In 1938, the raging rapids of the Colorado were still untamed and undammed when a pair of botanists from the University of Michigan captured the country's imagination. They would become the first known women to run the river through the Grand Canyon. They did it in pursuit of plants and science, but their story is a little-known tale of resilience and beauty at the edge of the impossible.

Guest: Melissa Sevigny, author of "Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon." Thanks to Lew Steiger for allowing us to use his recordings of Lois Jotter's recollections. Kyle Remand, Ryan Clark, Brian Tanner, Eric Glismeier, Audrey Hughes, Kristy Lindstrom, Becca Hurley, and Barry Squires voiced the various roles. Today's episode was produced by Eric Schulzke with help from Meimi Tipples and Lily Jensen. Constant wonder is a production of B Y U Radio.