The prolific Indiana-based caver shares the genesis of his caving story, including his first trips to TAG, discoveries at home in Indiana, and first-hand recollection of a famous Indiana rescue from 40+ years ago.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Indiana Cave Capers 2026https://cigcaves.com/cave-capers-2026TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS!https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcaveinNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The former National Coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission talks about his caving genesis, his longtime association with Buckner Cave and the Richard Blenz Nature Preserve, and of course his long career in cave rescue.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer at Convention!https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitationCave Week 2026https://nckri.org/cave-week/TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS!https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcaveinNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Val McNamara---Val shares her caving history going back to the early 90s, along with a few harrowing tales in TAG and Mexico, as well as her big return to caving after her kids grew up.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer at Convention!https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitationCave Week 2026https://nckri.org/cave-week/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The Filipino caver shares about some of the discoveries, challenges, and philanthropic work that he and his international team have been involved with in his decades of caving.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer at Convention!https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitationNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Sean shares more about caving in Fisher Ridge, including a major incident a few years ago that was expertly handled by cave rescue personnel. He also takes us underground in New Mexico and elsewhere, and shares his thoughts on the parallels between caving and philosophy in this second half of our time together.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer coordinator for ConventionEmail [email protected] Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Sean Lewis talks about his early caving in Indiana, including drawing up what’s become Matt’s favorite cave map. He also shares about the ongoing Fisher Ridge project with which he’s been involved for years, as well as expedition trips in Mexico in this first of a two-part interview that scratches the surface of his prolific caving life.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer coordinator for ConventionEmail [email protected] Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

To kick off 2026, SCCi Board Director Amber Lehmann talks briefly about her personal caving journey before sharing a bit of history about the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, and several exciting new things happening this year.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Register for SCCi's Homecoming Weekend!https://events.com/r/en_US/registration/sccis-homecoming-weekend-menlo-may-1021434SCCi Website https://saveyourcaves.org/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

In this final installment of the series of conversations Matt had with the legendary Mammoth Cave explorer and author, Roger Brucker talks about forming the CRF and establishing protocols for exploration and safety, as well as the bungled book deal that forced him into his first published work.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Legendary caver Roger Brucker has authored several books on the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area, including The Caves Beyond, The Longest Cave, Beyond Mammoth Cave, and more. Enjoy this second of a three-part series with Mr. Brucker to close out 2025 where he shares more about Mammoth Cave exploration, and talks about his historic novel Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth CaveOrder a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/2026 NSS Convention Promo Videohttps://youtu.be/9hQ2K-XREqY?si=hMwiNpXafTbP2JNONSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Legendary caver Roger Brucker has authored several books on the exploration of Mammoth Cave and the surrounding area, including The Caves Beyond, The Longest Cave, Beyond Mammoth Cave, and more. Enjoy this first of a three-part series with Mr. Brucker to close out 2025 where he touches on the early days of the CRF, and exploring Crystal Cave and other caves that would eventually all be considered part of Mammoth Cave.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/2026 NSS Convention Promo Videohttps://youtu.be/9hQ2K-XREqY?si=hMwiNpXafTbP2JNONSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml