This Ocean Life Podcast

Ryan Levinson Part 2 - muscular dystrophy at sea, living afloat in French Polynesia, rediscovering the bodyboard

In Episode 74 we check back in Ryan Levinson, a hard charging man of the water living with Muscular Dystrophy in the waters of French Polynesia. Ryan recaps the past 6 months living on a sail catamaran in Tahitian waters with wife Nicole. We hear of them making the move to their new catamaran after being passed by that boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean en route from Mexico and the learning curve to life on a new, larger boat. Ryan shares the day to day routine of life in the Tahitian Islands, scuba diving, kite boarding, sailing, and the relationships they've made with other cruisers. Ryan shares perspective on riding waves with the bodyboard in the heavy Tahitian surf as his continued loss of muscle makes it more and more challenging to ride waves. We hear about a perfect paradise island that he and Nicole have found with incredible surf and amazing local people (which Ryan is keeping secret -- I'm going to get it out of him :)).
Thanks for sharing Ryan's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of Ryan and Nicole on their Facebook page, Instagram page and epic YouTube Channel, Two Afloat.
Please also check out the adaptive sports organizations that Ryan works with:
https://www.challengedathletes.org
https://stokeforlife.org/
There is always some fun stuff on the This Ocean Life Instagram and Facebook pages as well. We are also on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean. Remember -- single use plastic is BAD. About 32% never makes it to the land-fill but ends up in our waterways and environment (according to Earthday.org)
  

Dan Haifley -- ocean activism, preventing oil drilling, preserving the wild

In Episode 73 we speak with Dan Haifley, an ocean activist who has spent decades working to protect California waters. Dan takes us through the amazing story of battling oil companies in the 1980's and 90's to block their offshore oil drilling north of Santa Barbara, CA. We hear of the grass roots activism Dan was involved in with Save Our Shores where he worked closely with NOAA and local government agencies to designate the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a 6,000+ square mile protected area along California's coast. Dan talks about his interaction with Jack O'Neill leading into development of the Sea Odyssey program to educate and inspire school children on the ocean. Dan shares a lot of great perspective on citizen involvement to protect the ocean, the challenges we face today around conservation, and the amazing people he's worked with over the years.
Thanks for sharing Dan's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of him on Facebook , Oneill Sea Odyssey, and Save Our Shores. You can also find good stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV Instagram and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean. 

Stoked Grom Stories: Perlyn Brothers - surfing, fishing, diving, running a company

In this episode of Stoked Grom Stories we talk with Ethan and Merritt Perlyn, two brothers enjoying their ocean lives in the waters around Miami, Florida. The boys take us through their recent adventures of surfing in Costa Rica, diving with sharks in the Bahamas, experiencing the icy waters of Northern California for the first time, and developing a deep connection with the ocean. We hear how Ethan and Merritt started their clothing and lifestyle company, CREPIC, after a great surf session that was both 'crazy' and 'epic' at the same time. They boys take us through the day to day of CREPIC and how they place strong focus on sustainability (no plastic packaging) and giving back to local non-profits (anti-bullying and Surfers for Autism). We also hear about prone paddling, shark tagging, and many more activities the boys enjoy in the water. Ethan and Merritt skillfully handle the highly anticipated grom lightening round of questions and leave us all with inspiration to do something good for the ocean.
Thanks for sharing Ethan and Merritt's ocean life with us. You can find pictures of them ripping on Instagram and more good stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV Instagram and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean.

Josh Smith - marine biology, kelp forest changes, scuba diving

In episode 72 we speak with Josh Smith, a marine biologist spending his time underwater in the kelp forests of California. Josh takes us through his research to understand the changes in kelp forests with a relatively recent explosion in sea urchin populations and the interactions of other animals like otters, abalone, and sea stars are involved. We hear about the day to day operations of doing research in the cold waters of Monterey Bay, the physical demands of daily scuba diving, and talk about how the loss of kelp forests and other changes to the ocean environment may be part of larger cycles that we humans just haven't been around long enough to understand yet. Josh also shares some neat perspective on the importance of mentors, both in the water and on land, to help us pursue our calling. If you want more on marine biology in California waters, see a related episode with Steve Lonhart.
Thanks for sharing Josh's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of him on Instagram, Facebook and website. You can also find good stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV Instagram and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean. 
 
 

Ginaia Kelly - ocean protection, volunteering, surfing

In Episode 71 we speak with Ginaia Kelly, a woman of the water who spends her days supporting ocean protection, volunteering to help those less fortunate, and pursuing her own passion in the water. Ginaia takes us through her work with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to raise awareness and support for ocean protection along the California coast. We hear of the dynamics behind supporting a designated marine sanctuary and the coordination role that Ginaia plays. Ginaia shares her stories of surfing in the waters of Santa Cruz, stand up paddleboarding with whales, and volunteering her time with Ride A Wave, getting disabled children into the surf, and volunteering with Operation Surf (getting veterans into the surf). Tons of great perspective on helping the ocean, helping others, and loving life in the water from Ginaia.
Thanks for sharing Ginaia's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of her on Facebook and Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation website. You can also find good stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV Instagram and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean.  Photos by Bob Island Kristin Heitzler.
 

Ryan Croteau - guiding surf trips, Guatemala, surfing Scandinavia

In Episode 70 we speak with Ryan Croteau, a former professional surfer and world traveler turned surf guide and instructor. Ryan takes us through his early surfing days in Florida, competing in local contests, and making a move with his family out to Southern California in his teens. Ryan takes us through his time and stories from surfing in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries as well as an epic road trip from the UK down into Portugal. Ryan shares a great story of finding his passion for teaching others how to surf and how he started his company, California Surf Experience, where he takes groups of new and experienced surfers on guided trips in his home waters of Southern California, Guatemala, and more. We also talk Jiu Jitsu, used surfboards, and general stoke for doing what we love in the ocean.
Thanks for sharing Ryan's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of him on Instagram and California Surf Experience website. You can also find good stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV Instagram and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean.

24 Hour Paddle Relay for Cancer -- Team Santa Cruz stories

In this episode we tell the story of Team Santa Cruz paddling in the Monster and Sea 24 Hour Paddle for cancer from April 2019. A team of 6 with many others paddle around the clock, relay-style, from 8 AM Saturday to 8 AM Sunday to raise funds for a local family challenged with cancer. This is a new podcast format where we mix narration with live recorded audio from the event -- hope you like it!
For more information on Monster and Sea 24 Hour Paddle for Cancer see https://monsterandsea.com/.

Sachi Cunningham -- big wave surfing photography, film making, gender equity on tour

In Episode 69 we speak with Sachi Cunningham, a legendary woman of the water who has been photographing the waves of Mavericks and other heavy breaks for close to 20 years. Sachi shares her stories of developing her strength swimming in the water as a youth then finding her passion for photography, surfing, and waves. We hear of Sachi's first day swimming and shooting at big Ocean Beach, her progression of capturing big wave photos from the water at both Mavericks and Jaws, and the big wave community she has been part of for so long. Sachi talks about her focus for helping women in professional big wave surfing reach gender equity on the world tour and her current project, She Change The Film, that documents the events and key figures in that awesome story. We also hear Sachi's physical and mental approach to swimming in big surf and introducing her young daughter to the ocean.
Thanks for sharing Sachi's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of her on Instagram and She Change The Film website. Please consider donating a few bucks to Sachi's She Change project to help raise awareness for gender equity in surfing and beyond. You can also find good stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV Instagram and Facebook pages. We are on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean. Photos by Maria Fernanda and Sarah Makarewicz.
This episode is sponsored by Shearwater Paddleboards, a family-owned company that hand-crafts prone paddle boards and surfboards in rugged Northern California. Now offering a line of open water GROM PADDLE BOARDS! If you want to be fast, smooth, and comfortable in the water check them out at www.ShearWaterPaddleboards.com