Canoecopia 2025 found itself in the middle of a news story. As Canadian paddlers and businesses arrived to Madison, Wisc., for the world's largest paddling expo, talks of tariffs and political tension between the U.S. and Canada dominated news headlines across both nations. This simmering unfolded in multiple ways at Canoecopia, both ahead of and during the event. Rising above any tension was unity. And that unity comes from paddling, as event organizers share in the podcast.

Also featured in this episode, recorded entirely at Canoecopia 2025, is a highlight on paddler and author Cliff Jacobson. This year's expo was Cliff's final as a presenter, something he has done for decades at the annual event. Cliff spoke with the Paddle and Portage Podcast just before his presentation, titled "My Last Picture Show: Remembering a Lifetime of Canoeing Wild Rivers."

This episode is sponsored by:

Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Women's Wilderness Discovery

Special thanks to Canoecopia and Rutabaga Paddlesports for making this episode possible.