Today’s conversation is a joint episode between Mountain & Prairie and The River Radius podcast. I’m joined by Sam Carter, the creator and host of The River Radius.
If you’re not already familiar with The River Radius, I give it my highest endorsement. It’s the most thoughtful and well-crafted show out there about rivers, water, and the people connected to them. Sam has built something genuinely special, and he’s someone I consider both a friend and a collaborator. I’ve learned a great deal from the way he approaches storytelling, curiosity, and place.
For this episode, instead of a traditional interview, this is a two-way conversation in which Sam and I interview each other—one we’re both releasing on our podcast feeds. Sam shared it on The River Radius feed earlier in January, and now I’m sharing it here. We talk about how our podcasts came to be, what keeps us curious after hundreds of episodes, and how rivers, landscapes, and long projects shape the way we think about life and work. We also get into writing, responsibility, attention, grief, ambition, and what it actually looks like to build something slowly and with intention. I think you’ll enjoy it.
As always, be sure to check the episode notes for detailed timestamps and links to everything we discuss. And I strongly encourage you to find The River Radius on your favorite podcast player, explore the archives, and give it a listen. Enjoy!
Photos courtesy of Sam Carter
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A HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
RESOURCES:
Topics Discussed:
- 0:00 – Opening and sponsor highlight
- 5:46 – Ed introducing himself to Sam Carter and vice versa
- 9:19 – Why Sam started River Radius
- 11:49 – People are listening
- 16:36 – So … what is the Mountain & Prairie podcast?
- 24:04 – What do Ed’s daughters think of his job?
- 25:30 – How to make a podcast your full-time gig
- 32:47 – 2025 highlights from Sam
- 43:11 – Throughlines
- 48:24 – How Ed’s changed the way he looks at the world
- 51:36 – Ed’s 2025 highlights
- 59:15 – What’s the point of fly fishing?
- 1:03:11 – What’s in store for 2026?
- 1:12:17 – Sam and Ed’s production strategies
- 1:25:42 – Ed’s writing a book!
- 1:30:12 – What is a river for Ed Roberson?
- 1:33:56 – More questions for Ed from Sam’s listeners
- 1:36:57 – And questions for Sam from Ed
- 1:42:16 – Parting words
Information Referenced:
- River Radius
- KDUR, where Sam got his podcasting start.
- Returning Rapids Project
- Hampton Sides, Ed’s favorite author turned friend because of M&P.
- Sam’s favorite episode of River Radius with Rob Macfarlane and his book Is A River Alive?
- And another standout River Radius episode about the Tijuana river
- Klamath River River Radius episode
- Ed interviewing Yvon Chouindard on M&P
- Various mentioned Yvon books: Let My People Go Surfing, Pheasant Tale Simplicity (the new one), Simple Fly Fishing
- The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Ed’s inspiration for writing his book.
- Born To Run
- Freeflow Institute
- San Juan and Dolores Rivers, Sam’s choices for river runs.
- Book rec from Sam: One River by Wade Davis
- Central Grasslands Roadmap
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Sammy Matsaw Jr. – Salmon, Sovereignty, and the Long Work of Healing
- Devon O’Neil — On Nature’s Power and the Price of Adventure
- Chris Keyes – From Outside to RE:PUBLIC
- Brendan Leonard Returns – On Writing, Teaching, and Staying Weird
- David Cronenwett – Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu, On and Off the Mats
- George Hodgin Returns – On Risk-Taking, Leadership, and the Future of Cannabis
- Scott Hulet: Reading + Writing + Surfing + Fishing + Traveling
Visit the podcast page for a full list of episodes where you can filter episodes by topic and guests’ vocations.
M&P IS LISTENER-SUPPORTED VIA PATREON
