This Ocean Life Podcast

Stoked to get back with my long time family friend, Alo Slebir, to catch up since our last episode in April of 2019. Alo takes us through the last ~4 years of surfing Mavericks on the regular, evolving his entire routine at this legendary heavy water break. We learn about Alo's new routine with tow partner Luca Padua, hear stories from the surprisingly different (and heavy) swells of 2023 hitting Northern California, winning the Mavericks Award in 2023, going big on Mainland Mexico barrels, and an overall humble and wise-beyond-his-years approach to life in the water. You can see a bunch more about Alo on his Insta at @aloslebir and on Surfline.com.

Join us on an exhilarating journey as we dive into the world of Moroccan surf culture, guided by the remarkable Dris Mhammedi, a true son of this captivating land. In this episode, we explore Dris's incredible progression in surfing, from his early days as a part of the development of surf culture in Morocco to his current role as the driving force behind a professional development program centered the flow from riding waves. Immerse yourself in the magic of Morocco's remote and perfect surf spots, as Dris shares his personal experiences and reflections on the state of flow that surfing provides. Discover how this state of mind has profoundly shaped his own journey in life, propelling him to harness the power of the flow state in sport psychology and leadership training. Dris's global program, Mind Surf Experiences, offers a unique perspective on the transformative impact of flow, both on and off the waves. Through insightful anecdotes and captivating storytelling, Dris invites us to explore the intersection of surfing, personal growth, and professional development. Gain a deeper understanding of how the flow state can unlock hidden potential, foster resilience, and enhance performance in various aspects of life. Prepare to be inspired by Dris Mhammedi's unwavering passion for surfing and his dedication to empowering others. Together, we'll embark on a journey that unveils the beauty of Moroccan surf culture, while uncovering the possibilities for us all that lie within the flow state. So grab your virtual surfboard, tune in, and get ready to ride the waves of flow with Dris Mhammedi on this extraordinary episode of This Ocean Life Podcast. You can also find Dris on Instagram. This Ocean Life Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. Don't miss out on our captivating conversations with remarkable individuals from around the world. Subscribe now and join us on this transformative audio adventure.    

Vince Broglio of Santa Cruz, CA is the definition of 'waterman'. Strong across a wide variety of disciplines in the ocean for over 40+ years, the cliff notes of his waterman resume go like this: 40 plus years surfing Santa Cruz, surfing Mavericks before pictures were ever published of that wave in a magazine, running jet skis as water patrol on the biggest swell days out there, hand shaping and glassing 1,000's of surf boards and other water craft, kite surfing, tow surfing, wing foiling, And on top of it all, he's an incredible artist creating unreal sculptures out of surfboard resin. But perhaps my favorite aspect of Vince is his longevity in the water -- he's still ripping today when many other guys have hung it up or taken steps back.  You can learn more about Vince, his boards and art on his website https://www.vincebrogliosurfboards.com/ and Instagram @vbsurfboards. Also, check out our sponsor Kalletka Undersea and enter promo code THISOCEAN15 at checkout to receive 15% off all merch.

Bill Newton is a man of Hawaiian fishing tackle. Whether it's providing the best gear to fisherman worldwide or crafting his own line of equipment, Bill has built a strong brand and reputation in the fishing world today.   I had the privilege of visiting Bill at his tackle shop on the island of Oahu where he talks story with me on his humble roots growing up in Hawaii, finding his his love for fishing, and creating the famous HIFishGear.com. Bill also shares his perspective on the multi-cultural roots of Hawaiian fishing, the various fish species that are highly prized in his local waters, and overall a fun chat about many different aspects of pursuing fish.   You don't even need to love fishing to love listening to Bill today. You can find Bill's online tackle store at HIFishGear.com and check out his daily live webcasts on Instagram at @hifishgear. And for rad apparel with your favorite ocean imagery, check our sponsor Kalletka Undersea and enter coupon code THISOCEAN15 for 15% off all merch at check out. 

In this episode, Amber Jade, born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands, shares her stories of the beautiful challenge of underwater modeling on a breath. Amber shares her perspective on finding flow in the ocean, setting up for underwater photo shoots, free dive training, and life growing up on the island of Oahu. We also hear about Amber's world travels to over 30 countries and push to reach the 100' depth mark on a single breath. You can find Amber's amazing underwater photos and a wealth of inspiration on her Instagram @the.amber.jade. And for rad apparel with your favorite ocean imagery, check our sponsor Kalletka Undersea and enter coupon code THISOCEAN15 for 15% off all merch at check out. 

Anesti Vega's colorful life includes homelessness, combat duty in the US Army, film making, activism for indigenous peoples, and more. But in this podcast episode we hear of Anesti's core passion for scuba diving and the ocean. Anesti takes us through his progression of scuba dive training, making scuba available to military veterans and disabled persons, his love for citizen-based marine science, and his recognized achievements across many ocean-related organizations, and much more. Anesti shares a wonderful perspective on balancing his passion for the ocean with a strong devotion to family and culture.  You can learn more about Anesti on his website at https://www.anestivega.com/ and follow his adventures on Instagram @anestivega.

In the relatively niche sport of prone paddling, a few names stand out across the world -- one of those is Lachie Lansdown. As a top finisher of world class events such as Molokai 2 Oahu and The Catalina Classic, Lachie has built an incredible competitive career that has taken him around the world. From top athlete on Team Australia in the ISA World Paddleboard Championships to ripping waves on his 10' race board, Lachie's endurance and skill in the water is only rivaled by his charisma and thirst for adventure and fun.    ** Pick up your trash and save the plastic for another day :)

** Interview episode 129 ** Brooke Basse is a legend on and under the water. Growing up in Southern California Brooke has found her calling as part-time commercial diver, part-time spearfisher, and full-time charger. From surfing to blue water breath holds waiting for the right shot on huge fish, Brooke spends her days finding new adventures in her local waters and has tons of stories to share. With the landing of a 200+ lb blue fin tuna under her belt, her own boat, shark encounters, and a true appreciation for the camaraderie that her ocean life has brought her, Brooke shares a humble perspective on her time in the ocean with us. You can check her out on Instagram @brookebasse. 

** Interview episode 128 **   I’m really excited to share with you all a figure in modern surfing that continues to evolve and expand his influence in the surf industry, Mr CJ Hobgood. You hear his name, and you may automatically identify CJ with an amazing professional surfing career where he was ASP rookie of the year and former world champion but what I really enjoyed learning was there is so much more to CJ than riding waves. He’s an identical twin to his brother, Damien, CJ is a dedicated family man, he just created a movie, he’s podcasting, he’s helping support a major ocean lifestyle brand, and way more. We play some clips from the movie, And Two If By Sea, where CJ shares his own human experience in the world of professional surfing, we talk about pushing our limits in the ocean, the power of story telling, raising families, and more. Lots of good stuff with CJ that I’m really stoked to share with you all. Be sure to check out And Two if By Sea — it’s available on Amazon Prime and as you’ll hear today you don’t need to love surfing to love this movie, there’s something in it for everybody. And because we are all looking for more podcasts to add to our lineup, go find and follow the Salty Stories Ship's Log podcast that CJ’s launched with Salty Crew. So thanks again everyone.   I also appreciate the support of my awesome sponsors. ROAM Generation. Like me you maybe trying to create a lifestyle business based on the ocean and adventure but need some help growing your brand. ROAM Generation is just the solution. As a full service PR agency, ROAM will help with social media management, content creation, and much more to help make sure your unique story is heard by the world.  You can learn more at roamgeneration.comand see the long list of their adventure lifestyle clients, like SV Delos and more.   Need some straps for your surfboard or paddleboards that won’t let you down? Monster Straps from my good friends at Mile 22 are so strong, so long, wide, and easy to use it’s awesome. I’ve had a bunch of pairs for years now and never go on a trip without them. Go to Mile22.com to learn more and grab a pair of Monster Straps for 20% off when you enter the coupon code TOL20.

** Interview episode 127 ** Born and bred in the UK, Sam Clothier has found his calling diving and foraging in and around the ocean. From a young age Sam found his deep connection with the water and has been on a path of pursuit ever since. Honing his skllls in the breath hold and spearfishing on the rugged British Coast Sam has experienced waters and fish around the world from Fiji, Southeast Asia, Australia, and more.   With stories of handling sharks in Western Australia to discovering new experiences in his local waters Sam shares a great perspective on sustainably enjoying foods of the ocean that we rarely consider, the challenges of diving alone, and his own personal connection with being in the ocean. To see what Sam is up to go visit his YouTube channel, Wet Mammal, and think about foraging for some new, fresh food straight from the ocean that’s never been on your menu before. Enjoy!   If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate      

** Interview episode 126 ** Today Vicky Durand takes us through the colorful life of her mother, Betty, charging waves in the 1950’s. From stories she’s captured in her recent book, Wave Woman, Vicky tells the story of her mother finding and thriving in the world of surfing, the legendary Waikiki surf scene, the first international surfing competition for woman, and much more. Vicky takes us through her own teen years of surfing on Hawaii, the characters, the waves, and her own stories of progressing in the ocean, and surfing with her mother. You can find the whole story in Wave Woman, available at wavewomanbook.com and major online book retailers, and if you love hearing about what I consider the golden days of surfing, you’ll love this book. Hope you’re all well and enjoy our time today with Vicky. If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview episode 125 **   Dr Enric Sala grew up in Spain along Costa Brava where at a young age he found passion for the undersea world by watching Jacques Cousteau's Undersea World television series (like so many of us did). Pursuing a life of research and conservation to help protect all of the oceans Dr Sala came to the US and spent years as a tenured professor and researcher with Scripps Institute. We hear the story of his epiphany that his research felt more like writing an obituary of the sea rather than inspiring protection. This took Dr Sala to creating the Pristine Seas Project with National Geographic that for the past 12 years has taken him around the world documenting over 30 remote and untouched areas of marine life with the goal to inspire decision makers in all countries to take strong action to protect their waters. He shares stories of still unspoiled areas of the ocean and stories of areas like the Galapagos struggling to heal themselves from human impacts such as overfishing. Through them all, Dr Sala has used his stories to write an amazing new book, The Nature of Nature, that helps all of us understand the importance of biodiversity and how the health of our planet is fundamental to human health, wellbeing, economic prosperity, and so much more. I really love the final chapter tying COVID pandemic to our general disconnect from the natural world.   So definitely go check out the Pristine Seas Project and Dr Sala’s book, The Nature of Nature, for a dose of inspiration that we together can help our oceans truly return to the clean, healthy, and vibrant places that we all dream about.   If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview episode 124 **   Today we talk story with Sean McClenahan, skim boarder, surfer, skater, family man, and much more. Sean takes us through his days surfing the left at Jaws, including the story of his personal biggest wave this last winter of 2019. We hear of Sean’s dedication to the sport of skim boarding, his favorite spots, growing the sport in the Hawaiian Islands as a skim boarding ambassador, and through his training business, SkimHawaii. Sean tells a gnarly story of paddling out at Jaws on his skim board for a tow session (which you gotta check out on YouTube). As a dedicated a family man, Sean talks about raising ocean-focused kids on Maui and tells the story of helping his 9 year old son Asher, a full charger in his own right, score an absolute freight train barrel at Honolua Bay (another video clip you’ll lose your mind over). Really great perspective today from Sean, a man well focused on his family, the ocean, and finding new limits in the water. Next time you’re on Maui — go check him out and throw a skimboard with him.   If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Stoked Grom Stories #9 **   Born and raised in the legendary Outer Banks of North Carolina, two great friends, Bella and Leila, share their stories with us today. As young women of the water, Bella and Leila, take us through their local surf scene describing the waves, the community, and the quiver of boards they ride. Bella and Leila share perspective on charging hurricane swells, travel, and representing the next generation of water woman in their area. With their well rounded skills in the ocean, the girls also talk story of freediving local shipwrecks, paddling, teaching surf lessons, and much more. Tons of fun stuff with these two stoked groms today —I hope you enjoy.   ****   Today's sponsors: LiveCrepic.com -- use the coupon code Ocean20 to get 20% off any purchase of their rad hats, shirts, and more. Mile22.com -- grab a pair of Monster Straps for 20% off when you enter the coupon code TOL15.   Check out the This Ocean Life blog now available and sign-up for the bi-weekly newsletter to stay informed on all the latest podcast episodes, articles, news, and more.    

** Interview episode 123 ** Today, we have Dr Gregory Stone. Career oceanographer, conservationist, author of books, and overall expert on the ocean. Dr Stone takes us through his transition from ocean researcher to ocean protector touching on the many roles he’s held within his career culminating into today with Deep Green. We learn about polymetallic nodules and the massive potential these undersea rock formations provide for the key materials of cobalt, manganese, nickel and more that we use to create our electric vehicle batteries. Dr Stone takes us through Deep Green’s mission to extract these nodules from the deep sea as a sustainable and eco-conscious alternative to today’s destructive land-based mining practices. Along the way Dr Stone shares his passion for all things ocean — mammals, sharks, marine reserves and shares his perspective on developing socially responsible and economically viable business models that help protect our natural world. With the continued rise of electric vehicles, which my family has 2 ourselves, today’s conversation with Dr Stone is fun, inspirational, and educational. You can learn more online by going to Deep.Green and finding Dr Greg Stone’s page on Wikipedia.    I hope you are well and getting in, on, or under the water, maybe not 6,000 meters deep like Dr Stone here, but getting wet nonetheless — thanks for being here with me and Dr Gregory Stone.   Today's sponsors: LiveCrepic.com -- use the coupon code Ocean20 to get 20% off any purchase of their rad hats, shirts, and more. Mile22.com -- grab a pair of Monster Straps for 20% off when you enter the coupon code TOL15.   Check out the This Ocean Life blog now available and sign-up for the bi-weekly newsletter to stay informed on all the latest podcast episodes, articles, news, and more.

** Interview episode 122 **   Today we talk with Eric Anderson who checked out of the military life and into an ocean life here in the waters of Northern California. Eric takes us through his time deployed around the world as a United States Marine to finding his true calling underwater through his wife and family. With a commendable obsession for freediving and spearfishing, Eric takes us through diving California’s Channel Islands, white sharks, to days hunting abalone and pursuing fish of all shapes and sizes along the very epic Big Sur coast. Throughout, Eric provides a great perspective on conservation, limiting your take from the ocean, and dedication to introducing the next generation to the ocean and his own kids find that connection that we all feel. Our conversation begins around one random day where we met each other at a top secret dive spot. If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate 

**Interview episode 121** Madison Stewart has been focused on sharks since she was 7 years old. Growing up on the Gold Coast she was attached to the ocean at an early age, scuba diving and traveling the world as a teen ager, spending countless hours in the water with sharks of all kinds. Today we hear of Madi’s commitment to helping protect sharks in Indonesia by working with local shark fishermen to convert their boats and livelihoods into ecotourism. Her story of gaining trust from a fishing village, bringing them a new, sustainable business, and helping locals develop their own sustainable model is really amazing. The horrors of shark fishing are real and present in Madi’s story in Indonesia and back home where she helped document the 80 year shark culling program ran by the Australian government, now being brought to the public with a new movie, Envoy: Cull (you can hear from both the director and Madi in episode 118 to learn more). Madi balances the reality of shark fishing with her own unique style and feminine strength in the ocean, which you can see more of on her website www.projecthiu.com and Instagram. For now, sit back and enjoy the stories of this dynamic, young woman making a difference in our natural world. If you like what you hear on the podcast today, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find more fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate    

** Interview episode 120 ** Neil Pearlberg surfs, SUPs, writes and talks on all things skate and surf. As co-host of Off The Lip Radio Show Neil has been documenting the colorful surfing and skateboard lifestyle of Santa Cruz for over a decade. With over 375 episodes, Off The Lip Radio show shares the stories and perspectives from famous big wave chargers, local shapers, musicians, technologists, and much more. Today, Neil takes us through his days writing for the local newspaper, starting Off The Lip Radio, and being an early adopter of stand up paddle boarding in Santa Cruz. We hear his perspective on the evolution of santa cruz surfing over the last decade, sharing thoughts on the hot bed of talent and crazy characters that Santa Cruz waters have produced. Neil pulls no punches and tells it like it is —I hope you enjoy.   Find more about Off The Lip Radio Show and give a listen -- visit https://offthelipradio.com/podcast or find it on all the major podcast platforms. If you like what you hear, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate      

** Episode 119 ** In the waters of South Florida, marine biologist and podcaster Kara Muzia splits her time between working to protect sea turtles and sharing stories from other marine biologists. With a strong dedication to helping the next generation understand the wide variety of paths to becoming a marine biologist and the realities of the profession, Kara hosts ’So You Want to Be A Marine Biologist Podcast’ that provides unique perspectives and stories from others in her profession. Throughout her own career in Marine Biology, Kara has worked across different disciplines and now today focuses on sea turtle research and conservation. On the topic of sensitivity to human impact on beaches by nesting turtles, Kara shares an interesting perspective on what the COVID-19 lockdown has done for sea turtles through less disturbed beaches near her in South Florida. Now Kara rounds out her ocean life with strong dedication to exposing her young family to the water and providing guided nature tours by paddle board around her area.    Learn more about Kara and her podcast on her website, Instagram, and Facebook.   I hope you get inspired today by Kara like I did. If you like what you hear, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Stoked Grom Stories #8 ** Max Hart is a 12-year old legend-in-the-making from Sydney's Gold Coast. With a well rounded set of skills and knowledge in the ocean that includes fishing, surfing, and spearfishing Max is constantly busy enjoying life in the water with friends and family. Competing in state championship paddle races and surf competitions, Max is no stranger to pressure. Playing a leading role in the School of Rock Musical in both South Korea and Australia, totaling over 130 performances, Max rips on the guitar and continues to add this gift to his already impressive set of skills in the water. Max shares the ins and outs of his favorite surf breaks, like Byron Bay and Snapper Rock, talks about his favorite dive spots, and masterfully handles the dreaded lightening round of questions. I hope you get inspired today by this stoked grom like I did. If you like what you hear, I appreciate you following This Ocean Life on your podcast app and/or sharing with a friend. Hope everyone is well and safe. You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview Episode 118 **   For over 80 years the Australian Government has supported the killing of sharks along popular Queensland and New South Wales beaches through nets and baited hooks under the guise of public safety. Today we hear the truth behind this senseless ‘culling’ of sharks that not only kills other animals, such as whales, dolphins, and rays, but also has zero proof of positive impact on human safety in the water. Today Andre Borrell, director and producer, with Madison Stewart, shark conservationist and co-star, take us through the history and horrors of the Australian shark culling program and how they have came together with many others to create this amazing movie, Envoy:Cull, that has the sole purpose of ending this 83-year government program. In this we have epic stories of bravery and passion for the ocean, with tales of following an undeniable calling in life that some, like Andre and Madi, are fortunate to realize. Remember the old saying, ‘If you’re not mad, you’re not paying attention’? Well sometimes there is so little information availabel on a tragic activity, like shark culling, that there’s almost nothing to pay attention to. That’s exactly why Envoy, is so important — the film is bringing awareness to all of us around the world about shark culling in Australia and is exactly that ‘thing' that we can pay attention to. So now that we know, how about we do something? Dive deeper at envoyfilm.com.au and share the Envoy trailer on Facebook — @envoyfilmau. With more people paying attention, more people will be mad, and more people will be willing to do something to make change happen to save sharks. Let’s all be part of that together.   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview episode 117 ** Today we hear the rad story of two people coming together and building a lifestyle business around their love of the ocean. This story of Steve and Monika takes us from the waters around Turkey where they first bonded over their mutual obsession for kiteboarding, to their time around the Greek Islands, crossing the Atlantic, and into the Caribbean where they are today. We hear about Steve and Monika running their adventure travel business aboard their sailing catamaran, treating guests to the beautiful waters and wind of the Caribbean, and enjoying their own ocean life living afloat. If you’re into kiting, sailing, or just pure freedom on the ocean, you’ll like today’s story from Steve and Monika. Once we get back to normal life after the COVID-19 pandemic and you’re itching for an adventure on the water, check out what Steve and Monika are up to at SailingWildside.com. Top notch comfort, amazing setting, and great hosts — you won’t go wrong :)  You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate    

** Interview episode 116 ** Francesca Trotman has dedicated her life to preserving the marine life of Mozambique. As a British scholar and marine biologist, Francesca formed a deep connection to the ocean animals in this part of Africa during her university field work and has since planted roots in the country, working with local governments and communities on a number of fronts to help preserve their ocean waters. From setting up marine protected areas to engaging on numerous scientific studies, educating local school children and more, Francesca’s non-profit foundation, Love The Oceans, is her legacy for protecting the ocean in that area of the African continent. Today, we hear her story, filled with inspiration, compassion, and dedication to doing something great for the ocean and another culture outside of her own.  What I love so much about Francesca’a story today is her dedication to helping an emerging country, Mozambique, figure out how to best preserve and protect their wonderfual ocean waters and the animals that live in them. While these waters may be thousands of miles away from most of us, the whales, sharks, mantas, and dolphins know no boundaries and need all the support and protection that we can give them.   Imagine donating a mere $10 to Love The Oceans today and feeling good about helping to protect these species we’re hearing about in Mozambique, giving them a better chance to thrive in the waters around a developing continent and greatly increasing the chance that our own grandchildren will be able to swim with them in the future. Visit LoveTheOceans.org and see the various ways you can contribute. With Earth Day 2020 happening this week, it makes good sense to to get involved... And check out Francesca's photography available for purchase on her website https://francescatrotman.co.uk/   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview episode 115 ** Erin Carey and family set out to sail the world with zero previous experience at sea. With true grit, determination, and some luck her family of 5 enjoyed 18 months sailing the Caribbean aboard S/V ROAM and topped it off with an Atlantic crossing into the Azores. With moments of inspiration and perseverance to the incredibly sketchy and borderline dangerous, this is the story of Erin, her family, and sailing vessel ROAM. See more about Erin, S/V ROAM, and her company ROAM Generation. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate   With the current state of plastic pollution, climate change, and COVID-19, I’d say it’s a perfect time for each of us to make a long-term change. Any change, in any way that reduces our footprint on the world leaving more possibility for future generations to enjoy the magic of the ocean. Moving to reusable silicon bags instead of plastic for your food storage is one, buying local and sustainable farmed seafood or produce is another, or skipping Starbucks a couple times a month and donating that money to a non-profit doing good for the world. The list of possibilities is long and I guarantee there is something in it for each of us. So get creative and get committed.  

** Interview episode 114 ** Sam Hart is a man of the paddle. With deep experience in surf ski racing, including a relay win at Molokai 2 Oahu in 2017, he rounds out his paddling with both the prone and SUP boards. Along the Sydney's Northern Beaches Sam has been involved in the surf rescue club lifestyle for many years, contributing as active volunteer, and strong team competitor in local events, including the famous Coolangatta Gold where Sam ran, swam, ski paddled, and board paddled his way to top finishes in 2012 and 2013. With a strong focus on outdoor lifestyle and raising his kids in the water, Sam shares with us a humble perspective on his ocean life around Sydney his love for paddling. I caught up with Sam in late March of 2020, in the middle of the COVID pandemic.   ** Friendly PSA to us all ** No story ever told by a guest on This Ocean Life is as gnarly as what’s happening around the world today from the COVID-19 virus. My heart goes out to people around the world suffering from the virus and my request here goes out to all the rest of us to contribute in any way we can. Whether its being a bit more patient in line at the gas pump or donating a few bucks to help purchase lacking medical supplies in your area, we can all help out. So take a minute and Google up something that you can do to help, then do it. Best of health to us all. You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Stoked Grom Stories Episode 7 ** Growing up in my hometown of Santa Cruz, CA, The Cooper Sisters, 9 year old Isla and 12 year old Malia, left it all behind with their parents for life at sea. Since January 2019, the entire family has been living in the South Pacific aboard sailing vessel Renegade where the girls have transformed personally, spiritually, and athletically. With daily life of surfing, diving, fishing, and sailing both Malia and Isla have chosen unique paths in the ocean, developing strength and confidence extremely unique for their age — from surfing hollow waves to diving with sharks. With frequent visits to the outer Fijian Islands, the girls have developed strong understanding and respect for the customs of tribal culture and have made friends with villagers, attended local school, and developed their own strong sense of self-confidence. To see more about the Cooper Family, visit their website at http://www.sailingwithrenegade.com/. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate      

** Interview Episode 113 ** With a family name synonymous with the sport of golf, Greg Norman Jr has carved out an incredibly deep and well—rounded life in the ocean. From growing up in the waters of Florida to years on Maui Greg has developed love and skill for riding all types of boards on the water — from surfing, kiting, foiling, to wake boarding. Adding on to this a strong passion for the hunt, Greg pushes himself underwater with spearfishing both reefs and blue water, enjoying getting lost in the flow that being in the ocean provides to us all. Throughout, Greg has placed high emphasis on close connection to family and providing greater access to board sports for all with his Shark Cable Park. We started our conversation around the role that the ocean played in his recent engagement to his wife-to-be (it’s a rad story). Check out the Shark Cable Park at www.sharkwakepark.com It’s no secret that I love fish art and KC Scott, a name you’ll hear a few times on today’s episode, is one of my favorite marine artists out there. Whether it’s blue marlin pushing bait or a hog fish hovering above the reef, KC captures scenes of the wild that many of us lay awake at night dreaming about. Have a look at kcscottartist.com and if you find apparel or artwork that you like, enter coupon code OCEAN20 (all caps) at checkout and you’ll get 20% off your order. When you do you’ll be supporting this family owned and operated business that’s dedicated to helping us all grow our connection to the ocean.   Other pieces to our conversation: Growing up with his father introducing Greg to the ocean — surfing, diving Living on Maui and pursuing love for kiting — competing professionally in the early 2000’s Story of his first date spearfishing with his wife to be Discuss the ins and outs of foiling and how it changes our perspective on waves Kiting and wake boarding trip in Prince William Sound Alaska with hair raising exit by boat Wearing dry suits to wakeboard and forgetting to zipper Spearfishing in the Bahamas and team sport of hunting and landing cobia Wonder and beauty of interacting with sharks underwater Sense of flow in golf and sports in the ocean and challenge of changing your mindset to slow down and focus on the present   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate      

** Interview Episode 112 **   From professional snowboarding to organizing big wave surfing events, Shannon Quirk has been part of the action sports world for over a decade. As a reporter and coordinator with the WSL Big Wave Tour Shannon has developed a close connection with the world's big wave breaks and the men and women who charge them. From Argentina to Portugal to Hawaii, Shannon has lived seasonally in amazing locations building a global community of friends and family that have supported her in both her surfing and professional snowboarding. Throughout, Shannon has placed high emphasis on empowering women through sport and has been heavily involved with gender equity on the big wave tour and as an advocate of health and wellness of us all through day-to-day activity in the ocean.   Lots of great videos on Shannon’s YouTube channel and a close look at latest North Shore news and events — check her out at shannonreporting.com. Other pieces of our conversation with Shannon: Settling down on Oahu, life-giving nature of the ocean, surfing, and yoga Living in various places around the world including Maui, with big focus on Nazare, Portugal for 3 years Similarities of Portugal to Northern California — cold water, wetsuits and thick heavy waves Working for the Big Wave Tour and ‘family' aspect of big wave surfers Knew as a youth that journalism was the path she wanted to pursue Focus on growing movement of women in big wave surfing and finding new ways to showcase women in the  Starting live reporting for Surf Channel at Mavericks and refining her craft of reporting over the years Dynamics of big wave rescue, driving jet skis, and preparing to help yourself and others in big surf Spent years as a pro snowboarder and traveling the world to chase winters.  Shannon talks about her quiver on the North Shore — big wave boards down to 6’5  The importance of yoga in Shannon’s regular routine   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate      

** Interview Episode #111 ** Chris Fuentes knows first hand about the growing spread of insect-born diseases associated with global warming. After battling with his own case of Lyme Disease, Chris has seen friends and family deal with the spread of ticks in the Northeastern US and associated Lyme Disease they carry. His passion for helping others while bringing a great product to market has led him on his path to develop the next generation of insect repellants, Ranger Ready, that is 100% effective while being 100% safe for people and the environment. The key ingredient, Picaridin, is a proven alternative to DEET, the not-so-good-for-you-or-the-environment ingredient in the big green bottle repellants that most of us are used to. Whether battling no-see-ums on the sand or mosquitos along the coast, Picaridin is the right choice for us to defend aginst insect born diseases in this warming world. After meeting Chris at Surf Expo I had the opportunity to spend time talking with him where we started with his own experience Lyme Disease.     Whether on a tropical surf trip or paddling the backwaters of temperate climates we are constantly exposed to biting insects that can pose a threat to our health. With the proven and healthy ingredient of Picaridin, Ranger Ready products are awesome non-toxic alternatives to the big green can repellants we are used to. With or without scent, Ranger Ready comes in a variety of applications to best protect us, from pump spray to lotion. Check them out at RangerReady.com and enter the coupon code Ocean10 (capital ‘O’) to get 10% off of your order. Now, let’s get on back to Chris.   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview episode 110 ** K.C. Scott has based his life off of two core natural abilities revolving around the ocean. The first, his ability to interact first-hand with fish through angling, freediving, photography, and spearfishing, to return with vivid imagery of their natural beauty and power. The second, K.C.’s ability to transfer those real-life moments into creative pieces of art that, whether on a canvas or a t-shirt, continually keep us connected back to the ocean. With a lifestyle of creating amazing art and pursuing fish in his local Florida waters and more remote locations like Costa Rica, K.C. stays humble and appreciative of his talents, nature, and those around him. To round it all out, K.C. keeps focus on surfing and enjoying life with family and guiding his young daughter toward her own ocean life. Great stories, energy, and inspiration from K.C. Scott. Enjoy. I love art of the ocean and seeing highly descriptive paintings on canvas and images on clothing of the magnificent fish are key ways that keep me amped for my next adventure in, on, or under the water. If ocean art also resonates with you, check out K.C. Scott’s art at kcscottartist.com where you can find art and apparell that will look good on your wall or the back of your shirt. If you find something you like, use coupon code OCEAN20 at checkout and you’ll get 20% off your order. When you do you’ll be supporting a family owned and operated business that’s dedicated to helping us all grow our connection to the ocean. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview episode 109 ** Raised in the waters of Jamaica, educated in England, from his earliest days Guy Harvey has had a strong connection to the ocean that has manifested into a lifelong career of art, science, and business.  With a doctorate in marine biology and incredible natural gift for drawing and painting, Guy has pursued his passion for the ocean and the pelagic fish and sharks that make it home to build one of the first apparel brands focused on the ocean. Decades later, Guy has grown his brand into a thriving, sustainable company that funds ocean research projects that deliver new insights into highly migratory animals and raises awareness of their strong value to ecotourism. Stories, perspectives, inspiration — we hear it all today with Guy Harvey. Enjoy. Listening to a podcast like this with stories from the ocean can help keep us energized and inspired to do great things in the ocean. So can wearing some good looking gear with your favorite underwater scenes and animals from the ocean — especially when it’s sustainably made and directly benefits research and protection. Guy Harvey’s brand is just that — it looks great and does good for the ocean. So check out his art and apparel at guyharvey.com where you can also learn more about his ocean foundation and all of the science we’re getting into today.   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

 ** Interview episode 108 ** Sailing Vessel Delos is a 53 foot boat that has journeyed over 70,000 nautical miles, visited 45 countries, and kept safe over 50 different visiting crew for the past ten years. Brady Trautman, and brother Bryan, started their epic adventure together in 2010 and have since added partners Karin and Alex to this core crew of four, sailing the world and documenting the people, places, and activities of life at sea. We hear from Brady and Alex today about the history of Delos, how a crew of four functions together, their recent adventures in 2019 including sharks, lightning, and 2 transatlantic crossings, and hear their perspective on a sustainable life at sea and passion for creating their awesome SV Delos Youtube series.   So definitely check them out online at SVDelos.com and see their YouTube channel — it’s by far some of the best ocean-focused videos out there. I hope Alex and Brady help inspire you get out on the water and find something new — whether it’s an entire ocean away or just down the coast from you — there’s always something new out there for each of us. Enjoy.   You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate        Other parts of our conversation: Brian and Brady Trautman brothers started sailing together in 2010 Initial 3-week trip from Mexico to Marquesas Islands turned into 10 years Alex, joined Delos 3 years ago, running her own business, doing dive training. Reached out to Delos to join a trip and never left Day to day life with 4 people aboard, from cooking to maintenance of the boat Year recap of 2019 for Delos and crew, including 2 trans-Atlantic crossings and a gnarly lightning storm in the Bermuda Triangle Working with the sextant to measure position on the ocean in absence of electronics Amazing experience diving with blue sharks in the Azores 200+ youtube videos and the love and effort the Delos crew puts in to produce amazing content

** Interview episode 107 **   Born and raised in the rich fishing area of Maine, Noah Oppenheim has pursued a life on the ocean that has taken him from the beauty of the Galapagos Islands, to the wide open expanse of the south pacific, up to the rich waters of Alaska. On his way to building a career around the management of fish populations, Noah has been a scientific scuba diver, commercial fisherman, and federal observer on fishing vessels, developing a rich perspective on the challenges we face with managing our fish populations today. Nobody likes shark finning, but behind that is a human element of people doing so to make money to feed their families, just like all other fishing practices around the world, and Noah sheds light on all of that for us.    While we are focusing on fish today, take a minute when you’re done listening and check out a couple non-profits doing good for fish populations — WWF and Institute for Fisheries Resources — and any time you can, buy local caught fish. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate     Other parts of our conversation: Born and raised in Maine Scuba certified as a teenager and moved quickly to becoming a dive master Took marine biology internship in the Galapagos  Dialog with local fisherman on how to move from wasteful practices, such as shark finning, to something that still provides them a livelihood Sailing 32 days from Seychelles to Tonga Fisheries observer program in Anchorage Alaska, then moved to a season of commercial salmon fishing Went to get a Master's Degree in marine biology and marine policy Intricacies of modeling fish populations to predict returns and set quotas for catching

Surf Expo Stories: Part 2 Here we go with Surf Expo Part 2. So many great stories from north america’s largest watersports and beach lifestyle show in the retail industry, I had to split it into 2 episodes to be sure I could do them all justice. If you didn’t listen to it already, check out part 1 if you need some background on the what, where, and how of Surf Expo. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy this set of stories and perspectives from this event that’s much more than a watersports retail show. Surf Expo is North America’s largest watersports and beach lifestyle show in the retail industry. With hundreds of brands and thousands of retailers connecting to stock the stores that we all buy our gear from, Surf Expo is a key platform for the commercial side of many of our ocean lives. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the January 2020 show and speak with a wide range of brands on the significance of the event as well as chat with the management team who puts it all together each year. What I found within all of this was that Surf Expo is like a really fun eco-friendly festival that celebrates not just great, new products, but also art, non-profit groups, the craft of shaping surfboards, the skill of skating a mini ramp, and overall — a strong community of the ocean-minded.  In this second part, we hear stories from: DMC Fins Huk Gear K.C Scott, Artist Dragon Eyewear Victoria Skimboards GoSili Marko Foam Products   You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate 

Surf Expo is North America’s largest watersports and beach lifestyle show in the retail industry. With hundreds of brands and thousands of retailers connecting to stock the stores that we all buy our gear from, Surf Expo is a key platform for the commercial side of many of our ocean lives. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the January 2020 show and speak with a wide range of brands on the significance of the event as well as chat with the management team who puts it all together each year. What I found within all of this was that Surf Expo is like a really fun eco-friendly festival that celebrates not just great, new products, but also art, non-profit groups, the craft of shaping surfboards, the skill of skating a mini ramp, and overall — a strong community of the ocean-minded.   After you give this a listen today, take a minute and pick one plastic throw-away item that you use and commit to replacing it with a reusable version — coffee cup, water bottle, straw, ziplock sandwich bag — you get the idea. As always, thank you for caring about the ocean and thank you for listening today. Hope you enjoy   Stories captured from: Roy Turner, Surf Expo 4Ocean Zinka Fair Harbor Marine Life Rescue of Clearwater Marine Aquarium Patrick Maxcey Art Ranger Ready   You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate 

** Interview Episode 105 ** Nik Strong-Cevitch has travelled around the world setting up conservation and ecostourism projects in coastal communities. As a lifelong surfer NIk has been able to blend his love of surf with his professional abilities and now leads the Save The Waves Coalition to protect sensitive surf breaks the world over. With the audacious goal of protecting 1,000 waves, Nik is supported by a strong cast of characters around the world who contribute to the development of ‘world surf reserves’, help raise funds, and make sure Nik gets a wave or two at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch. On top of all of this, Nik is a humble father, husband, and member of the Santa Cruz ocean community ready to spread good vibes to those around him. I highly encourage everyone listening to this who did, does, or will ride a wave at some point to check out SaveTheWaves.org and find ways that you can help Nik and team combat everything from water pollution to sea level rise and coastal development. When you think about how so much of our ocean culture revolves around waves, it starts to feel pretty important to be sure we preserve them for future generations. Thanks for doing that. thanks for listening, and thanks for sharing in ocean life of Nik Strong Cevitch. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

** Interview #104** In her early 20’s, Lin Pardey found her calling to live a sailing life at sea. 50 years later and over 200,000 miles sailed, Lin has completed 2 circumnavigations of the world, enjoyed countless adventures at sea, and sailed some of the heaviest water on the planet including Cape Horn and the Bass Strait. Throughout Lin applied her passion for writing and authored over a dozen books on sailing along with numerous articles published in magazines and journals. Today, Lin shares her story with us and provides an inspiring perspective on simplifying life to pursue our passions in the ocean that helps remind us all that we can design an ocean life that suits each of us. To learn much more about Lin, see her Facebook page, blog, and books on Amazon.com. With 2020 kicked off, let’s all make a pledge in this new year to do more for the ocean and those around us. I’m personally doubling down on removing all single use plastic in my household and raising money for underprivileged youth to participate in our local Santa Cruz Junior Lifeguards program. How about you? Whatever you decide to do, thanks for caring about the ocean and thanks for being here today sharing in the ocean life of Lin Pardey. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate      

Today we have a compilation of some of my favorite heavy water stories from past guests on the podcast. These stories include injuries at sea, insane storms and conditions, big waves and take place from the Bering Sea to Loch Ness, Mexico, and beyond. Each story is short, intense, and helps remind us of what the ocean can serve up when we’re least expecting it. I’d love to hear your suggestions for the next compilation of stories so please hit me up through social or email to josh@thisoceanlife.tv and let me know what you’d like to hear.   If you like what you hear today, or even if you don’t, take a minute and commit to removing one common type of plastic from your daily life. Starbucks straw, bottled water, plastic bags for your produce — there’s tons to choose from and our grandkids who love the ocean in the future will thank you for it.    Guests featured in this episode: Jeff Denholm, Episode 32 Maria Fernanda, Episode 101 Zach Wormhoudt, Episode 15 Nick Ayers, Episode 23 Sailing Catalpa, Episode 24 Chris Hearn, Episode 65    

 **Interview Episode 103** As a father, husband, surfer, licensed captain, and general man of the water, Adam has continued the legacy that his father, Doc Paskowitz, set forth some 30 years ago of living life on the road and the ocean, experiencing nature in all of its rawest forms. Whether crossing oceans or walking a beach, Adam and family focus strongly on plastic reduction, leading by their example of removing plastic and making good decisions on their daily use of it with the goal to inspire all of us to do our best to keep this pollution out of our natural world. Adam's stories of his family today at sea and on the road are fun and inspiring and tie back to his days growing up in the nomadic lifestyle that the Paskowitz family is so well known for.    If you like what you hear today, take 2 minutes and commit to using 1 less piece of plastic in your daily life. Trust me, it’s not hard!!!   Thanks for sharing Adam's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram, his family YouTube channel, Paskowitz Foundation website, and SurfWise -- the Paskowitz Family documentary. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate       * Other pieces of our conversation * Newborn son, Solomon, and remembering how to care of infants like riding a bike Relative ease of land travel compared to life at sea Teachings from Adam's father, Doc Paskowitz, that have stayed with him through today Exploration on land and incredible natural beauty available to all of us, very similar to the ocean The Paskowitz Foundation heritage Adam's surfboard quiver today Perspective on open ocean boat design and the next vessel Adam takes to sea Perspective on global pollution, focusing on plastics, and the hope Adam has for humanity to solve the issue  

 ** Episode 101 ** Maria Fernanda swims with fins and a camera in waves that most of us won’t paddle out for. As a native of Mexico City, Maria found her love of the ocean through years of family trips to the coast to ultimately discovering natural strength in big surf. Tied to Maria’s passion for photography, this has led her on a journey to photograph some of the heaviest waves on the planet such as Nazare, Pipeline, Todos Santos, and her home break of Puerto Escondido. Along the way Maria has trained in big wave rescue, survived a broken leg in the water, built a global community of friends in the ocean, and continuously pushes her physical and mental limits swimming in heavy surf.   If you like what you hear today, go check out Save the Waves Coalition, at savethewaves.org, and learn about ways thay you can help protect sensitive surf breaks and preserve them for future generations. Thanks for caring about our ocean and thanks for being here today sharing in the ocean life of Maria Fernanda.   Thanks for sharing Maria's ocean life with us. Be sure to check her out on Instagram and her website. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate     * Other pieces of our conversation * Recent (November 2019) swell at Nazare Swimming and taking photos at legendary big wave breaks such as Jaws, Puerto Escondido, Pipeline, Todos Santos, Waimea Bay, Nazare. First photo shoots and heavy waves on Kuaui Mental and physical training for swimming in big waves Growing up in Mexico City and finding her strength in the ocean through weekend trips to the coast with family Having a mentor to teach her surf photography, starting with a disposable camera! Perspective on the mainland Mexico big wave surf scene, and global big wave surf community  

** Episode 102 ** Every now and then you meet someone who blows you away with their strength across multiple disciplines in the water. Scott Kennedy is one of those people. As a fisherman, surfer, diver, spear fisherman, boater, and more Scott takes us through his life growing up in Southern California, migrating to Northern California, learning his skills in the ocean the hard way - on his own, and finding great adventure and memories throughout. From hand-shaping surfboards to a love of body surfing, working in aquaculture and sustainable seafood consulting, Scott gives us a unique and humble perspective on the ocean we all love.   If you like what you hear today, take 5 minutes and visit FishWise.org or SeafoodWatch.org and read a few things about your favorite, tasty fish and educate on best purchasing practices for you and your family. Let’s use our wallets to let seafood companies know how important sustainable fish populations are to us all. Thanks for caring about the ocean and thanks for being here today sharing in the ocean life of Scott Kennedy.   Thanks for sharing Scott's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate     * Other pieces of our conversation * Fishing for yellowfiin tuna on the Pacific Dawn charter boar Scott's 16ft Radoncraft skiff (boat) he spent over 600 hours on -- adventure, fishing, more Learning his way in the ocean around La Jolla, CA -- trial by fire Hand-shaping over 60 surfboards to continually experiment with different styles of craft to ride waves on Anticipation and excitement for his growing family and what it means to get his kids in the water Recent surf trip to the Maldives  

 ** Interview episode 100 ** John Kowitz left the cold, fresh waters of Michigan to find his calling in warm, tropical waters around the world. As an underwater photographer John has captured stunning shots of people, animals, and scenes in places like Hawaii, Bahamas, Costa Rica, and more. While developing his strength as a free diver, John has developed a deep respect for ocean conservation and along with stories of swimming with hammerheads, mantas, and pilot whales, shares his perspective on protecting our oceans and the animals we all love. If you can, take a look at John’s photography on Instagram @j.kowitz while you listen to his stories — his work is epic.   If you hate using the plastic bags at grocery stores for your produce, hit Google for ‘washable produce bags’ and pick up a set of the reusables. It makes a ton of sense.   Thanks for sharing John's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram and dive into his photography website. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate     Additional parts of our conversation: Splitting time between career as a travel nurse and photography Grew up in Michigan Evolution of photography and camera gear Guiding spearfishing trips on Maui with Maui Spearfishing Academy and Bobby Twitchell (past guest) Guiding whale and shark freediving tours on the Kona coast Animals -- pilot whales, ocean white tips, hammerhead sharks, mantas intricacies of diving and photographing hammerhaed and pilot whales Cocos Island trip with SharkWatch Observing Hammerhead Shark cleaning station where small reef fish pick parasites off of the sharks Working and training with world-class athletes and special forces at XPT with Laird Hamilton  

Episode 99!! Zeb Walsh grew up in the waters of Southern Australia to become a world-class ocean athlete with a strong focus on long-distance and semi-crazy endurance events. Today Zeb shares his stories of winning the Molokai 2 Oahu paddle board race, paddling with friends across the Bass Strait to Tasmania, and hand-carving a dugout canoe for a 250km / 2 week paddle across the Torres Strait. Along the way we share a bunch of laughs while talking foiling, big wave rescue training, getting the groms out into the wild, and Zeb and me first meeting days before paddling M2O way back in 2011.   After you listen to Zeb here you’re gonna be fired up to get out in the water. Before you go though, decide on 1 way you will not use plastic today and then follow through on it. It’s pretty rad to do.   Thanks for sharing Zeb's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram and his rad documentaries on Red Bull. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate         More highlights of our conversation: Wealth of local paddling legends, John Jacoby, inspiration to paddle hard Physical and mental torture of paddling through the gnarly conditions of Bass Strait with heavy winds and currents for multiple days Inspirations from legendary Australian prone paddlers like Jamie Mitchell, Mick Di Betta, and others Prone racing for the local surf clubs then moving to years of racing Molokai 2 Oahu starting in 2011 and winning stock prone class in 2013 Going to California to win the Catalina Classic  Importance of nutrition and hydration in endurance paddling events Paddling a hand-made dugout canoe from Papua New Guinea across the Torres Strait with 3 other guys, camping and foraging for 15 days So much more with this legend!

Born in Poland and raised in the cold ocean waters of Maine, Greg Lewandowski began scuba diving at age 9, running boats, and developing a strong love for being in the ocean at a young age. Today he takes us through his stories of living and working across the Caribbean, running scuba diving charters, fishing, and freediving on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, his artistic approach to photography, and memorable moments with whales, sharks, manta rays, monk seals, and much more. You can find Greg on Instagram by his handle @seafeverh2o. And we can all cut way down on our plastic usage to help protect the environment and some of our favorite ocean animals we hear about today. More highlights of our conversation: First experienced tropical water at age 15 in Honduras setting him on a path of travel throughout the Caribbean serving as scuba divemaster and instructor before landing on the south shore of Kauai where Greg lives today. Shares perspective on the spirit of Kauai and the ability for the island to either accept or reject people who move there. Greg talks about running scuba tours for Fathom Five Divers, the amazing diving in the water around Niihau and the animals found there. Most memorable experience underwater floating eye-to-eye with a juvenile hump back whale in the Turks and Caicos Islands Spending time in the water with Hawaiian Monk Seal, local sharks, mantas, spinner dolphins Operating tour boats in the unpredictable waters of Kauai Fishing for the pelagic game fish in the Hawaiian waters -- tunas, ono Artistry that goes into making lures from scratch Photography, favorite photo of a model on the beach just before a wave breaks around her Evolution of freediving as another way to interact in the ocean The abstract nature of bodybuilding relative to diving and being in the ocean (hint, wetsuits don't fit so well but you need less weight to dive :) Thanks for sharing Greg's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram . You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

In episode 97, we hear the stories of professional athlete and man of the water, James Casey, who takes us down his path from a young grom taking his beatings in Hawaiian surf to the dominant standup paddle boarder he is today, winning the infamous Molokai 2 Oahu paddle race on his SUP in 2019. James’s stories and perspectives on his love for coaching and foiling, traveling the world, running camps in Thailand and the Maldives, and commitment to family are fun and inspirational. I was lucky enough to have time with James before he took off from his home in Sydney to fly out for the Red Bull Heavy Water event in San Francisco. Highlights of our conversation: M20 win in 2019, top 5 finishes years leading up in the standup paddleboard division Working for months to perfect his SUP race boards for M2O with Sunova Surfboards Great perspective on top competitors that James battles in paddle contests, including Connor Baxter, Michael Booth, Travis Grant James has caught the foiling bug in a big way and is running foil training camps in Thailand Growing up splitting time near Sydney and Maui -- right near world class downwind Maliko Run How James's father inflluenced him in the water and set him up for today's success (best of wishes go out to James's dad battling health issues!!!) Coaching others, how that started, where that is today, and how James loves doing it Casey. -- the family business James operates with mom and sister at www.caseyaus.com Thanks for sharing Jame's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram and dive into the Casey. website. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate    

In this episode I compile 5 of my favorite animal stories from past guests that range from the gnarly to the beautiful. We have Bobby Twitchell (episode 88), free diver and spear fisherman on Maui, Mike Bolton (episode 28) legendary conservationist and shark photographer, David Ochoa (episode 8) world famous spear fisherman, movie maker, and guide, Kyle Faust (episode 20) free diver, spear fisherman, and Stefano Ulivi (episode 54) scuba diver and tour guide in Pico Island of the Azores. These guys tell some amazing stories of interacting with sharks, manta rays, whales, and more.   None of us can imagine an ocean without these critters so let’s all do something to help them out like reducing your plastic usage and donating a few bucks to Oceana or other advocacy group.    You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate   

In episode 96 I spend time with Hayley-Jo Carr, a woman dedicated to marine conservation in the Bahamas. Hayley-Jo takes us through her youth on the coast of England to finding her passion for scuba diving and undersea life on vacation in the Whitsunday Islands of Australia. We hear of Hayley-Jo's pursuit of her passion for diving and marine conservation over the years leading to the Bahamas where today she focuses on coral restoration. Hayley-Jo talks about her role as PADI Course Director, training the local dive shops to teach their scuba students how to contribute to coral restoration, and her role as coordinator of the Reef Rescue Network, working with NGOs and planning dive operations to expand the network of coral reef nurseries. Hayley-Jo provides great perspective on these coral nurseries, the importance of volunteer science and restoration efforts to support them, the health of the Bahamas shark populations, her love of underwater fashion modeling, impacts of the recent Hurricane Dorian, and more.  Thanks for sharing Hayley-Jo's ocean life with us. Be sure to check her out on Instagram and dive into the Reef Rescue Network. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate 

In episode 95 I speak with Kevin Dunn, founder and operator of BurnOut Suncare, one of the first environmentally-friendly and health conscious sunscreens to hit the market almost 20 years ago. Kevin takes us through his days of living and surfing on Maui, traveling and surfing Indonesia, to his kitchen where he made his first batch of sunscreen. We hear of Kevin's focus to make a sunscreen that lasted in the water while being healthy for both people and the planet, the challenges he faced early on with bringing this, then niche, product to market, and the amazing reaction to his sunscreen that the market has had since. Kevin shares his knowledge of the chemicals and ingredients used in sunscreens, their effects on people and corals, and gives us a great overview of what 'reef safe' really means. We talk global warming, ocean acidification, and the effects that sunscreen chemicals have on corals with mention of some of the responses that places like Palau and Hawaii have taken to help protect their coral reefs from these chemicals. Kevin also shares his philosophy of Burnout Suncare and his drive to minimize every aspect of their environmental impact. To get 50% off your order of Burnout Suncare products, go to their website at www.burnoutsun.com and enter the code 'ThisOceanLife50'. My family and I use Burnout exclusively and absolutely love it -- check it out! Thanks for sharing Kevin's ocean life with us. Be sure to check out BurnOut Suncare on the web and  Instagram. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate    

In episode 94 I speak with Suzie Cooney, a well-rounded athlete who has turned her love of the ocean into a lifestyle of training others. Suzie takes us through her evolution from windsurfing and motocross riding to stand up paddling (SUP) and finding her passion for the world-famous Maliko downwind course on Maui. We hear of Suzie's approach to training athletes both remotely and in person, her approach to the physical and mental aspects of endurance paddling, and her passion for spending time to help others grow strong in the ocean. Suzie shares her story of building a massive SUP event to raise awareness for women's health and leveraging that to grow an amazing lifestyle of writing books, training others, and competing in SUP events. We hear of a recent trip to Hood River, Suzie's love for riding dirt bikes, and her strength pushing through injuries to continue to thrive in the ocean. Thanks for sharing Suzie's ocean life with us. Be sure to check out photos and videos of her on Instagram, training website, and Mailko run website. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate

In episode 93 we check in with Brian and Robyn Cooper, a family from Santa Cruz, CA who, with their 2 daughters, left it all behind 9 months prior to live a dream of sailing in the South Pacific. Brian and Robyn describe their first few months of learning their sailboat Renegade, the ins and outs of sailing among the islands and reefs of Fiji, and developing confidence in their sailing capabilities. The Coopers share perspective on traveling in the outer Fijian Islands, surfing incredible waves, diving, fishing, boat-schooling the kids, and spending time in many local villages where they've learned and embraced the Fijian culture. We hear of how the family is adapting to life afloat and how their daughters, ages 9 and 12, are growing and changing as result of spending tons of time in the ocean and interacting with the Fijian culture. Brian and Robyn talk about the next major part of their trip which takes them over a 10-day passage to New Zealand then over to Indonesia and other epic parts of the South Pacific. Thanks for sharing Brian and Robyn's ocean life with us. Be sure to check out photos and videos of them on Instagram, their website SailingWithRenegade.com. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate    

In episode 92 I speak with a good friend and legend, Pat Shaughnessy, a world class big wave surfer and prone board paddler. Pat takes us through the past few years of focusing his summers on lifeguarding at Santa Cruz beaches and competing in both the Catalina Classic and Molokai 2 Oahu paddle board races with stories of dealing with the physical and mental challenges of these long distance events. Pat takes us through the evolution of his surfing from competitive shortboarding in his early teens to following his sister, Savannah, to Mavericks for his first big wave introduction. We hear of Pat taking a cautious first few years at Mavericks before things clicking for him and finding his true love for big wave surfing and being invited to compete in the 3 recent Mavericks contests. Pat talks about his crew in the line-up, continued inspiration from his sister in big waves, no-leash days at Puerto Escondido, and spending time to help the next generation find their stoke for big waves. Thanks for sharing Pat's ocean life with us. Be sure to check out photos and videos of Pat on Instagram. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate