Best Nikki And Jessie Podcasts (2025)

1
John "Brent" McGhee 1:13:12

17h ago1:13:12

1:13:12

On July 11, 2024, 42-year-old John Brent McGhee disappeared from Leachville, Arkansas. Brent was last seen by his mother when she dropped him off at his cousin’s house. A short time later, he left on foot, reportedly to look for his wife. According to eyewitness accounts, Brent made it to the home of his wife’s best friend, but he was not allowed i…

1
Women & the Wind // Adventuring aboard Mara Noka 1:40:05

4d ago1:40:05

1:40:05

Women and the Wind are 3 exceptional and multi facetted women who embody courage, creativity, and pose a rare example of primal femininity at sea. Kiana, Laerke and Alize, cross the Atlantic using all traditional sailing methods aboard "Mara Noka" a 50 year old plywood catamaran with nylon sheathing and tar coating. The girls grinded away for a yea…

1
Replay: Jimmy Don Robinson 1:19:37

8d ago1:19:37

1:19:37

On the night of October 1, 1976, just one week after celebrating his 21st birthday, Jimmy Don Robinson vanished from Elmore City, Oklahoma. Though he no longer lived at the family home, Jimmy stopped by around midnight. His mother had just returned from a late shift and was preparing dinner. Jimmy chatted briefly with his family, and during that ti…

1
Ben Shaw // Out the Gate & Across the Pacific 1:17:09

11d ago1:17:09

1:17:09

Ben Shaw returns to the podcast, this time in-person and onboard DOVKA, his family's Hallberg Rassy. Ben is the host of the Out the Gate sailing podcast and a former crew of 59º North. Ben and his wife Lauren sailed with us on ICEBEAR in 2019 to prepare for their own cruising adventures, and we met up quite spontaneously in Hiva Oa, after both cros…

1
Larry Riegel Part 2: Dusting off the Case 59:23

15d ago59:23

59:23

Last week, we brought you Part 1 of Larry Riegel’s story. You learned about Larry’s life, career, and sudden disappearance from Yakima, Washington, around Christmas in 2009. On Christmas morning, Larry spoke with his mother, and around 4 PM that afternoon, he had a conversation with his son, Brian. But when Brian called back later that evening, Lar…

1
Will & Sarah Curry // Hydrovane Operations & Life Balance 1:25:38

20d ago1:25:38

1:25:38

Will and Sarah Curry are the perfect example of a young family who has managed to create and sustain a life between land and sea, managing and operating "Hydrovane" from their catamaran with 2 littles, and from their home in Vancouver. First and foremost we discuss the ins and outs of the fantastic and hardy product itself — but on a more personal …

1
Larry Riegel Part 1: Shifting Narratives 1:10:04

22d ago1:10:04

1:10:04

It was Christmas 2009 when 57-year-old Lawrence Riegel vanished from Yakima, Washington. Larry had plans to visit his family the day after Christmas, but he never showed up, which was completely out of character for Larry. He was known for always arriving with his famous peach pie in hand. At the time, Larry was living with his girlfriend, Ladena, …

1
Richard Clarke // Canadian Sailing Legend 1:15:21

28d ago1:15:21

1:15:21

Richard Clarke was raised on Toronto Island and first sailed at 4 years old. An impressive performance with Canadian Youth sailing led him to compete in the Finn Class in four consecutive Olympic Games with Team Canada. This opened the door to a wildly successful professional sailing career. Richard was part of a winning Volvo Round the World crew,…

1
Nicholas Downey 1:02:12

29d ago1:02:12

1:02:12

In late February 2023, 37-year-old Nicholas Downey rented a car in Florida to visit his wife in Mississippi. While he made it there safely, the visit was brief, as Nick needed to return to Florida and drop off the rental car. During his drive home, he spoke to his wife one last time. After that call, he vanished without a trace. Nick's disappearanc…

1
Bob & Jody Bitchin' // From Bikers to Sailors 1:33:20

1M ago1:33:20

1:33:20

Bob and his wife Jody spent most of their life as live-aboards and at sea. Their marital dynamic and life long friendship is infectious. Bob dives into his younger years as a Hells Angel, his entrepreneurial mindset, and how sailing literally saved his life. Bob has owned and operated more businesses than he can barely count, and has written and se…

1
Replay: Sandy Rea 1:05:05

1M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

This episode originally aired on April 6, 2020. On the night of September 19, 1984, 17-year-old Sandy Rea was last seen at the Windsor Bowling Alley in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Her cousin, who was working there at the time, had a brief conversation with her. Sandy then made a phone call, though it’s still unclear who she contacted. Sandy mentioned to her…

1
Jessie Zevalkink // Cruising, Land-lubbing, Parenting & Podcasting 1:21:24

1M ago1:21:24

1:21:24

Longtime friend of the pod Jessie Zevalkink returns to the show ahead of her debut as host of ON THE WIND! We first met Jessie back in 2017 at the Annapolis Sailboat Show, interviewing her after she'd completed the Great Loop with her friend Katie. As it happens in the sailing community, we kept running into her, and starting next week she'll be co…

1
Joseph "Joe Lupo" Rulli Part 2: Escape or Execution? 1:04:37

1M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Last week, we shared Part 1 of Joseph “Joe Lupo” Rulli’s story. You learned about his rise in the boxing world at a young age, his battle with Polio that tragically ended his career too soon, and Joe’s eventual rise within the mafia. For a while, things were looking good for Joe, but by April of 1971, a mafia turf war was raging. Several of Joe’s a…

1
Ben Doerr Returns // Sail Bainbridge 1:18:37

2M ago1:18:37

1:18:37

Ben Doerr, longtime friend of the pod and founder/skipper at Sail Bainbridge in Seattle, returns to the show to spin some yarns with Andy. This episode is really a catch-up between Ben & Andy, who haven't spoken in a while, and is a wide-ranging episode on everything from sailing & skiing in Alaska to being away from home when you've got a young fa…

1
Joseph "Joe Lupo" Rulli Part 1: A Marked Man 1:01:03

2M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

On April 20, 1971, 39-year-old Joseph Rulli, also known as Joe Lupo, mysteriously disappeared from Closter, New Jersey. That day, Joe was hosting a party when he stepped out briefly for an errand but never returned, prompting his wife to report him missing. Days later, Joe's car was discovered in Jersey City, riddled with bullet holes and stained w…

1
Cynthia Robison 1:07:22

2M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

In September 2007, 38-year-old Cynthia Robison left Stockton, California, in the company of a truck driver. The two traveled to Florida, and it’s documented that they were there in early to mid-October. On October 15, Cynthia called her mother, Carolyn, from Connecticut, sounding frantic. She claimed to have witnessed the truck driver shoot someone…

1
Nicholas Marion Part 2: Breaking Point 57:51

2M ago57:51

57:51

Last week, we brought you Part 1 of Nicholas Marion’s story, and you learned about his life growing up in the Orlando, Florida, area and his eventual move to British Columbia after marrying a woman from there. After relocating, the distance between Nick and his loved ones in the U.S. seemed to widen. In retrospect, Nick appeared increasingly isolat…

1
Nicholas Marion Part 1: Beneath the Surface 1:03:56

2M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

On the morning of June 30, 2024, at around 6:30 AM, 38-year-old Nicholas Marion left a property he was staying at in Youbou, British Columbia, to go for a walk. However, Nick never returned, and his phone was left behind, making it impossible to contact him. Nick, along with his wife Dory, had traveled to Youbou, a peaceful community nestled along …

1
Louay Habib // The Master of Sailing Media 45:06

3M ago45:06

45:06

Louay Habib is a true sailing insider. Everyone who participates regularly in any of the major offshore races around the world will know Louay. In fact, if you yourself follow sailing – say races like the Fastnet, the Ocean Race - you probably know Louay too – well his writing at least. Currently he is the communications manager at the Royal Ocean …

1
Charissa "Hazel Grace" Caster Part 2: Through the Cracks 1:00:19

3M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Last week, we shared Part 1 of Charissa Caster’s story. You learned that in July 2024, Charissa vanished without a trace. Her belongings were discovered along a roadside in Edmonds, Washington, prompting law enforcement to notify her family. Days later, her car was found abandoned approximately 50 miles away in Sequim, Washington. Surveillance foot…

1
Katy Campbell // Founder of Sea to Sky Sailing School 1:03:13

3M ago1:03:13

1:03:13

Katy Campbell is a world-class sailor, groundbreaking entrepreneur, and one of my lifelong friends. A decade ago, Katy launched her sailing school ‘Sea to Sky Sailing’. Sea to Sky is now the only RYA-recognized training center on North America’s west coast, and Vancouver’s only school offering both cruising and racing programs, including a regular …

1
Charissa "Hazel Grace" Caster Part 1: Chaos Puzzle 1:12:59

3M ago1:12:59

1:12:59

In late July 2024, 32-year-old Charissa Caster vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a trail of unsettling clues. Her disappearance came to light when her belongings were found scattered along a roadway in Edmonds, Washington. Shortly after, her car was discovered abandoned near Sequim, WA, roughly 50 miles away. The last confirme…

1
Matt Rutherford // A Near-Sinking En Route to Bermuda 1:17:10

3M ago1:17:10

1:17:10

Matt Rutherford returns yet again to the podcast, this time from his outpost in the Philippines. It's always fun to catch up and shoot the shit with Matt, but this time I really wanted to hear about his near-sinking on a Caribbean delivery last fall. Matt talks through the entire ordeal, from riding out a gale with all the pumps running, to nearly …

1
Replay: Toby Anderson 1:08:53

3M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

At just 16 years old, Toby Anderson found himself tangled in a web of trouble. His teenage years were marked by hardship, pushing him to act out in ways that strained his relationships. Sent to a juvenile facility in Northern California, Toby was shuffled between different family members, struggling to find stability. Then, without warning, he vani…

1
Jesse Terry // Sailing & Racing a Classic Wooden Boat 1:04:26

3M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

Jesse Terry is a normal guy — dad and husband, keeps a 9-5 job, lives in the city, etc etc, all that "normal" stuff. But he's decidedly not normal as a boat owner — keeping a classic wooden ketch in top condition with some friends and racing & cruising her up and down New England's coast and out to Bermuda. I talked to him about the contrast betwee…

1
Shannon Merry 1:06:39

3M ago1:06:39

1:06:39

It was Easter Sunday in 2013 when Shannon Merry's family last heard from her. During a phone call with her mother, who was in North Carolina while Shannon was in Ronkonkoma, New York, they had a disagreement, and the conversation ended on a sour note. After the call, Shannon's mother did not hear from her again and assumed that her daughter was ups…

1
Paul Osborne // Sailing Around the World for Down Syndrome 1:12:32

3M ago1:12:32

1:12:32

Paul Osborne is the dad behind Osborne Adventure. Paul's family, including his wife and three kids, are planning a unique circumnavigation over the next few years to raise awareness for Down Syndrome. Paul has spent a lifetime traveling, mountain biking, white water kayaking, climbing, camping, and hiking, and in real life is a photographer and des…

1
Roberta Michels-Hopkins 1:06:09

4M ago1:06:09

1:06:09

In February of 1981, Roberta Michels-Hopkins, a 29-year-old mother of two, disappeared from Camden, New Jersey, without a trace. The story goes that she left her home, heading out to buy a pack of cigarettes, and never returned. Roberta's sister said she received a phone call from the man Roberta was in a relationship with, asking if she had seen o…

1
Don McIntyre Returns // OGR Founder & Philosophies on Sailing & Adventure 1:06:29

4M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

Don McIntyre, founder of the GGR, OGR and now MGR, returns to the podcast! Andy sat down for a meandering conversation where they talk about meeting in Lagos, Portugal at the start of the Mini Globe Race, his philosophies on life, sailing and adventure, Don's definition of success, how he handles the 'haters' surrounding his ambitious events, how h…

1
Tamala "Nikki" Wells 1:02:34

4M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

In early August 2012, 33-year-old Tamala “Nikki” Wells vanished from her Detroit, Michigan, home under mysterious circumstances, leaving her family in a state of confusion and despair. The last person to see Tamala, her boyfriend, claims she drove off from their home on the evening of August 6th in a white 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, but after that, s…

1
Peter Gibbons-Neff // Completing the Mini-Transat 1:28:59

4M ago1:28:59

1:28:59

Peter Gibbons-Neff returns to the podcast to talk about the successes and failures of his Mini-Transat racing campaign. "PGN" and I sat down face-to-face in Annapolis where he told me about losing a rudder shortly after the start in the Canaries, the hardest part about solo sailing a 21-ft. boat, how the mini-class doesn't allow even basic electron…

1
Jeremy Lawrence 57:25

4M ago57:25

57:25

On August 20, 2023, 39-year-old Jeremy Lawrence visited his girlfriend and newborn daughter at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. After spending time with them, he left the hospital around 5:30 PM, planning to ride his ATV roughly 70 miles to his parents' home in Mountain Iron, Minnesota. About an hour later, around 6:30 PM, he was see…

1
David Cross // The Loan Sailor 1:08:49

4M ago1:08:49

1:08:49

David Cross is an author in the midst of writing a book — a large portion of which involves a solo, offshore passage to Brazil. Wanting to get the fundamentals right, David asked if he could turn the tables and interview me about this fictional voyage in order to make it as realistic as possible. Of course I was happy to oblige, and this conversati…

1
Darrel Johnson Part 2: Triangle Beneath the Stars 53:37

4M ago53:37

53:37

In late June 2024, Darrel Johnson traveled from Phoenix to a remote state park in northeastern New Mexico with 33 other campers. They were celebrating the birthday of a woman’s daughter, who some described as Darrel’s girlfriend while others referred to her simply as a friend. Reports indicate that Darrel arrived at the campground around 11 AM on J…

1
Andrew Hesketh // Corporate to Cruiser 1:20:46

4M ago1:20:46

1:20:46

Andy Hesketh, aka Andy H. is the founder of the Odyssey Sailing Festival and host of the Ocean Cruiser's Podcast. Andy lives aboard his Jeanneau Sun Odyssey called VOYAGER and has been sailing full-time for several years. He wasn't always a sailor though, leaving a corporate life behind to pursue wider horizons. I talked to him last fall when he wa…

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