In this heartwarming episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes sit down with Amanda Girton—certified Water Safety Instructor, founder of Sunshine Swimming, and author of Teach Your Child to Swim: Second Edition.

Amanda shares her inspiring journey from part-time swim instructor to community advocate, offering free swim lessons to families and transforming the way kids connect with water. From water safety and drowning prevention to supporting neurodivergent swimmers, Amanda breaks down how to make swimming a joyful, confidence-building experience for every child.

Tips for parents of new swimmers
A sneak peek at Amanda’s upcoming book & coloring guide
How to make bath time the beginning of swim time
Empowering advice for mission-driven entrepreneurs

Connect with Amanda:
🌐 sunshineswimming.com
📸 Instagram: @sunshineswimming
📖 Book on Amazon! https://a.co/d/cGayQou

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

Wes and Nicole break down what’s making waves in the aquatics world right now.

🔥 CPR & AED Awareness Week—why it matters more than ever
🏊 Team USA domination + the power of swim role models
👶 Joyful Waters is expanding—get the scoop on our trauma-aware swim program
📍 Florida Workshop: November 15–16 with Helen Hughes
🚨 Drowning Prevention Week (June 14–21): Simple things that actually save lives
🎟️ All Things Aquatics is back June 19—register now before the price jumps!

Whether you’re a parent, coach, guard, or swim school leader—this episode is packed with timely updates, inspiration, and a little behind-the-scenes energy from Nicole and Wes.

💬 Connect with us & get the links: navigatingneva.com

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

In this episode, Nicole and Wes welcome Jose Gallagher, founder and CEO of Rip Current Sports and inventor of Dual Boards, a revolutionary swim training tool changing how swimmers build technique, confidence, and independence in the water.

Jose shares real-world success stories—including a Maryland swim program that ordered 95 pairs after a single demo—and dives into how Dual Boards support beginners, adaptive athletes, and competitive swimmers alike. You'll learn how the unique board shapes (like the “M” and “H” positions) help swimmers engage the right muscles, improve kick timing, and feel more natural hand buoyancy without gripping.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or aquatic director, this episode will inspire you to rethink how we support learners in the water.

Highlights:

• Maryland swim program’s bulk adoption of Dual Boards
• Letter-based positioning and functional uses
• Dual Boards in lifeguard training for struggling candidates
• Confidence-building stories, including a 67-year-old swimmer gaining independence

Explore the boards at ripcurrentsports.com or find them on Amazon.

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

In this episode of Navigating Neva, we head across the pond for a joyful and imaginative conversation with Helen Hughes, founder of Mini Water Adventurers and creator of the Orca Swim Trainer.

Helen joins Nicole and Wes to share how she blends purposeful play with swim skill development—especially for little ones. From her unique tools and playful approach to cultural differences between swim instruction in the UK and US, Helen offers powerful insights for instructors, parents, and swim leaders alike.

🎉 Plus, Helen is a featured sponsor of the All Things Aquatics event happening September 20 in Georgia—and she’ll be hosting a special in-person training in South Florida this November.

✨ Learn more about Helen’s work: [miniwateradventurers.com]
📲 Follow her on Instagram: @orca_swimtrainer

#SwimInstructor #PurposefulPlay #LearnToSwim #EarlyChildhood #AquaticsEducation #NavigatingNeva #WaterSafety #JoyfulWaters

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

In this special episode of Navigating Neva, host Nicole Fairfield shares a deeply personal and powerful story for the first time—her own experience with a water rescue. Recorded in honor of International Water Safety Day, this episode goes beyond standard safety tips and dives into the emotional and transformative moments of a real rescue. Join Nicole as she shares what she learned, how it changed her, and why water safety is more than just a topic—it's a mission. Don’t miss this heartfelt and eye-opening episode.

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

In this week’s episode of Navigating Neva, we’re kicking off something new and exciting. Host Nicole is joined by co-host Wes and our special guest, Phil Waggott. Phil is a familiar name in the aquatics world, known for his work with Navigating Aquatics. But today, we’re exploring his next chapter with Splash Save.

🔹 Phil’s Backstory: We dive into Phil’s journey, from his early days in aquatics to his experience with Navigating Aquatics. What did he love? What did he learn? And why is he shifting gears with Splash Save?

🔹 The New Collaboration: Nicole and Wes are excited to announce that Phil will be joining Navigating Neva as a regular guest, bringing fresh insights, honest conversations, and global perspectives on water safety, swim training, and industry trends.

🔹 What’s Next: We preview upcoming episodes and topics you won’t want to miss—everything from swim culture and leadership to drowning prevention and the latest in aquatic safety.

Ready to dive in? Hit play, subscribe, and follow Navigating Neva for more episodes.

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

Episode Title: "Where There's Water, I Will Wait: Drowning Prevention for Children with Special Needs"

In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wesley welcome special guest Dana Harvey, a seasoned swim instructor with over 37 years of experience. Dana shares her groundbreaking water safety program, "Where There's Water, I Will Wait," designed to protect children—especially those with special needs—from drowning. Using engaging characters like the "waiting whales," Dana has taught thousands of families how to build water safety habits through patience and understanding.

Listeners will discover:

How Dana's program uses waiting mats and visual cues to teach children about water safety.
The importance of water safety beyond swim lessons, especially for children on the autism spectrum.
Insights from Dana’s research across 750 schools, where she identified critical gaps in water safety education.
Practical tips for parents and educators to make water safety a consistent habit in any environment.

Join us for this eye-opening conversation about making water safety accessible, inclusive, and life-saving for all.

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

From Lifeguard to Leader: Navigating Aquatics with Elaena In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wesley sit down with Elaena Noffsinger, an aquatic professional whose 16-year journey has taken her from lifeguard to municipal pool manager to swim school owner. Elaena shares how she built a thriving aquatic career, what it takes to retain great staff, and how burnout led her to launch Streamline Swim Academy.

We discuss strategies for building ownership within teams, how to communicate aquatic success to upper management, and why taking initiative—whether applying for a job or launching your business—can open doors you didn’t know were there.

Plus: our April giveaway winner is announced!

Support the show

🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield.

💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook.

❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com.

📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield.

📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content!

🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!