I went out to Malibu to sit down with Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece.
Everyone knows Laird for big-wave surfing and doing things most people wouldn’t even attempt. But what stood out to me wasn’t the waves—it was how he thinks about fear.
He doesn’t avoid it. He uses it.
And then there’s Gabby. She’s watching the person she loves go put himself in real danger, and instead of trying to control it, she’s built a level of trust that most people just don’t have.
We also got into their marriage.
They almost got divorced early on. Not in theory—actually close. And what changed everything was learning how to deal with problems immediately. No letting things build. No saying nothing and pretending it’s fine.
Say it. Fix it. Move on.
It sounds simple, but most people don’t do it.
We talked about discipline, addiction, reputation, and why people look at someone’s life and call it “lucky” without having any idea what it took to get there.
This isn’t a surfing conversation.
It’s about fear, ownership, and doing the work—whether that’s in your life, your career, or your relationship.
Thank you to our sponsors
Ken’s book now available here: https://www.theothersideofhard.com/
Chapters
(00:00) Welcome To Malibu
(00:35) Daily Training Routines
(01:54) Competition And Pickleball
(03:15) Facing Big Wave Fear
(08:00) Trusted Surf Safety Team
(09:43) Why Gabby Quit Surfing
(13:54) How They Met And Worked
(15:37) Man Skills And Alone
(17:40) Marriage Rules And Conflict
(27:00) Parenting And Values
(30:22) Island Upbringing Stories
(36:29) Laird Youth Sports And Work
(38:34) Finding Your Tribe
(40:20) Open Gate Hospitality
(42:01) Unexpected Famous Encounters
(44:29) Therapy And Self Care
(46:30) Luck Is Law
(49:54) Journey Over Destination
(53:51) Reputation Long Game
(56:00) Daily Marriage Practice
(01:00:08) Vintage Car Story
(01:02:25) Hamilton House Vision
(01:07:10) Time Over Money
(01:09:01) Portal Responsibility Wrap
(01:14:32) Podcast Outro And Plugs
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