Emily Riedel is a pioneering gold miner and television personality who became one of the most recognisable faces on Bering Sea Gold, which premiered on the Discovery Channel in 2012.
For over a decade on the show, Emily’s seasons were often marked by extreme challenge, including relentless storms, plunging temperatures, equipment freezes, and battling nature and rival miners alike.
Her relentless pursuit turned her into an inspiration for Bering Sea Gold viewers, particularly those drawn to stories of unconventional success and perseverance.
However, in early 2025, Emily Riedel announced her departure from Bering Sea Gold, a revelation that shocked many fans.
How did Emily Riedel end up on Bering Sea Gold?
Emily Riedel studied vocal performance and earned a degree in music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA).
She initially perceived gold mining as a summer job to help support her musical goals after moving to Alaska at the invitation of a childhood friend, Zeke Tenhoff.
However, she shifted gears after years of learning about the gold dredging process. She began as a deckhand on The Clark and later purchased her own vessel, The Eroica, and became captain.
She became one of Bering Sea Gold’s most prominent figures and the only female captain in the male-dominated industry over time.
Recounting her decision to venture into gold mining instead of singing in September 2021, she expressed bittersweet feelings, saying, “I still sing on the side and have done some pretty exciting gigs over the years. But sometimes, there is a sadness that I did not pursue opera professionally.”
Reasons why Emily Riedel left Bering Sea Gold
These are the core reasons for Emily’s decision to leave Discovery Channel’s Bering Sea Gold:
Production pause
Emily revealed that the production company failed to film Bering Sea Gold for Discovery during the summer of 2023.
She stated that it was the first in her experience, disclosing that she had to conduct an emergency upgrade of $100,000 during the hiatus.
“We decided it would be a huge shame for you to miss the highs, the lows, and the general chaos that ensued. So we picked up the camera and filmed the season our way,” she stated.
Fans online speculated that these production challenges and the decision not to film in 2023 were critical turning points for Riedel.
Creative freedom
In a video interview in early 2025, explaining why she was retiring from Network television, she revealed that she turned down a new offer and decided to take control of her content by moving to a more independent format through YouTube.
Authenticity and less drama
Emily chose to leave behind the constraints of network television scripting and editing, preferring instead to showcase real gold mining rather than the manufactured drama often required by reality TV formats.
What is Emily doing now?
Emily did not exit dredging entirely. She now documents her days as a gold miner directly for her followers, producing raw and unfiltered content that highlights both the successes and setbacks of mining in Nome on her YouTube Channel.
She remains the captain of Erotica, overseeing her crew’s work and exploring new strategies to find gold in increasingly challenging conditions.