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

3D AGO

Jo Wilson

Send us Fan Mail This week on Navigating Neva, I sat down with Jo Wilson for a one-on-one conversation while Wes was away. It was an honor to have the space to really explore her story and her impact on aquatics. We talk about Jo’s journey, her work with Bath Babies, and the development of her Aqua Sensory course. She shares insights from her role as an aqua tutor and her experience teaching and speaking internationally, along with the philosophy that guides her work with babies and young children in the water. Jo brings a depth of knowledge grounded in both experience and child development, offering a perspective that continues to influence aquatic education around the world. If you’re interested in early years swim education, sensory-based learning, or learning from a leader in this space, this episode is worth your time. Website link: https://aquasensory.com/ Freebies & Offers: https://aquasensory.com/freebies-offers 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!

46 min
APR 9

Wesley King

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Navigating Neva, I sit down with Wesley King for a real, unscripted conversation that moves between story, strategy, and the realities of aquatics leadership. We start with Wesley’s journey how he got into aquatics, what shaped his perspective, and the work he’s doing today. From there, we walk through his presentation, “Building Your Aquatic Baseline: Before the Season Starts” , breaking it down in real time and pausing throughout to connect it to real-world application. This isn’t a start-to-finish lecture. It’s a working conversation. Join Wes on Skool: https://www.skool.com/aquatic-managers-and-leaders-3055/about?ref=b3ecbc99a6424796a7e8cd6a0c19cece Book with Wes: https://calendly.com/rippleaffect/30min?month=2026-04 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 11m
APR 7

Selena Willows Week 3

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Navigating Neva, Nicole with Selena unpack one of the most common parenting questions in aquatics: do children really need goggles, floaties, puddle jumpers, or other swim equipment to learn and feel safe in the water? This is not a shame-based conversation, and it is not about telling parents they are wrong. It is about helping families understand the tradeoffs. Nicole and Selena break down why so many parents rely on equipment, what can happen when children become dependent on it, and how to begin moving away from that dependence in a way that supports real confidence, comfort, and water safety. Together, they discuss the difference between equipment used for true safety and equipment that may change how a child learns to move in the water. They also explore how to reduce anxiety for both children and parents while building stronger, more independent swimmers. If you have ever wondered whether swim gear is helping, hindering, or simply being misunderstood, this episode is for you. https://www.linkedin.com/in/selena-grinham-willows https://www.instagram.com/swimtosafetybyselena https://www.swimtosafety.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!

53 min
MAR 31

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

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

67
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Navigating Neva
Show Website

Navigating Neva