UpaCreekwithNeil
From a flooded logging town beneath a hydroelectric dam to summits of the world’s highest peaks, Up a Creek with Neil brings you real stories from people who’ve lived boldly.
Hosted by Neil Amondson—a former high-climber, legislator, and global wanderer—this podcast dives into life’s turning points, unexpected adventures, and the wisdom that comes from experience.
You’ll hear from guests who’ve topped Everest, rebuilt after loss, and found meaning in places most never go.
Family-friendly, unfiltered, and rich with grit and humor—this is real life, well told.
Episodes
19 episodes
Bonus Episode - "Hockey, Humility, and the Heart of a Champion" with Jim Harrison
Jim Harrison’s name is etched in hockey history — not just for his talent, but for histenacity. Born in Saskatchewan, Jim rose from humble prairie rinks to the world’sbiggest stages, playing alongside legends like Bobby Orr and Wayne Gr...
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Season 1
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1:06:10
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Season 1, Episode 10 - "Joy and Faith of Climbing 7 Summits" with Julie Smith
Julie Smith was born in Deadwood, SD; grew up near Black Hawk, SD and graduated from High School in Rapid City, SD. She graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry. After a y...
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Episode 10
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1:05:32
Season 1, Episode 9 - "A Life Devoted to Hope" with Casey Gwinn
Casey Gwinn has spent more than three decades standing at the intersection of law, justice, and healing. As the former San Diego City Attorney and the co-founder of the Family Justice Center movement, Casey has helped transform how communities ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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58:03
Season 1, Episode 8 - "A Game of Winning" with Lyle Overbay
Baseball has a way of revealing character; you can learn a lot about a person by watching how they handle the long season, the travel the slumps, the pressure, and the quiet discipline it takes to show up every day and do your job well. Lyle Ov...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:15:08
Life’s adventures with Neil & Susan Amondson
Life rarely moves in straight lines — and neither have Neil and Susan Amondson.From a small logging community in Washington State to travels across all 50 states and seven countries, Neil’s journey has spanned public service i...
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58:13
Season 1, Episode 7 - "Farming, Fun, and Frontier Grit" with Dennis Duncan
Dennis Duncan is the embodiment of small-town Alberta grit — a farmer,businessman, and storyteller whose laughter carries farther than a prairie horizon.From the fields of Bentley, Alberta, to the pickleball courts and friendships of Ou...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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42:13
Bonus Episode - "Moving Forward After Loss" with Les and Sandy Moore
Les and Sandy Moore’s story is one of heartbreak transformed into purpose. In 2011, their teenage son Matt died in a tragic Boy Scout swimming accident — a moment that forever changed their family’s path. In the years since, they have turned un...
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Season 1
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44:41
Season 1, Episode 6 - "From Oilfields to Open Water — and the Courage to Start Again" with Rod Vatcher
Rod Vatcher built his career in one of the toughest industries on earth — oilfieldlogistics. As the founder and former owner of Steelhorse Freight Services in HighRiver, Alberta, he managed the unpredictable world of long-haul transport...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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45:19
Season 1, Episode 5 (Part 3) - "Stepping with a Purpose" with Susan Amondson
Every journey changes us — sometimes in ways we never expect. For Susan Amondson, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just about reaching Santiago; it was about discovering what still lies within — endurance, gratitude, and a deeperwalk with God....
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39:09
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Season 1, Episode 5 (Part 2) - "Stepping with a Purpose" with Dr. Kevin St. Clair
Every journey changes us — sometimes in ways we never expect. For Susan Amondson, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just about reaching Santiago; it was about discovering what still lies within — endurance, gratitude, and a deeperwalk with God....
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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56:33
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Season 1, Episode 5 (Part 1) - "Stepping with a Purpose" with Susan Amondson
Every journey changes us — sometimes in ways we never expect. For Susan Amondson, the Camino de Santiago wasn’t just about reaching Santiago; it was about discovering what still lies within — endurance, gratitude, and a deeperwalk with God....
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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32:59
Season 1, Episode 4 - "From Motocross Prodigy to Adaptive Golf Competitor" with Brock Leitner
Brock Leitner grew up in Summerland, British Columbia, fueled by an unstoppabledrive for competition and speed. By age four, he was already racing motocross; bysixteen, he had turned pro—competing across Canada and the U.S. in one of th...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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56:17
Bonus Episode (Part 2) - "East Lewis County Legends" with Bill Bakamus
In this Bonus Episode, Neil sits down with East County Legend, Bill BakamusFor more than four decades, Bill Bakamus defined what it meant to be a coach — and to be the best in Washington State high school basketball history. H...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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55:34
Bonus Episode (Part 1) - "East Lewis County Legends" with “Sweetie” Suter
In this Bonus Episode, Neil sits down with East County Legends, "Sweetie” Suter and Bill Bakamus.In the late 1950s, in the logging town of Morton, Washington, a young man named “Sweetie” Suter became a symbol of pride and possibility. St...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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53:11
Season 1, Episode 3 (Part 3) - "The Politics of Inclusion" with Logan Washburn
In Part Three of The Politics of Inclusion, Neil talks with Logan Washburn, a young journalist helping shape America’s next political conversation. Representing a generation raised amid cultural transformation, Logan shares how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:03:51
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Season 1, Episode 3 (Parts 1 and 2) - "The Politics of Inclusion" with Dr. Jason Peplinski
In Parts One and Two of The Politics of Inclusion, Neil sits down with Dr. Jason Peplinski, a veteran educator and superintendent who believes true leadership begins with empathy. Drawing from decades of experience guiding schools thro...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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2:23:57
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Season 1, Episode 2 - "Real Estate with a Pulse on the Desert" with Darcey Deetz & Lorrie Anderschat
Darcey Deetz is one of the Coachella Valley’s top resort real-estate professionals,known for her energy, insight, and ability to match people with the lifestyle they’relooking for. A full-time Realtor and desert resident, she has helped...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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42:11
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Season 1, Episode 1 - "Finding Joy and Purpose after Loss" with Rob Zimich
Rob Zimich’s story begins in the mountains of British Columbia and carries a message that resonates far beyond them. After the heartbreaking loss of his son Alex in 2022 in a tragic boating accident near Nelson, BC, Rob discovered that grief an...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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49:02
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