135: From Presidential Speechwriter to Surfer – David Litt
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Release Date: 02/24/2026
135: From Presidential Speechwriter to Surfer – David Litt
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
What happens when a former White House speechwriter, who’s written for presidents and packed auditoriums, decides to humble himself in a cold New Jersey lineup at 35? David Litt isn’t your typical surf author. He joined the Obama White House at just 24 and became one of the youngest senior presidential speechwriters in history, crafting remarks on healthcare, climate change, and even comedy for the Correspondents’ Dinner. After publishing Thanks, Obama and Democracy in One Book or Less, he turned his attention to something far less controllable than politics: surfing. In this episode,...
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134 You’re NOT Too Old for Surfing: How Aging Can Actually Improve Your Surfing
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Are You Really Too Old to Surf - Or Just Believing the Lie? Feeling slower in the water, stiffer in the joints, or unsure if you’ve aged out of the sport you love? What if it’s not your body that’s holding you back, but your mindset? Surfing is often seen as a young person’s sport, but that belief is costing older surfers joy, progress, and freedom. If you’ve ever felt like your best surfing days are behind you, this episode shows that they might actually still be ahead. Backed by neuroscience and real-world examples, this conversation reframes what’s truly possible in your surfing...
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133 Why Good Surfers Think Like Stoics, and How Stoic Philosophy Can Make You a Better Surfer
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
What if mastering the waves has less to do with technique, and more to do with ancient philosophy? Whether you're paddling out for the first time or carving your hundredth wave, frustration, fear, and unpredictability are always part of the ride. In this episode, host Michael Frampton explores how stoic philosophy offers timeless wisdom that every surfer, beginner or seasoned, can use to improve not only their performance, but their overall surfing life. Discover how living “in agreement with nature” is the foundation of both surfing and stoicism, and why resisting the ocean never works....
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132 The Only Way to Get Better at Surfing: Obsess Over It
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Are you ready to transform your surfing in 2026 by going all in - completely obsessed, fully immersed, and totally committed? This is the ONLY way to truly improve. If you're feeling stuck in your surf progression or yearning to break through to the next level, this solo episode with host Michael Frampton dives deep into the one mindset shift that separates average surfers from true masters. It’s not just about passion, it’s about short-term obsession to create long-term transformation. Learn why a temporary period of full-blown surfing obsession could be the key to lasting surf...
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131 Why You’re Missing Waves (and What the Pros See That You Don’t)
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Are you truly reading the wave, or just watching water move? Discover how paying attention to the ocean’s smallest details could completely transform your surfing. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your surf progression, unsure why better technique isn’t getting better results, this episode is your wake-up call. It’s not just about turning sharper or paddling harder, it’s about changing how you see the ocean. Whether you’re an intermediate surfer or decades in, understanding how to focus and read the wave can be the game-changer you’ve been missing. Learn how world-class...
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130 How Details Transform Surfing, Self-Talk & Relationships with Kyle Thiermann
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
What if the key to mastering any craft - surfing, storytelling, relationships, or even table tennis - lies in simply slowing down and noticing the smallest details? In a fast-paced world that often rewards intensity and output, we easily overlook the quiet power of presence and reflection. Whether you're navigating the chaos of Mavericks or confronting inner narratives, this episode reveals how attention to detail can reshape not just your performance, but your perspective on life itself. Discover why focusing on one small detail - like the placement of your back foot - can dramatically...
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129 Lineup Strategy, Surfing Technique and Reading the Ocean with Surf Coach Matt Scorringe
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
What if the key to unlocking your best surfing isn’t how you ride a wave - but how you read the ocean before you even paddle for it? Whether you're a seasoned surfer or just stepping up to steeper waves, too many of us overlook the 99% of surfing that happens off the board. In this eye-opening episode, elite surf coach Matt Scorringe shares why ocean knowledge - not tricks or turns - is the hidden edge that separates good surfers from great ones. If you’ve ever felt lost in the lineup, struggled with wave selection, or wondered how top surfers always seem to be in the right spot, this...
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128 Surfing Etiquette and the Evolution of Surf Culture with Holly Beck
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Is the surfer catching the most waves always the best surfer in the lineup - or just the loudest? Surfing is more crowded than ever, and the line between etiquette and entitlement in the lineup is getting blurry. Whether you're new to surfing or a seasoned local, understanding the evolving ethics of surf culture can make or break your session - and everyone else’s. Hear Holly Beck share how her transformation from competitive surfer to retreat leader changed her perspective on surf etiquette. Learn why the unspoken “rules” of the lineup are more complex than just "who's deepest," and...
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127 See Feel Do - The 3 Pillars of Good Surfing - (Best of Episode)
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Are you truly seeing the wave - or are you missing the subtle signals that could transform your surfing forever? Many surfers hit a performance plateau because they focus only on big maneuvers and ignore the foundational skills that unlock flow, control, and wave mastery. In this “Best of” episode, discover the overlooked mental and physical shifts that elite surfers use to elevate their performance - without needing better waves or a new board. Learn how to “read” the ocean and see opportunities in every wave, just like world champion Tom Carroll. Discover why the best...
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126 Why Paddling is 90% of Surfing - And How to Master It with Rob Case
Surf Mastery - Surfing Tips and Wisdom for Lifelong Surfers
Are you wasting energy every time you paddle out - and missing waves because of it? Most surfers spend 99% of their time in the water not actually riding waves. They're paddling, positioning, sitting, or struggling to get back out - and often doing it inefficiently. If you're tired of burning out in the lineup and still not catching the waves you want, this episode is for you. Discover the three most common ways surfers waste energy - and how to fix them to catch more waves with less effort. Learn why your pop-up is the most important move in surfing - and how improving it could...
info_outlineWhat happens when a former White House speechwriter, who’s written for presidents and packed auditoriums, decides to humble himself in a cold New Jersey lineup at 35?
David Litt isn’t your typical surf author. He joined the Obama White House at just 24 and became one of the youngest senior presidential speechwriters in history, crafting remarks on healthcare, climate change, and even comedy for the Correspondents’ Dinner. After publishing Thanks, Obama and Democracy in One Book or Less, he turned his attention to something far less controllable than politics: surfing.
In this episode, David brings a writer’s precision to the chaos of learning to surf as an adult, articulating the fear of hold-downs, the shame of kook moments, the obsession with progression, and the addictive pull of those brief, otherworldly flashes of flow. It’s a refreshing take for surfers: not from a prodigy, not from a lifelong local, but from someone who can actually put words to what most of us only feel.
3 benefits you’ll gain
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A deeper understanding of why surfing feels “more than a sport,” and how chasing flow reshapes your mindset in and out of the water.
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Practical perspective on fear, embarrassment, and adult progression, especially if you didn’t grow up in the ocean.
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A renewed appreciation for the lineup as neutral ground, where politics, profession, and identity fall away, and only waves (and humility) matter.
Hit play for a thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly relatable conversation that will leave you seeing your own surfing journey, and your next paddle out, in a whole new light.
https://www.davidlittbooks.com
Barrel Mastery Academy: https://surfmastery.com/barrel-mastery-academy
The Surf Mastery Podcast:
For the passionate surfer - whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer - this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we’ll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we’re here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more - so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced