Leah is co-producer of the podcast Beyond the Riverside, a project of River Snorkeling. By humanizing stories of science and fish Leah, with her husband (and Wenatchee River Steward) Russ Ricketts aim to connect the general public to artists, adventurers, scientists and activists.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Leah has a life long connection to rivers as a place of recreation and solace. With a background as a creative, she brings multi-media skills including photography and video production. While much of her work with Beyond the Riverside is behind the scenes, she also jumps behind the mic at times to offer her perspective as a non-angler and citizen scientist.
Leah’s vision for the future of conservation is to broaden the definition of contribution, specifically for those that currently lack accessibility. As a person with a debilitating genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Leah is passionate about breaking down barriers with those that have physical and mental limitations. As someone that has been healthy and also extremely disabled, her love of wild fish and the places they live has only grown as has her passion for advocacy.
By opening opportunities for those currently outside of the spectrum of accessibility, she hopes we may expand the traditional concept of participation in the conservation world to create a multiplier effect and reach people on a deeply personal level.