Designer and board builder Paul Schmidt joins us to discuss his unconventional entry into board building, failing forward, the loneliness and freedom of working outside of the "industry", his unexpected friendship with Pat Curren, and how to unlock robust productivity by simply charging adequately for your work. Enjoy!

Champion longboarder, designer, entrepreneur CJ Nelson joins us to discuss being a regrettable influence on youth, the perils and privilege of growing up in Santa Cruz in the 90s, how near homelessness helped him rediscover surfing, and the virtue inherent in suffering. Enjoy!

We just want to point your attention to another great podcast. If you like Surf Splendor, you'll love Surf Stories, produced by our friends at The Florida Surf Film Festival. Enjoy this episode and subscribe to "Surf Stories" wherever you're listening to this. "Ben Gravy has made a career out of quick surf trips and quick edits for a dedicated fan base. He is a traveler, always wearing a smile and spreading positivity and good humor to all fifty states. Join us for as we catch up with Ben on his way to the Florida Surf Film Festival, February 5, 2022, where we'll world premiere a documentary about his life."

World Champ surfer and Life Rolls On founder Jesse Billauer joins us to discuss the vital importance of physical touch, his streak of defying doctor's prognoses, how to cultivate resilience, and his life's mission to get people surfing regardless of their physical limitations. Enjoy!

Parker Coffin joins us to discuss metrics used to measure success for a modern professional free surfer, the moment he chose happiness over competition, why talent goes wayward without hard work, and how his passion for self improvement ensures that surfing never feels like work. Enjoy!

The Shaper Shack is a four part series featuring some of Australia’s finest surfboard shapers. From inventing the Thruster, to developing renewable materials, incorporating artificial intelligence into shaping, and scaling a global business, these shapers share their blueprint and speculate on the future. Today’s final episode of the series features Shyama Buttonshaw, Luke Daniels, Gunther Rohn, Stuart Campbell and his son Ryan. Enjoy!

The Shaper's Shack is a four part series featuring some of Australia’s finest surfboard shapers. From inventing the Thruster, to developing renewable materials, incorporating artificial intelligence into shaping,  and scaling a global business, these shapers share their blueprint and speculate on the future. Today’s episode features Darcy Day, Michael Psillakis, Alex Crews, and the father son team of Phil and Parrish Byrne. Enjoy!

The Shaper Shack is a four part series featuring some of Australia’s finest surfboard shapers. From inventing the Thruster, to developing renewable materials, incorporating artificial intelligence into shaping,  and scaling a global business, these shapers share their blueprint and speculate on the future. Today’s episode features Chris Garrett, Andrew Mooney, Bryan Bates, Dylan Perese, and Daniel Thomson. Enjoy!

Introducing The Shaper's Shack, a four part series featuring some of Australia’s finest surfboard shapers. From inventing the Thruster, to developing renewable materials, incorporating artificial intelligence into shaping, and scaling a global business, these shapers share their blueprint and speculate on the future. Today’s episode features Simon Anderson, Nick Blair, Sam Tehan, and Finn Whitla. Enjoy!

Donald Brink joins us to discuss the challenge of building a <5'3" surfboard for the 3x World Champ, the benefits and limitations of collaborating with one of the world's most revered shapers, the reason why he'll only ever build two boards a week, and why you should assess the auditory frequency and resonance of your next surfboard. Enjoy!

In today’s episode Darren Handley details his first encounters with Stephanie Gilmore and Mick Fanning, he explains the challenges of scaling his business internationally and why he’s chosen to outsource some of his manufacturing. He explains how a new shaping robot has improved his business and his five years plan to in introduce a motorized DHD into the Snapper Rocks line up. Enjoy!

Shannon Hughes joins us to discuss how philanthropic work at Jeffrey's Bay lead to her commentating for the WSL, how to compartmentalize on-air anxiety, the value of abandoning preparedness, and the fiscal and ethical imperative for professional surfing to reflect the way surfing exists in the real world. Enjoy!

Brad Gerlach joins us to discuss how Olympic diving informed his surf style, his realization that he has over-surfed nearly ever wave in his life, he explains the virus embedded within surfing's language, and offers compelling advice for why you should interview your dad. Enjoy!

Pro surf phoenix Victor Bernardo joins us to discuss the unexpected new chapter in his career, being deported and separated from his wife for five months, a sponsor dropping him and then pleading mea culpa, whether style can be learned, and how slowing down has allowed him the focus to execute his goals. Enjoy!

Laurie Towner is a product of, victim of, and again beneficiary of the surf industry boom and bust. Today he tells us about the early glory days, the virtue of working in the trades, and how those experiences positioned him perfectly to spend a year on the road with the wife and kids chasing surf, fish, and exploring the vast Australian wilderness.

The Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker joins us to discuss his new memoir, the 50th anniversary of his seminal surf film, working with Stanley Kubrick, nearly dying at Sunset while filming Big Wednesday, and the immeasurable dividends paid when you pursue your life's passion. Enjoy!

Surf industry stalwart Dario Phillips joins us to discuss lessons learned from within big surf brands during the boom years, how to bootstrap a concept into a reality, the power of partnership, why lean is strong, and how encouraging work/life balanced life fuels productivity. Enjoy!

Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Chris Shiflett joins us to discuss whether music can be objectively bad, why you ought never foist your preferences on your children, how surf videos of the early 90s led to his role with The Foo Fighters, and how family life has kept him grounded amidst the centrifuge of rock star vice.

The story of Gordon and Smith surfboard closely mirrors the story of surfing in Southern California. The brand is credited with introducing the first surf logo tee, the first shaping machine, the first surf skateboard, and much more. Today Debbie Gordon reflects on the six decade journey and explains why focusing on quality surfboards is now as important as ever. Enjoy!

Jeff & Ryan Hurley join us to discuss sharing their childhood bedroom with Occy and Sunny, lessons learned from their father's big gamble, the art of a well-executed exit, the importance of aligning one's work and value system, and how a brand can make an impact in the world. Enjoy!

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!

Sterling Spencer returns to discuss the dark repercussions of his brain injury, his path through recovery, how his audience has given him purpose, the importance of kindness, the kindness of Machado, and as cliche as it sounds, the healing powers of the sea. Enjoy!

Dane Hantz returns to discuss withdrawing Vulcan Surfboards from the market, how the shaping machine is enabling an authoritative archiving of surfboard history, the disconnect between the surf industry and surf culture, and how one physical altercation in the water has kept his dry docked for the past two years. Enjoy!

Dick Metz returns to discuss a new documentary featuring his return to South Africa to relive and revisit the journey that inspired The Endless Summer. He also recounts his role in the early days of Clark Foam, working with a young Gerry Lopez, his relationship with Duke, and how he came to acquire the unequivocal greatest collection of surfboards in the world. Enjoy!

Sasha Jane Lowerson made international news last month for winning Women's Longboard Title's in West Oz, not for the feat itself, but for the fact that she had been competing for the previous three decades in the men's divisions. Today she share's her thoughts on the Internet's fervent response to her wins, she addresses questions of fairness, and details the cost of suppressing one's true self. Enjoy!