INTERVIEW: Emily Riedel on Zeke, going it alone, new season of ‘Bering Sea Gold’

The new season of Bering Sea Gold premieres 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22 on Discovery Channel. Audience members will have the chance to watch fan favorite Emily Riedel head out with her own crew on the newly christened Eroica dredger. The new captain has a lot of history in the icy waters of Alaska. Her father is Steve Riedel, another subject on the reality series, and her childhood friend and former love interest is Zeke Tenhoff.

The goal of each season is for the crews to dredge as much gold as possible. The dangers are high, and sometimes the rewards can be dismal. However, there’s probably no other thrill than striking gold and pulling in a payday worth tens of thousands of dollars. On the new season, Riedel will make a go for the glory.

Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Riedel about her new role as captain of the Eroica. Answers have been slightly edited for style.

What were some of your initial thoughts when you broke off and began operating the Eroica dredge?

Initially I thought the task was potentially insurmountable. I didn’t know if being a dredge captain was possible for me. I only knew that it was necessary for me. In order for me to perservere in gold mining, it had to be on my own terms.

Could you discuss the crew you work with on the new season? Are they good workers?

Some of the more unsavory characters walking this earth seem to be attracted to digging for gold, and I’m sorry to say that I’ve worked with a few of them. I’ve had to spend time dealing with, and weeding out, the bad ones. I’m happy to say now that I’ve found a few gentlemen who are loyal, competent and hardworking, even if they don’t have much experience gold mining. Loyalty and honesty are qualities that are so rare in the field, they surpass the need for expertise.

What is it about this “gold rush” that keeps you coming back? Is it just the money? 

Gold mining is a volatile world of feast or famine, and for most, it’s famine. People are willing to give up life and limb to keep searching for treasure, and I don’t believe it’s just the money. The many obstacles in finding gold are what continue to drive me. Money is persuasive, the pursuit of gold is irresistible.

Do you miss working with Zeke?

I don’t miss working with Zeke; he’s explosive and scattered when it comes to gold mining. I do miss Zeke as a person, though. A lot of things went wrong in Nome over the last four years that ended a lifelong friendship, and that’s upsetting.

What is the most dangerous part of the job?

This job is dangerous for both your body and your soul, and it’s generally the soul that worries me. There are lots of ways to hurt yourself diving, and if you throw in diving with high-powered suction hoses, long lines that are easy to get tangled in, diving under 6 feet of ice, and sketchy air compressors, the odds are not in your favor.

What’s your favorite aspect of Alaska? Why?

People are generally drawn to Alaska because it offers absolute freedom, and we can stand [on] our two feet and control our destinies. … It’s something every human being desires, but few can actually handle what such freedom implies. It generally involves a lot of chaos and hardship, but I would expect nothing less, and it’s worth it.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Bering Sea Gold airs 9 p.m. Fridays on Discovery Channel. Click here for more information.