EP 118 | The Aftermath of The JOEL TUDOR Episode | Pinch My Salt 

The Pinch My Salt Podcast is back with one of the wildest surf culture conversations yet as Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the explosive Joel Tudor aftermath, the FireWire surfboard controversy, and the heated debate taking over the surf world. This episode dives deep into surf industry drama, core surfing, surfboard shapers, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Thailand surfboard manufacturing, hand-shaped surfboards, surfboard pop-outs, and whether big surf brands are hurting small shapers and local surf shops. Sterling opens up about his personal history with FireWire Surfboards, getting caught in surf industry politics, and how those experiences still affect him today. They also react to insane surf clips, talk Jamie O’Brien, Shane Dorian, pro surfing, Challenger Series heartbreak, skateboarding style, and finish with a hilarious zodiac signs of pro surfers game featuring Kelly Slater, Joel Tudor, John John Florence, Mick Fanning, Dane Reynolds, Laird Hamilton, Andy Irons, Jordy Smith, and more.

This episode is funny, raw, emotional, controversial, and full of real talk about surfing, surf culture, surf history, pro surfers, surf brands, and the future of the surf industry.

If you’re into surf podcasts, surf drama, Joel Tudor, FireWire, Kelly Slater, Sterling Spencer, and behind-the-scenes conversations about what really happens in surfing, this one’s for you.

From stories about getting drafted into the “SEAL division,” Twitch gaming, and nonprofit chaos, to deep talk on board shaping, loyalty, money, hypocrisy, and selling out in surfing, this episode goes everywhere in the best way possible. Sterling gets honest about feeling manipulated during a vulnerable time in his pro surfing career, and the boys unpack why the Joel Tudor vs FireWire conversation hit such a nerve across the surfing world.

Then it shifts into classic Pinch My Salt madness: surf clips, snowboard slander, Kelly Slater selling New Zealand, weird training videos, Bert Kreischer lookalikes lost at sea, and one of the funniest games we’ve ever played — guessing the zodiac signs of famous pro surfers.

Topics in this episode:
Joel Tudor, FireWire controversy, Kelly Slater debate, Rob Machado, surfboard shaping, Thailand manufacturing, hand-shaped boards, surfboard technology, Shane Dorian, peptides, testosterone, Challenger Series, pro surf rankings, Jamie O’Brien, Dane Reynolds, zodiac signs, surfer astrology, comedy podcast, surf industry corruption, local shapers, surf shop culture, and raw surf stories.

#PinchMySalt #SterlingSpencer #CousinRyan #JoelTudor #FireWire #KellySlater #SurfPodcast #Surfing #SurfCulture #SurfIndustry #ProSurfing #SurfDrama #DaneReynolds #JohnJohnFlorence #MickFanning #LairdHamilton #AndyIrons #JordySmith #ShaneDorian #JamieOBrien #Surfboards #SurfboardShaping #ComedyPodcast #YouTubePodcast #SurfTalk #CoreSurfing #SurfCommunity #SurferPodcast #RobMachado #SurfNews

You want the surfing secret? In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan break down the real secret to getting better at surfing: remembering your last wave. From surf progression, surf memory, and mental notes in surfing to cutbacks, airs, style, twin fins, fish boards, mid-lengths, longboards, and shortboards, this episode is packed with real surf wisdom, comedy, and classic surf-core chaos. Sterling also tells the insane story of saving eight girls from drowning, and the boys go all in on Kelly Slater, Firewire, Stab in the Dark, surfboard drama, foil boarding, longboarding, skateboarding, Star Wars, and the state of surf culture. This is a funny surf podcast loaded with surf philosophy, surf industry talk, surf humor, and real surfing advice for anyone trying to level up in the water. Welcome to Pinch My Salt — the hit podcast for surfers, kooks, core lords, and salty babies.

#PinchMySalt #SterlingSpencer #SurfPodcast #Surfing #SurfTips #SurfCulture #SurfComedy #KellySlater #FirewireSurfboards #StabInTheDark #HowToGetBetterAtSurfing #SurfProgression #Longboarding #TwinFin #FishSurfboard #SurfIndustry #CoreLord #SurfHumor #YouTubePodcast #CousinRyan

On this episode of Pinch My Salt, we sit down with Joel Tudor for an unfiltered deep dive into surf culture, longboarding, surf industry drama, Kelly Slater, FireWire surfboards, soft tops, surf etiquette, core surfing, and the future of real surf culture. Joel breaks down the rise of soft top surfboards, how they changed the lineup, the loss of surf etiquette, and why modern surfing feels different from the golden era. We also get into Skip Frye, Laird Hamilton, Jonah Hill surfing, Oxbow, classic longboarding, surfboard shaping, garage shapers, eco surf hypocrisy, WSL talk, jiu-jitsu, and Joel’s wild personal stories from decades inside professional surfing. This episode is packed with surf history, controversial takes, hilarious moments, insider stories, and honest opinions from one of the most iconic and outspoken surfers of all time. If you’re into surf podcasts, Joel Tudor interviews, longboard legends, surfboard design, surf culture commentary, core lord surf talk, and real conversations about what happened to surfing, this one is for you.

Keywords: Joel Tudor, surfing podcast, surf culture, longboarding, Kelly Slater, FireWire, soft tops, Skip Frye, Laird Hamilton, Jonah Hill surfing, surf etiquette, surf industry, WSL, jiu-jitsu, surf history, surfboard shaping, core surfing

Hashtags:
#JoelTudor #Surfing #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt #Longboarding #KellySlater #SurfCulture #SurfIndustry #FireWire #SoftTops #SkipFrye #LairdHamilton #WSL #SurfHistory #SurfEtiquette #JiuJitsu #CoreLord #SterlingSpencer

Tom Carroll doesn’t just have 2 World Titles and 3 Pipe Masters — he’s got one of the most honest comeback stories in surfing. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan sit down with the Aussie legend to talk about life after pro surfing, the pressure of being on top, and the dark chapter Tom has openly shared: drug addiction, recovery, and learning how to feel “love trying to get in” again. Tom breaks down how grief, trauma, and single-minded focus helped build a world champion… and how that same intensity can eventually turn on you.

We also get into Mark Occhilupo, Kelly Slater, the 80s/90s era, training, meditation, foiling, Pipeline, North Shore stories, and why staying inspired by the next generation keeps him ripping at 64.

If you love surf history, WSL legends, and real conversations about mental health, addiction, and redemption, this one hits deep (and still gets weird/funny, obviously).

#TomCarroll #SurfingPodcast #PinchMySalt #SterlingSpencer #CousinRyan #Pipeline #PipeMasters #WorldChampion #AussieSurfer #WSL #KellySlater #MarkOcchilupo #SurfHistory #NorthShore #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #Meditation #SurfCulture #80sSurf #90sSurf #PowerSurfing #Foiling

In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we break down the Kelly Slater drama, the Channel Islands vs Firewire controversy, and the latest conversation around Stab in the Dark. Was Kelly Slater wrong to leave Channel Islands Surfboards? Did he “betray” Al Merrick and Britt Merrick, or was it a smart business move after everything he gave to surfing? We get into the history of Kelly Slater and Channel Islands, why so many surfers are calling him a snake, and why we think the story is way more complicated. This is a full Kelly Slater podcast discussion with surf industry talk, board brand politics, sponsorship money, Firewire surfboards, Quiksilver, and why legends don’t always get paid what they’re worth. If you’ve been following the Kelly Slater Stab in the Dark debate, the Britt Merrick comments, or the surf world reaction, this episode is for you. We also talk surf culture, podcast backlash, family, healing, and some absolute chaos along the way. Classic Pinch My Salt energy.

No guest this week — just the boys going deep, getting weird, and talking story.

In this episode:

Kelly Slater / Channel Islands / Firewire drama

Stab in the Dark reactions

Why the surf industry turned on legends

Podcast backlash & internet hate

YouTube Silver Play Button unboxing

Sterling opens up about family, grief, and healing

Brain injury recovery + flying again

If you’re into surf podcasts, surf commentary, Kelly Slater news, surf industry drama, and unfiltered comedy, subscribe and join the Pinchy Pinchers / Salty Babies.

👇 Drop a comment:
Was Kelly right to leave Channel Islands?

#KellySlater #Surfing #ChannelIslands #Firewire #StabInTheDark #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt #SurfDrama #BrittMerrick #Quiksilver

Kai Lenny breaks down the real story behind his tension with Laird Hamilton — the miscommunication, the “never meet your heroes” moment, and how they eventually squashed it. In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we go deep on big-wave surfing, tow-in surfing, foiling, stand-up paddling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and what it actually takes to survive places like Nazaré and Jaws (Peʻahi). Kai shares insane behind-the-scenes stories from the lineup, near-death wipeouts, the chaos between sets, and why the ocean rewards the people who “read the room.” We also hit surf culture, waterman mindset, Red Bull athlete life, sponsorship reality, and the funniest fuel secret ever: Taco Bell bean burritos. Plus: gym/swim drama, relationship “cycle” theory, and the kind of unhinged comedy you expect from the Pinchers. Subscribe for surf podcast clips, big wave stories, waterman talk, and comedy with Sterling & Cousin Ryan.

In this episode:

Kai vs Laird: what happened + how it got fixed

Big-wave reality: towing, barrels, hold-downs, lineup danger

Foiling + alternative crafts + why surfing needs a “new game”

Burritos as performance fuel 

#KaiLenny #LairdHamilton #SurfPodcast #BigWaveSurfing #Jaws #Nazare #Foiling #Waterman #StandUpPaddling #TowInSurfing #SurfCulture #RedBull #PinchMySalt

What happens when Bert Kreischer sits down with the Pinch My Salt crew and starts firing off stories like a machine-gun… about surfing, comedy, fame, Hawaii, localism, “small waves,” and the one joke **Netflix actually pushed back on?

In this episode, Bert breaks down the moment **Shannon Sharpe basically invented his life story on a podcast (and Bert just… went with it). We talk the burnout of modern podcasting, the chaos of touring, surfing culture and pecking order, why “locals only” energy is so gnarly, and the difference between chasing big waves vs. actually enjoying the small ones.

And then Bert drops the health bomb: blood thinners, a blood clot, and touring sober — while still trying to keep the throttle pinned.

If you’re into surf culture, comedy podcasts, Hawaii stories, standup behind-the-scenes, or anything in the orbit of **Joe Rogan-style longform chaos… this one’s for you.


0:00 Bert Kreischer 


Surf culture: lineup hierarchy, “locals only,” and why it scares people off

Hawaii surf trips, Turtle Bay vibes, and surfing as the most rewarding feeling

The “small waves are where the fun is” life lesson (this part hits)

Behind the scenes of Bert’s Free Bert writing + the one joke Netflix didn’t love

Blood clot, blood thinners, and touring sober



surf podcast, comedy podcast, Bert Kreischer podcast, Pinch My Salt, surfing stories, Hawaii surf, localism surfing, lineup etiquette, Turtle Bay surfing, New Smyrna Beach surfing, standup comedy behind the scenes, Netflix comedy series, Free Bert, touring sober, podcast burnout, Shannon Sharpe podcast, Joe Rogan comedy

Hashtags

#PinchMySalt #BertKreischer #SurfPodcast #ComedyPodcast #SurfCulture #Hawaii #StandUpComedy #PodcastClips #NetflixComedy #Surfing

Pinch My Salt Podcast is back with a heater: we’re joined by crowd work wizard and comedian Ian Bagg for a wild, hilarious conversation that somehow covers stand-up comedy, crowd work, surfing, church video life, marriage advice, gym chaos, and the weird overlap between comedians and surfers.

If you love comedy podcasts, surf culture, and the kind of episodes where you genuinely don’t know what’s coming next—this one’s for you. Ian breaks down what crowd work actually is, why some comics hate it, how social media changed comedy, and why staying true to yourself matters more than “playing the gatekeeper game.” We also get into real talk about grief, keeping life moving after loss, and finding your way back to joy—then immediately ruin it with more dumb jokes (as we should).

🌊 Topics in this episode:
• Crowd work vs “written” stand-up comedy
• Getting told “don’t talk to the audience” (and doing it anyway)
• Comedy being an “ugly man’s game” (until the hot people showed up)
• Marriage, touring, and what actually keeps a relationship healthy
• Surfing attempts, surf culture, and why surfers are built different
• The church videographer life + “Kickflips for Jesus” energy
• Losing a parent, grief, and learning how to bring color back into life

🎟️ See Ian live + tour dates: check Ian Bagg’s official site (mentioned in the episode)

👍 If you laughed even once, hit like, subscribe, and drop a comment:
Are you Team “crowd work is harder” or Team “write the set”?

Ian Bagg, Ian Bagg crowd work, crowd work comedian, comedy podcast, stand up comedy podcast, crowdwork, comedy store, comedian interview, funniest podcast clips, podcast episode, surf podcast, surfing comedy, surf culture podcast, surfers vs comedians, Pinch My Salt, Pinch My Salt podcast, Ian Bagg podcast, comedy crowd work tips, crowd work vs stand up, touring comedian, comedy advice, marriage advice funny, Christian skateboard ministry, kickflips for Jesus, church videographer, Milwaukee comedian, hockey podcast


#IanBagg #ComedyPodcast #CrowdWork #StandUpComedy #SurfPodcast #SurfCulture #PodcastClips #PinchMySalt

In this episode of Pinch My Salt, we sit down with BRICK — DJ, producer, and founder of the Ebony Beach Club — to talk about Black surfers, representation in surfing, and why surfing should be for everyone. Brick shares the real story of how Ebony Beach Club started, what it felt like being one of the only Black people in the lineup, and how a simple idea turned into a massive movement celebrating Black beach culture, surf community, and belonging in the ocean. We get into surf culture, barriers to entry, how to make surfing more welcoming, and what equality in surfing actually looks like when you’re the “only one out there.” If you care about diversity in surfing, inclusive surf communities, Black surf history, or you’re just curious how Ebony Beach Club grew from a meetup into something huge — this conversation is for you.

Brick also breaks down the balance between keeping it fun and building something meaningful, plus what’s next for Ebony Beach Club (surf programs, swim programs, camps, and more).


FOLLOW BRICK! :  https://www.instagram.com/____brick?u...

FOLLOW Ebony Beach Club: https://www.instagram.com/ebonybeachc...

👉 Subscribe — we’re pushing toward 100K


#SurfingIsForEveryone #EbonyBeachClub #BlackSurfers #BlackSurfCulture #SurfCommunity #DiversityInSurfing #InclusionInSurfing #SurfPodcast #PinchMySalt #BRICK #RepresentationMatters #BeachCulture #Surfing #OceanLife #SurfTalk

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How’s it! You know the rules. 🤙 In this episode of Pinch My Salt, Sterling Spencer and Cousin Ryan call up Shane Dorian — legendary big wave surfer, Pipeline / North Shore charger, former World Tour pro, and one of the most respected voices in surf culture — to talk real-life surfing in 2026. We get into what’s happening with the surf industry, why surf sponsorships are drying up, the truth about pro surfing money, and why even top young surfers are struggling to land contracts. Shane breaks down how e-commerce/Amazon changed surf brands, and why adversity is actually good for surfers (and humans). Plus: Jaws (Peʻahi) paddle missions, foiling’s future, back injury recovery, strength training, and why Nathan Florence is the blueprint for modern surf careers.



#PinchMySalt #ShaneDorian #SurfPodcast #ProSurfing #Surfing #BigWaveSurfing #Pipeline #NorthShore #Jaws #Peahi #WSL #ChallengerSeries #SurfIndustry #SurfSponsorship #SurfCulture #Billabong #Yeti #MonsterEnergy #JohnJohnFlorence #NathanFlorence #StabMagazine #StabInTheDark #SurfTraining #SurfingPodcast #HawaiiSurf #SurfNews #SurfTalk #PodcastClips #YouKnowDaRulez