Water plays an important role in many religious practices and rituals; it’s used in baptism, birth and burial. For surfers, the ocean is more than just a physical pursuit. Waiting for the perfect wave, watching the ebb and flow of the water and experiencing sights and sounds is a relaxing, refreshing and a life-affirming experience. Do surfers have a unique relationship with God and with nature? Can the shaping and riding of surfboards provide meaning and healing after unspeakable tragedy? KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian is joined for the whole hour by avid surfer and former pastor Britt Merrick, who talks about how being in the ocean and his Christian beliefs are so interconnected.

The average person takes about 25,000 breaths a day but the majority of us give little thought as to how the air actually goes in or goes out of our lungs. What have we misunderstood about the breath and how can healthy breathing habits help both our physical and mental well being?