Steve Riedel Biography (2025): Former Bering Sea Gold Diver, Father to Emily Riedel, and Behind-the-Scenes Revelations

Steve Riedel is a veteran gold diver and former reality TV star best known for his appearances on Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold. Recognized for his eccentric personality, fearless dives, and philosophical commentary, Riedel became a standout figure during the show’s high-risk gold dredging expeditions in Nome, Alaska. As the father of famed dredge captain Emily Riedel, he played a central role both on and off screen. While he briefly returned in Season 18 (2024), Steve and Emily exited the series by 2025, leaving behind a legacy that helped define the show’s early identity.

Early Life and Personal Background

Steve Riedel was born on October 1, 1954, and is widely recognized as a second-generation Alaskan with enduring ties to the state’s rugged lifestyle. He attended Dimond High School in Anchorage and later studied at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). Today, he resides in Homer, Alaska, where he continues to live close to nature and maintain the skills and values shaped by decades of Alaskan frontier living.

At the age of 15, Steve embarked on a pivotal journey with his father and brother, flying from Portland, Oregon to Fairbanks, Alaska. “That’s kind of when I learned how to fly,” he recalled—marking the beginning of a lifelong interest in aviation sparked by this formative experience.

In 1976 (by his own estimate), Steve flew a Cessna Cardinal 177 from Anchorage to Fort Worth, Texas—a journey that earned him his pilot’s license. The plane belonged to Jimmy Walton, a seasoned pilot who accompanied Steve on the multi-day flight. They made several stops along the way, including a two-day layover in Oklahoma City. Steve described it as an eventful adventure that could be completed in three days under ideal weather conditions.

Around this time, he was in a relationship with Ann Griffin Reed, who would later become his wife. She was pregnant with their first child when she helped sew some of the gear he used during one of his most remarkable adventures—his 1981 climb of Mount McKinley (Denali). Steve wore orange and yellow pants stitched by Ann, a first-generation Gortex blue jacket, and boiled wool gloves rated for -40°F under a windbreaker. His aluminum ski bindings were handcrafted using materials sourced from a repurposed road sign.

Steve and Ann eventually married and had several children, including Emily Riedel, Paul Riedel, and Liz Alaska. Ann later studied music theory at the University of British Columbia and UAA, nurturing a deep appreciation for the arts within the family. Following in her mother’s musical footsteps, their daughter Emily initially pursued a career in opera singing and trained as a classical soprano, studying vocal performance at the University of South Carolina before eventually shifting paths toward gold mining. The family has long maintained deep roots in Alaska and a strong connection to Christian faith.

Throughout his life, Steve has traversed remote wilderness areas, including winter crossings of Alaskan rivers in the Chugach Mountains, reinforcing his self-reliant approach to the outdoors and survival.

Entry into Gold Mining

In 2011, a shoulder injury ended Steve’s job at FedEx and left him on the brink of bankruptcy. That same year, he joined Zeke Tenhoff and Vernon Adkison aboard the Wild Ranger in Nome, Alaska. With no mining or diving experience, he plunged into the dangerous world of dredging. His first dive was untrained and unprepared, amid freezing water, strong currents, and near-zero visibility.

Bering Sea Gold Journey

Steve Riedel’s journey on Bering Sea Gold began in 2012, when he appeared in Season 1 as a deckhand aboard the Wild Ranger. His early episodes—such as “Paydirt,” “One Bad Deal,” and “Suction”—captured his initial struggles and dramatic dismissal from the crew. He later transitioned to working aboard the Clark dredge alongside his daughter Emily Riedel, forging a working relationship that would become central to his on-screen identity.

He expanded his role in Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice (2012–2014), leading his own winter dredging operation called Steve’s World on Ice. Operating in subzero Arctic conditions, this project highlighted his resourcefulness, risk-taking nature, and flair for unconventional problem-solving.

Steve also participated in Bering Sea Gold: After the Dredge (2012), where cast members reflected on the emotional and physical challenges of their mining careers.

Over the next decade, Steve appeared in at least 61 episodes of the franchise across multiple seasons. His appearances continued consistently through various seasons, culminating in a return in Season 18 (2024) during the episode “Burn It Down,” where he took part in a complex dredge recovery mission following a diver emergency. The high-stakes situation showcased his technical instincts and resilience honed from years in the field. His reappearance connected the early, high-risk roots of the series with its evolving modern format.

Controversy, Conflict, and Camaraderie: Steve Riedel on Life Inside Bering Sea Gold

Steve Riedel’s role on Bering Sea Gold has long divided viewers. While some online communities admire his perseverance and eccentricity, others criticize his approach as erratic or overly theatrical. Regardless of the mixed reception, Riedel remains one of the series’ most enduring personalities, known for his candor, unconventional style, and risk-taking spirit.

In an April 2025 interview with the YouTube channel Red Dirt Nation, Riedel leveled serious accusations against the production of the show, shedding light on what he described as a pattern of manipulation and manufactured drama. He alleged that Cameron Glendenning, a producer with Original Productions, instructed cast member Scott Meisterheim to target him with criminal behavior. “Scott was the one that was told in the beginning by Cameron Glendenning—he was told to commit felonies against me,” Riedel said. “You know, to steal from me, threaten me, bully me… They told him, ‘We’re going to make you a star.'”

Riedel claimed that these directives led to real danger, including a drunken confrontation near his yurt that resulted in police intervention. According to Riedel, producers promised Meisterheim on-screen prominence in exchange for escalating tensions.

The interview also included sharp criticism of Brad Kelly, another longtime cast member. Riedel described Kelly as “deeply, deeply an evil man,” accusing him of scripting confrontations and orchestrating dramatic moments for the cameras. One such incident, Riedel claimed, involved the staged destruction of The Reaper dredge. “Brad manufactured that… he knew what his son would do, he knew what I would do, and he made it happen. He’s brilliant—but he fabricated a lot of that [stuff]… the destruction of the Reaper—that was all Brad’s fabrication.”

By contrast, Riedel reserved praise for Shawn Pomrenke, whom he described as “the most real person” on the show. He recounted a moment during a particularly harsh winter in Bluff, Alaska, when Pomrenke allowed him to stay in a heated home rather than continue living in a cold tent. “Sean let me hang out in an actual house that had heat,” Riedel recalled. “That was a kindness I won’t forget.”

Riedel also reflected on working alongside his daughter, Emily Riedel, noting a unique blend of family and professional dynamics. “It was special to work with her… it had the father-daughter thing, but it also had the ‘let’s make TV’ thing.”

During Emily’s maternity leave, Riedel worked with Jane Kilcher, best known from Alaska: The Last Frontier. “She was the TV top guy, but I was the real top guy,” he said, explaining that while Jane had a strong on-screen presence, he handled the actual work on the dredge. He described Jane as entertaining but hesitant to do physical labor: “She wouldn’t handle a shovel though… because she’s Jane Kilcher.” Riedel also recalled a night when alcohol went missing and he was blamed, even though he had only taken a small amount. “I took this much out… I was just sipping it. No big deal,” he said. “She finished the bottle, and I got blamed for it.”

Riedel also took time during the interview to express appreciation for the hands-on mining experience the show afforded him. “I was getting paid money to learn how to gold mine… that part was the best thing.”

Taken together, Riedel’s remarks offer a revealing look behind the scenes of Bering Sea Gold—a show shaped by conflict, careful orchestration, and moments of genuine human connection in Alaska’s harsh and unpredictable environment.

Where is Steve Riedel Now?

As of 2025, Steve Riedel continues to support his daughter’s career while living between Nome and his home base in Homer, Alaska. He remains active in Alaskan life and often reflects on his experiences as a climber, pilot, and survivalist.

Steve Riedel Wiki/Bio Quick Facts

Field	Details
Full Name	Steve Riedel
Date of Birth	October 1, 1954
Age	70 years old
Place of Birth	Not publicly confirmed; longtime Alaskan resident
Current Residence	Homer, Alaska
Nationality	American
Education	Dimond High School, Anchorage University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)
Known For	Diver and ex-cast member on Bering Sea Gold (Discovery Channel)
First Appearance	Season 1 (2012), aboard the Wild Ranger dredge
Final Appearance	Guest role in Season 18 (2024), episode “Burn It Down”
Total Appearances	Featured in at least 61 episodes across Bering Sea Gold franchise
Notable Projects	Steve’s World on Ice (2012–2014)
Other Careers	Licensed pilot, FedEx driver, gold miner, survivalist, mountaineer
Major Adventure	Climbed Mount McKinley (Denali) in 1981
Spouse (former)	Ann Griffin Reed
Children	Emily Riedel (opera singer turned miner), Paul Riedel, Liz Alaska
Daughter’s Role	Emily Riedel – star dredge captain and fellow Bering Sea Gold alum
Affiliations	Formerly with Original Productions and Discovery Channel
Last TV Credit	2024 guest appearance (not part of regular cast as of 2025)