Podcast Overview

Title: Totally Booked with Zibby
Host: Zibby Owens
Episode: Bridget Crocker, The River's Daughter
Release Date: June 26, 2025

In this compelling episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, host Zibby Owens engages in an in-depth conversation with Bridget Crocker, the author of The River's Daughter. The discussion delves into Bridget's transformative journey through personal adversity, her profound connection with nature, and her path to empowerment and healing.

Guest Introduction: Bridget Crocker

Zibby Owens opens the episode by introducing Bridget Crocker, lauding her memoir, The River's Daughter. Bridget is celebrated as a trailblazer in women's empowerment within the outdoor industry and a leading whitewater rafting guide. Her extensive experience includes leading remote river expeditions globally and contributing to prestigious publications like Lonely Planet guidebooks and the Best Women's Travel Writing series. Bridget resides in Malibu, California, where she continues her work and advocacy.

Notable Quote:
"I loved this book so much. I really am obsessed with it. It was so good and I could not put it down." — Zibby Owens [00:06:00]

Bridget's Memoir: The River's Daughter

Bridget provides an overview of her memoir, emphasizing its autobiographical nature and the 22-year journey it took her to complete the book.

Key Themes:

1. Growing Up on the Snake River:
   Bridget shares her upbringing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, near the Snake River. She describes how the river became a source of nurturing and communication, shaping her into a resilient individual.

   Quote:
   "I learned to communicate with the river at a young age and could hear the voice of the river." — Bridget Crocker [05:28]

2. Escaping and Facing Family Turmoil:
   Her initial goal was to escape a troubled family, leading her to Zambia. This move provided her with a different cultural perspective, allowing her to understand and eventually mend her relationship with her father.

   Quote:
   "It led me back to my family where I was able to work with my father especially to heal the multi-generational cycles of poverty and abuse that we'd endured." — Bridget Crocker [05:28]

3. Nature as a Healing Force:
   Bridget intertwines her personal healing with her deep connection to nature, portraying her story as both a "prodigal daughter" and a "healing in nature" narrative.

   Quote:
   "It's not just a slog. I wanted it to be fun, too." — Bridget Crocker [05:28]

Overcoming Adversity and Empowerment

Facing Abuse and Finding Strength:
Bridget candidly discusses the physical and sexual abuse she endured, illustrating her journey from vulnerability to empowerment. She highlights pivotal moments where she overcame traumatic experiences, drawing strength from her environment and personal growth.

Quote:
"When I'm on the river and one of my co-workers comes at me and sexually harasses me, the river's there holding up a mirror of like, 'Wait, this isn't who you are.'" — Bridget Crocker [07:54]

Addiction and Recovery:
A significant portion of the conversation centers on Bridget's battle with addiction. She reveals her 22 years of sobriety, attributing her recovery to running and meditation rather than traditional medication.

Quote:
"Today is my 22nd sobriety birthday." — Bridget Crocker [19:36]

Managing Anxiety Without Medication:
Bridget explains her decision to forego antidepressants, opting instead for physical activities like running and hiking to manage her anxiety and maintain her mental health.

Quote:
"I took antidepressants for about six months. It made me feel insane and it just didn't work for me very well." — Bridget Crocker [21:55]

The River as a Metaphor for Life

Communication with Nature:
Bridget elaborates on her unique ability to "hear" the river, describing it as a form of communication that guides her both personally and professionally. This profound connection serves as a metaphor for her inner strength and resilience.

Quote:
"There's an idea attached to the feeling. And so there is communication that's happening." — Bridget Crocker [13:50]

Career as a River Guide:
Her role as a river guide is not just a profession but a manifestation of her relationship with nature. Guiding others through challenging rapids parallels her own journey through life's obstacles.

Quote:
"Being a river guide and having to captain my own ship, literally, and being in charge of other people... that confidence allowed me to excel." — Bridget Crocker [07:54]

Standing Up Against Injustice

Confronting Racism and Savior Complex:
Bridget discusses instances where she stood up against racism, both within her family and in her professional life in Zambia. She reflects on the complexity of white saviorism and her realization that advocacy must start with self-empowerment.

Quote:
"I was still so conditioned to go into fight, flight, or freeze... but the river's there holding up a mirror." — Bridget Crocker [11:16]

Empowerment Through Community:
The conversation highlights the importance of community support in fostering empowerment and resilience. Bridget emphasizes how standing up for others strengthened her own sense of self.

Quote:
"I could stand up for other people. And I think that that is the basis of white saviorism." — Bridget Crocker [11:16]

Impact of Environment: Malibu and the Woolsey Fire

Living in Malibu:
Bridget contrasts common stereotypes of Malibu with her personal experience, portraying it as a community of hardworking, resilient individuals deeply connected to each other and the environment.

Quote:
"I couldn't say enough beautiful things about the people who live here." — Bridget Crocker [27:26]

Woolsey Fire Experience:
She recounts the effects of the Woolsey Fire on her community, highlighting the collective response and the strengthening of community bonds. This experience reinforced her understanding of the importance of staying and investing in one's community.

Quote:
"We have these skills that... work very well as a community when there is a fire." — Bridget Crocker [24:40]

Publishing the Memoir and Its Impact

Decision to Publish:
Bridget shares the family dynamics involved in publishing her memoir, including her husband's initial reservations about the book's explicit content and his eventual support recognizing the book's greater purpose.

Quote:
"He kept coming back to me saying, 'How many more sex scenes are in this book?'... He realized it was bigger than us and had to go out there to help people." — Bridget Crocker [27:07]

Family and Community Response:
The memoir's release has opened up dialogues within her family, particularly with her children, who are now aware of their mother's challenging past. Bridget underscores the therapeutic intention behind sharing her story.

Quote:
"We're going through the book and reading it together and talking about it." — Bridget Crocker [27:26]

Conclusion: Bridget's Journey and Message

Bridget Crocker's story, as shared in this episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity through self-discovery, community support, and a profound connection with nature. Her memoir, The River's Daughter, encapsulates a journey of healing, empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of personal and communal well-being.

Closing Quote:
"It's not, it's beyond us and it's got to go out there and it's going to help a lot of people." — Bridget Crocker [27:26]

Final Thoughts

This episode provides listeners with an inspiring narrative of resilience and empowerment. Bridget Crocker's candid discussions about her past, her methods of coping, and her unwavering connection to nature offer valuable insights for anyone navigating personal challenges or seeking inspiration to overcome their own obstacles.

Follow Bridget Crocker and Her Work:
For more information about Bridget Crocker and her memoir, visit zibbymedia.com and follow her on Instagram @zibbyowens.