Advertise on podcast: The Caving Podcast

Founding a grotto is no small task. Luckily, Elijah had interest and support from some locals who were once members of a long-defunct grotto that he has now revived in an Indiana cave region once mostly off-limits due to WNS closures. In this episode, he talks about his caving genesis, and what it took to bring the Harrison Crawford Grotto (HCG) back from the dead. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitches https://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/ More info on the Harrison Crawford Grottohttps://www.facebook.com/p/Harrison-Crawford-Grotto-100080023449417/ Register for TAG Fall Cave-In! https://caves.org/tag-fall-cave-in-registration/ NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Continuing the series of interviews conducted at the 2026 NSS Convention in Corydon, Indiana; National Cave and Karst Research Institute director Ben Tobin sits down to talk about his caving genesis, research pursuits, and the work currently being done at NCKRI. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitches https://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/ The National Cave & Karst Research Institute https://nckri.org/ International Day of Caves and Karsthttps://www.caveskarstday.org/ Register for TAG Fall Cave-In! https://caves.org/tag-fall-cave-in-registration/ NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

In front of a live audience at the 2026 NSS Convention, Montana caver Jason Ballensky shares about his caving genesis, exploration and data gathering in the Grand Canyon, and discovery and exploration of deep caves in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness; including Tears of The Turtle, the deepest limestone cave in the US. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitches https://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/ International Day of Caves and Karsthttps://www.caveskarstday.org/ Indiana Cave Capers 2026https://cigcaves.com/cave-capers-2026 TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS! https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcavein NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The prolific Indiana-based caver shares the genesis of his caving story, including his first trips to TAG, discoveries at home in Indiana, and first-hand recollection of a famous Indiana rescue from 40+ years ago. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitches https://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ Indiana Cave Capers 2026https://cigcaves.com/cave-capers-2026 TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS! https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcavein NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The former National Coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission talks about his caving genesis, his longtime association with Buckner Cave and the Richard Blenz Nature Preserve, and of course his long career in cave rescue. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitches https://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ Volunteer at Convention! https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitation Cave Week 2026 https://nckri.org/cave-week/ TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS! https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcavein NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Val McNamara --- Val shares her caving history going back to the early 90s, along with a few harrowing tales in TAG and Mexico, as well as her big return to caving after her kids grew up. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages: https://www.customcavepages.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ Volunteer at Convention! https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitation Cave Week 2026 https://nckri.org/cave-week/ NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The Filipino caver shares about some of the discoveries, challenges, and philanthropic work that he and his international team have been involved with in his decades of caving. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages: https://www.customcavepages.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ Volunteer at Convention! https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitation NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

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 takes us underground in New Mexico and elsewhere, and shares his thoughts on the parallels between caving and philosophy in this second half of our time together. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages: https://www.customcavepages.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ Volunteer coordinator for Convention Email [email protected] NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

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 Fisher Ridge project with which he’s been involved for years, as well as expedition trips in Mexico in this first of a two-part interview that scratches the surface of his prolific caving life. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages: https://www.customcavepages.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ Volunteer coordinator for Convention Email [email protected] NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

To kick off 2026, SCCi Board Director Amber Lehmann talks briefly about her personal caving journey before sharing a bit of history about the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, and several exciting new things happening this year. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Register for SCCi's Homecoming Weekend!https://events.com/r/en_US/registration/sccis-homecoming-weekend-menlo-may-1021434 SCCi Website  https://saveyourcaves.org/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

In this final installment of the series of conversations Matt had with the legendary Mammoth Cave explorer and author, Roger Brucker talks about forming the CRF and establishing protocols for exploration and safety, as well as the bungled book deal that forced him into his first published work. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Convention https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/ NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Legendary caver Roger Brucker has authored several books on the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area, including The Caves Beyond, The Longest Cave, Beyond Mammoth Cave, and more. Enjoy this second of a three-part series with Mr. Brucker to close out 2025 where he shares more about Mammoth Cave exploration, and talks about his historic novel Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ 2026 NSS Convention Promo Video https://youtu.be/9hQ2K-XREqY?si=hMwiNpXafTbP2JNO NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Legendary caver Roger Brucker has authored several books on the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area, including The Caves Beyond, The Longest Cave, Beyond Mammoth Cave, and more. Enjoy this first of a three-part series with Mr. Brucker to close out 2025 where he touches on the early days of the CRF, and exploring Crystal Cave and other caves that would eventually all be considered part of Mammoth Cave. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ 2026 NSS Convention Promo Video https://youtu.be/9hQ2K-XREqY?si=hMwiNpXafTbP2JNO NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

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, she shares how she found her own caving identity in the world of cave rescue, and talks about how cave rescue instruction and protocols are evolving. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ 2026 NSS Convention Promo Video https://youtu.be/9hQ2K-XREqY?si=hMwiNpXafTbP2JNO NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

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 National Park, as well as opening and operating a caving outfitter for a number of years near the park; he shares many of the experiences that have led him to the current moment. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Pre-Register for Indiana Cave Capershttps://cigcaves.com/cave-capers 2026 NSS Convention Promo Video https://youtu.be/9hQ2K-XREqY?si=hMwiNpXafTbP2JNO NSS Calendar of Events https://caves.org/calendar/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml