The Between the Levees Podcast

10/04/2025

10/01/2025

S3:E168 | Capt. Sam Schropp (Ret.) | Industry History

Retired Captain Sam Schropp joins me again from his balcony in Costa Rica. We cover the growth and development of the industry that defined his professional life for 50 years, Ike Sullivan, tank barges, the grain and coal export markets, and more...

We'll do it again sometime.

https://youtu.be/-2SQcDaofa0

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Umtc4gVSDjQgFAHxeB4Fe?si=y5IOnm0bTS2AEyLYiUzF9Q

Retired Captain Sam Schropp joins me again from his balcony in Costa Rica. We cover the growth and development of the industry that defined his professional...

09/30/2025

Full episode due to premiere in an hour. This one has a lot of the history I'd hoped to capture for this project. Captain Schropp will be back on before season 3 wraps. More to come...

Thanks for the continued support.

09/29/2025

S3:E168 | Capt. Sam Schropp Returns | An Aside

This conversation kicked off discussing the Grateful Dead, politics, culture, and the realities of the day. Here, Capt. Schropp shares his thoughts on current conditions of the United States.

Full episode focused on industry history and development will follow tomorrow at 18:00 CST.

https://youtu.be/gPkE_BsyTc0

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KBFepL4VlobAsQKiWWpKQ?si=LBtqr_4KTMS2q4I8U-LnTA

This conversation kicked off discussing the Grateful Dead, politics, culture, and the realities of the day. Here, Capt. Schropp shares his thoughts on curre...

09/27/2025

S3:E167 | Capt. David Greer (Ret.) | The World Today

In this episode, we talk philosophy, American history past and present, "The Bear" by Faulkner, slavery and its impact on the development of the towing industry in the United States, race, the underclass, the Indian Wars, keel boats and the evolution of industry.

Among other things, we also cover human cognition, life and death, Christianity, social media, the news, and politics.

Enjoy the ride.

https://youtu.be/QwyTQWkFb3c

https://open.spotify.com/episode/45pIVf4IiGAzcEQvui5Igs?si=dmwRtgK9Tyq7sksj2tFwtg

In this episode, we talk philosophy, American history past and present, "The Bear" by Faulkner, slavery and its impact on the development of the towing indus...

09/26/2025

S3:E166 | Capt. David Greer (Ret.) | Industry History

We hear more about the industry from Captain Greer again. In this one, we cover the Inland Waterways Corporation, Federal Barge Line, the development of industry in wartime, the Herman Pott Collection at the St. Louis Mercantile Library, the good old days, barge designs, and executive management in the business today.

We hear also about the navigational challenges below Baton Rouge, the late Captain Simpson Kemp, the M/V SEMINOLE WARRIOR, Mac Hester, the Shirahs, and his brief experience working in fleets.

Here's to the next one!

https://youtu.be/yCtSXFk7Xo4

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AC2BBAXB8iuLFYlRAKteu?si=8HhFYOe-Qc2rNljI4v64rg

We hear more about the industry from Captain Greer again. In this one, we cover the Inland Waterways Commission, Federal Barge Line, the development of indu...

09/24/2025

S3:E165 | Capt. David Greer (Ret.) | River Talk

Retired Captain David Greer joins me again on the show to share his thoughts and perspective on the industry and his experiences over 4 decades. We discuss a bit on the history of humanity, old mariners, his place in history, books, his life and career, the last episode I published with Captain Sam Schropp, "The Great River" by Boyce Upholt, the Jones act, crew pay back in the day, and more.

https://youtu.be/0x3MaQoctec

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wpP8s1lBV91mApIqNUuBI?si=NUg1wtXZT9GSMdh-YxfB2Q

Retired Captain David Greer joins me again on the show to share his thoughts and perspective on the industry and his experiences over 4 decades. We discuss ...