Up a creek with neil

Real stories. Real people. Real talk, from a logging town kid turned global wanderer.

Welcome to “Up a Creek with Neil.” I’m Neil — a former high-climber, state legislator, and lifelong observer of people, politics, and the quiet things that make life meaningful. This show explores stories from the edge — where humor, hardship, and humanity meet. From the forests of the Pacific Northwest to resort life in the Coachella Valley, we invite you to listen, laugh, and reflect.

Recent

Nov. 24, 2025

Season 1, Episode 4 - "From Motocross Prodigy to Adaptive Golf Competitor" with Brock Leitner

Send us a text Brock Leitner grew up in Summerland, British Columbia, fueled by an unstoppable drive for competition and speed. By age four, he was already racing motocross; by sixteen, he had turned pro—competing across Canada and the U.S. in one of the most demanding and dangerous sports on earth…
Nov. 20, 2025

Bonus Episode Part 2 - "East Lewis County Legends" with Bill Bakamus

Send us a text In this Bonus Episode, Neil sits down with East County Legend, Bill Bakamus For more than four decades, Bill Bakamus defined what it meant to be a coach — and to be the best in Washington State high school basketball history. His story begins in Morton, Washington, where hard work an…
Nov. 17, 2025

Bonus Episode Part 1 - "East Lewis County Legends" with “Sweetie” Suter

Send us a text In this Bonus Episode, Neil sits down with East County Legend, "Sweetie” Suter In the late 1950s, in the logging town of Morton, Washington, a young man named “Sweetie” Suter became a symbol of pride and possibility. Standing just 5′8′′, he seemed almost undersized for a sport domina…
Nov. 14, 2025

S1, E3 (Part 3) - "The Politics of Inclusion" with Logan Washburn

Send us a text In Part Three of The Politics of Inclusion, Neil talks with Logan Washburn, a young journalist helping shape America’s next political conversation. Representing a generation raised amid cultural transformation, Logan shares how his peers are reframing what it means to engage — with c…
Oct. 31, 2025

S1, E3 (Parts 1 and 2) - "The Politics of Inclusion" with Dr. Jason Peplinski

Send us a text In Parts One and Two of The Politics of Inclusion, Neil sits down with Dr. Jason Peplinski, a veteran educator and superintendent who believes true leadership begins with empathy. Drawing from decades of experience guiding schools through cultural change, Dr. Peplinski reflects on ho…
Oct. 20, 2025

S1, E2 - "Real Estate with a Pulse on the Desert" with Darcey Deetz & Lorrie Anderschat

Send us a text Darcey Deetz is one of the Coachella Valley’s top resort real-estate professionals, known for her energy, insight, and ability to match people with the lifestyle they’re looking for. A full-time Realtor and desert resident, she has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers navigate the u…

About the Host

Neil Amondson