Ryan Thims grew up in Maine, landed in Southern Oregon at 19, and has spent the decades since building adventures in some of the most remote places on earth.

His path runs through river guiding on the Rogue, managing a boutique rainforest resort in Honduras for over a decade, leading SOU's Outdoor Program, and launching Rogue Heli Tours in 2020 — a company that combines helicopter access with rafting, fishing, remote lodge stays, and backcountry experiences most people never knew were possible. He lives in Eagle Point with his wife and their dog Dante, still chasing the next thing.

We talk about helicopters — how they work, what they unlock, and how to charter one — rafting through the Honduran jungle, what New Zealand did to his sense of what's possible, running rivers year-round around the world, drones, building businesses around passions, subsistence hunting, how volunteering opens doors into the arenas you want to be in, and the line that says it all: "every good thing that I've ever had has been from rafting."

Links
Rogue Heli Tours: roguehelitours.com
Las Cascadas Lodge: lascascadaslodge.com
Rogue Rafting Co: rogueraftingco.com
SOU Outdoor Program: sou.edu/outdoor-program

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Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast
Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords
Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Ryan Thims, Rogue Heli Tours, helicopter tours Southern Oregon, helicopter rafting Oregon, backcountry helicopter Oregon, Las Cascadas Lodge, Honduras rainforest lodge, eco resort Honduras, Rogue River rafting, river guiding Oregon, SOU Outdoor Program, Southern Oregon University, New Zealand adventure, Honduras jungle rafting, subsistence hunting Oregon, drones outdoors, adventure entrepreneur, outdoor business Southern Oregon, Eagle Point Oregon, Rogue Valley, whitewater year round, volunteering outdoors, place-based podcast, outdoor lifestyle, whimsy, Kula Cloth

Ashley Drake has spent 15 years turning adventure into a life — and a business.

Co-owner of Arrowhead River Adventures in Grants Pass, Ashley runs trips on the Rogue, teaches wilderness medicine, raises two wild kids named Wren and Rosie, and is usually the first voice you hear when you call — unless she's out on the water, which is entirely possible. She grew up in the Portland area and found her way to Southern Oregon by way of international travel, summer camp, and a husband she met at both.

We talk about how Grants Pass chose them rather than the other way around, organizing international travel and what that teaches you about hosting, the joys and realities of running a small seasonal river outfit with your spouse, settling into home in a small town, making adult friendships, managing energy through a seasonal business, her life's journey from camp counselor to co-owner, a trip to Antarctica, the privilege of hosting outdoor experiences, and her go-to trail snacks. Plus her most-used outdoor gear, advice for her younger self, advice for someone who wants to live like her, and how she wants to be remembered.

Links
arrowheadriveradventures.com | @arrowheadriveradventures
hello@arrowheadadventures.com | (541) 830-3388
NOLS: nols.edu
Big Lake Youth Summer Camp: biglake.org

Active Listener Offers
Arrowhead River Adventures — Code GOWILDLY for 10% off any half-day rafting trip in 2026 or 2027: arrowheadriveradventures.com
Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d
SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com
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Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast
Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Ashley Drake, Arrowhead River Adventures, Rogue River rafting, Grants Pass Oregon, whitewater rafting Oregon, family owned river outfitter, wilderness medicine, NOLS, international travel adventure, Antarctica travel, summer camp, small business Oregon, seasonal business, river guide life, outdoor hosting, adult friendships, small town life, Southern Oregon rivers, Hellgate Canyon, Rogue River day trips, trail snacks, outdoor parenting, place-based podcast, outdoor lifestyle, whimsy, Kula Cloth

What It Takes to Protect a National Monument with Daniel CollayEpisode 44 | Go Wildly Podcast

Daniel Collay grew up on a farm outside Eugene figuring things out for himself. Southern Oregon kept pulling him back — and eventually became his life's work.

After studying Environmental Studies and Outdoor Adventure Leadership at SOU, a stint in Portland doing ecological restoration, and years at Willow-Witt Ranch — a working farm and conservation property inside the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument — Daniel became Executive Director of the Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in 2024. He's also a Certified Burn Manager, Oregon Master Naturalist, and Talent City Councilor. His send-off line for people leaving Southern Oregon: "I'll see you when you move back."We talk about how national monuments are established and what land protection designations actually mean, the SOU Outdoor Program and how it shaped his friendships, career, and love life, what happens when you get a bunch of outdoor adventure leaders anywhere together, the draw of Southern Oregon, green burial and advice for death and dying, and what it looks like to get involved in your community through local politics and volunteering. Plus his most-used outdoor gear, advice for his younger self, advice for someone who wants to live like him, and how he wants to be remembered.

Links

• cascadesiskiyou.org
• cityoftalent.org/council-mayor
• eugene-or.gov/143/Camps

Active Listener Offers

• Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d
• SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com
• ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips
• Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.com

Follow Go Wildly

• YouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast
• Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast
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• Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Daniel Collay, Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, national monument protection, land management Oregon, Willow-Witt Ranch, Forest Conservation Burial Ground, green burial Oregon, Southern Oregon University outdoor program, SOU outdoor leadership, environmental studies Oregon, ecological restoration, Certified Burn Manager, Oregon Master Naturalist, Talent City Council, Talent Oregon, Eugene Oregon, Rachel Carson Academy, community involvement local politics, volunteering Oregon, death and dying, outdoor adventure leadership, Southern Oregon draw, place-based podcast, conservation podcast, whimsy, Kula Cloth

Holding Lightly: Land Restoration, Justice & Reciprocity with Jeanine Moy

Episode 42 | Go Wildly Podcast

Jeanine Moy has spent decades learning how to read the land. Vesper Meadow is where that work came alive.

With a degree in Applied Ecology from Cornell and a Master's in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University, Jeanine's path wound through agroforestry research, plant field studies in the greater Yellowstone region, rock climbing instruction in Colorado, and outdoor science education in Oregon before founding the Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve and Education Program in 2018 — a living expression of what it means to bring people and land back into right relationship with each other.

We talk about what it takes to restore a landscape and a relationship — with the land, with indigenous partners, with the next generation of stewards. Jeanine shares how she thinks about land justice, reciprocity, generational perspective, and the kind of collaboration that holds lightly enough to let others lead. There are beavers, camas grass, and a meadow slowly becoming itself again. Plus her most-used outdoor gear, advice for her younger self, advice for someone who wants to live like her, and how she wants to be remembered.

Linksvespermeadow.org | @vesper_meadow | jeanine@vespermeadow.org

Active Listener Offers

Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d

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Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Jeanine Moy, Vesper Meadow, Vesper Meadow Restoration Preserve, meadow restoration Oregon, land stewardship, ecological restoration, applied ecology, Cornell University, Southern Oregon University, environmental education, Klamath Bird Observatory, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Ashland Trail Trekkers, indigenous land partnership, indigenous worldview, land justice, reciprocal land relationship, native grass restoration, camas grass, beaver restoration, land resilience, feminine collaboration, agroforestry, Yellowstone ecology, outdoor science education, Ashland Oregon, Southern Oregon, place-based podcast, conservation podcast, land restoration, whimsy, Kula Cloth

Klamath Dam Removal, Almeda Fire & Building a River Business with Will Volpert

Episode 41 | Go Wildly Podcast

Will Volpert was born into the river life and continues to choose it.

His parents guided and outfitted whitewater in Idaho. By the time he could walk he already knew the sound of a rapid. Today he and his wife Julie run Indigo Creek Outfitters out of Phoenix, Oregon — running day trips on the Rogue, exploring the newly restored Klamath following the largest dam removal in American history, and turning first-timers into people who can't stop thinking about the next time they'll be on the water.

We talk about learning to listen to podcasts, sleep habits indoors and outdoors, building and growing Indigo Creek Outfitters — business values, culture, and what it takes to run a small family-owned business — the Almeda Fire and post-fire revelations, the birth of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, becoming a river guide and outfitter as a kid, lessons from the river, a wildlife encounter, and the Klamath Dam removal through the lens of recreation access and relationship building.

Links

Indigo Creek Outfitters: indigocreekoutfitters.com | @indigocreekoutfitters

Phoenix Oregon Chamber of Commerce: @travelphoenix

Active Listener Offers

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Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Will Volpert, Indigo Creek Outfitters, Phoenix Oregon, Rogue River rafting, Klamath River, Klamath Dam removal, largest dam removal history, dam removal recreation, river outfitter Oregon, family owned business outdoors, small business Oregon, Phoenix Oregon Chamber of Commerce, Almeda Fire Oregon, post fire recovery Southern Oregon, growing up on rivers, river guide kid, whitewater Idaho, river culture, first time rafting, outdoor business values, delegation business growth, wilderness United States, be uncomfortable try new things, Southern Oregon rivers, place-based podcast, outdoor lifestyle, whimsy, Kula Cloth

You Asked, We Answered | Wildly UsEpisode 41 | Go Wildly PodcastIn this episode, Emily & Heather sit down by the river to answer questions submitted by listeners. From embarrassing nature stories, to bucket list activities, to their delusional dreams for the podcast, they answer what you've asked. Active Listener Offers- Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d- SOMA — 2-Week Free Trial + 6-month membership: southernoregonmartialarts.com- ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips- Lean In Breathwork — Code GOWILDLY, 20% off sauna sessions: calvinlivingston.comFollow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcastSpotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcastInstagram: @gowildlypodcastWebsite: gowildlypodcast.comHosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly PodcastTheme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permissionKeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, place-based podcast, conservation podcast, Kula Cloth, outdoor adventure podcast, wildlife podcasts, adventure podcast, womens sports podcast, hiking podcast, adventure podcasts, adventure podcast series, outdoor healing, outdoor freedom activism, northwest rivers, river podcast, ask us anything, outdoor dreams, delulu, embarassing outdoor stories, mountain biking, rafting, bucket list

Conservationist of the Year on Rivers, Forests & a Life That Mattered with Julie Norman Episode 40 | Go Wildly Podcast

Julie Norman left a career in tech for whitewater, then left whitewater for a 15-year fight to save old growth forests across Southwest Oregon.

Julie grew up in Texas, earned a Master's in Computer Science and Educational Psychology from the University of Texas, and at 24 walked away from a systems programmer job at IBM to guide whitewater across California, Oregon, and Idaho. At 35 she became President of Headwaters, a Rogue Valley nonprofit fighting old growth overcutting. In 1993 she spoke at President Clinton's Forest Conference, work that contributed to court victories cutting logging on westside public forests by 80 percent. Oregon Wild named her Conservationist of the Year. The Wilderness Society called her an Environmental Hero. Today she's retired, which mostly means nonprofit work, ukulele, and defending democracy.

We talk about how long Julie and Emily have known each other, getting polio at 4 and relearning how to walk, meeting boating at 11, Girl Scouts and camping, leaving corporate tech for river guiding after a Grand Canyon trip, ARTA river trips and Vallecito, the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and American Rivers, meeting the Rogue River for the first time, Earth First! and living riverside, the history of Galice and the Almeda Mine, early guiding as a woman across Oregon, California, and Idaho, the impacts of living outside, Siskiyou National Forest clear cuts and activism, the value of mentors, the Northwest Forest Plan, Martha Stewart and the Siskiyou Wild Rivers special, her meditation journey and meeting Vipassana, the effects of aging, and her belief that "I don't remember the sad and difficult times hardly at all."

Linksjuliekaynorman.comagnesbakerpilgrim.org/preserving-her-legacy/new-projects

Active Listener Offers
- Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d
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- ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips
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Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast
Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

KeywordsGo Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Julie Norman, Headwaters Rogue Valley, old growth forest, forest conservation, Northwest Forest Plan, Clinton Forest Conference, Conservationist of the Year, Oregon Wild, Wilderness Society, Siskiyou National Forest, Siskiyou Wild Rivers, whitewater guide, ARTA river trips, Stanislaus River, Tuolumne River, American River, Rogue River, Galice Oregon, Almeda Mine, Earth First, women river guides, polio survivor, forest activism, public lands Oregon, environmental hero, Martha Stewart Siskiyou, Vipassana meditation, aging and reflection, Sundance neighborhood, place-based podcast, conservation podcast, Kula Cloth

The Stupid Hike That Changed Everything with Andy NealEpisode 39 | Go Wildly Podcast

Andy Neal went from pastor to filmmaker to half a million followers — all thanks to the trails.

Known online as @andyfilmsandhikes, Andy is an Oregon-based storyteller, filmmaker, and outdoor creator whose "stupid hike for my stupid mental health" videos struck a nerve with people who needed permission to just go be real outside. Before full-time content creation he spent 15 years as a pastor. Today he talks openly about faith, relationship with land, identity, foster and adoptive parenting, mental health, and what it takes to start over.

In This Episode

From bible school to film school to hiking, podcasting, and plus-size modeling

Being a voice for mental health and child advocacy

Foster and adoptive parenting

His weight loss journey and GLP-1

The Rogue River at Ti'lomikh Falls

Spirituality and common ground

His first time backpacking — feeling dependent on the land

Land stewardship and public lands

Getting over yourself to get to know yourself

Going viral and navigating brand deals

Destigmatizing men's mental health

Advice for his younger self

Favorite outdoor gear

Recommendations for Southern Oregon

How he wants to be remembered

Links

Instagram & YouTube: @andyfilmsandhikes

Website: https://www.andyfilmsandhikes.com/

Active Listener Offers

Kula Cloth — Shop through our link to support the show: kulacloth.com/?avad=436689_e4cf2ef3d

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ROW Adventures — Code GOWILDLY, $100 off any multi-day trip 2026-2027: rowadventures.com/multi-day-rafting-trips

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Follow Go WildlyYouTube: youtube.com/@gowildlypodcast

Spotify: tinyurl.com/spotifygowildlypodcast

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Website: gowildlypodcast.com

Hosted & Produced by Emily Berlant & Heather White / Go Wildly Podcast

Theme Music: "Rainmaker" by Jared Masters — used with permission

Keywords

Go Wildly Podcast, Go Wildly, Southern Oregon podcast, outdoor podcast, Emily Berlant, Heather White, Andy Neal, andyfilmsandhikes, hiking mental health, stupid hike for my stupid mental health, men's mental health, destigmatizing mental health, mental health outdoors, hiking Oregon, Oregon filmmaker, outdoor content creator, foster parenting, adoptive parenting, child advocacy, faith and outdoors, spirituality outdoors, GLP-1 weight loss, plus size hiking, plus size outdoors, going viral hiking, outdoor storytelling, Ti'lomikh Falls, Rogue River, public lands, land stewardship, backpacking Oregon, first time backpacking, getting over yourself, grief and healing outdoors, pastor turned filmmaker, place-based podcast, outdoor healing, whimsy, Kula Cloth