Offshore Insights Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with world-renowned pioneer climber, big wave surfer, and all-around thrill seeker Randy Leavitt to discuss following life passions, insights from near-death experiences and finding vitality through a lifetime of play. Drop-in, tune-up and enjoy the ride!

In todays episode I catch up with an old friend of mine, Zach Plopper. Born and raised in Southern California Zack has spent his life enjoying the pleasure of riding ocean waves all around the world. As s surfer, he has competed globally at the professional level and has written for publications such as Transworld, Slide, Surfers Path, and others.

This life spent immersed in the elements led to a natural gravitation towards other ways to celebrate and protect the environments he loved so dearly. To begin he earn a B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning from the UCSD and later an M.A. in Urban Planning from the UCLA.

By a twist of fait, Zack wound up sharing a surf session with the founder of a young but prominent local non-profit Wildcoast. In 2008 Zack joined the Wildcoast team as the Wildlands Conservation Program Manager, helping them to conserve over 50,000 acres of and 35 miles of coastline||| on Baja California's Valle de los Cirios Pacific Coast. In 2012 he began to serve as Conservation Director, becoming instrumental in improving the management and implementation of California's 545,280-acre Marine Protected Area Network as he continues to support coastal and marine conservation efforts in the Mexican Pacific as well.

In our discussion we cover a wide range of conservation and environmental topics that Wildcoast works to address and we take a dig into the psychological soil of our culture and collective humanity, where there resides an unsettling amount of questions and concerns about the future of our planet and our role as a species within it. I’m not gonna lie, there are certainly moments within the episode and aspects of this subject matter that are grim and can leave one feeling disturbed and uncertain about our future to say the least. But that being said, even as a self-described optimistic-realist, on a good day, I was still able to find some seeds of optimism and glistening of positive light at the end of the tunnel by the time we finished, so don’t give up faith too soon! Zack and I gathered for this discussion in part because we could all use an honest, clear minded look at the realities of what’s going on in global environments. Additionally, I believe it is imperative that we learn to sit openly with the discomfort that facts and truths expose us to, and really examine our connected nature with the global communities and species of our planet. This is spaceship Earth, so what role do we want to play, how we will participate and what can we contribute, while still finding a way to enjoy the ride?

Wildcoast

Surfrider Foundation

Public Policy Institute of California

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Open Channels

Common Cause

WSL Pure

iNaturalist

Houston, We Have a Narrative: Why Science Needs Story

The Moth Snowstorm: Nature and Joy

Intro song: “Offshore Insights” - Clause Creative

Outro song: “Find Enjoyment” - Ray Barbee

In this episode, I sit down with a longtime friend, pro surfer, Hollywood actor and stuntman, Patrick Millin. Pat and I take a trip down memory lane, detailing the ebbs & flows and peaks & valleys of his personal life story. We get into the thick of it and have an in depth discussion about things that are rarely discussed and widely considered taboo to share openly about. Along the way we delve into topics such as self-discipline, self-reliance, addiction, depression, habits, creativity, risk taking, perseverance and resilience. The conversation was great and his story is one I feel many people if not all of us can relate to on some level. Tune in and enjoy the ride!

Fluidity has been sewn deeply into the fabric of Easkey Britton’s essence. Being raised immersed in the land and sea, she struggles to recall a memory of an actual ‘first’ experience in or around water. This natural aquatic disposition, having evolved over a lifetime, has matured into her present almost hydrophilic form.

Sprouted from the salt-saturated and fertile soils of the Emerald Isle, that early nurture was a well-suited compliment to the nature of her family’s proud pioneering bloodline. Easkey’s brave and passionate nature is further punctuated by the story of her grandmother, who, inspired by her experience in the Malibu, California beach culture of the 1950s, returned home to Ireland with the first surfboards to ever reach their shores. While her grandmother’s intentions were to provide a form of exotic entertainment for the guests of her small, coastal inn, her sons – including Easkey’s father – had more lofty plans for the curious and cumbersome planks of foreign wood. It was not long before the boards were commandeered by the lot of them, as they proceeded to explore the near-shore waters of the wild Atlantic in a strange new way – through the majestic old-world dance of wave riding – in time becoming the first surfers in all of Ireland.

How I see it, it was, in part, these familial influences, flowing through generations like the Gharbhóg river, that crystallized her embrace of the gifts from the sea. It was these qualities that first caught my attention when I was watching a (now quite famous) TED™ Talk by Easkey. It was that Ted™ Talk that initially inspired me to reach out; if anything, I felt that it would be nice to thank her for the work she’s done, and, on a selfish level, see what I could soak up from her wisdom and insights. So, after connecting with Easkey via the digital landscape, and while drunk on a wave chasing whim and eager to find some sense of connection to my own heritage, I booked a ticket to go explore the land and seas of the Emerald Isle in person – and hopefully, meet up with Easkey in the process.

The vast Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland may be the most consistently active and provocative dancer of all the seas. As such, she had me chasing her erratic moods swings like a fool in love, blindly seeking a fleeting embrace from shore to shore. Day in and day out, I tirelessly dedicated myself to the hunt, searching for some kind of fantastical aquatic bliss and possibly even a barrel-shaped pot of gold at the end of every emerging rainbow. During my time there, Easkey and I came close to crossing paths multiple times with near misses and the promise of rain checks. But, given the unpredictable nature of my quest and complete lack of itinerary, rain, it turned out, was the only event we could confidently bet on. But with some persistence and prioritizing (not so typical of surfers), we finally got to connect and sat down for a lovely chat in a beautiful seaside village just west of Sligo, in the Northwest of the island.

The small quaint café we chose encouraged our curiosity as we engaged small talk, getting to know one another, sharing recent travels, life events, and lofty ideas. After finishing our meal in the colorful sandy nook, we stepped outside beneath yet another rainbow-filled sky and took a stroll south along the storm-swept seashore. Seeking shelter from the brisk winds, we found a sunny patch of sand and reeds behind Standhill’s iconic rolling dunes. Once seated, a deeper conversation began that in time took on an aquatic quality, much like the majestic waters I had been seeking throughout my journey.

Over the course of our discussion, we dove into Easkey’s life story, current projects, exploration of far-out lands, becoming a surfing pioneer in her own right, all the gifts from the sea, and how those blessings have taught her more about living than any other source of insight in her life.

Drop in, tune up and enjoy the ride!

Show Notes:

Easkey’s website

TED Talk - “Just Add Water”

Short film - “A Lunar Cycle”

Documentary - “Into the Sea”

Research Journal Study - “Blue Care”

Instagram

Twitter

Credits:

Intro song - The Elder Statesman “Montreux Sunrise”

Outro song - “Dayfade “To the Moon and Back”

Permalink

This is the first Bonus episode of the show series. For these episodes, I will use the time to handle any “housekeeping”, share content that may not fit the normal format of the full-length episodes and or share anything that I feel you might find particularly valuable. In this first bonus episode, I catch up with the audience and give a season update on what’s been going on and what exciting new things they can expect in the near future. Tune in and see what we got cooking. Until next time, be well, keep in touch and enjoy the ride!

A couple weeks ago, mid Summer heat wave, Nick Sadrpour joined me on my living room couch to catch up, rap out about his work and enjoy a cold one. Nick and I spoke about environmental conservation work, citizen science and the integral relationship between public, private and governmental sectors that is necessary to making lasting environmental policies. He works within the Sea Grant program at the University of Southern California and is a Federal agent tasked with the providing and local coastal communities with science to empower them to better manage their natural resources...essentially he’s a dot connector between state & local government and academic research. Our discussion was very eye-opening for me personally and if you’ve ever wondered how decisions are made that transform the face of your coastal communities or who’s involved in that, I’m sure you will find it fascinating as well.

Nick is an avid, life-long ocean lover, genuine outdoor enthusiast and I found great pleasure in knowing that great people like him are earnestly giving all they can to fight the “good fight” in pushing for progressive environmental policies that protect the well-being of our communities and coastal environments. Cheers to you and all the eco-warriors out there Nick! 

USC Sea Grant Program

California Sea Grant

Urban Tides Program

San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy

iNaturalist App

Merlin App

Intro: Poets of Rhythm - "More Mess on MY Thing"

Outtro: Toro y Moi - "Rose Quartz"

From and early age Jared was bestowed with the fantastic visions of coastal California living and the seeds of a soul surfer. WIth the foundation laid, it took only one chance wave from a kind stranger to become hooked for life. Having joined the global community of hopeless ocean addicts, he grew into a life infused with salty spirits and an endless pursuit of pleasure & play at sea.

His reality blissfully oriented by the water and dreams inspired by the fluid motions of his daily surf rituals, he had no notion of the dormant disease that lay just beneath the surface of his stoke-filled world. At the crossroads of young adulthood, enthralled by the prospect of his new independent college life, Jared was unprepared for the radical turn the universe had in store for him.

With no recollection of the incident, he awoke in the hospital one early morning, having suffered his first Epileptic episode. Surrounded by concerned doctors and scared loved ones, he became consumed by a cloud of emotions and confusion in an attempt to comprehend and reconcile the electrical demon that had taken up residency deep in his brain. This new reality set Jared on an entirely unplanned path in life, causing him and his family a number of challenges, yet in time also providing him with some unexpected opportunities. In this case, an Epileptic opportunity.  

Jared has traveled a long and arduous road with this disease, as most do, and yet somehow has found a way to become a true warrior of the spirit, maintaining a resilience and unwavering spirit that would go on to inspire those around him and strangers alike. Determined to follow his heart and passions, and despite being “contraindicated” by his doctor, an integral part of his personal approach to rehabilitation unsurprisingly consisted of continued exposure and immersion in the ocean, often time in waves of serious consequence.

Now a Patagonia employee, established “Big Wave Surfer”, notorious frother and stoke farmer, he constructively channels his experiences and insights to raise awareness around this strikingly common disease and provides support for those affected. About a month ago, I met Jared at C Street in Ventura and had the pleasure & honor of sharing with him his first session back in the water since the brain surgery. That session alone was inspiring and eye opening, and one for which I’m grateful to have shared with him. Later that afternoon, he clocked out of work and we sat down in his garage to geek out on surfboards in his quiver and discuss the fascinating world of an Epileptic Warrior. Jared is a remarkably kind, ernest person and an amazing advocate for greater awareness around epilepsy. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing the journey and our thoughts for a bright future, and I’m sure you will to. 

Epilepsy Foundation 

End Epilepsy LA Chapter

Patagonia's Cleanest Line Articles

FB Live Epileptic Opportunity Paddle

Jared on Instagram

Jared on Facebook

Intro song: Beastie Boys "Sabrosa" 

Outtro Song: Khruangbin "People Everywhere" 

During a brief hiatus from the ‘real world,’ and a simultaneous stint as a West Coast transient, I found myself amid the bright lights, colorful crowds, pungent streets and acid-kissed parks of San Francisco. Salt-crusted and road-dusted from a few long days of travel, my weary mind had a single focus –set on connecting with the creative, ethereal, and poetic mind of Jaimal Yogis. Previously unaware of one another, we had since become digitally acquainted through a mutual friend of ours. Despite my initial reach-out coming from left field, Jaimal graciously accepted my invitation for an in-person introduction and hillside chat in Golden Gate Park.

After meeting at his favorite local café for a quick cup of joe, we began to stroll through the park, soaking in the warm rays of unexpected sun and full of curiosity, excitement, and exploratory notions. After meandering through pathways and sporadic human traffic, we found a welcoming perch on a patch of spring grass between the Panhandle and Inner Sunset - both neighborhoods located in the heart of the commonly associated cultural and sociopolitical phenomena of the 1960s and ’70s.

The myriad sounds, sights, and smells flooded my brain – pleasant sensations though at times, accompanied by waves of mild anxiety. After spending nearly three weeks in the remote territories and relative isolation of the Pacific Northwest coastline, it became apparent to me that I had not properly prepared myself for the severity of this environmental transition. Thus, I had failed to anticipate the stimulus overload that eagerly awaited me in this eclectic and electric concrete jungle by the bay. What had many times before been a beautiful and invigorating scene of vitality, representing and encapsulating the spectrum of possibility in all walks of life, now seemed foreign and disparate to me in my vagabond haze. 

Given my particular disposition on this day, it was with great pleasure and an unexpected level of relief to find that Jamal and I had a  shared intention of taking a tree-filled stroll to a quiet grassy knoll. I had expected to find what I assume most would after reading some of his writings and learning of his literary reputation – a charismatic, middle-aged man with a generally relaxed and grounded demeanor. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised and grateful for what turned out to be even more infectious calming energy than anticipated. An almost zen-like quality that he seemed to emit effortlessly and that I accepted with great thirst.

Within moments of settling down onto the cool grass, amongst the ground squirrels and fallen leaves, the city and its roar seemed to wane into a kind of background white noise as Jaimal and I began to converse with the ease of old friends. As the moments passed aimlessly by, I felt my mind and heart begin to settle, returning to their preferred and natural resting state. It was clear to me through this interaction, and became crystallized as we spoke, that he and his spiritual practice were, in fact, the ‘real deal’. Quickly aligned in our frequencies, we perused the general theaters of our life curiosities through conversation and, eventually, entered into what became a wild journey through far-reaching thoughts and memories. From the tumultuous growing pains of our youth to the soulful bliss of sun-kissed offshore peaks of nostalgia, we decided to paddle together through the ‘impact zone’ and into the peaceful depths of the heart and mind.

An award-winning author, yoga, and mindfulness teacher, husband and father of two, and of course, avid surfer, Jaimal is a man who has run the gauntlet and walked the plank in more ways than most. In this episode, we discuss the importance of pushing boundaries through trial and error, running away to find ‘home’, experiments in monastic living, channeling our energies & emotions, integrating mindfulness into everyday living, and how to better surf the waves of life.

Show Notes:

Jaimal Yogis

Salt Water Buddha Film

Wallace J. Nichols

Taoism

Philip Larkin Poem

Credits:

Intro Song:  GusGus - Polyesterday

Outtro Song: Dayfade - Autum

On my way down the West coast from an extended and truly magical solo road trip to the Pacific Northwest, I reached out to Jay to see if he would be willing to connect for an episode on the podcast when I pass though San Francisco. He graciously accepted my invitation and welcomed me into the historic, sand coated and salt-crusted neighborhood of the outer Sunset in SF.

After being mistaken for a tree delivery man upon my arrival by a friend of his, I made my way down the stairs of a beautiful new atrium style room Jay had constructed and into his downstairs workshop. The pungent smell of various cedars, and oaks infiltrated old factory senses while the sound of morning NPR talk shows filled the airwaves. Jay arrived shortly after along with his scruffy little old dog, Rodney. We met, shared some small talk, looked for his missing keys and admired some recent projects before deciding to go for a walk and check the surf. Fortunately, the winds had switched and settled since my initial dawn patrol surf check and the swell was still offering enough decent energy to shape up some fine inside bowls. After some consideration, we decided it would be in our best interest to go kill some time in the salt.

After each finding a few good waves and taking a few hidings amidst the shallow near-shore double ups, we wrapped up our surprisingly fun session and headed back to his his place for a chat. From there the stories and laughs flowed like wine, stoking our engagement and making us feel more clever and keen-witted than either of us really were. But there was an ease to this conversation and introduction to Jay that allowed us to meander and segue without loosing our sense excitement.

For those of you who haven’t already had the pleasure of experiencing Jay’s art, he is a remarkable individual with a unique life perspective and his work is no exception. Through his persistent creative endeavors, Jay has become widely known around the world as a builder of imaginative mobile spaces and a curator of fascination, commonly drawing out the inner childlike mind of most who are lucky enough to experience his art.

In this episode, Jay and I have a chat about creating your own path, bridging the gap between childhood dreams and a sustainable reality, finding identity through our passions and much more. As a long time fan, it was great to finally meet him and I loved getting a sense for the source of his inspiring creative output and I’m sure you will too!

Jay Nelson Art

Mollusk Surf Shop

John Wegener Surfboards

Fresh Air

Writers Almanac

Intro song: "Don't you know" - Gramatik

Outtro song: "Make me late for breakfast"-Flamingosis

A theme setting Poem by David Wagoner:

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

-- David Wagoner 

In this episode, I reconnect with return guest Sebastian Slovin, this time to talk about the exciting release of his new book, Ashes In The Ocean. Seb takes us on a voyage, chronicling his experience of living in the shadow of his father’s suicide and his journey back into the light. The long-term process of writing this memoir gave Seb time to reflect, in depth, on his father’s life and death, as well as the impact it had on his family and him. Through his experience, we deal with stigmas around mental health and learn how deep connections with nature and the ocean can provide the necessary support and solace we seek in times of traumas and tumultuous change, even when our resources on land seem to fall short. Ultimately, this a story about facing one’s fears and choosing a different path.

Ashes in the Ocean

Buy the book

Intro: "Football Head"-Flamingosis

Outtro: "Chillaxn' By The Sea" - Gramatik