Surf Splendor

Conversations and stories about surfing. www.SurfSplendorPodcast.com email: hello@surfsplendorpodcast.com

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

579 - Max Stewart: Eye Symmetry Surfboards 12/16/2025

579 - Max Stewart: Eye Symmetry Surfboards In today’s show board builder Max Stewart explains the inverse relationship between product quality and business growth, tales from early days at Hayden Shapes, how Tom Carroll has informed how he takes custom orders and why he factors your personality into the order card. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431430

578 - Matt Warshaw 12/12/2025

578 - Matt Warshaw In today’s episode the Encyclopedia of Surfing’s Matt Warshaw discusses the risks of having surf history chronicled by a single man, who’s gotten short shrift on the EOS, how much and how little has changed in surf culture since the first magazine, an examination of pioneering female surf photographers, the first surfer to go at Backdoor, and why he got screamed at (and run over) on his most recent surf trip. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431450

577 - Jordan Rodin 11/30/2025

577 - Jordan Rodin In today’s episode Jordan Rodin joins us to chat about life lessons and hazing gleaned from Derek Hynd, make a case for heavier surfboards, explain his 5 year hiatus from getting barreled, why you should be stripping down used boards and reshaping them, what famous sculptors of centuries past can teach us about surfing, why sometimes the smallest movements can translate to the biggest things. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431510

576 - John Philbin 11/29/2025

576 - John Philbin In today’s show actor John Philbin recounts his life as an escape artist, shares dangers of achieving one’s life goals, the false paradigm of self-confidence, why he is not a good actor, how to reform a bitter and angry disposition, and why he doesn’t trust anyone who isn’t a hypocrite. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431540

575 - Kyle Thiermann 11/18/2025

575 - Kyle Thiermann In today’s show Kyle Thiermann shares the near death experience that altered his life’s perspective, explains the creative fertility nested in boredom, shares how his relationship with psychedelics has changed after nearly a decade of experimentation, reflects on the moment he learned you don’t need to master your hobbies, and discusses his desire to maintain strong relationships with his parents despite developing radically different ideologies and how that inspired his first book, “One Last Questi /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431570

574 - Paul Naude: The State Of The Industry 10/30/2025

574 - Paul Naude: The State Of The Industry In today’s show Vissla CEO Paul Naude joins us to discuss how the consolidation of major surf brands is affecting surf culture, how the licensing operational model can threaten retailer’s long term viability, why now is a fertile opportunity for growth for independent brands and retail, and why the consumer wields influence through the power of their purchasing. Recorded live at the SIMA SUPER SUMMIT at the Rivian Theatre on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431605

573 - Rodolfo Klima 10/10/2025

573 - Rodolfo Klima In today’s show early Peruvian shaping pioneer Rodolfo Klima joins us to discuss Peru as the inception place of surfing and it’s integral role in early surf competitions, learning how to shape by instinct alone, Gordon Clark's unknown factory in Peru, the challenge of building a business in an unstable economy and democracy, why Peru may generate the next disruptive crop of pros, and his opportunity to compete in the Icons of Foam shaping competition. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431645

572 - Barry Vandermeulen 10/10/2025

572 - Barry Vandermeulen In today’s show South African pro surfer turned shaper Barry Vandermeulen joins to share stories of early life in the remote but influential Bay of Plenty, his tutelage from Spider to Spyder, Matt Biolos’s springboard into his eponymous label, how to run a business without a website, why he doesn’t put his name on his surfboards, and his opportunity to compete in the Icons of Foam shaping competition. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431675

571 - Thomas Campbell 10/02/2025

571 - Thomas Campbell In today’s show Thomas Campbell unpacks the 10 year process of making YI-WO, analyzes the value and the cost of asking an audience to be present, shares the experience in Morocco wherein he was dead broke that spring-boarded his painting career, explains how a short skate film for Supreme led him to surf filmmaking, and grapples with the challenge of showcasing the depth of the surf experience through film. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431700

570 - Eric Arakawa 09/30/2025

570 - Eric Arakawa In today’s show North Shore icon Eric Arakawa shares insights from 51 years of surfboard shaping, explains the invention of the Nose Guard, why it’s essential to use money and love people but most people do the opposite, how to leverage burnout to fuel inspiration, recounts the chance encounter with one enigmatic shaper that changed both their lives, and explains the succession plan for Arakawa Surfboards that will allow him to utilize the next decade to invest in people. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431735

569 - Makua Rothman 09/13/2025

569 - Makua Rothman In today’s episode Makua Rothman discusses surfing Waimea at age 8, his maternal lineage to King Kamehameha, songwriting as a catharsis to process childhood trauma, how his World Title count was limited by his addition, the freedom in relinquishing the weight of expectation, and how society’s modern embrace of vulnerability can open pathways of communication with old-school parents. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431755

568 - Joey Cabell 09/01/2025

568 - Joey Cabell In today’s episode early surf icon Joey Cabell talks through transitioning from solid redwood boards (which he purchased from his shoeshine earnings) through Balsa to being the first Polyurethane foam board tester for Clark & Hobie, he share stories of being on the Duke Kahanamoku Surf Team, training for winter Hanalei by swimming the Nā Pali coast with Mike Doyle, winning the Duke and Peru International multiple times, founding The Chart House in Aspen in 1962, setting a record sailing from Hawaii to Pa /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431790

567 - Tom Carroll 08/18/2025

567 - Tom Carroll In today’s show Tom Carroll reveals a little known spite that fueled his competitive drive since adolescence, how he’s learned to create a gap between thought and action, why success is intrinsically tied to interpersonal relationships, the immeasurable benefit of doing nothing, and how listening is one of life’s under appreciated superpowers. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431840

566 - Nathan Hedge 08/12/2025

566 - Nathan Hedge In today’s show Nathan Hedge shares tales from joining his heroes at age 13 on The Search for a month in Indo, Derek Hynd’s highly unusual (and effective) methods to prepare him for life on Tour, how the freedom of a nomadic life distanced him from his self-interest, the moment in Mundaka that triggered a new life trajectory, and why focusing on serving others allows one be kinder to one’s self. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431880

565 - Steve Hawk 08/01/2025

565 - Steve Hawk In today’s show Steve Hawk shares lessons gleaned from the world’s sweetest mom, explains why justified resentment may be the root of all evil, notes that the past is constantly in the process of being redefined by the future, reminds us to show don’t tell, and he checks in on a prediction piece he wrote about his future self 25 years ago. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431905

564 - Dick Metz & Richard Yelland: Birth Of The Endless Summer 07/29/2025

564 - Dick Metz & Richard Yelland: Birth Of The Endless Summer Dick Metz is back to discuss the documentary, now streaming, that chronicles his early world travel and the near death experience that was the impetus for the three year sojourn. He recounts early days in Malibu with Matt Kivlin and Nick Gabaldon, why Hobie Alter is the Thomas Edison of surfing, the undertold story of the original Mr Pipeline, his role in the wild Murf The Surf diamond heist and following FBI saga, and how investing into friendships has been the recipe to not only his success but also happi /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431945

563 - Sean Davey 07/18/2025

563 - Sean Davey In today’s show, surf photography great Sean Davey shares how his first memory of the ocean was of his mother in the tube, his favorite photo he’s ever taken, the legacy of Lane and her imprint of kindness, and how he’s been able to maintain passion and creativity to further develop the craft he discovered in adolescence. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431970

562 - Davey Smith 07/01/2025

562 - Davey Smith In today’s show, aerial and floater pioneer Davey Smith reflects on Greenough’s early influence, how selling ice cream help fund his pro surf career, Russell Short’s hypnotic tube prowess, introducing Channel Islands to the North Shore, how shaping informed his surfing, and the value of taking time away from surfing. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40431985

561 - Justin Quintal & Ricky Carroll 06/19/2025

561 - Justin Quintal & Ricky Carroll In today’s show Hall of Famer Ricky Carroll talks about getting punched out in Hawaii, posing as a kneeboarder to make it to the World Championships, being the now longest running surfboard shaper in Florida. And Justin Quintal talks us through 11 Duct Tape wins, 5 US Opens, 1 World Title, and explains why partying late suits the longboard contest format and why his world record Grouper was also the best tasting fish in the world. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40432020

560 - Cam and Kelly Richards 06/17/2025

560 - Cam and Kelly Richards In today’s show Kelly Richards talks about leaving Arkansas at age 13 to chase surf in South Carolina, the rare opportunity to own a historically persevered 50 year old surf shop, raising a surf prodigy in Cam, and explains how Jamie Foxx helped launch his career, his Wave Of The Winter at Pipe, and the expected gift of finding a long lost sibling. Live from Charleston! Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40432065

559 - Chris Thomson: Wavelength Magazine 06/10/2025

559 - Chris Thomson: Wavelength Magazine In today’s show magazine publisher Chris Thomson discusses the value of taking time away from surfing, the enduring importance of community events, how to grow a UK surf brand to access a global audience, and how rethinking the magazine model can preserve the legacy of print. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40432110

558 - Shaun Tomson 05/28/2025

558 - Shaun Tomson In today’s show 1977 World Champ Shaun Tomson explains the source of his resilience, how he improved his surfing up until age 63, why connectivity will cure the plague of modern society, how attitude is your fundamental choice in life, and how surfing breeds hope and purpose. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40432175

557 - Patti Paniccia 05/22/2025

557 - Patti Paniccia In today’s episode pioneering pro surfer Patti Paniccia reveals which brand suggested “going on a date” as a prize for a surf contest, why she turned down a job with the FBI, how she won a seven-figure lawsuit against CNN and got them to change discriminatory practices, and why a women’s champ wasn’t crowned on the first world Tour. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40432200

556 - Garrett & Nicole McNamara: 100 Foot Wave 05/15/2025

556 - Garrett & Nicole McNamara: 100 Foot Wave In today’s episode Garrett and Nicole McNamara share their how their lives have transformed since 100 Foot Wave, the opportunities they’ve declined, the very real power of pheromones, how opting not to work with surf brands has benefited his career, and producer Joe Lewis details how he’s converted the mainstream into surf fans. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/16bc6f0b-eb46-49ea-af3c-c03cdf08ec8d/id/40432245

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