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Navigating Neva
Neva Nicole
45 episodes
3 days ago
Send us a text This week on Navigating Neva, host Neva Nicole is joined by Phil Waggott, founder of SplashSave, and co-host Wes King to talk about the most important — and often overlooked — part of water safety: parents as the first line of defense. From the first bath to the first swim lesson, prevention begins long before formal instruction. Together, Nicole, Phil, and Wes break down how parents can build confidence and calm around water from day one — teaching awareness, emotional regulat...
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Self-Improvement
Education
RSS
All content for Navigating Neva is the property of Neva Nicole and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text This week on Navigating Neva, host Neva Nicole is joined by Phil Waggott, founder of SplashSave, and co-host Wes King to talk about the most important — and often overlooked — part of water safety: parents as the first line of defense. From the first bath to the first swim lesson, prevention begins long before formal instruction. Together, Nicole, Phil, and Wes break down how parents can build confidence and calm around water from day one — teaching awareness, emotional regulat...
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Education
Episodes (20/45)
Navigating Neva
Teaching Safety Before Swim Skills
Send us a text This week on Navigating Neva, host Neva Nicole is joined by Phil Waggott, founder of SplashSave, and co-host Wes King to talk about the most important — and often overlooked — part of water safety: parents as the first line of defense. From the first bath to the first swim lesson, prevention begins long before formal instruction. Together, Nicole, Phil, and Wes break down how parents can build confidence and calm around water from day one — teaching awareness, emotional regulat...
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6 days ago
24 minutes

Navigating Neva
Helen Hughes returns for a deeper dive
Send us a text Helen Hughes returns to Navigating Neva to dive deeper into her philosophy of Purposeful Play—and to give listeners a preview of her upcoming workshop at the Treasure Coast YMCA in Stuart, Florida. In this episode, Wesley King and Nicole Fairfield unpack strategies for promoting Helen’s workshops across the United States—framing them not as required in-services, but as energizing professional-growth experiences that inspire creativity and confidence in aquatic educators. Togeth...
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1 week ago
35 minutes

Navigating Neva
Mini Adventures, Big Impact
Send us a text Episode 1: “Mini Adventures, Big Impact” Release Date: October 29, 2025 Hosts: Neva Nicole & Wesley King Guest: Helen Hughes – Founder of Mini Water Adventurers (UK) Episode Summary In this premiere episode of Navigating Neva, we’re diving into early swim education through the lens of play, connection, and emotional safety. Nicole and Wesley welcome Helen Hughes, creator of Mini Water Adventurers, joining all the way from the U.K. ahead of her first U.S. workshop ...
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2 weeks ago
27 minutes

Navigating Neva
How Non-Swimmers Learn Through Play with Ron Usher
Send us a text In this episode, we dive into Otterball — a revolutionary, inclusive water game created by veteran coach and adapted PE teacher Ron Usher. With over 50 years of experience in swimming, water polo, and aquatic education, Ron developed Otterball to bridge the “aquatic desert” — the gap where teens and non-swimmers have few opportunities to learn or participate. Through a progressive flotation system, players start with full flotation (life jackets) and gradually reduce support as...
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1 month ago
35 minutes

Navigating Neva
Phil 10.08.2025
Send us a text In this episode, Phil Waggott from SplashSave joins Nicole Fairfield and Wes King to unpack New Zealand’s groundbreaking drowning-prevention data system — one that now tracks hospitalizations as well as fatalities. The results are eye-opening: for every drowning death, there are roughly ten hospitalizations — a hidden layer of water-related trauma that rarely gets measured or discussed. Phil explains the challenge of proving prevention success when “near-miss” incidents go unre...
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1 month ago
53 minutes

Navigating Neva
Jo Lay
Send us a text What if fear of water could be measured — not guessed? This week, we explore the groundbreaking 12-Step Aquaphobia Program developed by Mike Berman and researched with Dr. Ali Barrow in Germany and Dr. Jenny Smith at the University of Chichester. Joanna shares how this evidence-based approach uses a 25-question fear assessment, PAR (Personal Ability Range) scoring, and gradual exposure to help people reclaim calm and confidence in water. From the smell of chlorine trigger...
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1 month ago
34 minutes

Navigating Neva
Detection is a skill — not luck, Stephen Dixon
Send us a text 487 rescues. Zero drownings. That’s not luck—it’s a skill. This week on Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes welcome Stephen Dixon, an open-water safety leader who turned a high-risk lake with 3–5 drownings a year into zero. Stephen takes us inside the mindset and methods of real-world detection and rescue—and what pool guards can learn from open-water culture. Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok ...
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1 month ago
50 minutes

Navigating Neva
Ashley Marthaler Sept 24
Send us a text From First Whistle to Facility Coordinator: Ashley Marthaler on LGIT & Aquatics Leadership (Sept 24, 2025) Tonight on Navigating Neva, Nicole and co-host Wes spotlight Ashley Marthaler—an aquatics pro who started guarding at 16 and, by 24, has leveled up through guard → head guard → manager → coordinator to Facility Coordinator at Illinois State. She just wrapped LGIT academy and is eyeing the Aquatics Director path. We talk early wins, hard lessons, event + aqu...
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1 month ago
34 minutes

Navigating Neva
Mark Rauterkus
Send us a text In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes welcome Mark — host of the Heavy or Not podcast, ISCA contributor, and longtime advocate for gameplay and water polo. We dive into: Why water polo is one of the most unique (and underrated) sports in aquatics.How gameplay keeps kids engaged and builds long-term swim development.The vision and impact of ISCA (International Swim Coaches Association).The story behind Heavy or Not — and how Mark decides what’s truly “heavy.”💬 Subsc...
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2 months ago
50 minutes

Navigating Neva
Andy Graham from the Medical Fitness Association
Send us a text In this episode, Wes and Nicole talk with Andy Graham about the Medical Fitness Association — what it is, how it connects fitness and healthcare, and why its standards matter. The conversation highlights how medicine has created strong pathways between physicians and fitness, while aquatics has yet to build similar systems. Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. ...
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2 months ago
50 minutes

Navigating Neva
From Inglewood to the Paralympic Podium – A Conversation with Jamal Hill
Send us a text In this inspiring episode, host Nicole Fairfield and co-host Wesley King sit down with Paralympic medalist, global speaker, and future LA 2028 athlete Jamal Hill. Jamal’s story is one of resilience, courage, and unshakable belief. From growing up in Inglewood where swimming wasn’t “supposed” to be part of his story, to being diagnosed with a rare disease that doctors said would keep him from ever walking again—Jamal has defied every expectation. Now, as a world-class swimmer an...
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2 months ago
33 minutes

Navigating Neva
Lifeguard Culture Starts at Camp: A Conversation with Shannon
Send us a text What if lifeguard training wasn’t just a summer requirement — but part of your camp’s culture? In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes sit down with Shannon, a powerhouse camp director and lifeguard instructor who’s redefining what leadership and safety look like in a camp setting. From why she trains her own guards, to how expectations shape behavior, Shannon shares actionable insights for anyone building teams, shaping culture, or raising water-smart kids. 🌊 Topics...
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3 months ago
43 minutes

Navigating Neva
All Things Aquatics 2025 – Official Promo Video
Send us a text Are you ready to connect, grow, and lead in the world of aquatics? Join us for All Things Aquatics 2025, a full-day experience for water safety advocates, swim school leaders, pool operators, lifeguards, and aquatics pros from across the nation. 🎯 WHO THIS IS FOR: YMCA & JCC aquatics teamsPE teachers & youth program leadersSwim schools, coaches, and instructorsPool operators, CPOs, and aquatic managersLifeguard trainers, beach safety pros, and more💡 WHAT TO EXPECT...
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3 months ago
8 minutes

Navigating Neva
Still on Deck: 39 Years of Guarding with Scott Ruddle
Send us a text In this roundtable episode of Navigating Neva, we sit down with Canadian lifeguard legend Scott Ruddle—who’s still rocking the deck after nearly four decades. Nicole and Wes dig into Scott’s journey, the culture of guarding in Canada, crossover lessons from his work as a paramedic, and why lifeguarding is more than just a summer job. It’s raw, reflective, and packed with wisdom for the next gen of water watchers. 🎧 Legacy, leadership, freshwater surf, and lifting up the profess...
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3 months ago
50 minutes

Navigating Neva
All Things Aquatics: Behind the Vision
Send us a text Podcast Preview of the September 20, 2025 Event Join hosts Nicole Fairfield (Georgia Swim School / Navigating Neva) and Wesley King (Wesley King Consulting) as they pull back the curtain on the All Things Aquatics event happening this fall on St. Simons Island, GA. This one-day summit is for the real ones—leaders, instructors, guards, directors, and innovators in aquatics who are ready to build better systems, safer spaces, and stronger teams. 🌊 What You’ll Hear in This Episode...
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4 months ago
15 minutes

Navigating Neva
Why We Switched: A Lifeguard Program That Changed Everything
Send us a text What happens when you realize the certification system you're using isn't cutting it anymore? In this powerful conversation, we hear from an aquatic director who made the leap from Red Cross to StarGuard Elite—and hasn’t looked back. From tighter audits and stronger guard performance to better staff support and improved safety culture, this switch wasn’t just a training change—it was a total program transformation. We talk: Why the shift was necessaryHiring + retention struggle...
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4 months ago
46 minutes

Navigating Neva
The First Year: Turning a Dream into Reality with Wendy Gibson
Send us a text In this episode of Navigating Neva, we sit down with the incredible Wendy Gibson—a woman who turned her passion into purpose and her vision into action. From the spark that started it all to the real, raw truths of the first year in business, Wendy shares the highs, the hardships, and the heart behind her mission. 💬 We talk about: The moment she knew she had to take the leapBalancing pressure and passion without burning outEarly wins and the power of momentumHow support systems...
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4 months ago
45 minutes

Navigating Neva
Witness to a Tragedy: Emily’s Story of Loss, Healing, and Hope
Send us a text Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of drowning, trauma, and emotional distress related to a real-life water tragedy. Listener discretion is advised, especially for those who have experienced or been impacted by aquatic incidents. Please take care as you listen. In this deeply emotional episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole Fairfield and cohost Wesley King sit down with Emily Diamond, a courageous guest who witnessed a drowning in local open water. Emily opens ...
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5 months ago
42 minutes

Navigating Neva
Making Waves with Amanda Girton
Send us a text 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 br...
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5 months ago
29 minutes

Navigating Neva
What’s Making Waves This Week in Aquatics
Send us a text 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 be...
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5 months ago
27 minutes

Navigating Neva
Send us a text This week on Navigating Neva, host Neva Nicole is joined by Phil Waggott, founder of SplashSave, and co-host Wes King to talk about the most important — and often overlooked — part of water safety: parents as the first line of defense. From the first bath to the first swim lesson, prevention begins long before formal instruction. Together, Nicole, Phil, and Wes break down how parents can build confidence and calm around water from day one — teaching awareness, emotional regulat...