This week on The Temple of Surf Podcast, we welcome a guest whose life and mission revolve around one of the ocean’s most fascinating yet misunderstood creatures: the shark.

Our guest is Madison Stewart, known worldwide as Shark Girl, a fearless advocate, filmmaker, and diver who has spent most of her life swimming with sharks and fighting for their survival. But in this conversation, we explore something very close to the heart of our listeners: the unique, complex, and often misunderstood relationship between sharks and surfers.

For decades, sharks have been portrayed as villains in surf culture, symbols of fear lurking beneath the waves. 

Yet as Madison explains, surfers and sharks share far more in common than we might imagine. Both are intimately connected to the rhythm of the ocean. Both rely on healthy marine ecosystems. And both are vulnerable, surfers to the changing climate and coastlines, sharks to overfishing and human misunderstanding. Madison’s own journey began in her childhood on Australia’s Gold Coast. By the time most kids were learning to swim, she was diving alongside sharks. What struck her wasn’t terror, but awe: a recognition of their intelligence, beauty, and essential role in the ocean’s balance.

When she saw firsthand the destruction of shark populations due to industrial fishing and the global fin trade, she dedicated herself to telling their story. Her documentaries, campaigns, and fearless underwater encounters have made her a powerful voice for conservation. In our discussion, Madison brings that perspective directly to the surfing world.

She challenges us, as surfers, to move beyond fear and embrace understanding. Sharks are not “the enemy”, they are guardians of the sea, keeping ecosystems balanced in ways that directly affect the waves we ride and the beaches we love.

Without sharks, reefs collapse, fish populations decline, and the entire ocean suffers. And when the ocean suffers, surfers do too.

We dive into myths versus reality: how often do shark encounters with surfers actually occur? What drives those rare events? And most importantly, how can surfers become allies in protecting sharks rather than fearing them?

Madison’s insights are both eye-opening and deeply inspiring, reminding us that coexistence is not only possible but essential. Beyond the science and advocacy, this episode is also about respect, the respect surfers owe to the creatures who have called the ocean home for millions of years. By shifting our perspective, we not only protect sharks, we protect the future of surfing itself. 

Madison Stewart is living proof that one person’s passion can ripple outward to change perceptions, influence policy, and inspire others to act. Her voice bridges the gap between two worlds often seen in conflict: the world of the surfer and the world of the shark.

So join us for this powerful conversation as we explore the shared destiny of sharks and surfers and discover why protecting them is, in the end, protecting ourselves.