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 Day to day in the ocean we all have sometimes crazy experiences, sometimes epic experiences, and sometimes a mix of both. That’s why two young brothers started ‘Crepic’ an ocean lifestyle apparel company that purpose-built to encourage each of us to get in the water and live a crazy and epic lives in our own way. I’m stoked for them to be a sponsor of the podcast — check them out at LiveCrepic.com and use the coupon code Ocean20 to get 20% off any purchase of their rad hats, shirts, and more. Let me ask you - do you love your surfboard and paddlebord straps? I’m not afraid to admit that I do — the Monster Straps from my good friends at Mile 22 are so strong, so long, and so easy to use it’s insane. I’ve had 4 pairs for years now and never go on a surf, dive, or paddle trip without them. Go to Mile22.com to learn more and grab a pair of Monster Straps for 15% off when you enter the coupon code TOL15.

**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