Surf Splendor

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

Sports
1
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!
96 min
2
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!
87 min
3
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!
60 min
4
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!
115 min
5
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!
122 min
6
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!
81 min
7
555 - Landon McNamara
In today’s show musician and surfer Landon McNamara recounts his historic Eddie win, how injury and destitution positioned him for that final wave, divine orchestration, the unassailable spirituality of Waimea, and why music is auditory reflection of the surf experience. Enjoy!
77 min
8
554 - Lane Davey: Rip In Peace
On April 26, 2025 Lane Davey passed away after a battle with cancer. To celebrate her remarkable life, we’re sharing this conversation that original aired in 2022. The Pipeline stalwart, B-Girl, and college professor discussed braving Pipe in the early 90s, creating the first female boardshort, the importance of a meritocratic hierarchy, the repercussions of willful ignorance, and how HipHop has informed her entire approach to surfing, education, and life. Rip in Peace, Lane!
93 min
9
553 - Nick Carroll and Hannah Anderson
In today’s show Nick and Hannah share tales from a world where everyone surfs, redefine our perception of “core”, find vitality from VALS, attempt to fill the void of women in surf media, and survey data that shows how drastically surf culture has shifted. Enjoy!
77 min
10
552 - Sam George
In today’s show surf media raconteur Sam George explains how a nomadic childhood fostered his spirit of resilience, the “terrible” mistake that led to him leaving Surfer Magazine, why being lost in Casablanca formed his wayfaring lifestyle, the gift to a teenaged Josh Brolin paid dividends decades later, and he reflects on the 695 different locations he has surfed. Enjoy!
105 min
11
Kai Lenny on The Plug w/Justin Jay
Today Justin Jay chats with professional big-wave surfer and one of the most respected watermen on the planet, Kai Lenny. He’s mastered stand-up paddling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and foiling—pushing the limits of what’s possible on waves of consequence. The two discuss his relationship with Zuck, his relief efforts after the Maui fires, building a multi-disciplinary career, and staying grounded through it all. Enjoy The Plug with Justin Jay on all podcast platforms.
60 min
12
551 - Jason Borte
In today’s show former pro surfer turned writer Jason Borte shares stories from writing Kelly Slater’s autobiography, offers insights into Pharrell’s new wave pool, recalls riding the dot com boom and bust in surf, gives tips to artfully time an exit, and reveals why Virginia is for lovers. Enjoy!
93 min
13
550 - William "Stretch" Riedel
In today’s show inventive surfboard shaper Bill “Stretch” Riedel five decades of keystone moments in design revolution, breaking his neck and becoming patient one for a radical life saving procedure, how success can bankrupt a business, and why nostalgia and ego are the antithesis of progression. Enjoy!
69 min
14
549 - Nathan Oldfield
In today’s episode filmmaker Nathan Oldfield shares why he doesn’t watch his own films, how staying attuned to one’s self requires active work, why melancholy is fuel, silliness is sacred, and how connecting to personal grief has deepened his work as a high-school teacher. Enjoy!
103 min
15
548 - Gary Larson: Hobie Surfboards
In today’s show shaper and college professor Gary Larson reveals who he believes is the greatest shaper of all time, the design feature that defines a great surfboard, how looking back provides direction for innovation, and discusses the weight of stewarding a 75 year shaping legacy. Enjoy!
87 min
16
547 - Logan Dulien
In today’s show Snapt filmmaker Logan Dulien shares the details of how he spearheaded the effort to take down the crime syndicate who was targeting SoCal surfers, reveals the wild earnings from his heyday as a tour manager, and discusses the importance of curating a surf film in the modern era of immediacy. Enjoy!
133 min
17
546 - Claudia Lebenthal: Surfer Stories
In today’s episode Conde Nast’s former visual editor shares how an early experience caddying for Lisa Anderson sparked a career change, a passion to share the transformative experience of surfing with non-surfers, lessons gleaned from twelve writers about twelve iconic surfers, and how time spent in the ocean might be key to whole body restoration. Enjoy!
70 min
18
545 - LIVE! Rusty, Taylor Knox, Jojo Roper at T...
In today’s show Rusty shares the flashpoints in his career that defined this shaping. Taylor Knox reveals Rusty’s role in his interest in surfing and later in his wild success on the rail. And Jojo Roper recounts his history run from Peahi, to The Eddie, to Maverick’s and how none of it would have been possible with Rusty. Live from The Belly Up, it’s Talk Story with Rusty and his tribe. Enjoy!
103 min
19
544 - Kolohe Andino
In today’s show Kolohe Andino chats about the weight of expectation, why satisfaction can threaten ambition, how having children highlights the absurdity of professional surf pursuits, his idea for a restructured Tour, and why groms will always be the fertile core of surfing’s soul. Enjoy!
79 min
20
543 - Alo Slebir
In today’s show, the 23 year old who just rode a potential record-breaker at Maverick's talks us through the wave itself, the prep, the media maelstrom that followed, the unique board that Stretch built for him, how 100’ surf is only accessible via a team of people, and why he didn’t celebrate the historic ride. Enjoy!
67 min
21
542 - Occy & Gerr
Today’s episode is hosted by Brad Gerlach with Occy as a guest! Recorded at Niyama Resort in the Maldives, Brad and Occy analyze Occy’s technique to provide basic truths about head and hand placement and body positioning to unlock your next level of surfing. Enjoy!
43 min
22
541 - Rusty Preisendorfer
In today’s show San Diego’s surfboard and surfwear icon Rusty joins us to explain how his MIT mathematician father’s missive to follow his passion led him to art school and then to surfboards, learning how to push past moments of self-doubt, the secret unlock to Occy’s ’84 Thruster, the perils of licensing deals, and why some of the best design developments come from mistakes. Enjoy!
122 min
23
540 - Matt Warshaw: Round Six
In today’s show surfing’s foremost historian reveals the pro surfer who saved his life at age 12, the gift of finding 50 year old surf footage from his youth, the unsung heroes lost to surf history, how history is shaped by those who elect to share it, and why is more important than ever to cement archiving surf history.
105 min
24
539 - Holly Beck
In today’s episode Holly Beck recounts her rapid rise into professional surfing and disillusionment, becoming an inadvertent model, expatriate freedoms, the fallacy of reality TV, and the holistic healing inherent to surfing. Enjoy!
105 min
25
538 - Liam McNamara
Pipeline aficionado Liam McNamara joins us to discuss how growing up in a commune on welfare informed his approach to surfing on the North Shore, the single financial decision that salvaged his career earnings, how shepherding Hawaii’s youth rectifies past misdeeds, and why his last session at Pipe was nearly his last day on earth. Enjoy!
112 min