UpaCreekwithNeil
From a flooded logging town beneath a hydroelectric dam to summits of the world’s highest peaks, Up a Creek with Neil brings you real stories from people who’ve lived boldly.
Hosted by Neil Amondson—a former high-climber, legislator, and global wanderer—this podcast dives into life’s turning points, unexpected adventures, and the wisdom that comes from experience.
You’ll hear from guests who’ve topped Everest, rebuilt after loss, and found meaning in places most never go.
Family-friendly, unfiltered, and rich with grit and humor—this is real life, well told.
UpaCreekwithNeil
Season 1, Episode 6 - "From Oilfields to Open Water — and the Courage to Start Again" with Rod Vatcher
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Rod Vatcher built his career in one of the toughest industries on earth — oilfield
logistics. As the founder and former owner of Steelhorse Freight Services in High
River, Alberta, he managed the unpredictable world of long-haul transport serving
Canada’s energy sector. The work was intense, the stakes high, and success required both grit and integrity. After decades of growth and leadership, Rod sold the company and began a new chapter — one defined less by miles traveled and more by meaning found. Alongside his wife Leanne, he now splits time between Christina Lake, British Columbia, and Outdoor Resort Palm Springs (ORPS), where they’ve found both rest and new adventures among friends and fellow travelers. Rod’s story is one of transformation: from industrial entrepreneur to reflective outdoorsman. Whether it’s boating on the lake, connecting with neighbors, or looking back on lessons from international business, he reminds us that reinvention doesn’t mean leaving the past behind — it means carrying its wisdom forward. “You can’t control every current — but you can choose how you steer."
