This Ocean Life Podcast

Anesti Vega -- scuba diver, citizen scientist, diving for veterans and the disabled

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.

Lachie Lansdown -- legend of the prone paddle board, world champion athlete

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 :)

Brooke Basse -- diver, spearo, captain, in the pursuit

** 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. 

CJ Hobgood -- professional surfing, movie making, family, life evolution

** 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.

Sam Clothier -- hike and spear, seafood foraging, Wet Mammal YouTube

** 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  
 
 

Vicky Durand -- Wave Woman the book, Waikiki surfing in the 1950s

** 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  

Dr Enric Sala -- National Geographic explorer, scientist, ocean protector, author

** 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  

Sean McClenahan -- towing Jaws on the skimboard, big waves and family dedication on Maui

** 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