Waterpeople Podcast

Part Two of our meandering conversation with master shaper Tom Wegener talking the nitty gritty of board construction, how he almost got the call to be in The Endless Summer II,  experimenting with ancient techniques in the shaping bay and which mode of wave riding is stoking him out the most right now. ...Tom started shaping and glassing in 1978 in his parents garage and is best known for helping to re-popularize old and ancient Hawaiian surfcraft, as celebrated in films like Thomas Campbell’s The Present, Nathan Oldfield’s Seaworthy,  Jack McCoy’s A Deeper Shade of Blue, and Cyrus Sutton’s Tom’s Creation Plantation.What sets Tom apart as a shaper is his surfing prowess. Tom played an integral role in keeping the traditional logging approach alive when it fell out of fad, embarking in self-funded films like Ten Toes Over and Siestas & Olas, which Steve Pezman, of the Surfers Journal, reviewed as the “best surf travel movie since Endless Summer.”With more than four decades of building boards under his belt, including homegrown timber crafts which exemplify a more  sustainable approach, Tom shares with us about the responsibility he feels charged with -- to pass along the knowledge he has acquired and share his journey as a relentless artisan. ....Learn more:www.tomwegenersurfboards.com...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer: Ben AlexanderSoundtrack By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Wave Brain  - Dave, Neal Purchase Jr. and Christian Barker Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Waterpeople is back with a fourth season of stories about the aquatic experiences that shape us, change us, and call us into this quirky  community of water folk across the globe. This season we'll hear from 16 waterpeople - some globally renowned, others under appreciated -  and learn about the moments that changed everything. In this episode we sit down for a catch up with our new sponsor this season Sunbutter Skincare. Founders Tom and Sacha talk us through why they, as a marine biologist and conservation ecologist, started a business, and how protecting people and the planet is embedded in every decision they make. We also dive into the sunscreen nitty gritty: physical vs. chemical barrier, nanoparticles, plastic packaging, and understanding what “reef safe” actually means. ...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer: Tiffany RichmondSoundtrack By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Wave Brain  - Dave, Neal Purchase Jr. and Christian Barker Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

What happens when life calls you to face your fears? Surfer,  adventurer and mother of three Sam Bloom had to face that call after a 2013 family holiday went tragically wrong. Sam is a two-time world para surfing champion. She is the bestselling author of two books, and the subject of the 2020 film Penguin Bloom, starring Naomi Watts. Those three works detail the tragic accident that left Sam paralysed from the chest down, and the unexpected guest – an injured magpie in need of care --  who helped Sam rehabilitate and regain a deeper sense of herself again. Sam shares about her experience of moving away from brink of despair, navigating grief,  and how getting back in the water first angered, then buoyed her. ....Learn more:Penguin BloomSpinal Cure Australia...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer: Tiffany RichmondSoundtrack By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Wave Brain  - Dave, Neal Purchase Jr. and Christian Barker Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comPhoto Credit: Cameron BloomSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

To wrap up the third season, Lauren and Dave turn the mic on one another for a meandering chat through surf adventure stories,  common questions from listeners,  and their own answers to the central Waterpeople question about a time or experience after which you were never the same. We'll be back with a stacked fourth season in May or June, full of fresh stories,  inspiring ideas, and plenty of laughs. If you have a spare moment, please consider leaving a review of the podcast or sharing an episode with a friend – both help us to find the best stories from our global community of waterpeople.  ...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music: ‘Evergreen’ by Band of Frequencies:  Men of Wood & Foam album   Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

What is enough to move you to action? For heavy water specialist Fergal Smith, nuclear meltdown became the impetus for a radical shift in life and livelihood. As the founder of Moy Hill farm, Fergal and his team aim to “grow worthy food, build soil, regenerate systems, plant flowers and trees, and work to leave what is in their care healthier than they found it," while also nurturing community. Fergal talks us beyond the romanticisation of farming, and into the muddy complexity of what it means to grow food for one's community,  --- and why it's still so difficult to make a living as a farmer. Also, why surfers are (mostly)  airheads, and probably more farmers should ride waves. ...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music: ‘Evergreen’ by Band of Frequencies:  Men of Wood & Foam album   Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

What is lost when a language perishes? What becomes of a language on the edge of  extinction ? Artist Mick Laurie is a man of story and culture, who is revitalising the language of his forefathers by making the first ever modern music in Gumbayngirr, using words spoken by his ancestors for tens of thousands of years. Mick, a  Gumbayngirr / Yaegl musician and storyteller, is based near the mouth of the Clarence River in Northern NSW, Australia,  where his forefathers  have lived and cared for country since time immemorial. Mick carries on this ancient and living tradition of obligations and responsibility for land, sea and culture as a beacon of hope and creative inspiration.You may have heard Mick’s music if you’ve seen Torren Martyn and Ishka Folkwell's 'Lost Track’ adventure/ surf series.  This episode closes with Mick’s collaborative piece with Headland, NGUURA, named by Australia’s Triple J as “a moving, significant work in language by an extremely talented emerging indigenous artist… shares the importance of us all taking on the responsibility to care for country and each other. Nguura will stay with you and inspire welcome reflection as you travel through these times.”Learn more about Mick @Maanyung_Music….Presented by Patagonia Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music by: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Send us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Olympian and two-time surfing World Champion John John Florence masterfully navigates the edges of flying and falling. Riding big waves  and sailing at high speed around the Hawaiian Islands are amongst his most instructive and inspiring moments. Seen as the most technically gifted surfer on the planet right now, John has the eyes of the surfing world focused on everything he does. His broad ranging interests -- from beekeeping to photography to science fiction -- are  cracking the mold of what it looks like to be a competitive surfer. In the tradition of Hawaiian watermen, John has embraced all kinds of ocean activity, and also the wisdom of surfers from the timeline of surfing. In our meandering chat, John talks us through high speed  sailing with eighty-year-old surfing legend Joey Cabell,  the value of taking breaks from the singular focus of competitive surfing, the ambiguity of the impacts of social media, his favourite surf film, and how he navigates being an introvert in a culture of extroverts. John also speaks to his absolute love of surfing that leaves him speechless, even after decades of marathon  surf sessions.  ...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music: ‘Evergreen’ by Band of Frequencies:  Men of Wood & Foam album   Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comPhoto Credit: HurleySend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

We’ve already lost 50% of Earth’s coral reefs. It's estimated that 90% will be gone by 2050 at the current pace of destruction. Coral Vita  just built the world’s first commercial land-based coral farm for reef restoration in The Bahamas.  They are regenerating reef systems with innovative methods that expedite the growth rate of corals, and allow for self-selection of the most resilient species to warming and acidifying conditions. Gator Halpern co-founded Coral Vita as a way to take practical steps toward protecting the otherworldly underwater-scapes he experienced as a young diver.  His team recently won the  Earthshot Prize,  a new global prize for the environment  funded by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.   Five recipients are awarded the £1 Million prize each year, over the course of the next ten years,providing at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030. .....Presented by Patagonia Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music by: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Send us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

In 2011, Sachi Cunningham quit her dream job and her psychiatric medication  ( for Bipolar 1 ) in search of a deeper sense of wellbeing in daily relationship with the ocean. She and her partner hit the road for what became a 14-month-long road trip across the Americas along the Pacific from LA to Chile. Today, Sachi  is an award winning documentary filmmaker, photographer, journalist, and Professor at San Francisco State University. She recently released the film CRUTCH, which chronicles the gravity defying life of Bill Shannon, an internationally renowned artist, breakdancer and skate punk—on crutches.Parallel to her films and teaching obligations, Sachi  maintains a career as one of the very few photographers who brave the heavy water of Northern California, where she is known for documenting big waves and the women who ride them. Sachi's forthcoming film is She Change...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music By: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music: ‘Evergreen’ by Band of Frequencies:  Men of Wood & Foam album   Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast Waterpeoplepodcast.comPhoto Credit: Sachi CunninghamSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.

Louie Psyhoiyos is an Academy- Award winning filmmaker and Executive Director of the Oceanic Preservation Society. He makes movies that ignite and galvanise movements to protect the planet , including The Cove,  Racing Extinction, and Game Changers. The Oceanic Preservation Society  uses film, photography, and social media – one “exposure” at a time – to inspire, empower, and connect a global community of activists fighting to protect our fragile planet.Louie's  most recent film is Mission: Joy  -- finding happiness in troubled times, which explores the remarkable friendship between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. .....Presented by Patagonia Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound Engineer & Music by: Shannon Sol Carroll Join the conversation: Waterpeoplepodcast.com@Waterpeoplepodcast Photo Credit: Louie PsyhoiyosSend us Fan Mail...Listen with Lauren L. Hill & Dave RastovichSound + Video Engineer: Ben J Alexander Theme song: Shannon Sol Carroll Additional music by Kai Mcgilvray   + Ben J Alexander Join the conversation: @Waterpeoplepodcast ...Thanks to our generous sponsors this season:Patagonia Australia AlkawayThe Sunglass Fix...Get monthly musings and behind the scenes content from the podcast by subscribing to our newsletter.You'll get water-centric reading and listening recommendations, questions worth asking, and ways to take action for the wellbeing of Planet Ocean delivered straight to your inbox. You can stream every Waterpeople episode from your desk.