Surf Splendor

Conversations and stories about surfing. www.SurfSplendorPodcast.com email: [email protected]

609 - Jason Murray 10/13/2026

609 - Jason Murray In today’s show Natural Selection Surf’s GM Jason Murray charts his unlikely rise to the photo editor desk at Surfer Magazine in an era where 10,000 slides would pass through monthly, the unknown charger who grabbed a board from a dumpster to nail a cover shot, why perseverance and work ethic can trump talent, the pleasure of discovering a unsurfed wave and the heartbreak of losing it to industrial development, and why a slow death of trad surf culture is giving way to a modern renaissance. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/43222803

608 - Steve Pezman 09/30/2026

608 - Steve Pezman Publisher Steve Pezman joins us to discuss his new book, how to succeed in print publishing in 2022, why modern surfing needs more counter-culture figures, lament the interviews that he still hasn’t gotten, and explain why Olympic surfing showcases a false representation of the sport. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/43090403

607 - Jon Rose 09/24/2026

607 - Jon Rose In today’s show Jon Rose reflects on his 15 years building Waves For Water and reveals the toll of the trauma absorbed from being a first-responding humanitarian worker in disaster zones, the breaking point that followed and how it led to the discovery of one childhood event that had unknowingly propelled his entire life’s trajectory, how being proficient and successful is an impediment for receiving help, the increasing value of ritual, and why the work he’s doing now is the hardest work he’s ever done. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/43021888

606 - Maurice Cole: Part Three 09/10/2026

606 - Maurice Cole: Part Three In today’s show Icons Of Foam honoree Maurice Cole gives us his “fossil update” on the past 6 years, explains which designs have remained cutting edge for 25 years, details the extremely different requirements when shaping for Curren vs Occy vs Margo vs Taj and which variables net the same end solution, explains the need for surfing to be feral again, why the pursuit for the magic board supersedes all other obligations, and calculates what radical honesty has cost him and the gifts it has returned. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42867045

605 - Jeannie Chesser 08/28/2026

605 - Jeannie Chesser In today’s show South Shore icon Jeannie Chesser reveals how her father’s boat racing savvy led to her competitive success, the power of love at first sight, how Bob Dylan launched her 53 year career as an artist, the perpetual gift that was Rell Sun, winning Hawaii State Champs alongside her son, why she attributes her resilience to early parental discipline, shares about Todd’s little known writing career, and how the solitude of surfing can deepen spirituality but community can be a salve when life seems senseless. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42591835

604 - Steve Hawk: Nearshore 08/18/2026

604 - Steve Hawk: Nearshore In today’s show, Nearshore author Steve Hawk explains why his Google search history might trigger the authorities, how he initially got into writing for the groupies, the challenges inherent in writing about the sublingual act of surfing, why villains deserve sympathy too, how he met his wife through Tom Waits, and why he wouldn’t be here today had it not been for a nuclear bomb. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42480910

603 - Tom Servais : Part Two 08/05/2026

603 - Tom Servais : Part Two In part two (of two) Tom Servais discusses the role that good luck played in his greatest images, the worthy risk of shooting from the left at Jaws, which person he’ll never ride a Jetski with again, why he’s chasing wind now more than waves, which surfer inspires his photography and lifestyle most, and why relationships are central to creating his most meaningful photos. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42331160

602 - Tom Servais : Part One 07/30/2026

602 - Tom Servais : Part One In today’s show surf photographer Tom Servais shares the stories behind some of the most iconic photos of the past 30 years, how he went from Miami to the dark room at Surfer Mag, whom he views as the greatest surf photographers, the sacrifices made to be on the perpetual “trip of a lifetime”, and reveals misnomers about his famed Curren cutback image. Part one of two! Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42268040

601 - Johanna Brebner 07/17/2026

601 - Johanna Brebner In today’s show surfer and novice cyclist Johanna Brebner discusses what prompted her to sojourn on a 3 month surf trip, bicycling from the bottom to the top of New Zealand, the clarity that comes from going slow, the benefits of a one board quiver, the empowerment that comes from setting unrealistic goals, and why you should be riding a surf mat. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42124080

600 - Ben Bourgeois 07/09/2026

600 - Ben Bourgeois In today’s episode, nomadic pro surfer Ben Bourgeois joins us to explain how to travel the world on a perpetual surf trip, the tension of showcasing your life on social media without exploiting the resource, how investing in inner-work is the only path to progressing your surfing through midlife, the freedom of purging material possessions, and how self-sufficiency has been his biggest asset but learning to rely on other has become life’s greatest unexpected gift. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42025810

599 - Troy Eckert 06/27/2026

599 - Troy Eckert Troy Eckert joins us to discuss his role is helping build a billion dollar surf brand and the consternation of walking away from it, why self turmoil leads to external turmoil, the importance of saying “no”, and how to get the best wave of your life after turning 50. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/42025870

598 - Dan Mann: Part Two 06/17/2026

598 - Dan Mann: Part Two In today’s show Dan Mann returns to discuss the introduction and evolution of his partnership with Firewire, how to navigate the world of internet trolls, the dividends paid in feedback from the greatest surfer of all time, what he would build for Ethan next, the misconceptions about overseas manufacturing, and why he’s obsessed with side-cut surfboards. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41681750

597 - Dan Mann: Part One 06/10/2026

597 - Dan Mann: Part One In today’s show board builder Dan Mann shares his very different experience with Stab In The Dark X than what we all viewed, whether he thinks Kelly knew, and details his multifaceted work history long before his association with Firewire, how Velzy and Eaton sparked his passion for alternative constructions, the tribulations and virtues of owning a glass shop, his tireless pursuit to extend the freshness of a new board, and the ineffable value embedded in a custom surfboard. Enjoy Part One of Two with Dan Mann. /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41605515

596 - Jeff Johnson: Part Two 05/31/2026

596 - Jeff Johnson: Part Two In Part Two, Jeff Johnson explains how he side-doored his way into becoming Patagonia’s first staff photographer, the toll of being sued by one of his surf idols, and he distills the value of being naive to your own limitations. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41481660

595 - Jeff Johnson: Part One 05/28/2026

595 - Jeff Johnson: Part One Adventurer Jeff Johnson joins us today to explain his path from ne’er-do-well skate teen to world class photographer; from stealing lumber to build skate ramps, to lifeguarding on the North Shore, to designing a professional life of world travel, Jeff explains how boredom is the key to unlocking your life’s passion. Part One of Two. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41455910

594 - Torren Martyn: Southern Edge 05/14/2026

594 - Torren Martyn: Southern Edge In today’s episode Torren Martyn returns to discuss leaving Byron to rebalance life, his latest sailing journey to circumnavigate Tasmania in an 18 foot kayak, staying true to a filmmaking focus despite market shifts, intentionally deflecting career opportunities in order to maintain a singular focus, and how seeking solitude can yield deeper community connections. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41295210

593 - Matt Titone: Surf Shacks 05/07/2026

593 - Matt Titone: Surf Shacks In today’s show designer Matt Titone discusses the inception point for Indoek and their Surf Shack’s series, relives the anxiety of not knowing how to pick a career, marvels at the enduring influence of print, explains how great home design has little correlation with money, reveals which surfers refuse to let him into their home, the frustration of working with surf brands, and why creative inspiration is an endless boom and bust cycle. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41205635

592 - Paul Strauch 04/29/2026

592 - Paul Strauch Paul Strauch passed away this past weekend, at peace, at home with loved ones, comfortable and with his beloved Hawaiian music playing by his bedside. His daughter Summer said, “I asked my dad recently what he would want to say to everyone when he stepped into eternal life. He smiled and said, ‘ALOHA’.” Today we’re sharing an interview with Paul, recorded in 2019, where he reflects on his early life in Hawaii discovering surfing, Duke Kahanamoku’s mentorship and influence in his life, lessons fr /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/41117030

591 - Eden Saul: Dead Kooks 04/09/2026

591 - Eden Saul: Dead Kooks In today’s show board builder Eden Saul explains his shifting manufacturing practices in response to erratic US tariffs, injury’s endless travails on a shaper’s livelihood, the blessed gift of finding a committed apprentice, the scary first step of scaling and delegation, how to create a brand aesthetic while still letting you lam team go nuts, and a patriotic fervor for the new crop of CT shredders. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40832240

590 - Rob Machado | The Surfrider Podcast 03/31/2026

590 - Rob Machado | The Surfrider Podcast Legendary pro surfer Rob Machado is widely regarded as one of the most influential and stylish surfers of all time. But Rob’s relationship with and impact on surfing and the ocean run much deeper than his professional career. /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40684530

589 - Gerry Lopez: PodAloha with Paul Strauch 03/31/2026

589 - Gerry Lopez: PodAloha with Paul Strauch Today’s episode features a conversation between Gerry Lopez and early Hawaiian surf pioneer Paul Strauch. Strauch thanks Lopez for preventing crowds at Sunset, discuss the virtues of surfing pre-leash, reflect on the deeply integrated influence of Duke’s spirit still in their lives and the special bond of communicating with him in native Hawaiian, growing up in Hawaii before statehood, surfing through the vast surfboard design evolution, and the essential role of mindfulness in the act of surfing. PodAl /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40682925

588 - Greg Noll: PodAloha with Paul Strauch 03/27/2026

588 - Greg Noll: PodAloha with Paul Strauch Today’s episode features a conversation between Greg Noll and early Hawaiian surf pioneer Paul Strauch. Noll and Strauch reflect on early lessons hard earned on North Shore in the 1960s, regale with stories of larger than life friends and waves, chart the path of how big wave surfing has developed from their early exploits, and recognize the tremendous gift that surfing was in their lives. PodAloha originally aired in 2019 and is being made available to you today through the Strauch family. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40643220

587 - Skip Frye: PodAloha with Paul Strauch 03/26/2026

587 - Skip Frye: PodAloha with Paul Strauch Today’s episode features a conversation between Skip Frye and early Hawaiian surf pioneer Paul Strauch. From Strauch, “Skip Frye is a legendary figure in the surfing world, renowned for his exceptional skills and significant contributions to surfboard design. With a career spanning several decades, Skip has been a key innovator, known for his work in shaping surfboards that have influenced modern surfing techniques and styles. His deep connection to the ocean and his expertise in big-wave surfing have e /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40643225

586 - Brenden "Margo" Margieson 02/26/2026

586 - Brenden "Margo" Margieson Genre defining pro freesurfer of the 90s, Margo, joins us to discuss ushering pro surfing from cottage to corporate, humility gleaned while working as a baggage handler, how a passion for bird watching led to his greatest work, and what sparked the revival in his surf career at age 50. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431285

585 - Roger Hinds 02/18/2026

585 - Roger Hinds In today’s show board builder Roger Hinds shares strategies to fend off the old man and continue surfing the North Shore into your 70s, offers a lesson in why original board building materials are still relevant and which modern fabrics offer advancement, reveals why the real threat to domestic board building may come from within, reflects on the reward of restoring historic boards, and explains how to improve your surfing by watching 50 year old surf films. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431300

584 - Bob McTavish: Part Three 02/05/2026

584 - Bob McTavish: Part Three In today’s show Bob McTavish attributes his biggest design epiphanies to the evolution of the surfboard fin, and each of those to a personal relationship that sparked his inspiration. He shares how Dave Rastovich altered his perception on hydrodynamics, reveals the unfathomable generosity of Bill Bahne, the ingenuity of Tom Morey and Carl Pope, explains how the Sydney ferry and Greenough’s tuna fishing’s influenced fin design, reflects on surfing Noosa before the streets were paved, preaches the supre /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431320

583 - Randy Hild: A Life Built On Boardshorts 01/21/2026

583 - Randy Hild: A Life Built On Boardshorts In today’s show surf biz stalwart Randy Hild details the various false starts at Roxy prior to the inception of their industry-disrupting female boardshort, the tension between scaling and brand authenticity, which parts of the Golden Era were fake and inflated, how a serendipitous Swap Meet discovery led to him becoming an inadvertent surf history archivist, and why 1953 Makaha would be his ultimate time travel destination. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431340

582 - Bob McTavish: Part Two 01/15/2026

582 - Bob McTavish: Part Two In today’s episode Bob McTavish explains how one of his most iconic designs came to him in a dream and Joey Cabell’s influence in it, he shares the inception of the swallowtail, his afternoon spent with Duke Kahanamoku, the epiphany he had at Rincon in 1967, why he renounced competition for a mortgage and children, climbing out of suffocating debt with an assist from the cast of Jackass, the board he most recently made for Kelly, and reveals the unsung surf heroes who most influenced his journey. Part T /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431365

581 - Bob McTavish: Part One 01/12/2026

581 - Bob McTavish: Part One In today’s episode Bob McTavish shares stories from surfing in an era prior to foam cores and surf wax, charts the path from dropping out of school to surf, to being homeless with only $10 to his name, to stowing away on a ship to Hawaii for the North Shore winter, the jail time that resulted, and he reveals the only two surfboards he’s ever purchased in his life. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431375

580 - Jeff Divine 12/24/2025

580 - Jeff Divine Surf photographer and photo editor Jeff Divine’s imagery has largely framed our perspective on North Shore surfing from the 70s and 80s. Today he shares stories from the era defining Expression Session in 1971, reveals that he didn’t befriend Gerry Lopez until a decade after they had helped build one another’s careers, he discusses how the inception of clothing brands altered surf mags editorial style, shares how to showcase personality through still imagery, the best photo he’s ever missed, and how /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431400

Surf Splendor

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