The Oceanriders Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Dr. Sylvia Earle is a National Geographic Society Resident Explorer, Oceanographer, Author, Lecturer, and “Oceandiver”. She was awarded “Her Deepness” by the New York Times magazine for her amazing underwater expeditions. In September 1979, Dr. Earle set the world record for untethered diving. In 1990-1992, she became the first woman to serve as the Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). And in 1998 she became the first female resident explorer at the National Geographic Society. Dr. Earle’s achievements are truly beyond counting, however one of her most notable contributions was helping others become aware of the importance of the ocean to earth and everything in it, including us. 

This week, Dr. Earle shares her interesting action-packed journey in the deepest, darkest, and coldests part of the world- the ocean. She also shares how we, humans, have assisted in changing the nature of nature, how this society is encouraging disruptive behaviours, and what obligations we have towards planetary health. Dr. Earle has founded Mission Blue with the aim to help the world move from decline to recovery. The goal is to protect 30% of the ocean waters by 2030, and expand this campaign until the ocean and everything in it is secure. Tune in and find out how this is being done through HOPE Spot projects and what you can do to actively support earth’s rehabilitation and transformation.  

The earth is not a supermarket. We used to get our needs from our environment for free, but not anymore. We are paying dearly for the years of exploitation done through the devastating effects of climate change. Discover what superpower is in your disposal right here and now to impact nature and make this world a better place! 

Highlights: 

• 04:32 Meet the Queen of Ocean Divers 
• 11:29 Ocean Health Update
• 16:05 Nature is Not a Supermarket  
• 22:31 The Ocean’s Worst Enemy
• 30:28 Mission Blue 
• 40:09 Grab the Chance to Make a Difference
• 47:54 Work with the Natural Systems 
• 54:28 Protect the Earth
• 58:29 Take Care of the Planetary Chemistry 

Resources: 

Book

• National Geographic Ocean: A Global Odyssey by Dr. Sylvia Earle

Today's guest is the Queen of Oceanriders. Her name is Dr. Sylvia Earle. And if you've been to National Geographic documentaries, you're bound to have seen her exploring the deep seas in neoprene or some kind of futuristic submarine. In fact, for me, Sylvia is practically a member of my family. My kids used to watch her Nat Geo documentaries, so her soft voice has always been a soothing soundtrack to my early years of parenthood. You may recognize her voice from the documentary Seaspiracy where she played a major role in explaining why we need to protect our ocean creatures. Dr. Sylvia Earle has studied the deep sea and its creatures from the day she dipped her toes into the ocean as a child. She's been the first woman to break world records in the deep with either special diving suits she designed, submarines she built, or by living in underwater vessels for weeks. For making submarines to charging the ocean floors of Google Earth, Sylvia has been involved in every possible way. But Sylvia's life didn't start exploring oceans, she's actually held positions of US administrations, and she regularly meets with world leaders. So all I can say is, it's a true honor to have Sylvia visit me on The Oceanriders Podcast. 

“Protect what remains of the natural world and do everything you can to give back to restore what's been damaged and lost. Do it as if your life depends on it, because it does!” -Dr. Sylvia Earle

Sylvia still spends most of her time in or under the oceans, writing books, or running her nonprofits, Mission Blue, which is helping achieve the goal of protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. Sylvia joins me today in this episode to talk about her latest book, National Geographic Ocean, a sea Odyssey that came out this week. But I must admit, we do get a bit sidetracked and explore some fascinating details of Sylvia's life. So if you love the ocean, you'll adore Sylvia. 

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Dr. Sylvia: 

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram 
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest

Quotes:

• 10:50 “Humans have had such a profound impact on the nature of nature.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle 
• 12:41 “We do have superpowers, but the greatest superpower is knowing. It's only right about now that we are beginning to understand the consequences of our actions and are motivated to do something about it.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 16:05 “We do know what to do, it's just having the will to take this seriously… The reality is, we cannot do it in 24 hours but we certainly can not wait any longer..” -Dr. Sylvia Earle  
• 19:30 “Nature is a library. It should not be regarded as a supermarket.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle  
• 23:13 “With a billion dollars, we cannot make even one tuna. We need to think differently about the value of the ocean to our existence and the value of life in the ocean.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle  
• 29:10 “Viruses don't care anything about our art, or music, or our desire to live. We're just a habitat.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 30:49 “We can be right now, that powerful generation.  What we do or fail to do will determine the future of life on Earth, ours very much included. We can be that agent of change.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 39:22 “Nature keeps us alive. How much of your heart do you want to protect?” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 40:56 “Look at the everyday decisions that you make. You've got a chance to make a difference!” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 41:21 “We're paying dearly for our lack of understanding, but there's no excuse anymore. Now we know.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 45:42 “Ocean is where the action is.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 47:19 “Get out there and start protecting what we love the most- the oceans and life itself.” -Imi Barnaeud
• 49:21 “We are connected to not just life on earth as it currently exists, but life on earth as it has existed through all previous history. We're the beneficiaries of this long history that has shaped Earth into a habitable spacecraft.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 51:32 “The words respect and dignity are closely aligned. And they are absolutely vital to finding our way going forward.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 52:26 “A wave doesn't happen with a single drop of water. It takes a lot of troughs of water to make a wave. And here we are!” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 54:31 “Protect what remains of the natural world and do everything you can to give back to restore what's been damaged and lost. Do it as if your life depends on it because it does!” -Dr. Sylvia Earle
• 55:43 “Act as if you are able to make a difference because you're the only one who has control over you.” -Dr. Sylvia Earle

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in several ways:

1: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

4: If you enjoy my content, you can buy me a coffee. Your contribution can help me support my podcast production. 

What would you do if your best friend's parents gave you their son's remains and invested you with a quest? Would you take a leap into the unknown and go on a 10 month road trip through Latin America in search of the perfect wave? This is what my guest, Cory Belyea, did to honour his friend Mike.

In the process, Cory had some incredible adventures in his hand-me-down Nissan Pathfinder, with Mike's benevolent spirit shining on him at all times.  In this episode, Cory tells us all about his adventure, the kind of person Mike was and the outcome : dozens of priceless friendships, setting up a language school in Panama, and a wonderful surf story that he published after his travels: The Pathfinder Diaries, Tales Sculpted by the Sea 

This is an episode about friendship, taking risks and embracing the unknown.  I'm sure you will be fascinated by Cory's story and inspired to pick up a copy of his book, The Pathfinders Diaries: Tales Sculpted by The Sea.

There's a great deal of humanity in this episode, and at this time, the world needs more adventurous surf stories like his.

Links

Connect with Cory Belyea on Instagram

Website : Escuela Sin Fronteras

Get a copy of The Pathfinder Diaries : Tales Sculpted by the Sea on Lulu

Get a copy of The Pathfinder Diaries : Tales Sculpted by the Sea on Amazon

About The Oceanriders Podcast

The Oceanriders Podcast is a homemade venture, and I can do with all the support I can get. There are a few simple ways you can support the show and the content I craft every week : 

Number 1 : Subscribe & Review: Please make sure to review, share comments and subscribe to the Oceanriders Podcast  on Apple Podcasts& Spotify). This helps tremendously

Number 2 : Spread The Word: Help grow the Oceanriders Podcast's reach by sharing your enthusiasm for the podcast and/or your favorite episodes by posting about it on social media.

Join me on social media : lets continue the conversation on instagram @theoceanriderspodcast, on facebook @theoceanriderspodcast, on our facebook group the oceanriders community or on twitter @imipodcast

Visit my website and find out about my story on www.theoceanriderspodcast.com

I do not do this alone, I would like to thank Leng Inque for editing this episode and putting together the content for my wesbite.  Intro music created by me.

See you next time, in the meantime, take care, have fun and enjoy the waves!

Ciao

Natalie Fox was born where freedom is abundant. Rather than taking that for granted, she spent it to experience life full of worthwhile educational adventures. That moment her eyes saw the beauty of this world she knew what she wanted in life: Nature, Yoga, and Surf. Hence, the foundation of YogaRama and Eco Yoga Surf. However, what comes with this, is the painful truth that this lovely paradise is facing a relentless threat. Therefore, adding to her goals is to find her voice as a professional in a scientific arena. Natalie is currently taking up a Masters Degree focused on sustainability. Today, she’s living her dream life pursuing her goals, traveling in her van between Portugal and Morzine. 

In this episode, we get to hear of Natalie’s amazing adventures, campaigns, and expeditions. She also tells their struggles to save whales amidst political prejudice and why this program and similar wildlife protection activities should continue to be enhanced. One of Natalie’s interdisciplinary research is about microplastics and how vast their range has come. We can contribute to defeating this wicked enemy through systems thinking and Natalie expounds on this further along with some deep thoughts on how we can utilize our resources wisely. As we learn from Natalie’s story, surfing is indeed a great teacher. Without words, it teaches the heart lessons that even intelligent humans, with all their advanced wisdom, fail to understand. 

Episode Highlights:

• 02:04 Freedom Well Spent
• 05:08 The Sea Shepherd
• 10:47 A Day In The Life Of A Sea Shepherd
• 14:37 Experiential Learning
• 17:44 Microplastic Pollution- A Wicked Problem
• 22:08 How To Reduce Plastic Pollution
• 27:02 Surfing Into Flow State
• 31:39 Online Home

How are you? How is your lockdown going? Have you been allowed back in the ocean? Actually, at the moment this podcast drops it's the first day we'll be officially allowed out and I can't wait to see the sea and possibly dip my toes into it. I've missed it so much. I don't know about you. 

“Two things that are really important in life is to appreciate nature and to appreciate your community and your family.” -Natalie Fox

Today, I'm very excited to introduce you to my guest. Her name is Natalie Fox and she's a fascinating surfer who's had an incredible journey. In this episode, she shares her story of joining Sea Shepherd, campaigning in Antarctica, embarking on a life-changing voyage from Plymouth to the Azores islands, collecting microplastics and analyzing data, and how her passion for surfing and nature and the oceans has led her to refocus her studies on sustainability from a scientific point of view. Natalie has created a lifestyle that will inspire many. She's a yoga teacher and a surf instructor and spends the summer months living in her very own reconditioned van. So I hope you enjoy her story.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Natalie: 

• Website
• Email
• Facebook
• Instagram 
• LinkedIn

Resources Links:

Book

• Think!Eat!Act!: A Sea Shepherd Chef’s Vegan Recipes (Vegan Cookbooks Book 151) by Raffaella Tolicetti

Films

• Undercurrents Trailer
• Le Grand Bleu (The Big Blue) 

Quotes:

• 03:34 “Spending a lot of time in nature and having the freedom to do so was my biggest childhood memories.” -Natalie Fox
• 13:15 “Two things that are really important in life is to appreciate nature and to appreciate your community and your family.” -Natalie Fox
• 22:46 “There are lots of different approaches that need to be applied in different ways to different levels of the problem.” -Natalie Fox
• 27:27 “Surfing is like this perfect opportunity to go into the flow state because we're not sure what's going to happen with the wave.” -Natalie Fox
• 29:30 “Surfers are systems thinkers because we're thinking about things in a lot of many different levels. And things are changing all the time.” -Natalie Fox

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

1: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

4: I have created an online merch shop, called the Oceanriders Shop.  It has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, greetings cards, and wall art for all types of budgets, so be sure to check them out on theoceanridersshop.com. 

For Maree Beare, her whys came in connection to health information discontinuity. The rate by how passive people are with regards to their own health information and how they settle with believing whatever it is that the doctor tells them is tremendously alarming. Hence, she created an app that addresses this very problem. Maree founded Wanngi, a secure compliant application used to monitor health status, keep track of appointments, and set reminders for medications. Her passion is to help individuals become their own health champions.

During their conversation, Maree gets to relate her entrepreneurial journey- from the conception of her start-up to its actual implementation. She also shares the joys and struggles of an entrepreneur in conquering this male-dominated space. On top of that, she lets us in on some tips and advice on how to successfully create and launch an app and incorporate it into the business. Of course, as busy as she can be, surfing is not something that Maree can leave out in her schedule. She recounts her first encounter with a wave and how serene and simple everything becomes in the water. Don’t miss out on today’s episode and get stoked with another amazing surf story!

Episode Highlights:

• 03:24 The Tech Guru
• 08:43 Health Information Discontinuity
• 11:01 Wanngi- How It Works 
• 16:34 Conquering A Male-Dominated Entrepreneurial Space
• 18:34 How To Make Your Start-Up Financially Viable 
• 22:30 Your First Sale
• 23:36 How To Incorporate An App
• 28:40 Surfing Helps Keep Things Together

How are you doing?  How are you managing? Have you been stuck in lockdown? Have the beaches near you been closed? I’ve been having a tough time juggling with our new life and the fact that I can see the sea but not go anywhere near it, and that has left me a bit speechless vis à vis most of my projects, including this podcast.  I haven’t been that active on social media and I have been procrastinating a lot.  That said, I guess I have learned to digest and process the information, get over the grief of the « nothing’s going to be the same again », express gratitude, and now it’s time to get on with it! So here I am today, launching episode 48 of the Oceanriders Podcast.

“I love what I do in that I can see the future of it.” -Maree Beare 

In this episode, I got to sit down for a chat with Maree Beare who is based in Brisbane Australia.  She is passionate about using innovative technology.  My conversation with Maree was quite serendipitous but at the present moment is so relevant with the news that it’s uncanny. Maree is the founder and CEO of Wanngi, a startup that is solving the problem where people have little access to their health information. In these trying times, it could help to have all our health records centralized in an app that we could share with doctors and nurses: things like symptoms, injuries, medication, chronic illnesses, and much more.  Maree and I discuss her HealthTech app and the challenges she faces building a startup, finding funding, and finding balance in a pretty full-on environment.  Maree’s work has been recognized by Forbes in the top 50 women-led startups disrupting health tech so I was very honored she cared to drop in for a chat and that she shared her knowledge of building a startup, and health issues she solves with her app.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Maree: 

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Resources Links:

Download the Wanngi App

• 30-Day Trial
• App Store
• Google Play

Quotes:

• 08:48 “Everything's connected because we're familiar with that in every other aspect of our lives. But with health, most people are very passive. They just trust what the doctor says.” -Maree Beare 
• 20:51 “I love what I do in that I can see the future of it.” -Maree Beare 
• 24:18 “Do a proof of concept first to be able to visualize whether it's something that people also think is a problem.” -Maree Beare 
• 29:19 “Surfing is the absolute best way to unstress.” -Maree Beare 
• 29:59 “Surfing is a journey… It's unpredictable.” -Maree Beare 

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number one: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

Number 4: I have created an online merch shop, called the Oceanriders sShop.  It has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, greetings cards, and wall art for all types of budgets, so be sure to check them out on theoceanridersshop.com. 

Richard Walton was heading to the deep pit of the fast-paced world of business. But as soon as he starts to slow down, everything fell into place, both in his career and personal life. Today, Richard serves as the Founder of AVirtual, the leading virtual assistant company in the UK and Chairman of the fastest-growing EO accelerator program globally. His social enterprise, GVI has received multiple awards and is creating a sustainable difference while combining travel and education. Richard believes in delivering quality service and creating a culture that is motivating and fun.

In this episode, Richard tells about his many adventures, both in his business and in surfing. Listen in as he relates his experience while surfing with sharks! Also, Richard gives a bit of advice on how to slow things down and avoid all the deleterious consequences of always being on the hectic. Often, we get caught on our everyday activities and we keep going through them even if we are miserable doing them. In this situation, Richard lets us in on the secret of becoming successful. He teaches how to hire the best people, create a respected culture, win against the tough times, find a mentor and be a responsible a mentee, get help, and work remotely. Richard is big on time. He values his time, the time of his clients, and the time of his employees. And his message is: Find your purpose and dedicate every single fraction of your time to fulfill it- that’s what makes a man happily successful. 

Episode Highlights:

• 02:33 The Wandering Entrepreneur/Surfer
• 06:58 GVI- Education and Travel In One
• 12:03 The Best Move
• 15:58 How To Slow Things Down
• 19:37 How To Hire The Best People
• 27:43 What Makes A Succesful Entrepreneur
• 36:29 Surfing With Sharks

Today my guest is a successful entrepreneur and surfer from the UK.  His name is Richard Walton. He’s originally from the UK but has worked all over the world, sometimes in the most remote areas. He’s now living the dream in the bonny climate of Cape Town South Africa. Richard’s story is super inspirational for many reasons. First, because he was living a miserable lifestyle in suburban Britain and decided to completely flip his lifestyle around for and because of surfing.  You’ll find out how he managed to build and make his startup thrive from the middle of nowhere. 

“When everyone is falling around you… just keep going, but keep going with a positive attitude.” -Richard Walton

Second, because he is a pioneer of remote working, corporate social responsibility, and virtual assistance way before Tim Ferriss came out with the 4-hour workweek, Richard was busy building an incredible business and helping entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level.  Richard is the founder of GVI, an e-platform linking volunteer with nonprofits and NGOs around the world and is the current founder and CEO of AVirtual, a successful virtual assistant company based in South Africa. He shares his story about how and why he created these inspiring companies. 

In this episode, we dive into Richard’s exciting life story.  He shares some expert advice about running and growing a business, finding talent, finding balance, and getting mentors to move your business to the next level.  We also have a quick chat about the empty breaks of Cape Town and how he contemplates surfing with sharks on a permanent basis.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Richard:

• Website
• Email
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Telephone: 0800 086 8998

Resources Links:

Books

• Scaling Up: How A Few Companies Make It… And Why The Rest Don’t, Mastering The Rockefeller Habits 2.0 by Verne Harnish
• Delivering Happiness: A Path To Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh

Quotes:

• 12:40 “I've always wanted to be a surfer. I love the ocean!” -Richard Walton
• 14:18 “If you fall in love with surfing, you want to spend as much time in the water as possible. So things like strength, flexibility, and energy become more important to you than partying till two or three o'clock in the morning.” -Richard Walton
• 21:47 “Culture always starts with the founder. How you behave sets the culture.” -Richard Walton
• 28:16 “When everyone is falling around you… just keep going, but keep going with a positive attitude.” -Richard Walton
• 29:36 “Entrepreneurs are the most helpful people. You just have to ask.” -Richard Walton

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number one: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

Number 4: I have created an online merch shop, called the Oceanriders sShop.  It has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, greetings cards and wall art for all types of budgets, so be sure to check them out on theoceanriderssshop.com. 

Taylor Morozova carried the California spirit as she searched for a place she can call home. As a seamstress, she used her passion for clothes to serve others with a purpose. Her heart was left in New Zealand when she met with the ocean. She instantly fell in love with its beauty and later on took the challenge to teach herself how to surf. Her endeavors were always tailored with a desire to ride New Zealand’s big waves again. Not until she met a new love, Michigan, where she also met her husband.  

In this episode, Taylor shares about the three things she loves the most: people, fixing things, and surfing. She also shares how the Great Lakes differ from other surfing spots and how unique the surfing community is there. Taylor also gives out some great tips on how to surf the Great Lakes and be a responsible and wise surfer. Taylor also owns a brand called the Wave Babe Hair and she lets us in on some hair care pointers. As a podcaster, she hopes to paint a picture of what surfing is like in different settings from unique individuals all around the world. Today, we get a glimpse of what lays in store for her podcast, the Weird Waves Podcast. Taylor’s story may not be a straight path where everything falls into place but it is an inspiration for everyone wishing to find that special place where they truly belong. Tune in and make your quarantine days a little less melancholic and stressful with a dose of your Oceanriders fix! 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:41 Born With A California Spirit
• 06:20 A Purposeful Service
• 11:32  Attached To The Ocean
• 15:29 Michigan- Hair We Go!  
• 19:45 Hair Care 
• 22:00 Great Lakes Season Surfing Tips 
• 33:24 The Weird Wave Podcast

Today's episode is a conversation with the multi-talented, Taylor Morozova. She's an amazing person and has an astonishing story. She taught herself to surf in New Zealand and then became part of the brave and awesome surfing community in the Great Lakes of the USA. She's full of surprises and she shares her story today. 

“I would surf every single day. I just loved it so much!” -Taylor Morozova

In fact, Taylor and I have more than surfing in common as she and her husband have just launched the Weird Waves Podcast. Check out their podcast on online platforms.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Taylor:

Weird Waves Podcast

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Wave Babe Hair

• Facebook
• Instagram

Resources Links:

• Weird Waves Podcast Episode 28: Imi Barneaud

Quotes:

• 13:49 “I would surf every single day. I just loved it so much!” -Taylor Morozova
• 22:49 “If there's a wave, you're going surfing.” -Taylor Morozova
• 24:38 “Because it’s basically an inland ocean or a freshwater ocean, people don't respect it… That is a huge issue.” -Taylor Morozova
• 26:41 “Some people don't want more people. But I think every time I see someone out there with me, it's such a joy.” -Taylor Morozova
• 42:07 “Only a deadly worldwide pandemic will prevent a surfer from getting his or her daily medicine.” -Imi Barneaud

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number 1: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

Number 4: I have created an online merch shop, called the Oceanriders sShop.  It has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, greetings cards and wall art for all types of budgets, so be sure to check them out on theoceanriderssshop.com. 

Today, Heidi shares her exciting water adventures and worthwhile endeavors. She tells the story of how she fell in love with the ocean and followed through even if it meant leaving her homeland. She also lets us peek into the life of a whale guide and she helps us get to know a little bit about these giants. Heidi believes that we are connected and innately programmed to seek the underwater. Free Diving is more than just going in and coming out of the water. Heidi walks us into the meditative aspect of diving and its load of psychological, physiological, and physical benefits. As an environmentally conscious entrepreneur, Heidi also invites us to join in proper waste management. How long we are going to be amazed by these wonderful creations depend on how willing and how vigorous we are at preserving these gifts. 

Episode Highlights:

• 02:49 Free Diving Weekend Warrior
• 09:59 The Perfect Job-Paid To Surf All Day
• 12:20 An Unexpected Trip to Being a Whale Guide
• 21:12 Feeding the Giants
• 22:20 Male and Female Humpback Whale Mating Behaviors
• 26:30 The Mammalian Dive Reflex
• 35:49 Be Responsible Waste Managers
• 38:00 New Endeavors

I'm really excited to be behind the mic after a few weeks of feeling a bit off. To be honest, a couple of weeks ago, I totally lost my voice, and I couldn't even pronounce a word and so let alone record this intro. Now what makes this episode even more special is that it was recorded outside in real life with one of the most inspiring people I've had the chance to meet. Her name is Heidi Tapia. She's basically a multipotenitalite light. She studied psychology in Mexico, but you could say that surfing absolutely changed her life. Her true calling is adventure and the salty lifestyle. 

“If you're connected to what your body's telling you, it's easier to connect to things outside of you.” -Heidi Tapia

Heidi has had the most exciting life from freediving with whales in Tonga, being a surf instructor, and living the dream in Byron Bay. And she's about to start various businesses. She's one fierce female making changes one wave at a time and with immense joy, wisdom, and a great philosophy of making the most in life. In this conversation, we talked about Heidi's relationship with surfing her adventurous lifestyle, and we get to learn a lot about whales and freediving too.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Heidi:

• Facebook 
• Instagram
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• Pictosee

Quotes:

• 11:50 “If you want to do what you really want to do. You might not make enough money…  but that makes you more adaptable and resilient because you have to be the onto it” -Heidi Tapia
• 29:21“If you're connected to what your body's telling you, it's easier to connect to things outside of you.” -Heidi Tapia
• 34:14 “Handmade things have a very powerful meaning.” -Heidi Tapia
• 35:57 “Part of our responsibility is to manage our waste. And that's something that is truly missing. And until we don't realize that,... not many things are going to change.” -Heidi Tapia
• 40:20 “I wish we humans will be more willing to connect with ourselves and then, therefore, will be easier to connect with our surroundings and environment.” -Heidi Tapia

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number one: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

Number 4: I have created an online merch shop, called the Oceanriders Shop.  It has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, greetings cards and wall art for all types of budgets, so be sure to check them out on theoceanridersshop.com. 

Vincent Lartizien has learned this fact, not with his mind but with his heart. As he was introduced to windsurfing and surfing and through the travels he’s embarked into, he learned that humans are meant to connect with the environment they live in. For decades of professional surfing, he saw how his love was gradually changing into business without values. This became his mission today as an entrepreneur- to bring back the dwindling values in the industry. He created the Nunti Sunya brand along with this idea.

They say this month is the month of love. So today, we get to hear Vincent’s story of how he fell in love and pursued that love, both for surfing and in business. He shares with us his journey with some of the lives he’s lived and how he came out victorious. Tune in and learn how to overcome challenges both in your entrepreneurial journey and in life. Vincent also enlightens us with so much wisdom on the spiritual side of surfing and how finding the energy can help us discover greater realities in our life. Vincent stresses the importance of values and sticking to them. Values are everything that a human is. Without it, how are we different? 

Episode Highlights:

• 04:19 Living Lives
• 08:44 The Roaf to Professional Wind Surfing
• 14:30 Big Wave Surfing Adventures
• 21:57 Guided The Spirit of the Sea
• 25:33 Find First The Energy and Discover Larger Reality
• 30:45 Gain Access to the Universal Rules
• 34:33 Bringing Back the Value in Biz
• 46:25 Entrepreneurial Challenges and Solutions

This week, I had the privilege of having a chat with one of the pioneers of big wave surfing: he’s French and his name is Vincent Lartizien.  Vincent started his career as a professional windsurfer. He traveled to Maui in the ’80s to follow his dream and ended up living there for the next 20 years.  It turned out big wave surfing was something he loved doing, and during the time he spent in Hawaii, he learned and mastered the art of tow-in surfing just after it got invented by Laird Hamilton. He was, in fact, the first non-Hawaiian to be allowed to surf Jaws and spent the next 30 years pulling off incredible exploits in dangerous situations in Hawaii and the rest of the world.  

“Nature is a place of freedom where anything that will be taught to you will help you to work your life with deep values.” -Vincent Lartizien

Our conversation covers these early years and beyond, but turns into a more spiritual conversation about the flow of energy in the ocean, and how Vincent's spiritual connection with the ocean has helped him see life differently.  In fact, about 6 years ago, Vincent, against all odds decided to create a hemp t-shirt manufacturing business. Six years later he is a successful soulpreneur with vertically integrated hemp manufacturing facility near Hossegor. It’s from the shores of the Atlantic that practices what he learned from the ocean to succeed in business.  Vincent’s path is atypical but is also fascinating.

Next episode I’ll be chatting with a multipotentialite globetrotter living in Byron Bay.  

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Vincent: 

• Website
• Email
• Facebook
• Instagram

Resources Links:

• Vincent’s Products

Quotes:

• 13:00 “We did the mistake that we could do and we learn.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 22:29 “Every time I have some needed sign that comes in front of me, where I know I'm connected, there is a special connection and I feel good.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 23:09 “Each wave is alive; each place has a spirit.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 23:26 “It's a game we play with the wave and we want the spirit of the place of the wave to guide us, to show us… If you let yourself be guided by the spirit of the wave, you cannot make a mistake.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 24:28 “That's what surfing is about- it's not a sport, it's more of spiritual activity.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 26:59 “You can gain the knowledge without going to school. And that really freed me. I could learn whatever I wanted.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 27:51 “Matter is created by energy and not the contrary. So all the material that we have, or the matter that we experience with our senses is only a creation of something larger, deeper.”  -Vincent Lartizien
• 31:48 “Nature is a place of freedom where anything that will be taught to you will help you to work your life with deep values.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 39:26 “You have to be very balanced. You have to have one foot in the old world that is getting the rules… and one foot in the new world that nobody knows where it's going to be.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 41:03 “If we let go of our values, we lose everything.” -Vincent Lartizien
• 46:49 “I have to swallow my frustration and to understand that there is a timing for everything.” -Vincent Lartizien

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number one: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

Number 4: I have created an online merch shop, called the Oceanriders Shop.  It has a collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, greeting cards and wall art for all types of budgets, so be sure to check them out on theoceanriderssshop.com. 

Melanie Bernhard is a writer by trade and a journalist along with her husband. But she is also a passionate surfer. In her entire life course, surfing has always been there and she made sure it always will. As a surfer, Melanie is knowledgeable and has personally experienced mishaps in her surfing career. Hence, her idea of a unique and helpful book for surfers was born.

In this conversation, Melanie shares the contents of her book. She also gives some advice for surfers and mentions some of the dangers one might meet in the ocean. This guide is simply what every surfer must read. As a writer, Melanie also shares valuable wisdom and tips on how to write a quality and marketable book in no time. She also gives a strong message to the women of the world regarding motherhood and career. Surfing is more than a hobby or a sport. It is a way of life. Circumstances may change but love is eternal. Melanie’s message is: “Never, ever give up your passion.”

Episode Highlights:

• 03:12 Daily Surf- Beauty and Dangers
• 06:21 The Surf Trip Survival Guide
• 12:56 A Surfer’s Greatest Risk
• 18:34 How to Write With Quality in No Time
• 23:25 How to Write A Sellable Book
• 28:54 Catch The Green Wave
• 32:15 Approaching Motherhood
• 34:48 Career Advice For Mothers

Today I'm really excited to introduce you to Melanie Bernhard. Melanie is from Germany and she's a journalist and a writer by trade. She joined me today to talk about her book, The Surf Trip Survival Guide that she wrote with her husband. It's a terrific compilation of tips for surfers to actually stay alive or out of harm during surf trip and it's riddled with fun and not so fun, real-life stories of how a surf trip could go potentially wrong, and how to fix things up.

“I… couldn't imagine a life without surfing anymore.” -Melanie Bernhard

Anyway, Melanie is originally a journalist from one of the biggest surfing magazines in Germany and is now established in Capbreton, where she's living the dream as a freelance journalist and writer. In this conversation, we go through what the book is all about, how she managed to get it off the ground, her lifestyle in France and her passion for surfing, writing, and bretzels. Anyway, when I got in touch with Melanie, it was on a feed on the women who serve Facebook group where people were exchanging about how to surf when you're pregnant. In fact, Melanie surfed until her seventh month and I was curious also to find out how she did it and why she stopped. In fact, you'll be surprised by her answer. Anyway, Melanie has got some great advice for young mothers who want to keep the Stoke alive after the baby is born.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Melanie:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Resources Links:

Books

• The Surf Trip Survival Guide: Better be Ready When Sh*t Goes Down by Melanie and Stephan Bernhard

Quotes:

• 22:14 “I never thought about giving up because we always knew it's a good idea.” -Melanie Bernhard
• 24:04 “You just have to stick to your dream. And when you're really convinced,... you will succeed.”-Melanie Bernhard
• 30:03 “I… couldn't imagine a life without surfing anymore.” -Melanie Bernhard
• 35:35 “...just go with your feeling.” -Melanie Bernhard
• 36:18 “It's sometimes hard as a woman and a mother and a surfer to still follow your passion, but I think it's important to not lose that passion.” -Melanie Bernhard

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number one: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook: @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.

Laura Day is among the insightful individuals who saw what a real surf lady looks like. Contrary to what advertisements have modeled for us, a real surf lady has a unique preference and taste that doesn’t necessarily reflect the industry. This reality opened Laura’s eyes to new possibilities which led to the foundation of iaera surf, a women’s surfwear brand that really caters to a surf lady’s needs.  By creating a surfwear that resonates with the customers, iaera surf is successfully creating an environment where women can surf freely and happily. 

In this fun and edifying exchange, Laura shares her exciting surfing stories and entrepreneurial journey. In addition, she also relates some of the challenges one could possibly encounter in the early stages of their biz and how to successfully navigate through them. She also reveals some helpful advice on how to price your items based on quality and not on competition. Laura also gets to talk about her upcoming podcast, Confessions of a Surf Lady,  which is a perfect platform for women to voice out their concerns and opinions anonymously. The ocean is no doubt, a surfer’s paradise. Therefore, the right to surf without the burden of misjudgments should be reserved by everyone.  

Episode Highlights:

• 04:19 An Inland Girl Longs For the Inshore
• 10:17 Surfwear for Real Surf Ladies
• 17:10 Setting Up the Platform for Marketing
• 20:31 How to Price Your Items
• 22:33 Entrepreneurial Challenges
• 25:42 What To Do When Funds Are Low
• 29:15 Confessions of a Surf Lady
• 35:22 What in the Surf Industry Makes You Feel Excluded?  

Today I got to sit down with Laura day, a bubbly and energetic surfer who is also an Interior Designer, Architect and the Founder of iaera surf, a women's surfwear brand based in San Diego, California. Laura has had an exciting life so far. She's been traveling and living between California and Australia. But today, our conversation explores her business ventures and the way in which she has apprehended the female surfing market with such talent and joy. iaera surf is a women's surfwear brand that she created from scratch, actually making designing and sewing the garments herself. The garments that range from rashes to bikinis are designed for women who don't necessarily feel they belong to the Billabong of Roxy stereotypes. And Laura has met former women actually on the lineup that are doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs and whose taste doesn't necessarily reflect what we see in shops. I think there are quite a lot of women out there in this category and Laura is definitely tapping into it. 

 “No one's going to see you put your best foot forward if you never make a step.” -Laura Day

We get to talk about Laura's story, her brand, and she gives us expert tips and advice on how to build a brand that sells. Beyond marketing and amazing design, Laura is also excelling in what works the best for the bottom line, and that is closing a sale. There's a lot to learn from her experience in this interview. And last but not least, Laura is also just about to launch a surfing podcast called, Confessions of a Surf Lady, and it will be dropping this week on all the podcast platforms. 

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Take care, have fun, and enjoy the waves.

Ciao,

Imi

Connect with Laura: 

• Website
• Email
• Facebook 
• Instagram

Resources Links:

Podcast 

• Confessions of a Surf Lady by Laura Day (Coming Soon)

Book

• Born A Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Quotes:

• 19:29 “It's good to keep a balance (by) going through that idea… and then coming back and feeding that validation back to you.” -Laura Day
• 20:35 “Making a sale is all about timing and that relationship with that customer.” -Laura Day
• 22:08 “I value events or promotions that are around the brand, as opposed to really pushing hard for competing.” -Laura Day
• 22:38 “The most challenging thing is to say, ‘No.’ to the things that maybe you're good at doing, however, don't exactly bring you the return that you need to survive as a business.” -Laura Day
• 23:23 “No one's going to see you put your best foot forward if you never make a step.” -Laura Day

SHARE THE LOVE: SUPPORT THE  OCEANRIDERS PODCAST

The Oceanriders Podcast is a passion project and, if you like it, you can support it in a number of ways:

Number one: Share your love for this podcast on iTunes by giving it a few stars, or a review. Better still, subscribe. Anything in this direction increases my ranking and lets more people hear about my fascinating guests and how they are busting the surfing stereotype

Number 2: Comment, and join the conversation on social media. You will find links to my social media accounts on theoceanriderspodcast.com

Alternatively, you can connect with me on:

• Instagram: @theoceanriderspodcast
• Facebook:  @theoceanriderspodcast 
• Twitter: @ImiPodcast

Number 3: Join me for an episode or sponsor my podcast! Just send an email to hello@theoceanriderspodcast.com  with a quick bio and I’ll take care of the rest.