Month: March 2025

Roads and Rivers: Neal Moore Interview

On By Neal MooreIn Americana, Literary Reverie, Wanderlust1 Comment

American Miles: A Roadtrip Podcast

By Joshua Colvin

In this episode of American Miles, host Josh Colvin takes listeners on a journey through the heart of America, featuring conversations with truck driver Andy Patterson and author and adventurer Neal Moore who crossed the entire United States by canoe.

Josh asks Andy for stories from the trucking life and also whether truckers still use CB radios.

Neal shares the inspiration behind his voyage, daily life on the water, and the lessons learned from nature and human interactions along the way. He reflects on the liberating feeling of minimalism while traveling, and the beauty of encounters with diverse individuals.

For the Small Town Talk segment Josh calls Madison, Indiana for a discussion with local, Michael Fortunato, owner of Crawdaddy Music Center. They discuss Madison’s rich history and vibrant music scene.

Later, Neal Moore reads an excerpt from his book, Down the Mississippi and for the Songwriter Series, Dan “Big Hands” Colvin performs his song “Margarita.”

A Passage in Time

On By Neal MooreIn Americana, Mississippi River Town, On the Mississippi, Wanderlust1 Comment

I’m heartbroken to learn of the passing of friend, historian and educator Dr. Frank Nickell of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Dr. Nickell taught history at Southeast Missouri State University along the banks of the Mississippi for 43 years. He was the “unquestioned historian of Southeast Missouri.” I was lucky he took an interest in my journey. We made fast friends and he showed me all around – taking time to introduce the complex local history. We broke bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner together during my tenure in Cape. He was there when I arrived and he was there when I pushed off. It was so very hard to say fare thee well – so I came back, and back again. There are characters you meet in this life who encourage, who inspire, who conjure the best – not only in yourself but of everybody around. Of the society, of the region. A bright light in the nation. Godspeed, Dr. Nickell. I know you’ve touched countless lives during your life of selfless service. I’m so thankful to be one of them.