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
77 episodes
Megan Owens
Megan Owens of Bluesky Recreation Consulting joins Navigating Neva to talk about parks, recreation, camps, aquatics, nonprofits, and what it really takes to build strong organizations from the inside out.In this episode, Megan s...
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Selena Willows: week 7
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole sits down with Selena Willows for a thoughtful conversation about what confidence in the water really looks like—and who owns the process.They discuss the “confidence loop,” how parents...
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Steve Murphy
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole sits down with Steve Murphy, owner of Missouri Aquatics Training and Education Solutions — MATES — for a direct, honest conversation about lifeguard culture, aquatic leadership, zone validations, super...
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Steadfast Safety
Tonight on Navigating Neva, Wesley King and I hosted Kevin, Blake, and Charles from Steadfast Safety for a great conversation on lifeguarding, emergency response, and aquatic safety innovation.We discussed the Steadfast Rescue T...
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Selena Willows: Week 6
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Selena discuss how swim skills can become unintentionally gatekept when “prerequisites” turn into rigid myths.They unpack why skills like back floating, bubbles, breath control, and...
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Kymbriell founder of Courageous Leap Inc.
This episode is full of heart, purpose, and possibility. Kymbriell shares how she got started in aquatics, the mission behind her nonprofit, and how Courageous Leap is using swim lessons, partnerships, and aquatic opportunities to build confide...
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Selena Willows: Week 5
In Episode 5 of this 6-part series with Selena Willows, we focus on one of the most defining shifts in aquatics: moving from instructor to coach.This episode breaks down what professional authority actually looks like on deck—how to lead...
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Ailene Tisser - Autism Month
In this episode of Navigating Neva, we’re talking about autism, water safety, and sensory needs.Water safety education often focuses on rules: don’t go near the water, wait for an adult, stay away from the pool. Bu...
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Walt Scott 2026 SPLASH Summit
Tonight on Navigating Neva, Wes and I sat down with Walt Scott, father of Izzy Scott and founder of the Izzy Scott Foundation, for a powerful conversation about purpose, prevention, and the work being done to create real ch...
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Selena Willows Week 4
In this fourth conversation with Selena Willows, we dig into one of the most talked-about parts of my teaching approach: the 100 Minute Model. We unpack why this timeline works, why I choose short, focused sessions, and what makes an intensive ...
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Jo Wilson
This week on Navigating Neva, I sat down with Jo Wilson for a one-on-one conversation while Wes was away. It was an honor to have the space to really explore her story and her impact on aquatics.We talk about Jo’s journey, her w...
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Wesley King
In this episode of Navigating Neva, I sit down with Wesley King for a real, unscripted conversation that moves between story, strategy, and the realities of aquatics leadership.We start with Wesley’s journey how he got into aqua...
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Selena Willows Week 3
In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole with Selena unpack one of the most common parenting questions in aquatics: do children really need goggles, floaties, puddle jumpers, or other swim equipment to learn and feel safe in the wate...
Fear Isn’t Always Fear
In Part 2 of this conversation, Nicole sits down with Selena Willows to unpack one of the most misunderstood challenges in swim lessons: fear—and why it’s often not what it appears to be.What looks like fear of the water is freque...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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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 ...
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...
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
