The Caving Podcast
Episodes
Episode 125: Mikko Cuevas
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Filipino caver shares about some of the discoveries, challenges, and philanthropic work that he and his international team have been involved with...
Episode 124: Sean Lewis Pt. 2
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sean shares more about caving in Fisher Ridge, including a major incident a few years ago that was expertly handled by cave rescue personnel. He also ...
Episode 123: Sean Lewis Pt. 1
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sean Lewis talks about his early caving in Indiana, including drawing up what’s become Matt’s favorite cave map. He also shares about the ongoing ...
Episode 122: Amber Lehmann on the Southeastern Cave Conservancy
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
To kick off 2026, SCCi Board Director Amber Lehmann talks briefly about her personal caving journey before sharing a bit of history about the Southeas...
Episode 121: Roger Brucker Pt. 3
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this final installment of the series of conversations Matt had with the legendary Mammoth Cave explorer and author, Roger Brucker talks about formi...
Episode 120: Roger Brucker Pt. 2
01 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Legendary caver Roger Brucker has authored several books on the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area, including The Caves Beyond, The ...
Episode 119: Roger Brucker Pt. 1
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Legendary caver Roger Brucker has authored several books on the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area, including The Caves Beyond, The ...
Episode 118: Jenna Burgess
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna has been steeped in caving her entire life. Both parents were cavers, and she grew up frequenting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In this talk, ...
Episode 117: Harry Burgess
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Harry has led a rich caving life that is still going strong. From working in a wilderness education program to an official role at Carlsbad Caverns Na...
Episode 115: Ryan Maurer
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a great talk, Ryan shares his photography experience, rescue trauma, as well as the book he recently published about the most significant cave in h...
Episode 114: Remembering Don Paquette
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A titan in the world of cave rescue passed away peacefully yesterday.RIP NSS 8545RL
Episode 113: Dave Black Pt. 2
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the conclusion of this in-person interview, Dave shares his history of cave photography, and explains some of his techniques. He also talks about c...
Episode 112: Dave Black Pt. 1
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dave has found so much cave in Indiana, and inspired a new generation of Indiana cavers that got busy discovering and mapping back in the 80s and 90s....
Episode 111: Jonathan Cover
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan wasn’t a caver until he became curious about a cave on a piece of property he purchased in rural Tennessee. Thanks to his openness to allow...
Episode 110: Tally Sepiol
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Out of Bounds Grotto is a caving club that was created for the 21st century–a virtual grotto that brings together cavers from across the country...
Episode 109: Katie Graham
01 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Canadian super-caver Katie Graham talked about her caving genesis, and her love of the most remote, and tough caving for a variety of objectives from ...
Episode 108: The Floyd Collins Tragedy at 100
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A once-in-a-lifetime historical panel with Roger Brucker, author of Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins, Mammoth Cave Guide Jackie Wheet, and John Ben...
Episode 107: Remembering Bill Tozer
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Former NSS President Bill Tozer passed away last weekend. In this 2018 episode, he shares that was one of the first to descend Ellison’s Fantastic P...
Episode 106: Jerry Lewis Part 2
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Julian “Jerry” Lewis is a cave biologist with a long career consulting on everything from massive infrastructure projects to small-scale bio-i...
Episode 105: Jerry Lewis Part 1
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Julian “Jerry” Lewis is a cave biologist with a long career consulting on everything from massive infrastructure projects to small-scale bio-i...
Episode 104: Mike Ficco
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Ficco has found Virginia’s deepest cave, and has explored all over the world, including China, Montenegro, Slovenia, and elsewhere. He shared t...
Episode 103: Georgia Schneider
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Georgia Schneider’s caving life has grown quickly since she started caving; taking her to places like New Zealand, France, Mexico, and countless US ...
Episode 102: Bill Torode
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Torode has volunteered at the NSS library for over 50 years, and has mapped hundreds of caves. We talk about being the first person to peer down ...
Episode 101: Peter Johnson
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Pete shares his varied caving life starting in West Virginia's Germany Valley all the way through Grand Canyon exploration, Lechuguilla, Tears of The ...
Episode 100: Colin Magee
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Colin Magee is a Canadian caver originally from New Zealand who has been on high-profile Mexico expeditions like Cheve where he participated in the Na...
Episode 99: Katarina Kosič Ficco
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katarina Kosič Ficco is a cave and karst field scientist with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage fo...
Episode 98: Mike Drake
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Drake heads up exploration of the Studebaker/Wayne Cave system in Indiana’s Garrison Chapel Valley just west of Bloomington. He talks about the...
Episode 97: Dave Brumbaugh
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dave Brumbaugh has been a cave guide in several show caves, including back home in Pennsylvania. He has also worked at Carlsbad Caverns and indeed sti...
Episode 96: Rand Heazlitt Part 2
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rand Heazlitt is currently leading the continued exploration of Indiana's longest cave, the Binkley Cave system. He shares his perspective as the lead...
Episode 95: Rand Heazlitt Part 1
01 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rand Heazlitt is currently leading the continued exploration of Indiana's longest cave, the Binkley Cave system. He shares his caving genesis, key mom...
Episode 94: Jessica Jernigan
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Jernigan is a TAG caver who has been at it for just over a couple of years, but has accomplished a lot in that time. We had a great talk about...
Episode 93: Mike Mansur
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Mansur is the author of The Cave Formation Repair Project. He and his team of volunteers have worked hundreds of hours repairing and restoring ca...
Episode 92: Tray Heinke
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tray Heinke appeared on an episode of Naked and Afraid, which was a big part of this talk, but he's been an Indiana caver for many years, exploring I...
Episode 91: Patti Cummings
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Patti Cummings is the Vice President of the Richard Blenz Nature Conservancy, home of Indiana’s storied Buckner Cave. She talks about her caving his...
Episode 90: Zeke McKee
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zeke McKee is a Tennessee caver who has explored and mapped many caves, including Heart of Gould, and Enigma–both of which we talk about at length, ...
Episode 89: Cagle's Chasm
01 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Matt Pelsor visits Cagle’s Chasm in Tennessee and chats with Chris Lee, Jennifer Young, Jeff Rose, and trip leader Jim Minie. This episode is p...
Episode 88: Conley Hole with Justin Huffman & Co
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Matt Pelsor returns to Conley Hole in Tennessee for the first time since 2016 and talks with Justin Huffman about his successful effort to discov...
Episode 87: Shawn Williams
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shawn Williams is a Missouri caver with a storied caving history and personal life. Both are on full display in this extended interview.Order a custom...
Episode 86: Kevin Mulligan
01 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Mulligan helped develop the caving ropes course known as The Gauntlet, which has been seen at many caving events. We talk about how it has evolv...
Episode 85: Kelly Smallwood
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kelly Smallwood lives in the heart of TAG, and has been involved in many projects, including surveying for the Jack Daniels Distillery. She shares a l...
Episode 84: Joel Despain
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Joel Despain is a California caver, the new co-editor of the NSS News, and has made caving a big part of his professional life.Order a custom cave sui...
Episode 83: Miki Manning
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Miki Manning is a caver from TAG who is heavily involved with fundraising for the NSS. We talk about her active caving life, as well as specific ways ...
Episode 82: Remembering Glenn Lemasters
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Indiana caver and gifted cave map cartographer Glenn Lemasters died on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at the age of 70.
Episode 81: Chad McCain
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chad McCain is a caver based in St. Louis, Missouri. He shares a number of great exploration stories, and a few harrowing tales of what can happen whe...
Episode 80: Remembering Tom Rea
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Former NSS President Tom Rea passed away on Saturday. He was 88.
Episode 79: Fenn Spencer
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fenn Spencer is a lifelong legacy TAG caver.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/More on the Carte...
Episode 78: Marion Akers PART 2
01 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Marion Akers is an Indiana-based caver and cave cartographer involved in exploration in TAG, Indiana, and Mexico.Order a custom cave suit from our spo...
Episode 77: Marion Akers PART 1
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Marion Akers is an Indiana-based caver and cave cartographer involved in exploration in TAG, Indiana, and Mexico.Order a custom cave suit from our spo...
Episode 76: Mark Dickey
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Dickey is an NCRC instructor and helped create a new comprehensive advanced alpine SRT caving course called Caving Academy, which will hold its f...
Episode 75: Aidan Campbell
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Aidan Campbell is a land manager with the SCCi, and talks about that role and the passion he has for cave conservation. He talks about his caving gene...
Episode 74: Gretchen Baker
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gretchen Baker is the current national coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission, but that barely scratches the surface of her credibility. ...
Episode 73: The people behind the IMAX film "Ancient Caves"
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"Ancient Caves" was released for IMAX 3D and IMAX Dome theaters just days into the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, but thankfully the cycle for IMAX t...
Episode 72: Thomas Hawkins
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Hawkins has caved all over the world, but got started in one of the best places on Earth–West Virginia’s Germany Valley. He talks about cav...
Episode 71: Holly McClintock
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Holly McClintock has chaired the Louisville Grotto since 2012. She is an active member of the Cave Research Foundation, Central Kentucky Karst Coaliti...
Episode 70: Reilly Blackwell
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Reilly Blackwell has done an awful lot of caving since she first got serious about it in 2016. Since then she has worked for the NSS, been on several ...
Episode 69: Matt Pelsor
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Pelsor has produced and hosted the Caving Podcast since July of 2016.He is a radio personality and voiceover actor from Indianapolis.In this epis...
Episode 68: Kirsten Alvey-Mudd
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kirsten Alvey-Mudd is the executive director of the Missouri Bat Censushttps://www.facebook.com/MissouriBatCensus/The Caving Podcast is sponsored by h...
Episode 67: Devra Heyer
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Devra Heyer is the Education Division Chief of the National Speleological Society.The Caving Podcast is sponsored by https://elspeleo.com/Save $20 any...
Episode 66: Matthew Lachniet
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Lachniet is a paleoclimatologist who studies cave formations to get a record of past climate history.The Caving Podcast is sponsored by https:...
Episode 65: Indiana Cave Capers 2021
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This month is a series of impromptu interviews conducted at Indiana Cave Capers, which is an annual event put on by the Central Indiana Grotto.The Cav...
Episode 64: Crash Kennedy
01 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jim “Crash” Kennedy has been passionate about caves, caving, and bats for most of his life. He reveals the unfortunate incident that earned him hi...
Episode 63: Ceth Parker
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ceth Parker is a California-based caver who has done impressive research on iron caves in Brazil, which makes this podcast host re-think how most cave...
Episode 62: George Veni
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
George Veni is the executive Director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (http://nckri.org/), and the president of the International Un...
Episode 61: Remembering Dale Chase
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Canadian (former Hoosier) Dale Chase passed away on Monday, 5/3/21. He was a guest of the podcast on February 2018 after he wrote a book on his colorf...
Episode 60: Martin Hoff
01 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
UK caver Martin Hoff has enjoyed lots of significant European caves throughout his storied association with caving.The Caving Podcast is sponsored by...
Episode 59: Carol Vesely
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Carol Vesely is a California caver who has been caving all over the world. She enthusiastically shares a small fraction of her caving life in this int...
Episode 58: Steven Johnson & Marianne Russo (Western Cave Conservancy
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Steven Johnson and Marianne Russo are the President and Secretary (respectively) of the Western Cave Conservancy. Visit their website here to support ...
Episode 57: Mark Wenner
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Wenner is a caver and cave diver in the TAG area, but has also done a lot in Mammoth and elsewhere.Support our sponsor!https://elspeleo.com/Save ...
Episode 56: Bill Steele
02 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’re kicking off 2021 with a caving legend. Bill Steele joins us to talk about his early days in caving, plus leading expeditions to Huautla and ot...
Episode 55: Chrissy Richards
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Caver and cave diver Chrissy Richards has done some incredible work. This hour we talk about exploration in Florida, TAG, Mexico, and Hawaii. Also, a ...
Danyele Green
01 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fellow Indiana caver Danyele Green is co-chair of the Bloomington Indiana Grotto. She's done a lot, and I had so much fun just nerding out about class...
Steve Davis
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Long-time TAG caver and founding member of the SCCi joins me this month, and what a talk we had.TAG classics, rescues (and recoveries), Lechuguilla......
Sam Frushour
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sam literally wrote the book on Indiana caves (https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Caves-Indiana-Natural-Science/dp/0253000963)From his long expeditions in S...
Bill Stone
01 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Talk about a dream guest. Bill Stone has been to the deepest depths and the highest heights, if you really think about it. He's developed rebreathers ...
Pat Kambesis
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Caving Podcast celebrates four years with a dream guest. Pat Kambesis has been exploring caves for decades. She discovered the Chandelier Ballroom...
Tristan Stahl
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If there were a "30 under 30" list of cavers, Tristan would probably be on it. We talk about his early days in Indiana, all the way up to his recent N...
Jennifer Pinkley
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
TAG caver Jennifer Pinkley wrote the book on Fern Cave, and worked for the NSS for a time. We talk about her long caving life, as well as a funny resc...
Sil Iannello
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
All the way from Australia to talk about her rich caving life, and the effort to help save the Australian karst regions devastated by the recent bushf...
Richard Rhinehart
01 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Colorado caver Richard Rhinehart has led a significant caving life and is still fighting for caves. He's currently part of an effort to save Witches' ...
Zach Englebert
01 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Zach started in TAG before heading West in his van. Despite how new he is to caving, he has done an awful lot in some big ways.Donate to this month's ...
Emily Davis
01 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Speleobooks owner and 50-year caving veteran Emily Davis has dedicated her life to caving and conservation. She was also the subject of the 1991 rescu...
Adam Weaver
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This South Dakota caver spends a lot of time in that cave-famous southwestern corner of the state, but he's done his fair share of exploration in plen...
Gilly Elor
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Gilly has participated in several expeditions to Mexico--one of which was pretty harrowing. We also talked about her trip through Krubera, which she w...
Derek Bristol
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Colorado caver Derek Bristol has been on a number of major expeditions, including several to Lechuguilla. We talk about his early days, return to cavi...
Christine Walkey
01 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
SCCi’s Christine Walkey talks about caving for work, and about her love for TAG.LINKS:Montana Cave Camp: https://nrmg.regfox.com/cave-camp-2019Misso...
Norm Pace
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Caver and molecular biology pioneer Norm Pace joins us to talk candidly about his early caving days, cancer scare, and his storied professional career...
Hazel Barton
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
She's a terrific representative for what caving is all about, which is why she's been featured in films and documentaries talking about her profession...
Johanna Kovarik
01 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Johanna has been all over. She's led cave tours on National Forest land in Alaska, worked for the National Parks Service at Carlsbad Caverns, and serv...
Rusty Riley
01 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime Indiana caver Rusty Riley has led an interesting caving life. He was on the team that explored Two Bit Pit, and has taken several trips to Me...
Beth Cortright
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
New Mexico caver Beth Cortright has surveyed archaeologically significant caves in Mexico, worked in Lechuguilla, and more recently has been involved ...
Rene Ohms
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
South Dakota's two best known caves (Wind and Jewel) have grown considerably thanks in no small part to Rene. She has also explored Lechuguilla, Ft. S...
Aaron French
01 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Indiana caver Aaron French is making a name for himself exploring the Scottsburg Lowland and Muscatatuck Plateau, the less-explored Indiana karst. We ...
Episode 31: Elliot Stahl
01 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Elliot is a prolific cave explorer and photographer who has supported expeditions to the deepest limestone cave in the U.S., as well as big discoverie...
Episode 30: Christian Stenner
01 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Christian has been instrumental in the exploration of glacier caves on Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. He was also part of the team that helped re-def...
Episode 29: Don Paquette
01 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The former NCRC National Coordinator talks about his caving genesis, forming fixing the NCRC, and the numerous cave rescues he's been involved with.Th...
Episode 28: Glenn Lemasters
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This month, Matt talks with a long-time Indiana caver who has checked off a lot of boxes when it comes to caving experiences. We talk about surviving ...
Episode 27: Bill Tozer
01 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This former NSS President was one of the first to descend Ellison’s Fantastic Pit, as well as Sótano de las Golondrinas. He shares stories of his e...
Episode 26: Scott McCrea
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Swaygo founder Scott McCrea joins me to talk about his caving life. From the discovery and exploration of Cyclops Cave to his work with the NCRC, plus...
Remembering Dick Blenz
10 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Caving wouldn't be the same without Dick Blenz. I was fortunate to talk with him last year for the podcast. This is a slightly condensed edit from tha...
Episode 25: Raymond Moul (Cavely)
01 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Raymond makes GREAT caving videos. His YouTube channel has over 1200 subscribers and his videos have been seen by thousands. We go over the genesis of...