Episode 1: “Mini Adventures, Big Impact” Release Date: October 29, 2025 Hosts: Neva Nicole & Wesley King Guest: Helen Hughes – Founder of Mini Water Adventurers (UK) Episode Summa...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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27:41
How Non-Swimmers Learn Through Play with Ron Usher
In this episode, we dive into Otterball — a revolutionary, inclusive water game created by veteran coach and adapted PE teacher Ron Usher.With over 50 years of experience in swimming, water polo, and aquatic education, Ro...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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35:19
Phil 10.08.2025
In this episode, Phil Waggott from SplashSave joins Nicole Fairfield and Wes King to unpack New Zealand’s groundbreaking drowning-prevention data system — one that now tracks hospitalizations as well as fatalities.Th...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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53:00
