Navigating Neva

Neva Nicole

5.0 (4)
SELF-IMPROVEMENT
UPDATED WEEKLY

Navigating Neva is a podcast all things aquatics. Water Safety, No drowning, Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Instructor, Your Safety Comes First. https://my-store-ca1adf.creator-spring.com/listing/navigating-neva-hoodiehttps://my-store-ca1adf.creator-spring.com/listing/navigating-neva-sticker

4D AGO

Fear Isn’t Always Fear

Send us Fan Mail In Part 2 of this conversation, Nicole sits down with Selena Willows to unpack one of the most misunderstood challenges in swim lessons: fear—and why it’s often not what it appears to be. What looks like fear of the water is frequently something deeper: a past experience, a new environment, nervous system response, or even parental anxiety influencing the child. This episode breaks down how resistance actually shows up in lessons, how to identify what’s really going on, and what instructors and parents can do differently to support real progress. https://www.instagram.com/swimtosafetybyselena/ Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

1h 7m
MAR 26

Natalie Pantaleon

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wesley King sit down with Natalie Pantaleon for a powerful conversation about the evolving intersection of water safety, survival swimming, and nervous system regulation. Natalie shares the personal drowning-related experience that shaped her path in aquatics and explains how her work has grown from traditional survival swimming into a more intentional approach that considers what is happening inside a child’s body during moments of fear, stress, and overwhelm. Together, they explore what instructors often miss in swim lessons, how fight, flight, and freeze can show up in the water, and what it looks like to recognize emotional distress before it escalates. This episode also tackles a critical question in the aquatics industry: how do we honor a child’s emotional experience while still prioritizing safety and meaningful skill development? https://www.instagram.com/amazingswimmersllc Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

49 min
MAR 25

Selena Willows: Origin

Send us Fan Mail In this special Navigating Neva series, Nicole welcomes Coach Selena Willows for a conversation about what kids actually need in the water—and how families can choose swim lessons that match their goals. Selena shares her origin story, the lessons that shaped her approach, and why she believes true water competence is about more than technique. Together, Nicole and Selena talk through family goal-setting, how parents can evaluate swim programs, and the difference between a coach and an instructor. About Coach Selena Willows: Selena is passionate about coaching in a way that serves both the learner and the coach. She believes the most effective coaches take cues from the child in front of them, stay flexible, and build trust where there is fear or trauma. Her work centers on water competency, developmentally appropriate teaching, and helping coaches build strong businesses without compromise. https://www.instagram.com/swimtosafetybyselena Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

42 min
MAR 19

Kevin McCarthy

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole Fairfield and co-host Wesley King sit down with Kevin McCarthy of SKWIM to talk about the LifeSavingExpo—where the idea came from, why Kevin felt it needed to exist, and what makes it different from a typical aquatics event. This conversation gives listeners a quick look at the purpose, structure, and vision behind the Expo, with a deeper episode on Kevin, SKWIM, and his broader philosophy coming later. You can check out more info or register here: https://lifesavingexpo.org/ Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

42 min
MAR 12

Meg Fiske

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Navigating Neva, Neva Nicole and Wes talk with Meg about a hard truth in aquatics: many facilities say they value adaptive programming, but very few are actually built for it. This conversation goes beyond programming and into adaptive aquatics infrastructure — the systems, standards, staffing, planning, and leadership needed to make adaptive services reliable instead of fragile. From heroic staff effort to closure-week breakdowns, this episode examines what happens when caring replaces infrastructure, and why real adaptive readiness is essential for protecting families, staff, and dignity. The Pal Aquatics: https://palaquatics.com Find Meg on linkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-fiske-638253338/?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios&fbclid=IwY2xjawQfChtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFhSjg4SUEyek1NVFdleVVzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgpKfFUeBK0M12shfUuFkMzfaiGQW_qWEl7dbEXA-nPW28q50lD9xULMVwvM_aem_pCX07eRsBFJ3vNSjs_dSXQ Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

49 min
MAR 4

Steve Grella

Send us Fan Mail Most aquatics pros are exceptional on deck… and nearly invisible online. That’s not just a marketing issue—it affects revenue, hiring, parent trust, and program growth. In this episode of Navigating Neva, host Neva Nicole and co-host Wesley King sit down with Steve Grella, who blends 23 years on deck with AI + marketing, and supports 27,000+ aquatics businesses through AquaticsConnect. We break down what “digital infrastructure” actually means for swim schools, municipal facilities, and aquatic programs—and the practical steps to fix online visibility without turning into a full-time content creator. If families can’t find your program online, that’s not a marketing problem—it’s an infrastructure gap. Visibility is part of professionalism now. https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-grella/ https://www.aquaticsconnect.com/ Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

49 min
FEB 26

Chris with Aquafinity

Send us Fan Mail Bulk liquid chlorine tanks are common in municipal and commercial pools—but cracked feed lines, chemical spills, and “acid nearby” realities create risk that too many facilities normalize. Tonight’s episode is not a product pitch. It’s a structured, segmented discussion to evaluate risk, cost, and long-term operational strategy with Christian (“Chris”) from Aquafinity. Not a product pitch. This is an operator-to-operator risk + strategy conversation intended to help facilities make better decisions. Disclaimer: Educational discussion only. Follow manufacturer guidance, local codes, and your facility’s safety and chemical handling policies. https://aquafinity.com/ https://aquafinity.com/catalog/chemical-delivery-systems/pulsar-chlorination-systems/ Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

57 min
FEB 18

When Safety Is Known, Reported, and Still Ignored

Send us Fan Mail When safety is known, reported, and still ignored, what happens to the lifeguards stuck inside the system? In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole and Wes talk with an experienced aquatic professional who is choosing to remain anonymous so the conversation stays focused on systems, safety culture, and leadership response—not on individuals or a specific facility. This is a candid, educational look at what it’s like to work under a high-risk staffing model (including single-guard coverage, no rotations, and no relief) while also dealing with equipment readiness gaps and compliance breakdowns—and the moral stress of realizing you’re not being heard. Support the show 🔴 Follow Your Host on TikTok: Stay connected and see behind-the-scenes content by following me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield. 💬 Find Wesley King on Facebook: Get expert insights and connect with Wesley at Wesley King Consulting on Facebook. ❓ Got Questions?: Have questions about today’s episode or upcoming topics? Reach out to me at navigatingneva@gmail.com. 📚 Check Out My Books: As an author, I have books available on Amazon under Nicole Fairfield. 📲 Follow Me on TikTok: You can also find me on TikTok at @NicoleFairfield for more content! 🔔 Show Support: Enjoy the podcast? Please come back each week, or add Lifeguard Life: Certifications, Careers, and More to your favorites so you never miss an episode!

58 min

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Navigating Neva is a podcast all things aquatics. Water Safety, No drowning, Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Instructor, Your Safety Comes First. https://my-store-ca1adf.creator-spring.com/listing/navigating-neva-hoodiehttps://my-store-ca1adf.creator-spring.com/listing/navigating-neva-sticker

Creator

Neva Nicole
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

64
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Navigating Neva
Show Website

Navigating Neva