This Ocean Life Podcast

Heavy Water Stories -- storms, injuries, big waves, general gnarliness

Today we have a compilation of some of my favorite heavy water stories from past guests on the podcast. These stories include injuries at sea, insane storms and conditions, big waves and take place from the Bering Sea to Loch Ness, Mexico, and beyond. Each story is short, intense, and helps remind us of what the ocean can serve up when we’re least expecting it. I’d love to hear your suggestions for the next compilation of stories so please hit me up through social or email to josh@thisoceanlife.tv and let me know what you’d like to hear.
 
If you like what you hear today, or even if you don’t, take a minute and commit to removing one common type of plastic from your daily life. Starbucks straw, bottled water, plastic bags for your produce — there’s tons to choose from and our grandkids who love the ocean in the future will thank you for it. 
 
Guests featured in this episode:
Jeff Denholm, Episode 32
Maria Fernanda, Episode 101
Zach Wormhoudt, Episode 15
Nick Ayers, Episode 23
Sailing Catalpa, Episode 24
Chris Hearn, Episode 65
 
 

Adam Paskowitz -- legacy of nomadic family life, reality of plastics in the ocean

 **Interview Episode 103**
As a father, husband, surfer, licensed captain, and general man of the water, Adam has continued the legacy that his father, Doc Paskowitz, set forth some 30 years ago of living life on the road and the ocean, experiencing nature in all of its rawest forms. Whether crossing oceans or walking a beach, Adam and family focus strongly on plastic reduction, leading by their example of removing plastic and making good decisions on their daily use of it with the goal to inspire all of us to do our best to keep this pollution out of our natural world. Adam's stories of his family today at sea and on the road are fun and inspiring and tie back to his days growing up in the nomadic lifestyle that the Paskowitz family is so well known for. 
 
If you like what you hear today, take 2 minutes and commit to using 1 less piece of plastic in your daily life. Trust me, it’s not hard!!!
 
Thanks for sharing Adam's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram, his family YouTube channel, Paskowitz Foundation website, and SurfWise -- the Paskowitz Family documentary. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  
 
 
* Other pieces of our conversation *
Newborn son, Solomon, and remembering how to care of infants like riding a bike
Relative ease of land travel compared to life at sea
Teachings from Adam's father, Doc Paskowitz, that have stayed with him through today
Exploration on land and incredible natural beauty available to all of us, very similar to the ocean
The Paskowitz Foundation heritage
Adam's surfboard quiver today
Perspective on open ocean boat design and the next vessel Adam takes to sea
Perspective on global pollution, focusing on plastics, and the hope Adam has for humanity to solve the issue
 

Maria Fernanda -- big wave surf photography, fins and a camera

 ** Episode 101 **
Maria Fernanda swims with fins and a camera in waves that most of us won’t paddle out for. As a native of Mexico City, Maria found her love of the ocean through years of family trips to the coast to ultimately discovering natural strength in big surf. Tied to Maria’s passion for photography, this has led her on a journey to photograph some of the heaviest waves on the planet such as Nazare, Pipeline, Todos Santos, and her home break of Puerto Escondido. Along the way Maria has trained in big wave rescue, survived a broken leg in the water, built a global community of friends in the ocean, and continuously pushes her physical and mental limits swimming in heavy surf.
 
If you like what you hear today, go check out Save the Waves Coalition, at savethewaves.org, and learn about ways thay you can help protect sensitive surf breaks and preserve them for future generations. Thanks for caring about our ocean and thanks for being here today sharing in the ocean life of Maria Fernanda.
 
Thanks for sharing Maria's ocean life with us. Be sure to check her out on Instagram and her website. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  
 
* Other pieces of our conversation *
Recent (November 2019) swell at Nazare
Swimming and taking photos at legendary big wave breaks such as Jaws, Puerto Escondido, Pipeline, Todos Santos, Waimea Bay, Nazare.
First photo shoots and heavy waves on Kuaui
Mental and physical training for swimming in big waves
Growing up in Mexico City and finding her strength in the ocean through weekend trips to the coast with family
Having a mentor to teach her surf photography, starting with a disposable camera!
Perspective on the mainland Mexico big wave surf scene, and global big wave surf community
 

Scott Kennedy -- jack of many trades in the ocean

** Episode 102 ** Every now and then you meet someone who blows you away with their strength across multiple disciplines in the water. Scott Kennedy is one of those people. As a fisherman, surfer, diver, spear fisherman, boater, and more Scott takes us through his life growing up in Southern California, migrating to Northern California, learning his skills in the ocean the hard way - on his own, and finding great adventure and memories throughout. From hand-shaping surfboards to a love of body surfing, working in aquaculture and sustainable seafood consulting, Scott gives us a unique and humble perspective on the ocean we all love.
 
If you like what you hear today, take 5 minutes and visit FishWise.org or SeafoodWatch.org and read a few things about your favorite, tasty fish and educate on best purchasing practices for you and your family. Let’s use our wallets to let seafood companies know how important sustainable fish populations are to us all. Thanks for caring about the ocean and thanks for being here today sharing in the ocean life of Scott Kennedy.
 
Thanks for sharing Scott's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  
 
* Other pieces of our conversation *
Fishing for yellowfiin tuna on the Pacific Dawn charter boar
Scott's 16ft Radoncraft skiff (boat) he spent over 600 hours on -- adventure, fishing, more
Learning his way in the ocean around La Jolla, CA -- trial by fire
Hand-shaping over 60 surfboards to continually experiment with different styles of craft to ride waves on
Anticipation and excitement for his growing family and what it means to get his kids in the water
Recent surf trip to the Maldives
 

Zeb Walsh -- prone paddling Bass Straight, winning Molokai 2 Oahu, big wave rescue training

Episode 99!!
Zeb Walsh grew up in the waters of Southern Australia to become a world-class ocean athlete with a strong focus on long-distance and semi-crazy endurance events. Today Zeb shares his stories of winning the Molokai 2 Oahu paddle board race, paddling with friends across the Bass Strait to Tasmania, and hand-carving a dugout canoe for a 250km / 2 week paddle across the Torres Strait. Along the way we share a bunch of laughs while talking foiling, big wave rescue training, getting the groms out into the wild, and Zeb and me first meeting days before paddling M2O way back in 2011.
 
After you listen to Zeb here you’re gonna be fired up to get out in the water. Before you go though, decide on 1 way you will not use plastic today and then follow through on it. It’s pretty rad to do.
 
Thanks for sharing Zeb's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram and his rad documentaries on Red Bull. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  
 
 
 
More highlights of our conversation:
Wealth of local paddling legends, John Jacoby, inspiration to paddle hard
Physical and mental torture of paddling through the gnarly conditions of Bass Strait with heavy winds and currents for multiple days
Inspirations from legendary Australian prone paddlers like Jamie Mitchell, Mick Di Betta, and others
Prone racing for the local surf clubs then moving to years of racing Molokai 2 Oahu starting in 2011 and winning stock prone class in 2013
Going to California to win the Catalina Classic 
Importance of nutrition and hydration in endurance paddling events
Paddling a hand-made dugout canoe from Papua New Guinea across the Torres Strait with 3 other guys, camping and foraging for 15 days
So much more with this legend!

Greg Lewandowski -- boat captain, scuba instructor, freediver, fisherman

Born in Poland and raised in the cold ocean waters of Maine, Greg Lewandowski began scuba diving at age 9, running boats, and developing a strong love for being in the ocean at a young age. Today he takes us through his stories of living and working across the Caribbean, running scuba diving charters, fishing, and freediving on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, his artistic approach to photography, and memorable moments with whales, sharks, manta rays, monk seals, and much more. You can find Greg on Instagram by his handle @seafeverh2o. And we can all cut way down on our plastic usage to help protect the environment and some of our favorite ocean animals we hear about today.
More highlights of our conversation:
First experienced tropical water at age 15 in Honduras setting him on a path of travel throughout the Caribbean serving as scuba divemaster and instructor before landing on the south shore of Kauai where Greg lives today.
Shares perspective on the spirit of Kauai and the ability for the island to either accept or reject people who move there.
Greg talks about running scuba tours for Fathom Five Divers, the amazing diving in the water around Niihau and the animals found there.
Most memorable experience underwater floating eye-to-eye with a juvenile hump back whale in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Spending time in the water with Hawaiian Monk Seal, local sharks, mantas, spinner dolphins
Operating tour boats in the unpredictable waters of Kauai
Fishing for the pelagic game fish in the Hawaiian waters -- tunas, ono
Artistry that goes into making lures from scratch
Photography, favorite photo of a model on the beach just before a wave breaks around her
Evolution of freediving as another way to interact in the ocean
The abstract nature of bodybuilding relative to diving and being in the ocean (hint, wetsuits don't fit so well but you need less weight to dive :)
Thanks for sharing Greg's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram . You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  

James Casey - winning Molokai 2 Oahu, foiling, coaching, surfing

In episode 97, we hear the stories of professional athlete and man of the water, James Casey, who takes us down his path from a young grom taking his beatings in Hawaiian surf to the dominant standup paddle boarder he is today, winning the infamous Molokai 2 Oahu paddle race on his SUP in 2019. James’s stories and perspectives on his love for coaching and foiling, traveling the world, running camps in Thailand and the Maldives, and commitment to family are fun and inspirational. I was lucky enough to have time with James before he took off from his home in Sydney to fly out for the Red Bull Heavy Water event in San Francisco.
Highlights of our conversation:
M20 win in 2019, top 5 finishes years leading up in the standup paddleboard division
Working for months to perfect his SUP race boards for M2O with Sunova Surfboards
Great perspective on top competitors that James battles in paddle contests, including Connor Baxter, Michael Booth, Travis Grant
James has caught the foiling bug in a big way and is running foil training camps in Thailand
Growing up splitting time near Sydney and Maui -- right near world class downwind Maliko Run
How James's father inflluenced him in the water and set him up for today's success (best of wishes go out to James's dad battling health issues!!!)
Coaching others, how that started, where that is today, and how James loves doing it
Casey. -- the family business James operates with mom and sister at www.caseyaus.com
Thanks for sharing Jame's ocean life with us. Be sure to check him out on Instagram and dive into the Casey. website. You can also find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate  
 

Animal Stories — sharks, rays, and whales

In this episode I compile 5 of my favorite animal stories from past guests that range from the gnarly to the beautiful. We have Bobby Twitchell (episode 88), free diver and spear fisherman on Maui, Mike Bolton (episode 28) legendary conservationist and shark photographer, David Ochoa (episode 8) world famous spear fisherman, movie maker, and guide, Kyle Faust (episode 20) free diver, spear fisherman, and Stefano Ulivi (episode 54) scuba diver and tour guide in Pico Island of the Azores. These guys tell some amazing stories of interacting with sharks, manta rays, whales, and more.
 
None of us can imagine an ocean without these critters so let’s all do something to help them out like reducing your plastic usage and donating a few bucks to Oceana or other advocacy group. 
 
You can find fun stuff on the ThisOceanLife.TV website, Instagram, and Facebook, and Twitter. Host: Josh Pederson, @surfpaddletailgate