Deep Dive

                                
Deep Dive into Water SafetyAiring every Third Friday 10am-11am.Nationally distributed podcast coming soon! Hear all the episodes right here.
“Drowning Is Preventable”Responding to the need in the community for more education and information about water safety, this show wants to start the conversation on keeping everyone safe in the water. Presented by Margaret Wright, a board member of the Kauaʻi Lifeguard Association. Engineered by Anni.
 
October 23, 2025 Adrian Mayhew brings insight into the latest research and applied physiology in flood rescue, technical rescue, and water safety management. He is deeply involved in bridging operational lifesaving practices with research and evidence-based training across international contexts. Working with Mike Tipton on “lab to lifesaving” has made an impact worldwide. Adrian says Drowning is a global issue; we need legislation, manufacturing, and clear messaging. Drowning data is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a need to collect non-fatal drownings worldwide. His research is insightful, and as he says,” By creating what will be the International Lifesaving Federation, there will be one standard approach: everyone is trained the same, everyone has the same PPE, and everyone knows the terminology and training skills. This will mean for the first time globally we as a world can do good things when the bad things happen”.
https://kkcr.org/archive/10.23.25%20Adrian%20Mayhew.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
October 5, 2025 Dr. Angel Yanagihara is a leading biochemist and toxinologist internationally recognized for her groundbreaking work on venomous marine invertebrates—particularly the box jellyfish (Alatina alata) and bluebottle (Physalia physalis). Based at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, she is an associate researcher at the Pacific Biosciences Research Center and directs the Pacific Cnidaria Research Laboratory. Her research dispels long-held myths about jellyfish stings and establishes evidence-based first aid protocols grounded in cellular and biochemical science. Working in partnership with the U.S. military, Dr. Yanagihara developed Sting No More®, a first-aid product line that neutralizes jellyfish venom and is now used globally in marine safety operations. A global leader in cnidarian envenomation science, Dr. Yanagihara’s research has shaped protocols for beach management, lifeguard response, and swimmer safety worldwide. Her real-life contributions to open-water safety were featured in the 2023 Netflix film Nyad, in which she was represented as part of the scientific and medical support team ensuring Diana Nyad’s successful Cuba-to-Florida crossing.
https://kkcr.org/archive/10.9.25%20Dr%20Yanigahara.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
September 30, 2025 Dr. Justin Sempsrott, M.D. is an internationally recognized emergency medicine physician, surf lifeguard and leader in global drowning prevention. He has combined clinical expertise with decades of frontline lifeguarding experience to advance lifesaving practices, research and training across the world. He had a lot to say about drowning prevention, especially around CPR messaging. As a member of the International Drowning Research Alliance, we hope to have him back on to talk about the conference in Egypt in late November of this year. Dr. Sempsrott is a member of Lifeguards Without Borders, a group dedicated to lessening the global burden of drownings.
https://kkcr.org/archive/9.30.25%20Dr%20Sempstrott.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
September 25, 2025 Luke Cunningham is cofounder of Deep Blue Technologies, a cutting-edge AI system developed in Dubai UAE aimed at supporting lifeguards in both pool and open water environments. This software was internationally recognized in London as “Start-up of the Year” in 2025. Luke had some exciting news about this technology and how we can collaborate here on Kauaʻi to prevent drownings.
https://kkcr.org/archive/Luke%20Cunningham%20Deep%20Blue%20ai.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
September 23, 2025 Kaina Makua is a kalo farmer, cultural practitioner, educator, and actor from Waimea, Kauaʻi. He is a cofounder and executive director of Kumano I Ke Ala which uplifts Hawaiian youth through ʻāina -based education. He operates Aloha ʻĀina Poi Co. which distributes thousands of poi annually revitalizing kalo farming and strengthening cultural food security. In addition to his farming and education work, Kaina Makua plays King Kamehameha in the Apple TV+ series Chief of War. He has some insightful words about water safety and the strengthening Hawaiian culture.
https://kkcr.org/archive/9.23.25%20Kaina%20Makua%20first%20cut.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
September 16, 2025  John Kaleimakaliʻi Thornton Clarke, who happens to be the grand nephew of Duke Kahanamoku, is an accomplished waterman in his own right and a researcher with the Hawaii Department of Health. He epically swam around Maui to bring awareness to the fact that native Hawaiians are drowning at a higher rate than other population groups. 
https://kkcr.org/archive/9.16.25%20John%20Kalai%20Carter%20edit.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
September 5, 2025  Margaret talks internationally with Ferruccio Pilenga, president of Italian School for Lifeguard Dogs, that focuses on training dogs to help with water rescue efforts. He is aided by translators Simone and Valentina. Reef is Ferruccioʻs Newfoundland who made a brief appearance. Dogs make excellent rescue partners because they instinctively choose the best water current paths to safety, and they can add strength and endurance to the rescue operation.
https://kkcr.org/archive/9.5.25%20Ferruccio%20edit.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
September 4, 2025  Bruce Hopkins, head lifeguard at Bondi Beach in Australia. A media personality as well as award-winning lifeguard, Bruce has appeared in 18 seasons of the Australian TV show “Bondi Rescue”. He talks to us today about effective swimming, but even more importantly, effective floating. He also brings an interesting perspective to experiencing rip currents. Listen here for his rip current research. 
https://kkcr.org/archive/Deep%20Dive%20Bruce%20Hopkins%209.4.25%20final.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
August 18, 2025  David Samuel and his daughter, Tia, talk about their efforts with the Surf Lifesaving Club in Brighton, UK. David works with RNLI, the Royal National Lifeboat Institute and Tia is a lifeguard getting ready to start college in the fall. The Club started a course on water safety for kids and their parents in Brighton using games and itʻs working! 
https://kkcr.org/archive/8.18.25%20DeDi%20David%20Samuel.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
August 15, 2025  Niki Roderick is the founder and CEO of Free Dive Safe and is the NZ record holder for free diving. A dedicated ocean woman, she is also a strong advocate for water safety in schools. But not only for children, for adults and all ocean lovers. Her work supports free divers, paddlers, spear-fishers, boaters and more. She is currently working to get water safety as standard curriculum in Hawaii middle schools.
https://kkcr.org/archive/8.15.25%20Deep%20Dive%20Nicki%20Roderick.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
August 15, 2025  Shirley DeRego of the Alex and Duke DeRego Foundation talks about the reasons for her work in getting water safety education into schools and info for new parents. She brings a very human and down to earth approach to water safety and a passion for educating children. Drownings are preventable and the need for water safety education in schools as part of the curriculum is crucial to tackling this worldwide problem.
https://kkcr.org/archive/8.15.25%20Deep%20Dive%20Shirley%20DeRego.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
August 15, 2025 Full On-Air Show: After sharing the statistics that Hawaii has the 2nd-highest drowning rate in the country, Margaret shares excerpts from two interviews with some exceptional women who are making a difference in the water safety landscape. Shirley DeRego of the Alex and Duke DeRego Foundation talks about the reasons for her work in getting water safety education into schools and info for new parents, and Niki Roderick talks about her work with Free Dive Safe and the programs available for middle school aged kids. Both women give foundational knowledge for water safety.
https://kkcr.org/archive/8.15.25%20Deep%20Dive%20full%20show.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
July 18, 2025 Full On-Air Show: Duane DeSoto called in to the studio. He is instrumental in the Hawaii nonprofit Nā Kama Kai, which focuses on connecting keiki to the ʻāina and the kai. Duane is working hard to promote a safe water culture among the people of Hawaii and his message is broad and applicable for all water people.
https://kkcr.org/archive/7.18.25%20Deep%20Dive%20Duane%20DeSoto.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
July 18, 2025 Extra Interview: Professor Mike Tipton MBE is a Professor of Human & Applied Physiology at the Extreme Environments Laboratory, School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth in the UK. He was kind enough to speak with us about the physiology of drowning. This is a hard interview to hear, but oh so important as we take on the topic of water safety. Check out this video on the Float to Live project.
https://kkcr.org/archive/7.18.25%20Deep%20Dive%20Tipton.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
July 18, 2025 Extra Interview: Margaret talks in studio with Ian Couch, the water safety expert for Worldʻs Toughest Row. The Toughest Row folks were on Kauaʻi receiving teams of rowers who traveled from Monterey, CA to Hanalei Bay. Ian talks about making safety a culture and how athletes take on this grueling and amazing trip.
https://kkcr.org/archive/7.18.25%20Deep%20Dive%20Ian%20Couch.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
June 20, 2025 part 2 Lieutenant Chad Listman, long time Kauaʻi lifeguard and board member of the Kauaʻi Lifeguard Association, calls in to talk about water safety and to share safe places to swim. He also gives us some harrowing rescue stories and updates on some of the water safety awareness programs going on right now.
https://kkcr.org/archive/Deep%20Dive%206.20.25%20Listman%20edit.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
June 20, 2025 part 1 Margaret invites North Shore lifeguard Chris Pico in studio to share about the importance of water safety from the lifeguard’s perspective and to share about the free app Pulse Point. What’s charming is that Chris’ daughter, Harper, was in studio as well, watching her show and petting the dog and you can hear it a bit. Chris said, before we started the show, that he sought out Pulse Point on Kauaʻi for her.
https://kkcr.org/archive/Deep%20Dive%206.20.25%20Pico%20edit.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
 
May 15, 2025 For the inaugural Deep Dive, Margaret talks with guests about the Hawaii Water Safety Plan, I Kalepana Kākou Ma Ka Wai. First she speaks with Kauaʻi Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, Kauaʻi native and avid surfer. Then Alissa Magrum from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance talks about the creation of the National Water Safety Plan, first published in 2023. Then Sarah Fairchild from the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation gives us details about the Hawaii Water Safety Plan. 
https://kkcr.org/archive/5.16.25%20Deep%20Dive%20Full%20Edit.mp3CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOADWant more information? Margaret compiled a list of sources for you to explore. 
 
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